Establishment and assessment of the hepatic venous pressure gradient using biofluid mechanics (HVPG): protocol for a prospective, randomised, non-controlled, multicentre study.

Introduction: Portal hypertension (PH) is a severe disease with a poor outcome. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), the current gold standard to detect PH, is available only in few hospitals due to its invasiveness and technical difficulty. This study aimed to establish and assess a novel model to calculate HVPG based on biofluid mechanics.

Chemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer after complete resection: a network meta-analysis.

Aim: To conduct a network meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of different chemotherapy regimens for patients with gastric cancer.

Methods: PubMed (1966-2011.12), the Cochrane Library (2011 Issue 2) and EMBASE (1974-2011.

The methods of reconstruction of pancreatic digestive continuity after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Pancreatic fistula (PF) is an important factor responsible for the considerable morbidity associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). There have been many techniques proposed for the reconstruction of pancreatic digestive continuity to prevent fistula formation but which is best is still highly debated. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness of methods of anastomosis after PD.

Efficacy of antioxidant vitamins and selenium supplement in prostate cancer prevention: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Several studies have evaluated the possible association between antioxidants vitamins or selenium supplement and the risk of prostate cancer, but the evidence is still inconsistent. We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Science Citation Index Expanded, Chinese biomedicine literature database, and bibliographies of retrieved articles up to January 2009. We included 9 randomized controlled trials with 165,056 participants; methodological quality of included trials was generally high.

An evidence-based medicine review of lymphadenectomy extent for gastric cancer.

Background: Several studies in the literature have investigated the possible role of the extent of lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer treatment failure. The current study attempted to determine the effectiveness and safety of lymphadenectomy with gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by means of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register databases, and Chinese Biomedical Database, as well as by selecting references from relevant articles.