A Comparison of the Assay Sensitivity of Average and Worst Pain Intensity in Pharmacologic Trials: An ACTTION Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Identifying methods to improve assay sensitivity in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) may facilitate the discovery of efficacious pain treatments. RCTs evaluating pain treatments typically use average pain intensity (API) or worst pain intensity (WPI) as the primary efficacy outcome. However, little evidence is available comparing the assay sensitivity of these 2 measures. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we comprehensively reviewed all low back pain, osteoarthritis pain, fibromyalgia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain, and postherpetic neuralgia RCTs that used a parallel group design. Eligibility required: 1) primary RCT report published between 1980 and 2016, 2) comparing 1 or more active, efficacious pharmacologic pain treatment(s) with placebo, and 3) providing data on the standardized effect size (SES) for API as well as WPI for all treatment arms. Twenty-seven active versus placebo comparisons were identified in 23 eligible articles. Using a random-effects meta-analysis, API SES and WPI SES did not differ significantly (difference?=??.021, 95% confidence interval = ?.047 to .004, P?=?.12). The findings indicate that, depending on the objectives of the study, either API or WPI could be used as a primary outcome measure in clinical trials for the chronic pain conditions included in this analysis.

Normal pulmonary artery and branch pulmonary artery sizes in children

To establish standards for pulmonary artery and branch pulmonary artery (PA and BPA) effective diameter (ED) and cross-sectional area (CSA) by using computed tomography (CT) data in children of a wide range of sizes and investigate the roundness of arteries. The ED (average of short and long axes) and CSA for the PA and BPA were measured using 1-mm collimation double-oblique reconstructions. Ordinary least squares regression was used to investigate models with various functional forms that related ED and CSA to patient size. Aspect ratio (AR), the short axis divided by long axis, was measured to evaluate roundness. The ideal diameter derived from CSA measurements was compared to ED, short axis, and long axis measurements. 108 CT examinations were analyzed in children without reason for abnormal PA size who ranged in age from 0 to 18 years (mean, 10.9 years; SD, 5.9 years). Interrater reliability was excellent. Data were modeled using a natural log-transformed response variable and a linear term for height as the independent variable. AR for the PA, right pulmonary artery, and left pulmonary artery measured <?0.9 for 38, 55, and 37%, respectively, indicating that many arteries are not round. Ideal diameter was not significantly different than ED but was for short- and long-axis diameter measurements. Normal ED and CSA for PA and BPA were determined for children of different sizes. Measurements outside of the normal range are consistent with dilatation or stenosis. Single diameter techniques are likely to introduce error.     

Antioxidant properties of flavonoid derivatives and their hepatoprotective effects on CCl4 induced acute liver injury in mice

Excessive accumulation of free radicals in the body can cause liver damage, aging, cancer, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Anastatin B, a skeletal flavonoid, was reported to have antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects. Anastatin B derivatives, compound 1 and 2, were synthesized by our group previously. In this study, their antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective mechanism were studied using chemical evaluation methods, a cellular model of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative damage, and a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury. Results from the chemical evaluation suggested that both compounds had good antioxidant power and radical scavenging ability in vitro. MTT assay showed that both compounds had cytoprotective activity in H₂O₂-treated PC12 cells. Moreover, their hepatoprotective activities evaluated using a mouse model of CCl₄-induced liver injury that compared with the model group, pretreatment with compound 1 and 2 significantly decreased alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; reduced the liver tissue damage; and increased glutathione content. However, compound 2 was a more effective hepatoprotectant than compound 1 was. Finally, the amount of TNF-α and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) were significantly downregulated in compound 1 and 2 pretreatment groups. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that both compounds have potential antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect in vitro and in vivo. Further chemo-biological study and investigation of the compounds'' enzymatic targets are ongoing.

Excessive accumulation of free radicals in the body can cause liver damage, aging, cancer, stroke, and myocardial infarction.     

贵州地区汉族居民糖尿病患病情况及相关危险因素研究

目的 了解贵州地区汉族居民空腹血糖水平,分析糖尿病相关危险因素。方法 采用多阶段整群抽样方法,选取20～80岁汉族居民进行调查。调查内容包括问卷调查、体格检查和实验室检测。比较城乡不同年龄、性别人群空腹血糖水平和糖尿病相关危险因素。结果 共纳入研究对象2 967人,城镇居民空腹血糖平均值高于农村(5.21 mmol/L vs. 5.03 mmol/L,P< 0.001),男性高于女性(5.23 mmol/L vs. 5.09 mmol/L,P=0.003),血糖水平有随年龄增长的趋势(P< 0.001)。城镇居民糖尿病标化患病率为6.01%(粗率7.45%),其中男性显著高于女性(P< 0.001),随年龄增长患病率升高。农村居民标化患病率为3.47%(粗率3.77%),性别差异无统计学意义,随年龄增长患病率升高。相同年龄性别下,≥40岁城镇居民患病率高于农村居民。糖尿病患者中知晓率为56.59%,治疗率为84.47%,控制率为41.38%。多因素分析显示,男性发病风险高于女性、年龄≥40岁发病风险升高、有糖尿病家族史、经常进行身体锻炼、高血压、高甘油三酯者糖尿病的发病风险增加。结论 贵州汉族居民糖尿病患病率较高,城乡患病率差异大,半数以上糖尿病患者治疗后血糖未达到控制水平,糖尿病知晓率、治疗率及控制率仍需进一步提高。     

中药正肝汤对乙型肝炎肝硬化患者血清瘦素、脂联素水平以及胰岛素抵抗影响的分析

目的 观察中药制剂正肝汤治疗乙型肝炎(乙肝)肝硬化患者对其血清瘦素(LEP)、脂联素(ADP)水平及胰岛素抵抗(IR)的影响。方法 将入选的66例乙肝肝硬化患者随机分为对照组(31例)和治疗组(35例), 其中对照组选用肌苷片和维生素C口服治疗, 治疗组在此基础上, 应用正肝汤治疗, 疗程为3个月, 测定治疗前后患者血清LEP、ADP水平及IR指数。结果 对照组血清LEP、ADP水平和IR指数与治疗前比较, 差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗组血清LEP、ADP水平和IR指数较治疗前明显下降, 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05), 治疗组血清LEP和ADP水平与对照组比较, 差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 正肝汤治疗乙肝肝硬化患者具有降低血清LEP、ADP水平, 并有改善IR的作用。     

孕前体重指数和孕中期体重增加对妊娠期糖尿病发病影响的队列研究

目的 探讨孕前BMI和孕中期体重增加对妊娠期糖尿病(GDM)患病的影响。方法 采用以孕妇人群作为基础的队列研究, 在安徽省马鞍山市妇幼保健院围生期门诊选取首次孕期体检、孕周≤14周、马鞍山市常住户口的孕妇, 首次、孕中期和孕晚期体检时分别填写问卷、测量身高和体重, 在24～28周接受75 g口服糖耐量试验(OGTT)进行GDM诊断, 并追踪记录分娩结局。使用t检验、方差分析、χ²检验和logistic回归模型进行分析。结果 孕妇GDM的发生率为14.73%, 孕前BMI与孕中期增重呈负相关(r=-0.085, P<0.01)。GDM孕妇孕中期增重多于正常孕妇。孕妇年龄≥35岁、孕前超重和肥胖及孕早期血糖水平升高是GDM的危险因素, OR值(95%CI)分别为3.06(1.68～5.58)、2.08(1.38～3.13)、3.73(1.84～7.56)和2.17(1.57～3.00)。结论 孕前超重和肥胖以及孕期体重增加是GDM的危险因素.     

《天津市控制吸烟条例》实施效果的综合评价

目的 比较《天津市控制吸烟条例》(条例)实施前后连续4年的变化,综合评价控烟的成效.方法 通过天津市发病登记系统收集的心肌梗死(心梗)就诊信息,采用The Survey System进行估算,抽取有代表性的室内场所样本量进行PM_2.5监测和现场观察,以及代表性的人群样本量开展拦截及入户调查.结果 条例实施后医疗卫生、教育和政府机构以及室内候车场所内张贴禁烟标志均有较大程度提高(P< 0.01);条例规定的9类主要公共场所吸烟现象均呈现下降(P< 0.05);全人群“二手烟”暴露率下降26.5%(P< 0.01),室内工作职业人群心梗入院频数随年份出现显著下降趋势(β=-0.061,P=0.00),而同期全人群的心梗就诊例数仍然呈上升趋势(β=0.059,P=0.00).结论 条例的实施对减少吸烟和“二手烟”危害起到促进作用,应广泛宣传控烟带来的健康效益和社会效益,以促进条例的全面落实.