Objective To make individualized evidence-based treatment for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods Based on the clinical questions we raised, evidence was collected and critically assessed. Patients’ preferences was also taken into consideration in the decision-making treatment. Results 157 studies were retrieved and finally 15 randomized controlled trials, 14 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and 1 clinical guidelines were considered eligible. The evidence indicated that the first step in management of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy should aim for stable and optimal glycemic control; there was no statistically significant difference between aldose reductase inhibitors and placebo in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy, the same to nerve growth factor; alpha-lipoic acid is superior to placebo in reducing symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy; 5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants might alleviate the pain in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy; vitamin B and capsaicin cream are is effective and safe in the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. The individualized treatment plans were developed based on the available evidence. After 3 month of treatment, the blood sugar returned to normal and symptoms were alleviated. Conclusion The treatment efficacy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been improved by determining an individulized treatment plan according to evidence-based methods.
Objective Chronic cough is often present as increasing cough reaction to various physical and chemical stimulating factors. This study is aimed to investigate the difference of cough sensitivity and its mechanisms which are not clear among different causes of chronic cough. Methods Patients with chronic cough were recruited from cough clinic of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases between 2005 to 2010. Using a modified diagnostic algorithm of chronic cough, common causes were identified. Capsaicin cough provocation test was also performed in these patients to assess the cough threshold. The relations between cough reflex sensitivity and duration of cough, cough severity, pulmonary function, induced sputum cell counts were then investigated. Results Through the diagnostic algorithm of chronic cough, the current study evaluated 133 adult patients, including 24 cases with upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) , 26 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA) , 31 cases with eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) , 30 patients with atopic cough (AC) , 22 cases with gastroesophageal reflux induced cough (GERC) . There were 30 healthy volunteers recruited as normal control. The cough threshold of LgC5 in AC, CVA, EB, GERC and UACS was 1.70 ±0.70, 2.12 ±0.67, 2.13 ±0.69, 1.69 ±0.73, 2.16 ±0.66, respectively. The LgC5 of the normal group ( 2.63 ±0.39) was higher than those in chronic cough groups( All P lt; 0.05) . The LgC5 of AC and GERC were lower than CVA, EB and UACS ( all Plt;0.05) . Duration and daytime score of cough showed positive correlations with LgC5( r =-0. 280, -0. 168, all P lt;0.05) . Pulmonary function and differential cell count of induced sputumwere not associated with LgC5 ( all Pgt;0.05) . Conclusions Different cause of chronic cough exhbit high cough reflex sensitivity to different extent. The difference of cough sensitivity may reflect the different pathogenesis among different causes, and may be related to the type of nerve fiber dominating the cough reflex.