Exploratory analysis of serum Krebs von den Lungen-6, blood gas analysis & Brixia score in determining COVID-19 severity & mortality.

Background & objectives Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is primarily expressed by the damaged type II pneumocytes. In this context, the relationship of KL-6 with blood gas analysis (BGA) parameters and Brixia score is still limitedly discussed. This study aims to analyze the correlation of KL-6, BGA and Brixia scores to the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in adult COVID-19 positive individuals at Universitas Airlangga Hospital, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, from March to August 2021. KL-6, BGA, and Brixia scores were compared according to severity (severe vs. non-severe) and mortality (non-survivor vs. survivor). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was also performed to define the optimal cut-off, sensitivity, as well as the specificity of KL-6, BGA and Brixia scores to determine the COVID-19 severity and mortality. Results Total 35 severe and 20 non-severe COVID-19 positive individuals were enrolled in this study. Of those, there were 22 non-survivors. No significant difference in serum KL-6 levels was observed in the severity and mortality groups. KL-6 and HCO3- had positive correlation in the severe group (r=0.37). KL-6 and Brixia scores showed a significant negative correlation among COVID-19 positive individuals (r=-0.283; P=0.036). KL-6 and Brixia scores together served as the best severity markers in the current study [AUC 0.809 (0.697-0.920); Sn/Sp=0.686/0.900)], followed by KL-6 and P/F ratio [AUC 0.800 (0.637-0.963); Sn/Sp=0.971/0.750]. Interpretation & conclusions The findings of this study suggest that KL-6 has the potential to be a useful adjunct laboratory parameter to the BGA and Brixia score representing COVID-19 severity and mortality.

Gender-specific accuracy of lipid accumulation product index for the screening of metabolic syndrome in general adults: a meta-analysis and comparative analysis with other adiposity indicators.

BACKGROUND: Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a novel predictor index of central lipid accumulation associated with metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the accuracy of LAP for the screening of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in general adult males and females and its comparison with other lipid-related indicators. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and ProQuest for eligible studies up to May 8, 2024. Outcomes were pooled mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR), and diagnostic accuracy parameters (sensitivity, specificity, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic [AUSROC] curve). Comparative analysis was conducted using Z-test. RESULTS: Forty-three studies involving 202,313 participants (98,164 males and 104,149 females) were included. Pooled MD analysis showed that LAP was 45.92 (P < 0.001) and 41.70 units (P < 0.001) higher in men and women with MetS, respectively. LAP was also significantly associated with MetS, with pooled ORs of 1.07 (P < 0.001) in men and 1.08 (P < 0.001) in women. In men, LAP could detect MetS with a pooled sensitivity of 85% (95% CI: 82%-87%), specificity of 81% (95% CI: 80%-83%), and AUSROC curve of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.90), while in women, LAP had a sensitivity of 83% (95% CI: 80%-86%), specificity of 80% (95% CI: 78%-82%), and AUSROC curve of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.91). LAP had a significantly higher AUSROC curve (P < 0.05) for detecting MetS compared to body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body roundness index (BRI), a body shape index (ABSI), body adiposity index (BAI), conicity index (CI) in both genders, and waist circumference (WC) and abdominal volume index (AVI) in females. CONCLUSION: LAP may serve as a simple, cost-effective, and more accurate screening tool for MetS in general adult male and female populations.

Risk factors and 26-years worldwide prevalence of endoscopic erosive esophagitis from 1997 to 2022: a meta-analysis.

Erosive esophagitis (EE) is the part of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) spectrum and may progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Due to its progressivity and unclear prevalence, we aim to identify the factors contributing in EE to decide the need for further examination. We performed a PRISMA 2020-based systematic search through PubMed and other resources up to June 2, 2022. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The odds ratio (OR) of each factor and worldwide prevalence of EE were measured. There are 114 observational studies included with a total of 759,100 participants. Out of 29 factors, the significant risk factors are age ≥ 60 y.o. (OR 2.03 [1.81-2.28]), White/Caucasian (OR 1.67 [1.40-1.99]), unmarried (OR 1.08 [1.03-1.14]), having GERD ≥ 5 years (OR 1.27 [1.14-1.42]), general obesity (OR 1.78 [1.61-1.98]), central obesity (OR 1.29 [1.18-1.42]), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR 1.24 [1.17-1.32]), hypertension (OR 1.16 [1.09-1.23]), dyslipidemia (OR 1.15 [1.06-1.24]), hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.42 [1.29-1.57]), hiatal hernia (HH) (OR 4.07 [3.21-5.17]), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (OR 1.26 [1.18-1.34]). However, H. pylori infection (OR 0.56 [0.48-0.66]) and atrophic gastritis (OR 0.51 [0.31-0.86]) are protective towards EE. This study demonstrates that age, ethnicity, unmarried, long-term GERD, metabolic diseases, HH, and NAFLD act as risk factors for EE, whereas H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis act as protective factors. These findings may enable a better understanding of EE and increase greater awareness to address its growing burden.

Performance of fecal S100A12 as a novel non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in pediatric patients are increasing. Currently, the diagnostic method for IBD is inconvenient, expensive, and difficult. S100A12, a type of calcium-binding protein, detected in the feces of patients with IBD has recently been suggested as a promising diagnostic tool. Hence, the authors aimed to evaluate the accuracy of fecal S100A12 in diagnosing IBD in pediatric patients by performing a meta-analysis. Methods: The authors performed a systematic literature search in five electronic databases for eligible studies up to July 15, 2021. Pooled diagnostic accuracies of fecal S100A12 were analyzed as the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were standardized mean difference (SMD) of fecal S100A12 levels between IBD and non-IBD groups and a comparison of diagnostic accuracies between fecal S100A12 and fecal calprotectin. Results: Seven studies comprising 712 children and adolescents (474 non-IBD controls and 238 IBD cases) were included. Fecal S100A12 levels were higher in the IBD group than in the non-IBD group (SMD = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-2.58; p < 0.0001). Fecal S100A12 could diagnose IBD in pediatric patients with a pooled sensitivity of 95% (95% CI = 88%-98%), specificity of 97% (95% CI = 95%-98%), and area under the receiver operating summary characteristics (AUSROC) curve of 0.99 (95% CI = 0.97-0.99). Fecal S100A12 specificity and AUSROC curve values were higher than those of fecal calprotectin (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Fecal S100A12 may serve as an accurate and non-invasive tool for diagnosing pediatric IBD. © 2023 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Baseline serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A minimally invasive tool to promptly predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is currently needed. In this study, we aimed via a meta-analysis to identify the serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) as a novel glycoprotein-based liver fibrosis marker for predicting HCC in CHB patients. Methods: We conducted a systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Wiley Online Library, and CINAHL Plus (via EBSCOhost). The articles were screened based on several eligibility criteria and were further assessed for study qualities using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The outcomes were presented as standard mean difference (SMD), hazard ratio (HR), and predictive accuracy parameters of a baseline cutoff index (COI) for serum M2BPGi. Results: Fourteen studies involving 5918 CHB patients were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Baseline COI serum M2BPGi was significantly higher in CHB patients who developed HCC than in those who did not (SMD 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-1.72). A significant HCC risk prediction was also observed (multivariate HR 1.18, 95%CI 1.05-1.32). Baseline COI serum M2BPGi could predict HCC with a pooled sensitivity of 74% (95%CI 50-89%), specificity of 80% (95%CI 65-90%), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84 (95%CI 0.81-0.87). Conclusion: High baseline COI serum M2BPGi may predict the development of HCC in CHB patients with moderate-to-high accuracy.

Risk factors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency after pancreatic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients should be informed beforehand of the risk factors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (ExoPI) after pancreatic surgery; however, there are no clear identified risk factors for this condition. This study aimed to identify the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative risk factors for ExoPI after pancreatic surgery. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, SAGE, CINAHL Plus and Taylor & Francis from inception to Mar. 7, 2021, for full-text articles that included patients who had undergone pancreatic surgery. The primary outcome was the number of ExoPI events and any risk factors evaluated. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess study quality. RESULTS: Twenty studies involving 4131 patients (2312 [52.3%] male, mean age 60.12 [standard deviation 14.07] yr) were included. Of the 4131 patients, 1651 (40.0%) had postoperative ExoPI. Among the 11 factors evaluated, the significant risk factors were preoperative main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter greater than 3 mm (odds ratio [OR] 4.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-19.05), pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) as the surgical treatment procedure (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.92-5.68), pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) as the anastomotic procedure (OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.83-5.35), hard pancreatic texture (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.99-4.32) and adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.54-4.04). Gender, history of diabetes mellitus or endocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EndoPI), underlying diseases, de novo diabetes or EndoPI, pylorus-preserving PD and postoperative pancreatic fistula were not risk factors for ExoPI after pancreatic surgery. CONCLUSION: Preoperative MPD diameter greater than 3 mm, PD, PG reconstruction, hard pancreatic texture and adjuvant chemotherapy were risk factors for the development of ExoPI after pancreatic surgery. The findings should provide useful information for patients to reduce postoperative dissatisfaction and improve quality of life.