Parenting Experiences of Cancer Patients with Minor Children and Their Conversations About the Possibility of Death: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey for an Online Cancer Community

Purpose Many cancer patients with minor children experience difficulty when talking about their illness with their children. The aim of this study is to investigate the parenting experiences of cancer patients with minor children and their conversations about the possibility of death. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between April and May 2019. Cancer patients with minor children were recruited from among an online peer support group called “Cancer Parents”. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their experiences talking about their illness with their children. The participants were classified into those who disclosed their cancer to their children (“disclosed group”), and those who didn’t disclose (“undisclosed group”). The association between whether they talked with their children about their cancer and their conversations about the possibility of death were examined. Results A total of 370 participants were analyzed (80.8% female, median age 43.0 years). The disclosed group (n = 274, 74.1%) wanted to know what their child felt than the undisclosed group (p < 0.001). The undisclosed group didn’t want their children to see their suffering (p = 0.002) and didn’t know how to explain their disease condition ( p < 0.002). Both the disclosed (42.1%) and undisclosed (6.5%) groups told their children about the possibility of death. Conclusion This study showed the disclosed group wanted to know their children’s feelings and they tended to have a conversation about the possibility of death with their children, compared to the undisclosed group.

Management skin manifestation of multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS), which develops after a past covid-19 infection. MIS can be described in different tissue inflammation, including the heart, lung, kidney, brain, skin, eye, and or gastrointestinal organs at the presence of COVID-19. Initially, MIS was described in Europe in children infected with SARS-CoV-2, then it was recently seen in the USA in 2020. MIS is a rare but serious disease condition associated with COVID-19 that can affect children (MIS-C) and adults (MIS-A). Case presentation A 44-year-old male who showed MIS-A in 59-day after his first covid-19 contact history. The patient presented to our emergency department with complaints of high fever, nausea, weakness, redness of the eyes, headache, and joint pain. On the second day of his hospitalization, a maculopapular skin lesion was seen in most of the skin. His fever could not be controlled even given paracetamol and broad effective antibiotics. His clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings showed that he had MIS-A. The patient was given intravenous pulse methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). These treatments, then, resulted in improvement of his clinical conditions, including fever and skin lesions, on the second day of the treatment. The patient was discharged in 14 days after the treatment. Conclusion This report indicated that diagnosis and treatment of MIS-A could result in reducing patient morbidity and mortality.

Differences in Clinical Characteristics Between Delta Variant and Wild-Type SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients

Background: As delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevailed in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, its clinical characteristics with the difference from those of wild-type strains have been little studied.Methods: We reported one cohort of 341 wild-type patients with COVID-19 admitted at Wuhan, China in 2020 and the other cohort of 336 delta variant patients with COVID-19 admitted at Yangzhou, China in 2021, with comparisons of their demographic information, medical history, clinical manifestation, and hematological data. Furthermore, within the delta variant cohort, patients with none, partial, and full vaccination were also compared to assess vaccine effectiveness.Findings: For a total of 677 patients with COVID-19 included in this study, their median age was 53.0 years [interquartile range (IQR): 38.0–66.0] and 46.8% were men. No difference was found in age, gender, and percentage of patients with the leading comorbidity between wild-type and delta variant cohorts, but delta variant cohort showed a lessened time interval between disease onset to hospitalization, a reduced portion of patients with smoking history, and a lowered frequency of clinical symptoms. For hematological parameters, most values demonstrated significant differences between wild-type and delta variant cohorts, while full vaccination rather than partial vaccination alleviated the disease condition. This reflected the viremic effect of delta variant when vaccination succeeds or fails to protect.Interpretation: Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 may cause severe disease profiles, but timely diagnosis and full vaccination could protect patients with COVID-19 from worsened disease progression.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Canine and Feline Anal Sac Disease

Limited data are available on canine and feline non-neoplastic anal sac disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain observational data on the incidence, predisposing factors, diagnosis, treatment, and recurrence rate of canine and feline anal sac disease. To this end, a questionnaire was distributed among veterinarians. The incidence of non-neoplastic anal sac disease was estimated at 15.7% in dogs and 0.4% in cats. Predisposing factors were diarrhea, skin problems, several dog breeds, and particularly small breed dogs, male cats, British shorthairs, and obesity in dogs. Diagnosis was made based on the presence of clinical signs and characteristics of the anal sac content. Manual expression and treating any potential underlying disease were the most important treatments for all three types of non-neoplastic anal sac disease. Anal sacculectomy was performed in refractory cases. The most recurrent anal sac disease condition was impaction. Diagnosis of anal sac disease should be based on clinical signs and rectal examination, as the evaluation of the anal sac content is not reliable. Surgical outcomes of anal sacculectomy can be improved when surgery is performed after medical management. Future studies should investigate these findings in prospective trials.

Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as a global disease, has attracted much research interest. Constant research has led to a better understanding of the disease condition and further promoted its management. We here reviewed the conventional and the novel drugs and therapies, as well as the potential ones, which have shown promise in preclinical studies and are likely to be effective future therapies. The conventional treatments aim at controlling symptoms through pharmacotherapy, including aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics, with other general measures and/or surgical resection if necessary. However, a considerable fraction of patients do not respond to available treatments or lose response, which calls for new therapeutic strategies. Diverse therapeutic options are emerging, involving small molecules, apheresis therapy, improved intestinal microecology, cell therapy, and exosome therapy. In addition, patient education partly upgrades the efficacy of IBD treatment. Recent advances in the management of IBD have led to a paradigm shift in the treatment goals, from targeting symptom-free daily life to shooting for mucosal healing. In this review, the latest progress in IBD treatment is summarized to understand the advantages, pitfalls, and research prospects of different drugs and therapies and to provide a basis for the clinical decision and further research of IBD.

PHARMACEUTICAL AND PHYSIO-CHEMICAL STUDY OF SHILADHATRI YOGA (KALPIT)

Ayurveda is a time-tested science. It is based on universal principles of nature; in ancient times it is mainly flourished through the herbal drugs but later the drugs failed to conquer the difficult disease conditions. Hence humans started searching for alternate natural resources. In this search a separate discipline was emerged oriented towards use of metals, minerals, and animal and plant products, designated as Rasa Shastra. Later, it flourished and superseded the herbal medicines. In the classics they mention that one can make his own drug by using his knowledge for any disease condition. That’s why here new drug Shiladhatri yoga (Kalpit) is formed for use in the treatment of Diabetes.

Management of New Born with Harlequin Ichthyosis: A Rare Disease Condition

Harlequin ichthyosis is the most severe form of non-bullous ichthyosis, which is unusual in newborns and is usually marked by deadly excessive keratinization of the skin. Ichthyosis is a family of genetic skin disorders, characterized by dry, thickened, scaly skin with severe morbidity and mortality. The term “harlequin” derives from the facial appearance and the triangular and diamond-shaped pattern of the scaly skin. It occurs in about 1 in 300,000 births and has no known sex predilection. The disorder affects the skin in utero causing thick, horny, armory-like plates that cover the skin with contraction abnormalities of the eyes, ears, mouth and appendages. There is no specific guideline to manage the newborn of harlequin ichthyosis, in that nursing care is most important in the initial phase. There are required multi-disciplinary teams to take care of harlequin ichthyosis.

A Case Report: A 37 Years-old Women with Takayasu Arteritis

Background: A rarity of form of vasculitis, also known as TAK, induces inflammation in the walls of the major arteries in the body: the aorta and its main branches. The disease results from a body attack and inflammation of the walls of the arteries caused by the body's own immune system. Case Presentation: A 37-years-old women had complaints of fever, giddiness, weakness of right upper limb and lower limb since1 day. After undergoing whole blood count, liver function examination, renal and MRI function checks, CT scan, angiography, etc. was studied. She was diagnosed with takayasu arteritis. She had past medical history of neck pain and numbness since January 2020. For these complaints her family members referred her in private hospital. There is no significant history of surgery in present, lower segment caesarean section and piles operation was done previously. Physical findings were normal except the Glasgow Coma Scale score was 11 that is, patient was semi-conscious, In General appearance patient activity was dull and weak due disease condition, Patient’s all routine investigations were normal except few like Total WBC count was increased (21,500cell /cm) due to increased infection, Granulocytes were increased that is 75 % due to infection and autoimmune disease, ESR was increased that is52mm/h. Angiography showed block in the right common carotid artery, MRI- showed Acute infract in left fronto temporo parietal region involving insular par ventricular white matter, absent flow in distal M1 segment of MCA. Conclusion: The most frequently involved arteries and the angiographic trends in this Takayasu Arteritis study were subclavian arteries and carotid arteries. The difference between angiographic characteristics may lead to clinical differences. Operations and surgery should be carried out at various points in the course of the disease.

Gelsemium elegans Benth: Chemical Components, Pharmacological Effects, and Toxicity Mechanisms

Gelsemium elegans Benth (GEB), also known as heartbreak grass, is a highly poisonous plant belonging to the family Loganiaceae and genus Gelsemium that has broad application prospects in medicine. This article reviews its chemical components, pharmacological effects, toxicity mechanisms, and research progress in clinical applications in recent years. Indole alkaloids are the main active components of GEB and have a variety of pharmacological and biological functions. They have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulation properties, with the therapeutic dose being close to the toxic dose. Application of small-dose indole alkaloids fails to work effectively, while high-dose usage is prone to poisoning, aggravating the patient’s conditions. Special caution is needed, especially to observe the changes in the disease condition of the patients in clinical practice. In-depth research on the chemical components and mechanisms of GEB is essential to the development of promising lead compounds and lays the foundation for extensive clinical application and safe usage of GEB in the future.

Host-Microbial Relationship: Immune Response to Microbial Infections with or without Medication

Immune responses of the host to any infectious agents vary in controlling the pathogens. The process begins by the entry of microorganisms into the host to initiate host immune response to understand the type of microorganisms and react accordingly for possible elimination of the organisms. In some cases the host co-exists with the pathogens or unable to effectively deal with them leading to disease condition. Thus, the pathogens establish, multiply and cause disease. The review considered the mode of acquisition of infection, pathogenesis and immune responses to microbial infection. Other areas included the enhancement of immune responses to control infection, immune responses of the host under drug treatment and the control of microbial infection. The understanding of the relationship between infectious microbes and the host immune system leading to protective immunity or disease state will give much information about treatment and controlling of microbial infection in our environment.