The effect of vitamin D2 supplementation on vitamin D levels in humans: A time and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Inconsistencies exist regarding the influence of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) supplementation on serum vitamin D levels. These inconsistencies could be attributed to numerous factors, such as dosage, baseline vitamin D levels, and duration of intervention. Hence, this dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to assess the efficacy of vitamin D2 supplementation on vitamin D levels. METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, from their inception to 3 January 2023. Variable alterations were considered to calculate the pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random effects model. RESULTS: Pooled results from 33 study arms demonstrated that Vitamin D2 treatment significantly increases total vitamin D concentrations (WMD: 11.47 ng/mL, 95 %CI: 9.29 to 13.64, p < 0.001), 25(OH)D2 concentrations (WMD: 11.40 ng/mL, 95 %CI: 4.72 to 18.09, p = 0.001), and 1,25(OH)D concentrations (WMD: 5.61 ng/mL, 95 %CI: 0.74 to 10.48, p = 0.024), but decreases 25(OH)D3 concentrations (WMD: -4.63 ng/mL, 95 %CI: -6.46 to -2.81, p < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, increase in total vitamin D concentrations was more significant in vitamin D2 doses >2000 IU/day (WMD: 13.82 ng/mL), studies with duration ≤12 weeks (WMD: 12.53 ng/mL), participants aged ≥60 years (WMD: 14.40 ng/mL), and trials with basal 25(OH)D concentrations <20 ng/mL (WMD: 11.47 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis indicates that the supplementation of vitamin D2 significantly increases the serum concentrations of total vitamin D, 25(OH)D2, and 1,25(OH)D, but decreases 25(OH)D3 concentrations. Careful consideration of patient characteristics, dosage, and treatment duration is recommended for vitamin D2 supplementation.

Comparing the efficacy of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine in preventing surgical site infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) post-surgery impact patient health and raise healthcare costs. This meta-analysis examines the efficacy of antiseptics, chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine, in reducing SSIs, including various types, to settle ongoing debates on their comparative effectiveness. A systematic literature search conforming to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines was executed on four established databases without temporal restrictions. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including patients aged 18 years or older undergoing clean or potentially contaminated surgeries were included. Two independent evaluators carried out study selection, data extraction and quality assessment, adhering to Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square tests and the I2 index to evaluate heterogeneity, and meta-analyses were conducted employing either fixed-effects or random-effects models as warranted by the heterogeneity assessments. A total of 16 RCTs were included after rigorous selection from an initial pool of 1742 articles. The studies demonstrated low levels of heterogeneity, supporting the use of a fixed-effects model. Chlorhexidine exhibited statistically lower rates of overall SSIs (RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.64-0.88; p < 0.001), superficial SSIs (RR 0.62; 95% CI 0.47-0.82; p < 0.001) and deep SSIs compared to povidone-iodine. The study furnishes compelling evidence in favour of chlorhexidine as a more efficacious antiseptic agent over povidone-iodine in minimizing the risk of various types of SSIs.

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Adjuvant Treatment of a Critically Ill COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has become a global public health emergency since patients were first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Currently, there are no satisfying antiviral medications and vaccines available. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported the treatment process and clinical outcome of a 48-year-old man critically ill COVID-19 patient who received transfusion of allogenic human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs). CONCLUSIONS: We proposed that UC-MSC transfusion might be a new option for critically ill COVID-19. Although only one case we were shown, more similar clinical cases are inquired for further evidence providing the potential effectiveness of UC-MSC treatment.

[Analysis of Quality Management of in Vitro Diagnostic Reagent Clinical Trials].

Clinical trial is an important step of in vitro diagnostic reagents research and development. Based on the Guiding Principles and the key points of inspect on the spot, combined with the actual work experience, the article focuses on the prominent problems in the whole process of in vitro diagnostic reagent clinical trials. It is helpful to improve the level of hospital drug clinical trial centre and the quality of in vitro diagnostic reagent clinical trials by analyzing the issues.