Menopausal hormone therapy may increase non-allergic rhinitis among postmenopausal women: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012).

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and chronic rhinitis. METHODS: The data used in this study were derived from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The analysis included 2967 postmenopausal women under 70 years of age, and there were no missing data. Questionnaire responses regarding MHT, current life habits, reproductive history, and rhinitis were reviewed. The levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE for Dermatophagoides farinae, cockroaches, and dogs were measured, using approximately 10% of all samples. We compared women who were users of MHT and non-users of MHT. We also compared women with and without chronic rhinitis. RESULTS: Of 2967 women matching the study criteria, 567 were MHT users. The proportion of general rhinitis symptoms was greater among MHT users (24.5%) than among MHT non-users (18.9%, p=0.003). The proportion of cases of rhinorrhea or posterior nasal drip was also greater among MHT users (6.3% vs. 4.3%, p=0.042), while there were no differences between the two groups in the proportion of cases of nasal obstruction. There were no differences in total IgE and specific IgE levels between the two groups. MHT was used by 23.4% of women with chronic rhinitis and 18.0% of women without chronic rhinitis. Age, waist circumference, and body mass index were also greater among women without chronic rhinitis than among those with chronic rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: MHT may cause non-allergic rhinitis in postmenopausal women. Age and obesity may also affect the occurrence of non-allergic rhinitis in postmenopausal women.

Vitamin D Status and Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplementation in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Recent literature has highlighted the possible role of vitamin D in atopic dermatitis (AD), and that vitamin D supplementation might help to treat AD. This study determined the relationship between vitamin D level and AD, and assessed the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases up to May 2015. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials were included based on the available data on the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level and quantified data available for severity assessed using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index or Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score. Compared with healthy controls, the serum 25(OH)D level was lower in the AD patients of all ages (standardized mean difference = -2.03 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -2.52 to -0.78), and predominantly in the pediatric AD patients (standardized mean difference = -3.03 ng/mL; 95% CI = -4.76 to -1.29). In addition, the SCORAD index and EASI score decreased after vitamin D supplementation (standardized mean difference = -5.85; 95% CI = -7.66 to -4.05). This meta-analysis showed that serum vitamin D level was lower in the AD patients and vitamin D supplementation could be a new therapeutic option for AD.

Parenteral fish oil-containing lipid emulsions may reverse parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis in neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence indicates that fish oil-containing lipid emulsions have a beneficial effect on parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC) in adults; however, data are limited in neonates regarding the effect of fish oil on PNAC. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that addressed the effect of fish oil-containing lipid emulsions on reversing and preventing PNAC. METHODS: We searched PubMed, the EMBASE database, and the Cochrane Library for this systematic review and meta-analysis. The methodologic assessment of studies was performed with the Jadad scale and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Comprehensive Met-Analysis version 2.0 was used for the statistical analysis. We performed a meta-analysis with the primary outcomes of reversal of PNAC and the occurrence of PNAC in newborn infants, including preterm infants, after parenteral administration of fish oil-containing lipid emulsions. RESULTS: Of the 36 studies identified, 7 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were used in this meta-analysis, including 3 studies with 93 participants in which reversal of PNAC was an outcome and 4 studies with 1012 participants on preventing PNAC. The use of fish oil-containing lipid emulsions was more likely to reverse PNAC (OR: 6.14; 95% CI: 2.27, 16.6; P < 0.01), but the use of fish oil-containing lipid emulsions did not have a significant effect on the development of PNAC (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.28, 1.10; P = 0.09) compared with soybean-based or olive oil-based lipid emulsions. CONCLUSIONS: The pooled data suggest that the use of fish oil-containing lipid emulsions is effective for reversing PNAC but cannot prevent PNAC in neonates who require prolonged parenteral nutritional support.