Niger J Clin Pract
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Comparative Study
New Solution in the Treatment of Children with Class II Malocclusion: Biblock Appliance.
A new design, the Biblock appliance, was developed for the functional treatment of Class II malocclusions. ⋯ The effects of AA, an appliance accepted by the orthodontic community, and BA, a new design, on the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and soft tissue were similar.
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The near total absence of routine Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) screening in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa is a major challenge to understanding the burden of HDV in the region. ⋯ The study showed a high level of awareness of HDV dependency on HBV, for natural infection to occur. However, it documented very minimal HDV screening in clinical settings and factors affecting screening among clinicians.
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The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is an unparalleled health risk, needing fast antiviral medication development. One of the most effective strategies for developing therapies against novel and emerging viruses is drug repurposing. Recently, systems biology approaches toward the discovery of repurposing medications are gaining prominence. ⋯ Interestingly, some of the proposed drugs have demonstrated inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV-2, as supported by literature evidence. Overall, the drug repurposing method described here will help develop potential antiviral medications to treat emerging COVID strains.
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Propofol is the most widely used short-acting intravenous anesthetic in clinical practice. Existing studies have shown that propofol has many effects on the cardiovascular system in addition to its anesthetic effect. Propofol can antagonize a variety of tachyarrhythmias and reduce the risk of recurrence, regulate autonomic balance of the heart, modulate circulatory dynamics, thereby increasing blood perfusion to vital organs such as the kidney, intestine, and brain, and exert myocardial protection and cerebral protection during ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this paper, we review the potential mechanisms of these effects and provide and ideas for future research and novel drug development of propofol and its derivatives in cardiac electrophysiology and circulatory dynamics.
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The isolation of pathogens using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture or endotracheal aspirate (ETA) culture may enhance the treatment success for secondary pneumonia due to COVID-19, thereby reducing the risk of morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The observed mortality rates were consistent with the existing literature. Since the microorganism isolation rate is higher with BAL, leading to more effective antimicrobial treatment, early deaths were prevented, and ICU stay durations were prolonged. Conversely, these durations were shorter in the ETA group due to higher mortality. In intubated COVID-19 patients, a more effective treatment process can be achieved by clearing the airway with fiberoptic bronchoscopy and tailoring the treatment based on BAL culture results. This approach may positively impact prognosis and mortality rates.