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Objective: Despite the high incidence and mortality of cardiovascular events in hyperuricemia patients, the role of serum uric acid in cardiovascular diseases is still controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore the difference of carotid intima-media thickness in hyperuricemia and control groups. Methods: We performed this meta-analysis by searching the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases up to July 2020. The 95% confidence intervals and standard mean differences were calculated to analyze the differences in carotid intima-media thickness in hyperuricemia groups and control groups. Sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot and Begg's regression test. We used Stata 14.0 software to complete our analyses. Results: A total of 8 articles were included. The results showed that there was a significant increase in carotid intima-media thickness in the hyperuricemia groups compared with the control groups [SMD = 0.264, 95% CI (0.161–0.366), P < 0.001]. Subgroup analyses showed that age, sample size, blood pressure and body mass index were not the source of heterogeneity. Meta-regression enrolled the method of CIMT measurement, location, age, smoking and diabetes mellitus as categorical variables, but none of these factors was found to be significant in the model. The Begg's test value (P = 0.174) was greater than 0.05, indicating there was no publication bias. Conclusion: The results showed that carotid intima-media thickness was increased in hyperuricemia patients compared with controls, which indicated that hyperuricemia patients may have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide evidence on the effects of vitamin D supplementation on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and new targets for clinical prevention and treatment of KOA. Method: The PubMed, Embase, Web of science, Wanfang, CNKI and SinoMed databases were retrieved to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on patients with KOA. The search time was from databases establishment to 15 November 2020. RevMan5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. The results were expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 1599 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were included in the study, which involved six articles. The results of the meta-analysis showed that vitamin D supplementation is statistically significant for WOMAC score (SMD = − 0.67, 95% CI − 1.23 to − 0.12) in patients with KOA, including WOMAC pain score (SMD = − 0.32, 95% CI − 0.63 to − 0.02), function score (SMD = − 0.34, 95% CI − 0.60 to − 0.08) and stiffness score (SMD = − 0.13, 95% CI − 0.26 to − 0.01). In subgroup analysis, vitamin D supplementation less than 2000 IU was statistically significant for the reduction of stiffness score (SMD = − 0.22, 95% CI − 0.40 to − 0.04). Vitamin D supplements can reduce synovial fluid volume progression in patients with KOA (SMD = − 0.20, 95% CI − 0.39 to − 0.02). There was no statistical significance in improving tibia cartilage volume (SMD = 0.12, 95% CI − 0.05 to 0.29), joint space width (SMD = − 0.10, 95% CI − 0.26 to 0.05) and bone marrow lesions (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI − 0.26 to 0.31). Conclusion: Vitamin D supplements can improve WOMAC pain and function in patients with KOA. But there is a lack of strong evidence that vitamin D supplementation can prevent structural progression in patients with KOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]