Background Low-back pain(LBP)in nurses is a major health concern that affects their quality of life and ability to work,with consequences for their economic status.Objective This study evaluates the effect of low-leve...Background Low-back pain(LBP)in nurses is a major health concern that affects their quality of life and ability to work,with consequences for their economic status.Objective This study evaluates the effect of low-level laser acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure(LAA)on pain intensity,pain interference and quality of life in nurses with LBP.Design,setting,participants and interventions This randomized controlled trial recruited a convenience sample of hospital-based nurses from one teaching hospital in Taiwan,China.Participants were randomly assigned to the LAA group(n=38)receiving low-level laser acupuncture and auricular acupressure for 4 weeks,and the control group(n=38)receiving only sham laser acupuncture treatment without laser energy output.Main outcome measures Data were collected for the primary pain outcome using the Short Form of the Brief Pain Inventory,while the secondary outcome,quality of life,was evaluated using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.Both primary and secondary outcomes were scored before the intervention,and after 2-week and 4-week intervention.The rate of LBP recurrence was evaluated at the 4th week and 8th week after the end of intervention.Results After controlling for prior pain,the result of linear mixed model analysis showed trends in significant between-group differences in the level of current pain occurring in week 4(P<0.001),worst pain in week 2(P<0.001)and week 4(P<0.001),least pain in week 2(P=0.032)and week 4(P<0.001),pain interference in week 2(P=0.009)and week 4(P<0.001),and in the life dysfunction in week 2(P<0.001)and week 4(P<0.001).Recurrence rates of LBP at the 4th and 8th weeks after the end of intervention were 0%and 36.89%in the LAA group,and 69.44%and 36.11%in the control group.Conclusion This study shows that 4-week LAA intervention reduced pain intensity and pain interference,and improved quality of life for hospital-based nurses with LBP.These effects were maintained continuously for at least 4 weeks after the intervention.The nonpharmacolog展开更多
BACKGROUND Corneal neovascularization(CoNV)is the second major cause of blindness.Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)inhibitors,e.g.,bevacizumab,have been used to prevent CoNV.AIM We conducted an updated systemat...BACKGROUND Corneal neovascularization(CoNV)is the second major cause of blindness.Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)inhibitors,e.g.,bevacizumab,have been used to prevent CoNV.AIM We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to examine the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF in CoNV.METHODS A literature search was conducted using three electronic databases.Mean difference(MD),standard mean difference(SMD),and relative risk(RR)are used to estimate the effect size.RESULTS Nine randomized controlled and three non-randomized trials were obtained.The pooled results demonstrated a significant reduction of CoNV area/Length(SMD=-1.17,95%CI:-1.58 to-0.75),best corrected visual acuity(MD=-0.54,95%CI:-0.91 to-0.17),and graft rejection(RR=0.44,95%CI:0.24 to 0.8)and failure(RR=0.39,95%CI:0.19 to 0.78)rates in the anti-VEGF group than the placebo group.A non-significant reduction of the epithelial defect was also observed in the bevacizumab group compared with the placebo(RR=0.56,95%CI:0.30 to 1.06).Compared with a placebo,the unsynthesizable trials also support that bevacizumab improves visual acuity,CoNV,graft rejection,and failure rates.Trials reporting other comparisons revealed the superiority of combined remedy with bevacizumab compared to other treatments in reducing CoNV.CONCLUSION Anti-VEGF agents,mainly bevacizumab,are an effective and safe treatment for CoNV of all causes and prevent corneal graft rejection and failure in corneal transplantation.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the applicability of nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication in Chinese regions.METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled ...AIM: To evaluate the applicability of nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication in Chinese regions.METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to evaluate the efficacy of nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy between sequential therapy or triple therapy for H. pylori eradication in Chinese regions. The defined Chinese regions include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The primary outcome was the H. pylori eradication rate; the secondary outcome was the compliance with therapy. The Pub Med, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published in the period up to March 2016 with no language restriction.RESULTS: We reviewed six randomized controlled trials and 1616 patients. In 3 trials comparing concomitant quadruple therapy with triple therapy, the H. pylori eradication rate was significantly higher for 7-d nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than for 7-d triple therapy(91.2% vs 77.9%, risk ratio = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.09-1.25). In 3 trials comparing quadruple therapy with sequential therapy, the eradication rate was not significant between groups(86.9% vs 86.0%). However, higher compliance was achieved with concomitant therapy than with sequential therapy.CONCLUSION: The H. pylori eradication rate was higher for nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than for triple therapy. Moreover, higher compliance was achieved with nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than with sequential therapy. Thus, nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy should be the first-line treatment in Chinese regions.展开更多
文摘Background Low-back pain(LBP)in nurses is a major health concern that affects their quality of life and ability to work,with consequences for their economic status.Objective This study evaluates the effect of low-level laser acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure(LAA)on pain intensity,pain interference and quality of life in nurses with LBP.Design,setting,participants and interventions This randomized controlled trial recruited a convenience sample of hospital-based nurses from one teaching hospital in Taiwan,China.Participants were randomly assigned to the LAA group(n=38)receiving low-level laser acupuncture and auricular acupressure for 4 weeks,and the control group(n=38)receiving only sham laser acupuncture treatment without laser energy output.Main outcome measures Data were collected for the primary pain outcome using the Short Form of the Brief Pain Inventory,while the secondary outcome,quality of life,was evaluated using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.Both primary and secondary outcomes were scored before the intervention,and after 2-week and 4-week intervention.The rate of LBP recurrence was evaluated at the 4th week and 8th week after the end of intervention.Results After controlling for prior pain,the result of linear mixed model analysis showed trends in significant between-group differences in the level of current pain occurring in week 4(P<0.001),worst pain in week 2(P<0.001)and week 4(P<0.001),least pain in week 2(P=0.032)and week 4(P<0.001),pain interference in week 2(P=0.009)and week 4(P<0.001),and in the life dysfunction in week 2(P<0.001)and week 4(P<0.001).Recurrence rates of LBP at the 4th and 8th weeks after the end of intervention were 0%and 36.89%in the LAA group,and 69.44%and 36.11%in the control group.Conclusion This study shows that 4-week LAA intervention reduced pain intensity and pain interference,and improved quality of life for hospital-based nurses with LBP.These effects were maintained continuously for at least 4 weeks after the intervention.The nonpharmacolog
文摘BACKGROUND Corneal neovascularization(CoNV)is the second major cause of blindness.Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)inhibitors,e.g.,bevacizumab,have been used to prevent CoNV.AIM We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to examine the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF in CoNV.METHODS A literature search was conducted using three electronic databases.Mean difference(MD),standard mean difference(SMD),and relative risk(RR)are used to estimate the effect size.RESULTS Nine randomized controlled and three non-randomized trials were obtained.The pooled results demonstrated a significant reduction of CoNV area/Length(SMD=-1.17,95%CI:-1.58 to-0.75),best corrected visual acuity(MD=-0.54,95%CI:-0.91 to-0.17),and graft rejection(RR=0.44,95%CI:0.24 to 0.8)and failure(RR=0.39,95%CI:0.19 to 0.78)rates in the anti-VEGF group than the placebo group.A non-significant reduction of the epithelial defect was also observed in the bevacizumab group compared with the placebo(RR=0.56,95%CI:0.30 to 1.06).Compared with a placebo,the unsynthesizable trials also support that bevacizumab improves visual acuity,CoNV,graft rejection,and failure rates.Trials reporting other comparisons revealed the superiority of combined remedy with bevacizumab compared to other treatments in reducing CoNV.CONCLUSION Anti-VEGF agents,mainly bevacizumab,are an effective and safe treatment for CoNV of all causes and prevent corneal graft rejection and failure in corneal transplantation.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the applicability of nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) eradication in Chinese regions.METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to evaluate the efficacy of nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy between sequential therapy or triple therapy for H. pylori eradication in Chinese regions. The defined Chinese regions include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The primary outcome was the H. pylori eradication rate; the secondary outcome was the compliance with therapy. The Pub Med, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published in the period up to March 2016 with no language restriction.RESULTS: We reviewed six randomized controlled trials and 1616 patients. In 3 trials comparing concomitant quadruple therapy with triple therapy, the H. pylori eradication rate was significantly higher for 7-d nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than for 7-d triple therapy(91.2% vs 77.9%, risk ratio = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.09-1.25). In 3 trials comparing quadruple therapy with sequential therapy, the eradication rate was not significant between groups(86.9% vs 86.0%). However, higher compliance was achieved with concomitant therapy than with sequential therapy.CONCLUSION: The H. pylori eradication rate was higher for nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than for triple therapy. Moreover, higher compliance was achieved with nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy than with sequential therapy. Thus, nonbismuth concomitant quadruple therapy should be the first-line treatment in Chinese regions.
