Objective To analyze the risk factors of treatment failure by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), and explore the best time that NPPV be replaced by invasive ventilation when NPPV failure occurs. Methods The data of patients with ARF due to AECOPD who were treated with NPPV from January 2013 to December 2015 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups: the NPPV success group and the NPPV failure group (individuals who required endotracheal intubation or tracheotomy at any time). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ score was analyzed; the Glasgow Coma Scale score, respiratory rate (RR), pH value, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), PaO2/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide were also analyzed at admission, after 2 hours of NPPV, and after 24 hours of NPPV. Results A total of 185 patients with ARF due to AECOPD were included. NPPV failed in 35.1% of the patients (65/185). Multivariate analysis identified the following factors to be independently associated with NPPV failure: APACHEⅡscore≥30 [odds ratio (OR)=20.603, 95% confidence interval (CI) (5.309, 80.525), P<0.001], RR at admission≥35 per minute [OR=3.723, 95%CI (1.197, 11.037), P=0.020], pH value after 2 hours of NPPV<7.25 [OR=2.517, 95%CI (0.905, 7.028), P=0.070], PaO2 after 2 hours of NPPV<60 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) [OR=3.915, 95%CI (1.374, 11.508), P=0.010], and PaO2/FiO2 after 2 hours of NPPV<200 mm Hg [OR=4.024, 95%CI (1.542, 11.004), P=0.010]. Conclusion When patients with ARF due to AECOPD have a higher severity score, have a rapid RR at admission, or fail to improve in terms of pH and oxygenation after 2 hours of NPPV, the risk of NPPV failure is higher.
In recent years, an increasing amount of systematic reviews have been published; however, few reviews adequately considered and reported details of interventions, which not only limited the usability of systematic reviews but also wasted resource. In order to improve reporting of intervention details in systematic reviews, BMJ recently published recommendations. This paper interprets the recommendations to improve usability of systematic reviews.
Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) is one of the most widely used bioceramics for constructing bone tissue engineering scaffold. The three-dimensional (3D) printed TCP scaffold has precise and controllable pore structure, while with the limitation of insufficient mechanical properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of sintering temperature on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed TCP scaffolds in detail, due to the important role of the sintering process on the mechanical properties of bioceramic scaffolds. The morphology, mass and volume shrinkage, porosity, mechanical properties and degradation property of the scaffold was studied. The results showed that the scaffold sintered at 1 150℃ had the maximum volume shrinkage, the minimum porosity and optimal mechanical strength, with the compressive strength of (6.52 ± 0.84) MPa and the compressive modulus of (100.08 ± 18.6) MPa, which could meet the requirements of human cancellous bone. In addition, the 1 150℃ sintered scaffold degraded most slowly in the acidic environment compared to the scaffolds sintered at the other temperatures, demonstrating its optimal mechanical stability over long-term implantation. The scaffold can support bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) adherence and rapid proliferation and has good biocompatibility. In summary, this paper optimizes the sintering process of 3D printed TCP scaffold and improves its mechanical properties, which lays a foundation for its application as a load-bearing bone.
Objective To clarify the correlation of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in peripheral blood with keloid susceptibility in Chinese population. Methods All the literatures of case-control research on the correlation between p53 codon 72 polymorphism in peripheral blood and keloid in Chinese population were searched in PubMed, EBSCO, CNKI, CBM, and WanFang Data from their establishment to August 2010. Meta-analyses were performed to detect whether there were differences between the keloid group and the control group about the distribution of genotypes of p53 codon 72 in peripheral blood, such as, Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg, Pro/Pro vs. Pro/Arg, and alleles Pro vs. Arg. Results Five studies involving 328 keloid patients and 420 patients in the control group were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that the population having the genotype Pro/Pro presented no increased keloid risk compared to that with the genotypes Arg/Arg (OR=2.17, 95%CI 0.86 to 5.47) or Pro/Arg (OR=1.90, 95%CI 0.92 to 3.93), while the allele Pro showed significant association with increased keloid risk compared to the allele Arg (OR=1.86, 95%CI 1.03 to 3.35). Conclusion The allele Pro of p53 codon 72 in peripheral blood of Chinese population is significantly associated with increased keloid risk.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of tacalcitol and calcitriol on vitiligo. Methods?We searched the MEDLINE (1966 to June 2008), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, issue 4, 2008), OVID (1978 to June 2008), EMbase (1980 to June 2008), CBM (1978 to June 2008), CNKI (1979 to June 2008) to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We also hand searched relevant journals and conference proceedings. The language was confined to English and Chinese. We screened the retrieved studies according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of included studies, and performed meta-analyses by using the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software. Results?Ffiteen trials involving 120 patients in 5 self-control trials and 793 patients in other 10 randomized controlled trials were included and assessed. The time of repigmentation onset of good responders and normal responders in the side treated with a combination of topical talcitol and NB-UVB was shorter than that in the control group [WMD= –?75, 95%CI (–?93.93, –?56.07); WMD= –?48, 95%CI (–?76.36, –?19.64)]. The mean number and cumulative dose of excimer light exposures for initial repigmentation in the side treated with tacalcitol and 308-nm monochromatic excimer light were less than those in the control group [WMD= –?0.78, 95%CI (–?1.02, –?0.54; WMD= –?1.06, 95%CI (–?1.36, –?0.76)]. The mean number of UVA exposures for initial repigmentation and complete repigmentation in the side treated with calcipotriol and PUVA were less than those in the control group [WMD= –?2.67, 95%CI (–?3.06, –?2.28); WMD= –?2.67, 95%CI (–?3.42, –?1.92)], and the cumulative UVA dose for iniitial and complete repigmentation in the combination group were also lower than those in the control group [WMD= –?25.68, 95%CI (–?29.44, –?21.92); WMD= –?27.14, 95%CI (–?34.80, –?19.48)]. The mean time of initial pigmentation was much shorter in the group treated with calcipotriol and corticosteroid was shorter than that in the control group [WMD= –?3.87, 95%CI (–?5.45, –?2.29)]. Conclusion?The limited evidence indicated that combination of topical tacalcitol with NB-UVB or monochromatic excimer light, or the combination of topical calcipotriol with PUVA or corticosteroid shortened the time of repigmentation and decreased the cumulative irradiation dose. The side effects were limited. No obvious effect was seen on re-pigmentation degree.
Systematic reviews can provide important evidence support for clinical practice and health decision-making. In this process, literature screening and data extraction are extensively time-consuming procedures. Natural language processing (NLP), as one of the research directions of computer science and artificial intelligence, can accelerate the process of literature screening and data extraction in systematic reviews. This paper introduced the requirements of systematic reviews for rapid literature screening and data extraction, the development of NLP and types of machine learning; and systematically collated the NLP tools for the title and abstract screening, full-text screening and data extraction in systematic reviews; and discussed the problems in the application of NLP tools in the field of systematic reviews and proposed a prospect for its future development.
ObjectivesTo develop a tool to assess the credibility of cohort studies regarding anticoagulants treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation.MethodsMEDLINE, EMbase and CBM databases were retrieved for eligible studies on the methodological quality and credibility of the cohort study. The retrieval period was from inception to December 19th, 2017, and the languages were limited to Chinese and English. Based on the search results, the items on the methodology quality of the research or the credibility of the results were collected. Through brainstorming of the core group, the collected items were expanded and sorted out to a preliminary scale. Furthermore, we conducted 4 rounds of internal expert seminars to discuss and evaluate the preliminary scale content and discuss the scale framework. Finally, we organized domestic authoritative experts to conduct 4 external evaluations on the scale and formed the final scale.ResultsA total of 7 734 literatures were obtained from primary search, in which 17 of which were included. Fifty-five tools with 780 items for the quality assessment of observational studies were collected from the included studies. After removing duplicated keywords with similar meanings, we obtained the " keyword pool” with 46 keywords, which were preliminarily formed 46 items. After discussion of the core group, which aimed to supplement the potential items, eliminate the items irrelevant to methodology, and integrate the items with partial overlapping meanings, a preliminary scale of 43 items was formed. According to the four rounds of internal expert consultative meetings, these items were integrated to form a preliminary scale of 40 items. After further evaluation by four rounds of external expert consultative meetings, a consensus was reached and a scale of 21 items from seven domains (i.e., definition of question, measurement, follow-up, confounder, missing data, statistical analysis, and results assessment) was finally formed.ConclusionsThis study developed an assessment tool for the credibility of the results from the cohort studies regarding anticoagulants treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation, which has practical clinical value. Clinicians can refer to the results of credibility assessment by using this tool to better assist clinical decision-making in clinical practice. In addition, in the preparation of relevant guidelines, this tool can be used to assess the credibility of results from cohort studies.
Assessing the clinical value of pharmaceuticals is crucial for comprehensive evaluation in clinical practice and plays a vital role in supporting decision-making for drug supply assurance. Real-world data (RWD) offers valuable insights into the actual diagnosis and treatment processes, serving as a significant data source for evaluating the clinical demand, effectiveness, and safety of drugs. This technical guidance aims to elucidate the scope of application of RWD for the clinical value assessment of pharmaceuticals, as well as the key considerations for conducting value assessment research. These considerations include identifying the dimensions of clinical value that necessitate RWD and effectively utilizing RWD for evaluation purposes. Additionally, this guidance provides essential points for implementing pharmaceutical clinical value assessment based on real-world data, with a specific focus on study design and statistical analysis. By doing so, this guidance assists researchers in accurately comprehending and standardizing the utilization of real-world research in conducting pharmaceutical clinical research.
China is facing the serious situation of 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection. The health care institutions have actively participated in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. Proper regulation of in-hospital policy may help control virus spreading. We developed seven key clinical questions about the prevention and control of 2019-novel coronavirus infection in hospital, and provided recommendations based on the best available evidence and expert experience. We interpreted the recommendations for better feasibility in Chinese hospital. The current recommendations provide evidence and reference for the domestic medical institutions to reasonably adjust the hospital workflow during 2019-nCoV infection period..