AREAS COVERED: This comprehensive review deals with the survey, performed through different electronic databases, regarding various challenges and their solutions attained by fabricating delivery systems like nanoparticles, micelle, nanocapsules, nanochannels, and liposomes. It also covers the synthesis of novel LAPA-conjugates for diagnostic purpose.
EXPERT OPINION: Unfortunately, clinical use of LAPA is restricted because of its extensive albumin binding capacity, poor oral bioavailability, and poor aqueous solubility. LAPA is marketed as the oral tablet only. Therefore, it becomes imperative to formulate alternate efficient multiparticulate or nano-delivery systems for administration through non-oral routes, for active/passive targeting, and to scale-up by pharmaceutical scientists followed by their clinical trials by clinical experts. LAPA combinations with capecitabine and letrozole should also be tried for breast cancer treatment.
Materials and Methods: This school-based study was conducted on 520 children of age group of 12-14 years of both genders. Location, education, and employment status of parents, use of toothbrush, frequency of brushing, dental floss, total number of meals in a day, number of snacks between meals and sugar consumption, and decayed, missing, filled teeth were recorded.
Results: There were 266 males and 254 females. Age group 12 years had 80 males and 90 females, 13 years had 70 males and 60 females, and 14 years had 116 males and 104 females. Ninety-six males and 110 females were from urban and 170 males and 144 females were from rural. The mean plaque score in 12-year male children was 0.61 ± 0.32, in 13-year children was 0.68 ± 0.45, and in 14 years was 0.74 ± 0.48. In males, the mean plaque score was 0.70 ± 0.38 and in females was 0.66 ± 0.42. In children from urban area, the mean plaque score was 0.62 ± 0.34 and from rural area was 0.74 ± 0.40. Four hundred and eighteen children were using toothpaste and they had plaque score of 0.76 and 102 children were using floss and they had plaque score of 0.89. Three hundred and twenty children were brushing once, 90 twice, and 110 irregular and there mean plaque score was 0.70, 0.61, and 0.76, respectively. The difference was significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Authors found that oral health status of children consuming high sugar, more snacks per day, and brushing occasionally was poor.
OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to develop an Ayurvedic clinical profile of COVID-19 by literature review supported by analysis of clinical data of a cohort of COVID-19 patients.
METHODS: The typical clinical presentation of COVID-19 was categorized based on a cluster of symptoms with reference to "Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with confirmed corona virus disease (COVID-19)" released by the US CDC. As the clinical presentation is found to vary widely, research papers reporting clinical symptoms of patient samples from different parts of the world were also reviewed to identify outliers and atypical presentations. Case records of fourteen COVID-19 patients treated at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon were analyzed to compare symptomatology with data obtained from published literature. Further, a careful correlation was done with the data collected from selected Ayurvedic classical texts and expert views of clinical practitioners to arrive at a preliminary Ayurvedic clinical profile of COVID-19.
RESULTS: COVID-19 can be understood from the Ayurvedic perspective as vātakapha dominant sannipātajvara of āgantu origin with pittānubandha. The asymptomatic, presymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe and critical stages of COVID-19 with varying clinical presentations have been analysed on the basis of nidāna, doṣa, dūṣya, nidānapañcaka and ṣaṭkriyākāla to present a preliminary clinical profile of the disease.
CONCLUSION: In this paper, we have demonstrated that a preliminary clinical profiling of COVID-19 from the Ayurvedic perspective is possible through literature review supported by discussions with Allopathic clinicians as well as examination of patient case records. The provisional diagnosis proposed can be further developed with continued review of literature, wider cooperation and teamwork with Allopathic physicians and access to clinical data as well as direct clinical assessment of COVID-19 patients.
AIM: The aim of this article is to study the common radiographic features of rhinomaxillary mucormycosis (RMM), find diagnostic criteria, and grade the disease according to the radiographic features.
SETTINGS: This study was conducted at Face Three-Dimensional Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Center, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT scans of 30 patients who were referred for CBCT scanning of suspected RMM were retrospectively evaluated for relevant radiological data.
RESULTS: The most common CBCT features of RMM were osteolytic lesions in alveolar bone, palate, nose and nasal cavity, and zygoma along with involvement of paranasal sinuses. About 76.66% of patients had a history of COVID-19 infection.
CONCLUSION: According to the collected data, the scans of probable rhinomaxillary mucormycosis were graded in three groups - mild, moderate, and severe. The goal of this article is to emphasize the most overlook diagnostic entity - CBCT and its significant importance in early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of RMM. Early diagnosis of RMM can save the patients from the extent of morbidity and mortality.