Comparison of efficacy and safety of daily oral L-arginine and PDE5Is alone or combination in treating erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

The meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of daily oral L-arginine and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) alone or combination in treating patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). We performed a search of randomised controlled trials in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Four articles including 373 patients were studied. Erectile functions were significantly improved in three therapy groups compared with baseline. Patients who received the combination of L-arginine and PDE5Is showed significant improvement compared to those treated with L-arginine and PDE5Is alone, as assessed by sexual function index (p <0.00001 and p =0.005, respectively) and total testosterone (p <0.00001 and p =0.0007, respectively). Furthermore, patients who treated with PDE5Is alone exhibited the better efficacy than those treated with L-arginine alone in respects of sexual function index (p <0.00001) and total testosterone (p =0.0001). However, the combination of L-arginine and PDE5Is had no obvious difference relative to PDE5Is alone in terms of various adverse events (AEs). Conclusively, compared with monotherapy, the combination of L-arginine and PDE5Is showed a greater improvement of sexual function and total testosterone, and did not significantly increase the AEs. Besides, PDE5Is alone revealed a better effect than those treated with L-arginine alone for patients with ED.     

Early-rectal Cancer Treatment: A Decision-tree Making Based on Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Local excision (LE) has arisen as an alternative to total mesorectal excision for the treatment of early rectal cancer. Despite a decreased morbidity, there are still concerns about LE outcomes.This systematic-review and meta-analysis design is based on the “PICO” process, aiming to answer to three questions related to LE as primary treatment for early-rectal cancer, the optimal method for LE, and the potential role for completion treatment in high-risk histology tumors and outcomes of salvage surgery.The results revealed that reported overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 71%–91.7% and 80%–94% for LE, in contrast to 92.3%–94.3% and 94.4%–97% for radical surgery. Additional analysis of National Database studies revealed lower OS with LE (HR: 1.26; 95%CI, 1.09–1.45) and DSS (HR: 1.19; 95%CI, 1.01–1.41) after LE. Furthermore, patients receiving LE were significantly more prone develop local recurrence (RR: 3.44, 95%CI, 2.50–4.74). Analysis of available transanal surgical platforms was performed, finding no significant differences among them but reduced local recurrence compared to traditional transanal LE (OR:0.24;95%CI, 0.15–0.4). Finally, we found poor survival outcomes for patients undergoing salvage surgery, favoring completion treatment (chemoradiotherapy or surgery) when high-risk histology is present.In conclusion, LE could be considered adequate provided a full-thickness specimen can be achieved that the patient is informed about risk for potential requirement of completion treatment. Early-rectal cancer cases should be discussed in a multidisciplinary team, and patient's preferences must be considered in the decision-making process.     

基于一测多评多组分定量质控联合主成分分析、正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析及熵权逼近理想解排序法的盐沙苑子饮片综合质量评价

目的 建立一测多评（quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single-marker,QAMS）法同时检测盐沙苑子饮片中杨梅素、扁蓄苷、杨梅素-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷、毛蕊异黄酮葡萄糖苷、西伯利亚落叶松黄酮、沙苑子苷B、沙苑子苷A、毛蕊异黄酮、芒柄花素、鼠李柠檬素、豆甾醇、胡萝卜苷、β-谷甾醇含量的方法,并采用主成分分析法（principal component analysis,PCA）、正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析（orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis,OPLS-DA）法及熵权逼近理想解排序（entropy weight-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution,EW-TOPSIS）法对其质量进行评价。方法 采用Lichrospher C18色谱柱;乙腈-0.2%磷酸水溶液为流动相梯度洗脱。以沙苑子苷A为内参物,建立内参物与其他12个待测成分的相对校正因子（relative co...     

Systematic review of outcomes and meta-analysis of risk factors for prognosis after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis

Long-term overall survival (OS) after liver resection for non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (NCHCC) has been reported recently. The aim of this study was to review outcomes systematically and analyze risk factors for survival after surgical resection for HCC without cirrhosis. A literature search was performed of the PubMed and Embase databases for papers published between January 1995 and October 2012, which focused on hepatic resection for HCC without underlying cirrhosis. Cochrane systematic review methodology was used for this review. Outcomes were OS, operative mortality and disease-free survival (DFS). Pooled hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using the random effects model for parameters considered as potential prognostic factors. Totally, 26 retrospective case series were eligible for inclusion. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rate after surgical resection of NCHCC ranged from 62% to 100%, 46.3%–78.0%, and 30%–64%, respectively. The corresponding DFS rates ranged from 48.7% to 84%, 31.0%–66.0%, and 24.0%–58.0%, respectively. Five variables were related to poor survival: multiple tumors (HR 1.68, 95%CI 1.25–2.11); larger tumor size (HR 2.66, 95%CI 1.69–3.63); non-clear resection margin (R0 resection) (HR 3.52, 95%CI 1.63–5.42); poor tumor stage (HR 2.61, 95%CI 1.64–3.58); and invasion of the lymphatic vessels (HR 4.85, 95%CI 2.67–7.02). In sum, hepatic resection provides excellent OS rates for patients with NCHCC, and results have tended to improve recently. Risk factors for poor prognosis comprise multiple tumors, lager tumor size, non-R0 resection and invasion of the lymphatic vessels.     

The anterior versus posterior approach for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety between anterior and posterior approach, and determine the best surgical methods for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the cervical spine.Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang Med Data databases from January 2007 to March 2018. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, cervical lordosis, functional recovery rates, excellent and good outcomes of the surgical approaches, and complication and reoperation rates were analyzed. RevMan 5.3 was utilized for data analysis.Results: Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis. By comparing the anterior and posterior approaches for the treatment of OPLL in the cervical spine, statistically significant differences were found in the preoperative initial JOA, the postoperative final JOA scores, functional recovery rates, complication rates, excellent and good outcomes of the surgical approaches and reoperation rates. However, no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of the preoperative and postoperative cervical lordosis was noted.Conclusion: The anterior approach is superior to the posterior approach in terms of the postoperative final JOA score, functional recovery rate, and clinical outcomes. Although the complication and reoperation rates of the anterior approach are higher than those of the posterior approach. We recommend the anterior approach for the treatment of OPLL when patients with occupying ratio ≥ 60%. In addition, high-quality studies with long-term follow-up and large sample size are also needed.