Deciphering the Causal Relationship between Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibition and Cancer Risks: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Controversy persists regarding the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on cancer. The underlying causal relationship remains unclear. Method: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) strategy was employed to investigate the causal associations between SGLT2 inhibitors and 26 site-specific malignancies. Instrumental variants strongly associated with SLC5A2 gene expression and glycated hemoglobin A1c levels were identified as the genetic proxy for SGLT2 inhibition. Cancer-related outcome datasets sourced from the OpenGWAS project were separated into discovery and replication datasets. The meta-analysis was conducted to determine the final causality. Results: Genetically proxied SGLT2 inhibition showed a significant association with bronchial and lung cancer (beta: -0.028 [-0.041, -0.015], P < 0.001), bladder cancer (beta: 0.018 [0.008, 0.027], P < 0.001), prostate cancer (beta: 1.168 [0.594, 1.742], P < 0.001), cervical cancer (beta: -0.019 [-0.031, -0.008], P = 0.001), corpus uterine cancer (beta: 0.015 [0.006, 0.025], P = 0.001) and non-melanoma skin cancer (beta: -0.080 [-0.116, -0.044], P < 0.001) in the discovery cohort. The suggestive causal effect of SGLT2 inhibition on the increased risk of cervical cancer (beta: 3.241 [0.855, 5.627], P = 0.008) and lymphoid leukemia (beta: 4.126 [0.383, 7.868], P = 0.031) was found in the replication cohort. The combined causality of the following types of cancer was observed to remain significant after meta-analysis: bronchial and lung cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, corpus uterine cancer, and non-melanoma skin cancer (all P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: For the first time we discovered that the SGLT2 inhibition may exert protection on bronchial and lung cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer from a genetic perspective. However, suggestive higher cancer risks of bladder, prostate, and corpus uteri were also noted, which warrants real-world data validation in the future.

Combination model of neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio and system inflammation response index is more valuable for predicting peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetic patients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Neutrophil/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (NHR), monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR), lymphocyte/HDL ratio (LHR), platelet/HDL ratio (PHR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), system inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) have been recently investigated as novel inflammatory markers. Herein, the correlation was investigated between these inflammatory biomarkers and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, the hematological parameter data of 216 T2DM patients without PAD (T2DM-WPAD) and 218 T2DM patients with PAD (T2DM-PAD) at Fontaine stages II, III or IV stage had been collected. Differences in NHR, MHR, LHR, PHR, SII, SIRI, and AISI were analyzed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the diagnostic potential of these parameters. Results: The levels of NHR, MHR, PHR, SII, SIRI and AISI in T2DM-PAD patients were significantly higher than in T2DM-WPAD patients (P < 0.001). They were correlated with disease severity. Further, multifactorial logistic regression analyses showed that higher NHR, MHR, PHR, SII, SIRI, and AISI might be independent risk factors for T2DM-PAD (P < 0.001). The areas under the curve (AUCs) of the NHR, MHR, PHR, SII, SIRI, and AISI for T2DM-PAD patients was 0.703, 0.685, 0.606, 0.648, 0.711, and 0.670, respectively. The AUC of the NHR and SIRI combined model was 0.733. Conclusion: The levels of NHR, MHR, PHR, SII, SIRI, and AISI were higher in T2DM-PAD patients, and they were independently linked with its clinical severity. The combination model of NHR and SIRI was most valuable for predicting T2DM - PAD.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: therapeutic implications for rotator cuff injury.

Rotator cuff injuries are a common clinical condition of the shoulder joint. Surgery that involves reattaching the torn tendon to its humeral head bony attachment has a somewhat lower success rate. The scar tissue formed during healing of the rotator cuff leads to poor tendon-related mechanical properties. To promote healing, a range of genetic interventions, as well as cell transplantation, and many other techniques have been explored. In recent years, the therapeutic promise of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been well documented in animal and clinical studies. Some data have suggested that MSCs can promote angiogenesis, reduce inflammation and cell proliferation and increase collagen deposition. These functions are likely paracrine effects of MSCs, particularly mediated through exosomes. Here, we review the use of MSCs-related exosomes in tissues and organs. We also discuss their potential utility for treating rotator cuff injuries, and explore the underlying mechanisms of their effects.