Chronic diseases

Objectives:
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most distressful complication of herpes zoster. Postherpetic neuralgia results in an impaired quality of life and higher healthcare utilization. Vitamin B12 has been proven to be effective in pain relief for various conditions. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Do postherpetic neuralgia patients benefit from vitamin B12 supplementation?

Study design:
This review article included 4 RCTs (published between 2013 and 2016) including 383 participants.

Objectives:
Is there an association between dietary factors and the risk of gout and hyperuricemia?
 
Study design:
This review article included 10 prospective cohort studies (the follow-up duration ranged from 6 years to 26 year) and 9 cross-sectional studies.

Objectives:
Is there an association between vitamin D and Parkinson's disease risk?

Study design:
This review article included 8 studies.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found when compared with normal controls, 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency (30 ng/mL) significantly increased risk of Parkinson's disease with 77% [OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.29 to 2.43, p 0.001].

Objectives:
Fish consumption and dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated acids (PUFAs) may be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Is there an association between fish consumption or dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated acids (PUFAs) and inflammatory bowel disease risk?

Objectives:
Previous meta-analysis showed an inverse association between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality. However, the relationship between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption and all-cause mortality is inconsistent. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Do both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption reduce all-cause mortality?

Objectives:
Current research suggests conflicting evidence surrounding the association between serum magnesium levels and the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Does serum magnesium deficiency increase risk of ADHD?

Objectives:
Anemia is one of the major complications in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A clearer cognition of the prognostic impact of hemoglobin (Hb) or hematocrit (Hct) target on the outcomes of predialysis patients with CKD is significant. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Does higher hemoglobin levels decrease transfusion risk in predialysis patients with CKD?

Objectives:
A high intake of dietary fibre has been associated with a reduced risk of diverticular disease in several studies. However, the dose-response relationship between fibre intake and diverticular disease risk has varied and the available studies have not been summarised in a meta-analysis yet. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Is there a dose-response relationship between fibre intake and reduced risk of diverticular disease?

Objectives:
Plasma creatinine has been described as a prognostic biomarker for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), but with conflicting results in the literature. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Does a high plasma creatinine concentration reduce risk of ALS?

Study design:
This review article included 14 distinct cohorts (19 studies).

Objectives:
Has L-carnitine supplementation positive effects on inflammatory mediators including C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)?

Study design:
This review article included 13 RCTs.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found L-carnitine supplementation was significantly associated with lower levels of CRP in comparison to controls [WMD = -1.23 mg/L, 95% CI = -1.73 to -0.72 mg/dL, p  0.0001].