Reporting and methodologic evaluation of meta-analyses published in the anesthesia literature according to AMSTAR and PRISMA checklists: a preliminary study / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: There have been few recent reports on the methodological quality of meta-analysis, despite the enormous number of studies using meta-analytic techniques in the field of anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of meta-analyses and systematic reviews according to the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the anesthesia literature. METHODS: A search was conducted to identify all meta-analyses ever been published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia (BJA), Anaesthesia, and Korean Journal of Anesthesiology (KJA) between Jan. 01, 2004 and Nov. 31, 2016. We aimed to apply the AMSTAR and PRISMA checklists to all published meta-analyses. RESULTS: We identified 121 meta-analyses in the anesthesia literature from January 2004 through the end of November 2016 (BJA; 75, Anaesthesia; 43, KJA; 3). The number of studies published and percentage of ‘Yes’ responses for meta-analysis articles published after the year 2010 was significantly increased compared to that of studies published before the year 2009 (P = 0.014 for Anaesthesia). In the anesthesia literature as a whole, participation of statisticians as authors statistically improved average scores of PRISMA items (P = 0.004) especially in the BJA (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Even though there is little variability in the reporting and methodology of meta-analysis in the anesthesia literature, significant quality improvement in the reporting was observed in the Anaesthesia by applying the PRISMA checklist. Participation of a statistician as an author improved the reporting quality of the meta-analysis.

Is there any quality improvement in the randomized controlled trial abstracts in the Korean Journal of Anesthesiology after the publication of the CONSORT abstract guidelines in 2008? / 대한마취과학회지

No abstract available.

Pain Relief Effect of Calcitonin Injection in Ovariectomized Rats

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the effect of calcitonin injection relieving pain in ovariectomized rats. METHOD: Thirty five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (high dose calcitonin group (112 U/ Kg), low dose calcitonin group (56 U/Kg), free calcitonin group, ovariectomy group, control group). To assess the pain in ovariectomized rats, the tail of rats were dived in waters of 50+/-1degrees C. Then the tail withdrawal time was measured (tail withdrawal test). The tail withdrawal test was performed in once a week for eight weeks. RESULTS: 1. At seven and eight weeks after injection, the tail withdrawal time of high and low dose calcitonin group compared with that of ovariectomy group were significantly prolonged (p<0.05). 2. At eight weeks after injection, the tail withdrawal time of free calcitonin group compared with that of ovariectomy group was significantly prolonged (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The effect of calcitonin injection relieving pain in ovariectomized rats was found.

The Changes of Foot Breadth and Ball Girth According to the Height of Shoes Heel

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of foot breadth and ball girth according to the height of shoes heel in the people without foot problems. METHOD: 480 subjects were evaluated with clinical examination, foot length, foot breadth and ball girth of right foot with and without shoes heel. The examination without shoes heel was performed without weight bearing. The examination with shoes heel was performed with weight bearing. 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm shoes heel were used for men, respectively. 30 mm, 40 mm and 60 mm shoes heel were used for women, respectively. RESULTS: There was significant increment in foot breadth and ball girth in the case with weight bearing, and significant increment in foot breadth and ball girth in the case of using higher shoes heel. But in women, foot breadth and ball girth using 60 mm shoes was shorter than that using 40 mm shoes. CONCLUSION: The breadth and the ball girth of the shoes according to the height of shoes heel should be considered to make more practical shoes.

The Effect of Back Extensor Strengthening Exercise on Chronic Low Back Pain and Bone Mineral Density

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of back extensor strengthening exercise on improving the pain, activities of daily living (ADL) and bone mineral density in the chronic low back pain patients. METHOD: 21 patients with chronic low back pain participated in back school program. Before program, measurement of lumbar extensor strength with MedX(R) (Ocala, USA), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, level of ADL and bone mineral density (BMD) with DEXA (Lunar(R), GE, USA) were done. For 12 weeks subjects had received the training for strengthening of back extensor and then, checked up with the above variables again. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) After 12 weeks of lumbar extensor strengthening program, isometric lumbar extensor strength was increased significantly (p<0.01), 2) VAS and ADL were significantly improved from 5.1 to 3.3, and 8.1 to 9.9, respectively (p<0.01), 3) BMD of lumbar spine were significantly improved from 1.1 to 0.8 (p<0.05) CONCLUSION: Twelve weeks lumbar extensor strengthening program with pelvic stabilization may be the effective therapeutic program for patients with chronic low back pain.