The tools used for the literature quality evaluation are introduced. The common evaluation tools that are publicly and extensively used for the evaluation of clinical trial literature quality in the world are analyzed, including Jadad scale, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement and Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system and the others. Additionally, the present development, updates and applications of these tools are involved in analysis.
Biomedical Research ; standards ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Publications ; standards ; Quality Control

Objective To explore the atopic condition of children with stable asthma and their parents by detecting total IgE concentration in serum and collecting history. Methods Fifteen children with asthma in remission stage and 24 parents and 40 normal children were involved in this study. The concentrations of serum total IgE were measured with UniCAP Pharmacia system. The history including eczema and allergic rhinitis and asthma of children and parents were collected. Skin test with 10 kinds of inhalant allergens were taken in children with asthma. Results Of 15 children with asthma, 13 cases (86.7%)had eczema in infant stage and allergic rhinitis, 13 parents(86.7%)had allergic rhinitis or asthma. There was significant difference in the stable asthmatic children compared with parents and normal control group increased amounts of serum total lg IgE(F=68.42 P=0). There was significant difference in serum total lg IgE in patients group(2.43?0.73)kU/L compared with that in normal control group(0.72?0.54)kU/L (q=14.176 P0.05). Twelve children were positive in skin test, which were mainly dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and dermatophagoides farinae.Conclusions There is obvious congregate phenomena of atopy in the family of asthmatic children. The continuous high IgE concentration was associated with immune pathological mechanisms of atopic diseases.

Objective To assess the clinical value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in detecting left ventricular systolic function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).Methods 34 patients with PAF and 34 matched subjects were included.The strains of the left ventricular 17 segments (longitudinal and radial strain) were acquired using 3D-STI.Results Compared with the controls,the strains were decreased in the posterior wall,the inferior wall and the posterior septum below the left ventricular papillary muscle level in the PAF group,the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05),while there were no significant differences in other segments (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Left ventricular systolic function in patients with PAF was decreased,but the decreased degree of the segments was not all the same.3D-STI can evaluate left ventricular systolic function in patients with PAF and provide valuable clinical information.

Objective To evaluate the histologic changes in the dermis and the changes of the rate of type Ⅲ and type Ⅰ collagen by the radiofrequency device. Methods The effects of radiofrequency current on the dermis were observed. Ten rabbits were treated by radiofrequency, and the histologic change in the dermis were observed by H-E staining and Sirius red staining. Results After RF treatment, the fibers in the dermis appeared more compact and the quantity of the type Ⅲ (red) and type Ⅰ (green) collagen were both increased. The fibers in the dermis appeared more compact and the rate of type Ⅲ and type Ⅰ collagen was increased. It was also found that a significant proliferation of dermal collagen was observed in 8 days after treatment. As time went by, the proliferation of dermal collagen was more pronounced, and the rate of type Ⅲ was increased. Conclusion The radiofrequency current can increase the quantity of collagen in the dermis and increase the rate of type Ⅲ and type Ⅰ collagen, which may be one of the key mechanisms of facial rejuvenation by RF.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed at finding sensitive indicators in diagnosing facial growth pattern by studying the relationship between the indicators which can reflect facial growth pattern according to the previous studies and posterior-anterior ratio.

METHODSThe cephalometric radiographs of 61 teenage children were measured, the posterior-anterior ratio and the other 12 indicators including Y-axis angle, facial axis angle, cranial basal angle, and the four angles (The sagittal horizontal planes were analyzed using statistic methods.

RESULTSThe MP-SN angle was significantly coincided with the posterior-anterior ratio and Pearson coefficient is -0.922, and little correlation was found between the angles of four sagital horizontal planes and the posterior-anterior ratio. The positive correlation was found between the length of mandibular ramus and posterior-anterior ratio.

CONCLUSIONThe sensitive indicators for confirming facial growth pattern are the posterior-anterior ratio and the MP-SN angle.

Adolescent ; Cephalometry ; Child ; Dental Occlusion ; Face ; anatomy & histology ; Facial Bones ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Maxillofacial Development ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the combination of Bushen Xuguan Recipe (BXR) and Ruan-jian Huayu Recipe (RHR) on the matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) expression of rats with endometriosis (EMS), and to study the pathogenesis and mechanism of EMS.

METHODSThe EMS rat model was established. Successfully modeled female SD rats were randomly divided into the combination group (BXR+RHR), the RHR group, and the model group. And a normal control group was set up. After 4 weeks of medicinal treatment, rats were sacrificed in the oestrus cycle. MMP-2 distribution and the staining density in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of the rats were observed under microscope. The MMP-2 expression was determined by immunohistochemical assay (SP method).

RESULTSThe MMP-2 expression in the ectopic endometrial tissues of rats in the model group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the MMP-2 expression decreased in the combination group and the RHR group (P<0.05). The therapeutic effect of the combination group was most obvious by observing the distribution of MMP-2 and changes of positive staining.

CONCLUSIONSThe occurrence of EMS was correlated with increased activities of MMP-2. The combination method could inhibit the activities of MMP-2 in the ectopic endometrial tissues of EMS rats more effectively than RHR alone, which might be achieved through improving the endocrine environment, and reducing the "invasion" capability of the ectopic endometrium.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast on inflammatory factors in children with asthma.Methods Eighty children with moderate asthma who aged 6-14 years old were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups:5 mg once daily montelukast,or inhaled 100 ?g twice daily budesonide and 5 mg montelukast with inhaled budesonide 100 ?g per day.Each dose group received medicine for 12 weeks.Before starting therapy and 12 months later,clinical effects were observed,and pulmonary function was measured in patients simultaneously;concentrations of serum and sputum eosinophil cationic protein(ECP), IL-5 and TNF-? were measured respectively;also the peripheral blood eosinophil (Eos)was counted.Results Following treatment,clinical evaluation was improved and there were significant increases in pulmonary function in asthmatic children.Compared with control group,the levels of serum ECP,IL-5,TNF-? and blood Eos counting increased significantly in asthmatic children.The blood Eos counting was significantly correlated with ECP concentration in serum of children with asthma(P

Teaching method for basal experiment, comprehensive experiment, design experiment and teach- ing practice in food microiological analysis were elaborated completely, and design experimental teaching was discussed stress. At the same time, Through introducing various experience of the design experiment teaching, resolvent and way of thinking against problem meeted in design experiment teaching were put forward.

Objective To confirm the effect of cigarette smoking on β-cell function, and further investigate the mediation effect of abdominal obesity. Methods Participants would include 1440 Chinese smokers who had participated in a community-based chronic disease screening project in Guangzhou and Zhuhai from 2006 to 2007. They were interviewed with structured questionnaire on their socio-demographic status and smoking behaviors. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and fasting serum C-peptide concentration were also measured. Results After adjustment for the potential confounding factors, when compared with smokers with consumption 1-10 cigarettes/day, smokers with consumption of 11-20 cigarettes/day (adjusted OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.22-1.90) or ＞20 cigarettes/day (adjusted OR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.32-2.79) had significant higher risks to get C-peptide concentration larger than its median. Furthermore, 37.54% of the effect of cigarette smoking on C-peptide concentration was partially mediated by abdominal obesity. Conclusion Cigarette smoking might be a risk factor for β-cell dysfunction and abdominal obesity.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of Dalitong Granule (DG) combined proton pump inhibitors (PPI) on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

METHODSTotally 186 patients with GERD were randomly assigned to three groups, i.e., the control group A (61 cases, only PPI group, Rabeprazole Capsule 20 mg, once daily), the control group B (61 cases, PPI with domperidone group, Rabeprazole 20 mg, once daily; Domperidone 10 mg each time, thrice daily), and the experimental group (64 cases, PPI + DG group, Rabeprazole 20 mg, once daily; DG, 6 g each time, thrice daily). The treatment lasted for 4 weeks for all. The symptom scoring, the overall efficacy, local efficacy, and adverse drug reactions were compared among the three groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSTotally 183 patients completed the experiment. After 4 weeks of treatment, the symptom scores in the three groups were significantly lowered. It was the lowest in the experimental group with statistical difference (P < 0.01). The markedly effective rate and the effective rate of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control A and B groups. The local markedly effective rate and the effective rate of the reflux esophagitis (RE) in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control A and B groups (P<0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the three groups during the treatment period.

CONCLUSIONDG combined PPI could improve the symptoms of GERD safely and effectively.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Rabeprazole ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult