Many meta-analysis studies evaluate rates as parameter to assess the overall estimate of effects. However, none of these studies address systematic approaches for the meta-analysis of rates. This paper outlines the conditions, analysis and software operation procedures for the meta-analysis of rates. It also compares different operation procedures of three types of commonly-used R software (Comprehensive Meta-Analysis, Stata and MetaAnalyst) through real application examples. The biggest challenge for the meta-analysis of rates is to determine whether rates can be pooled, and how to evaluate heterogeneity between studies' outcomes needs further discussion.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of irbesartan for hypertensive patients with hyperuricaemia. Methods The databases such as The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2010), MEDLINE (by the end of April 2010), SCI (by the end of April 2010), CBM (by the end of April 2010) and CNKI (by the end of April 2010) were searched to collected randomized controlled trails (RCTs) on irbesartan for hypertensive combined with hyperuricaemia. Studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria; data were extracted; the methodological quality was evaluated; and meta-analyses were conducted by using RevMan 5.0.0 software. Results Nine studies involving 977 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that compared with the control group, irbesartan was superior in decreasing serum uric acid (SUA) (MD=57.12, 95%CI 16.08 to 98.15, P=0.006); it was similar in controlling blood pressure (Systolic pressure: MD= –0.24, 95%CI –2.19 to 1.71, P=0.81; Diastolic pressure: MD=0.46, 95%CI –1.58 to 2.50, P=0.66), and lower in the incidence rate of adverse reaction (RR=0.07, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.24, P=0.000 1). Conclusion The study suggests that irbesartan is effective and safe to control blood pressure and decrease serum uric acid for hypertensive patients with hyperuricaemia. But because all nine included studies are graded C in quality, the conclusion still needs to be further verified by long-term, large scale and high quality studies.
ObjectiveTo systematically review clinical value of des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in the diagnostic of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC).MethodsDatabases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Medline (Ovid), CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data and CBM were electronically searched to collect relevant studies on DCP in the diagnosis of PHC from inception to December 31st, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using Meta-Disc 1.4 software and RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 50 studies involving 15 099 cases were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, pooled positive likelihood ratio, pooled negative likelihood ratio, pooled diagnostic odds ratio and area under the curve of SROC were 0.69 (95%CI 0.67 to 0.70), 0.89 (95%CI 0.89 to 0.90), 7.35 (95%CI 6.08 to 8.90), 0.31 (95%CI 0.27 to 0.35), 26.63 (95%CI 20.42 to 34.73) and 0.909 9, respectively.ConclusionsSerum DCP has higher diagnostic efficacy for PHC, especially with higher specificity of diagnosis. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above results should be validated by more studies.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the potential effectiveness of JinHuang powder in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). MethodsDatabases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CBM, WanFang data, VIP and CNKI were electronically searched from their inception to December 2013, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about JinHuang powder for DFUs. Two reviewers screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of included studies, and then meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsA total of 3 RCTs involving 198 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:the JinHuang powder group were superior to the control group in total effective rate (RR=1.25, 95%CI 1.10 to 1.41, P=0.00) and the wound healing time (SMD=-3.32, 95%CI -5.69 to -0.96, P=0.00). ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that the JinHuang powder is an effective therapeutic method for DFUs. Because of the limitations of quantity and quality of the eligible studies, large sample size studies are needed to validate the conclusion.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis. Methods We searched CBM (November 1979 to February 2006), Chinese Cochrane Centre Database (2005), The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2005), MEDLINE (November 1966 to February 2006) and EMBASE (1975 to February 2006) for randomize controlled trials. Data were extracted and analyzed using The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.7. Results Nine randomize controlled trials involving 512 patients met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that the total clinical effective rate and complete remission rate were not significantly higher for MMF than for cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, or both. Renal survival rate and relapse rate of MMF were not significantly different from those for cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, or both. Patient survival rate and safety of MMF were significantly improved compared with cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, or both. Conclusion More large-scale multi-center randomized trials are needed to investigate the role of MMF in the treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis.
Objective To assess the correlation between bispectral index (BIS) and richmond agitation sedation scale (RASS) and sedation-agitation scale (SAS) through the spearman correlation coefficient by systematic review. Methods Databases including PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library (Issue 7, 2016), CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data and CBM were searched from inception to July 2016 to collect literature on the correlation between BIS and RASS and SAS. The studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After extracting data and assessing the quality of the included studies, meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta Analysis 3.0 software. Results A total of 12 studies involving 397 patients were included. BIS was positively correlated with RASS score and SAS, and the summary correlation coefficient was 0.742 with 95% CI 0.678 to 0.795 and 0.605 with 95% CI 0.517 to 0.681, respectively. Conclusion BIS has a good correlation with RASS and SAS, which will provide more options for assessing sedation of patients with mechanical ventilation in ICU.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of metformin for metabolic syndrome. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, China Biological Medicine Database, VIP, and CMAC up to the year of 2007. Handsearches and additional searches were also conducted. Randomized controlled trials of metformin for metabolic syndrome were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data from eligible studies and evaluated the quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed for the results of homogeneous studies by The Cochrane Collaboration’s software RevMan 4.2.9. Results Six trials involving a total of 2442 patients with metabolic syndrome were included. Meta-analysis was not performed due to the apparent heterogeneity. Metformin, compared with placebo, exhibited more favorable effects in reducing the proportion of patients with metabolic syndrome (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.60), the proportion of patients with low HDL-c (RR 1.61, 95%CI 1.16 to 2.23), wide waist circumference (RR 1.64, 95%CI 1.06 to 2.55), and high FPG (RR 1.55, 95%CI 1.17 to 2.05). Metformin was also more effective in improving FPG and insulin sensitivity. The addition of metformin to atenolol plus nitrendipine was superior to atenolol plus nitrendipine alone in reducing the proportion of patients with high TG (RR 5.57, 95%CI 1.56 to 19.84), abdominal obesity (RR 14.47, 95%CI 3.34 to 62.61), and IGT (RR 16.51, 95%CI 6.06 to 45.0). Compared with low-fat diet therapy, metformin was superior in improving FPG, 2-hour postload plasma glucose, and insulin sensitivity. No differences were observed between metformin and acarbose in the reduction of TG and FPG, but metformin was less effective than acarbose in improving 2-hour postload plasma glucose. No adverse drug reactions were reported. Conclusion Metformin has beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of high FPG, IGT, and abdominal obesity. It also proved beneficial in reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and increasing insulin sensitivity. The therapeutic effects of metformin on blood pressure, obesity, and lipid profile are uncertain. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of metformin in the treatment of metabolic syndrome due to low methodological quality, small sample size, and limited number of trials. More high quality, large-scale randomized controlled trials are required.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy of His-bundle pacing (HBP) and right ventricular pacing (RVP).MethodsPubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMbase, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies on efficacy of HBP and RVP from inception to December, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 8 studies involving 1 130 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: HBP group was superior to RVP group in QRS duration (MD=–43.88, 95%CI –52.53 to –35.22, P<0.000 01), LVEF (MD=4.53, 95%CI 2.67 to 6.38, P<0.000 01), and NYHA (MD=–0.85, 95%CI –1.14 to –0.56, P<0.000 01). However, the operation time (MD=15.21, 95%CI 11.44 to 18.98, P<0.000 01) and fluoroscopy duration (MD=2.98, 95%CI 2.10 to 3.85, P<0.000 01) of HBP group were longer than that of RVP group.ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that, compared with RVP, HBP is superior in maintaining of QRS duration, LVEF and NYHA; however, the operation time is longer. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are required to verify above conclusion.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of FTY720 (fligolimod) in different dosages in the treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), so as to provide references for clinical practice. Methods Such databases as MEDLINE, EMbase, The Cochrane Liabrary, CBM and CNKI were searched for collecting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of FTY720 in the treatment of RRMS, which were published from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2010. The studies were retrieved and the data were extracted according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the quality of included studies was evaluated with improved Jadad scale, and the Meta-analyses were performed with RevMan5.1 software. Results Three high quality RCTs were included. The Meta-analyses showed that: a) compared with the control group, orally taking FTY720 could obviously decreased the annualized relapse rate (OR=-6.67, 95%CI -10.75 to -2.60, P=0.001), the confirmed disability progression rate (OR=0.64, 95%CI 0.47 to 0.87, P=0.004), and the incidence rate of intensified lesion on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans (OR=0.28, 95%CI 0.21 to 0.37, Plt;0.00001); b) There was no significant difference (P=0.55) between the small dosage (0.5mg/d) group and the big dosage (1.25mg/d) group of FTY720; and c) The incidence of adverse events was significantly different among the 3 dosage groups (5mg/d, 1.25mg/d and 0.5mg/d), and the minimum dosage group (0.5mg/d) was safer than the other groups. Conclusion FTY720 is safe to treat RRMS, and it can obviously decrease the annualized relapse rate, confirmed disability progression rate and incidence rate of intense lesion on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans. There is no dosage-effect relationship found in treating RRMS with FTY720 in different dosages, but the 0.5mg/d FTY720 as the minimum dosage is the safest.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of different dual antiplatelet therapies in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods Such databases as The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data were searched to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies on the effectiveness and safety of dual antiplatelet therapies both short-duration (≤6 months) and long-duration (gt;6 months) after percutaneous coronary intervention. The literature was screened according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria by two reviewers independently, the quality was evaluated, the data were extracted, and meta-analyses were performed by using RevMan 5.1 software. Results Eight trials were included, of which 3 were RCTs involving 7 475 patients, and 5 were observational studies involving 12 744 patients. Meta-analyses on RCTs showed that the incidence of death or myocardial infarction in the long-duration treatment group was lower than that of the short-duration treatment group (OR=0.74, 95%CI 0.56 to 0.98, Plt;0.000 1), while meta-analyses on observation studies showed the similar result (OR=0.7, 95%CI 0.45 to 1.08, P=0.11). With the variables of published year and follow-up time, the heterogeneity of cohort studies was discussed through meta-regression (Z=3.61, P=0.000) which indicated that both published year and follow-up time might be the source of heterogeneity due to their contribution. For RCTs, the incidence of severe bleeding events in the short-duration treatment group was lower than that in the long-duration treatment group (OR=1.29, 95%CI 0.99 to 1.69, P=0.06). For observational studies, the incidence of late stent thrombosis in the long-duration treatment group was lower than that in the short-duration treatment group (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.15 to 1.07, P=0.07). Conclusion The long duration (gt;6months) of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention can reduce the incidence of death or myocardial infarction and decrease the tendency of late stent thrombosis, but cannot obviously increase the incidence rate of severe bleeding events. The current evidence shows no marked superiority in longer duration (gt;12months) of dual antiplatelet therapy.