临床试验(Ⅱ)

在本文的第Ⅰ部份，涉及了临床试验的内涵、研究中的偏性、困难与临床试验设计的进展．第Ⅱ部份主要涉及分析中的一些重要问题，其中包括：５，生存质量的测定；６，病人的依从性； ７， Ｍｅｔａ分析．     

Exploring the state of science stereotypes: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the Draw-A-Scientist Checklist

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined recent articles that have used the 1995 Draw-A-Scientist Checklist (DAST-C). This study was focused on the current state of students' stereotypes of scientists and the appropriateness of the DAST-C as a tool to assess these perceptions. Articles included in the review were published between 2003 and 2018, resulting in n = 30 studies. Mean results across studies are presented to describe current stereotypes of scientists, and the current format of the DAST-C is evaluated. Findings suggest that students' perceptions of scientists have largely remained consistent across time: scientists are still perceived as Caucasian, middle-aged or elderly males who wear lab coats and work indoors. However, while the DAST-C is a generally appropriate measure to assess students' perceptions of scientists, recommended revisions to the DAST-C could assist in capturing more modern scientist stereotypes and culturally bound perceptions of scientists.     

Confidence Regions on Variance Components in an Extended ANOVA Model for Combining Information

In this paper we consider a general variance components model for combining experiments that allows for a possible interaction of responses with groups. The variance estimate from each experiment cannot take into account this interaction which can additionally be different from experiment to experiment. The interaction term can be interpreted as an additional variance component so that we consider an extended ANOVA model. We derive confidence regions and test of hypotheses on the variance components which – at least approximately – hold the nominal significance level.     

Anti-Influenza with Green Tea Catechins: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Influenza is one of the most serious respiratory viral infections worldwide. Although several studies have reported that green tea catechins (GTCs) might prevent influenza virus infection, this remains controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies with 5048 participants that examined the effect of GTC administration on influenza prevention. In a random-effects meta-analysis of five RCTs, 884 participants treated with GTCs showed statistically significant effects on the prevention of influenza infection compared to the control group (risk ratio (RR) 0.67, 95% CIs 0.51–0.89, p = 0.005) without evidence of heterogeneity (I² = 0%, p = 0.629). Similarly, in three cohort studies with 2223 participants treated with GTCs, there were also statistically significant effects (RR 0.52, 95% CIs 0.35–0.77, p = 0.001) with very low evidence of heterogeneity (I² = 3%, p = 0.358). Additionally, the overall effect in the subgroup analysis of gargling and orally ingested items (taking capsules and drinking) showed a pooled RR of 0.62 (95% CIs 0.49–0.77, p = 0.003) without heterogeneity (I² = 0%, p = 0.554). There were no obvious publication biases (Egger’s test (p = 0.138) and Begg’s test (p = 0.103)). Our analysis suggests that green tea consumption is effective in the prophylaxis of influenza infections. To confirm the findings before implementation, longitudinal clinical trials with specific doses of green tea consumption are warranted.     

基于meta-analysis和等级全息建模的可信软件开发风险识别研究

对软件开发过程中的风险进行有效识别,是提升软件可信性的重要方法和手段.本文以面向可信的软件开发过程风险辨识为研究对象,采用meta-analysis方法,结合软件项目开发风险相关的文献,采取高频词提取的方法,得出了前20大风险,并对需求、用户、供应商等前10大风险进行了重点阐述.给出了可信软件风险识别的等级全息框架,以产品、项目管理、项目结果、属性等10个视角全息辨识可信软件开发过程中可能面临的风险,与等级可变的不同风险情景识别过程相结合,为可信软件的风险识别构建了系统的解决思路和框架.     

Dynamic Risk Prediction via a Joint Frailty-Copula Model and IPD Meta-Analysis: Building Web Applications

Clinical risk prediction formulas for cancer patients can be improved by dynamically updating the formulas by intermediate events, such as tumor progression. The increased accessibility of individual patient data (IPD) from multiple studies has motivated the development of dynamic prediction formulas accounting for between-study heterogeneity. A joint frailty-copula model for overall survival and time to tumor progression has the potential to develop a dynamic prediction formula of death from heterogenous studies. However, the process of developing, validating, and publishing the prediction formula is complex, which has not been sufficiently described in the literature. In this article, we provide a tutorial in order to build a web-based application for dynamic risk prediction for cancer patients on the basis of the R packages joint.Cox and Shiny. We demonstrate the proposed methods using a dataset of breast cancer patients from multiple clinical studies. Following this tutorial, we demonstrate how one can publish web applications available online, which can be manipulated by any user through a smartphone or personal computer. After learning this tutorial, developers acquire the ability to build an online web application using their own datasets.     

科学概念转变教学的效果论证*——基于元分析的国际比较视角

采用元分析的方法,以化学内容主题为例,综合探索2000-2018年间英文期刊中概念转变的实验研究和准实验研究的效果。根据入选标准和极值筛查,得到60个有效研究。采用CMA2.0软件分析数据,结果发现19年来科学概念转变研究的整体效果显著;类比思维类、情意教学类、学习方式类、教学媒体类等4类概念转变策略的效果差异显著,但都是有效的策略和方法。     

Could we expect new praziquantel derivatives? A meta pharmacometrics/pharmacoinformatics analysis of all antischistosomal praziquantel derivatives found in the literature

Praziquantel (PZQ) is the first line drug for the treatment of human Schistosoma spp. worm infections. However, it suffers from low activity towards immature stages of the worm, and its prolonged use induces resistance/tolerance. During the last 40 years, 263 PZQ analogues have been synthesized and tested against Schistosoma spp. worms, but less than 10% of them showed significant activity. Here, we propose a rationalization of the chemical space of the PZQ derivatives by a ligand-based approach. First, we constructed an in-house database with all PZQ derivatives available in the literature. This analysis shows a high heterogeneity in the data. Fortunately, all studies include PZQ as a reference, permitting the classification of compounds into three classes according to their activities. Models involving ligand-based pharmacophore and logistic regression were performed. Five physicochemical parameters were identified as the best to explain the biological activity. In the end, we proposed new PZQ derivatives with modifications at positions 1 and 7, we analysed them with our models, and we observed that they can be more active than the previously synthesized derivatives. The main goal of this work was to conduct the most valuable meta-pharmacometrics/pharmacoinformatics analysis with all Praziquantel medicinal chemistry data available in the literature.     

Dietary Lutein and Cognitive Function in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Emerging literature suggests that dietary lutein may have important functions in cognitive health, but there is not enough data to substantiate its effects in human cognition. The current study was intended to determine the overall effect of lutein on the main domains of cognition in the adult population based on available placebo randomized-controlled trials. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, AGRICOLA, Scopus, MEDLINE, and EMBASE on 14 November 2020. The effect of lutein on complex attention, executive function and memory domains of cognition were assessed by using an inverse-variance meta-analysis of standardized mean differences (SMD) (Hedge’s g method). Dietary lutein was associated with slight improvements in cognitive performance in complex attention (SMD 0.02, 95% CI −0.27 to 0.31), executive function (SMD 0.13, 95% CI −0.26 to 0.51) and memory (SMD 0.03, 95% CI −0.26 to 0.32), but its effect was not significant. Change-from-baseline analysis revealed that lutein consumption could have a role in maintaining cognitive performance in memory and executive function. Although dietary lutein did not significantly improve cognitive performance, the evidence across multiple studies suggests that lutein may nonetheless prevent cognitive decline, especially executive function. More intervention studies are needed to validate the role of lutein in preventing cognitive decline and in promoting brain health.