Can nanoparticles and nano‒protein interactions bring a bright future for insulin delivery?

Insulin therapy plays an essential role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, frequent injections required to effectively control the glycemic levels lead to substantial inconvenience and low patient compliance. In order to improve insulin delivery, many efforts have been made, such as developing the nanoparticles (NPs)-based release systems and oral insulin. Although some improvements have been achieved, the ultimate results are still unsatisfying and none of insulin-loaded NPs systems have been approved for clinical use so far. Recently, nano‒protein interactions and protein corona formation have drawn much attention due to their negative influence on the

Risk of Dementia in Long-Term Benzodiazepine Users: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is conflicting evidence in the literature on the association between benzodiazepines (BDZs) and the risk of dementia. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the relationship between the long-term usage of BDZs and the risk of dementia. METHODS: The PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched for relevant publications up to September 2017. The literature search focused on observational studies that analyzed the relationship between the long-term use of BDZs and the risk of dementia. Pooled rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were assessed using a random-effects model. The robustness of the results was checked by performing subgroup and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: Ten studies were included: six case–control and four cohort studies. The pooled RR for developing dementia was 1.51 (95% CI=1.17–1.95, p=0.002) in patients taking BDZ. The risk of dementia was higher in patients taking BDZs with a longer half-life (RR=1.16, 95% CI=0.95–1.41, p=0.150) and for a longer time (RR=1.21, 95% CI=1.04–1.40, p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis that pooled ten studies has shown that BDZ significantly increases the risk of dementia in the elderly population. The risk is higher in patients taking BDZ with a longer half-life (>20 hours) and for a longer duration (>3 years).

Analysis of the Drugs Used in 16 Hospitals of Chengdu in the Years 1997～2000 / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the current situation and developing trend of drugs used in hospitals of Chengdu.METHODS:The data of drugs purchased by 16 hospitals in Chengdu in the years 1997～2000 was collected and analysed.RESULTS:The drug expenses increased faster in years 1998～1999 and the drug expense in 2000 was 3 times as much as that in 1997.The proportion of sum of money spent on anti-infectives was decreasing year by year,which equaled that in developed cities of east China.CONCLUSION:The sum of money of drugs consumed will increase year by year,however,the growth rate may decrease.The proportion of consumption of imported drugs will continuously decrease.