Efficacy and safety of bexagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of bexagliflozin in reducing glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and the occurrence of side effects in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials published up until 15 February 2023. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c. We computed weighted mean differences (WMDs) for continuous outcomes and odds ratios (ORs) for binary endpoints, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of six studies and 3111 patients were included, of whom 1951 were prescribed bexagliflozin. Compared with placebo, bexagliflozin significantly reduced HbA1c levels (WMD -0.53%; 95% CI -0.75, -0.31), fasting plasma glucose levels (WMD -1.45 mmol/L; 95% CI -2.32, -0.57), systolic blood pressure (WMD -4.66 mmHg; 95% CI -6.41, -2.92), diastolic blood pressure (WMD -2.12 mmHg; 95% CI -3.94, -0.30), body weight overall (WMD -1.61 kg; 95% CI -2.14, -1.07), and body weight in patients with a body mass index >25 kg/m2 (WMD -2.05 kg; 95% CI -2.78, -1.31). The proportion of patients who achieved HbA1c < 7% was higher in patients who received bexagliflozin as compared with placebo (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.36-2.78). There were no significant differences between groups regarding side effects such as hypoglycaemia, genital mycotic infection, urinary tract infection, diarrhoea, headache, nausea, polyuria, diabetic ketoacidosis, or all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis, the use of bexagliflozin was associated with improved clinical and laboratory measures in patients with T2DM compared with placebo, with a similar profile of side effects. These findings support the efficacy of bexagliflozin in the treatment of T2DM.

Photobiomodulation therapy and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for orofacial lesions in patients with COVID-19: A case series.

Oral lesions related to the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been increasingly described; however, clinical and epidemiological information is still scant. Although a diversity of therapeutic strategies for the management of these lesions are present in the literature, one can note a lack of standardization and doubtful effectiveness. Thus, the present study aimed to report a series of cases in which a combination of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) was used for orofacial lesions in patients suffering from COVID-19. It was noted, in all cases, a marked improvement in tissue repair and pain relief within a few days; moreover, the patients recovered their orofacial functions satisfactorily. Based on the present series of cases and having in mind the conspicuous lack of information on the different aspects of COVID-19, the protocol which combined aPDT with PMBT seemed to be effective in the management of COVID-19-related orofacial lesions.