Digestive diseases and sciences
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Meta Analysis
Heavy Coffee Consumption and Risk of Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Heavy consumption of coffee may have a protective effect against pancreatitis although results from previous studies were inconsistent. This meta-analysis was conducted with the aim to summarize all available data. ⋯ This meta-analysis demonstrated a significantly decreased risk of pancreatitis among heavy coffee-drinkers. However, further investigations are still required to determine causality and potential clinical application.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Improved Hemoglobin Response with Ferric Carboxymaltose in Patients with Gastrointestinal-Related Iron-Deficiency Anemia Versus Oral Iron.
To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) versus oral iron and other IV iron therapies in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) resulting from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. ⋯ FCM is an effective therapy in patients with IDA who have GI disorders and has a safety profile comparable to that of other IV iron agents.
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Severe NAFLD with advanced fibrosis results in substantial morbidity and mortality. Associated with metabolic syndrome, NAFLD is often initially clinically silent, yet intensive lifestyle intervention with 7% or greater weight loss can improve or resolve NAFLD. Using a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) liver biopsy cohort, we evaluated simple noninvasive fibrosis scoring systems to identify NAFLD with advanced fibrosis (or severe disease) to assist providers. ⋯ While NFS and FIB-4 scores exhibit good diagnostic accuracy, FIB-4 is optimal in identifying NAFLD advanced fibrosis in the VHA. Easily implemented as a point-of-care clinical test, FIB-4 can be useful in directing patients that are most likely to have advanced fibrosis to GI/hepatology consultation and follow-up.