Objective:To summarize the characteristics and evaluate the quality of the methodology and evidence within systematic reviews(SRs)of Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)inchildren.Metho...Objective:To summarize the characteristics and evaluate the quality of the methodology and evidence within systematic reviews(SRs)of Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)inchildren.Methods:SRs of randomized controlled trials were searched using PubMed,the Cochrane Library,Embase,the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases(CNKI),the Chinese Scientific Journals Database(VIP),Wanfang,and the SinoMed Database.SRs on the use of CHM alone or in combination with Western medications for MPP in children were included.The study compared the effects of Western medicine alone with those of CHM.The evidence quality using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews(AMSTAR)2,the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)2020,and the Grading of Recommendations,Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)criteria.The primary indicators were the total effective rate,fever subsidence time,and cough disappearance time.The secondary outcomes were pulmonary rale disappearance time,average hospitalization time,lung X-ray infiltrate disappearance time,immunological indices,and inflammatory cytokine levels.Results:Twelve relevant SRs were included;75%(9/12)were assessed as very low quality,and 25%(3/12)Were rated as low quality using the AMSTAR 2 criteria.According to the PRISMA 2020 checklist,the average SR score was 20.3 out of a 27 point maximum.In all SRs,CHM demonstrated improvement in symptoms and signs among children with MPP.The evidence quality using the GRADE criteria ranged from"very low"(>50%)to"moderate"(<5%).The most common downgrading factor was imprecision,followed by publication bias and inconsistency.Conclusion:This overview highlights the limited quality of the methodology and evidence of the included SRs.Although the included studies showed the beneficial effects of CHM on MPP in children,it was difficult to draw firm conclusions owing to methodological flaws.展开更多
The development of microbial herbicide for weed control has been serious- ly regarded all over the world and has made rapid progress in recent years. This paper presents a comprehensive review on domestic and abroad r...The development of microbial herbicide for weed control has been serious- ly regarded all over the world and has made rapid progress in recent years. This paper presents a comprehensive review on domestic and abroad research progress of microbial herbicide and mainly introduces the microbial herbicide products and mi- crobial sources with commercialization potential, and then proposes an outlook for their development tendency and application prospect.展开更多
Przewalskia tangutica Maxim. （Solanaceae： Przewalskia） is a perennial herbaceous plant, which is endemic to Tibet and is a rare and endangered Tibetan medicinal plant. In this paper, the morphological characteristi...Przewalskia tangutica Maxim. （Solanaceae： Przewalskia） is a perennial herbaceous plant, which is endemic to Tibet and is a rare and endangered Tibetan medicinal plant. In this paper, the morphological characteristics, seed germination, tissue culture, flower development characteristics, chemical composition, element content and resource characteristics of P. tangutica are summarized and analyzed. Combined with the survival status of P. tangutica, it is suggested that the research on ecological adaptation, survival mechanism, endangerment mechanism and eco- logical functions of P. tangutica should be strengthened.展开更多
This paper deals with an overview of primatological literature in China. The total number of publications was 2 052 from 1870-2001. Two peaks in the number of publications occurred during 1950-1965 and 1978-2001, resp...This paper deals with an overview of primatological literature in China. The total number of publications was 2 052 from 1870-2001. Two peaks in the number of publications occurred during 1950-1965 and 1978-2001, respectively. In 2 052 publications, most of them were published by the science-research sector, accounting for 54.2% of total publications. The percentage of publications from the science-research sector has been increasing over time, however, the contribution from the foreign sector has produced a contrary trend. Over 9% of total publications were indexed by SCI. The highest percentage of publications indexed by SCI took place during 1966-1977. In all publications indexed by SCI, those from the science-research sector dominated other sectors （59.1% of total publications）. However, the foreign sector led with 30.1% of its own publications being in SCI. Studies of primatology were divided into nine areas. The percentage and change in percentage of publications in areas of primatology were counted. During 1978-2001 ecology and behaviour, neurobiology, reproduction and captive feeding were rapidly developing;fossil primates, morphology and anatomy decreasing;and taxonomy and distribution, cellular and molecular evolution became relatively poor. Increasing attention was paid to conservation biology. Prevention and control of diseases was fairly well studied in periods Ⅱ （1950-1965） and Ⅳ （1978-2001）. The number of authors was highest during period Ⅳ, however, the mean number of publications per author in period Ⅳ was not as high as in period Ⅰ （1870-1949）. Generally speaking, Chinese authors dominated the authors included in SCI. However in period Ⅰ, the sole author indexed by SCI was a foreign scholar, and foreign scholars comprised 60% of indexed authors in period Ⅲ （1966-1977）.展开更多
Artificial intelligence(AI)is a new technical discipline that uses computer technology to research and develop the theory,method,technique,and application system for the simulation,extension,and expansion of human int...Artificial intelligence(AI)is a new technical discipline that uses computer technology to research and develop the theory,method,technique,and application system for the simulation,extension,and expansion of human intelligence.With the assistance of new AI technology,the traditional medical environment has changed a lot.For example,a patient’s diagnosis based on radiological,pathological,endoscopic,ultrasonographic,and biochemical examinations has been effectively promoted with a higher accuracy and a lower human workload.The medical treatments during the perioperative period,including the preoperative preparation,surgical period,and postoperative recovery period,have been significantly enhanced with better surgical effects.In addition,AI technology has also played a crucial role in medical drug production,medical management,and medical education,taking them into a new direction.The purpose of this review is to introduce the application of AI in medicine and to provide an outiook of future trends.展开更多
A plant-based diet consists of all minimally processedfruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,herbs, and spices and excludes all animal products, includ-ing red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy p...A plant-based diet consists of all minimally processedfruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,herbs, and spices and excludes all animal products, includ-ing red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.展开更多
Background: Functional constipation(FC) is one of the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders. Dissatisfaction with medications prescribed to treat FC may lead patients to seek alternative treatments. Num...Background: Functional constipation(FC) is one of the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders. Dissatisfaction with medications prescribed to treat FC may lead patients to seek alternative treatments. Numerous systematic reviews(SRs) examining the use of acupuncture to treat FC have reported inconsistent results, and the quality of these studies has not been fully evaluated.Objective: In this overview, we evaluated and summarized clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating FC and evaluated the quality and bias of the SRs we reviewed.Search strategy: The search strategy was structured by medical subject headings and search terms such as‘‘acupuncture therapy" and ‘‘functional constipation." Electronic searches were conducted in eight databases from their inception to September 2020.Inclusion criteria: SRs that investigated the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for managing FC were included.Data extraction and analysis: Two authors independently extracted information and appraised the methodology, reporting accuracy, quality of evidence, and risk of bias using the following critical appraisal tools:(1) A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2);(2) Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews(ROBIS);(3) Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for Acupuncture(PRISMA-A);and(4) the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations(GRADE). A j index was used to score the level of agreement between the 2 reviewers.Results: Thirteen SRs that examined the clinical utility of acupuncture for treating FC were identified.Using the AMSTAR 2 tool, we rated 92.3%(12/13) of the SRs as ‘‘critically low" confidence and one study as ‘‘low" confidence. Using the ROBIS criteria, 38.5%(5/13) of the SRs were considered to have ‘‘low risk"of bias. Based on PRISMA-A, 76.9%(10/13) of the SRs had over 70% compliance with reporting standards.The inter-rater agreement was good for AMSTAR 2, ROBIS, and PRISMA-A. Using the GRADE tool, we classified 22.5%(9/40) of the measured outcomes as ‘‘moderate" quality, 57.5%(23/40) as ‘‘low" quality, and 20.0%(8/40) as ‘‘very low" quality. The inter-rater agreement was moderate when using GRADE.Descriptive analyses indicated that acupuncture was more efficacious than sham acupuncture for improving weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements(CSBMs) and for raising the Bristol Stool Form Scale(BSFS) score. Acupuncture appeared to be superior to anti-constipation drugs for improving weekly spontaneous bowel movements, the total effective rate, and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score. Although ten SRs mentioned the occurrence of adverse events, serious adverse events were not associated with acupuncture treatment.Conclusion: Acupuncture may be more efficacious than sham acupuncture for improving CSBMs and BSFS scores and may be superior to anti-constipation drugs for improving bowel movement frequency, as well as quality of life. Limitations to current studies and inconsistent evidence suggest a need for more rigorous and methodologically sound SRs to draw definitive conclusions.展开更多
Objective:To assess the reliability of the methodological quality and outcome measures of systematic reviews(SR)/meta-analysis of premature ovarian insufficiency(POI) treated with acupuncture.Methods:SR/meta-analysis ...Objective:To assess the reliability of the methodological quality and outcome measures of systematic reviews(SR)/meta-analysis of premature ovarian insufficiency(POI) treated with acupuncture.Methods:SR/meta-analysis of POI treated with acupuncture were searched on POI from the databases including PubMed,Web of Science,EMBase,the Cochran Library,Chinese biomedical literature database(SinoMed),China journal full-text database(CNKI),Wanfang data knowledge service platform(Wanfang)and VIP information Chinese periodical service platform(VIP),from inception to 1 st May 2021.Using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2) scale and Grades of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE) system,the methodological quality and outcome measures of the included studies were appraised.Results:Ten articles of SR/meta-analysis were included,published from 2015 to 2020.Using AMSTAR 2,5 articles of SR/meta-analysis were rated as critical low quality in methods,3 articles as low quality,and2 articles as moderate quality.The results of GRADE showed that among the 50 outcomes the quality of evidence of 22 outcomes was very low,that of 25 outcomes was low and that of 3 outcomes was moderate.Conclusion:The methodological quality and the reliability of outcome measures were not high in existing SR/meta-analysis on POI treated with acupuncture,which may affect the translation of the SR/metaanalysis findings into clinical practice.It is necessary to further strengthen the methodological quality and reporting standard of SR/meta-analysis,as well as the robustness of design and implementation of randomized controlled trials(RCTs),in order to generate high quality evidences for clinical decision-making and practice.展开更多
In the past decade there has been extensive research into tropical intraseasonal variability, one of the major components of the low frequency variability of the general atmospheric circulation. This paper briefly rev...In the past decade there has been extensive research into tropical intraseasonal variability, one of the major components of the low frequency variability of the general atmospheric circulation. This paper briefly reviews the state-of-the-art in this research area: the nature of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, its relation to monsoonal and extratropical circulations, and the current theoretical understandings.展开更多
Bone is an architecturally complex system that constantly undergoes structural and functional optimisation through renewal and repair.The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is among the most frequently used instrument...Bone is an architecturally complex system that constantly undergoes structural and functional optimisation through renewal and repair.The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is among the most frequently used instruments for examining bone.It offers the key advantage of very high spatial resolution coupled with a large depth of field and wide field of view.Interactions between incident electrons and atoms on the sample surface generate backscattered electrons,secondary electrons,and various other signals including X-rays that relay compositional and topographical information.Through selective removal or preservation of specific tissue components (organic,inorganic,cellular,vascular),their individual contribution(s) to the overall functional competence can be elucidated.With few restrictions on sample geometry and a variety of applicable sample-processing routes,a given sample may be conveniently adapted for multiple analytical methods.While a conventional SEM operates at high vacuum conditions that demand clean,dry,and electrically conductive samples,non-conductive materials (e.g.,bone) can be imaged without significant modification from the natural state using an environmental scanning electron microscope.This review highlights important insights gained into bone microstructure and pathophysiology,bone response to implanted biomaterials,elemental analysis,SEM in paleoarchaeology,3D imaging using focused ion beam techniques,correlative microscopy and in situ experiments.The capacity to image seamlessly across multiple length scales within the meso-micro-nano-continuum,the SEM lends itself to many unique and diverse applications,which attest to the versatility and user-friendly nature of this instrument for studying bone.Significant technological developments are anticipated for analysing bone using the SEM.展开更多
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)affects more than one-quarter of the global population.Due to the lack of approved chemical agents,many patients seek treatment from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)f...BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)affects more than one-quarter of the global population.Due to the lack of approved chemical agents,many patients seek treatment from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)formulas.A variety of systematic reviews have been published regarding the effectiveness and safety of TCM formulas for NAFLD.AIM To critically appraise available systematic reviews and sort out the high-quality evidence on TCM formulas for the management of NAFLD.METHODS Seven databases were systematically searched from their inception to 28 February 2020.The search terms included“non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,”“Chinese medicines,”“systematic review,”and their synonyms.Systematic reviews involving TCM formulas alone or in combination with conventional medications were included.The methodological quality and risk of bias of eligible systematic reviews were evaluated by using A Measure Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2)and Risk of Bias in Systematic Review(ROBIS).The quality of outcomes was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)system.RESULTS Seven systematic reviews were ultimately included.All systematic reviews were conducted based on randomized controlled trials and published in the last decade.According to the AMSTAR 2 tool,one systematic review was judged as having a moderate confidence level,whereas the other studies were rated as having a low or extremely low level of confidence.The ROBIS tool showed that the included systematic reviews all had a high risk of bias due to insufficient consideration of identified concerns.According to the GRADE system,only two outcomes were determined as high quality;namely,TCM formulas with the HuoXueHuaYu principle were better than conventional medications in ultrasound improvement,and TCM formulas were superior to antioxidants in alanine aminotransferase normalization.Other outcomes were downgraded to lower levels,mainly because of heterogeneity among studies,not meeting optimal information sample size,and inclusion of excessive numbers of small sample studies.Nevertheless,the evidence quality of extracted outcomes should be further downgraded when applying to clinical practice due to indirectness.CONCLUSION The quality of available systematic reviews was not satisfactory.Researchers should avoid repeatedly conducting systematic reviews in this area and focus on designing rigorous randomized controlled trials to support TCM formula applications.展开更多
Background:As a traditional treatment method,cupping therapy is widely used in Asian countries.This overview of systematic reviews (SRs) investigated the effectiveness and safety of cupping therapy through an evidence...Background:As a traditional treatment method,cupping therapy is widely used in Asian countries.This overview of systematic reviews (SRs) investigated the effectiveness and safety of cupping therapy through an evidence-based approach.Methods:SRs that assessed the effectiveness of cupping therapy for any type of disease were searched through 6 electronic databases.Target diseases,cupping methods,numbers and types of included studies,quality of included trials,main results (including meta-analysis re sults),and authors' conclusions of SRs were extracted.The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews measurement was used to evaluate methodologic quality of the SRs.Results Eight SRs met the inclusion criteria and effectiveness and safety of cupping therapy for 11 diseases were assessed.All included SRs were of good methodologic quality.However,quality of trials included in the SRs was generally poor.Meta-analysis was performed in 4 studies.Results:showed cupping therapy (alone or combined with other interventions) was better than medications (or other interventions alone) for herpes zoster,acne,facial paralysis,low back pain,or cervical spondylosis.One review reported adverse events,including hematoma,increased pain and tingling following cupping treatment.Conclusions:Cupping therapy may be beneficial for pain-related conditions,acne,and facial paralysis.However,a firm conclusion could not be drawn due to the insufficient number of included reviews and the low quality of the original studies.展开更多
基金supported by the Evidence-based Capacity Building Project of Traditional Chinese medicine of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(60102)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Public Welfare Research Institutes(49425).
文摘Objective:To summarize the characteristics and evaluate the quality of the methodology and evidence within systematic reviews(SRs)of Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)inchildren.Methods:SRs of randomized controlled trials were searched using PubMed,the Cochrane Library,Embase,the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases(CNKI),the Chinese Scientific Journals Database(VIP),Wanfang,and the SinoMed Database.SRs on the use of CHM alone or in combination with Western medications for MPP in children were included.The study compared the effects of Western medicine alone with those of CHM.The evidence quality using the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews(AMSTAR)2,the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)2020,and the Grading of Recommendations,Assessment,Development,and Evaluation(GRADE)criteria.The primary indicators were the total effective rate,fever subsidence time,and cough disappearance time.The secondary outcomes were pulmonary rale disappearance time,average hospitalization time,lung X-ray infiltrate disappearance time,immunological indices,and inflammatory cytokine levels.Results:Twelve relevant SRs were included;75%(9/12)were assessed as very low quality,and 25%(3/12)Were rated as low quality using the AMSTAR 2 criteria.According to the PRISMA 2020 checklist,the average SR score was 20.3 out of a 27 point maximum.In all SRs,CHM demonstrated improvement in symptoms and signs among children with MPP.The evidence quality using the GRADE criteria ranged from"very low"(>50%)to"moderate"(<5%).The most common downgrading factor was imprecision,followed by publication bias and inconsistency.Conclusion:This overview highlights the limited quality of the methodology and evidence of the included SRs.Although the included studies showed the beneficial effects of CHM on MPP in children,it was difficult to draw firm conclusions owing to methodological flaws.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31101483)Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest(No.201303031)Project of Youth Fund of Hunan Agricultural University(No.12QN09)~~
文摘The development of microbial herbicide for weed control has been serious- ly regarded all over the world and has made rapid progress in recent years. This paper presents a comprehensive review on domestic and abroad research progress of microbial herbicide and mainly introduces the microbial herbicide products and mi- crobial sources with commercialization potential, and then proposes an outlook for their development tendency and application prospect.
文摘Przewalskia tangutica Maxim. （Solanaceae： Przewalskia） is a perennial herbaceous plant, which is endemic to Tibet and is a rare and endangered Tibetan medicinal plant. In this paper, the morphological characteristics, seed germination, tissue culture, flower development characteristics, chemical composition, element content and resource characteristics of P. tangutica are summarized and analyzed. Combined with the survival status of P. tangutica, it is suggested that the research on ecological adaptation, survival mechanism, endangerment mechanism and eco- logical functions of P. tangutica should be strengthened.
文摘This paper deals with an overview of primatological literature in China. The total number of publications was 2 052 from 1870-2001. Two peaks in the number of publications occurred during 1950-1965 and 1978-2001, respectively. In 2 052 publications, most of them were published by the science-research sector, accounting for 54.2% of total publications. The percentage of publications from the science-research sector has been increasing over time, however, the contribution from the foreign sector has produced a contrary trend. Over 9% of total publications were indexed by SCI. The highest percentage of publications indexed by SCI took place during 1966-1977. In all publications indexed by SCI, those from the science-research sector dominated other sectors （59.1% of total publications）. However, the foreign sector led with 30.1% of its own publications being in SCI. Studies of primatology were divided into nine areas. The percentage and change in percentage of publications in areas of primatology were counted. During 1978-2001 ecology and behaviour, neurobiology, reproduction and captive feeding were rapidly developing;fossil primates, morphology and anatomy decreasing;and taxonomy and distribution, cellular and molecular evolution became relatively poor. Increasing attention was paid to conservation biology. Prevention and control of diseases was fairly well studied in periods Ⅱ （1950-1965） and Ⅳ （1978-2001）. The number of authors was highest during period Ⅳ, however, the mean number of publications per author in period Ⅳ was not as high as in period Ⅰ （1870-1949）. Generally speaking, Chinese authors dominated the authors included in SCI. However in period Ⅰ, the sole author indexed by SCI was a foreign scholar, and foreign scholars comprised 60% of indexed authors in period Ⅲ （1966-1977）.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81974355).
文摘Artificial intelligence(AI)is a new technical discipline that uses computer technology to research and develop the theory,method,technique,and application system for the simulation,extension,and expansion of human intelligence.With the assistance of new AI technology,the traditional medical environment has changed a lot.For example,a patient’s diagnosis based on radiological,pathological,endoscopic,ultrasonographic,and biochemical examinations has been effectively promoted with a higher accuracy and a lower human workload.The medical treatments during the perioperative period,including the preoperative preparation,surgical period,and postoperative recovery period,have been significantly enhanced with better surgical effects.In addition,AI technology has also played a crucial role in medical drug production,medical management,and medical education,taking them into a new direction.The purpose of this review is to introduce the application of AI in medicine and to provide an outiook of future trends.
文摘A plant-based diet consists of all minimally processedfruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,herbs, and spices and excludes all animal products, includ-ing red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.8207455481774430)the Foundation of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province,China(No.2021YJ0197)。
文摘Background: Functional constipation(FC) is one of the most prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders. Dissatisfaction with medications prescribed to treat FC may lead patients to seek alternative treatments. Numerous systematic reviews(SRs) examining the use of acupuncture to treat FC have reported inconsistent results, and the quality of these studies has not been fully evaluated.Objective: In this overview, we evaluated and summarized clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating FC and evaluated the quality and bias of the SRs we reviewed.Search strategy: The search strategy was structured by medical subject headings and search terms such as‘‘acupuncture therapy" and ‘‘functional constipation." Electronic searches were conducted in eight databases from their inception to September 2020.Inclusion criteria: SRs that investigated the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for managing FC were included.Data extraction and analysis: Two authors independently extracted information and appraised the methodology, reporting accuracy, quality of evidence, and risk of bias using the following critical appraisal tools:(1) A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2);(2) Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews(ROBIS);(3) Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for Acupuncture(PRISMA-A);and(4) the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations(GRADE). A j index was used to score the level of agreement between the 2 reviewers.Results: Thirteen SRs that examined the clinical utility of acupuncture for treating FC were identified.Using the AMSTAR 2 tool, we rated 92.3%(12/13) of the SRs as ‘‘critically low" confidence and one study as ‘‘low" confidence. Using the ROBIS criteria, 38.5%(5/13) of the SRs were considered to have ‘‘low risk"of bias. Based on PRISMA-A, 76.9%(10/13) of the SRs had over 70% compliance with reporting standards.The inter-rater agreement was good for AMSTAR 2, ROBIS, and PRISMA-A. Using the GRADE tool, we classified 22.5%(9/40) of the measured outcomes as ‘‘moderate" quality, 57.5%(23/40) as ‘‘low" quality, and 20.0%(8/40) as ‘‘very low" quality. The inter-rater agreement was moderate when using GRADE.Descriptive analyses indicated that acupuncture was more efficacious than sham acupuncture for improving weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements(CSBMs) and for raising the Bristol Stool Form Scale(BSFS) score. Acupuncture appeared to be superior to anti-constipation drugs for improving weekly spontaneous bowel movements, the total effective rate, and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score. Although ten SRs mentioned the occurrence of adverse events, serious adverse events were not associated with acupuncture treatment.Conclusion: Acupuncture may be more efficacious than sham acupuncture for improving CSBMs and BSFS scores and may be superior to anti-constipation drugs for improving bowel movement frequency, as well as quality of life. Limitations to current studies and inconsistent evidence suggest a need for more rigorous and methodologically sound SRs to draw definitive conclusions.
基金Supported by National Key R&D Program of China2019YFC1712200International standards research on clinical research and service of AcupunctureMoxibustion2019YFC1712205。
文摘Objective:To assess the reliability of the methodological quality and outcome measures of systematic reviews(SR)/meta-analysis of premature ovarian insufficiency(POI) treated with acupuncture.Methods:SR/meta-analysis of POI treated with acupuncture were searched on POI from the databases including PubMed,Web of Science,EMBase,the Cochran Library,Chinese biomedical literature database(SinoMed),China journal full-text database(CNKI),Wanfang data knowledge service platform(Wanfang)and VIP information Chinese periodical service platform(VIP),from inception to 1 st May 2021.Using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2) scale and Grades of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE) system,the methodological quality and outcome measures of the included studies were appraised.Results:Ten articles of SR/meta-analysis were included,published from 2015 to 2020.Using AMSTAR 2,5 articles of SR/meta-analysis were rated as critical low quality in methods,3 articles as low quality,and2 articles as moderate quality.The results of GRADE showed that among the 50 outcomes the quality of evidence of 22 outcomes was very low,that of 25 outcomes was low and that of 3 outcomes was moderate.Conclusion:The methodological quality and the reliability of outcome measures were not high in existing SR/meta-analysis on POI treated with acupuncture,which may affect the translation of the SR/metaanalysis findings into clinical practice.It is necessary to further strengthen the methodological quality and reporting standard of SR/meta-analysis,as well as the robustness of design and implementation of randomized controlled trials(RCTs),in order to generate high quality evidences for clinical decision-making and practice.
文摘In the past decade there has been extensive research into tropical intraseasonal variability, one of the major components of the low frequency variability of the general atmospheric circulation. This paper briefly reviews the state-of-the-art in this research area: the nature of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, its relation to monsoonal and extratropical circulations, and the current theoretical understandings.
基金Financial support is acknowledged from the Swedish Research Council(K2015-52X-09495-28-4)Svenska Sallskapet for Medicinsk Forskning(SSMF)postdoctoral scholarship,the ALF/LUA Research Grant(ALFGBG-448851)
文摘Bone is an architecturally complex system that constantly undergoes structural and functional optimisation through renewal and repair.The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is among the most frequently used instruments for examining bone.It offers the key advantage of very high spatial resolution coupled with a large depth of field and wide field of view.Interactions between incident electrons and atoms on the sample surface generate backscattered electrons,secondary electrons,and various other signals including X-rays that relay compositional and topographical information.Through selective removal or preservation of specific tissue components (organic,inorganic,cellular,vascular),their individual contribution(s) to the overall functional competence can be elucidated.With few restrictions on sample geometry and a variety of applicable sample-processing routes,a given sample may be conveniently adapted for multiple analytical methods.While a conventional SEM operates at high vacuum conditions that demand clean,dry,and electrically conductive samples,non-conductive materials (e.g.,bone) can be imaged without significant modification from the natural state using an environmental scanning electron microscope.This review highlights important insights gained into bone microstructure and pathophysiology,bone response to implanted biomaterials,elemental analysis,SEM in paleoarchaeology,3D imaging using focused ion beam techniques,correlative microscopy and in situ experiments.The capacity to image seamlessly across multiple length scales within the meso-micro-nano-continuum,the SEM lends itself to many unique and diverse applications,which attest to the versatility and user-friendly nature of this instrument for studying bone.Significant technological developments are anticipated for analysing bone using the SEM.
基金Evidence-based Capacity Building Project for Basic Traditional Chinese Medicine-Specialized Diseases,No.2019XZZX-XH012Shanghai Three-year Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.ZY(2018-2020)-CCCX-2002-01.
文摘BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)affects more than one-quarter of the global population.Due to the lack of approved chemical agents,many patients seek treatment from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)formulas.A variety of systematic reviews have been published regarding the effectiveness and safety of TCM formulas for NAFLD.AIM To critically appraise available systematic reviews and sort out the high-quality evidence on TCM formulas for the management of NAFLD.METHODS Seven databases were systematically searched from their inception to 28 February 2020.The search terms included“non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,”“Chinese medicines,”“systematic review,”and their synonyms.Systematic reviews involving TCM formulas alone or in combination with conventional medications were included.The methodological quality and risk of bias of eligible systematic reviews were evaluated by using A Measure Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2)and Risk of Bias in Systematic Review(ROBIS).The quality of outcomes was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation(GRADE)system.RESULTS Seven systematic reviews were ultimately included.All systematic reviews were conducted based on randomized controlled trials and published in the last decade.According to the AMSTAR 2 tool,one systematic review was judged as having a moderate confidence level,whereas the other studies were rated as having a low or extremely low level of confidence.The ROBIS tool showed that the included systematic reviews all had a high risk of bias due to insufficient consideration of identified concerns.According to the GRADE system,only two outcomes were determined as high quality;namely,TCM formulas with the HuoXueHuaYu principle were better than conventional medications in ultrasound improvement,and TCM formulas were superior to antioxidants in alanine aminotransferase normalization.Other outcomes were downgraded to lower levels,mainly because of heterogeneity among studies,not meeting optimal information sample size,and inclusion of excessive numbers of small sample studies.Nevertheless,the evidence quality of extracted outcomes should be further downgraded when applying to clinical practice due to indirectness.CONCLUSION The quality of available systematic reviews was not satisfactory.Researchers should avoid repeatedly conducting systematic reviews in this area and focus on designing rigorous randomized controlled trials to support TCM formula applications.
基金Huijuan Cao,Mei Han,and Jianping Liu are supported by the Research Capacity Establishment Grant(No.2013-ZDXKKF)the Innovative Research Team(No.2011-CXTD-09)from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
文摘Background:As a traditional treatment method,cupping therapy is widely used in Asian countries.This overview of systematic reviews (SRs) investigated the effectiveness and safety of cupping therapy through an evidence-based approach.Methods:SRs that assessed the effectiveness of cupping therapy for any type of disease were searched through 6 electronic databases.Target diseases,cupping methods,numbers and types of included studies,quality of included trials,main results (including meta-analysis re sults),and authors' conclusions of SRs were extracted.The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews measurement was used to evaluate methodologic quality of the SRs.Results Eight SRs met the inclusion criteria and effectiveness and safety of cupping therapy for 11 diseases were assessed.All included SRs were of good methodologic quality.However,quality of trials included in the SRs was generally poor.Meta-analysis was performed in 4 studies.Results:showed cupping therapy (alone or combined with other interventions) was better than medications (or other interventions alone) for herpes zoster,acne,facial paralysis,low back pain,or cervical spondylosis.One review reported adverse events,including hematoma,increased pain and tingling following cupping treatment.Conclusions:Cupping therapy may be beneficial for pain-related conditions,acne,and facial paralysis.However,a firm conclusion could not be drawn due to the insufficient number of included reviews and the low quality of the original studies.
