Article Reviews Research Articles

Review on Paclitaxel Derivatization: Enhanced Anticancer Action

Background: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized paclitaxel for the treatment of numerous types of cancer, including breast, lung, ovarian, and Kaposi's sarcoma. It possesses all the characteristics of BCS class IV medications, including low bioavailability, low water solubility, poor permeability, unpredictable and poor absorption, and inter- and intrasubject variability. Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate previous efforts done to derivatize paclitaxel for greater effectiveness. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted from a variety of sources, including published research, review articles, and patents, that mainly focus on the derivatization of paclitaxel that has been done in the last 10 years to enhance its solubility, permeability, and bioavailability. Different forms of derivatization were done in order to improve the drug's ability to be absorbed by the body, as well as its solubility and bioavailability. Results: This article explores the current and future strategies for increasing the anti-cancer efficacy of paclitaxel by enhancing its bioavailability, solubility, and penetration efficacy. Some examples are lipidbased delivery systems, polymer-based nanocarriers, crystal engineering (nanocrystals and co-crystals), liquidsolid technologies, and self-emulsifying solid dispersions. Other strategies are also discussed in this article. Conclusion: It is quite likely that this review article will contain perfect fragments of evidence for building a new model for the application of paclitaxel in the treatment of cancer.

Management of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Skeletally Immature Patients.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ALC) tears are increasingly common in skeletally immature patients, as more children and adolescents participate in intensive sports training and specialization at increasingly younger ages. These injuries were historically treated nonoperatively, given concerns for physeal damage and subsequent growth disturbances after traditional ACL reconstruction techniques. However, there is now sufficient data to suggest superior outcomes with operative treatment, specifically with physeal-sparing and physeal-respecting techniques. This article reviews considerations of skeletal maturity in patients with ACL tears, then discusses surgical techniques, with a focus on their unique indications and outcomes. Additional surgical adjuncts and components of postoperative rehabilitation, which may reduce retear rates, are also considered. Current research shows favorable patient-reported outcomes and high return-to-sport rates after ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients. Graft rupture (ACL retear) rates are low, but notably higher than in most adult populations. Historically, there has been insufficient research to comprehensively compare reconstruction techniques used in this patient population. However, thoughtful systematic reviews and multicenter prospective studies are emerging to address this deficit. Also, more recent data suggests the addition of lateral extra-articular procedures and stringent return-to-sports testing may lower retear rates. Physeal-sparing and physeal-respecting ACL reconstructions result in stabilization of the knee, while respecting the growth remaining in children or skeletally immature adolescents. Future research will be essential to compare these techniques, given that more than one may be appropriate for patients of a specific age and skeletal maturity.

Thiazolidinedione as a Promising Medicinal Scaffold for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

Thiazolidinediones, also known as glitazones, are considered as biologically active scaffold and a well-established class of anti-diabetic agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thiazolidinediones act by reducing insulin resistance through elevated peripheral glucose disposal and glucose production. These molecules activate peroxisome proliferated activated receptor (PPARγ), one of the sub-types of PPARs, and a diverse group of its hybrid have also shown numerous therapeutic activities along with antidiabetic activity. The objective of this review was to collect and summarize the research related to the medicinal potential, structure-activity relationship and safety aspects of thiazolidinedione analogues designed and investigated in type 2 diabetes during the last two decades. The mentioned objective was achieved by collecting and reviewing the research manuscripts, review articles, and patents from PubMed, Science Direct, Embase, google scholar and journals related to the topic from different publishers like Wiley, Springer, Elsevier, Taylor and Francis, Indian and International government patent sites etc. Results: The thiazolidinedione scaffold has been a focus of research in the design and synthesis of novel derivatives for the management of type 2 diabetes, specifically in the case of insulin resistance. The complications like fluid retention, idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity, weight gain and congestive heart failure in the case of trosiglitazone, and pioglitazone have restricted their use. The newer analogues have been synthesized by different research groups to attain better efficacy and less side effects. Thus, the potential of thiazolidinediones in terms of their chemical evolution, action on nuclear receptors, aldose reductase and free fatty acid receptor 1 is well established. The newer TZD analogues with better safety profiles and tolerability will soon be available in the market for common use without further delay.

Emerging Biohybrids of Aptamer-Based Nano-Biosensing Technologies for Effective Early Cancer Detection.

Cancer is a leading global cause of mortality, which underscores the imperative of early detection for improved patient outcomes. Biorecognition molecules, especially aptamers, have emerged as highly effective tools for early and accurate cancer cell identification. Aptamers, with superior versatility in synthesis and modification, offer enhanced binding specificity and stability compared with conventional antibodies. Hence, this article reviews diagnostic strategies employing aptamer-based biohybrid nano-biosensing technologies, focusing on their utility in detecting cancer biomarkers and abnormal cells. Recent developments include the synthesis of nano-aptamers using diverse nanomaterials, such as metallic nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-derived substances, and biohybrid nanostructures. The integration of these nanomaterials with aptamers significantly enhances sensitivity and specificity, promising innovative and efficient approaches for cancer diagnosis. This convergence of nanotechnology with aptamer research holds the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment through rapid, accurate, and non-invasive diagnostic methods.

Diabetic Pneumopathy- A Novel Diabetes-associated Complication: Pathophysiology, the Underlying Mechanism and Combination Medication.

The "diabetic lung" has been identified as a possible target organ in diabetes, with abnormalities in ventilation control, bronchomotor tone, lung volume, pulmonary diffusing capacity, and neuroadrenergic bronchial innervation. This review summarizes studies related to diabetic pneumopathy, pathophysiology and a number of pulmonary disorders including type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Electronic searches were conducted on databases such as Pub Med, Wiley Online Library (WOL), Scopus, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using standard keywords "diabetes," "diabetes Pneumopathy," "Pathophysiology," "Lung diseases," "lung infection" for review articles published between 1978 to 2023 very few previous review articles based their focus on diabetic pneumopathy and its pathophysiology. Globally, the incidence of diabetes mellitus has been rising. It is a chronic, progressive metabolic disease. The "diabetic lung" may serve as a model of accelerated ageing since diabetics' rate of respiratory function deterioration is two to three-times higher than that of normal, non-smoking people. Diabetes-induced pulmonary dysfunction has not gained the attention it deserves due to a lack of proven causality and changes in cellular properties. The mechanism underlying a particular lung illness can still only be partially activated by diabetes but there is evidence that hyperglycemia is linked to pulmonary fibrosis in diabetic people.

Detailed Analysis of the Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-oxidant, and Neuroprotective Effects of the Potent Phytochemical Bacoside A

Abstract: Bacoside A is a vital bioactive component of the Indian medicinal herb Bacopa monnieri, which ranks second among the most significant medicinal plants. Bacoside A was discovered to have more pharmacological activity than bacoside B. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat mental problems and memory loss. It also possesses antioxidant, antidepressant, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, ant-cancerous, vasodilator and other pharmacological properties. The main objective of this review is to highlight the importance of Bacoside A in the treatment of various diseases. Several sources were used to acquire the material, including review articles published in various publications, such as PubMed, Scopus, Bentham Science, Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, and Research Gate, which were used to compile the data for the article following a thorough analysis of the various research findings connected that had keywords, such as Bacoside A, Ayurvedic medicine, Brahmi, jujubogenin. Bacoside-A, derived from the Bacopa monniera plant, is a traditional medicine said to have therapeutic qualities. Various studies have found that bacoside- A has considerable therapeutic benefits. All of the evidence suggests that Bacoside-A has multiple therapeutic properties in regulating the various biological processes as well as paving the path for the treatment of various disorders in modern medicine. The current review focused on the pharmacological action of bacoside A. The results of the pharmacological investigations indicated that Bacoside A had a wide range of pharmacological effects, including those on the central nervous system (memory improvement), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiparkinsonian, anticancer, and more.

Integrating effective journal club activities into knowledge management processes to enhance evidence-based practice, service quality, research skills, and innovation among nurses: A literature review

In a rapidly emerging world, knowledge management capabilities, including knowledge creation, acquisition, sharing, and utilization, become more critical for organizational change, growth, and competitiveness. Therefore, this article argues that organizations should consider implementing effective journal club meetings as an opportunity to acquire external knowledge, evaluate and integrate new knowledge into previous existing knowledge, and disseminate and utilize new knowledge to enhance product or service quality, innovation, and the performance of an organization. The article reviews relevant literature, proposes a framework for conducting effective journal club meetings, and aligns those activities with the knowledge management processes. The article proposes a framework for conducting effective journal club meetings and a process that integrates both journal club activities and the knowledge management process. By adopting this framework, journal club activities would be more effective in developing new knowledge management capabilities among individual members and enhancing organizational performance, i.e., implementing evidence-based practices (EBP), improving service quality, and producing research.

Response rate specific to bone metastasis of various cancers for immune checkpoint inhibitors: a systematic review.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved the prognosis of patients with cancer, such as melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and urothelial carcinoma. The extension of life expectancy has led to an increased incidence of bone metastases (BM) among patients with cancer. BM result in skeletal-related events, including severe pain, pathological fractures, and nerve palsy. Surgery is typically required for the treatment of BM in patients with an impending fracture; however, it may be avoided in those who respond to ICIs. We systematically reviewed studies analyzing BM responses to treatment with ICIs. This study was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses 2020 statement and registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (ID: UMIN000053707). Studies reporting response rates based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) or the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDA) criteria specific for BM in patients treated with ICIs were included; reports of fewer than five cases and review articles were excluded. Studies involving humans, published in English and Japanese, were searched. The PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched. Ultimately, nine studies were analyzed. The Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Studies was used to assess the quality of studies. Based on the MDA criteria, complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) was observed in 44-78% and 62% patients treated with ICIs plus denosumab for NSCLC and melanoma, respectively. According to the RECIST, CR or PR was recorded in 5% and 7-28% of patients treated with ICIs for renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma, respectively. Although response rates to ICIs for BM are poor, patients treated with ICI plus denosumab for bone metastases with impending fractures from NSCLC and melanoma are likely to avoid surgery to prevent fractures.

Evaluation of the Reproducibility of Auricular Subunit Markers Based on Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography.

As a facial feature, the auricle plays an important role in the integrity and aesthetics of the whole face. Auricular subunits are associated with patient satisfaction in auricular reconstruction, but there are few studies on auricular subunits. We want to evaluate the reproducibility of auricular subunits by measuring the coordinates of the marker points of auricular subunits, accordingly provide a reference for the improvement of auricular reconstruction and the aesthetics of auricular injection. Mimics 19.0 was used to carry out three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the computed tomography (CT) scan data of patients' brains; measure the three-dimensional coordinates of the 13 auricular subunit markers, the morphological auricle length and width, and the physiological auricle length and width; and analyze the reproducibility as well as the differences between group. Reproducibility of auricle subunit markers: There are 1124 (58.82%) high reproducibility, 580 (30.35%) moderate reproducibility, and 207 (10.83%) low reproducibility. The superior tragus notch, tragus, and antitragus had the highest reproducibility. There was no significant difference between the groups in the marking points on the helix, and there were no statistically significant differences in the measurement values of the auricles on the two sides. The physiological ear length and width and the morphological ear length of males were larger than those of females. These showed significant differences between the age groups. Most auricular subunit markers have high reproducibility. The subunits with higher reproducibility are the structures that need to be optimized during auricle reconstruction surgery or auricle injection in the future. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Tensions In Eu-China Trade Relations: The Impact Of China's Competitive Advantage In Strategic Industries”

This article reviews trade tensions between the European Union (EU) and China triggered by China's dominance in strategic industries. In the face of an increasingly tense situation, careful policy analysis is needed to proactively manage the complex relationship with China. This research aims to highlight the root causes behind trade conflicts, as well as identify strategies for managing tensions wisely while encouraging mutually beneficial economic cooperation. With a cross-disciplinary approach, this research proposes a framework to reduce the risk of escalation of trade conflicts between the EU and China. Through emphasizing the importance of rigorous policy analysis and innovative solutions, this article highlights the urgency of appropriate policies to maintain domestic economic stability and balanced international relations in the face of challenges from China's economic dominance.

American College of Rheumatology White Paper: The Effects of Climate Change on Rheumatic Conditions-An Evolving Landscape and a Path Forward.

Increases in global temperatures and extreme weather events associated with climate change have complex yet poorly understood detrimental impacts on human health. We reviewed the current published literature on climate change-related effects and rheumatic conditions. To summarize our current understanding of the likely effects of climate change, including increased air pollution, on rheumatic disease, we searched the published, peer-reviewed English-language literature from January 2000 to December 2022. Articles were reviewed by a team of rheumatologists and clinical and translational science researchers. Systematic review articles were not included but informed additional literature searches. After extensive examination and adjudication, 88 articles met inclusion criteria and were selected for review. Much of the epidemiologic investigations assessed associations between air pollution and increased risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, flares of gout, and hospitalizations for systemic lupus erythematosus. Increased heat vulnerability was associated with higher odds of recurrent hospitalizations across rheumatic conditions. Mechanisms for observed associations are poorly understood but could include the effects of epigenetic changes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines. Studies had limitations, including restricted geography and populations studied without focus on historically marginalized communities at highest risk for adverse effects from pollution and climate change, the relative lack of mechanistic evaluations, and most with only indirect links to climate change. To date, the published literature lacks studies that directly examine effects of climate change on rheumatic diseases. Collaborative translational and epidemiologic research is needed to enhance our understanding and awareness in this area.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome and serotonin syndrome: a comparative bibliometric analysis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze and map scientific literature on Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) and Serotonin Syndrome (SS) from prestigious, internationally indexed journals. The objective was to identify key topics, impactful articles, prominent journals, research output, growth patterns, hotspots, and leading countries in the field, providing valuable insights for scholars, medical students, and international funding agencies.MethodsA systematic search strategy was implemented in the PubMed MeSH database using specific keywords for NMS and SS. The search was conducted in the Scopus database, renowned for its extensive coverage of scholarly publications. Inclusion criteria comprised articles published from 1950 to December 31st, 2022, restricted to journal research and review articles written in English. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel for descriptive analysis, and VOSviewer was employed for bibliometric mapping.ResultsThe search yielded 1150 articles on NMS and 587 on SS, with the majority being case reports. Growth patterns revealed a surge in NMS research between 1981 and 1991, while SS research increased notably between 1993 and 1997. Active countries and journals differed between NMS and SS, with psychiatry journals predominating for NMS and pharmacology/toxicology journals for SS. Authorship analysis indicated higher multi-authored articles for NMS. Top impactful articles focused on review articles and pathogenic mechanisms. Research hotspots included antipsychotics and catatonia for NMS, while SS highlighted drug interactions and specific medications like linezolid and tramadol.ConclusionsNMS and SS represent rare but life-threatening conditions, requiring detailed clinical and scientific understanding. Differential diagnosis and management necessitate caution in prescribing medications affecting central serotonin or dopamine systems, with awareness of potential drug interactions. International diagnostic tools and genetic screening tests may aid in safe diagnosis and prevention. Reporting rare cases and utilizing bibliometric analysis enhance knowledge dissemination and research exploration in the field of rare drug-induced medical conditions.

The Legal Nature of Emission Rights – International Experience and Vietnamese Law

The carbon emission rights market effectively controls emissions activities and develops the economy. The market's stability will depend on determining the legal nature of the objects allowed to circulate in that market. However, carbon trading markets worldwide have yet to reach a consensus in determining the legal nature of carbon emission rights. The article shows that national laws have different approaches to the legal nature of carbon emission rights in one of the following cases: (i) Just an administrative tool; (ii) Is an object of ownership, which is divided into goods or financial instruments; (iii) Is subject to ownership rights but is limited; (iv) Determined flexibly. The article reviews international experience in determining the legal nature of emission rights. Based on that, the article explores the factors determining the legal nature of carbon emission rights. Specifically, the paper determines that the right to emit carbon qualifies as an asset and should be classified as an intangible asset.

Beyond Tailpipe Emissions: Life Cycle Assessment Unravels Battery’s Carbon Footprint in Electric Vehicles

While electric vehicles (EVs) offer lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in some regions, the concern over the greenhouse gas emissions generated during battery production is often debated. This literature review examines the true environmental trade-offs between conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and emerging technologies such as solid-state batteries (SSBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). It emphasizes the carbon-intensive nature of LIB manufacturing and explores how alternative technologies can enhance efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint. We have used a keyword search technique to review articles related to batteries and their environmental performances. The study results reveal that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of battery production alone range from 10 to 394 kgCO2 eq./kWh. We identified that lithium manganese cobalt oxide and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide batteries, despite their high energy density, exhibit higher GHGs (20–394 kgCO2 eq./kWh) because of the cobalt and nickel production. Lithium iron phosphate (34–246 kgCO2 eq./kWh) and sodium-ion (40–70 kgCO2 eq./kWh) batteries showed lower environmental impacts because of the abundant feedstock, emerging as a sustainable choice, especially when high energy density is not essential. This review also concludes that the GHGs of battery production are highly dependent on the regional grid carbon intensity. Batteries produced in China, for example, have higher GHGs than those produced in the United States (US) and European Union (EU). Understanding the GHGs of battery production is critical to fairly evaluating the environmental impact of battery electric vehicles.

In-Depth Photocatalytic Degradation Mechanism of the Extensively Used Dyes Malachite Green, Methylene Blue, Congo Red, and Rhodamine B via Covalent Organic Framework-Based Photocatalysts

Photocatalytic degradation technology has received much attention from researchers in the last few decades, due to its easy and cost-effective nature. A lot of review articles have been published on dyes via photocatalytic degradation, but most of the review articles lack a detailed and in-depth photocatalytic degradation mechanism of dyes. Numerous review articles are available on photocatalysis. Here, in this review article, we are mainly focused on the complete and in-depth photocatalytic degradation mechanism of four commonly used dyes such as Malachite Green, Methylene Blue, Congo Red and Rhodamine B, which will be highly useful for the new researchers that work on dyes’ photocatalytic degradation. Initially, various aspects of dyes have been included in this review article, comprehensively. The main focus was on the covalent organic framework-based photocatalysts for dyes’ photocatalytic degradation, due to their porous nature and various unique properties. Various synthesis routes and the photocatalytic performance of covalent organic frameworks and composite of covalent organic frameworks have been highlighted in this review article. In the last section of this review article, the main stimulus was the four mentioned dyes’ properties, uses, and toxicity, and the photocatalytic degradation mechanism through various paths into environmentally friendly and less-harmful compounds in the presence of photocatalysts. Factors effecting the photocatalytic degradation, economic cost, challenges and future aspects of photocatalytic technology were also included in this review article. This review article will be highly useful for those researchers that work on the photocatalytic degradation of various dyes and search for the complete degradation of complex dye molecules.

A narrative review and update on drain related outbreaks.

Outbreaks linked to hospital drainage systems are well reported and continue to present challenges to incident management teams. Such outbreaks can be protracted and complex, with multi-modal strategies being required for remediation. The aim was to summarise recent drain related outbreaks, investigate whether multimodal control measures are being implemented and determine any antecedent factors. Databases were searched for drain related outbreaks over a five-year period. Search terms employed included healthcare drainage outbreaks; drain outbreaks;drainage system outbreaks; sink outbreaks; shower outbreaks . Information was collected on country of origin, pathogens involved, unit affected, drain types, patient numbers, drainage system interventions, type of drain disinfectant, infection control interventions, typing method, outcomes and any antecedent factors. Nineteen drain related outbreak papers were reviewed. The majority of incidents were due to Carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales (CPE) and were from critical care settings. Most (16/19) recognised the need for a multi-modal approach. Information on the success of interventions was not documented for all but 13/19 reported no further cases after control measures. Variation in the choice of agent and frequency of application exists with regards to drain disinfection. Seven studies discussed antecedent factors. Despite drain related outbreaks being reported for the last 24 years and review articles on the subject, outbreaks continue to pose significant challenges. There is currently no UK guidance on the management of drain related outbreaks or the design of new buildings to mitigate the risk. Addressing the challenges from hospital drainage systems should be considered a priority by agencies and guidance developers.

Pembrolizumab-induced myocarditis: A systematic review of case reports.

e14605 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, have revolutionized cancer therapy but are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including myocarditis, which can have serious clinical consequences. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze case reports to better understand pembrolizumab-induced myocarditis. Methods: Using keywords of "pembrolizumab" or "Keytruda" and "myocarditis" in the PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect and clinicaltrials.gov databases and manual searches on Google Scholar, we reviewed all cases reported up to the year 2023. In total, 296 studies received primary screening. Duplicated articles and those meeting the exclusion criteria (not myocarditis, not human, not English, trials done in vitro, combination immunotherapies) were excluded. Review articles, retrospective studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were also excluded. Finally, 45 studies matching the inclusion criteria were included (total of 46 patients). Data on patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, management strategies, and outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Results: In the included 46 patients, the mean age was 65.5 years, with a slight male predominance (56.5%). Predominant cancer types included lung cancer (30.4%), thymoma (15.2%), melanoma (13.0%), and genitourinary cancers (13.0%). 45.7% of patients developed myocarditis after their first cycle of Pembrolizumab while 41.3% developed myocarditis after two cycles. 47.8% of patients presented with dyspnea, 23.9% with fatigue, 10.9% with chest pain, while 13% of the patients were asymptomatic and were subsequently diagnosed with myocarditis while presenting with other immune-related adverse events. Troponin levels were assessed in 45 individuals, with only 2.2% (one patient) having normal levels. ECG changes included ST segment elevation in 21.7%, conduction abnormalities (RBBB 15.2%, LBBB 6.5%, AV block 26.1%, and one unspecified conduction abnormality) in 50%, and arrhythmias in 37% of cases. Treatment included steroids for all, with varying outcomes. Four patients each received one of the following treatments: batacept, ruxolitinib, alemtuzumab, and methotrexate. All four of these patients showed improvement. Two patients received infliximab (4.3%) and both of them died. Outcomes revealed 34.8% mortality, 63.0% improvement, and 2.2% deterioration, including one sudden cardiac death 35 days post-discharge. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab-induced myocarditis is a rare but potentially life-threatening irAE. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical characteristics, diagnostic challenges, treatment approaches, and outcomes of this condition. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify risk factors for pembrolizumab-induced myocarditis, enabling early detection and prevention strategies.

Transition Metal-free α-C-H Functionalization of Tertiary Amines Catalysed/ Promoted by Acids: A Brief Review

Abstract: C-H Functionalization of α-carbon of tertiary amines has been of great importance for the past two decades as N-heterocycles can be synthesized by this approach and these heterocycles are highly useful as drugs or drug precursors in the pharmaceutical industry. In this review article, we have summarized only the α-C-H functionalization reactions of tertiary amines that are catalysed or promoted by acids. These C-H functionalization reactions are usually catalysed by transition metal salts, although metal-free catalysts are also used. However, several such reactions have been reported that are efficiently catalysed by acids. They are cost-effective, have a simple purification process, less sensitive to air/moisture, and are relatively environmentally benign. However, this area has not received enough focus due to the lack of review articles, which encouraged us to write this review.

The Participation of Ca2+ Channels in Epilepsy: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Literature in Latin America.

Bibliometric analysis allows us to quantify and evaluate scientific activity, and it has become increasingly important in all areas of scientific literature. Thanks to these analyses, we can infer where science should put greater efforts into elucidating the underlying mechanisms of diseases that have yet to be fully described or investigated. This paper delves into published articles related to the involvement of calcium (Ca2+) channels in epilepsy, which is a condition with a high prevalence in Latin America. We followed the scientific publication on SCOPUS and analyzed the impact of publications from Latin America in the field of epilepsy and the study of Ca2+ channels. We identified the countries with the largest number of publications and found that 68% of them were experimental (animal models), while 32% were clinical. We also identified the main journals, growth over time, and citation numbers. We found a total of 226 works produced by Latin American countries from 1976 to 2022. The countries that have contributed the most to the topic are Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, with occasional collaborations between them to make contributions to the study of epilepsy and Ca2+ channels. Additionally, we found that the journal with the most citations is Nature Genetics. The number of authors per article ranges from 1 to 242, and neuroscience journals are the preferred target for researchers, with a predilection for publishing original articles, although 26% of the publications are review articles.

Methods for non-proportional hazards in clinical trials: A systematic review.

For the analysis of time-to-event data, frequently used methods such as the log-rank test or the Cox proportional hazards model are based on the proportional hazards assumption, which is often debatable. Although a wide range of parametric and non-parametric methods for non-proportional hazards has been proposed, there is no consensus on the best approaches. To close this gap, we conducted a systematic literature search to identify statistical methods and software appropriate under non-proportional hazard. Our literature search identified 907 abstracts, out of which we included 211 articles, mostly methodological ones. Review articles and applications were less frequently identified. The articles discuss effect measures, effect estimation and regression approaches, hypothesis tests, and sample size calculation approaches, which are often tailored to specific non-proportional hazard situations. Using a unified notation, we provide an overview of methods available. Furthermore, we derive some guidance from the identified articles.