Articles: disease.
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the primary causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Obeticholic acid (OCA), a potent farnesoid X nuclear receptor activator, has shown promise for treating NASH-related fibrosis due to its anti-fibrotic effects. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of OCA for patients with NASH as well as to investigate its impact on dyslipidemia. ⋯ OCA also reduced several liver test markers compared to placebo, including the biochemical indicators alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and improved hepatocellular ballooning, fibrosis, steatosis, and lobular inflammation. Although the incidence of adverse events did not significantly differ between OCA and placebo groups among NASH patients, OCA treatment was found to elevate total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels, and the reported severity of pruritus increased with higher doses of OCA.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Feb 2024
Review Meta AnalysisNutritional interventions for preventing and treating pressure ulcers.
Pressure ulcers are localized injuries to the skin or the underlying tissue, or both, and are common in older and immobile people, people with diabetes, vascular disease, or malnutrition, as well as those who require intensive or palliative care. People with pressure ulcers often suffer from severe pain and exhibit social avoidance behaviours. The prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers involves strategies to optimize hydration, circulation, and nutrition. Adequate nutrient intake can reduce the risk factor of malnutrition and promote wound healing in existing pressure ulcers. However, it is unclear which nutrients help prevent and treat pressure ulcers. This is an update of an earlier Cochrane Review. ⋯ The benefits of nutritional interventions with various compositions for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment are uncertain. There may be little or no difference compared to standard nutrition or placebo. Nutritional supplements may not increase gastrointestinal side effects, but the evidence is very uncertain. Larger studies with similar nutrient compositions would reduce these uncertainties. No study investigated the effects of special diets (e.g. protein-enriched diet, vegetarian diet) on pressure ulcer incidence and healing.
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The efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with Silibinin in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are still inconclusive. This meta-analysis intends to evaluation to explore the clinical efficacy and quality assessment of traditional Chinese medicine in combination with Silymarin in the treatment of NAFLD, aiming to aims to provide evidence-based data analysis for researchers and clinical practitioners involved in TCM research for NAFLD, with the hope of facilitating wider adoption and application. ⋯ Traditional Chinese medicine in conjunction with Silibinin capsules has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of NAFLD, improving clinical symptoms, blood lipid levels, and liver function. Furthermore, it is essential to engage in multi-omics research, investigate iron death, and explore the gut microbiota as potential observational indicators for the diagnosis and inclusion criteria. Conducting more high-quality clinical experiments is necessary to further validate these findings.
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Meta Analysis
The causal relationship between gut microbiota and COVID-19: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.
Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the causal impact of the gut microbiota on COVID-19 remains unclear. We performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization. ⋯ This study provides a basis for the theory of the gut-lung axis. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the protective effect of probiotics against COVID-19 and the specific protective mechanisms. This study has important implications for gut microbiota as a nondrug intervention for COVID-19.
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Comment Meta Analysis
In hypertension, with or without orthostatic hypotension, more- vs. less-intensive BP therapy improves clinical outcomes.
Juraschek SP, Hu JR, Cluett JL, et al. Orthostatic hypotension, hypertension treatment, and cardiovascular disease: an individual participant meta-analysis. JAMA. 2023;330:1459-1471. 37847274.