Failure rate of single-unit restorations on posterior vital teeth: A systematic review

Statement of problem

No knowledge synthesis exists concerning when to use a direct restoration versus a complete-coverage indirect restoration in posterior vital teeth.

Combination of levetiracetam with sodium selenite prevents pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling and behavioral comorbidities in rats

IntroductionThe pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindling model acts through the antagonism of central GABA_A receptors and is one of the most widely used experimental animal models to study the characteristics of seizure development, behavioral manifestations and evaluation of antiseizure effects of existing and new drug candidates.MethodologyIn the current study, we investigated the impact of chronically administered levetiracetam (50 mg/kg) and sodium selenite (Sod.Se: 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg) alone and in combination during the kindling process (21 days) in rats. Moreover, the behavioral changes (through the integration of a wide array of behavioral tests) and markers of oxidative stress in isolated brain homogenates were assessed in PTZ- kindled rats.ResultsThe outcomes from the fully kindled rats revealed the increased seizure score and severity over time with marked behavioral deficits. However, the animals treated with the selected dose of LEV alone showed partial protection from epileptogenesis and amelioration (P < 0.05) of anxiety-like behavior (open filed, light/dark, elevated plus maze tests), cognitive impairment (y-maze, novel object recognition and water maze tests) and depression (sucrose preference test). Moreover, combining the LEV with sodium selenite resulted in a significant neuroprotective effect in comparison to monotherapy by reducing the disease progression and ameliorating behavioral outcomes. The combination of Sod.Se in a dose-dependent manner with LEV produced additive effects as maximum animals remained seizure-free compared to kindled rats (P < 0.05). The attenuation of PTZ induced oxidative stress was evident from the reduced malondialdehyde and elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) level with P < 0.05, as compared to control epileptic rats. These observed results of combination therapy might be due to the antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of Sod.Se, thus augmenting the seizure-modifying potentials of levetiracetam.ConclusionOverall, the current findings support the prominence of combining the Sod.Se with LEV, over monotherapy to deal with prevailing challenges of drug resistance and neuropsychiatric sufferings common in epileptic patients.     

Demographics,comorbidities, and outcomes among young and middle-aged COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia

The impact of different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on the COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality rates have been studied extensively around the world; however, there is a dearth of data on the impact of different clinical and sociodemographic variables on the COVID-19-related outcomes in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to identify those at high risk of worse clinical outcomes, such as hospitalization and longer length of stay (LOS) among young and middle-aged adults (18 to 55 years). In this questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, 706 patients with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed COVID-19 infection were interviewed. Patients’ demographic characteristics, dietary habits, medical history, and lifestyle choices were collected through phone interviews. Patients with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, reported a higher rate of hospitalization, ICU admission, oxygen-support needs, and a longer period of recovery and LOS. Multiple logistic regression showed that diabetes, hypertension, and pulmonary disease (e.g., asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization and longer LOS. Multiple logistic regression showed that symptoms of breathlessness, loss of smell and/or taste, diarrhea, and cough were associated with a longer recovery period. Similarly, breathlessness, vomiting, and diarrhea were associated with higher rates of hospitalization. The findings of this study confirm the similarity of the factors associated with worse clinical outcomes across the world. Future studies should use more robust designs to investigate the impact of different therapies on the COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia.     

Serious retinal detachment in severe pre-eclampsia. Two case reports

The serous detachment of the retina is a rare but serious complication of the severe preeclampsia. It's diagnosis rests on the systematic exam of the eye fundus at the time of the stern shapes of preeclampsia and especially at every change of the visual acuteness. Therefore the observed anomalies must be confirmed by the practice of a retina angiography in the following week. The observation of such complication at the pregnant woman must induce the childbirth who is the only efficient treatment to preserve her visual prognosis. Usually the serous detachment of the retina disappears spontaneously in some days but some visual aftermaths can occurs in cases where papillary edema is prolonged or in cases of macular pigmentary migrations. As for foetal prognosis, it's often reserved.     

Reporting and methodologic quality of Cochrane Neonatal review group systematic reviews

Background  

The Cochrane Neonatal Review Group (CNRG) has achieved a lot with limited resources in producing high quality systematic reviews to assist clinicians in evidence-based decision-making. A formal assessment of published CNRG systematic reviews has not been undertaken; we sought to provide a comprehensive assessment of the quality of systematic reviews (both methodologic and reporting quality) published in CNRG.