Online Bibliographic Databases Research Articles

A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Calendula officinalis Linn

Calendula officinalis Linn, known as pot marigold, is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. Various online bibliographic databases namely, Google scholar, PubMed, SciFinder, and Web of Science were used for integrating information. Calendula officinalis is extensively used in Homoeopathic, Unani, and Ayurvedic system of medication as diaphoretic, analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory agents and used to treat gynaecological issues, gastro-intestinal disorders, inflammations of oral and pharyangeal mucosa, eye problems, skin injuries and certain burns, poor eyesight, and menstrual irregularities. Several studies have shown that Calendula officinalis is a major source of diverse classes of bioactive compounds namely terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarines, quinones, and carotenoids. Various in vivo and in vitro assessment of Calendula officinalis's pharmacological activity suggest that the plant has antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anticancer, and gastroprotective activity. This review compiles the information about pharmacological activities, traditional medicinal uses, and phytochemicals present in Calendula officinalis.

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.: An Updated Review.

Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. is a perennial herbaceous plant found mainly in tropical areas, particularly in Southeast Asia, South America, and India. Various parts of V. cinerea have traditionally been used in folk medicine to treat several diseases, such as malaria, fever, and liver diseases. V. cinerea has so far yielded about 92 secondary metabolites. The majority of these are sesquiterpene lactones, but triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, phenolics, and other compounds are present as well. V. cinerea crude extracts reportedly exhibit anti-inflammatory, antiprotozoal, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and renoprotective activities. This study aims to provide the latest up-to-date information on the botanical characterization, distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity of V. cinerea. Information on V. cinerea was thoroughly reviewed. The literature published between 1950 and 2024 was compiled through online bibliographic databases, including SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Wiley, and the MDPI online library. The keywords used for the literature search included Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. and the synonyms Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H.Rob., Conyza cinerea L., and various others.

Approaches and methods used to bring together Indigenous and Environmental science Knowledge in environmental research: A systematic map protocol

Abstract The bringing together of multiple knowledge sources, such as Indigenous knowledge (IK) and Environmental science Knowledge (ESK), is a topic of considerable interest and significance in environmental research. In the areas of resource management for example, the bringing together of IK and ESK datasets has raised considerable interest for its potential to increase understanding and provide insights into complex phenomena such as the effects of climate change and variability on wildlife health and distribution. The potential benefits that exist from merging these knowledge sources have been widely acknowledged. However, navigating the complex processes involved in knowledge linking continues to pose significant challenges. This systematic mapping protocol will guide the collection and analysis of literature to examine the approaches and methods used in published studies that aim to bring together Indigenous and Environmental science Knowledge in environmental research. The particular focus of this examination is placed on identification of the types of approaches and methods used to merge IK and ESK datasets at the stages of data analysis, results, and interpretation/discussion in the research process. Through a scoping exercise, a draft search string was developed based on a predetermined list of keywords. Consultation was held with a senior Indigenous scholar to advise on the keywords used and consideration for IK likely to be represented in the collected literature. The final search string will be applied to online bibliographic databases to collect studies published in peer‐reviewed journals. The final capture of the search will be screened in two stages: (1) at the level of title and abstract and (2) at full‐text. All studies included will be coded using a standardised coding template and a narrative synthesis approach will be used to identify patterns in the evidence, including knowledge gaps and clusters. Practical implication: The resulting systematic map, following the outlined procedures in this protocol and considering guidelines from the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) and Reporting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES), can serve to support and inform future research endeavours engaged in working towards the linking of IK and ESK, with practical implications for communities and policymakers.

A comprehensive consolidation of data on the relationship between IRF6 polymorphisms and non-syndromic cleft lip/palate susceptibility: From 79 case-control studies

BackgroundNon-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is a prevalent craniofacial birth defect on a global scale. A number of candidate genes have been identified as having an impact on NSCL/P. However, the association between interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) polymorphisms and NSCL/P has yielded inconsistent results, prompting the need for a meta-analysis to obtain more accurate estimates. MethodsWe conducted a thorough screening of all relevant articles published up until November 15, 2023, in online bibliographic databases. The statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (Version 4.0) software. ResultsA total of 79 case-control studies, comprising 14,003 cases and 19,905 controls, were included in our analysis. The combined data indicated that the IRF6 rs642961 and rs2235371 polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk of NSCL/P in the overall population. However, no significant association was found between the rs2013162 and rs2235375 polymorphisms and the risk of NSCL/P in the overall population. Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed significant correlations between the IRF6 rs642961, rs2235371, and rs2235375 polymorphisms and the risk of NSCL/P based on ethnic background and country of origin. Nevertheless, the rs2013162 polymorphism plays a protective role in Caucasians and mixed populations. ConclusionsOur collective data indicates a significant association between the rs642961 and rs2235371 polymorphisms and the risk of NSCL/P in the overall population. The rs2235375 polymorphism could influence the susceptibility to NSCL/P based on ethnic background. Meanwhile, the rs2013162 polymorphism provides protective effects in Caucasian, mixed populations, and the Brazilian population.

Effect of non-invasive brain stimulation in children with acquired brain injury-a scoping review.

Children and young people (CYP) with acquired brain injury (ABI) require early and effective neurorehabilitation to improve long-term functional outcomes. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been used to improve motor and sensory skills for children with cerebral palsy. However, there is limited evidence supporting its use in CYP with ABI. To systematically review the TMS and tDCS intervention effects on motor, sensory and other functional issues in CYP with ABI as reported in the literature. A comprehensive online bibliographic databases search was performed in various databases using keywords related to NIBS and CYP with ABI. Studies that examine the effect of NIBS intervention on motor function and other functional difficulties either as a primary or secondary objective were included in this review. Fourteen studies (10 single case reports, one retrospective analysis, one case series, one randomised and one quasi-randomised controlled trial) published between 2006 and 2023 were identified. These studies examined the use of NIBS to manage motor disorders, hearing, vision, headaches, speech and language and memory issues. Seventy-six children with mild to severe ABI had received NIBS. The session frequency (3-20), duration (10-45 min) was variable, and NIBS delivered between 3 and 28 days. The literature describing NIBS interventions in CYP with ABI is scarce. An insufficient number of studies, inadequate information reported in them, and small sample sizes limit the ability to conclude how effective NIBS is in improving motor function and other functional issues in this cohort. Further studies are therefore necessary to examine the therapeutic effects of NIBS to manage various functional problems in the CYP with ABI.

Gender symmetry: A systematic review of men’s experiences of intimate partner violence during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern. However, men’s experiences of IPV have been largely neglected in previous studies. This systematic review aimed to examine men’s experiences of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Six online bibliographic databases were used to identify relevant published peer-reviewed journal articles and gray literature. A total of 19 journal articles and gray literature that examined the prevalence, types, and consequences of violence experienced by men during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown were extracted for review. This systematic review is anchored on the gender symmetry theory developed by Straus and Gelles. Expectedly, females were the major victims of IPV cases, but a significant number of men around the world also experienced IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. This finding suggests that evidence-based approaches that also recognize men as victims of IPV should be taken into account for minimizing such cases.

A Review on Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Properties of Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.)

Background: Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) of is one of the most useful plant in Ayurveda. Many pharmacological studies have been conducted to investigate the properties of Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) in an attempt to authenticate its use as a multi-purpose medicinal agent. The objective of this paper is to review the literature regarding Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) Specifically, the literature was reviewed for articles pertaining to chemical properties and therapeutic benefits. This review is in a narrative format and consists of all publications relevant to Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) that were identified by the authors through a Google scholar search and books from Central library and library of Dravyaguna Vigyan department of Sai Ayurved College, Hospital and Research Centre Sasure-Vairag-Solapur. Result shows that Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) possesses antimicrobial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, thrombolytic and diuretic properties. The mechanisms of action for these properties are not fully understood. Preliminary studies have found various constituents of Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) exhibiting a variety of therapeutic effects. These results are very encouraging and indicate this herb should be studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other potential therapeutic effects. Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.)is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant which is mentioned in Ayurvedic classical books.it is one of the plant which According to Ayurveda this plant is having Ras-Katu, Veerya-Ushna, Vipaka-Katu, Vaatahar and Kaphahar and Sheet . Many pharmacological studies have been conducted to investigate the properties of Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) in an attempt to authenticate its use as a multi-purpose medicinal agent. The main aim of this article is to collect and analyze the scientific information related to traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Methods: Scientific information on Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) was retrieved from the online bibliographic databases (e.g. MEDLINE/PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus) and books from central library as well as library of Dravyaguna department of Sai Ayurved College, Hospital and Research Centre Sasure-Vairag-Solapur. Results: Different plant parts of Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) were reported to be used for the treatment of natural hair color, cough, skin diseases, and antidote in various poisonous bites such as rat bite. Various extracts were evaluated for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hypolipidimic, antioxidant, thrombolytic property, hepatoprotective activity . Conclusion: The mechanisms of action Saireyaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.) for these properties are not fully understood. Preliminary studies have found various constituents of exhibiting a variety of therapeutic effects. These results are very encouraging and indicate this herb should be studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other potential therapeutic effects.

The impact of community engagement as a public health intervention to support the mental well-being of single mothers and children living under housing insecure conditions – a rapid literature review

BackgroundIn the UK, the population of homelessness and housing insecurity is increasing among families headed by mothers. The unique stressors of housing insecurity and living in accommodations ill-suited to long-term dwellings increase mental distress for mothers and children. Community engagement interventions present a public health opportunity to alleviate adverse outcomes for vulnerable families.AimTo synthesise and evaluate evidence of the impact of community engagement interventions in supporting the mental well-being of mothers and children living under housing insecure conditions. To synthesise the components of community engagement interventions as a public health intervention in alleviating mental well-being and non-health outcomes of mothers and children living under housing insecurity.MethodsA systematic search of five online bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Global Health and Child Development & Adolescent Studies) and grey literature (Carrot2) was conducted in May 2022. Primary studies with community engagement components and housing-insecure single-mother families were included. Intervention data was extracted using the TIDieR checklist and a community engagement keywording tool. The studies’ quality was critically appraised using the MetaQAT framework.ResultsTen studies meeting inclusion criteria were identified, across two countries (USA & UK). Data from the studies reported positive significant effects for health and personal maternal outcomes in addition to higher positive effects for child health outcomes (e.g., decrease in depression symptoms). Interventions targeting social support and self-efficacy demonstrated potential to improve maternal and child outcomes via the maternal-child relationship. Community engagement at the design, delivery and evaluation intervention stages increased the level of community engagement, however there were tentative links to directly improving mental well-being outcomes.ConclusionThere is evidence to suggest that community engagement may be applied as an effective intervention in supporting the mental well-being of mothers and children living under housing insecurity. Proposed intervention effectiveness may be achieved via psychosocial pathways such as improved maternal self-efficacy and social support. However, more embedded long-term process evaluations of these interventions are needed to establish maintenance of these observed benefits and to understand to what extent the findings apply to the UK context.

Crosstalk between Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal microbiota in various gastroduodenal diseases-A systematic review.

Gastroduodenal diseases have prevailed for a long time and more so due to dominance of gut bacteria Helicobacter pylori in most of the cases. But habitation by other gut microbiota in gastroduodenal diseases and the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal microbiota in different gastroduodenal diseases is somewhat being unravelled in the current times. For this systematic review, we did a literature search of various gastroduodenal diseases and the effect on gut microbiota pertaining to it. A search of the online bibliographic databases PUBMED and PUBMED CENTRAL was carried out to identify articles published between 1977 and May 2022. The analysis of these selected studies highlighted the inhabitation of other gut microbiota such as Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Streptococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, and many others. Interplay between these microbiota and H. pylori have also been noted which suggested that gastroduodenal diseases and gut microbiota are intertwined by a symbiotic association regardless of the H. pylori status. The relationship between the gut microbiota and many gastroduodenal diseases, such as gastritis, gastric cancer, lymphomas, and ulcers, demonstrates the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in both the presence and absence of H. pylori. The evolving ways for eliminating H. pylori are provided along with inhibiting qualities of other species on H. pylori. Most significant member of our gut system is Helicobacter pylori which has been associated with numerous diseases like gastric cancer, gastritis, duodenal ulcer.

Stimulus control for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Stimulus control (SC) is commonly viewed as an evidence-based treatment for insomnia, but it has not been evaluated comprehensively with modern review and meta-analytic techniques. The aim of the current study was thus to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials that examine the efficacy of stimulus control for insomnia. A systematic search for eligible articles and dissertations was conducted in six online bibliographic databases. The 11 included studies, with the majority published between 1978 and 1998, were randomised controlled and experimental studies in adults, comparing stimulus control for insomnia with passive and active comparators and assessing insomnia symptoms as outcomes. A random effects model was used to determine the standardised mean difference Hedge's g at post-treatment and follow-up for three sleep diary measures: the number of awakenings, sleep onset latency, and total sleep time. A test for heterogeneity was conducted, forest plots were produced, the risk of publication bias was estimated, and the study quality was assessed. In the trials identified, stimulus control resulted in small to large improvements on sleep onset latency and total sleep time, relative to passive comparators (g = 0.38-0.85). Compared with active comparators, the improvements following stimulus control were negligible (g = 0.06-0.30). Although methodological uncertainties were observed in the included trials, stimulus control appears to be an efficacious treatment for insomnia when compared with passive comparators and with similar effects to active comparators. More robust studies are, however, warranted before stronger conclusions are possible to infer.

Molecular Approaches in Soil Microbial Analysis: Forensic Perspective

The growing field of soil microbial forensics provides the legal answer to how microorganisms play a crucial role in criminal investigations. It is an advanced crossdisciplinary science capable of offering significant physical evidence with considerable interest in criminal investigations, environmental crime, and counterterrorism. Microbial forensics of soil consists of different techniques to identify and evaluate microbial abundance, their complexity, and their interaction with soil and surrounding objects. The present review highlights various microbial analysis techniques such as Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, Temperature/Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis, Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis, Length Heterogeneity PCR, Phospholipid-derived fatty acids, Fluorescence in situ hybridization, Stable-isotope probing and metagenomics using nextgeneration sequencing. This article also summarises the challenges faced in soil microbial forensics, various statistical approaches, reference databases commonly used in forensic soil studies, and different methodological approaches used in forensic laboratories. Literature was studied using various online bibliographic databases like Google Scholar, Web of Science, Pub Med, Scopus, and several other search engines. Conclusive evidence generated by this paper signifies the importance of soil microbes to assist forensic scientists and researchers in selecting adequate methods to differentiate soil samples. The present comparative study concluded that targeted molecular analysis of microbes as a forensic soil typing tool has a lot of potential and should be investigated further.

Quantifying farm-to-fork greenhouse gas emissions for five dietary patterns across Europe and North America: A pooled analysis from 2009 to 2020

Dietary patterns are inherently related to greenhouse (GHG) emissions via agricultural practices and food production systems. As the global population is predicted to increase from 8 billion (current) to 9.6 billion by 2050 added pressure will be placed on existing agricultural systems, resulting in increased GHG emissions thus exacerbating climate change. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand present-day dietary patterns to shift to sustainable and healthy diets to mitigate GHG emissions and meet future climate targets. However, no review or pooled analyses of dietary pattern emissions from a farm-to-fork perspective has been undertaken to date. The current study sought to i) identify the current dietary habits within high-income regions from 2009 to 2020 and ii) quantify the GHG emissions associated with these dietary patterns via a global systematised review and pooled analysis. Twenty-three peer-reviewed studies were identified through online bibliographic databases. Dietary patterns are being examined based on fixed inclusion/exclusion criteria. Five dietary patterns were identified in the review with their mean GHG emissions: high-protein diets (5.71 CO2eq kg person −1 day −1), omnivorous diet (4.83 CO2eq kg person −1 day −1), lacto-ovo-vegetarian/pescatarian diet (3.86 CO2eq kg person −1 day −1), recommended diet (3.68 CO2eq kg person −1 day −1), and the vegan diet (2.34 CO2eq kg person −1 day −1). The lacto-ovo-vegetarian/pescatarian diet was associated with significantly lower emissions than both the omnivorous and high-protein dietary patterns, with -22% and -41% GHG emissions, respectively. The high-protein dietary pattern exhibited significantly higher GHG emissions than other dietary patterns. Geographically, significant statistical differences (p = 0.001) were only reported for the omnivorous diet between North America and Europe. Findings reveal that GHG emissions vary based on dietary patterns and have the potential to be reduced by shifting dietary patterns, which benefits the environment by lessening one of the drivers of climate change.

A REVIEW ON THE PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, UNANI AND MODERN PHARMACOLOGY OF BISFAYEJ (POLYPODIUM VULGARE LINN)

Different herbs and their constituents are used for medicinal purposes by approximately 80 percent of the world population, which is evidenced by the rapidly growing global and national markets of herbal drugs. This review is aimed at presenting an overview of the medicinal properties of P. vulgare, its phytoconstituents and diverse pharmacological activities. To retrieve the information related to this drug, a thorough literature survey was undertaken using the various classical Unani and Herbal literature books viz., Al-Qānūn fi’l Tibb, Makhzan al-Mufradat, Kanzul Advia Mufradah, Ilmul Adwiya Nafisi, Taj al-Mufradat, Indian Materia Medica, Indian Medicinal Plants among others. Further, for other traditional uses, phytoconstituents, pharmacological activities and research studies of the drug, various online bibliographic databases like Pub Med, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus were meticulously searched. The keywords used for the search included “Polypodium vulgare”, “Bisfayej”, “Polypody root and rhizome”, “Phytoconstituents of Polypodium vulgare”. P vulgare is proven to possess neuro-psycho-pharmacological, CNS depressant and anti-epileptic activity through its anti-cholinesterase and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) stimulatory effect. Various clinical researches validate the use of P vulgare in the management of conditions such as Epilepsy, Arthritis, Leprosy, Melancholy and Alzheimer’s disease. Further studies are needed to unravel its other pharmacological activities.

A Scoping Review of Cerebral Doppler Arterial Waveforms in Infants.

Cerebral Doppler ultrasound has been an important tool in pediatric diagnostics and prognostics for decades. Although the Doppler spectrum can provide detailed information on cerebral perfusion, the measured spectrum is often reduced to simple numerical parameters. To help pediatric clinicians recognize the visual characteristics of disease-associated Doppler spectra and identify possible areas for future research, a scoping review of primary studies on cerebral Doppler arterial waveforms in infants was performed. A systematic search in three online bibliographic databases yielded 4898 unique records. Among these, 179 studies included cerebral Doppler spectra for at least five infants below 1 y of age. The studies describe variations in the cerebral waveforms related to physiological changes (43%), pathology (62%) and medical interventions (40%). Characteristics were typically reported as resistance index (64%), peak systolic velocity (43%) or end-diastolic velocity (39%). Most studies focused on the anterior (59%) and middle (42%) cerebral arteries. Our review highlights the need for a more standardized terminology to describe cerebral velocity waveforms and for precise definitions of Doppler parameters. We provide a list of reporting variables that may facilitate unambiguous reports. Future studies may gain from combining multiple Doppler parameters to use more of the information encoded in the Doppler spectrum, investigating the full spectrum itself and using the possibilities for long-term monitoring with Doppler ultrasound.

The Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disorder that significantly impairs somatic, emotional, and psychological functioning. The objective of this review is to identify, appraise, and synthesize the effects of psychological interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional disclosure (ED), group therapy (GT), mindfulness (M), patient education (PE), and relaxation (R)) on biopsychosocial outcomes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A systematic search of all relevant existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was conducted using the following online bibliographic databases: JSTOR, PubMed, PsycNET, and The Cochrane Library. Reference lists were searched for additional reports. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. After the selection process, 57 articles were included and 392 were excluded. Three separate meta-analyses were conducted involving psychological interventions as the main variables, showing: (1) significant positive medium effect sizes for average values (Hedges-g = 0.399, Z = 0.399, p = 0.009); (2) significant positive large effect sizes for maximum values (Hedges-g = 0.856, Z = 4.223, p < 0.001); and (3) non-significant results for minimum values (Hedges-g = -0.047, Z = -0.335, p = 0.738). These results demonstrate that, when grouped, psychological interventions are, on average, moderately effective in treating RA. Overall, this review shows consistent, supportive evidence that psychological interventions can significantly contribute to the standard medical care of RA patients. However, more high-quality, large-sample RCTs still need to confirm these findings.

Current Approaches in Healing of Wounds in Diabetes and Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting more than 8.5 % adult population in the world. Among various issues caused by diabetes, wound healing is a major cause of concern. Objective: Injuries are most common, and can be caused normally by abrasion, laceration (cuts), injury, etc. But in diabetes, they do not heal so easily and cause problems. It can be due to a compromised immune system, neuropathy, poor circulation, infections etc., which could lead to amputation or even death. Current therapies for the treatment of wound healing in diabetic patients, have side effects of their own, as there is no particular drug for the healing of wounds. Methods: Numerous surveys in literature were carried out to reveal the obstacles in diabetic wound healing and current approaches to its management with emphasis on alternative therapies. Relevant peer-reviewed research publications were searched through various online bibliographic databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate (all English-language articles). Results: Repurposed drugs include a class of statin, phenytoin, estrogen, and DPP4 inhibitors. Plants with wound healing activity include Rosmarinus officinalis, Radix Rehmannia, Carica papaya, Aloe vera, Catharanthus roseus, Punica granatum, etc. have been explored in pre-clinical studies. Besides these studies, a lot of other studies, including clinical trials, have been performed for wound healing in diabetes by using different procedures like Honey-dressing, Royal Jelly, Extracorporeal Shock wave therapy, Manuka honey-impregnated dressing, LeucoPatch system, etc. Conclusion: In this review, an approach was made to study wound healing in diabetes and various options that could be best suited for the treatment of wounds in diabetes.

Role of Maternal and Child Health Handbook on Improving Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The objective of this review is to assess and synthesize the role of the maternal and child health (MCH) handbook on improving healthcare service utilization, behavior change, and health outcomes for women and children. A systematic search of all relevant existing reports was conducted on 14 January 2021, using the following online bibliographic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Academic Search Premier, Emcare, APA PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. We included 7 trials from 1430 articles, and a total of 2643 women. As overall risk of bias assessment, most domains of the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool showed a high or unclear risk of bias. The risk of ≥6 antenatal care (ANC) visits was 19% higher (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.30, I2 = 47%, 2 studies, 955 women, moderate certainty of evidence) and skilled birth attendants during delivery was 13% higher (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.24, I2 = 0%, 2 studies, 1094 women, low certainty of the evidence) in the intervention group than in the control group. The MCH handbook can increase maternal health service utilization and early breastfeeding practice. It also leads to a sense of autonomy during ANC, better communication with healthcare providers, and support from family members.

Associations of Childhood Exposure to Malaria with Cognition and Behavior Outcomes in Low- and Middle- Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Background: Malaria impacts &gt;24 million children globally, resulting in &gt;300,000 child deaths annually in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Little is known about the association between malarial infection and its impact on cognition and behavior. Our objective was to determine the association between different types of malaria infection with cognitive and behavioral outcomes among children living in LMICs.Methods: We systematically searched and reviewed the literature using six online bibliographic databases on 2/10/2022. Studies included involved children &lt;18 years living in LMICs with active or past malaria infection and measured cognitive and/or behavior outcomes. A meta-analysis is underway for asymptomatic and severe categories of malaria. Due to heterogeneity of data, a qualitative summary was performed for uncomplicated malaria studies.Results: Out of 1994 initial titles reviewed, 40 articles met the inclusion criteria. 30 studies contributed data to the meta-analysis. Initial analyses suggest children with asymptomatic malaria tend to have lower mean scores than children without malaria in attention (SMD (standardized mean difference) -0.14, 95% CI -0.35 to 0.07) and general cognitive function (SMD -0.15, 95% CI -0.38 to 0.07). No differences were found in language and numeracy scores. Children with severe malaria had significant reductions in their mean scores compared to children without malaria in language (SMD -0.35, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.17), general cognition (SMD -0.26, 95% CI -0.48 to -0.04), and memory (SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.09). Most studies on uncomplicated malaria (7/8) found declines across multiple domains of cognitive testing compared to children without malaria.Conclusion: While analyses are not yet finalized, our initial findings suggest severe malaria is associated with worse neurodevelopment outcomes for children living in LMICs. Asymptomatic and uncomplicated malarial infection tend to have lower scores, though more research is needed. Support for children with malaria should consider strategies to optimize neurodevelopment.

A Review on Experimentally Proven Medicinal Plants and Their Constituents against Fluoride Toxicity.

Fluoride toxicity, principally by polluted groundwater, is regarded as a momentous global public health risk, as there is no particular and proven treatment for chronic fluoride toxicity i.e., fluorosis which leads to several serious health complications. Scientific literature reveals several medicinal plants and natural products alleviate experimentally induced fluoride toxicity. The present review attempts to collate those experimental studies on medicinal plants and plant derived natural products with fluoride toxicity ameliorative effects. Literature scrutiny was performed by using online bibliographic databases and the studies for the last 15 years were considered. Minerals and semi-synthetic or synthetic analogs of natural products were excluded. Literature study revealed that 25 medicinal plants and 17 natural products exhibited significant protection from fluoride toxicity in experimental animal models i.e., preclinical studies. Two clinical studies on medicinal plants were also found in literature showing beneficial yet poorly correlated outcome. Relevant research in this field could lead to development of a potentially useful agent in therapeutic management of fluoride toxicity in humans.

An Insight into the Salutary Prospect of the Probiotic Microorganisms for the Remediation of Mercury Toxicity.

Heavy metal toxicity imposes a potential worldwide threat to environment and humans. Mercury toxicity is regarded as a serious global community health risk, as there is no particular and proven treatment for chronic mercury toxicity. Probiotics include the live apathogenic microorganisms, which are administered orally to revamp the gut microbial equilibrium thus bestowing benefit to the host. Scientific literature demonstrates different probiotic microorganisms can obviate mercurey toxicity. The present article puts together the experiments on probiotics with mercury toxicity alleviation effects in pursuit of the mechanistic hypotheses. Literature scrutiny was performed by using online bibliographic databases. Literature survey revealed that, eight types of probiotic microorganisms demonstrated significant protection from mercury toxicity in experimental pre-clinical studies. Clinical investigation with noteworthy outcome was not reported yet. Results of these studies indicate that probiotic microorganisms may hold the promise in amelioration and therapeutics of mercury toxicity. Probiotic supplementation may serve as a dietary therapeutic approach against mercurials along with extant therapies.