Systematic review and meta-analysis: dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and rheumatoid arthritis risk.

This review evaluated the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (Dpp-4i). The MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, the Cochrane Library databases and web of science were used to search the effects of Dpp-4i on rheumatoid arthritis in patients with type 2 diabetes from inception to 7 September, 2020. We included studies that met the following criteria:(i) A randomized controlled trial (RCT), prospective or retrospective cohort study examining the relationship between Dpp-4i and rheumatoid arthritis. Exclusion criteria included the following: Reviews and researches related to other diseases or subjects; and studies without data on the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis were excluded. Risk of Bias table contained in Review Manager 5.3 and Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) were used for quality assessment of included RCT and observational studies separately. Meta-analysis was used to estimate the risk of disease. We conducted a subgroup analysis of duration of follow-up, adjusted (adjusted RR or unadjusted RR), sample size and study design. A total of 10 independent studies assessing 1,420,414 patients were included in this analysis. In this meta-analysis, we found that there was nonsignificant increase of rheumatoid arthritis with Dpp-4 inhibitor exposure (RR 0.96, 95%CI (0.69-1.32)). Our results revealed that Dpp-4 inhibitors do not seem to increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term follow-up monitoring is necessary.

The association between statins exposure and peripheral neuropathy risk: A meta-analysis.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Statins are widely used lipid-lowering drugs and play an important role in the treatment of many cardiovascular diseases. With the increase in the scope of use and the number of users, peripheral neuropathy caused by statins has been frequently reported. There are no randomized controlled trials comparing the relationship between statins and the risk of peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, we systematically reviewed and meta-analysed observational studies evaluating the impact of statins on the risk of peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library databases and Web of Science were used to search the effects of statins on polyneuropathy from inception to 3 December 2020. We included studies that met the following criteria: (i) A randomized controlled trial, prospective or retrospective cohort study examining the relationship between statins and peripheral neuropathy (PN). Exclusion criteria included the following: Reviews and research related to other diseases or subjects; and studies without data on the prevalence of PN were excluded. Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was used for quality assessment of included studies. Meta-analysis was used to estimate the risk of disease. We conducted a subgroup analysis of duration of follow-up, adjusted (adjusted RR vs. unadjusted RR), sample size, study design and region. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 9 independent studies assessing 150 556 patients were included in this analysis. In this meta-analysis, we found that there was a nonsignificant increase of PN with statins exposure (RR 1.26, 95% CI (0.92-1.74)). Our results revealed that there was no significant association between statins exposure and peripheral neuropathy risk. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Statins exposure does not influence the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy. The quality of the evidence included in this study is low, but it can provide useful information for clinicians.

Antibacterial properties and biocompatibility in vivo and vitro of composite coating of pure magnesium ultrasonic micro-arc oxidation phytic acid copper loaded.

Bone infection and implant secondary removal remains a clinical challenge. We used ultrasonic micro-arc oxidation (UMAO) and conversion of phytic acid copper plating to prepare a pure magnesium polyhydric biofilm; we evaluated the surface microstructures, phase, element composition, and wettability of the film in vitro. The antibacterial activity of films with different Cu contents was confirmed by coating method, imaging examination, and microbiological cultures in vitro. The biocompatibility of biofilms was confirmed by cell proliferation, vitality, and morphology assays in vitro and histological evaluation in vivo. MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with different films to assess cell viability on the films. The results showed that the mass fraction of Cu increased with increasing time of copper plating, and the surface of the Cu group was more dense and uniform. Additionally, copper coating significantly inhibited the growth of E. coli and Staphylococcus aurous. We also found that the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of the cells on the surface of copper plating were enhanced. Copper implantation of animals in vivo showed fine ability to promote bone growth. Antibacterial activity and biocompatibility of pure magnesium UMAO-phytic acid-Cu3min implant film are excellent, so the film has potential application value in the treatment of bone implantation.

The antibacterial properties and biocompatibility of a Ti-Cu sintered alloy for biomedical application.

The antibacterial activity, the cytotoxicity and the cell function of a sintered Ti-10 wt% Cu alloy were investigated in order to assess the suitability of the alloy for biomedical application. The antibacterial activity of the alloy was investigated by a plate-count method and the cytotoxicity was studied by examining the MG63 cell response by CCK8 assessment. The cell function was monitored by measuring the AKP activity. The Cu ion released from the Ti-Cu alloy was also measured by an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer at different immersion durations. The results show that the antibacterial rates of the alloy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus increase with an increase in the incubation duration. After 7 h of incubation, the alloy showed an antibacterial rate of 91.66% against S. aureus and 99. 01% against E. coli. With a further extension of incubation time to 24 h, the antibacterial rate increased to 100% against S. aureus and 99.93% against E. coli. No cytotoxicity was observed on the alloy by a CKK8 test during three days of incubation in comparison with commercially available pure titanium (cp-Ti). AKP test results showed a significantly high AKP value (p = 0.001 < 0.01) on the Ti-Cu alloy on day 1. The Cu ion release was thought to contribute to the strong antibacterial property, but the Cu ion did not lead to cell cytotoxicity. Strong antibacterial activity and good cell biocompatibility suggest that the Ti-Cu alloy could reduce bacterial infection and have a potential application as an implant material.

A new antibacterial titanium-copper sintered alloy: preparation and antibacterial property.

Copper element was added in pure titanium by a powder metallurgy to produce a new antibacterial titanium-copper alloy (Ti-Cu alloy). This paper reported the very early stage results, emphasizing on the preparation, mechanical property and antibacterial activity. The phase constitution was analyzed by XRD and the microstructure was observed under SEM equipped with EDS. The hardness, the compressive strength and the corrosion resistance of Ti-Cu alloy were tested in comparison with cp-Ti. The antibacterial property of the Ti-Cu alloy was assessed by two methods: agar diffusion assay and plate-count method, in which Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were used. XRD and SEM results showed that Ti2Cu phase and Cu-rich phase were synthesized in the Ti-Cu sintered alloy, which significantly increases the hardness and the compressive strength compared with cp-Ti and slightly improves the corrosion resistance. No antibacterial activity was detected by the agar diffusion assay on the Ti-Cu alloy, but the plate-count results indicated that the Ti-Cu alloy exhibited strong antibacterial property against both bacteria even after three polishing treatments, which demonstrates strongly that the whole alloy is of antibacterial activity. The antibacterial mechanism was thought to be in associated with the Cu ion released from the Ti-Cu alloy.

Study of different biocomposite coatings on Ti alloy by a subsonic thermal spraying technique.

A subsonic thermal spraying technique (STS) was used to make different biocomposite coatings on titanium alloys for preparing three kinds of implants: 8Ti2G, HA and 8H2B, respectively. The implants were embedded in a region of jaw of dogs whose teeth were pulled out three months previously. The dogs, in two groups, were killed 30 days and 90 days, respectively, after they were operated on. Osteointegration between the implants and host bone was investigated by x-ray, histology and the SEM technique. The results showed that the three kinds of coatings all exhibited good biocompatibility and synostosis, but their osteointegration capability showed a difference and decreased in the sequence of 8H2B, HA and 8Ti2G. The activity of coating, which promoted the reactions between implants and bone tissue, was further increased by the addition of bioglass in the 8H2B coating. Subsequently, chemical bonding was formed, and the osteointegration strength was increased. The study provided a new approach to prepare biocomposite coatings. The 8H2B implants, which formed an integral functional biocomposite coating on Ti alloys, showed a better osteointegration capability with bioactivity and pore gradient variation. A theoretical base was provided for the biocomposite coating application.