OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate knowledge about the disease and assess ways of precautions to be taken during the pandemic.
METHODS: A questionnaire was developed and registered at Google Forms. The study population included dental practitioners, working in hospitals and clinics. A total of 495 dental practitioners from 14 different countries across the world responded. Most dentists were aware of the required modifications in the management of patients. The points allotted for each correct/best answer by participants for a group of questions regarding each component (Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices) were added/summed to generate an overall score for each of the three components.
RESULTS: Both univariate and multivariate analysis employed for the evaluation of results. Moreover, the total practice score was significantly associated with gender and sector of practice. Multivariable analysis model using multiple linear regressions was formulated by including those variables which were significant at the univariate stage. Hence, the practice sector was the only variable found to be significantly associated with the total knowledge score (p-value
MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a prerequisite for this, the solubility of the drug was assessed in media of different pH (1.2-7.4), and surfactant concentrations of 0.5-1.5% (w/v) sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in water, and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. The dissolved drug concentration in each medium was quantified by UV analysis at 280 nm wavelength.
RESULTS: The drug solubility was found to be high at a pH of 1.2 and 7.4. The media with surfactant enhanced solubility of the drug by approximately 17-fold and exhibited better sink conditions. The discriminative power of the developed dissolution medium (i.e., 1% w/v SLS in pH 7.4) was determined by performing in vitro dissolution studies of the prepared THC tablets and comparing their release profiles using fit factors (f1 and f2). The results of the fit factor comparisons made between the dissolution profiles of THC tablets proved the discriminative ability of the medium. The validation of the developed dissolution method was performed by international guidelines and the method showed specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision within the acceptable range.
CONCLUSION: The proposed dissolution method was found to be adequate for the routine quality control analysis of THC, as there is no specified dissolution method for the drug in the pharmacopoeia.
METHODS: A systematic literature search with no language restrictions was performed on electronic databases and preprint repositories to identify eligible randomized trials published up to 8 July 2021. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR) for outcomes of interest with the use of sofosbuvir combined with direct-acting antiviral agents relative to the nonuse of sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral agents at 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS: The meta-analysis of 11 trials (n = 2,161) revealed statistically significant reduction in the odds of mortality (pooled odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.99) but no statistically significant difference in the odds of development of composite endpoint of severe illness (pooled odds ratio = 0.79; 95% confidence interval 0.43 to 1.44) with the administration of sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral agents among patients with COVID-19, relative to non-administration of sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral agents.Subgroup analysis with seven trials involving sofosbuvir-daclatasvir revealed no significant mortality benefit (pooled odds ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval 0.48 to 1.22).
CONCLUSION: Sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral agents have no protective effects against the development of severe illness in patients with COVID-19 with the current dosing regimen. Whether sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antiviral agents could offer mortality benefits would require further investigations.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to illustrate the diagnostic difficulty due to its rarity and non-specific clinical presentation.
CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of Kimura disease with bilateral eyelid swelling, parotid involvement, and cervical lymphadenopathy in a young boy. Computed Tomography (CT) showed ill-defined enhancing masses in both upper eyelids with lacrimal gland infiltration, multiple nodular lesions in both parotid glands, and bilateral enlargement of cervical nodes. After several multidisciplinary discussions and trials of medications, Kimura's disease was finally confirmed by histology examination.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, a rare disease such as Kimura must be considered earlier if the patient is not responding to the treatment.
METHODS: To better understand the burden of disease and associated risk factors, we evaluated 147 patients presenting with clinical leptospirosis to local hospitals in Sarawak, Malaysia for the presence of Leptospira and associated antibodies. Sera and urine specimens collected during the acute illness phase were assessed via a commercially available rapid diagnostic test (Leptorapide, Linnodee Ltd., Antrim, Northern Ireland), an ELISA IgM assay (Leptospira IgM ELISA, PanBio, Queensland, Australia) and a pan-Leptospira real-time PCR (qPCR) assay to estimate disease prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of each method. Microagglutination testing was performed on a subset of samples.
RESULTS: Overall, 45 out of 147 patients (30.6%) showed evidence of leptospires through qPCR in either one or both sera (20 patients) or urine (33 patients), and an additional ten (6.8%) were considered positive through serological testing, for an overall prevalence of 37.4% within the study population. However, each diagnostic method individually yielded disparate prevalence estimates: rapid test 42.2% for sera and 30.5% for urine, ELISA 15.0% for sera, qPCR 13.8% for sera and 23.4% for urine. Molecular characterization of a subset of positive samples by conventional PCR identified the bacterial species as Leptospira interrogans in 4 specimens. A multivariate risk factor analysis for the outcome of leptospirosis identified having completed primary school (OR = 2.5; 95 CI% 1.0-6.4) and weekly clothes-washing in local rivers (OR = 10.6; 95 CI% 1.4-214.8) with increased likelihood of leptospirosis when compared with those who had not.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the data suggest a relatively high prevalence of leptospirosis in the study population. The low sensitivities of the rapid diagnostic test and ELISA assay against qPCR highlight a need for better screening tools.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the knowledge of community pharmacists about the risks associated with medication use during pregnancy.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in March 2021 among the 344 community pharmacies in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Convenience sampling was used for data collection using a structured and validated questionnaire.
RESULTS: The majority of participants were male: 264 (76.7%), 94.2% were between the age of 21 to 30 years, and 53.1% had work experience of less than one year. Over half had completed diploma in pharmacy. Less than 10 medicines were dispensed to pregnant women daily in 61.6% of the pharmacies. Only 28.8% of the community pharmacists always inquired about pregnancy status from women in the reproductive age group. The mean knowledge score was significantly different among individuals with different work experience and qualifications (p
METHODS: : Multi-facility cross sectional survey among physicians in both public and private sectors in Namibia.
RESULTS: : Of the 106 physicians recruited, 69% practiced in public health facilities and 92% were non-smokers. 67% offer smoking cessation services, with 64% of these offering SCP. This was mainly nicotine replacement therapy (53%) and bupropion SR (41%). Overall, all physicians had a low knowledge score of SCP (<50%). The mean knowledge score though was 77% lower among physicians in public versus private sectors (OR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.14-0.35, p<0.001). Principal barriers to prescribing SCP were inadequate knowledge and/or lack of smoking cessation guidelines. This is not surprising with SCP medicines not currently listed within the public medicine list in Namibia.
CONCLUSION: : Despite good attitudes towards SCP, there are concerns with physicians' knowledge and practices especially in the public sector. There is an urgent need to address this and integrate services to reduce NCDs in Namibia.
Materials and methods: A total of 164 eyes (60 primary open-angle glaucoma, 52 normal-tension glaucoma, and 52 primary angle-closure glaucoma) of 164 patients were analyzed in this prospective cohort study. Patients who demonstrated good compliance to treatment were recruited. The severity of glaucoma was stratified according to the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) score based on reliable and reproducible visual field analysis at baseline. OPP was obtained at baseline and a 3-monthly follow-up visit over a 12-month duration. The pattern and fluctuation of mean OPP were studied. Repetitive measure ANOVA and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.
Results: The inter-visits mean OPP (p = 0.010), systolic OPP (p = 0.020), diastolic OPP (p = 0.010), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.040), and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.006) showed significant difference with severity of glaucoma. There was no significant difference between mean inter-visits intraocular pressure (IOP) and severity of glaucoma (p = 0.410). The end-stage glaucoma group had the lowest mean OPP and widest inter-visit mean OPP fluctuation. Early and mild glaucoma patients demonstrated higher mean OPP compared with moderate, severe, and end-stage glaucoma.
Conclusion: There is a significant association between OPP and the severity of glaucoma. Balancing blood pressure and IOP is important in optimizing adequate perfusion and prevent further damage to the optic nerve head.
How to cite this article: Ch'ng TW, Chua CY, Ummi Kalsom MA, et al. Ocular Perfusion Pressure and Severity of Glaucoma: Is There a Link? J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2021;15(2):78-85.