Effects of smoking on clinical treatment outcomes amongst patients with chronic inflammatory diseases initiating biologics: secondary analyses of the prospective BELIEVE cohort study.

The prevalence and disease burden of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) are predicted to rise. Patients are commonly treated with biological agents, but the individual treatment responses vary, warranting further research into optimizing treatment strategies. This study aimed to compare the clinical treatment responses in patients with CIDs initiating biologic therapy based on smoking status, a notorious risk factor in CIDs.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of Dietary Inflammatory Index and the likelihood of multiple sclerosis/ demyelinating autoimmune disease.

Diet and inflammation may contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the association between proinflammatory diet, as estimated by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), and the likelihood of developing MS or other demyelinating autoimmune diseases. A systematic search was performed of search engines and databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Embase) to identify relevant studies before 10th June 2023.

The effect of niacin on inflammatory markers and adipokines: a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies.

Purpose: Niacin (nicotinic acid), known for its lipid-modifying effects, has been explored for its potential anti-inflammatory properties and potential to affect adipokines secretion from adipose tissue. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effects of niacin on inflammatory markers and adipokines.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across five databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, and ISI Web of Science.

Association between dietary phytochemical index and risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a case-control study.

Background: Dietary intake of phytochemicals has been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, but research on their relationship with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is limited. This case-control study aimed to investigate the association between a Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI) and BPH risk in a Middle-Eastern population.

Methods: The study recruited 112 BPH patients and 112 age-matched healthy controls (40-75 years) from Al-Zahra Hospital Clinic in Isfahan, Iran between 2021 and 2022.

Sevelamer-Induced Gastrointestinal Disease in 12 Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease: A Case Series.

Introduction: Isolated case reports and case series have linked the use of sevelamer to severe gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation and perforation among patients with end-stage renal disease.

Methods: In this study, we identified 12 cases of biopsy-proven sevelamer-induced gastrointestinal disease from a large urban community hospital over the course of 5 years. We described baseline characteristics, sites and types of injury, histological findings, timing and dosing of sevelamer initiation compared with symptom onset, and in a smaller subset, endoscopic resolution post drug cessation.

Effects of niacin on apo A1 and B levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Niacin has been investigated for its potential impact on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health. This meta-analysis aims to systematically evaluate the effects of niacin interventions on apo A1 and apo B levels, key regulators of lipoprotein metabolism and markers of cardiovascular risk. A comprehensive search of the literature was performed on five databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane library, from inception up to 15 July 2023.

Dietary inflammatory index and elevated serum C-reactive protein: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diet can affect the inflammatory state of the body. Accordingly, the dietary inflammatory index (DII) has been developed to quantify the inflammatory properties of food items. This study sought to investigate the association between dietary inflammation index (DII) and the odds ratio of elevated CRP (E-CRP) through a systematic review and meta-analysis study.

Association of Leptin and Retinol Binding Protein 4 with the Risk of Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The positive correlation between serum levels of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and gestational diabetes (GDM) has been proven in the previous meta-analysis on case-control studies. However, its association with serum levels of leptin is not studied in any meta-analysis. Therefore, we performed an updated systematic review of observational studies evaluating the association between serum RBP4 and leptin with the risk of GDM.

Impact of fibre and red/processed meat intake on treatment outcomes among patients with chronic inflammatory diseases initiating biological therapy: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Biologic disease-modifying drugs have revolutionised the treatment of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases (CID). However, up to 60% of the patients do not have a sufficient response to treatment and there is a need for optimization of treatment strategies.

Objective: To investigate if the treatment outcome of biological therapy is associated with the habitual dietary intake of fibre and red/processed meat in patients with a CID.

Beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical trials.

The beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba on cardio-metabolic markers have been reported. However, its effect on inflammation is not assessed in any meta-analysis. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBLE) on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels.

Long-Term Effects of a Web-Based Low-FODMAP Diet Versus Probiotic Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Including Shotgun Analyses of Microbiota: Randomized, Double-Crossover Clinical Trial.

Background: The long-term management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) poses many challenges. In short-term studies, eHealth interventions have been demonstrated to be safe and practical for at-home monitoring of the effects of probiotic treatments and a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs). IBS has been linked to alterations in the microbiota.

Hard to Swallow Results.

The American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS) proposed quality measures (QMs) for performance and interpretation of esophageal manometry (EM). We implemented a quality improvement (QI) study at a large community hospital to assess and improve procedural adherence and interpretation of EM studies based on the ANMS QMs using the Chicago Classification 3.0 (CC) Guidelines.

eHealth: Disease activity measures are related to the faecal gut microbiota in adult patients with ulcerative colitis.

Background/aim: Microbial dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly understood. Faecal samples collected for the purposes of microbiota analysis are not yet a part of everyday clinical practice. To explore associations between faecal microbiota and disease activity measures in adult IBD patients, for the purpose of possibly integrating microbiota measures in an existing IBD eHealth application for disease-monitoring.

Effects of l-arginine supplementation on glycemic profile: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Background: The effects of l-arginine supplementation on indices of glycemic control and the role of many factors influencing this intervention have been controversial in clinical trials.

Objective: This meta-analysis was performed to assess the effects of l-arginine supplementation on indices of glycemic control, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), serum insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Search Strategy: This study conducted a systematic review of RCTs published in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase, up to 5 May, 2018.

Raman spectra of MXenes ZrX(X=C and N).

We investigate a polarized Raman characterization of ZrX (X = C, N), excited by two commonly used laser lines with wavelenghts of 532 nm and 633 nm, based on first principle calculations. The Raman spectra of ZrX has two Raman shift peaks which correspond to the degenerate in-plane vibration mode (E) and out-of-plane vibration mode (A). Furthermore, we study the polarization angle dependent Raman intensity for both E and A modes in parallel and perpendicular configurations for these two materials.

Effects of carnitine supplementation on liver aminotransferase enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

Background And Aims: This meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials was performed to assess effects of carnitine supplementation on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Cochrane's library, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase was performed up to May 2018. From a total of 2012 articles identified initially, only 17 articles were included in the final meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of carnitine supplementation on serum levels of ALT and AST enzymes.

Effect of Occupational Exposure to Radar Radiation on Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Microwave radiation is one of the most growing environmental workplace factors that exposes too many workers in the various workplaces. Regard to concerns about cancer incidence in these workers and lack of systematic or meta-analytic studies about this object, so, we conducted a meta-analysis to acquire an understanding of the association between cancer risk and occupational exposure to radar radiation.

Methods: A systematic search was carried out on case-control, cohort and clinical control trial studies that published in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and Google scholar databases that accomplished from March 2017 to March 2018 and updated on 30 September, 2018 in English and Persian articles without time limit in publication date.

Individualized home-monitoring of disease activity in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease can be recommended in clinical practice: A randomized-clinical trial.

Background: The optimal way to home-monitor patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for disease progression or relapse remains to be found.

Aim: To determine whether an electronic health (eHealth) screening procedure for disease activity in IBD should be implemented in clinical practice, scheduled every third month (3M) or according to patient own decision, on demand (OD).

Methods: Adult IBD patients were consecutively randomized to 1-year open-label eHealth interventions (3M OD).

β-As Monolayer: Vibrational Properties and Raman Spectra.

Recently, semiconducting and other extraordinary properties of the monolayer of the V-group element have attracted a broad interest and attention. The success of experimentally growing antimonene and black phosphorus makes the arsenic monolayer a reasonable candidate for two-dimensional semiconductors. By using DFT calculation, we investigate the vibrational properties and Raman spectra of the buckled honeycomb monolayer of arsenic (β-As) for four commonly used laser lines.

Effect of Q10 supplementation on body weight and body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

Aims: This meta-analysis study was carried out to assess the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on body weight and body mass index of patients in randomized controlled clinical trial studies.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive systematic search of literature was performed through ISI web of sciences, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane library databases up to February 2018 which was supplemented by manual search of the references list of included studies. From a total of 1579 identified articles, only 17 trials with 14 and 14 effect-sizes were included for pooling the effects of co-enzyme Q10 supplementation on body weight and body mass index, respectively.

Effects of ginseng on C-reactive protein level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess effects of ginseng supplementation on CRP/hs-CRP levels in clinical trial studies.

Design: A systematic literature search was carried out for clinical trials published in ISI web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases from the beginning to 16th February 2018. Of 83 articles found in the first step of the systematic search, seven studies with nine arms included in this meta-analysis.

Serum insulin level, HOMA-IR and prostate cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: This meta-analysis study was performed to assess serum insulin level and insulin resistance status in prostate cancer patients in observational studies.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature search was performed for observational studies in Scopus, PubMed, Ovid and ISI Web of Science up to July 2017.

Results: From 2070 publication were searched firstly, only 10 studies with 9 and 6 arms included for the meta-analysis assessing serum insulin level and HOMA-IR status in prostate cancer patients, respectively.

Association of Serum Vitamin D Concentration With Clinical Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Objective: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and the role of vitamin D in the function of the gut have been shown previously. Therefore, we aimed to evaluated the VDD and the possible association of the GI symptoms severity and quality of life (QoL) score with the serum levels of vitamin D in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: A total of 90 patients with IBS based on Rome III criteria enrolled in the study from the tertiary referral university hospital.

Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation on Plasma and Urine Levels of Isoprostane F2α in Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Vitamin E can reduce the level of lipid peroxidation and the related markers such as urine and plasma levels of isoprostanes. However, effects of vitamin E supplementation on plasma and urine level of isoprostane F2α as markers of lipid peroxidation were conflicting in various clinical trials. The current meta-analysis was carried out to determine the effects of vitamin E supplementation on plasma and urine levels of isoprostanes F2α in randomized clinical trials.