Comparative effectiveness of denosumab vs alendronate among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Although clinical trials have shown that denosumab significantly increases bone mineral density at key skeletal sites more than oral bisphosphonates, evidence is lacking from head-to-head randomized trials evaluating fracture outcomes. This retrospective cohort study uses administrative claims data from Medicare fee-for service beneficiaries to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of denosumab vs alendronate in reducing fracture risk among women with PMO in the US. Women with PMO ≥ 66 yr of age with no prior history of osteoporosis treatment, who initiated denosumab (n = 89 115) or alendronate (n = 389 536) from 2012 to 2018, were followed from treatment initiation until the first of a specific fracture outcome, treatment discontinuation or switch, end of study (December 31, 2019), or other censoring criteria.

Characteristics of new users of recent antidiabetic drugs in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Background: Characteristics of patients using newer 2 and 3 line antidiabetic drugs in a real-world setting are poorly understood. We described the characteristics of new users of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) between 2016 and 2018.

Methods: We conducted a multi-database cohort study using administrative health databases from 7 Canadian provinces and the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Efficacy and Safety of Aflibercept Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To assess the real-world efficacy and safety of aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases. Articles were included if participants had DME and received aflibercept treatment for a minimum of 52 ± 4 weeks.

The association of long-acting insulin analogue use versus neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin use and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among individuals with type 2 diabetes: A population-based cohort study.

Aims: To compare the risk of cardiovascular outcomes associated with long-acting insulin analogues versus neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, linked with hospitalization and vital statistics data. Patients with type 2 diabetes who initiated basal insulin treatment between 2002 and 2018 were included in the study.

Initiation of four basal insulins and subsequent treatment modification in people treated for type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom: Changes over the period 2003-2018.

Aims: Aim of this study is to describe changes in the utilization of basal insulins (glargine, detemir, degludec, neutral protamine Hagedorn [NPH]) among individuals with type 2 diabetes between 2003 and 2018 in the United Kingdom (UK).

Materials And Methods: Using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum, we created three study cohorts of individuals with type 2 diabetes: (1) all users of antidiabetic drugs (n = 686,170); (2) initiators of antidiabetic drugs (n = 382,247); and (3) initiators of basal insulins (n = 85,369). Trends in prescription rates were determined using Poisson regression overall and stratified by sex, cardiovascular disease history, and obesity.

Decreasing Surgical Site Infections in Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Level 1 Evidence.

Background: Although many interventions are implemented to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in plastic surgery, their supporting evidence is inconsistent.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of methods for decreasing SSIs in plastic surgery.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to compare the effects of SSI prevention methods.

Efficacy and Safety of Metformin for Obesity: A Systematic Review.

Context: The efficacy and safety of metformin for obesity in children and adolescents remains unclear.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of metformin via systematic review.

Data Sources: Data sources included PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ClincalTrials.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk of community-acquired pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background: People with type 2 diabetes are at greater risk for infections than those without type 2 diabetes. Our objective was to examine the association between type 2 diabetes and the risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ProQuest theses and dissertations, Global Health, the Global Index Medicus of the World Health Organization, and Google Scholar.

Testosterone replacement therapy and the risk of venous thromboembolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: The cardiovascular safety of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is controversial. While several studies have investigated the association between TRT and the risk of arterial thrombosis, limited information is available regarding its risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We aimed to compare the risk of VTE in men randomized to TRT versus placebo or active-comparator in a systematic review.

SGLT-2 inhibitors and the risk of hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia: A population-based cohort study.

Purpose: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have been associated with an increased risk of genitourinary tract infections. Through similar biological mechanisms, they may also increase the risk of community-acquired pneumonia. Our objective was to compare the rate of hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (HCAP) with SGLT-2i compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and the Risk of Below-Knee Amputation: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Objective: Reports of amputations associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been inconsistent. We aimed to compare the risk of below-knee amputation with SGLT2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This multicenter observational study used administrative health care databases from seven Canadian provinces and the U.

Meta-Analysis of Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Low Surgical Risk Patients.

Current guidelines recommend transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for patients with severe aortic stenosis at elevated surgical risk, but not for patients at low surgical risk. Our objective is to compare major clinical outcomes and procedural complications with TAVI versus surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis at low surgical risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, identified through a systematic search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases.

Predicting serum vitamin D concentrations based on self-reported lifestyle factors and personal attributes.

Evidence supports the role of vitamin D in various conditions of development and ageing. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the best indicator for current vitamin D status. However, the cost of its measurement can be prohibitive in epidemiological research.

Screen and nonscreen sedentary behavior and sleep in adolescents.

Objective: This study examined the associations between screen (computer, videogame, TV) and nonscreen (talking on the phone, doing homework, reading) sedentary time, and sleep in adolescents.

Participants: Data were drawn from AdoQuest, a prospective investigation of 1843 grade 5 students aged 10-12 years at inception in the greater Montreal (Canada) area.

Methods: Data for this cross-sectional analysis on screen and nonscreen sedentary time, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness were collected in 2008-2009 from 1233 participants (67% of 1843) aged 14-16 years.

Exposure to meat-derived carcinogens and bulky DNA adduct levels in normal-appearing colon mucosa.

Introduction: Meat consumption is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. This research investigated the relationship between meat-derived carcinogen exposure and bulky DNA adduct levels, a biomarker of DNA damage, in colon mucosa.

Methods: Least squares regression was used to examine the relationship between meat-derived carcinogen exposure (PhIP and meat mutagenicity) and bulky DNA adduct levels in normal-appearing colon tissue measured using P-postlabelling among 202 patients undergoing a screening colonoscopy.