In this paper, we introduce meaning and purpose of confidence interval (CI) in evidence-based medicine, For example, RRR ,ARR ,NNT. It s referance for user and doer of EBM in China.
ObjectiveTo set reference intervals of the levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies during three trimesters of pregnancy in Quanzhou city, Fujian province. MethodsA total of 490 pregnant women during 4-39 week pregnancy without presence of thyroid antibodies were enrolled in Quanzhou city, Fujian province. Levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) were detected through the electrochemistry immunoassay (ECL) method. In addition, a total of 51 healthy women without pregnancy were enrolled to set the reference intervals of levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies. ResultsThe median levels of TPO-Ab were in the reference intervals provided by the pharmaceutical factory. Levels of FT3 and FT4 gradually decreased from the first to the third trimester (P < 0.01), levels of serum TSH gradually increasd from the first to the third trimester (P < 0.01). Compared with those of pregnant women, levels of thyroid hormone in normal non-pregnant women were higher in the first trimester, lower in the second and the third trimesters (P < 0.01). During three trimesters, the reference intervals of FT3 in the three trimesters were (first: 3.75 to 7.23; second 3.31 to 4.9; and third: 3.16 to 4.48 pmol/L); the reference intervals of FT4 were (first: 12.85 to 25.3; second: 12.03 to 20.14; and third: 11.02 to 19.43 pmol/L); and the reference intervals of TSH were (first: 0.01 to 3.79; second: 1.09 to 4.19; and third: 1.08 to 5.95 mIU/L), respectively. ConclusionThrough this detection, we set the levels of thyroid hormones among normal pregnant women without presence of thyroid antibodies during three trimesters of pregnancy in Quanzhou city.
Objective To establish the reference intervals for platelet-related parameters among the elderly population in Longquanyi District, Chengdu. Methods From November 1st to December 31st 2021, elderly individuals aged between 60 and 80 years were selected from the Longquanyi branch of a natural population cohort study initiated by West China Hospital of Sichuan University in 2021. Complete blood cell analysis was performed to obtain the platelet-related parameters. IBM SPSS Statistics 25 software was used to analyze the data and establish the reference intervals for platelet-related parameters among the elderly population in Longquanyi District. Results A total of 1938 reference individuals were selected by inclusion and exclusion criteria, and finally 1669 reference individuals, including 665 males and 1004 females, were included to establish the reference intervals after excluding outliers. The reference range of blood platelet count was (95.03-301.32)×109/L for elderly men and (112.13-320.75)×109/L for elderly women, respectively. The reference range of mean platelet volume was 8.97-13.80 fL for elderly men and 9.10-13.90 fL for elderly women, respectively. The reference range of plateletcrit was 0.13%-0.30% for elderly men and 0.14%-0.32% for elderly women, respectively. The reference range of platelet distribution width was 15.80-16.90 for elderly men and 15.70-16.90 for elderly women, respectively. Conclusion It is of practical significance to establish platelet-related parameters in the elderly in local region.
Objective To establish a cooperative decision-making model of county-level public hospitals, so as to freely select the best partner in different decision-making units and promote the optimal allocation of medical resources. Methods The input and output data of 10 adjacent county-level public hospitals in Henan province from 2017 to 2019 was selected. Based on the traditional data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, a generalized fuzzy DEA cooperative decision-making model with better applicability to fuzzy indicators and optional decision-making units was constructed. By inputting index information such as total number of employees, number of beds, annual outpatient and emergency volume, number of discharged patients, total income and hospital grade evaluation, the cooperation efficiency intervals of different hospitals were calculated to scientifically select the best partner in different decision-making units.Results After substituting the data of 10 county-level public hospitals in H1-H10 into the model, taking H2 hospital as an example to make cooperative decision, among the four hospitals in H1, H2, H7 and H10 of the same scale, under optimistic circumstances, the best partner of H2 hospital was H7 hospital, and the cooperation efficiency value was 1.97; in a pessimistic situation, the best partner of H2 hospital was H10 hospital, and the cooperation efficiency value was 0.98. The model had good applicability in the cooperative decision-making of county-level public hospitals. Conclusion The generalized fuzzy DEA model can better evaluate the cooperative decision-making analysis between county-level public hospitals.
Objective To explore the difference of intervention effect between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCO were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) till May 2022. Two reviewers independently reviewed the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included RCTs. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software was used for meta-analysis. Result A total of 5 RCTs were included, including 216 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that: except fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index and body fat percentage (P>0.005), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [mean difference (MD)=−7.487 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−12.543, −2.431) mg/dL, P=0.004], total cholesterol [MD=−11.487 mg/dL, 95%CI (−16.523, −6.452) mg/dL, P<0.001], triglycerides [MD=−26.296 mg/dL, 95%CI (−50.557, −2.035) mg/dL, P=0.034] and diastolic blood pressure [MD=−2.770 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), 95%CI (−5.131, −0.409) mm Hg, P=0.021] of HIIT were better than MICT. Conclusion In terms of blood glucose indicators and morphological indicators, the effect of HIIT group and MICT group was similar, but the effect of HIIT on blood lipid indicators and blood pressure indicators of patients with MetS was better than MICT.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness and long-term stability of small fenestration vertebral bone grafting and transpedicular bone grafting in the treatment of Denis types A and B thoracolumbar burst fractures. Methods Between January 2012 and February 2014, 50 patients with Denis type A or B thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with vertebroplasty and pedicle screw rod fixation system, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Small fenestration vertebral bone grafting by trans-interlaminar approach was used in 30 cases (group A), and bone grafting by unilateral transpedicular approach was used in 20 cases (group B). X-ray and CT examinations of the thoracolumbar vertebrae were performed routinely before and after operation. There was no significant difference in sex, age, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, fracture type, injury segment, and preoperative Frankel classification, the percentage of the anterior body height of the injured vertebra, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score between two groups (P>0.05). There was significant difference in preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis between two groups (P<0.05). The Cobb angle of kyphosis, the percentage of the anterior body height of the injured vertebra, and the recovery of neurological function were recorded and compared between two groups. Results The patients were followed up for 16-31 months (mean, 19.1 months) in group A and for 17-25 months (mean, 20.2 months) in group B. Primary healing of incisions was obtained in the two groups; no nerve injury and other operative complications occurred. The neurological function was improved in varying degrees in the other patients with neurological impairment before operation except patients at grade A of Frankel classification. The lumbar back pain was relieved in two groups. There was significant difference in VAS score between before operation and at 3 months after operation or last follow-up in two groups (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 3 months and last follow-up in two groups and between two groups at each time point after operation (P>0.05). X-ray examination showed that there was no breakage of nail and bar, or dislocation and loosening of internal fixation during follow-up period. The bone grafts filled well and fused in the fractured vertebra. The vertebral height recovered well after operation. The percentage of the anterior body height of the in-jured vertebra and Cobb angle of kyphosis at 1 week, 3 months, and last follow-up were significantly better than preope-rative ones in two groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between different time points after operation (P>0.05), and between two groups at each time point after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion For Denis types A and B thoracolumbar burst fractures, vertebral bone grafting and pedicle screw internal fixation through interlaminal small fene-stration or transpedicular approach can restore the vertebral height, correct kyphosis, and maintain the vertebral stability, which reduce the risk of complications of loosening and breakage of internal fixators. The appropriate bone grafting approach can be chosen based on the degree of spinal canal space occupying, collapse of vertebral and spinal cord injury.
With the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, the development of cardiac rehabilitation is an inevitable trend. Cardiac rehabilitation is a comprehensive and long-term plan including medical assessment, exercise prescription, correction of cardiovascular risk factors, education, counseling, and behavioral intervention. Evidence-based medical evidence confirms that cardiac rehabilitation plays an important role in the three level prevention of cardiovascular disease. In this paper, we searched the literature in recent 10 years to explain the current situation and future research direction of cardiac rehabilitation, and explore the best mode of cardiac rehabilitation.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the intervention effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on weight loss and blood lipid metabolism in overweight/obese populations. MethodsThe computer conducted searches in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and WanFang Data database to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to HIIT and weight loss, fat reduction, and blood lipid metabolism in overweight/obese populations. The search was conducted from the inception of the databases to March 31, 2023. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening and data extraction. After evaluating the risk of bias of the included studies, a meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. ResultsA total of 19 RCTs, involving 595 overweight/obese participants, were included. The meta-analysis results showed that compared wtih the control group, HIIT interventions effectively reduced body weight (MD=−2.63, 95%CI −4.04 to −1.23, P<0.05), BMI (MD=−1.21, 95%CI −1.95 to −0.48, P<0.05), Fat% (MD=−1.66, 95%CI −2.28 to −1.04, P<0.05), TG (MD=−0.13, 95%CI −0.25 to −0.01, P=0.04), HDL (MD=0.14, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.23, P<0.05), and LDL (MD=−0.26, 95%CI −0.39 to −0.13, P<0.05) levels but did not improve TC (MD=−0.15, 95%CI −0.36 to 0.06, P=0.15) levels. ConclusionHIIT intervention can effectively improve body weight, BMI, Fat%, TG, HDL, and LDL levels in overweight/obese populations, particularly showing a more pronounced improvement in lipid profiles among overweight/obese adolescents, but it does not reduce TC levels. This study demonstrates that HIIT may be an effective strategy to assist in weight loss and prevent cardiovascular diseases in overweight/obese populations, with potential for broader application.
Most statistical data in observational studies is expressed as the effect value and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI), which do not correspond to the data format used for traditional meta-analyses, so special data conversion is to be needed when Review Manager software is applied to do a meta-analysis for this type of data, which will make the operation complicated and cumbersome. In addition, Stata software is such a powerful statistical software that can be used directly to conduct a meta-analysis with the effect value and its 95% CI. Therefore, it is an indispensable statistical tool for meta-analysis in observational studies. And this study will give a brief introduction how to use Stata software to conduct a meta-analysis with effect value and its 95% CI based on the published meta-analysis data.
To show that a new drug is better than, as good as, or no worse than that of a known effective drug. Theoretically, it is necessary to confirm the efficacy of a treatment, but the current practice of clinical trial suggests that there exists many problems in its confirmation including the objectives of clinical investigation vary based on the fact that more and more clinical trials use active controls. Applied statistical methods have to adapt to these changes. In this paper, we illustrated some statistical issues of confirming efficacy in clinical trials, including its conditions, the determination of clinical margin, the forms of the null and alternative hypothesis and confidence intervals, the choice of endpoints and some miscellaneous considerations. We bly suggests that it is necessary to make biostatisticians and clinical trialists understand the importance of using the right statistical methods when investigating clinical trials. We also think these methods introduced in the paper may provide some help in trial design and evaluation.