Risks and benefits of compost-like materials prepared by the thermal treatment of raw scallop hepatopancreas for supplying cadmium and the growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

Scallop hepatopancreas, fishery waste, contains relatively high levels of Cd and organic nitrogen compounds, the latter of which represent a fertilizer. In this study, raw scallop hepatopancreas tissue was thermally treated with sawdust and red loam in the presence of an iron catalyst to produce compost-like materials (CLMs). Two CLM samples were prepared by varying the content of raw scallop hepatopancreas tissue: 46 wt.% for CLM-1 and 18 wt.% for CLM-2. Mixtures of control soil (CTL) and CLMs (CLM content: 10 and 25 wt.%) were examined for the growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to evaluate the risks and benefits of using this material for fertilization. The Cd content in shoots and roots of alfalfa, that were grown in the presence of CLMs, was significantly higher than those for the plants grown in the CTL, indicating that Cd had accumulated in the plants from CLMs. The accumulation of Cd in the alfalfa roots was quite high in the case of the 25% CLM-1 sample. However, alfalfa growth was significantly promoted in the presence of 10% CLM-1. This can be attributed to the higher levels of nitrogen and humic substances, which serve as fertilizer components. Although the fertilization effect in case of CLM-1showed a potential benefit, the accumulation of Cd in alfalfa was clearly increased in the presence of both CLMs. In conclusion, the use of CLMs produced from raw scallop hepatopancreas tissue can be considered to have a desirable benefit from standpoint of its use as fertilizer, but is accompanied by a risk of the accumulation of Cd in alfalfa plants.

A literature review and meta-analysis of safety profiles of SGLT2 inhibitors in Japanese patients with diabetes mellitus.

The safety profiles of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors may depend on races/ethnicities. We aimed to assess the safety profiles of SGLT2 inhibitors in Japanese patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The electronic databases MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Ichushi-web were searched for studies with no language restriction from their inception to August 2019. Trials were included in the analysis if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors with a placebo in Japanese patients with DM > 18 years and reporting HbA1c and at least 1 adverse event. We calculated risk ratios with 95% CIs and used a random-effects model. Of the 22 RCTs included in our review, only 1 included patients with type 1 DM. The durations of RCTs ranged between 4 and 24 weeks. In comparison with a placebo, SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with similar risks of hypoglycemia, urinary tract infection, genital infection, hypovolemia, and fracture. The outcomes of treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors among Japanese patients with DM suggest favorable safety profiles. However, further evidence from studies with a longer duration, involving more diverse populations, such as patients with different types of DM, or including individual SGLT2 inhibitors is needed to resolve the limitations of the present study.