Evidence syntheses to support decision-making related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic generated a large volume of scientific productions with different quality levels. The speed with which knowledge was produced and shared worldwide imposed on health management the challenge of seeking ways to identify the best available evidence to support its decisions. In response to this challenge, the Department of Science and Technology of the Brazilian Ministry of Health started offering a service to produce and provide scientific knowledge addressing priority public health issues in the pandemic scenario.

Pharmacological therapies for patients with human coronavirus infections: a rapid systematic review.

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of drug therapies for coronavirus infections. Rapid systematic review with search in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, BVS, Global Index Medicus, Medrix, bioRxiv, Clinicaltrials.gov and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases.

Anti-tumor effects of metformin on head and neck carcinoma cell lines: A systematic review.

Metformin is commonly used for treating type 2 diabetes, and may also reduce cancer risk. Previous studies have demonstrated the association between metformin use and a decreased risk of head and neck cancer. Therefore, the aim of the present systematic review was to summarize the available literature on the anti-tumor effects of metformin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

In vivo and in vitro effects of curcumin on head and neck carcinoma: a systematic review.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) contributes globally to a great number of deaths and morbidity, in spite of new therapeutic strategies. There is a great need of new drugs that are significantly effective and less deleterious to the patients' general health. In this sense, phytotherapy is a tendency, with results pointing to its use as a chemo-preventive and adjuvant therapy.

Diagnostic accuracy of serum biomarkers for head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Serum biomarkers could be helpful to characterize head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Thus, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the diagnostic capability of serum biomarkers in the assessment of HNSCC patients. Studies were gathered by searching LILACS, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science up to April 10th, 2015.

Combined paclitaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil therapy enhances ionizing radiation effects, inhibits migration and induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in oral carcinoma cell lines.

Although taxels (in particular paclitaxel), cisplatin and fluorouracil (TPF) chemotherapy has been approved for use in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), little is known with regard to the cellular mechanisms of this novel drug association. In order to investigate the reaction of cells to this novel treatment, the present study aimed to examine the cytotoxic effect of TPF in HNSCC cell lines in combination with irradiation, to analyze its effect on cell cycle progression and cell death, and to evaluate its ability to alter cell migration. An MTT assay was used to determine cell viability following TPF and cisplatin treatments in two human HNSCC cell lines (FaDu and SCC-9) and one keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT).

In vitro Anti-Tumor Effects of Statins on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.

Background: Statins are commonly used against arteriosclerotic disease, but recent retrospective analyses have suggested that statins also prevent cancer. The aim of this systematic review is to verify the vitro anti-tumor effects of statins on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Studies were gathered by searching Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and PubMed, up until May 9, 2015, with no time or language restrictions.

Effects of metformin on head and neck cancer: a systematic review.

Conventional therapeutic approaches for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are associated with many adverse effects that reduce quality of life. Therefore, identification of new less cytotoxic treatments is highly important. Metformin, which is commonly used for type 2 diabetes, may reduce cancer risk.