Re-evaluating the Epistemic Authority of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses in Contemporary Clinical Discourse.

How to cite this article: Yadav S. Re-evaluating the Epistemic Authority of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses in Contemporary Clinical Discourse. J Contemp Dent Pract 2023;24(12):919-920. Keywords: Evidence-based medicine, Evidence-based science, Meta-analyses, Systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Research on Antimicrobial Resistance in the Last 15 Years, India: A Bibliometric Analysis.

SUMMARY: Effective antimicrobials play an important element in modern medicine's success in treating infections, without which the patients would be put at risk. Along with the naturally occurring process of antibiotic resistance, the misuse/overuse of these antibiotics also leads to them losing their effectiveness. It limits the treatment options as the microbe that had previously been sensitive becomes resistant. This bibliometric study was performed by searching the Scopus database according to a specific search strategy. A total of 4200 articles were retrieved from the search, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1355 articles were included in the study. All of the bibliometric variables examined in this study revealed significant growth in this research field, especially during COVID-19, in terms of increasing scientific output and research collaboration. The study findings indicate an adequate quality and amount of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research on microbiology and pharmacodynamics in India, whereas more research needs to be conducted on measures to tackle AMR, its public health, and policy aspects.

Theranostic and Combined Approaches Exploiting Multifunctional Gold Nanoclusters in Tumoral Ecosystems: A Paradigm Shift in Precision Oncology.

Malignant tumors pose a significant threat to human life and well-being because of their rising occurrence and size. The current treatment methods and diagnostic techniques employed in clinical practice are inadequate for effectively treating tumors. Fluorescence, photothermal effects, radiosensitization, and biocompatibility are only a few instances of the unique photonic and physicochemical properties exhibited. Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are nanomaterials that possess modest dimensions, typically measuring approximately 3 nm, and are composed of a limited number of particles. AuNCs have three primary functions in practical applications: serving as imaging agents, drug transporters, and therapeutic agents. This article discusses nanosystems. The text emphasizes the promise of AuNCs for tumor theranostic and combination treatment while also acknowledging any existing limitations. Lastly, it is anticipated that the information presented here will serve as a valuable tool for researchers in this sector, resulting in novel perspectives and, ultimately, a wider adoption of AuNCs in pharmaceuticals. This study focuses on the expansion of diagnostic applications in cancer therapy by utilizing AuNC-based devices, made possible by the use of dynamic or passive tumor targeting techniques. The utilization of AuNCs has been thoroughly investigated for their prospective applicability as light-activated and radiation agents. Furthermore, they have been investigated as nanocarriers for transporting anticancer drugs. The medications can either bind to the closure receptor or be linked to the AuNCs through various techniques, showcasing their extensive potential for therapeutic applications.

Revolutionizing Wound Healing: Unleashing Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Embodied with Herbal Medicinal Plant.

Wound healing is crucial for maintaining skin integrity and preventing complications from external threats. Various plants, such as Achillea millefolium, Aloe vera, Curcuma longa, Calendula officinalis, Camellia sinensis, Azadirachta indica, and Plantago, have demonstrated wound healing capabilities and have been used in herbal medicine for wound care. NLCs are second-generation lipid nanoparticles, blending solid and liquid lipids to improve medication loading and limit leakage. NLCs have been used in various applications, including cosmeceuticals, chemotherapy, gene therapy, and brain targeting. Wound healing is divided into four stages: hemostasis, inflammatory response, proliferation, and remodeling. Factors such as age, gender, chronic disorders, and local agents like infections can affect recovery. These plants' antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities have demonstrated potential in wound healing. Combining herbal medicinal plants and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) can revolutionise wound treatment and improve overall healthcare outcomes.

A Landscape on Lymphatic Filariasis with its Effects and Recent Advanced Treatments.

Lymphatic filariasis is an infection caused by parasites that poses a significant health, social, and economic burden, affecting a vast population that exceeds 120 million individuals globally. The Etiology of the infection is attributed to three nematode parasites, namely Wuchereria bancrofti, B. timori, and Brugia malayi, as well as which are phylogenetically related. These parasites are transmitted to humans via mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles, Aedes genera, and Culex. As per the estimation provided by the WHO, the current number of individuals infected with filariasis stands at approximately 120 million across 81 countries. Furthermore, it is estimated that around 1.34 billion individuals reside in regions that are endemic to filariasis, thereby putting them at risk of contracting the disease. Different synthetic drugs such as Ivermectin, Doxycycline, Albendazole, and Suramin are used in the treatment. Some natural plants are Azadirachta indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Zingiber officinal, as well as, some marine sources are also included for better treatment. We also touch briefly on a few additional filarial diseases. Although there are only a few medications available to treat filariasis, their frequent usage may result in drug resistance. Furthermore, there is no effective vaccination for the treatment of filariasis. Due to these restrictions, it has been crucial to create new anti-filarial medications, which motivates researchers to find novel pharmaceuticals with anti-filarial action. In this article, we examine the latest achievements in the anti-filarial area, including the many forms of filariasis and their historical contexts, elimination programmes, various therapeutic classes (both synthetic and natural), investigated product-derived targets as well as clinical investigations.

Flavonoids as Potential Natural Compounds for the Prevention and Treatment of Eczema.

Eczema is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and skin manifestation with a range of comorbidities that include physical and psychological disorders. Despite recent advancements in understanding the mechanisms involved in atopic dermatitis, current marketed products have shown varying results with more side effects. The present objective of the research studies is to develop new agents for eczema that cut down the cost of the novel drugs available and also improve the efficacy with the least adverse effects. Natural compounds and medicinal plants have been traditionally used since ancient civilizations. Nowadays, research in the herbal field is at its peak. One such natural compound, flavonoid, was found to be beneficial for the treatment of eczema. This review describes the use of certain flavonoid products to prepare preparations suitable for the treatment of prophylaxis or eczema. This is especially true for prophylaxis or atopic eczema treatment. These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory properties and are, therefore, used in treatments to prevent allergies, inflammation, and irritation to the skin. We also dock the flavonoid derivatives used with the protein associated with the inhibition of eczema for better lead optimization. These preparations appear to be used for cosmetic, dermatological, or herbal remedies as a local application.

RiTe conjugate mediated corneal collagen crosslinking, a novel therapeutic intervention for keratoconus - in vitro and in vivo study.

Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) is an effective method to halt the disease progression of keratoconus, a progressive corneal dystrophy leading to cone shaped cornea. Despite the efficacy of standard protocol, the concerning step of this procedure is epithelial debridement performed to facilitate the entry of riboflavin drug. Riboflavin, a key molecule in CXL protocol, is a sparsely permeable hydrophilic drug in corneal tissues. The present study has employed cell penetrating peptide (CPP), Tat2, to enhance the penetration of riboflavin molecule, and thereby improve currently followed CXL protocol. This study demonstrates approximately two-fold enhanced uptake of CPP riboflavin conjugate, Tat2riboflavin-5'Phosphate (RiTe conjugate), both in vitro and in vivo. Two different CXL protocols (Epi ON and Epi OFF) have been introduced and implemented in rabbit corneas using RiTe conjugate in the present study. The standard and RiTe conjugate mediated CXL procedures exhibited an equivalent extent of crosslinking in both the methods. Reduced keratocyte loss and no endothelial damage in RiTe conjugate mediated CXL further ascertains the safety of the proposed CXL protocols. Therefore, RiTe conjugate mediated CXL protocols present as potential alternatives to the standard keratoconus treatment in providing equally effective, less invasive and patient compliant treatment modality.

Endothelial Drp1 Couples VEGF-induced Redox Signaling with Glycolysis Through Cysteine Oxidation to Drive Angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis plays a vital role for postnatal development and tissue repair following ischemia. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH oxidases (NOXes) and mitochondria act as signaling molecules that promote angiogenesis in endothelial cells (ECs) which mainly relies on aerobic glycolysis for ATP production. However, the connections linking redox signaling with glycolysis are not well understood. The GTPase Drp1 is a member of the dynamin superfamily that moves from cytosol to mitochondria through posttranslational modifications to induce mitochondrial fission. The role of Drp1 in ROS-dependent VEGF signaling and angiogenesis in ECs has not been previously described. Here, we identify an unexpected function of endothelial Drp1 as a redox sensor, transmitting VEGF-induced H 2 O 2 signals to enhance glycolysis and angiogenesis. Loss of Drp1 expression in ECs inhibited VEGF-induced angiogenic responses. Mechanistically, VEGF rapidly induced the NOX4-dependent sulfenylation (CysOH) of Drp1 on Cys 644 , promoting disulfide bond formation with the metabolic kinase AMPK and subsequent sulfenylation of AMPK at Cys 299 / 304 via the mitochondrial fission-mitoROS axis. This cysteine oxidation of AMPK, in turn, enhanced glycolysis and angiogenesis. In vivo , mice with EC-specific Drp1 deficiency or CRISPR/Cas9-engineered "redox-dead" (Cys to Ala) Drp1 knock-in mutations exhibited impaired retinal angiogenesis and post-ischemic neovascularization. Our findings uncover a novel role for endothelial Drp1 in linking VEGF-induced mitochondrial redox signaling to glycolysis through a cysteine oxidation-mediated Drp1-AMPK redox relay, driving both developmental and reparative angiogenesis.

An overview of the BCG vaccine and its future scope.

Despite intense elimination efforts, tuberculosis (TB) still poses a threat to world health, disproportionately affecting less developed and poorer countries. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, the only anti-TB authorized vaccine can partially stop TB infection and transmission, however, its effectiveness ranges from 0 to 80%. As a result, there is an urgent need for a more potent TB vaccination given the widespread incidence of the disease. Enhancing BCG's effectiveness is also important due to the lack of other licensed vaccinations. Recently, fascinating research into BCG revaccination techniques by modulating its mode of action i.e., intravenous (IV) BCG delivery has yielded good clinical outcomes showing it still has a place in current vaccination regimens. We must thus go over the recent evidence that suggests trained immunity, and BCG vaccination techniques and describe how the vaccination confers protection against bacteria that cause both TB and non-tuberculosis. This review of the literature offers an updated summary and viewpoints on BCG-based TB immunization regimens (how it affects granulocytes at the epigenetic and hematopoietic stem cell levels which may be related to its efficacy), and also examines how the existing vaccine is being modified to be more effective, which may serve as an inspiration for future studies on the development of TB vaccines.