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Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor with one of the worst prognosis. Its incidence has been on the rise in recent years. First-line and second-line treatments as well as adjuvant therapies have been employed in clinical trials for pancreatic cancer along with traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy that has been enhanced. The prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still quite bad despite recent improvements in diagnostic and treatment methods. Since most patients are not candidates for treatment with a curative purpose, effective palliative care is crucial. For this systematic review, between December 25, 2022, and January 5, 2023, we searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, and Science Direct and discovered 225 relevant articles. The appropriateness of the literature abstracts for the pooled analysis was evaluated using different combinations of keywords such as pancreatic cancer, first- and second-line chemotherapy, palliative chemotherapy, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP), FOLFIRINOX (FFX), and fluorouracil. Eight research studies with a total of 15,236 people, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), were included. The only treatment of choice for patients without metastatic disease who have clinical staging that suggests resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) should be resection. This research examined how first- and second-line chemotherapeutic regimens (using different drug combinations) affected patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) or BRPC and how they responded in terms of overall survival (OS), tumor resectability, and progression-free interval. The review concludes by highlighting the results of these therapies. Notably, a growing body of research indicates that the two most popular first-line medication combinations GnP and FFX have similar results in RCTs and in real-world populations. Results of second-line therapy after first-line regime failure are still dismal, and there is still a great deal of doubt regarding the best course of action. More RCTs and real-world evidence studies that address current and innovative regimens, as well as the best order in which to administer them, are required, with a greater emphasis on targeted therapy with fewer side effects.
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Methylene blue (MB) and its compounds are investigated for their potential benefits in the management of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a widely seen neuropathological disorder characterized by the gradual decline of cognitive abilities, ultimately leading to the development of severe dementia. It is anticipated that there will be a significant increase in the prevalence of AD due to the aging population. Histopathologically, AD is distinguished by the presence of intracellular tangles of neurofibrillary tissues (NFTs) and extracellular amyloid plaques within the brain. MB is a thiophenazine dye with FDA approval for treating several illnesses. Its ease in crossing the blood-brain barrier and potential therapeutic use in central nervous system diseases have increased interest in its application for treating AD. The literature review includes randomized clinical trials investigating MB's potential benefits in treating AD. The findings of the studies indicate that the administration of MB has demonstrated enhancements in cognitive function, reductions in the accumulation of plaques containing beta-amyloid, improvements in memory and cognitive function in animal subjects, and possesses antioxidant properties that can mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation within the brain. This review evaluates the modern and latest research on the application of MB for treating AD.
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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45000.].
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Central venous catheter (CVC)-based hemodialysis is a major contributor to bacteremia in immunocompromised hosts. Heparin-locking CVCs is a frequent therapeutic procedure. However, it has not been shown to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). For this systematic review, we searched PubMed, PubMed Central, ResearchGate, Science Direct, and Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) for multiple articles published between January 2018 and January 2023 to determine how antimicrobial locking solutions affect CRBSIs, which could ultimately lower the risk of morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization costs. Antilocking products, catheter-related bacteremia, central-line associated bloodstream infections, tunneled dialysis catheter, hemodialysis, antibiotic, and antimicrobial catheter locks, and the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) method for PubMed were used as the main keywords for searching publications. A pool of 13 studies with 46,139 individuals showed that the therapy group had a lower incidence of CRBSIs than the heparin-treated control group. Furthermore, it was discovered that bacteria were resistant to gentamicin, and the use of antibiotics had no discernible impact on catheter malfunction. In conclusion, the most effective locking solution to date is an antilocking solution made up of an antibiotic or antimicrobial agent combined with low-dose heparin (500-2,500 U/mL).
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High-risk hypertension patients are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mortality. Monotherapy and triple combination drug therapy are two different approaches to treating hypertension. Monotherapy involves using a single medication to manage hypertension, whereas triple combination therapy involves the simultaneous use of three different antihypertensive medications from different drug classes. Making a fast switch from monotherapy to combination medication is one method to regulate blood pressure (BP) better. It is widely recognized that a significant proportion of individuals with hypertension require combination therapy to manage their condition effectively. This review aims to evaluate the mortality rates across monotherapy and triple combination drug therapy in high-risk hypertension patients. A systematic literature review was conducted across multiple scientific literature repositories. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Based on the end outcome of each published journal on the effectiveness of triple combination drug therapy as a treatment option for high-risk hypertension patients, there was a notable difference in overall survival, mortality rates, BP reduction, and adherence datasets. Triple combination drug use correlated with increased timeframes for multiple patient survival parameters within the articles shortlisted in this investigation. However, it is crucial for healthcare providers to weigh the risks and benefits of triple combination drug therapy when deciding which treatment approach is best for their patients.
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Sports all over the world are celebrated and embraced as an indicator of triumph of youth and the human experience. Esports have increasingly come to be associated with an industry likened to traditional sports. Professional gamers who continuously define new standards in the areas of gaming, entertainment, and esports have emerged. This systematic review sought to find out the extent to which these virtual sports affect cardiovascular and mental health, both positively and negatively, and if this is comparable to traditional sports to any degree. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, we reviewed journals and full-text articles that addressed the topic with keywords, such as esports, cardiovascular, mental health, gaming, and virtual reality. Six articles were selected after quality assessment. In summary, rehabilitative medicine currently benefits the most from this entertainment platform, with comparable findings in the positive and negative effects on mental health. Cardiovascular health appears to benefit from esports, with an increase in physical activity with use, but is not at the level of replacing traditional sports. Unlike as seen with traditional sports, addiction to gaming appears to be a steadily emerging issue that mental health practitioners will, in the not-so-distant future, have to lay ground rules for if esports are to be incorporated in everyday affairs.
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Multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR TB) is a global concern, with 450,000 new cases and 191,000 deaths in 2021. TB and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been associated since 1974, with suggested explanations such as oxidative stress, malnutrition, dysfunction in vitamin D metabolism, and a compromised cell-mediated immune response. End-stage renal failure patients are more likely to acquire drug resistance due to poor adherence, adverse drug reactions, and inappropriate dose adjustment. We then aim to evaluate the therapeutic outcome of multidrug-resistant TB of the lungs in patients who require hemodialysis in terms of successful treatment (cured and treatment completed) and the associated factors for a favorable outcome. Our secondary goal is to identify unfavorable treatment outcomes (treatment failed, patient died, or patient lost to follow-up) and the underlying associated factors. We conformed to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Guidelines for this systematic review. We included adults (>19 years old) with chronic kidney disease who needed hemodialysis and had microbiologically confirmed multidrug-resistant pulmonary TB, excluding patients who had a renal allograft transplant, were on peritoneal dialysis, had extrapulmonary TB, were children and pregnant patients. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Public Library of Science (PLOS), and Google Scholar. Keywords were combined with the Boolean "AND" operator to gather results as well as the medical subject heading (MeSH) search strategy. After screening study articles by reading their titles and abstracts, the following tools were used to assess the risk of bias: the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for observational studies, the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist for systematic reviews, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) assessment tool for case reports. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed, and a conclusion was made. We gathered 21,570 studies from the databases between 2013 and 2023, with 30,062 total participants. There were eight eligible studies for review. Patients with CKD, particularly those on dialysis, are at increased risk of TB due to a combination of factors that contribute to immunosuppression. TB reactivation is common in chronic renal failure patients. Diagnostic samples such as sputum and pleural fluid had lower sensitivity rates compared to tissue samples, which led to delays in diagnosis and treatment and, most importantly, contributed to drug resistance. All new dialysis patients should undergo interferon-gamma release assay testing. TB-infected patients with severe renal disease (eGFR 30 ml/min) had increased morbidity and mortality; however, the use of directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS), and renal-dose adjustment of anti-TB medications significantly reduced these risks. Drug-induced hepatitis and cutaneous reactions were common adverse effects of anti-TB medications. A therapeutic drug monitoring guideline is required to reduce these adverse events and even mortality. Additional research is required to assess the safety and efficacy of therapeutic regimens, as well as their outcomes, in this population with multidrug-resistant TB.
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A central neuraxial block may be difficult to perform in elderly patients with lumbar spine deformities, calcified ligaments, and narrowing of the epidural space. We report a case of difficult epidural needle placement in an elderly patient scheduled for bilateral total knee replacement (TKR). We attempted epidural needle placement many times without success. However, when a modified technique was used, the epidural space was identified easily and confirmed, the epidural catheter was inserted and fixed, and the postoperative epidural analgesia was effective.
