Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of spironolactone for diabetic nephropathy. Methods We electronically searched CENTRAL (issue 3, 2008), MEDLINE (1950 to August 2008), EMbase (1984 to August 2008), CNKI (1994 to September 2008), and VIP (1989 to August 2008). We also checked the reference lists of all papers identified for further trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs were identified and analyzed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Results Three RCTs were included. Meta-analysis was not performed due to heterogeneity. Trials showed that spironolactone might decrease urinary albumin excretion, but could scarcely play an important role on kidney function and blood pressure. Conclusion Affirmative assessment cannot be made about the effectiveness and safety of spironolactone for diabetic nephropathy according to the limited existing trials. Large-scale, high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm or refuse the available evidence.
Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of statins for adult osteoporosis. Methods We electronically searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2007), MEDLINE (1990 to November 2007), EMBASE (1990 to November 2007), Current Controlled Trials, The National Research Register, CBM (1990 to November 2007), VIP (1990 to November 2007) and CNKI (1990 to November 2007). We also handsearched some related journals and identified randomized controlled trials of statins versus placebo in adults with osteoporosis. Results Two randomized controlled trials were included. We didn’t perform meta-analysis due to heterogeneity. No significant differences were observed in the changes of bone density at the lumbar spine and total hip from baseline between statins and placebo. However, a significant increase in bone density was found in response to simvastatin at the forearm. Biochemical markers of bone metabolism changes from baseline did not differ significantly between statins and placebo groups. Conclusions The evidence currently available does not support the use of statins in the treatment of osteoporosis. Further randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are needed in order to define the efficacy and acceptability of statins in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of AAI pacing mode versus DDD pacing mode for treating sick sinus syndrome (SSS). Methods We electronically searched CENTRAL (Issue 2, 2009), MEDLINE (1980 to June 2009), EMbase (1980 to June 2009) and CBM (1990 to June 2009). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi- RCTs and cross-over studies were identified and assessed, and then RevMan 5.0 software was used to perform metaanalysis. Results A total of 509 patients of six parallel and two crossover RCTs were identified, and the quality of reporting was found poor. Studies showed a statistically significant preference to AAI pacing mode for the reduction of left atrial diameter (MD=2.09, 95%CI 0.22 to 3.97), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (MD=3.00, 95%CI –1.58 to 7.58), the prevention atrial fibrillation (P=0.026) and the improvement of life quality (Plt;0.05), but with more replacement or remodulation. Non-significant preference was shown to the prevention of all-cause mortality (P=0.51), cardiovascular mortality (P=0.43), stroke (P=0.32) and heart failure (P=0.17), the reduction of left ventricular end-systolic diameter (MD=1.21, 95%CI –0.85 to 3.28) and left ventricular ejection fraction (MD= –2.91, 95%CI –6.53 to 0.70). No significant adverse effects were reported. Conclusion The review shows a trend towards AAI pacing mode compared with DDD pacing mode in terms of effectiveness. However, because of the high bias risk of the included trials, the evidence is insufficient, so more large-sample and high-quality RCTs are needed.
Objective To systematically review whether the prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was higher in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Methods The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect the studies about comparing echocardiographic parameters in SSc patients and controls from January 1990 to June 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of 22 studies involving 1 146 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared to controls, patients with SSc had prolonged left isovolumetric relaxation time (MD=10.40, 95%CI 4.04 to 16.77, P=0.001), higher trans-mitral A-wave velocity (MD=0.11, 95%CI 0.07 to 0.15, P<0.000 01), prolonged mitral deceleration time (MD=8.04, 95%CI 2.66 to 13.42,P=0.003), larger mean left atrial dimension (MD=1.43, 95%CI 0.11 to 2.76, P=0.03), higher estimated pulmonary artery pressure (MD=11.35, 95%CI 6.08 to 16.6, P<0.001), higher E/E’ ratio (MD=2.08, 95%CI 0.19 to 3.96,P=0.03) and lower trans-mitral E-wave velocity (MD=–0.03, 95%CI –0.05 to –0.01, P=0.000 3), mitral E/A ratio (MD=–0.24, 95%CI –0.32 to –0.15, P<0.000 01) and trans-mitral E’-wave velocity (MD=–1.52, 95%CI –2.44 to –0.60,P=0.001). There were no differences in left ventricular ejection fraction, isovolumetric end-systolic dimension, septal end-diastolic thickness and posterior wall end-diastolic thickness, trans-mitral A’-wave velocity, E’/A’ ratio. Conclusion SSc patients are more likely to have echocardiographic parameters of LVDD. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.