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Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck... Aug 2023Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) is characterized by recurrent episodes of painful parotid swelling in children. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) is characterized by recurrent episodes of painful parotid swelling in children. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness of sialendoscopy in children affected by JRP.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library until April 2022, without language restrictions or specified start date. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).
RESULTS
Our review included 524 patients and 646 sialendoscopies. The sample sizes of the different studies ranged from 3 to 77 subjects. Most authors performed sialendoscopy under general anesthesia. The mean percentage of recurrences observed was 25.1% (95% confidence intervals) (CI 23.6-26.6). There was a statistically significant relationship between the number of attacks/year and recurrences (p < 0.05). The percentage of recurrences according to the type of irrigation/flushing used ranged from 22.2% to 25.2%, with no significant differences between the use of corticosteroids alone (25.2% of recurrences), corticosteroids plus antibiotics (25% of recurrences) or saline alone (22.2% of recurrences). Sialoendoscopy has proved in all cases to be a valid method for the diagnosis of JRP, but it does not allow a reliable differential diagnosis with other autoimmune parotitis such as Sjögren's syndrome.
CONCLUSION
According to our results, parotid sialoendoscopy was 74.9% effective as a primary treatment in the prevention of recurrent symptoms in JRP. The type of ductal irrigation used did not significantly influence the prognostic outcome.
Topics: Child; Humans; Parotitis; Parotid Gland; Anesthesia, General; Recurrence
PubMed: 37598195
DOI: 10.1186/s40463-023-00658-1 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Dec 2023This review attempted to explore all recent clinical studies that have investigated the clinical and autoimmune impact of gut microbiota interventions in multiple... (Review)
Review
This review attempted to explore all recent clinical studies that have investigated the clinical and autoimmune impact of gut microbiota interventions in multiple sclerosis (MS), including dietary protocols, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and intermittent fasting (IF). Thirteen studies were held between 2011 and 2023 this demonstrated interventions in gut microbiome among patients with MS and their impact the clinical parameters of the disease. These included specialized dietary interventions, the supply of probiotic mixtures, FMT, and IF. Dietary interventions positively affected various aspects of MS, including relapse rates, EDSS disability scores, MS-related fatigue, and metabolic features. Probiotic mixtures showed promising results on MS-related fatigue, EDSS parameters, inflammation; meanwhile, FMT-though a limited number of studies was included-indicated some clinical improvement in similar variables. IF showed reductions in EDSS scores and significant improvement in patients' emotional statuses. In dietary protocols, clinical MS parameters, including relapse rate, EDSS, MFIS, FSS, and MSQoL54 scales, were significantly improved through the application of a specific diet each time. Probiotic nutritional mixtures promote a shift in inflammation towards an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile in patients with MS. The administration of such mixtures affected disability, mood levels, and quality of life among patients with MS. FMT protocols possibly demonstrate a therapeutic effect in some case reports. IF protocols were found to ameliorate EDSS and FAMS scores. All interventional means of gut microbiome modulation provided significant conclusions on several clinical aspects of MS and highlight the complexity in the relationship between MS and the gut microbiome.
PubMed: 38137679
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247610 -
Cureus Sep 2023Pernicious anemia, historically tied to vitamin B12 malabsorption due to intrinsic factor secretion impairment, has evolved in understanding, especially concerning its... (Review)
Review
Pernicious anemia, historically tied to vitamin B12 malabsorption due to intrinsic factor secretion impairment, has evolved in understanding, especially concerning its association with autoimmune gastritis. This systematic review dives deep into the multifaceted relationship between infection, autoimmune gastritis, and the presence of anti-intrinsic factors and anti-parietal cell antibodies. Comprehensive database searches revealed a higher prevalence of infection in pernicious anemia patients, with some studies suggesting a consequential increase in the aforementioned antibodies. Interestingly, eradication of displayed potential therapeutic effects; patients showcased reductions in antibody titers, improved histopathological findings, and reversion of atrophic changes in gastric corpus. Such outcomes highlight the conceivable benefits of considering infection during the evaluation and management of pernicious anemia and autoimmune gastritis. However, disparities across studies make direct comparisons challenging. It's essential to approach the potential role of in these conditions with caution. Further research is warranted to cement conclusions and refine clinical management strategies. This review seeks to prompt new investigative avenues into the intricate link between autoimmune gastritis, and pernicious anemia, ultimately enhancing patient care.
PubMed: 37885562
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45887 -
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Apr 2024Vitamins and homocysteine (Hcy) are involved in liver metabolism and related to the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver disease (AILD), but consensus is lacking. This study... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Vitamins and homocysteine (Hcy) are involved in liver metabolism and related to the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver disease (AILD), but consensus is lacking. This study aims to systematically summarize relevant evidence to clarify the association of serum vitamins and Hcy levels with AILD.
METHODS
The English and Chinese literature was searched until August 29, 2023. Studies were included if they were observational studies of investigating serum vitamins and Hcy levels in patients with AILD and their healthy comparisons. Quality assessment was performed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and a meta-analysis was conducted using ReviewManager 5.3. The protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42023455367.
RESULTS
A total of 25 case-control studies comprising 3487 patients (1673 patients and 1814 healthy controls) were included for analysis. There were 548 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) cases, 1106 primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) cases, and 19 primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) cases. We found that serum A and E were decreased in both AIH and PBC/PSC; but vitamin C was reduced only in patients with PBC, not AIH. In addition, decreased content of 25(OH)D3 was found in both AIH and PBC. However, levels of 25(OH)D did not differ between the patients and controls, and were independent of disease types and the country. Only one study that met the inclusion criteria reported vitamin B6, B9, B12, and Hcy changes, and found that vitamin B6 and B9 were significantly decreased in patients with PBC, while serum vitamin B12 and Hcy levels were significantly elevated in them. One eligible study each confirmed a reduction in plasma vitamin K1 and 1,25(OH)2D3 in patients with PBC.
CONCLUSION
Most vitamins are deficient in AILD, so appropriate vitamin supplementation should be necessary. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.
Topics: Humans; Homocysteine; Vitamins; Hepatitis, Autoimmune; Case-Control Studies; Autoimmune Diseases
PubMed: 38652023
DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1258 -
European Journal of Rheumatology Oct 2023Resveratrol is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and cell-protective properties. The aim of our article is to review the use of resveratrol in rheumatic diseases....
Resveratrol is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and cell-protective properties. The aim of our article is to review the use of resveratrol in rheumatic diseases. PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Scielo were screened for articles on resveratrol and rheumatic diseases in the period between of January 1966 and March 2023. Five articles were depicted, including 481 patients. The included diseases were osteoarthritis (n=3), rheumatoid arthritis (n=1), and Takayasu arteritis (n=1). The age varied from 32 to 58.2 years, and the female gender ranged from 62% to 74% in the studies. Disease duration ranged from 3.5 ± 3.2 to 9.4 ± 5.8 years. The resveratrol dosage went from 250 mg to 1000 mg/day. All those articles demonstrated improvements in the diverse rheumatic diseases, including pain intensity, function, disease activity (DAS 28), swelling joints, and reduced inflammation markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, interleukinIL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor). No side effects were detected in all studies. In conclusion, resveratrol seems to be a safe therapy for various rheumatic diseases, although the evidence is very limited. The improved subjective and objective complaints and laboratory parameters are promising. However, there is a need to reconfirm, reproduce, and investigate the topic in more extensive, well-controlled, double-blind, cross-over studies.
PubMed: 37873665
DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2023.23064 -
Medicine Feb 2024Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease which results in non-scarring hair loss on the scalp or any surface with hair. Several genetic polymorphisms of the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease which results in non-scarring hair loss on the scalp or any surface with hair. Several genetic polymorphisms of the interleukin genes have been linked with this disease but the results are inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis were done to find the association between rs3118470, rs2275913, rs3212227, and rs10889677 of the IL2RA, IL17A, IL12B, and IL23R genes, respectively, of the interleukin family with alopecia areata.
METHODS
A comprehensive search for relevant research articles was conducted in Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Embase databases. Our search yielded 8 relevant articles with 1940 cases and 1788 controls. The odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was calculated using fixed effect and random effect models. Heterogeneity was determined using the Q-test and I2 test. Publication bias was determined and funnel plots were used to adjust the odds ratio.
RESULTS
We found a significant risk effect for rs3118470 of the IL2RA gene with alopecia areata in the dominant model (CC + CT vs TT; OR = 1.54, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-2.26, P < .05, I2 = 69.03%) and homozygous model (CC vs TT; OR = 2.00, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-3.71, P < .05, I2 = 72.84%). For the other single nucleotide polymorphisms, we could not find any statistically significant association with the disease.
CONCLUSION
Our analysis showed that mutation of rs3118470 of IL2RA gene possesses a significant risk effect for alopecia areata. Future studies with larger sample sizes and ethnic backgrounds are warranted to confirm our findings.
Topics: Humans; Alopecia Areata; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Interleukins; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 38394507
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037300 -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Jan 2024Carotenoids appear to have anticancer effects. Prospective evidence for the relation between serum carotenoids and breast cancer is controversial. The present systematic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Carotenoids appear to have anticancer effects. Prospective evidence for the relation between serum carotenoids and breast cancer is controversial. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the link between circulating carotenoids and the risk of breast cancer. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 30 November, 2022. Prospective studies on adults aged ≥18 y that have reported risk estimates for the association between circulating carotenoids and breast cancer risk were considered. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects model was used for combining studies' risk estimates. Dose-response relations were explored through a 1-stage random-effects model. Fifteen publications (17 nested case-control studies and 1 cohort study) with 20,188 participants and 7608 cases were included. We observed an inverse association between the highest level of circulating total carotenoids (relative risk [RR]: 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62, 0.93; n = 8), α-carotene (RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.87; n = 13), β-carotene (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.98; n = 15), β-cryptoxanthin (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.96; n = 11), lycopene (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.98; n = 13), and lutein (RR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.93; n = 6) and the risk of breast cancer compared with the lowest level. Additionally, each 10 μg/dL of total carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin was associated with 2%, 22%, 4%, and 10% lower risk of breast cancer, respectively. This relationship was stronger at lower levels of total carotenoids and β-cryptoxanthin. The certainty of evidence was rated from very low to low. Most studies were performed among Western nations, which should be acknowledged for extrapolation of findings. Total circulating carotenoids, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein seem to be related to a decreased risk of breast cancer. Our findings could have practical importance for public health. This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023434983.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; beta Carotene; Beta-Cryptoxanthin; Breast Neoplasms; Carotenoids; Lutein; Lycopene
PubMed: 38436219
DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.10.007 -
Journal of Family & Reproductive Health Dec 2023Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of central nervous system (CNS). There are a few articles studying the risk factors of developing MS in men. Male infertility... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of central nervous system (CNS). There are a few articles studying the risk factors of developing MS in men. Male infertility can stem from a range of etiological factors such as genetics or environment. In the context of MS, research suggests a potential link, possibly due to shared immunological and inflammatory mechanisms. Therefore, we designed this study to evaluate the relationship between male infertility and MS development.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, web of science, Google scholar and gray literature including references of the references as well as conference papers which were published up to June 2021. The search strategy in PubMed was ("Infertility, Male"[Mesh] OR [Male Infertility] OR [Sterility, Male] OR [Male Sterility] OR [Subfertility, Male] OR [Male Subfertility] OR [Sub-Fertility, Male] OR [Male Sub-Fertility] OR [Sub Fertility, Male]) AND ("Multiple Sclerosis"[Mesh] OR [Sclerosis, Multiple] OR [Sclerosis, disseminated] OR [Disseminated Sclerosis] OR [MS] OR [Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating]) AND ("Testicular Diseases"[Mesh] OR [Disease, Testicular] OR [Diseases, Testicular] OR [Testicular Disease]) AND ("Multiple Sclerosis"[Mesh] OR [Sclerosis, Multiple] OR [Sclerosis, disseminated] OR [Disseminated Sclerosis] OR [Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating] OR [MS]).
RESULTS
The literature search revealed 197 articles, after deleting duplicates 109 remained. For the meta-analysis, 3 studies were included. Totally, 2090 MS cases as well as 3895562 healthy subjects were enrolled. One hundred and fourteen infertile men were in MS group and 139716 infertile men were in controls. The pooled OR for male factor infertility and odds of developing MS was1.87 (95% CI: 0.89-3.94) (I=86.1%, P=0.001).
CONCLUSION
The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that there is no relationship between male factor infertility and risk of MS.
PubMed: 38807619
DOI: 10.18502/jfrh.v17i4.14590 -
Academic Radiology Dec 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the radiological predictors of post-coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pulmonary fibrosis and incomplete... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the radiological predictors of post-coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pulmonary fibrosis and incomplete absorption of pulmonary lesions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies reporting the predictive value of radiological findings in patients with post-COVID-19 lung residuals published through November 11, 2022. The pooled odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were assessed. The random-effects model was used due to the heterogeneity of the true effect sizes.
RESULTS
We included 11 studies. There were 1777 COVID-19-positive patients, and 1014 (57%) were male. All studies used chest computed tomography (CT) as a radiologic tool. Moreover, chest X-ray (CXR) and lung ultrasound were used in two studies, along with a CT scan. CT severity score (CTSS), Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema score (RALE), interstitial score, lung ultrasound score (LUS), patchy opacities, abnormal CXR, pleural traction, and subpleural abnormalities were found to be predictors of post-COVID-19 sequels. CTSS and consolidations were the most common predictors among included studies. Pooled analysis revealed that pulmonary residuals in patients with initial consolidation are about four times more likely than in patients without this finding (odds ratio: 3.830; 95% CI: 1.811-8.102, I2: 4.640).
CONCLUSION
Radiological findings can predict the long-term pulmonary sequelae of COVID-19 patients. CTSS is an important predictor of lung fibrosis and COVID-19 mortality. Lung fibrosis can be diagnosed and tracked using the LUS. Changes in RALE score during hospitalization can be used as an independent predictor of mortality.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Respiratory Sounds; Lung; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37491177
DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2023.06.002 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Despite representing only 3% of the US population, immunocompromised (IC) individuals account for nearly half of the COVID-19 breakthrough hospitalizations. IC... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Despite representing only 3% of the US population, immunocompromised (IC) individuals account for nearly half of the COVID-19 breakthrough hospitalizations. IC individuals generate a lower immune response after vaccination in general, and the US CDC recommended a third dose of either mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccines as part of their primary series. Influenza vaccine trials have shown that increasing dosage could improve effectiveness in IC populations. The objective of this systematic literature review and pairwise meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of mRNA-1273 (50 or 100 mcg/dose) vs BNT162b2 (30 mcg/dose) in IC populations using the GRADE framework.
METHODS
The systematic literature search was conducted in the World Health Organization COVID-19 Research Database. Studies were included in the pairwise meta-analysis if they reported comparisons of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 in IC individuals ≥18 years of age; outcomes of interest were symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization due to COVID-19, and mortality due to COVID-19. Risk ratios (RR) were pooled across studies using random-effects meta-analysis models. Outcomes were also analyzed in subgroups of patients with cancer, autoimmune disease, and solid organ transplant. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. Evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework.
RESULTS
Overall, 17 studies were included in the pairwise meta-analysis. Compared with BNT162b2, mRNA-1273 was associated with significantly reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.97]; =0.0151; 67.7%), severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.77-0.93]; =0.0009; 0%), COVID-19-associated hospitalization (RR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.79-0.97]; <0.0001; 0%), and COVID-19-associated mortality (RR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.44-0.90]; =0.0119; 0%) in IC populations. Results were consistent across subgroups. Because of sample size limitations, relative effectiveness of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in IC populations cannot be studied in randomized trials. Based on nonrandomized studies, evidence certainty among comparisons was type 3 (low) and 4 (very low), reflecting potential biases in observational studies.
CONCLUSION
This GRADE meta-analysis based on a large number of consistent observational studies showed that the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine is associated with improved clinical effectiveness in IC populations compared with BNT162b2.
Topics: Humans; BNT162 Vaccine; 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 37771594
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1204831