Yearly Archives: 2018


MRI-Targeted Superior to Standard Biopsy for Prostate-Cancer Diagnosis

An international, multicenter, randomized trial concluded that the use of risk assessment with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI-targeted biopsy was superior to standard transrectal ultrasonography–guided biopsy for prostate-cancer detection in men with a raised prostate-specific antigen level who had not undergone biopsy. A total of 500 men underwent […]


Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Associated Myocarditis

A multi-center registry in the US revealed that myocarditis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) may occur early, has a malignant course and may respond to higher doses of steroids. The initial 35 cases were diagnosed between November 2013 and July 2017, with an incidence of 1.9% and median onset […]


Increasing Adiposity Detrimental

Growing body of evidence supports that increasing adiposity has a detrimental association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and longevity. The association of body mass index (BMI) with CVD appeared more susceptible to confounding due to pre-existing comorbidities. Associations of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and percentage body fat mass with […]


Dietary Fibers Alleviate T2D by Promoting SCFA-Producing Gut Bacteria

A randomized clinical study of specifically designed isoenergetic diets, together with fecal shotgun metagenomics, showed that a select group of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing strains of the gut microbiota was promoted by dietary fibers, and correlated with improved blood-glucose regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The improvement in hemoglobin […]


Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation Increased Colorectal Cancer Precursors

A randomized chemoprevention study in the US found evidence that calcium and vitamin D supplementation increased the risk of sessile serrated adenomas or polyps (SSA/Ps), precursor lesions for colorectal cancer. A total of 2259 participants with one or more adenoma at baseline were randomized to receive 1200 mg/day of elemental calcium, […]


Vegetarian and Mediterranean Diets Equivalent for Weight Loss

A randomized, open, crossover trial in Italy showed that both low-calorie lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (VD) and Mediterranean diet (MD) were effective in reducing body weight, body mass index (BMI), and fat mass. One hundred eighteen overweight subjects (mean age 51.1 years, females 78%, BMI ≥ 25) with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular […]


Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of Antidepressants

A systematic review and network meta-analysis concluded that all 21 antidepressants were more efficacious than placebo in adults with major depressive disorder. Smaller differences between active drugs were found when placebo-controlled trials were included in the analysis, whereas there was more variability in efficacy (response rate) and acceptability (treatment discontinuations […]


Low-Fat Diet on Par with Low-Carbohydrate Diet for Weight Loss

A randomized clinical trial in the US showed that there was no significant difference in weight change between a healthy low-fat diet (HLF) vs a healthy low-carbohydrate diet (HLC), and neither genotype pattern nor baseline insulin secretion was associated with the dietary effects on weight loss. A total of 609 […]