Social support as a correlate of depression among people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria

Background: Depression is a highly prevalent mental disorder among PLHIV, whilst social support is important in disease prevention, health promotion, therapeutic measure especially for PLHIV. Objectives: To ascertain the different types and sources of social support and their association with depression among PLHIV in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a correlation with 2515 PLHIV in three teaching hospitals in South-Eastern Nige- ria. Data were collected between January to June, 2019 through interviews, using socio-demographic and Clinical Form and a Social Support Scale for PLHIV. SPSS-20 used for data analysis. Results: It was shown that average scores of instrumental and emotional social supports (IESS) were satisfactory and not influenced by sex (p = 0.894; p = 0.496), education (p = 0.805; p = 0.182), marital status (p = 0.076; p = 0.446) and length of antiretroviral therapy (p = 0.510; p = 0.136). People diagnosed for less than three years had more instrumental support (p = 0.05) than those diagnosed over three years. The regression score also revealed a high predictive power of IESS on depression of PLHIV. Conclusion: PLHIV have satisfactory social support, especially from family not residing in the same household and emo- tional social support from friends. Analyses identified knowledge gaps in the community regarding the social support re- ceived by PLHIV and their depression symptoms. Keywords: Depression; instrumental support; emotional support; HIV; AIDS.

Eyes wide shut: necessity and effect of adjunctive procedures after decompression surgery in patients with endocrine orbitopathy

Background Orbital decompression surgery is frequently the last therapeutic measure in the surgical treatment of endocrine orbitopathy (EO). Additional rehabilitative and corrective surgical treatments are often used to improve the resulting eyelid stigmata, such as an increased lid aperture and scleral show. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adjunctive surgical procedures after orbital decompression surgery in patients with EO. Methods A total of 120 orbitae from 65 patients with EO from 2010 to 2020 at a tertiary care center in Germany were retrospectively evaluated. Ocular surface area (OSA) and vertical palpebral fissures were three-dimensionally analyzed at the following stages: presurgical decompression, postsurgical decompression, and post-adjunctive surgical procedures. For the analysis of vertical palpebral fissures, predefined vertical line distances were measured on the upper and lower lids in the central, medial, and lateral pupillary regions. Results The initial OSA was 2,98 ± 0.85 cm2, and it decreased significantly after decompression surgery to 2.52 ± 0.62 cm2. After adjunct surgical procedures, OSA further decreased to 2,31 ± 0,55 cm2. Furthermore, a statistically significant reduction in all pupillary parameters was noted after each treatment step. More lid-lengthening procedures were performed on the lower lid than on the upper lid. Canthoplasty (n = 13) was the most frequently performed procedure during rehabilitation. Conclusion Surgical decompression surgery improves OSA and leads to a significant reduction in lid aperture. Adjunctive surgical procedures, addressing the upper and lower lid, have a significant influence on the ongoing clinical course and contribute to a reduction in OSA.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for severe COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has placed a global public burden on health authorities. Although the virological characteristics and pathogenesis of COVID-19 has been largely clarified, there is currently no specific therapeutic measure. In severe cases, acute SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to immune disorders and damage to both the adaptive and innate immune responses. Having roles in immune regulation and regeneration, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) serving as a therapeutic option may regulate the over-activated inflammatory response and promote recovery of lung damage. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of MSC-therapy clinical trials has been conducted. The findings indicate that MSC treatment not only significantly reduces lung damage, but also improves patient recovery with safety and good immune tolerance. Herein, we summarize the recent progress in MSC therapy for COVID-19 and highlight the challenges in the field.

Probiotics in the Management of Gingivitis and Periodontitis. A Review

In the management of intestinal health problems, the targeted use of probiotic microorganisms is a common therapeutic measure with a long-standing tradition. In clinical dentistry however, probiotics-based therapy is still a rather new and developing field, whose usefulness for the control of gingivitis and periodontitis has been questioned by recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews. The purpose of the subsequent descriptive review is to provide an introduction to the concept of probiotic microorganisms and their multifaceted health-promoting interactions with the human host and microbial competitors, followed by a detailed comparison of the results of available controlled clinical trials assessing the use of probiotics in the control of gingival and periodontal inflammations. It aims at contributing to a deeper understanding of the unique capabilities of probiotics to resolve chronic plaque-induced inflammation even in the absence of mechanical plaque control and will discuss how possible misconceptions about the rationale for using probiotics may have led to the present controversies about their usefulness as a therapeutic option.

Acute Abdominal Disorders in Dairy Cattle: What Can Clinicians Do under Field Conditions?

Acute abdomen (AA) is the term used to define a pathological condition that affects the abdominal cavity and frequently manifests itself with acute clinical symptoms capable of compromising a cow’s life. Therefore, it should be considered as an emergency that should be evaluated as quickly as possible to adopt the appropriate therapeutic measure (medical or surgical). In an AA situation, the clinician must consider the appropriate diagnostic approach as well as the therapeutic choice. Given the emergency, the veterinarian’s experience will be decisive for the appropriate resolution. In this article, we briefly review the causes that may lead to this condition, as well as the different diagnostic tests available in field conditions to establish the correct diagnosis and treatment.

A Novel Bionic Catalyst-Mediated Drug Delivery System for Enhanced Sonodynamic Therapy

Ultrasound (US)-triggered sonodynamic therapy (SDT) proves itself to be a formidable tool in the fight against cancer, due to its large spectrum of uses as a non-invasive therapeutic measure, while also demonstrating itself to be a certain improvement upon traditional SDT therapeutics. However, tumor hypoxia remains to be a major challenge for oxygen-dependent SDT. This study describes the development of an innovative, multi-use, catalyst-based and improved SDT targeting cancer, through the employment of a sonosensitizing curcumin (Cur) load embedded within a MnO2 core, together with an extraneous tumor cell membrane component. The latter allows for efficient tumor recognition properties. Hollowed-out MnO2 allows for efficient drug delivery, together with catalyzing oxygen generation from hydrogen peroxide present in tumor tissue, leading to enhanced SDT efficacy through the induction of a reduced hypoxic state within the tumor. In addition, Cur acts as a cytotoxic agent in its own right. The results deriving from in vivo studies revealed that such a biomimetic approach for drug-delivery actually led to a reduced hypoxic state within tumor tissue and a raised tumor-inhibitory effect within mouse models. Such a therapeutic measure attained a synergic SDT-based tumor sensitization treatment option, together with the potential use of such catalysis-based therapeutic formulations in other medical conditions having hypoxic states.

Emasculating healers. Medical castration practices in Greco-Roman antiquity*

In the course of the human past the elimination of the testicles of boys and men – what we call castration – has taken place for a variety of reasons. Many times it was meant to deliberately hurt people. It is and was also performed, though, as a therapeutic measure by well-meaning physicians. Studying the motivations of medical practitioners involved in castration practices provides insight into the deontology and cultural context of these healers. This article explores the healing activities of the physicians of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds in this special field of surgery. In the extant literary sources we find medical indications for castration which are quite obvious to a modern eye, but also more mysterious and unexpected occasions which need to be explained from the historical context.

Clear Cell Acanthoma of the Mammary Region: A Case Report

Clear cell acanthoma, also known as Degos acanthoma, is a rare benign epithelial skin tumor. Generally, it appears as a solitary lesion on the lower legs, but in this case, it appeared on the right mammary area near the areola, which is an exceedingly rare and exciting finding. This lesion's clinical features revealed elevated dome-shaped plaque with surface lobulations and shiny pink color with a size of 9 mm. Dermoscopy was characteristic with blood vessels lined up in a strings pattern. Excision biopsy was done as a therapeutic measure. Histopathology showed a collection of glycogen-containing cells in the epidermis consistent with the diagnosis of clear cell acanthoma. Classical dermoscopy features and diagnostic histology were exemplary for a case report.

Possible Nutrition-Related Mechanisms of Metabolic Management in Cancer Treatment

Context: Somatic mutation theory has been considered as a potential cause for cancer. However, major inconsistencies with the gene theory have necessitated serious reconsideration of this assumption. According to these inconsistencies, cancer may be considered as a metabolic disorder. According to the mitochondrial metabolic theory, substrate-level phosphorylation has been suggested to be superior to oxidative phosphorylation in cancer cells. Cancer metabolic therapies such as ketogenic diets (KD) and limitation in glutamine and calorie can be beneficial and are in line with this theory. In this study, we have reviewed the potential effects of KD as well as glutamine and calorie restriction in various types/stages of cancer with a focus on possible mechanisms. Evidence Acquisition: A comprehensive electronic search of different databases was performed using “cancer”, “ketogenic diet”, and “metabolic” as the main keywords. A comprehensive electronic search of different databases was performed using “cancer”, “ketogenic diet”, and “metabolic” as the main keywords. Results: Emerging evidence has indicated that KD can affect tumor cells by reducing glucose availability and simultaneous elevation of ketone bodies as non-fermentable metabolic fuels. KD has been suggested to be more effective as a non-toxic therapeutic measure in combination with glutamine targeting agents, chloroquine for lysosomal targeting, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and calorie restriction. Conclusions: This metabolic approach can be considered as a promising non-toxic strategy for cancer management.

Clinical, Parasitological, and Serological Follow-Up of Dogs with Sarcoptic Mange Treated Orally with Lotilaner

Canine sarcoptic mange is a highly pruritic and contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis. This case series describes the clinical, parasitological, and serological follow-up of a cohort of eight adult Saint Bernard dogs with confirmed sarcoptic mange, treated orally with lotilaner. Dogs were evaluated initially and after 14 days and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 months for skin lesions, pruritus severity, presence of parasites, and Sarcoptes-IgG levels. A serological indoor allergy panel (IgE) was obtained for seven dogs at day 0 and repeated 12 months later in five dogs to assess potential cross-reactivity between S. scabiei and environmental allergens. Lotilaner was administered to each dog according to the manufacturer’s instructions and was repeated after one and two months without any concurrent therapeutic measure or modification of the husbandry conditions. Pruritus ceased after two weeks. The cutaneous score was reduced by 47%, and skin scrapings were negative for all but three animals. All skin scrapings were negative after one month. Lesions were absent after two months. Serological levels decreased gradually, but more slowly than the skin lesions, and two dogs out of six remained positive in the absence of skin lesions or symptoms. All dogs initially tested positive for dust mites and/or storage mites. The IgE titres remained unchanged 12 months later in the five tested dogs. This case report demonstrates the efficacy of lotilaner on scabies in a cohort of infested dogs under natural conditions and the potential antigenic cross-reaction of S. scabiei with house dust and storage mites.