Objective To assess the safety and effect of different intravenous chemotherapic regimens in patients with gastric carcinomas who had received gastrectomy. Method A systematic review of all the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. RCTs were identified from Medline and Embase (1980-2001.4), Chinese Bio-medicine Database (1990-2001.1). Literature references were checked at the same time. We included randomized andquasi-randomized trials in patients with confirmed gastric carcinomas who had received gastrectomy comparing the effect of intravenous chemotherapy after gastrectomy with that of gastrectomy alone.Results Twenty trials involving 4 171 patients were included. Meta-analysis was done with fixed effects model. Heterogeneity analyses was performed also. The effects of intravenous chemotherapy with 5FU + MCCNU, 5FU + MMC, 5FU + BCNU or FAM after gastrectomy were failed to show have better effects than that of surgery alone. There were eleven trials which detailed the side effects according to the toxicity grade by WHO standard. The side effects halting treatment were haematologic and biochemical toxicity, debilitating nausea and vomiting. There were twenty-two patients died of chemotherapic toxicity. Conclusions Based on the review, there is no enough evidence to show that intravenous chemotherapy after gastrectomy have positive treatment effect on gastric cancer.
Objective To objectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of plasmakinetic enucleation for prostate (PKEP) vs plasmakinetic resection for prostate (PKRP) in treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Methods Such databases as PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMbase, the ISI Web of Knowledge databases, VIP, CNKI, CBM and Wanfang were searched from their establishment to March 2011 for collecting the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about PKEP vs PKRP for the treatment of BPH, and the references of those RCTs were also searched by hand. After study selection, assessment and data extraction conducted by two reviewers independently, meta-analyses were performed by using the RevMan 5.1 software. The level of evidence was assessed by using the GRADE system. Results Eight studies involving 991 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that: a) safety indicator: compared with the PKRP, PKEP had shorter operation time (SMD=1.07, 95%CI 0.19 to 1.94, P=0.02), less intraoperative bleeding (SMD=2.06, 95%CI 1.42 to 2.69, Plt;0.01), much quantity of resectable prostate (SMD= –0.91, 95%CI –1.33 to –0.48, Plt;0.000 1), less intraoperative perforation (RR=4.48, 95%CI 1.43 to 14.02, P=0.01), shorter catheterization time (SMD=1.98, 95%CI 0.39 to 3.57, P=0.01), shorter bladder irrigation time (SMD=3.49, 95%CI 0.51 to 6.47, P=0.02) and shorter hospital stay (SMD=0.89, 95%CI 0.64 to 1.13, Plt;0.01), but there was no significant difference in total postoperative complications (RR=0.82, 95%CI 0.54 to 1.24, P=0.35); and b) efficacy indicator: compared with the PKRP, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was lower after 3 months, the Quality Of Life (QOL) was higher after 3 months, and the improvement of residual urine volume (RUV) was better after 6 months; but other efficacy indicators had no significant difference between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). Based on GRADE system, all the evidence was at level C and weak recommendation (2C). Conclusion The current evidence indicates that PKEP is similar to PKRP in the treating effect, but it resects the proliferated prostate more cleanly with shorter operation time, lesser bleeding and more safety than PKRP; for the poor quality of the original studies, a prudent choice is suggested; and more high-quality, large-sample studies are need.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Endostar combined with chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Endostar combined with chemotherapy for NSCLC were searched in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMbase, VIP, CNKI, CBMdisc and other electronic databases. The quality of RCTs meeting inclusion criteria was evaluated and the data were extracted; meta-analyses were performed with RevMan 5.1 software, and then the GRADE System was used to rate the level of evidence and strength of recommendation. Results Among the 18 RCTs involving 1 825 cases included, 1 816 cases met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses showed that: compared with the single chemotherapy, Endostar combined with chemotherapy could increase the total effective rate (RR=1.85, 95%CI 1.56 to 2.11, Plt;0.000 01), and the clinical benefit response (RR=1.21, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.29, Plt;0.000 01), but decrease the incidence risk of leukopenia (RR=0.89, 95%CI 0.82 to 0.97, P=0.006). There were no signficant differences between the two groups in decreasing thrombocytopenia (RR=0.87, 95%CI 0.74 to 1.03, P=0.10), impaired renal function (RR=0.96, 95%CI 0.69 to 1.34, P=0.82), nausea and vomiting (RR=0.92, 95%CI 0.84 to 1.01, P=0.08) and other side effects. Based on GRADE, the level of evidence was Grade C, and the strength of recommendation was 2. Conclusion The present results of clinical trials show that Endostar combined with chemotherapy for NSCLC is a safe and effective therapy without increasing the toxic reaction and side effects; and based on GRADE, the level of evidence was Grade 2C, and the strength of recommendation was 2. However, in view of the limitations of this study, it is suggested that large-scale, high-quality researches on basic and clinical fields should be performed to further verify the above conclusion by critical outcome indicators.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treatingchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a stable stage. Methods We searched MEDLINE (1950 to July 2008), PubMed (1996 to July 2008), VIP (1989 to July 2008), WanFang (1998 to July 2008), CNKI (1979 to July 2008), and CBM (1978 to July 2008)for randomized control trials about TCM to treat stable COPD. Trial screening, quality assessment of included trials, and data extract were conducted. Statistical analysis was conducted by using RevMan 4.2.7 software. Results A total of 30 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the Chinese language were identified. No pooled analysis was performed because of the significant heterogeneity among the included trials. (1) For TCM alone versus blank therapy or placebo: 3 RCTs reported the clinical effective rate and only 1 indicated TCM was more effective; 5 RCTs reported forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)% after treatment and 2 indicated TCM alone as more effective in improving lung function; 4 RCTs reported quality of life after therapy and 2 indicated TCM alone was more effective in improving quality of life after therapy. (2) For integrated tradtional and western medicine versus western medicine alone: 11 RCTs included the clinical effective rate, 3 RCTs showed that integrated traditional and western medicine was more effective. Of 8 RCTs reporting FEV1%, 2 RCTs suggested that integrated traditional and western medicine was more effective. There were 3 RCTs studying 6 minute walking distance and 4 RCTs about quality of life, which also showed that integrated traditional and western medicine was more effective. No obvious adverse reaction to TCM was reported.Conclusions The current evidence shows TCM tends to relieve the symptoms and improve quality of life for patients with stable COPD without obvious adverse reaction. Due to the low methodological quality of trials included, more RCTsof high quality and large scale are required.
This paper is aimed to assess the effects of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on clinical outcomes in cardiac surgery. Trials were identified by computer searches of the Pubmed,MEDLINE,Cochrane Library (Issue10,2012),from January 1980 to October 2012. References in identified trials and review articles were checked and experts contacted to identify any additional trials. The homogeneous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were analyzed with RevMan 5.1 software. Five trials involving a total of 1,203 patients were identified. The results of meta-analyses showed that restrictive transfusion strategies reduced the risk of receiving a RBC transfusion (MD=-1.46,95% CI -1.18--1.1) and the volume of RBCs transfusion (RR=0.69,95% CI 0.53-0.89). No significant difference was noted between the two strategies in terms of mortality,adverse events and hospital or intensive care length of stay. Based on the results mentioned above, one can draw a conclusion that restrictive transfusion strategies reduced the risk of receiving RBC transfusion and the volume of RBCs transfused. Restrictive transfusion strategies did not appear to impact on the rate of adverse events and hospital or intensive care length of stay, compared to liberal transfusion strategies.
ObjectiveTo investigate the reporting and methodological quality of systematic reviews/ meta-analyses conducted by hospital pharmacists in China, so as to improve the quality of systematic reviews/ meta-analyses in this field. MethodsThe literatures were retrieved from CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, CMCI, PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library from the establishment date to March 17th, 2016. According to the inclusive and exclusive criteria, authors independently screened and extracted the published information. Reporting and methodological quality of included reviews were evaluated by PRIMSA statements and AMSTAR checklists. Data analysis was conducted by using Excel 2013 software and SPSS 20.0 software. ResultsOne thousand and eighteen systematic reviews/ meta-analyses were included, including 871 Chinese literatures and 147 English literatures. The average score of PRIMSA was 18.41±2.84, and the average score of AMSTAR was 7.38±1.28. The main problems of PRIMSA were structured summary, objectives, protocol and registration, additional analyses and funding. The main problems of AMSTAR were priori design, status of publication and list of studies (included and excluded). Univariate analysis showed that some factors could improve the quality of methodology and reporting, including studies in English (P<0.000 1), published after checklists' (P<0.000 1), hospital in higher-level (P<0.000 1), illuminating the funding or interest conflict (P<0.000 1). Pearson analysis indicated that linear correlation were detected between PRISMA scores and AMSTAR scores (P<0.000 1), as well as citations and AMSTAR scores (P=0.045). ConclusionEvidenced-based pharmacy in hospital has developed rapidly, the quality of methodology and reporting have increaseed year by year, but further improvement should be considered in different aspects. The methods to evaluate the clinical application of these systematic reviews/ meta-analyses should be developed in the future.
ObjectiveTo analyze the reporting and methodological quality of tranexamic acid meta-analyses published in Chinese journals. MethodsThe CNKI, WanFang Data, and CBM databases were electronically searched for meta-analyses of tranexamic acid from inception to August 12th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and used AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA 2009 to assess the methodological and reporting quality of publications. ResultsA total of 68 meta-analyses were included. The identified meta-analyses required improvement for items 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 16 in the AMSTAR 2, and items 2, 5, 8, 12, 15, 17, 22, 24, and 27 in the PRISMA 2009 assessments, respectively. The methodological and reporting quality scores were positively correlated (rs=0.36, P=0.002). Linear regression analysis identified the mentioning of PRISMA and funding support as the independent factors potentially affecting the reporting quality score (P<0.05). ConclusionsBoth the methodological and reporting quality of the tranexamic acid meta-analyses published in Chinese journals require improvement.