Age-Related Clinical Characteristics, Inflammatory Features, Phenotypes, and Treatment Response in Asthma.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that aging affects asthma outcomes, but the mechanism remains largely unexplored.

Objective: To explore age-related clinical characteristics, inflammatory features, phenotypes, and treatment response in asthma.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of asthmatic patients with a 12-month follow-up in a real-world setting.

Association between baseline LH/FSH and live-birth rate after fresh-embryo transfer in polycystic ovary syndrome women.

This study aimed to retrospectively analyse the effect of the baseline luteinising hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio (bLH/FSH) on the live-birth rate per fresh-embryo transfer cycle (LBR/ET) in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who received a fresh-embryo transfer. A total of 424 patients with PCOS who underwent the first cycle of in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fresh-embryo transfer at our hospital was enrolled. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, along with curve fitting and a threshold effect analysis, were performed.

Interaction effects of asthma and rhinitis control on work productivity and activity impairment: A cross-sectional study.

Symptomatic asthma and rhinitis negatively impact patients' work productivity and activity. However, little is known about the potential interaction effect of both asthma and rhinitis control on work productivity and activity impairment. This study aimed to explore whether there are interaction effects of asthma and rhinitis control on work productivity and activity impairment in patients with asthma and with rhinitis.

Multidimensional Assessment of Asthma Identifies Clinically Relevant Phenotype Overlap: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with multiple phenotypes; however, the relevance of phenotype overlap remains largely unexplored.

Objective: To examine the relationship between phenotype overlap and clinical and inflammatory profiles of asthma.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult participants with stable asthma (n = 522) underwent multidimensional assessments.

Depressive symptom-associated IL-1β and TNF-α release correlates with impaired bronchodilator response and neutrophilic airway inflammation in asthma.

Background: Depressive symptoms worsen asthma outcomes; however, the mechanism remains largely unexplored.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether depressive symptom-associated immune inflammation correlates with impaired bronchodilator response (BDR) and airway inflammatory phenotypes.

Methods: Eligible adults with asthma (n = 198) underwent clinical assessment, sputum induction and blood sampling.

Systemic inflammation mediates the detrimental effects of obesity on asthma control.

Background: Obesity negatively impacts asthma control, but the inflammatory mechanisms are poorly understood.

Objective: To explore which systemic inflammatory mediators mediate the effects of obesity on asthma control.

Methods: The subjects with stable asthma (n = 108) underwent assessment of clinical characteristics, which included using The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)-6.

Corticosteroid plus β-agonist in a single inhaler as reliever therapy in intermittent and mild asthma: a proof-of-concept systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Current guidelines recommend a single inhaler maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART) regimen for moderate to severe asthma. However, evidence for the inhaled corticosteroid plus fast-onset-acting β-agonist (ICS/FABA) as reliever therapy in management of intermittent and mild asthma patients is lacking.

Objective: To systematically explore efficacy and safety of the proof-of-concept of the ICS plus FABA regimen in a single inhaler as reliever therapy across children and adults with intermittent and mild persistent asthma.

Kangfuxinye Enema Combined with Mesalamine for Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review and GRADE Approach.

Objectives: To critically appraise the efficacy and safety of Kangfuxinye enema combined with mesalamine for the ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and in addition to grade the quality of evidence by using the GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation) approach.

Methods: A literature search was performed in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Databases. The search restrictions were patients with UC and RCTs.

Use of noninvasive ventilation at the pulmonary infection control window for acute respiratory failure in AECOPD patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on GRADE approach.

The aim of the study was to comprehensively examine the efficacy and safety of noninvasive ventilation used at the pulmonary infection control (PIC) window for acute respiratory failure (ARF) in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).Seven electronic databases and relevant resources were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing patients using noninvasive ventilation at PIC window with those continuing receiving invasive ventilation. Retrieved citations were screened, risk of bias was assessed, and data were extracted by 2 independent review authors.

The Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Characteristics of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the association of metabolic syndrome (MS) with measures of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) including prostate growth rate, prostate volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and maximal flow rate.Medline, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, CBM, and Google Scholar databases were searched until March 23, 2015 using combinations of the keywords benign prostate hyperplasia/BPH, metabolic syndrome, total prostate volume, prostate growth rate, prostate specific antigen, International Prostate Symptom Score/IPSS, maximal flow rate. Cohort or case-control studies of patients with BPH and MS that reported quantitative outcomes were included.

Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine for Acute Ischemic Stroke: An Overview of Systematic Reviews Based on the GRADE Approach.

The aim of the study is to conduct an overview of systematic reviews (SRs) to provide a contemporary review of the evidence for delivery of Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine (TCPMs) for patients with acute ischemic stroke.SRs were assessed for quality using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool and the Oxman-Guyatt Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire (OQAQ). We assessed the quality of the evidence of high methodological quality (an AMSTAR score ≥9 or an OQAQ score ≥7) for reported outcomes using the GRADE (the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach.

Effectiveness and safety of ShenXiong glucose injection for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and GRADE approach.

Background: To appraise critically whether published trials of ShenXiong glucose injection for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are of sufficient quality, and in addition to rate the quality of evidence by using the GRADE approach (grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation, GRADE).

Methods: A literature search was performed in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, Chinese TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) Database, CNKI, VIP, WanFang Databases until January 2015. The limits were patients with AIS and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs.

GRADE in Systematic Reviews of Acupuncture for Stroke Rehabilitation: Recommendations based on High-Quality Evidence.

Systematic reviews (SRs) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated acupuncture's effectiveness in stroke rehabilitation. The current study reviews the quality of evidence in SRs of acupuncture in stroke rehabilitation, and rates the strength of recommendation for its use based on this evidence using the GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluations) approach. A comprehensive literature search was performed using multiple databases (e.

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) by conducting a meta-analysis.

Methods: Relevant publications were searched using PubMed, Embase, CBM, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP and Wanfang databases up to August 2015. Studies that reported the prevalence of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and total sexual dysfunction in men with CP/CPPS were included.

The effect of testosterone replacement therapy on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men being treated for hypogonadism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Testosterone replacement therapy is used for the treatment of age-related male hypogonadism, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a primary screening tool for prostate cancer. The systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of testosterone replacement therapy on PSA levels.Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until February 28, 2014, and inclusion criteria were as follows: randomized controlled trial; intervention group received testosterone/androgen replacement therapy; control group did not receive treatment; and no history of prostate cancer.

Effectiveness and safety of Wuling capsule for post stroke depression: a systematic review.

Objective: To review the effectiveness and safety of Wuling capsule for post stroke depression (PSD) systematically.

Methods: We searched electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared either Wuling capsule with placebo, no treatment or Wuling capsule plus conventional treatment with conventional treatment alone in adults with post stroke depression. Relevant resources were also retrieved.

[Effects of eight environmental endocrine disruptors on insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a preliminary investigation].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between 8 endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the serum and insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: This study was conducted among 60 patients with PCOS, including 23 with insulin resistance (PCOS-IR) and 37 without insulin resistance (PCOS-NIR), and 29 non-PCOS women seeking medical attention for infertility or menstrual disorder (control group). The serum levels of 6 phthalic acid esters (PEAs), bisphenol A (BPA) and octylphenol (OP) were measured in all the subjects.

[Developing a risk appraisal model for gestational diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and establish a risk appraisal model for GDM.

Methods: A case-control study of 156 women with GDM and 362 pregnant women without GDM was undertaken. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with GDM and establish a prediction model.

[Methodological quality assessment of systematic reviews correlated to traditional Chinese medicine published in China].

Objective: To assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews or Meta-analysis of traditional Chinese medicine published in China, and to validate the applicability of OQAQ (Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire) and AMSTAR (a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews) in traditional Chinese medicine (Chinese Medical).

Methods: Comprehensive literature retrieve was performed in CBM, CNKI, VIP as well as hand searching in Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. The retrieve was started from January 1, 1999 and terminated by December 2008.

[The protein expression of ERCC1 and survivin in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and their clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate the protein expression of ERCC1 (excision repair cross complementation group 1) and survivin gene in platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), and to explore the relationship among ERCC1 expression, survivin expression, the major clinicopathological characteristics as well as platinum sensitivity.

Methods: Expression of ERCC1 and survivin were detected in 64 EOC tissues by immunohistochemical method.

Results: No significant differences were found in patients' age, FIGO stage, pathological type, histological grade, pelvic lymph node and/or vessel infiltration, in all of three pairs of comparison.

[The expression of RhoC and Ki67 in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous carcinoma of cervix].

Objective: To detect the expression of RhoC and Ki67 in squamous carcinoma of cervix and to reveal the correlation of RhoC and Ki67 with clinic pathological parameters of cervix carcinoma.

Methods: The expressions of RhoC and Ki67 were evaluated in 26 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 57 cases of squamous carcinoma of cervix(SCC) by immunohistochemistry, while 14 cases of normal cervical epithelium(NCE) were taken as control.

Results: Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated RhoC expression in 82.

[Reliability and validity regarding the Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (long self-administrated format) on women in Chengdu, China].

Objective: To test the reliability and validity of International Physical Activity Questionnaires (long self-administrated format) (IPAQ), Chinese version on women of 12 - 44 years old, in Chengdu city.

Methods: Clustered sampling was used, according to the age distribution of investigated population. One community, one university and two middle schools (including one high school and one junior high school) in Chengdu were selected.

[Survivin expression in ovarian germ cell tumors].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of survivin and the development of ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCT).

Methods: Survivin expressions in normal ovaries (n = 10) and ovarian germ cell tumors (n = 29) were detected with labelled streptavidin biotin method.

Results: No survivin protein was expressed in normal ovaries.

[Survivin expression in ovarian carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the possible relationship between expression of survivin and molecular mechanisms in patients with ovarian carcinoma (OC).

Methods: Survivin expressions in normal ovaries (n= 10), ovarian bordline tumors (n = 21), and ovarian serous cystadenomas (n = 38) were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry.

Results: No survivin protein was expressed in normal ovaries.