Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39622221›Full record

SynthesisOphthalmic research2025

Therapeutic Effects of Umbilical Cord Serum for Dry Eye Disease: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Bo Da Li, Jia Xuan Jiang, Qi Zhang, Yi Ran Chu, Ze Ying Chen, Kai Hu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Ophthalmic research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Long-Term Evaluation of Autologous Serum Eye Drops in Dry Eye Disease.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bo Da LiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Jia Xuan JiangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Qi ZhangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Yi Ran ChuDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Ze Ying ChenDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Kai HuDepartment of Ophthalmology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent ocular condition that significantly impacts quality of life. Umbilical cord serum (UCS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic option, but its efficacy requires further investigation. This systemic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of UCS eye drops in the treatment of DED.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of science, Embase, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Network, to identify relevant clinical trials. The efficacy of UCS was assessed based on key outcome measures, such as the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer I test, and corneal fluorescein staining scores. Meta-analyses were performed to pool the results, and the findings were presented in a forest plot.

resultsEight studies were included in the meta-analysis, with two relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 204 patients. Most of the included studies had a follow-up time of less than 2 months. The pooled results showed that UCS treatment significantly improved the OSDI, with a mean difference (MD) of -9.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], -12.0, -6.36) compared to baseline. Additionally, the TBUT values were higher in the UCS group, with an MD of 2.65 (95% CI, 0.93, 4.36). The Schirmer I test results showed an improvement, with an MD of 1.18 (95% CI, 0.30, 2.06). The fluorescein staining score were also lower in the UCS treatment group, with an MD of -4.71 (95% CI, -5.72, -3.69).

conclusionThis meta-analysis suggested that UCS eye drops had a beneficial therapeutic effect on DED, significantly improving the OSDI, TBUT, Schirmer I test, and corneal fluorescein staining scores. However, larger RCTs with longer follow-up periods were needed to further evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of UCS in the management of DED.

Indexed as

Dry Eye SyndromesFetal BloodSerumHumansOphthalmic SolutionsTearsOphthalmic SolutionsDry eye diseaseMeta-analysisUmbilical cord serum

Identifiers

PMID39622221
PMCPMC11844691

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.