Quality reporting of randomized controlled trials on SGLT2 inhibitors for heart failure: a comprehensive assessment.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) provide clinicians with the best evidence of the effectiveness of an intervention, and complete and transparent trial reports help to critically assess and use trial results. The objective of our study was to assess the quality of reporting in RCTs of sodium-glucose co-transporter protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for heart failure (HF) and identify factors associated with improved reporting quality. Two researchers conducted a comprehensive search in four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane). The quality of each report was assessed using a 25-point Overall Quality Score (OQS) based on the guidelines provided in the 2010 Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement. We included a total of 58 relevant RCTs. The median OQS in the 2010 CONSORT statement was 15 (range 7.5-24). The missing items were primarily found in the 'Methods' and 'Results' sections of the 2010 CONSORT statement. Multivariate regression modeling revealed that a more recent publication year, high impact factor, and large sample size were significant predictors of OQS improvement. The findings suggest that the overall quality of reported RCTs of SGLT2 inhibitors in HF is unsatisfactory, which reduces their potential usefulness.

DNAzyme-Functionalized R-Phycoerythrin as a Cost-Effective and Environment-Friendly Fluorescent Biosensor for Aqueous Pb2+ Detection.

The sensitive detection of Pb2+ is of significant importance for food safety, environmental monitoring, and human health care. To this end, a novel fluorescent biosensor, DNAzyme-functionalized R-phycoerythrin (DNAzyme-R-PE), was presented for Pb2+ analysis. The biosensor was prepared via the immobilization of Iowa Black® FQ-modified DNAzyme-substrate complex onto the surface of SPDP-functionalized R-PE. The biosensor produced a minimal fluorescence signal in the absence of Pb2+. However, Pb2+ recognition can induce the cleavage of substrate, resulting in a fluorescence restoration of R-PE. The fluorescence changes were used to measure sensitively Pb2+ and the limit of detection was 0.16 nM with a linear range from 0.5-75 nM. Furthermore, the proposed biosensor showed excellent selectivity towards Pb2+ even in the presence of other metal ions interferences and was demonstrated to successfully determine Pb2+ in spiked lake water samples.