Mesenteric panniculitis does not confer an increased risk for cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a non-specific, localized inflammation at the mesentery of small intestines which often gets detected on computed tomography. An association with malignant neoplasms remains unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of malignancy with MP.Methods:MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published from inception to 2020 that evaluated the association of malignant neoplasms with MP in comparison with control groups. Using random-effects method, a summary odds ratio (OR) estimate with 95% confidence intervals for malignant neoplasms in MP was estimated.Results:Four case-control studies reporting data on 415 MP patients against 1132 matched-controls met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The pooled OR for finding a malignant neoplasm in patients with MP was 0.907 (95% CI: 0.688–1.196; P = .489). The heterogeneity was mild and non-significant. Also, there was no heightened risk of any specific type of malignancy with MP. Three more case-series with unmatched-control groups (MP: 282, unmatched-controls: 17,691) were included in a separate analysis where the pooled OR of finding a malignant neoplasm was 2.963 (95% CI: 1.434–6.121; P = .003). There was substantial heterogeneity in this group.Conclusion:This meta-analysis of matched controlled studies proves absence of any significant association of malignant neoplasms with MP. Our study also demonstrates that the putative association of malignancy with MP is mainly driven by uncontrolled studies or case-series.     

Role of second-line systemic treatment post-docetaxel in metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer- current strategies and future directions

Treatment of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) after progression on docetaxel chemotherapy is a challenging clinical scenario with limited availability of treatment options. Re-treatment with docetaxel, either as monotherapy or in combination with other cytotoxics or targeted agents has shown durable responses. However, most docetaxel re-treatment studies have been either retrospective or early phase non-randomised studies which have not formally assessed Quality of life or survival gain with re-treatment. Despite limited evidence for efficacy of mitoxantrone in the second-line, it continues to remain widely used, largely due to lack of available suitable alternatives. Cabazitaxel in combination with prednisolone is the only chemotherapy to have shown a significant survival benefit and receive approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with mCRPC previously treated with a docetaxel-based regimen. Abiraterone acetate has recently demonstrated a significant improvement in survival when compared to placebo in patients with docetaxel-treated mCRPC. This review aims to summarize the current evidence and discuss future strategies for treatment of mCRPC patients following failure of docetaxel chemotherapy.     

An account of the botanical anthelmintics used in traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed at documentation of botanical anthelmintics used in the traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In rapid rural appraisal, 331 traditional veterinary healers (TVH) were identified as key respondents in the study area followed by participatory rural appraisal for data collection using a well-structured questionnaire. Information was collected through interviews, focused group discussions and field visits over a period of 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 49 traditional recipes, with 41 plant species representing 39 genera and 27 families, were recorded for the treatment of helminthosis in animals. Most frequently used plants (>/=5 times) were Brassica campestris L. and Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell.-Arg. and most frequently used families (>/=5 times) were Brassicaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae. Most frequently used part of the plant was leaves (n=10) followed in order by seeds (n=9), whole fruit (n=5), aerial parts and whole plant (n=4), fruit (n=3), bulb (n=2) and bark, rhizome, stem, stem plus root and twigs (n=1). Five recipes out of 49 (10.2%) contained more than one plant species and rest 44 (89.8%) contained single plant species. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty out of 41 plants (48.78%) are reported for the first time for their traditional use as anthelmintics in Pakistan. Further studies on pharmacokinetics using scientific procedures may prove these plants as promising candidates for their future use as anthelmintics.     

Green aspects of photocatalysts during corona pandemic: a promising role for the deactivation of COVID-19 virus

The selection of a facile, eco-friendly, and effective methodology is the need of the hour for efficient curing of the COVID-19 virus in air, water, and many food products. Recently, semiconductor-based photocatalytic methodologies have provided promising, green, and sustainable approaches to battle against viral activation via the oxidative capabilities of various photocatalysts with excellent performance under moderate conditions and negligible by-products generation as well. Considering this, recent advances in photocatalysis for combating the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are inclusively highlighted. Starting from the origin to the introduction of the coronavirus, the significant potential of photocatalysis against viral prevention and -disinfection is discussed thoroughly. Various photocatalytic material-based systems including metal-oxides, metal-free and advanced 2D materials (MXenes, MOFs and COFs) are systematically examined to understand the mechanistic insights of virus-disinfection in the human body to fight against COVID-19 disease. Also, a roadmap toward sustainable solutions for ongoing COVID-19 contagion is also presented. Finally, the challenges in this field and future perspectives are comprehensively discussed involving the bottlenecks of current photocatalytic systems along with potential recommendations to deal with upcoming pandemic situations in the future.

Photocatalysts are green, eco-friendly, clean and sustainable and could be a solution to combat COVID-19 because of potential features of various types of metal oxides against viral inactivation via the generation of reactive oxidative species.     

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: A unique case of chronic disease with atypical features

We present a unique case of diffusely extensive Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). Typically affecting the peripheral nervous system and manifesting with muscle weakness, breakdown or paresthesia, we present a case that additionally demonstrates; cranial nerve involvement, central nervous system parenchymal lesions, and chronic osseous remodeling of the nerve tracts. Cranial nerve involvement to this extent has only been described in one other case report to our knowledge. Central nervous system parenchymal lesions are extremely rare in CIDP and no discrete discussion about osseous remodeling has been presented, thus far, in the literature. The findings illustrated in this case may spur further understanding of imaging characteristics most associated with chronic CIDP disease and care measures that could help stratify patients most at risk for severe symptomologies.     

Long-term survivor of brain metastases from malignant melanoma

Malignant melanoma is notorious for distant metastases. Median survival for stage IV melanoma is 6-10 months and 5 year survival is less than 5%. Median survival for melanoma with brain metastases is even lower i.e. 2 to 9 months. Here a case is reported who was treated for melanoma of sole of left foot with ipsilateral inguinal adenopathy and brain metastases in 2001 and is still surviving disease-free after a lapse of 8 years.