Caution! Overestimation of treatment effects of corticosteroid therapy for community-acquired pneumonia in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

It is well known that a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aims to increase the power and precision of the estimated intervention effects. However, when a meta-analysis includes a limited number of patients and a small number of events, overestimation of intervention effect estimates may occur and could cause spurious results. Although many biases can cause the overestimation, random error may be the most common cause. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) can explore the independent effect of random error on intervention effect estimates in meta-analyses and protect meta-analyses against overestimation due to random error.     

Heteroepitaxy of Cerium Oxide Thin Films on Cu(111)

An important part of fundamental research in catalysis is based on theoretical and modeling foundations which are closely connected with studies of single-crystalline catalyst surfaces. These so-called model catalysts are often prepared in the form of epitaxial thin films, and characterized using advanced material characterization techniques. This concept provides the fundamental understanding and the knowledge base needed to tailor the design of new heterogeneous catalysts with improved catalytic properties. The present contribution is devoted to development of a model catalyst system of CeO₂ (ceria) on the Cu(111) substrate. We propose ways to experimentally characterize and control important parameters of the model catalyst—the coverage of the ceria layer, the influence of the Cu substrate, and the density of surface defects on ceria, particularly the density of step edges and the density and the ordering of the oxygen vacancies. The large spectrum of controlled parameters makes ceria on Cu(111) an interesting alternative to a more common model system ceria on Ru(0001) that has served numerous catalysis studies, mainly as a support for metal clusters.     

扬州地区肝硬化食管静脉曲张初次出血80例患者诊治分析

目的探讨扬州地区肝硬化食管静脉曲张初次出血患者诊治特点。方法回顾性分析2010年1月-2013年12月苏北人民医院消化内科收治的80例肝硬化食管静脉曲张初次出血患者病例资料。计数资料用率或构成比表示,率的比较采用χ2检验。结果由乙型肝炎导致肝硬化所引起的食管静脉曲张破裂出血所占比例最大;三腔二囊管临床运用可最大限度地挽救患者生命,为后期治疗提供时间;基础治疗包括止血、输血、抑酸、补液等,后期以硬化剂、套扎、硬化剂+套扎、手术、经颈静脉肝内门体分流术(TIPS)为主,但套扎运用最为广泛;患者出血初期各项指标变化有利于指导临床治疗,对患者预后具有良好的评估作用。结论扬州地区肝硬化引起的食管静脉曲张破裂出血病因呈现复杂交叉性,治疗方法仍需进一步完善,以达到个体化治疗水平;及时正确的救治,对提高临床疗效、降低病死率有重要意义;早期的健康体检,对疾病诊治起关键性的作用。     

Lesion regression rate based on RECIST: prediction of treatment outcome in patients with head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy compared with FDG PET-CT

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the lesion regression rate (ΔLR) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria could be used for the prediction of treatment outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) compared with FDG PET-CT. A total of 33 patients underwent MRI and PET-CT at pretreatment and at 8 weeks after CRT. We assessed the treatment outcome by analyzing the following parameters: the RECIST criteria, ΔLR, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) criteria, and pretreatment SUV_max of the primary tumor and node. The correlation between the analysis of the parameters and the results of the long-term follow-up of the patients was determined. The RECIST did not significantly correlate with locoregional control (LRC) or survival. The ΔLR was significantly lower for the lesions with locoregional failure (LRF) than for those with LRC. A threshold ΔLR of 48% revealed a sensitivity of 72.7% and specificity of 77.3% for the prediction of LRF. Progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with ΔLR ≥ 48% was significantly better than that of patients with ΔLR < 48% (P = 0.001), but not overall survival. There was a significant correlation between LRC and the EORTC (P = 0.02). The patients who achieved a complete response by the EORTC criteria showed significantly better PFS and overall survival (P = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively). The ΔLR was inferior to FDG PET-CT with respect to the prediction of patient survival; however, it may be useful for selecting patients in need of more aggressive monitoring after CRT.     

Current status and challenges of Additive manufacturing in orthopaedics: An overview

Additive manufacturing is a rapidly emerging technology which is being successfully implemented in the various field of medicine as well as in orthopaedics, where it has applications in reducing cartilage defects and treatments of bones. The technology helps through systematic collection of information about the shape of the "defects" and precise fabrication of complex 3D constructs such as cartilage, heart valve, trachea, myocardial bone tissue and blood vessels. In this paper, a large number of the relevant research papers on the additive manufacturing and its application in medical specifically orthopaedics are identified through Scopus had been studied using Bibliometric analysis and application analysis is undertaken. The bibliometric analysis shows that there is an increasing trend in the research reports on additive manufacturing applications in the field of orthopaedics. Discussions are on using technological advancement like scanning techniques and various challenges of the orthopaedic being met by additive manufacturing technology. For patient-specific orthopaedic applications, these techniques incorporate clinical practice and use for effective planning. 3D printed models printed by this technology are accepted for orthopaedic surgery such as revision of lumbar discectomy, pelvic surgery and large scapular osteochondroma. The applications of additive manufacturing in orthopaedics will experience a rapid translation in future. An orthopaedic surgeon can convert need/idea into a reality by using computer-aided design (CAD) software, analysis software to facilitate the manufacturing. Thus, AM provides a comprehensive opportunity to manufacture orthopaedic implantable medical devices.     

Acute total hip arthroplasty for older patients with acetabular fractures: A meta-analysis

ObjectiveMultiple treatment options for acetabular fractures in geriatric patients exist. However, no large-scale studies have reported the outcomes of acute total hip arthroplasty (THA) in this patient population. We systematically evaluated all available evidence to characterize clinical outcomes, complications, and revisions of acute THA for acetabular fractures in geriatric patients.MethodsMeta-analysis of 21 studies of 430 acetabular fractures with mean follow-up of 44 months (range, 17−97 months). Two independent researchers searched and evaluated the databases of Ovid, Embase, and United States National Library of Medicine using a Boolean search string up to December 2019. Population demographics and complications, including presence of heterotopic ossification (HO), dislocation, infection, revision rate, neurological deficits, and venous thromboembolic event (VTE), were recorded and analyzed.ResultsWeighted mean Harris Hip Score was 83.3 points, and 20% of the patients had reported complications. The most common complication was HO, with a rate of 19.5%. Brooker grade III and IV HO rates were lower at 6.8%. Hip dislocation occurred at a rate of 6.1%, 4.1% of patients developed VTE, deep infection occurred in 3.8%, and neurological complications occurred in 1.9%. Although the revision rate was described in most studies, we were unable to perform a survival analysis because the time to each revision was described in only a few studies. The revision rate was 4.3%.ConclusionsAcute THA is a viable option for treatment of acetabular fracture and can result in acceptable clinical outcomes and survivorship rates in older patients but with an associated complication rate of approximately 20%. Considering the limited treatment options, THA might be a viable alternative for appropriately selected patients.     

基于子宫内膜异位症与恶性肿瘤的相关性探析补肾化瘀法作用机制及中医理论依据

子宫内膜异位症其异位内膜组织虽然在形态学上呈良性表现，却具有类似恶性肿瘤的生物学特性。中医学一般认为，“正虚伏邪”为恶性肿瘤的病机特点；那么，肾虚血瘀既属于“正虚伏邪”的范畴，又体现了EMs发病学和疾病发生、发展过程中的主要特点。在“病证相应”的中医治则之下，补肾化瘀法的临床疗效主要表现为：缓解痛经症状、提高受孕率，以及调整月经周期。本文基于EMs与恶性肿瘤的相关性，通过分析补肾化瘀法治疗EMs的理论依据及其抑制异位内膜侵袭的调控机制，主要包括解除免疫抑制、阻断局部微血管新生等，旨在阐明其疗效显著的原因，为临床推广提供可靠的基础研究证据。