Association between dietary inflammatory index and risk of fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and risks of fatty liver disease. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted to select studies published from database inception to 6 September 2023 from five databases. Observational studies examining the association between elevated DII levels and the prevalence of fatty liver disease/liver fibrosis were included. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using either random-effects or fixed-effect models. RESULTS: In total, 10 studies comprising 242,006 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Individuals with higher DII had a significantly increased risk of fatty liver disease (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.08-2.45) and liver fibrosis (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.09-1.21) compared to those with lower DII. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrated an association between higher DII and increased odds of fatty liver disease. However, additional prospective studies are required to further address this question.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease and sarcopenia additively increase mortality: a real-world study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sarcopenia is associated with worse prognosis for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, disease progression in the MAFLD-related sarcopenia is largely unknown. We aimed to clarify the relationship between MAFLD and/or sarcopenia with mortality and liver fibrosis in the real world. METHODS: A total of 13,692 individuals were selected from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and linked mortality until December 2019. MAFLD is diagnosed based on a radiologically diagnosed hepatic steatosis and the presence of any one of the following three conditions: overweight/obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), or metabolic dysregulation. Sarcopenia is defined by weight-adjusted skeletal muscle mass. RESULTS: The mean age was 43.7 ± 15.97 years, and 47.3% of the individuals were male. MAFLD was diagnosed in 4207/13,692 (30.73%) participants, and the proportion of sarcopenic was 19.42% amongst subjects with MAFLD. The mean follow-up duration was of 23.7 ± 7.62 years. MAFLD (aHR 1.152, 95% CI 1.070-1.241) and sarcopenia (aHR 1.123, 95% CI 1.042-1.210) were related to increased all-cause mortality in MAFLD after adjustment for age, sex, race, marital status, education, and smoking. Stratified analysis revealed that MAFLD and sarcopenia additively increased the risk of mortality (aHR 1.247, 95% CI 1.132-1.373) and liver fibrosis (aOR 2.296, 95% CI 1.718-3.069 assessed by NFS score >0.676; aOR 2.218, 95% CI 1.788-2.752 assessed by FIB-4 score >1.3) in fully adjusted models (P < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia in individuals with MAFLD portends increased mortality and significant liver fibrosis. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting at increasing skeletal muscle mass should be explored for patients with MAFLD.

Cardiovascular Protection of Aspirin in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: This is to evaluate aspirin's cardiovascular (CV) protective effect in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (up to December 2022) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing aspirin with placebo in CKD patients for the prevention of CV disease (CVD). Efficacy outcomes included CVD, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, CV and all-cause mortality; safety outcomes included major bleeding, minor bleeding, and renal events. RESULTS: Six RCTs and 6 observational studies, including 35,640 participants, met the inclusion criteria and reported relevant CV outcomes, with a mean follow-up of 46.83 months. The pooled data showed aspirin had no significant preventive effect on CVD events (RR=1.03; 95% CI, 0.84-1.27). However, CV mortality was significantly reduced in the aspirin group (RR=0.74; 95% CI, 0.58-0.95). Furthermore, aspirin use did not increase the risk of major bleeding and renal events but significantly increased minor bleeding events (RR=2.11; 95% CI, 1.30-3.44). Renal events were significantly increased after sensitivity analysis (RR=1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16). CONCLUSION: Aspirin did not prevent CV events, with a significantly increased risk of minor bleeding and renal events. Besides, aspirin use had no statistically significant reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality but had a statistically significant reduction in the risk of CV mortality.

WeChat-Based Comprehensive Education on Egg White Protein Intake for Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis: A Combined Prospective and Retrospective Study.

Protein malnutrition is a well-described complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), a standard mode of treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and contributes to morbidity, treatment failure, and mortality. To assess the usefulness of WeChat-based education for ensuring optimal protein intake through the consumption of egg white protein, 140 young and middle-aged patients undergoing PD are assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The results show that reinforcing comprehensive PD education using WeChat can improve nutritional parameters, clinical parameters, and quality of life.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous iron with different frequencies for renal anaemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron supplementation in patients with renal anaemia. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from their inception until 17 September 2021, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron at different frequencies. The observed efficacy indicators included transfer saturation (TSAT), serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin (HGB). Outcomes of interest included allergies, infections, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Of the 751 eligible studies, 7 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The RCTs showed that there were no significant differences between the low-frequency high-dose group (1-2 doses, >200 mg/dose) and the high-frequency low-dose group (4-5 doses, ≤200 mg/dose) in the increase in TSAT (WMD = 1.90; 95% CI = -2.04 to 5.84; I2  = 0%), SF (WMD = 15.70; 95% CI = -32.20 to 70.61; I2  = 0%) and HGB (WMD = -0.00; 95% CI = -0.43 to 0.42; I2  = 0%). There was also no significant difference in the occurrence of outcome events, including allergies (RR = 1.84; 95% CI = 0.95 to 3.57; I2  = 45%), infections (RR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.20-1.86; I2  = 0%), cardiovascular events (RR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.67-1.15; I2  = 48%) and all-cause mortality (RR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.40-1.35; I2  = 0%). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Frequencies of intravenous iron supplementation with similar doses share similar safety and efficacy in patients with renal anaemia. However, a single dose or two doses of intravenous iron are more cost-effective and patient friendly. These findings may provide evidence for the clinical application of intravenous iron supplementation for patients with renal anaemia.

Association Between Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study from NHANES 2017-2018.

PURPOSE: In 2020, an international expert consensus proposed a novel concept, defined as metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). We aimed to investigate the association between MAFLD and chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A total of 4869 subjects with demographic data, laboratory tests, and ultrasound transient elastography from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys of the United States (NHANES) 2017-2018 were included in the study. Statistical analysis was performed to test the independent association between the demographic data, laboratory tests, and non-invasive liver fibrosis scores in subjects with different subgroups of MAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 4869 subjects were identified in the NHANES 2017-2018, of which 1032 (21.2%) subjects were diagnosed with CKD. There was a higher prevalence of CKD in MAFLD subjects than in non-MALFD subjects (22.2% vs 19.1, p=0.048). After 1:1 propensity score matching by gender, age and race, we enrolled 1983 subjects with MAFLD diagnosed based on liver ultrasound transient elastography and 1983 PS-matched subjects without MAFLD. MAFLD was not independently associated with CKD after PSM. Further investigation showed that age (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03~1.05, p<0.001), hypertension (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.38~2.00, p<0.001), DM (OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.89~3.11, p<0.001), hyperuricemia (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.55~2.36, p<0.001), ALP (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00~1.01, p=0.010), and FIB-4 score (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05~1.01, p=0.011) were independently associated with CKD. In the subgroup analysis, the subgroups of MAFLD complicated with DM, age, hypertension, and hyperuricemia were independently related to the incidence of CKD. In the subgroup of DM without MAFLD, age, hyperuricemia, ALP, and NFS score were independently related to the incidence of CKD. In the subgroup of MAFLD without DM, age, hypertension, hyperuricemia, and ALP were independently related to the incidence of CKD. CONCLUSION: Based on the NHANES 2017-2018, MAFLD was not independently associated with CKD. Thus, the link between MAFLD and CKD may be mediated by metabolic abnormalities, such as diabetes mellitus and hyperuricemia.

Impact of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases on the severity of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We examined the effects of coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension and diabetes on the development of severe COVID-19. We performed a comprehensive, systematic literature search for studies published between December 2019 and July 5, 2020 in five databases. The prevalence of severe COVID-19 in patients with CHD, hypertension and diabetes was evaluated through a meta-analysis. Thirty-five articles with 8,170 patients were included, and all the available studies were case series. The pooled odds ratio for the development of severe COVID-19 was 3.21 for patients with CHD (fixed-effects model, 95% CI: 2.58-3.99), 2.27 for patients with hypertension (random-effects model, 95% CI: 1.79-2.90) and 2.34 for patients with diabetes (random-effects model, 95% CI: 1.79-3.05). The heterogeneity of the studies was moderate for the effect of CHD on COVID-19 severity, but was high for the effects of diabetes and hypertension. Funnel plots and Egger's tests revealed no publication bias in the CHD and hypertension analyses, but suggested publication bias in the diabetes analysis. This bias was corrected using the trim-and-fill method, and was ultimately found to have no effect on the results. Our findings suggest patients with CHD, hypertension and diabetes are at greater risk for developing severe COVID-19 than those without these conditions.

Lymphopenia is associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new respiratory and systemic disease which needs quick identification of potential critical patients. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between lymphocyte count and the severity of COVID-19. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic literature search was carried out to find studies published from December 2019 to 22 March 2020 from five databases. The language of literatures included English and Chinese. Mean difference (MD) of lymphocyte count in COVID-19 patients with or without severe disease and odds ratio (OR) of lymphopenia for severe form of COVID-19 was evaluated with this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Overall 13 case-series with a total of 2282 cases were included in the study. The pooled analysis showed that lymphocyte count was significantly lower in severe COVID-19 patients (MD -0.31×109/L; 95%CI: -0.42 to -0.19×109/L). The presence of lymphopenia was associated with nearly threefold increased risk of severe COVID-19 (Random effects model, OR=2.99, 95% CI: 1.31-6.82). CONCLUSIONS: Lymphopenia is a prominent part of severe COVID-19 and a lymphocyte count of less than 1.5×109/L may be useful in predicting the severity clinical outcomes.

The impact of COPD and smoking history on the severity of COVID-19: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

Comorbidities are associated with the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This meta-analysis aimed to explore the risk of severe COVID-19 in patients with pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and ongoing smoking history. A comprehensive systematic literature search was carried out to find studies published from December 2019 to 22 March 2020 from five databases. The languages of literature included English and Chinese. The point prevalence of severe COVID-19 in patients with pre-existing COPD and those with ongoing smoking was evaluated with this meta-analysis. Overall 11 case series, published either in Chinese or English language with a total of 2002 cases, were included in this study. The pooled OR of COPD and the development of severe COVID-19 was 4.38 (fixed-effects model; 95% CI: 2.34-8.20), while the OR of ongoing smoking was 1.98 (fixed-effects model; 95% CI: 1.29-3.05). There was no publication bias as examined by the funnel plot and Egger's test (P = not significant). The heterogeneity of included studies was moderate for both COPD and ongoing smoking history on the severity of COVID-19. COPD and ongoing smoking history attribute to the worse progression and outcome of COVID-19.

The Effects of Molecular Hydrogen and Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid on Paraquat-Induced Production of Reactive Oxygen Species and TNF-α in Macrophages.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on paraquat (PQ)-stimulated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in macrophages. First, the PQ optimal concentration was determined in RAW264.7 macrophage by treating serum-starved cells with PQ at 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mM. We evaluated at 1, 2 and 8 h (1) cell viability (by means of trypan blue exclusion method), (2) intracellular ROS levels (with a fluorescent DCFH-DA probe), and (3) TNF-α level in the culture media (determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA). Subsequently, mouse RAW267.4 macrophages were treated with PQ in combination with SAHA and/or H2 for 8 h. PQ exerted a significant stimulatory but nontoxic effect on RAW267.4 macrophages at 0.1 mM. This PQ concentration was used in the subsequent experiments. H2 and H2 combined with SAHA evoked a greater reduction in PQ-induced ROS production than SAHA alone, especially at 2 and 8 h. At 1 and 2 h, treatments involving H2 caused a greater decrease in PQ-induced production of TNF-α than the corresponding treatments without H2. However, at 8 h, treatment with SAHA evoked more pronounced effects on TNF-α than treatment without SAHA. H2 decreases PQ-induced ROS production and attenuates early PQ-induced TNF-α production whereas SAHA reduces the late phase of the PQ-induced TNF-α production in macrophages. The effects are enhanced by the combination of H2 and SAHA.