Effectiveness of Using Face Masks and Personal Protective Equipment to Reducing the Spread of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Recently published researches show that 59% of all transmission came from asymptomatic transmission and at the time of diagnosis health-care workers (HCWs) tend to present without respiratory symptoms. These evidences have raised questions on whether an essential policy for use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is the best approach in HCW and other people or not. Therefore, this study conducted to investigate the effectiveness of using face masks and PPE in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in health-care and non-health-care settings. This systematic review and meta-analysis study was prepared according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis statement and guided by meta-analysis of observational studies recommendations. Searches in databases were conducted from December 2019 to July 2021. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to investigate the effect of using face masks and PPE on spread of COVID-19. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test and the I 2 metrics. In total, 9920 individuals from 14 studies were included in this study. In all settings, application of PPE or any type of masks was associated with reduction in risk of COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.29, 0.65]; I 2 = 85.21%). In the HCW subgroup, the protective effect had a combined OR of 0.33 (95% CI: (0.15,0.73), I 2 = 82.61%). Six studies were found protective effects of wearing mask in non-HCWs (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: (0.31, 1.06), I 2 = 85.63%). Results suggest that there is association between face mask/PPE use and reduction of COVID-19.

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant enzyme activity in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Antioxidants and oxidative stress can participate in pathobiochemical mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The aim was to identify the effects of early CoQ10 supplementation on oxidative stress in children with ASDs. Ninety children with ASDs were included in this study, based on DSM-IV criteria and using Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. Concentrations of CoQ10, MDA, total antioxidant status (TAS) assay, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase or SOD and glutathione peroxidase or GPx) activity were determined in serum before and after 100 days of supportive therapy with CoQ10 at daily doses of 30 and 60 mg. Data on children's behavior were collected from parents and babysitters. CoQ10 supportive therapy was determined after three months with daily dose 2 ͯ 30 mg improved oxidative stress in the children with ASDs. A relation was seen between serum MDA (r2 = 0.668) and TAS (r2 = 0.007), and antioxidant enzymes (SOD [r2 = 0.01] and GPx [r2 = 0.001]) activity and CARS score. Based on the results, high doses of CoQ10 can improve gastrointestinal problems (P = 0.004) and sleep disorders (P = 0.005) in children with ASDs with an increase in the CoQ10 of the serum. We concluded that the serum concentration of CoQ10 and oxidative stress could be used as relevant biomarkers in helping the improvement of ASDs.