Objective To assess the effectiveness of letrozole in ovulation induction treatment. Methods We searched CBMdisc (1979 to 2009), Wanfang (1994 to 2009), CNKI (1994 to 2009), VIP(1989 to 2009), PubMed (1997 to 2009), PML (1997 to 2009), FMJS(2000 to 2009) and 9 relevant journals to identify randomized controlled trails (RCTs) comparing letrozole with clomiphene citrate in ovulation induction treatment. The quality of the included trials was critically appraised. RevMan 4.2.7 software was used for statistical analyses. Results Ten RCTs involving 3100 patients were included, among which 5 RCTs were graded A, 4 were graded B, and 1 was graded C. Five RCTs showed that endometrial thickness at the time of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration in the letrozole group was significantly higher than that in the clomiphene group. One RCT showed that endometrial thickness at the time of HCG administration in the letrozole group was significantly lower than that in the clomiphene group. Three RCTs showed no significant differences between the two groups. Four RCTs showed that the number of dominant follicle at the time of HCG administration in the letrozole group was signficantly lower than that in the clomiphene group. One RCT showed that the number of dominant follicle at the time of HCG administration in the letrozole group was significantly higher than that in the clomiphene group. Two RCTs showed no significant differences between the two groups. Compared with clomiphene citrate, the pregnancy rate in the letrozole monotherapy group was slightly lower at the RR 1.03 and 95%CI 0.82 to 1.29, pregnancy rate in the combination group was higher at RR 1.73 and 95%CI 1.37 to 2.18. The ovulation rate in the letrozole group was higher and no significant differences were found between the two groups at RR 1.23 and 95%CI 0.97 to 1.57. Conclusions There may be differences between letrozole and clomiphene citrate in ovulation induction treatment in terms of endometrial thickness, number of dominant follicle, ovulation rate, and pregnancy rate, but no significant differences. Letrozole can make up for the shortcomings of clinical clomiphene in ovulation induction and serve as an alternative. This conclusion needs to be further confirmed through more well-designed, multi-centered, large-sample RCTs.
ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical curative effect of sphincter preservation method of improved minimally invasive surgery to primary cure for horseshoe-shaped perianal abscess. MethodsOne hundred and twenty hospitalized patients diagnosed as horseshoe-shaped perianal abscess were analyzed by prospective, random, single-blind, parallel-group design method, and were randomly divided into two groups, one group of sphincter preservation method of improved minimally invasive surgery (observation group), another group of traditional method of hanging line drainage and multiple incisions of radian shape (control group). The cure rate, long-term recurrence, postoperative pain score within 9 d, hospitalization time, incision healing time, scar area after healing, postoperative anal function score and perioperative and long-term complications were compared in these two groups. ResultsAll the operations were successfully completed in these two groups. There were 56 cases of primary healing in the observation group and 55 cases of primary healing in the control group. Compared with the control group, the postoperative pain score on day 2-4 or on day 7-9 was lower (P < 0.05), the incision healing time was shorter (P < 0.05), and the postoperative anal function score was lower (P < 0.05) in the observation group. There was no incision infection and hemorrhoea in these two groups. The hospitalization time, scar area after healing, incidence rate of urinary retention, hepatic and renal dysfunction, and the total white blood cells > 10.0×109/L had no significant differences between these two groups (P > 0.05). There was no long-term recurrence, anal stenosis, and anal incontinence during following-up of 6 months in these two groups. ConclusionPreliminary research results show that sphincter preservation method of improved minimally invasive surgery to primary cure for horseshoe-shaped perianal abscess has a reliable clinical curative effect, fast healing, and less postoperative complications.
Objective To evaluate the operative procedure and the cl inical effectiveness of open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of posterior malleolus fractures. Methods Between June 2005 and December 2008, 46 patients with posterior malleolus fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and followed up. There were 29 males and 17 females with an average age of 47.7 years (range, 19-76 years). Fractures were caused by sprain in 17 cases, by fallingin 15 cases, by traffic accident in 12 cases, and by other reasons in 2 cases. The locations were left ankle in 25 cases and right ankle in 21 cases. There were 6 simple posterior malleolus fractures, 13 lateral and posterior malleolus fractures, and 22 trimalleolar fractures, and 5 lateral and posterior malleolus fractures accompanying by injury of deltoid l igament of ankle. According to Lauge- Hansen classification system, 13 cases and 9 cases were rated as supination-external rotation type III and type IV respectively, and 18 cases as pronation-external rotation type IV. According to Naoki’s classification of posterior malleolus fractures, there were 29 cases of posterolateral-obl ique type, 11 cases of medial-extension type, and 6 cases of small-shell type. Seven patients underwent emergency operation and 39 patients underwent selective operation. Results Two patients developed superficial infection, which was cured after dressing change, and the other incisions healed by first intention. Forty-six patients were followed up 37 months on average (range, 18-63 months). All fractures healed after 3 to 6 months (mean, 4.3 months). One patient developed lateral suralcutaneous nerve injury, and 9 patients had mild weight-bearing pain or discomfort. The results of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score were excellent in 17 cases, good in 21 cases, and fair in 8 cases with an excellent and good rate of 83%. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 1.9 (range, 0-5). Conclusion The anatomic reduction and internal fixation can achieve the satisfactory results in the treatment of posterior malleolus fractures. The best treatment and fixation methods should be chosen based on different types of posterior malleolus fractures.
ObjectiveTo review the present clinical evaluation of treatment for chronic low back pain. MethodsThe literature on the effectiveness evaluation method of chronic low back pain was reviewed and summarized. ResultsMany scoring systems are used to assess the treatment for chronic low back pain through the evaluation of pain and functional disability. The function evaluations are divided into general and disease-specific evaluations. Currently the most widely used evaluation systems are as follows: short-form 36 health survey scale (SF-36), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RDQ), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) low back pain scoring system, Quebec back pain disability scale (QBPDS), and Macnab criteria. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS) are usually used to evaluate the pain degree. ConclusionThere are many effectiveness evaluation methods of chronic low back pain, but there is still a lack of more comprehensive, concise, and practical evaluation method. Further studies are required to develop it.
Objective To investigate the cl inical directive significance of three-dimensional reconstruction of CT in treating mandibular angle hypertrophy. Methods Between March 2009 and January 2011, 18 patients with mandibular angle hypertrophy were treated using the three-dimensional reconstruction technology of CT. All patients were female, aged20-36 years with an average of 25 years. Eighteen patients included: 14 single mandibular angle hypertrophy, 3 mandibular angle hypertrophy with masseter hypertrophy, and 1 mandibular angle hypertrophy with bilateral asymmetry; 6 cases of ptosis of mandibular angle, 9 cases of prominent mandibular angle, and 3 cases of introversive mandibular angle. According to the types of mandibular angle hypertrophy, the surgical methods could be correctly chosen. The procedure was planned and simulated; the osteotomy l ine was marked and the osteotomy was measured on the workstations of three-dimensional reconstruction. Results No fracture of mandible occurred in the operation. Facial nerve temporary attack occurred in 1 case and recovered at 3 months after operation. All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 7.6 months). After 6 months of operation, the effectiveness was satisfactory in 15 cases, basically satisfactory in 2 cases, and unsatisfactory in 1 case (bilateral asymmetry). Conclusion Based on three-dimensional reconstruction technology of CT, surgical design performed on the model will promote the accuracy of operation. Basically symmetrical appearances can be achieved with satisfactory results.
To compare the effectiveness of dressing by a combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-Western medicine (WM) after TCM bath and by the silver sulfadiazine cream (SD-Ag) in treating residual deep burn wound. Methods A total of 128 cases of residual deep burn wound between July 2003 and December 2009 were randomly divided into the TCM-WM treatment group (70 cases) and the WM control group (58 cases). In the treatment group, there were 45 males and 25 females with an average age of 38.6 years (range, 18-60 years), including 34 cases of flame burns, 28 cases of molten steel burns, and 8 cases of chemical burns with an average burn area of 57.6% total body surface area (TBSA) and an average residual wound of 7.4% TBSA. In the control group, there were 50 males and 8 females with an average of 37.9 years (range, 20-59 years), including 26 cases of flame burns, 12 cases of hot water burns, 16 cases of molten steel burns, and 4 cases of chemical burns with an average burn area of 56.5% TBSA and an average residual wound of 6.9%TBSA. There was no significant difference in general data between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05), so the cl inical data of 2 groups had comparabil ity. In the treatment group, the patients had a bath with TCM, and then the wounds were treated with dressing change of combined TCM-WM. In the control group, the wounds were treated with SD-Ag after cleaning the wounds with chlorhexidine solution. The pain, wound heal ing time, and the rate of scar formation were observed in 2 groups after treatment. Results According to wound pain classification after medication, the results were excellent in 23 cases, good in 30 cases, fair in 17 cases in the treatment group; were excellent in 17 cases, good in 20 cases, fair in 13 cases, poor in 5 cases, and fairly poor in 3 cases in the control group. The wound heal ing time of the treatment group (13.45 ± 4.74) days was significantly shorter than that of the control group [(23.87 ± 14.45) days, P lt; 0.05)]. After 2 weeks of treatment, scar occurred in 15 patients (21.4%) of the treatment group and 35 patients (60.3%) of the control group, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Based on TCM bath, a combination of TCM-WM for the residual burn wounds is obviously superior to SD-Ag. It has the advantages of rapid heal ing, l ight pain, no obvious scar, and short hospital ization time.
【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of artifical humeral head replacement in treatment of complicatedfractures of the proximal humerus. Method Between January 2005 and January 2011, 18 patients with proximal humerusfracture were treated with artifical humeral head replacement. There were 8 males and 10 females with a mean age of 71 years (range, 52-84 years). Fractures were caused by falling in 11 cases, by traffic accident in 3 cases, and by bruise in 4 cases. The time between injury and admission was 2 hours to 3 days (mean, 1.5 days). According to Neer classification, 8 cases had three-part fracture, 7 four-part fracture, and 3 cleavage fracture of humeral head; 5 cases complicated by shoulder joint subluxation, 2 cases by femoral fracture, 1 case by radial fracture, and 11 cases by osteoporosis. All the patients were treated with modular cemented prostheses. Results The operation time was 60-180 minutes with an average of 80 minutes; the blood loss was 100-400 mL with an average of 200 mL. All incisions healed by first intention without infection or neurovascular injury. Sixteen patients were followed up 3 years on average (range, 1-6 years). No loosening, dislocation of prothesis or heterotopic ossification occurred. According to the Neer scores, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 8 cases, moderate in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case at 1 year after operation. The excellent and good rate was 81.2%. Conclusion Artificial humeral head replacement is a good therapy for patients with complicated fractures of the proximal humerus, especially for elderly patients.
Evidence-based evidence translated into health care services requires three conversion processes, preclinical research-clinical research-implementation research, which might take a very long time. In order to speed up the process of research results translated into daily medical practice and health policy, an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design combining the effectiveness research of clinical and implementation research was emerging. This paper introduced the concept, classification and application of effectiveness-implementation hybrid design, to provide references for researchers in this area.
Objectives To assess the clinical effectiveness of non-penetrating trabecular surgery versus trabeculectomy for open angle glaucoma. Methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (issue 2, 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to May 2008), EMbase (1980 to May 2008), and CMB-disk (1979 to May 2008). We also hand searched relevant journals and conference proceedings. Data were extracted by two reviewers independently using an extraction form. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 5.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Three RCTs involving 127 participants (144 eyes) with previously untreated open angle glaucoma were included. Meta-analysis showed that compared with non-penetrating trabecular surgery, trabeculectomy increased the proportion of patients with reduced postoperative intraocular pressure (WMD2.78, 95%CI 1.41 to 4.15), improved the operation success rate (RR 0.53, 95%CI 0.37 to 0.77), and reduced the use of postoperative antiglaucoma medication (WMD 0.96, 95%CI 0.84 to 1.08). Non-penetrating trabecular surgery reduced the incidence of postoperative complications (RR 17.00, 95%CI 8.36 to 26.00). Conclusion Since the sample sizes of the included trials are relatively small, and the two procedures are also related to progressive visual field loss and optic disk damage, more well-designed large-scale RCTs are required.
Objective To study the efficacy and safety of combined anti-tuberculosis regimen containing bedaquiline in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Methods A total of 69 MDR-TB patients treated by joint regimen combined bedaquiline with other anti-tuberculosis drugs between March 2018 and August 2019 in Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu were taken as the trial group, and 60 MDR-TB patients received treatment without bedaquiline between June 2016 and December 2017 in the same hospital were taken as the control group. The efficacy and safety of the two groups were compared. Results The 69 patients in the trial group included 44 males and 25 females, aged from 21 to 63 years, with an average of (34.6±11.0) years; 58 patients (84.1%) completed the 24-week treatment with bedaquiline, while 11 patients did not complete the treatment, including 3 deaths (4.3%), 1 loss of follow-up (1.4%), 1 withdrawal from the study (1.4%), and 6 discontinuation due to adverse events (8.7%). Among the 54 patients with positive results of tuberculosis on baseline sputum culture, 49 transformed to negative results within 24 weeks of treatment (the negative conversion rate was 90.7%), and the median negative conversion time was 13.0 weeks. The 60 patients in the control group included 45 males and 15 females, aged from 16 to 66 years, with an average of (35.5±13.2) years. Among the 53 patients with positive results of tuberculosis on baseline sputum culture, 30 transformed to negative results within 24 weeks of treatment (the negative conversion rate was 56.6%), and the median negative conversion time was 12.0 weeks. The negative conversion rate of sputum bacteria in the trial group was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=16.133, P<0.001). The most common adverse reactions in the trial group were liver function abnormalities (42 cases, 60.9%), prolonged QTc interval (37 cases, 53.6%), electrolyte disturbances (20 cases, 29.0%), and blood system damage (20 cases, 29.0%). In the 37 patients who experienced prolonged QTc interval, there were 8 patients with QTc intervals≥500 ms and 29 patients with QTc intervals ≥450 ms and <500 ms, with a median occurrence time of 16.0 weeks, among whom 25 patients experienced prolonged QTc interval in 4-48 weeks after the withdrawal of bedaquiline. Conclusion The negative conversion rate of tuberculosis sputum culture of patients with MDR-TB treated by bedaquiline combined with other anti- tuberculosis drugs is high, but electrocardiogram should be closely monitored during and after the treatment in order to guard against the potential cardiac toxic effects of bedaquiline.