Use of eradication therapy in adjunction to periodontal therapy versus alone for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections: a mini review.

Approximately 50% of the human population on the Earth is estimated to be affected by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. which causes disease manifestations ranging from peptic ulcer disease to chronic gastritis to gastric cancer. It has been a struggle to contain this bacterium using conventional antibiotics due to rising antimicrobial resistance, which has made its eradication an even bigger challenge. Due to this major issue, scientists have ventured to use alternative approaches to bring about the eradication of H. pylori colonization. Aim: The main aim of this review was to update previous studies that investigated periodontal therapy's effect on H. pylori eradication. Method: A systematic electronic search of the currently available research was conducted to identify all the relevant trials and original studies that compared the clinical effect of periodontal therapy in conjunction with eradication therapy. Results: The newly updated review of the literature did not change the conclusion previously reached and instead reinforced the fact with more power and more recent studies that the addition of periodontal therapy to eradication therapy for H. pylori is superior to the use of eradication therapy alone for H. pylori. Core Tip: The addition of periodontal therapy to the standard eradication therapy may be a clinically viable option and pave the way for tackling the H. pylori burden as well as aiding in the prevention of antimicrobial resistance to an extent, along with immensely increasing the efficacy of the standard eradication therapy for H. pylori that is currently in use around the world.

Investigating catalytic oxidative desulfurization of model fuel using hollow PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 and performance optimization via box-behnken design.

A facile and eco-friendly synthesis of PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 hollow tubes (PW12·âˆ¼· H3[PW12O40] = polyoxometalate) using a soluble and reusable MgCO3·3H2O micro-rods template was reported for the first time. The resultant hollow tubes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which indicated that the [PW12O40]3- structure remained intact within the hollow tubes. Furthermore, the specific surface area (88.982 m2/g) and average pore size (2.6 nm) of the PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 hollow tubes were calculated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. This study explored the catalytic performance of PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 hollow tubes using a three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD), through which optimization curves were designed. The desulfurization of model fuel using hollow tubes was optimally performed when the catalyst dose, time, temperature, and oxidant/sulfur (O/S) were 20-80 gm, 80-120 min, 25-80 °C and 3-8 molar ratio, respectively. These results were further processed, and the experiments were replicated twenty-nine times using a model based on two quadratic polynomials to create a response surface methodology (RSM). This permits a mathematical correlation linking the desulfurization and experimental parameters. The optimal performance of reaction mixture was evaluated to be 80 mg for catalyst concentration, 25 °C of temperature, reaction time of 100 min, and 5.5 for oxidant/sulfur molar ratio from 20 mL of octane simulation oil containing 350 ppm dibenzothiophene (DBT). The predicted desulfurization rate of the model fuel under these optimal conditions was 95.3%. The correspondence between the experimental results and predicted values was verified based on regression analysis, with an R2 value greater than 0.99. These hollow tubes could be used for their desulfurization properties ten times a row without significantly reducing catalytic activity.

Anti-COVID property of subcutaneous ivermectin in synergy with zinc among midlife moderately symptomatic patients: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: The study objective is to quantify the effectiveness of ivermectin (subcutaneous/oral IVM) in the presence or absence of zinc (Zn) for clinical and radiological improvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with moderate severity. TRIAL DESIGN: This quadruple-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial will be a multiarmed multi-centered study with superiority framework. PARTICIPANTS: Quinquagenarian and sexagenarian patients with moderate COVID-19 symptoms and positive severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR will be included. Participants with co-morbidities and pregnant women will be excluded. Patient recruitment will be done in Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Doctors Lounge and Ali Clinic in Lahore (Pakistan). INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: The registered patients will be allocated in 6 groups (30 participants each). Patients will be taking subcutaneous IVM at 200 µg/kg/48 h (Arm A) or subcutaneous IVM at 200 µg/kg/48 h and oral Zn 20mg/8 h (Arm B) or oral IVM at 0.2 mg/kg/day (Arm C) or oral IVM at 0.2 mg/kg/day and oral Zn 20mg/8 h (Arm D) or alone oral Zn 20mg/8 h (Arm E) or placebo alone (Arm X). Patients in all arms will receive standard care and respective placebo (empty capsule 8 hourly and/or subcutaneous normal saline 2ml/48 h). MAIN OUTCOMES: Primary endpoints will be duration of symptomatic phase and SARS-CoV-2 clearance along with high resolution CT (HRCT) chest score and clinical grade scale (CGS) on day 6. 30-day mortality will be documented as a secondary endpoint. SARS-CoV-2 clearance will be calculated by second PCR on day 7. HRCT chest score will be measured by the percentage and lung lobes involvement on day 6 with a maximum score of 25. CGS will be recorded on a seven-point scale; grade 1 (not hospitalized, no evidence of infection and resumption of normal activities), grade 2 (not hospitalized, but unable to resume normal activities), grade 3 (hospitalized, not requiring supplemental oxygen), grade 4 (hospitalized, requiring supplemental oxygen), grade 5 (hospitalized, requiring nasal high-flow oxygen therapy and/or noninvasive mechanical ventilation), grade 6 (hospitalized, requiring ECMO and/or invasive mechanical ventilation) and grade 7 (death). RANDOMISATION: A simple lottery method will be used to randomly allocate scrutinized patients in 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio in 6 groups. BLINDING (MASKING): Patients, primary care physicians, outcome assessors and the data collection team will be blinded. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE): 180 participants will be randomized into six arms with five investigational and one placebo group. TRIAL STATUS: Institutional Review Board Shaikh Zayed Post-Graduate Medical Complex, Lahore, Pakistan has approved the protocol (version 2.3) with ID SZMC/IRB/Internal0056/2020. The trial was approved on July 14, 2020, and enrolment started on July 30, 2020. The estimated completion date is October 30, 2021. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial has been retrospectively registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov with registration ID NCT04472585 dated July 16, 2020. FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). With the intention of expediting dissemination of this trial, the conventional formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol. The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines.

Zoonotic and reverse zoonotic events of SARS-CoV-2 and their impact on global health.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped, positive sense, single-stranded RNA viruses. The viruses have adapted to infect a large number of animal species, ranging from bats to camels. At present, seven CoVs infect humans, of which Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for causing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. Since its emergence in late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the globe. Healthcare systems around the globe have been stretched beyond their limits posing new challenges to emergency healthcare services and critical care. The outbreak continues to jeopardize human health, social life and economy. All known human CoVs have zoonotic origins. Recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pet, zoo and certain farm animals has highlighted its potential for reverse zoonosis. This scenario is particularly alarming, since these animals could be potential reservoirs for secondary zoonotic infections. In this article, we highlight interspecies SARS-CoV-2 infections and focus on the reverse zoonotic potential of this virus. We also emphasize the importance of potential secondary zoonotic events and the One-Health and One-World approach to tackle such future pandemics.