Ahuja, Wasin

BACKGROUND: The possible relationship between obesity and the risk of colonic diverticulosis has been suggested by recent epidemiologic studies, although the results were inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize all of the available data. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through January 2017. STUDY SELECTION: Studies that compared the risk of colonic diverticulosis among subjects with obesity versus those without obesity were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect estimates from each study were extracted and combined together using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. RESULTS: Of 2989 potentially eligible articles, 10 studies (9 cross-sectional studies and 1 prospective cohort study) with 53,520 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of colonic diverticulosis in obese subjects was significantly higher than in those without obesity, with a pooled OR of 1.41 (95% CI, 1.20–1.65). The statistical heterogeneity was high, with an I2 of 75%. LIMITATIONS: High statistical heterogeneity and publication bias in favor of positive studies may have been present in this meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: A significant association between colonic diverticulosis and obesity was shown in this study. However, additional studies are still required to determine the causality. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A500.

Background Hyperuricemia is a significant risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It may also have an impact on the histologic severity of NAFLD. However, data on this association are limited. We conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the relationship of serum uric acid with liver histologic severity as determined by NAFLD activity score (NAS) in patients with NAFLD. Patients and methods MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched through August 2016 for studies that investigated the association between hyperuricemia and NAS among patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using a random-effects model (generic inverse variance method). The between-study heterogeneity of effect size was quantified using the Q statistic and I 2. Results Five observational studies with 777 NAFLD patients were identified. Patients with NAFLD who had hyperuricemia had a high NAS (defined as score of ≥5) significantly more often than did those without hyperuricemia with a pooled odds ratio of 2.17 (95% confidence interval: 1.51–3.12). The statistical heterogeneity was low, with I 2 of 16% (P heterogeneity=0.31). Conclusion In patients with NAFLD, hyperuricemia is associated with a higher degree of histological liver damage. Further studies are required to establish the role of uric acid-lowering therapy among these patients.

Background Uric acid is a natural antioxidant. Previous studies have suggested a protective role of hyperuricemia against liver fibrosis among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the results were conflicting. Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched through August 2016 for studies that investigated the association between hyperuricemia and fibrosis stage among patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using a random-effects model, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird. The between-study heterogeneity of effect size was quantified using the Q statistic and I 2. Results A total of five observational studies with 749 NAFLD patients were identified. Patients with NAFLD who had hyperuricemia were not significantly more likely or less likely to have advanced liver fibrosis (defined as fibrosis stage of ≥3) compared with patients with NAFLD who had normal serum uric with the pooled odds ratio of 0.72 (95% confidence interval: 0.34–1.53). The statistical heterogeneity was low with an I 2 of 22% (P heterogeneity=0.27). Conclusion Significant protective role of hyperuricemia against the development of advanced liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD was not observed in this meta-analysis.

AimTo investigate the association between primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of published observational studies that reported relative risks, odd ratios, hazard ratios or standardized incidence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing CAD risk in patients with PBC versus non‐PBC controls. Pooled risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were combined using a random‐effect model and generic inverse variance of DerSimonian and Laird methods.ResultFour studies with 3362 patients with PBC were identified and included in our data analysis. The pooled risk ratio of CAD in patients with PBC was 1.57 (95% CI, 1.21–2.06). The statistical heterogeneity was low with an I2 of 38%.ConclusionOur study demonstrated a statistically significant increased risk of CAD among patients with PBC.