摘要：Varicocele repair in adolescent remains controversial. Our aim is to identify and combine clinical trials results published thus far to ascertain the efficacy of varicocelectomy in improving testis volume and semen parameters compared with nontreatment control. A literature search was performed using Medline, Embase and Web of Science, which included results obtained from meta-analysis, randomized and nonrandomized controlled studies. The study population was adolescents with clinically palpable varicocele with or without the testicular asymmetry or abnormal semen parameters. Cases were allocated to treatment and observation groups, and testis volume or semen parameters were adopted as outcome measures. As a result, seven randomized controlled trials （RCTs） and nonrandomized controlled trials studying bilateral testis volume or semen parameters in both treatment and observation groups were identified. Using a random effect model, mean difference of testis volume between the treatment group and the observation group was 2.9 ml （95% confidence interval [CI]： 0.6, 5.2; P 〈 0.05） for the varicocele side and 1.5 ml （95% CI- 0.3, 2.7; P 〈 0.05） for the healthy side. The random effect model analysis demonstrated that the mean difference of semen concentration, total semen motility, and normal morphology between the two groups was 13.7 x 106 ml-1 （95% CI： -1.4, 28.8; P= 0.075）, 2.5% （95% CI：-3.6, 8.6; P= 0.424）, and 2.9% （95% CI： -3.0, 8.7; P= 0.336） respectively. In conclusion, although varicocelectomy significantly improved bilateral testis volume in adolescents with varicocele compared with observation cases, semen parameters did not have any statistically significant difference between two groups. Well-planned, properly conducted RCTs are needed in order to confirm the above-mentioned conclusion further and to explore whether varicocele repair in adolescents could improve subsequently spontaneous pregnancy rates.

摘要：Objective To identify patterns of hand, foot and mouth disease （HFMD） incidence in China during declining incidence periods of 2008, 2009, and 2010. Methods Reported HFMD cases over a period of 25 months were extracted from the National Disease Reporting System （NDRS） and analyzed. An interrupted time series （ITS） technique was used to detect changes in HFMD incidence rates in terms of level and slope between declining incidence periods of the three years. Results Over 3.58 million HFMD cases younger than 5 years were reported to the NDRS between May 1, 2008, and May 31, 2011. Males comprised 63.4% of the cases. ITS analyses demonstrated a significant increase in incidence rate level （P〈0.0001） when comparing the current period with the previous period. There were significant changes in declining slopes when comparing 2010 to 2009, and 2010 to 2008 （all P〈O.O05）, but not 2009 to 2008. Conclusion Incremental changes in incidence rate level during the declining incidence periods of 2009 and 2010 can potentially be attributed to a few factors. The more steeply declining slope in 2010 compared with previous years could be ascribed to the implementation of more effective interventions and preventive strategies in 2010. Further investigation is required to examine this possibility.

摘要：A post-marketing study is an integral part of research that helps to ensure a favorable risk-benefit profile for approved drugs used in the market. Because most of post-marketing studies use observational designs, which are liable to confounding, estimation of the causal effect of a drug versus a comparative one is very challenging. This article focuses on methodological issues of importance in designing and analyzing studies to evaluate the safety of marketed drugs, especially marketed traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） products. Advantages and limitations of the current designs and analytic methods for postmarketing studies are discussed, and recommendations are given for improving the validity of postmarketing studies in TCM products.

摘要：A new method for the comparison of the treatment efficacy for specific diseases or conditions between Chinese medicine and Western medicine, which serve the same medical aim but are based on substantially different theoretical systems, was identified. Abiding by the principle of parallel subgroup design of a randomized controlled trial （PSD-RCT）, participants were recruited following identical inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly allocated into two groups to receive treatment using the respective approaches of Chinese medicine and Western medicine. The Chinese medicine group was divided into subgroups according to the theory of Chinese medicine and the Western medicine group was also divided into subgroups according to the theory of Western medicine. The treatment for each subgroup was well defined in the protocol, including major formulae and principles for individualized modifications. The primary outcome measure was ascertained to be directly related to the patients＇ status but independent from both theories of Chinese medicine and Western medicine, while the secondary outcomes were represented by the patient-reported outcomes and some laboratory tests commonly accepted by Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Then, taking functional dyspepsia as an example, the authors explain the framework of the PSD-RCT for efficacy comparisons between Chinese medicine and Western medicine, and recommend that the PSD-RCT can be used to compare treatment efficacy for a specific disease or condition between Chinese medicine and Western medicine, and the comparison among subgroups can provide valuable clues for further studies.

摘要：Objectives:Rural areas are the weakest place for epidemic prevention and control,yet few studies have specifically conducted surveys in rural *** purpose of this study is to assess rural residents’knowledge of the COVID-19 and its prevention in ***:A cross-sectional survey study containing 1,426 samples was conducted in Fuqing,China to assess rural residents’knowledge of the COVID-19 and its *** regression was used to identify potential differences in participants’knowledge of COVID-19 and its prevention and control in different population ***:The mean and median of residents’knowledge of COVID-19 was 5.53 and 6 points,*** mean and median of residents’knowledge related to self-protection against COVID-19 was 10.34 and 11 points,*** adults(AOR45e59=2.26,95%CI 1.20 to 4.27;AOR60-69=3.13,95%CI 1.63 to 5.98;AOR70=4.68,95%CI 2.35 to 9.33)were more deficient in knowledge of *** who were better educated and with a higher average annual household income were less likely to be deficient in the knowledge of COVID-19 and knowledge of self-protection against ***,those who were single,divorced,or widowed(AOR=1.67,95%CI 1.13 to 2.46)were more deficient in the knowledge of self-protection against ***:Our study suggests that when facing a pandemic like COVID-19,the key is to inform the public to understand simple and effective self-protection ***,we call on the govern-ments to give priority to publicity and education on self-prevention measures for the targeted pop-ulations and *** is most evident among the vulnerable groups like those who were unmarried,elderly,and those with low education or low *** suggestions may be of use in other countries as well.

摘要：背景:有效的结核病(TB)控制需要对传染性结核病例进行及早诊断,这需要对所有有呼吸系统症状的患者进行早期的肺结核排查。目的:验证我们的假设:在结核病低发病率的欧洲国家,由于对细菌感染的患者优先使用抗生素治疗,导致结核病诊断延迟。设计:在一个独立的城市中心医院,对通过培养确诊的成年肺结核患者进行评价,研究抗生素治疗对症状改善和抗结核治疗起始时间的影响。结果:83例患者中,42例(51%)在诊断结核病之前使用了抗生素,其中20例(48%)患者症状得到改善,这与药物类别无关。虽然接受抗生素治疗的患者诊断周期的中位数延长(P=0.001),但对治疗结果并没有预测性提示。在94%的患者中,最初胸部X线提示有结核感染。结论:结核病诊断前的抗生素治疗,使患者遭受与诊断过程有关的治疗延误。为最大程度降低结核病传播,我们建议临床医生应将结核病包括在最初的鉴别诊断中,在诊断过程初期对有呼吸道症状的患者进行简单的结核病相关检查。

摘要：设计:在俄罗斯(样本量为502)及马其顿(样本量为205)开展跨地区研究。将荧光染色的痰涂片分别用以下显微镜观察:(1)由普通光学显微镜改装而成的Lumin^(TM)发光二极管显微镜(以下简称LED);(2)各实验室现有的传统荧光显微镜(CFM)。将相同的涂片用萋-尼法(ZN)进行复染,普通光学显微镜读片,比较2种荧光法与萋-尼法的结果。因为ZN复染结果不理想,为比较其敏感性及特异性,俄罗斯实验室回顾性地分析了前阶段实验室登记的直接ZN法涂片(n=791)。结果:马其顿实验室的数据表明,LED及CFM的敏感性为87.8%,而ZN复染传统显微镜镜检的敏感性为78.0%;在俄罗斯,所得到的敏感性分别为LED 72.8%,CFM 52.5%,ZN复染28.5%,直接ZN 55.6%。结论:相比于传统涂片镜检法,荧光法更敏感。普通光学显微镜改造后的LED诊断效果优于或等同于CFM。马其顿实验数据显示,LED与CFM的阳性发现率比ZN复染高出12%,这与其他报道的统计分析相符。俄罗斯实验室因未知原因导致ZN复染的诊断结果欠佳,而回顾性分析说明:相比于LED 72.8%的敏感性,直接ZN为55.6%,这与其他文献报道的荧光显微镜有优越性的观点一致。

摘要：背景：颈动脉内膜中层厚度（carotid artery intima—media thickness，CIMT）是冠状动脉粥样硬化的一种标志物，可以独立地预测心血管事件的发生。2型糖尿病患者心血管事件有所增加。尽管相对短期的研究显示，噻唑烷二酮类药物（例如匹格列酮）可以减缓CIMT的进展，但是长期研究结果目前尚不明确。目的：与格列美脲比较，评估匹格列酮对2型糖尿病患者颈总动脉CIMT变化的影响。设计、地点及参试者：2003年10月至2006年5月于芝加哥城区28家临床单位收治的2型糖尿病患者中进行随机、双盲、对照、多中心试验。治疗期为72周（随访1周）。在每个中心由一位超声检查操作者采集CIMT影像，由一位不了解治疗分组情况的判读者应用自动边缘检测技术进行判读。462例2型糖尿病成人患者（平均年龄，60[SD，8．1]岁；平均体重指数，32[SD，5．1]；平均病程7．7[SD，7．2]年；平均糖化血红蛋白值[HbA1c]，7．4％[SD，1．0％]）或者为新近确诊，或者为目前已接受饮食／锻炼、磺酰脲类、二甲双胍、胰岛素或联合治疗的患者。干预：盐酸匹格列酮（15—45 mg／d）和作为有效比较的格列美脲（1—4mg／d）。主要观测指标：与基线比较，最后随访时左右两侧颈总动脉后壁平均CIMT的绝对变化。结果：与格列美脲比较，各时点（24、48、72周）匹格列酮组CIMT的平均变化较小。72周时，匹格列酮组与格列美脲组比较，平均CIMT进展一级终点较小（分别为-0.001mm和＋0．012mm；差别为-0．013mm；95％可信区间，-0．024至-0．002；P=0．02）。与格列美脲比较，匹格列酮还可减缓最大CIMT进展（72周时分别为0．002mm和0．026mm；差别为-0．024mm；95％可信区间，-0．042至-0．006；P=0．008）。在根据年龄、性别、收缩压、DM病程、体重指数、Hb1C。值以及他汀类药物使用预先确定的各亚组间，匹格列酮对平均CIMT的有益效应相似。结论：与格列美脲比较，在为期18个月的治疗期间，匹格列酮减缓了2型糖尿病患者CIMT的进展。

摘要：机器学习(ML)、人工智能(AI)和其他现代统计方法正为利用先前尚未开发且极速增长的数据资源提供新的机会,以期让患者获益。尽管目前正在进行许多有前景的研究,特别是在图像方面,但就文献整体而言还缺乏透明度、对可重复性清晰的阐述、对潜在伦理问题的探究,以及对有效性的明确验证。这些问题的存在有许多原因,其中最重要的一点(为此我们提供了初步解决方案)就是当前缺乏针对ML和AI的最佳实践指南。我们认为从事研究的跨学科团队和应用ML/AI影响健康的项目,将因解决有关透明度、可重复性、伦理和有效性(TREE)的一系列问题而受益。这里提出的20个关键问题为研究团队提供了一个研究设计、实施和报告框架;帮助编辑和同行评审专家评估文献的贡献;让患者、临床医生和政策制定者评估新发现可能会给患者带来的获益。

摘要：目的:探讨是否可用帕金森病修订的诊断、自主神经作用、心血管作用、更快的疾病进展或药物相互作用来解释服用左旋多巴和司来吉林随机试验病人的额外死亡。设计:采用开放、随机试验、双盲对照和对死亡原因重新再分组的方法进行研究,病人来源于1985～1990年间93所医院,统计截止于1993年12月前死亡的病人,分第一组和第二组。组织单位:英国研究对象:624例没有接受过多巴胺制剂治疗的早期帕金森病病人和在试验期间死亡的120例。研究方法:第一组服用左旋多巴和多巴脱羧酶抑制剂;第二组服用左旋多巴和多巴脱羧酶抑制剂并联合应用司来吉林;第三组单独服用溴隐亭。主要数据:第一、二组520例及由第三组随机分到第一、二组的104例病人的死亡原因。根据专家组意见、修订的诊断和疾病残疾程度、自主神经和心血管疾病记录的证据、死前其它临床特征和药物相互作用,分析死于原来第一、二组病例的特殊额外死因。结果:将随访延期到1995年9月底(平均6.8年),当第二组试验停止时,第二组的危险比与第一组相比是1.32(95%可信范围在0.98～1.79之间)。将第三组病例随机分入第二组后,其危险比是1.54(0.83～2.87)。当包括全部病例时,其危险比是1.33(1.02～1.74),调整其它基本因素后其危险比是1.30(0.99～1.72)。其额外死亡似乎在随访至第三或四年时为最高。病因特异性死亡率显示额外死亡仅源于帕金森病(其危险率是2.5(1.3～4.7))。修订的诊断、疾病的残疾记分、自主神经或心血管意外、其它临床特征或药物相互作用等均未发现有明显差异。第二组与第一组相比,发现第二组病人在死亡前多合并有可能的痴呆和摔倒史。结论:这些结果一致地显示服用左旋多巴和司来吉林联合治疗的病人有额外死亡。修订的诊断、自主神经和心血管意外或药物的相互作用都不能解释此所见,但摔倒和可能的痴呆在第二组中更常见。本试验结果不支持对早期诊断的帕金森病人进行联合治疗。在疾病晚期,对伴有体位性低血压、意识模糊或痴呆的病人,可以应用联合治疗。