F1000Research
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Randomized Controlled Trial
IMPORTANCE trial: a provisional study-design of a single-center, phase II, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, 4-week study to compare the efficacy and safety of intranasal esketamine in chronic opioid refractory pain.
Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Up to 86% of advanced cancer patients experience significant pain, while 10-20% live in chronic pain. Besides, increasing prescription of opioids resulted in 33,000 deaths in the US in 2015. ⋯ Conclusion: This study may extend therapeutic options in patients with chronic pain, thus improving their quality of life and reducing opioid use. Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov, NCT04666623. Registered on 14 December 2020.
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Meta Analysis
Optimal use of tocilizumab for severe and critical COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Background: Several studies have revealed the potential use of tocilizumab in treating COVID-19 since no therapy has yet been approved for COVID-19 pneumonia. Tocilizumab may provide clinical benefits for cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We searched for relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane published from March to October 2020 to evaluate optimal use and baseline criteria for administration of tocilizumab in severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients. ⋯ However, tocilizumab showed a longer length of stay when CRP <100 mg/L than the SOC. Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated that tocilizumab has a positive effect on all-cause mortality. It should be cautiously administrated for optimal results and tailored to the patient's eligibility criteria.
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Background: After SARS-CoV-2 set foot in India, the Government took a number of steps to limit the spread of the virus in the country. This included restricted testing, isolation, contact tracing and quarantine, and enforcement of a nation-wide lockdown starting 25 March 2020. The objectives of this study were to i) describe the age, gender distribution, and mortality among COVID-19 patients identified till 14 April 2020 and predict the range of contact rate; and ii) predict the number of COVID-19 infections after 40 days of lockdown. ⋯ If the current contact rate continues (0.25-27), India may have 110460 to 220575 infected persons at the end of 40 days lockdown. Conclusion: The disease is majorly affecting a younger age group in India. Interventions have been helpful in preventing the worst-case scenario in India but will be unable to prevent the spike in the number of cases.
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Background: Violence is common among security personnel. To the best of the authors' knowledge no recent studies have investigated this problem. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of violence against hospital security personnel and describe circumstances of violence, type of perpetrators, and victims' response. ⋯ Patients and their relatives/friends were the commonest perpetrators of violence. Conclusions: Violence is common among hospital security personnel in this setting. Adequate training and recruitment of more security personnel may contribute to decreasing violence.
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Case Reports
Case Report: Ectopic third molar in the maxillary sinus with infected dentigerous cyst assessed by cone beam CT.
Ectopic development of teeth in nondental areas is uncommon, especially in the maxillary sinus. A panoramic radiograph is the routine diagnostic radiographic examination performed for this type of eruption, although cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is highly recommended for further localization of the ectopic tooth and assessment of the characteristics of any associated lesion before a surgical procedure. We report a case of a 13-year-old female student who presented with purulent discharge posterior to the upper right second molar with a bad taste and foul odour. ⋯ Both the tooth and dentigerous cyst were surgically removed under general anaesthesia through Caldwell-Luc antrostomy. After a three-month follow-up, the patient was symptom free and had an uneventful recovery. The rare and critical location of the reported third molar along with the infected dentigerous cyst indicates its complete enucleation to avoid complications as recurrence or malignant transformation.