State-of-the-art and projected developments of nanofiber filter material for face mask against covid-19

Background: The Covid-19 epidemic was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. It is difficult to foresee the future length and severity; it may be weeks, months, or even years that could deplete the energy and resources of the health care facilities and the providers as there is marginal to no pharmacological medication available to treat the Covid-19. Unless an effective pharmacological treatment such as medicines and vaccines is developed and released publicly, wearing protective face masks and protecting personal health and hygiene is merely a choice to avoid the Covid-19 spread. This review summarizes the background knowledge on the Covid-19 disease and currently available face masks for highly infectious disease primary prevention. According to recent studies onf Covid-19 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, nanotechnologists have provided a revolutionary approach that involves both pharmacological and non-pharmacological steps, one of which is the use of nanofibers in facemasks and respirators. Method: Various research carried out in the field of nano masks and patented reports based on the application of nano masks were reviewed. Summary: The most recent developments of nanofibers, including research publications, patents, and commercial products in Covid-19 prevention, are extensively reviewed from scientific literature and appropriately represented in this study.

Bloodletting Therapy for Patients with Chronic Urticaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Many trials have reported that bloodletting therapy is effective when treating chronic urticaria. There are currently no systematic reviews of bloodletting therapy for chronic urticaria. Objective. The aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness and safety of bloodletting therapy for chronic urticaria. Methods. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were performed. Disease activity control was assessed as the primary outcome. Response rate, recurrence rate, and adverse events were assessed as secondary outcomes. Results. Seven studies with 512 participants were included. One trial showed a significant difference between bloodletting therapy plus medicine and medicine alone in disease activity control (MD 0.67; 95% CI 0.03 to 1.31; p=0.04). Six trials (372 participants) showed a significant difference between bloodletting therapy and pharmacological medication in response rate (RR 1.10; 95% CI 0.97-1.26; P =0.15). Two studies (170 participants) showed a significant difference between bloodletting therapy plus pharmacological medication and pharmacological medication in response rate (RR 1.34; 95% CI 1.10-1.63; p=0.003). Two studies (126 participants) reported a statistically significant difference between bloodletting therapy and pharmacological medication in recurrence rate. No serious adverse events related to bloodletting therapy were reported. Conclusions. Bloodletting therapy might be an effective and safe treatment for chronic urticaria, but the evidence is scarce. More high quality trials are needed in the future.

Pharmacopuncture for Cancer Care: A Systematic Review

Background. Pharmacopuncture, injection to acupoints with pharmacological medication or herbal medicine, is a new acupuncture therapy widely available in Korea and China for cancer-related symptoms. However, the evidence is yet to be clear.Objective. To determine pharmacopuncture’s effectiveness on cancer-related symptoms.Methods. Eleven databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of pharmacopuncture in cancer patients. The Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) assessment tool was used for quality assessment.Results. Twenty-two studies involving 2,459 patients were included. Five trials of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) underwent meta-analysis. Pharmacopuncture significantly relieved severity of CINV compared with control group (3 trials, risk ratio (RR) 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14–1.44). The frequency of CINV was also significantly reduced with pharmacopuncture (2 trials, RR 2.47, 95% CI = 2.12–2.89). Seventeen trials studied various symptoms, and in most studies, pharmacopuncture significantly relieved pain, ileus, hiccup, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms and improved quality of life in various cancer patients. ROB was generally high.Conclusion. It may be suggested with caution that pharmacopuncture may help various symptom relief in cancer patients, but it is hard to draw a firm conclusion due to clinical heterogeneity and high ROB of the included studies, hence warranting further investigation.

Managing behavioural and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease

• The behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) form an important part of the clinical picture of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)• Anti-dementia agents may facilitate behavioural management of AD and may decrease the use of psychotropic agents• Management should preferentially be non-pharmacological Medication is to be prescribed only after assessment of the individual risk/benefit ratio. The prescription should be for a limited period and frequently re-assessed...

Influence of Bicalutamide with or without Tamoxifen or Anastrozole on Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and Binding Proteins in Prostate Cancer Patients

Background There is growing evidence that IGF-1 and binding proteins may be involved in prostate cancer promotion and progression. Patients and methods IGF-1 and binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and 3) serum levels were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment in a selected group of patients with prostate cancer who were randomly assigned to treatment with bicalutamide, bicalutamide plus anastrozole or bicalutamide plus tamoxifen in a comparative study investigating the role of pharmacological medication in the development of bicalutamide-induced gynecomastia. Results Bicalutamide monotherapy does not appear to alter the IGF-1/IGFBP system. In fact, the increase in IGF-1 levels induced by this treatment was paralleled by comparable increases in binding protein (IGFBP-3). No major changes from baseline up to month 6 either in IGF-1 or in IGFBP-1 and 3 were observed in the bicalutamide plus anastrozole arm. The addition of tamoxifen to bicalutamide produced a sharp decrease in IGF-1 levels (p<0.001) coupled with an increase in both IGFBP-1 (p=0.001) and, to a lesser extent, IGFBP-3 (p=0.5). Conclusions The concurrent administration of tamoxifen and bicalutamide reduces the synthesis and bioavailability of IGF-1. Moreover, increased binding protein levels might exert antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on prostate cancer cells, independently of the IGF-1/IGF receptor-mediated survival system. Both effects might have a synergistic inhibitory influence on prostate cancer growth.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation does not potentiate antidepressant treatment

In a double blind controlled study, rTMS results in a similar antidepressant effect to sham in combination with paroxetine. Both groups had the same delay in scale’s scores improvement. rTMS seems not to be efficient as an add-on treatment to pharmacological medication in non-resistant major depression.