Efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage of malignant biliary obstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Cachexia is a debilitating yet under-recognized condition, particularly among the elderly population. It has been shown that patients with heart failure (HF) often have cachexia, leading to worsening mortality rates. There is limited research on mortality trends and demographic disparities in terms of cachexia. CDC WONDER (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research) database was used, where HF and cachexia were listed as either contributory or underlying causes of death in adults >65 years from 1999-2020. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) and annual percent changes (APC) were calculated and stratified by year, sex, race/ethnicity, and region. No change in mortality was seen due to HF + cachexia from 2004-2020 (APC -2.1%; 95% CI, -3.2 to 0.6). Almost half of the deaths (47%) occurred within nursing homes. Notably, White adults had a higher mortality than Black/ African American adults (23.8; 95% CI, 23.4 to 24.1 vs 18.4; 95% CI, 17.4 to 19.4). Mortality rates were also higher in rural areas than urban areas (27.9; 95% CI, 27.1 to 28.7 vs 22.1; 95% CI, 21.8 to 22.4). States in the top 90th percentile, including Idaho, Utah, Vermont, South Carolina, Alaska and New Hampshire, had 5-fold higher mortality than states in the lower 10th percentile. No change in mortality was seen due to HF and cachexia-related mortality in the last decade, with substantial racial and regional disparities. Targeted interventions are needed to curb these mortality trends.

Objectives: Our study aims to assess knowledge and understanding of FM among doctors employed at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan with a focus on its diagnostic criteria, treatment modalities, and general knowledge of symptoms. Study Design: Cross-sectional Study. Methods: Our cross-sectional study recruited participants through convenience sampling. A total of 104 participants responded, which included (a) House Officers, (b) Medical Officers, and (c) Residents. A structured questionnaire was used, and an electronic form was generated which was then emailed to the participants to acquire their responses. Results: The majority (66.3%) of our respondents were female and the median age was 26 years. A majority (93.3%) accepted FM as a separate and distinct clinical identity, and 79.8% were confident in recognizing its general symptoms. Widespread pain (95.2%) and fatigue (80.8%) were correctly identified as most commonly observed symptoms. Moreover, 68.3% of respondents possessed no knowledge of both ACR 1990 and 2010 diagnostic criteria for FM. Of those aware, majority favored using the most recent ACR 2010 criteria (72.7%). Majority of our respondents (75%) preferred using pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions simultaneously in the treatment. Conclusions: Our study indicates that while physicians have satisfactory knowledge of the symptoms and treatment modalities of FM, a knowledge gap concerning its diagnostic criteria exists. Proper treatment can only be successful when physicians successfully diagnose FM, therefore, future training programs should use this fact as a stepping stone for advances in its healthcare.

Background/Objectives: Despite the potential benefits, intravascular imaging for guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains underutilized. Recent trials have provided new data, prompting a need for updated insights. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis to compare the clinical outcomes of intravascular imaging-guided PCI versus angiography-guided PCI, thereby evaluating the relative effectiveness of these two guidance strategies in improving patient outcomes. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were systematically searched from inception till 25 November 2024. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing intravascular imaging with coronary angiography in patients undergoing complex PCI were included. Statistical analysis was conducted using a random effects model to calculate pooled risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: In this meta-analysis of 21 studies involving 18,043 patients, intravascular image-guided PCI significantly reduced the risk of all-cause mortality by 24%, cardiac mortality by 63%, MACE by 35%, target vessel myocardial infarction by 32%, stent thrombosis by 42%, target vessel revascularization by 45%, target lesion revascularization by 34% and myocardial infarction by 22% compared to angiography-guided PCI. There was no significant difference in bleeding events. Conclusions: Intravascular imaging significantly reduces cardiac events, all-cause mortality and revascularization rates in PCI patients. These findings support its broader adoption and potential updates to clinical guidelines.

Background/Aims: Colonoscopy for screening is associated with unpleasant experiences for patients, and abdominal compression devices have been developed to minimize these problems. However, there is a paucity of data supporting the therapeutic benefits of this strategy. This study examined the effects of using an abdominal compression device during colonoscopy on the cecal intubation time (CIT), abdominal compression, patient comfort, and postural changes.Methods: We searched PubMed and Scopus (from inception to November 2021) for randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of an abdominal compression device during colonoscopy on CIT, abdominal compression, patient comfort, and postural change. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios (ORs) were calculated.Results: Our pooled analysis of seven randomized controlled trials revealed that abdominal compression devices significantly reduced CIT (WMD, –0.76 [–1.49 to –0.03] minutes; p=0.04), abdominal compression (OR, 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28–0.94; p=0.03), and postural changes (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.27–0.78; p=0.004) during colonoscopy. However, our results did not show a significant change in patient comfort (WMD, –0.48; 95% CI, –1.05 to 0.08; p=0.09) when using an abdominal compression device.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that employing an abdominal compression device may reduce CIT, abdominal compression, and postural change but have no impact on patient comfort.