12-mm Versus 10-mm Metallic Stents for Malignant Biliary Obstructions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic drainage of malignant biliary obstruction using metal stents is widely used to treat obstructive jaundice. However, the occurrence of stent occlusion or migration raises the hypothesis using stents with larger diameters may be associated with better outcomes.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for studies comparing 10-mm vs.

Effectiveness of macrolides as add-on therapy to beta-lactams in community-acquired pneumonia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate whether adding macrolides (MAC) to beta-lactam (BL) monotherapy in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) offers clinical benefits that justify the potential disadvantages or side effects.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BL monotherapy to combination therapy with BL and MAC for the in-hospital treatment of CAP. We pooled mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) for binary outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Association between very high HDL-C levels and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recent research has raised questions about the assumed cardiovascular (CV) benefits of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the potential for adverse outcomes with extremely high levels.

Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between very high HDL-C levels (≥80 mg/dL) and mortality outcomes in individuals without coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies comparing very high HDL-C levels to normal levels (40-60 mg/dL) in CAD-free individuals.

Vedolizumab versus ustekinumab in Crohn's disease with prior anti-tumor necrosis factor failure: an updated meta-analysis.

Ustekinumab and vedolizumab are key treatment options for Crohn's disease patients who fail anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. This updated meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy and safety of these two drugs. We performed a systematic review in PubMed, Embase , and Cochrane databases searching for randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing vedolizumab versus ustekinumab in patients with Crohn's disease with previous anti-TNF failure or intolerance.

The addition of endoscopic sphincterotomy to biliary stent placement and its impact on the risk of adverse events: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is not mandatory before biliary stenting. The impact of ES before biliary stent placement remains uncertain. Previous studies have reported that ES can increase adverse event rates by up to 4.

Tight Versus Liberal Blood Glucose Control in Patients With Diabetes in the ICU: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Glycemia is an important factor among critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). There is conflicting evidence on the preferred strategy of blood glucose control among patients with diabetes in the ICU. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis comparing tight with liberal blood glucose in critically ill patients with diabetes in the ICU.