Biologic Therapies in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis: Overview of Systematic Reviews and Updated Systematic Review.

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is a highly prevalent and challenging disease to manage. Several systematic reviews (SRs) have been carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biologic therapies. We aimed to evaluate the current and available evidence of the biologics in treating CRSwNP. Data Source: Systematic Review of three electronic databases. Review Methods: Following the PRISMA Statement, the authors explored three main databases through February 2020 for pertinent SRs and meta-analyses (MAs) as well as experimental and observational studies. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews Version-2 (AMSTAR-2), was employed to evaluate the quality of methodology of SRs and MAs. Results: A Total of five SRs were included in this overview. The AMSTAR-2 final summary was moderate to critically low. Although conflicting findings were reported, anti-immunoglobulin E (Anti-IgE) and anti-interleukin-4 (Anti-IL-4) were superior to placebo for improving total nasal polyp (NP) score, particularly in patients with asthma. Findings of the included reviews revealed that both sinus opacification and the Lund-Mackay (LMK) total scores significantly improved after biologics use. Subjective quality-of-life (QoL) assessment provided by general and specific questionnaires illustrated favorable results of biologics for CRSwNP, whereas no significant adverse events were reported. Conclusion: The current findings support the use of biologics for CRSwNP patients. However, the evidence for their use in such patients should be cautiously adopted because of the questionable evidence. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03144-8.

Diagnostic accuracy of narrow-band imaging endoscopy with targeted biopsies compared with standard endoscopy with random biopsies in patients with Barrett's esophagus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoscopic surveillance for dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus (BE) with random biopsies is the primary diagnostic tool for monitoring clinical progression into esophageal adenocarcinoma. As an alternative, narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy offers targeted biopsies that can improve dysplasia detection. This study aimed to evaluate NBI-guided targeted biopsies' diagnostic accuracy for detecting dysplasia in patients undergoing endoscopic BE surveillance compared with the widely used Seattle protocol. METHODS: Cochrane DTA Register, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, OpenGrey, and bibliographies of identified papers were searched until 2018. Two independent investigators resolved discrepancies by consensus, study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Data on sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were pooled and analyzed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Of 9528 identified articles, six studies comprising 493 participants were eligible for quantitative synthesis. NBI-targeted biopsy showed high diagnostic accuracy in detection of dysplasia in BE with a sensitivity of 76% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61-0.91), specificity of 99% (95% CI: 0.99-1.00), positive predictive value of 97% (95% CI: 0.96-0.99), and negative predictive value of 84% (95% CI: 0.69-0.99) for detection of all grades of dysplasia. The receiver-operating characteristic curve for NBI model performance was 0.8550 for detecting all dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Narrow-band imaging-guided biopsy demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and might constitute a valid substitute for random biopsies during endoscopic surveillance for dysplasia in BE.

Relationship between body mass index, risk of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies among four million participants.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is a controversial issue. This dose-response meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association between BMI and risk of VTE and PE incidence based on cohort studies. METHOD: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted up to August 2019 in MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models were run to estimate combined hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Dose-response analysis was also carried out based on BMI values. RESULTS: Eleven articles with 16 arms and 3,910,747 participants were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Pooled results showed a positive association between BMI and risk of VTE in the obese participants compared to participants classified in the normal BMI category (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.29-2.04, I2 = 95%). Furthermore, results showed a significant association between lower BMI (underweight versus normal BMI category) and reduced risk of PE (HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.70-0.92, I2 = 9%) and higher risk of PE in obese versus normal BMI participants (HR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.93-2.60, I2 = 0%). There was a significant linear relationship between BMI and risk of VTE (p < 0.001) and PE (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis with 3,910,747 participants highlights obesity as a significant risk factor related to the incidence of VTE and PE.

Effect of tomato consumption on fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) phytochemicals, which include phytoene, phytofluene, beta-carotene, flavonoids, lycopene, and polyphenols, have been shown to improve the effects of fasting on plasma triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and fasting blood sugar (FBS). The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of Tomato TC, TG, HDL, LDL, and FBS in humans. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of sciences, and SCOPUS databases by two researchers for studies published until August of 2019 without language and time limitations. Results were combined with random effect models. Six studies were included in this meta-analysis. Combined results reveal a significant reduction in cholesterol (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -4.39 mg/dl, 95% CI: -7.09, -1.68, I2 = % 48, p heterogeneity: .05), TG (WMD: -3.94 mg/dl, 95% CI: -7.67, -0.21, I2 = % 90, p heterogeneity: .001), LDL levels (WMD: -2.09 mg/dl, 95% CI: -3.73, -0.81, I2 = % 78, p heterogeneity: .001), and increasing in HDL levels (WMD: 2.25 mg/dl, 95% CI: 0.41, 4.10, I2 = % 97, p heterogeneity: .001). Tomato was found to have a higher reduction effect on TG and LDL in younger participants. While pooled results indicate no significant effect on FBS levels (WMD: 0.59 mg/dl, 95% CI: -0.28, 1.46, I2 = % 95, p heterogeneity: .001). In conclusion, the results indicate a significant reduction in total cholesterol, TG, and LDL and increase in HDL levels that is caused by tomato consumption.

The association of plasma levels of liver enzymes and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies.

AIMS: Relationship between liver enzymes such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a controversial issue. The aim of this systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis was to investigate the association between liver enzymes and risk of GDM in observational studies. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases up to September 2019. Combined odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated by DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. Dose-response analyses of these relationships were also carried out. RESULTS: Eight studies with 25,451 participants containing 2549 cases were included in this study. Pooled results showed a significant association between GGT levels and risk of GDM (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.14-3.86, I2 84%). In addition, random-effects model indicated a dramatic and direct significant association between GGT and risk of GDM in nonlinear (p < 0.001) and linear (p < 0.001) dose-response analysis. Associations between ALT and AST with risk of GDM were found to be non-significant (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.91-1.90, I2 65% and OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.52-1.10, I2 16%, respectively). CONCLUSION: This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis highlights GGT as a significant and robust predictor of the incidence of GDM in pregnant women.

The health effects of medical nutrition therapy by dietitians in patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis: Nutrition therapy and diabetes.

AIMS: Intensive lifestyle, dietary interventions and patient education have been recommended as key milestones in to facilitate the management of Diabetes and contain the growing incidence. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the health benefits of medical nutrition therapy among patients with diabetes. DESIGN: A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane library from onset up to February 2019 to identify trials investigating the health effect of Medical nutrition (MNT) in patients with diabetes. Random-effects models were used to calculate the effect sizes as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Eleven studies containing 1227 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled results showed a significant reduction in Fasting blood sugar (FBS) (WMD= -8.85mg/dl, 95% CI: -14.41, -3.28), HbA1c (WMD: -0.43%, 95% CI: -0.69, -0.17), weight (WMD: -1.54kg, 95% CI: -2.44, -0.64), Body mass index (BMI) (WMD: -0.34 Kg/m2, 95% CI: -0.52, -0.17), waist circumference (WMD: -2.16cm, 95% CI: -4.09, -0.23), cholesterol (WMD: -4.06mg/dl, 95% CI: -7.31, -0.81), Systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD: -7.90mmHg, 95% CI: -13.03, -2.77). Results of meta-regression analysis based on age of participants and duration of intervention were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetes who received medical nutrition therapy showed significant improvements in outcome measures of FBS, HbA1c, weight, BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol, and SBP.