title: Effect of Aidi injection plus chemotherapy on gastric carcinoma: a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a Meta-analysis of studies on the effect of Aidi injection combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine electronic databases and six gray literature databases were comprehensively searched until April 20, 2013. Two reviewers independently selected and assessed included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk of bias tool from the Cochrane Handbook version 5.1.0 was used to assess trial quality. All calculations were performed using Review Manager 5.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two studies including 1927 participants met the inclusion criteria, most of which were low quality. Compared with chemotherapy alone, Aidi injection plus the same chemotherapy significantly improved the effective rate [OR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.24, 1.86), P < 0.0001], clinical beneficial rate [OR = 1.77, 95% CI (1.33, 2.36), P < 0.0001], and quality of life [OR = 3.02, 95% CI (2.39, 3.82), P < 0.000 01]. There was a significant improvement in nausea and vomiting incidence [OR = 0.34, 95% CI (0.24, 0.47), P < 0.000 01], diarrhea [OR = 0.47, 95% CI (0.33, 0.69), P < 0.000 01], leukopenia (III-IV) [OR = 0.34, 95% CI (0.23, 0.51), P = 0.05], hemoglobin decrease (III-IV) [OR = 0.42, 95% CI (0.18-1.00), P = 0.05], thrombocytopenia (III-IV) [OR = 0.46, 95% CI (0.22, 0.96), P = 0.04], and damage to liver function [OR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.24, 0.54), P < 0.00001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aidi injection combined with chemotherapy significantly improved the clinical effect of chemotherapy, reducing the incidence of adverse events. Use of the CONSORT statement for randomized controlled trials is recommended for stricter reporting.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiancheng
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jinlong
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kehu
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal