Objective To analyze the status of applying diagnostic test in imaging scientific study internationally and domestically, and to compare the application of the image diagnostic studies of our country with that of abroad. Method We hand-searched the diagnosis tests published in the "Chinese Journal of Radiology", the most influential in China, and in "Radiology’’, the most influential abroad, from 1998 to 1999 respectively. Then we evaluated each of the diagnosis tests according to the international standards. Results We searched 408 original articles in "Chinese Journal of Radiology" in which the diagnostic test articles were 12%, and 796 original articles in "Radiology" with the diagnostic test articles 23% from 1998 to 1999 respectively. In these diagnosis tests, by comparing the "Chinese journal of radiology" with the "Radiology", it was found that 19% applied blind comparison with Gold Standard, 28% calculated sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, 9% both calculated negative predictive value and positive predictive value and none calculated likelihood ratios in the former versus 64%, 57%, 33% and 26% and 3% respectivdy in the latter. Conclusions Compared with the international level, both the quality and the quantity of the diagnosis tests applied in the specialty of imaging scientific study in China are much lower and far from meeting the clinical requirement. Improving the methods of scientific study and carrying on more diagnosis tests with high qualities are of important significance in improving the diagnostic level of imaging.
Some risks affecting the quality of published systematic reviews and in our teaching practice were listed and compared with the correct concept. The current problems include misunderstanding of the relationship of meta-analysis and systematic review, applying meta-analysis and assessing heterogeneity, randomization, allocate concealment, and how to make inclusion and exclusion criteria, etc. This paper aims to help Chinese reviewers improve the quality of their systematic reviews.
Objective To clarify the most important factors affecting the survival of patient with gastric carcinoma. Methods 428 cases of resected gastric carcinoma were studied by using univariate analyses and multivariate regression analyses. Results The most significant factors influencing survival of these patients were peritoneal dissemination, Borrmann classification, type of operation, hepatic metastasis, size of tumor, location, lymph node metastasis and age. Conclusion The factors influencing survival in patient with gastric carcinoma after resection can be correctly analyzed by cox’s proportional hazard model.
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of thrombolysis with anticoagulation therapy for patients with acute sub-massive pulmonary thromboembolism. Methods The clinical data of 84 patients with acute sub-massive pulmonary thromboembolism were analyzed retrospectively, mainly focusing on the in-hospital efficacy and safety of thrombolysis and/ or anticoagulation. The efficacy was evaluated based on 6 grades: cured, markedly improved, improved, not changed, deteriorated and died. Results Among the 84 patients,49 patients received thrombolysis and sequential anticoagulation therapy( thrombolysis group) , 35 patients received anticoagulation therapy alone( anticoagulation group) . As compared with the anticoagulation group, the thrombolysis group had higher effective rate( defined as patients who were cured, markedly improved or improved, 81. 6% versus 54. 3%, P = 0. 007) , lower critical event occurrence ( defined as clinical condition deteriorated or died, 2. 0% versus 14. 3% , P = 0. 032) . There was no significant difference in bleeding rates between the two groups ( thrombolysis group 20. 4% versus anticoagulation group 14. 3% , P gt; 0. 05) . No major bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage occurred in any of the patients. Conclusions Thrombolysis therapy may be more effective than anticoagulation therapy alone in patients with acute sub-massive pulmonary thromboembolism, and thus warrants further prospective randomized control study in large population.
Objective To investigate the specific variables and influence factors of Harris scores in follow-up data of patients with internal fixation of femoral neck fracture. Methods From May 1999 to May 2004, 99 cases of femoral neck fracture receiving close reduction with cannulated screw and having complete follow-up data were evaluated in terms of age, sex, type of bone fracture (Garden classification), reduction time, reduction qual ity (Garden indicators), time of full weight-loading, removal of internal fixation, traction before operation, side of bone fracture, necrosis of femoral head, duration of follow-up and Harris score during follow-up period. Univariate and multivariate were analyzed by SPSS14.0 and SAS8.2. Results P-P probabil ity plot and normal test revealed the Harris scores were non-normal distribution (W=0.757 09, P=0.000 1). By nonparametric test in univatiate analysis, the following variables in Harris scores were of statistic significance: the time of reduction (U=— 2.289, P=0.022), the Garden classifaction (H=16.943, P=0.001), the time of full weight-bearing (U=— 3.069, P=0.002), the qual ity of reduction (U=— 3.448, P=0.001) and the necrosis of femoral head (U=— 4.723, P=0.000).By the analysis of correlation, the following variables in Harris scores were of statistic significance: Garden classification(rs=— 0.412, P=0.000), the time of reduction (rs=— 0.231, P=0.021), the qual ity of reduction (rs=— 0.348, P=0.000), the time of full weight-bearing (rs=— 0.310, P=0.002), and the necrosis of femoral head (rs=— 0.477, P=0.000). By the univariate logistic regression analysis, the following variables in Harris scores were of statistic significance: Garden classification (P=0.000 1), the time of reduction (P=0.012 6), the qual ity of reduction (P=0.000 3), the time of full weight-bearing (P=0.003 2), the traction before operation (P=0.049 2) and the necrosis of femoral head (P=0.000 1). By the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the influence factors of Harris scores rank included the necrosis of femoral head (P=0.000 1), the time of reduction (P=0.028 2), and Garden classification (P=0.000 7). Conclusion Harris scores is of non-normal distribution, and the necrosis of femoral head is the most important factor influencing the function after applying internal fixation with cannulated screws to femoral neck fracture.
Objective To evaluate the right usage of statistical methods in medical articles. Methods 544 theses from eight medical journalspublished during1998 and 2005 were analyzed. Results 136 theses had obvious statistical errors,accounting for 25.00%. The main types of the errors were: the wrong methods of data analyzing for 61.76%, diagram error for 14.71%, nonstatistical dealing for8.82%, the mixture of rate and ratio for 8.82%, and the other error for 5.88%. Conclusion The statistical methods should be highly valued. Despite handing themanuscript to the specialist in the same field, the statistician checking system should be built through the process of manuscript dealing.
Objective To investigate how many hospitals can perform vitrectomy and its relationship to economic development in China.Methods Bibliometric data of retina-vitreous literatures were searched from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) academic databases. We used pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) as a keyword and defined address as mainland China, limited years to 1993 -2009. From those data we analyzed which hospital performed PPV. We also communicated with some hospitals by phone, email to confirm if they were performing PPV. Gross domestic product (GDP), population data and economic development ranking were extracted from the China Statistical Yearbook 2009 (National Bureau of Statistics of China). PPV carry-out rate, PPV-hospital shares and their relationships with the GDP in each regional municipality were analyzed.Results All together this study retrieved 4632 articles meet our requirements. There were 340 hospitals carrying out PPV in mainland China, located in 22 provinces, five autonomous regions and four metropolitan municipalities. The top five provinces with higher PPV carryout rate were Shandong (93,75%), Zhejiang (90,00%), Hebei province (90.00%), Jiangsu (83.33%) and Guangdong (75.00%). There was significant difference in per capita share of PPVhospitals between different cities (chi;2=181,153，P=0,000) and in the PPV carry-out rate between different cities (chi;2=749.217，P=0.000). There were 210 private eye hospitals in China,62 hospitals (18.23%) of them could perform PPV included 39 hospitals located in regionallevel cities. The coefficient correlation between PPV and GDP of different provinces was 0.842 (P=0.000). Conclusions Vitrectomy is widely performed in mainland China, but geographical distribution of PPV-performing hospitals is uneven. PPV performance is closely related with regional economic development,and private hospitals play certain roles in promoting the application of vitrectomy.
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and provide consultable evidence for the rational establishment of screening standard.MethodsThe clinical data of 168 prematureinfants (gestational age less than 37 weeks) who was diagnosed in our department from Dec 2002 to Apr 2004 was analyzed retrospectively. Gender, birth count (BC), gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), duration of oxygen therapy and vascularization devlopment of posterior and peripheral retina examined by binocular indirect ophthalmoscope after mydriasis were recorded. The results were recorded by the international classification of ROP (ICROP), and stage 1, 2 and 3 were mild ROP while threshold disease, stage 4 and 5 were severe ROP. Logistic regression was appliedto analyze the relationship of ROP and gender, BC, GA, BW, and oxygen therapy. ResultsSevere ROP was found in 91 eyes (27.1%) of 47 infants (28.0%) in 336 eyes of 168 premature infants, including threshold disease in 20 eyes (6.0%) and disease at stage 4 in 11 eyes (3.3%) in which the diseases at stage 4A was foundin 2 eyes (0.6%) and stage 4B in 9 eyes (2.7%). There were 60 eyes (17.8%) at stage 5. In all of the factors, GA, BW and oxygen therapy were found to have a significant impact on severe ROP (P=0.000, 0.000 and 0.015,α=0.05) while gender and BC were not (P=0.640 and 0.084, α=0.05). Statistic analysis of subgroupshowed that the risk of severe ROP in premature infants would increase significantly when GA≤30 weeks, BW≤1500 g or oxygen therapy gt;4 days. Conclusions Severe ROP relates to GA, BW and oxygen therapy instead of gender and BC. The risk of occurrence of severe ROP in premature infants increases significantly when GA≤30 weeks, BW≤1500g or oxygen therapy gt;4 days, so it is recommended to screen such premature infants carefully. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2005,21:271-274)