Rao Sun

Safety and efficacy of a new parenteral lipid emulsion (Smof) for surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

To assess the comparative safety and efficacy of a new parenteral lipid emulsion containing soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOFlipid20%) for postoperative patients, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted. Six RCTs with a total of 306 patients were included in the analysis. The overall quality of evidence for each outcome was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) software. Compared with a soybean-based (Lipoven20%) and a soybean- and olive oil-based (ClinOleic20%) lipid emulsion, SMOFlipid20% was associated with lower levels of hepatic enzymes, suggesting less toxicity. Changes in low-density lipoprotein triglyceride and C-reactive protein levels were also lower with SMOFlipid20% compared with Lipoven20%. Differences between SMOFlipid20% and a lipid emulsion containing medium- and long-chain triglycerides (MCT/LCT20%) were not statistically significant. For all trials, there were no significant differences in adverse events and length of hospital stay. The quality of evidence from the RCTs evaluating SMOF20% versus Lipoven20% was moderate, while most of the evidence from RCTs of SMOF20% versus ClinOleic20% and MCT/LCT20% lipid emulsions was low.

Quality and transparency of overviews of systematic reviews

Objective: To evaluate the reporting and methodological quality of overviews of systematic reviews.

Overview of Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews about Gastric Cancer Risk and Protective Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE A comprehensive overall review of gastric cancer (GC) risk and protective factors is a high priority, so we conducted the present study. METHODS Systematic searches in common medical electronic databases along with reference tracking were conducted to include all kinds of systematic reviews (SRs) about GC risk and protective factors. Two authors independently selected studies, extracted data, and evaluated the methodological qualities and the quality of evidence using R-AMSTAR and GRADE approaches. RESULTS Beta- carotene below 20 mg/day, fruit, vegetables, non-fermented soy-foods, whole-grain, and dairy product were GC protective factors, while beta-carotene 20 mg/day or above, pickled vegetables, fermented soy-foods, processed meat 30 g/d or above, or salty foods, exposure to alcohol or smoking, occupational exposure to Pb, overweight and obesity, helicobacter pylori infection were GC risk factors. So we suggested screening and treating H. pylori infection, limiting the amount of food containing risk factors (processed meat consumption, beta-carotene, pickled vegetables, fermented soy-foods, salty foods, alcohol), stopping smoking, avoiding excessive weight gain, avoidance of Pb, and increasing the quantity of food containing protective components (fresh fruit and vegetables, non-fermented soy-foods, whole-grain, dairy products). CONCLUSIONS The conclusions and recommendations of our study were limited by including SRs with poor methodological bases and low quality of evidence, so that more research applying checklists about assessing the methodological qualities and reporting are needed for the future.

The Efficacy and Safety of Different Kinds of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Network Meta Analysis of 43 Randomized Controlled Trials

Background and Objective We conducted a network meta analysis (NMA) to compare different kinds of laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC] (single port [SPLC], two ports [2PLC], three ports [3PLC], and four ports laparoscopic cholecystectomy [4PLC], and four ports mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy [mini-4PLC]). Methods PubMed, the Cochrane library, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched to find randomized controlled trials [RCTs]. Direct pair-wise meta analysis (DMA), indirect treatment comparison meta analysis (ITC) and NMA were conducted to compare different kinds of LC. Results We included 43 RCTs. The risk of bias of included studies was high. DMA showed that SPLC was associated with more postoperative complications, longer operative time, and higher cosmetic score than 4PLC, longer operative time and higher cosmetic score than 3PLC, more postoperative complications than mini-4PLC. Mini-4PLC was associated with longer operative time than 4PLC. ITC showed that 3PLC was associated with shorter operative time than mini-4PLC, and lower postoperative pain level than 2PLC. 2PLC was associated with fewer postoperative complications and longer hospital stay than SPLC. NMA showed that SPLC was associated with more postoperative complications than mini-4PLC, and longer operative time than 4PLC. Conclusion The rank probability plot suggested 4PLC might be the worst due to the highest level of postoperative pain, longest hospital stay, and lowest level of cosmetic score. The best one might be mini-4PLC because of highest level of cosmetic score, and fewest postoperative complications, or SPLC because of lowest level of postoperative pain and shortest hospital stay. But more studies are needed to determine which will be better between mini-4PLC and SPLC.

Shenqi Fuzheng Injection （参芪扶正注射液） for Advanced Gastric Cancer： A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (参芪扶正注射液, SFI) combined with chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 10 databases were searched for this meta-analysis till December 31, 2012 without language restriction. Grey literature and potential unpublished literature was also searched. The key search terms were “chemotherapy”, “Shenqi Fuzheng Injection” and “advanced gastric cancer”. Criteria were built to select these clinical trials, in which SFI combined with chemotherapy was compared with chemotherapy alone for advanced gastric cancer. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. RevMan 5.1 software was applied for data analyses.ResultsThirteen RCTs involving 860 patients met the selection criteria (all articles were from Chinese databases). The meta-analysis showed positive results for the use of SFI combined with chemotherapy according to quality of life in terms of the scores when compared with chemotherapy alone. Positive results were also obtained for the combination treatment, in terms of complete remission and partial remission efficacy rate, body weight and decreased adverse events including nausea and vomiting at grade 3–4, oral mucositis at grade 1–2, leucopenia at grade 3–4, and myelo-suppression at grade 1–2.ConclusionsThis systematic review found encouraging albeit limited evidence for SFI combined with chemotherapy. However, to obtain stronger evidence without the drawbacks of trial design and the quality of studies, we recommend comparative effectiveness researches to test the effectiveness of combination treatment.

Does Overweight Affect Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Gastrectomy for Cancer? A Meta-analysis of 25 Cohort Studies

OBJECTIVE Overweight was regarded as one of the risk factors for poor outcome after gastrectomy, but its influence on the surgical and postoperative outcomes of gastrectomy was unclear. METHODS Comprehensive searches were conducted to include cohort studies which evaluated the influence of overweight on the surgical and postoperative outcomes of gastrectomy. Data was analyzed by RevMan 5.0. RESULTS Twenty-five cohort studies (18 518 patients) were included. Overweight patients were associated with longer operation time (mean difference 20.88, 95% confidence interval 14.07, 27.69), more intraoperative blood loss (mean difference 35.45, 95% confidence interval 9.24, 61.67), and less retrieved lymph nodes (mean difference -2.17, 95% confidence interval -3.51, -0.83) than normal patients undergoing laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy. And overweight patients were associated with longer operation time (mean difference 26.31, 95% confidence interval 21.92, 30.70), more intraoperative blood loss (mean difference 130.02, 95% confidence interval 75.49, 184.55), less retrieved lymph nodes (mean difference -3.18, 95% confidence interval -4.74, -1.61), longer postoperative hospital stay (mean difference 2.37, 95% confidence interval 0.03, 4.70) and more postoperative complications (risk ratio 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.29, 1.80) than normal patients in open gastrectomy. CONCLUSIONS Overweight might affect the clinical results of both laparoscopy-assisted and open gastrectomy, especially for open gastrectomy.

Effect of ephedrine on intubating conditions created by propofol and rocuronium: a meta-analysis

Objective To evaluate the effect of ephedrine on intubation conditions (ICs) one minute after anesthesia induction using propofol and rocuronium.