https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2283-734X
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Yunxia Zhang, Taifu You, Sheng Li, A Comprehensive Perspective on Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Research: Multidimensional Analysis From Literature Review to Patient Quality of Life, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 2025;, izae311, https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izae311
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To the Editor,
We eagerly read an article entitled “Incidence and Prevalence of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Meta-analysis of Population-based Studies” published in the latest issue of your journal. This study reveals valuable data on the incidence and prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in several regions of the world.1 It not only highlights gaps in research in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and guides future research directions, but also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling PSC. The study has deepened our understanding of the epidemiology of PSC, providing a scientific basis for developing more effective treatment strategies and public health policies with significant scientific and social value. However, we also identified areas that need to be further explored to improve the study.
First, although this study obtained a large amount of information by searching 2 important biomedical literature databases, MEDLINE and EMBASE, these databases have a limited coverage and fail to include all published scientific literature, especially gray literature such as unpublished studies, conference papers, and dissertations, which may provide valuable data on preliminary studies and different stages of research. Therefore, future studies should consider expanding database searches to include other databases that can provide a more comprehensive literature resource, as well as establishing a long-term literature tracking mechanism that is regularly updated to incorporate new research findings.2 In addition, the search strategy and assessment process of gray literature should be detailed in the study report to enhance the transparency and reproducibility of the study and to ensure the comprehensiveness and reliability of the findings. Through these measures, the quality and impact of research can be enhanced, providing more accurate knowledge and insights to the scientific community.
