Summary of the mpox outbreak in Canada, April 28-December 31, 2022.

Background: Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), closely related to the virus that causes smallpox. In May 2022, cases of mpox were reported in previously non-endemic countries including Canada.

Objective: To summarize the epidemiology of the mpox outbreak in Canada, as well as key public health response activities, between April and December 2022.

A Comparative randomised controlled trial of Homeopathy -vs- Allopathy in Acute Otitis Media and its recurrence in Children.

Objective: This study evaluates the efficacy of homeopathic treatments for Acute Otitis Media (AOM) in children, comparing outcomes to standard allopathic treatments. Building on promising pilot study results that suggested homeopathy's non-inferiority, this multicenter trial aims to validate these findings and assess their broader clinical applicability.

Method: This open-label, randomized controlled trial was conducted on children (aged 02 to 12 years), suffering from acute otitis media.

Endobronchial stenting in a rare case of severe necrotic tracheal mucormycosis.

We present a case of tracheal necrosis due to mucormycosis in a young diabetic male. He presented with stridor due to airway obstruction from the necrosed tracheal wall. We used a silicon tracheal stent to maintain airway patency and support the airway.

Cephalometric Evaluation of the Pre- and Posttreatment Changes after the Correction of Class II Division 1 Malocclusion with Twin Block Appliance in Mixed Dentition.

Aim And Objective: To evaluate the pretreatment cephalometric records on the dental, skeletal, soft tissue, and incisor relationship with a twin block functional appliance in class II malocclusion patients in and around Mahe; evaluate the posttreatment cephalometric records on the dental, skeletal, soft tissue, and incisor relationship with a twin block functional appliance in class II malocclusion patients in these children; and to compare cephalometrically certain dental, skeletal, and soft tissue points in pretreatment and posttreatment cephalograms in them.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted on 20 class II patients in the mixed dentition period, who were treated with twin block therapy. Each had to meet the following criteria-(1) skeletal class II malocclusion with retrognathic mandible; (2) full cusp class II molar relationship; and (3) an angle of ANB of 50 or greater at the start of treatment.

A comprehensive learning based swarm optimization approach for feature selection in gene expression data.

Gene expression data analysis is challenging due to the high dimensionality and complexity of the data. Feature selection, which identifies relevant genes, is a common preprocessing step. We propose a Comprehensive Learning-Based Swarm Optimization (CLBSO) approach for feature selection in gene expression data.

Drug-related problems in cancer patients: A systematic review.

Background: Cancer patients are at a significantly increased risk of drug-related problems due to multiple drugs. An inclusive review of drug-related problems would offer an approach for healthcare providers to decrease the frequency of drug-related problems in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to assess all characteristic components of drug-related problems in cancer patients, and explore actions taken to resolve the detected drug-related problems the results could be used as a baseline for epidemiology and potential related risk factors for drug-related problems in cancer patients.

Estimation of the Efficacy of Remineralizing Agents on the Microhardness of Deciduous Teeth Demineralized Using Pediatric Formulations.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the demineralizing effect of commonly used pediatric syrup formulations on primary teeth and the efficacy of two readily available remineralizing agents in treating this effect.

Materials And Methods: Ninety primary teeth were used for sample preparation and divided into three groups: antibiotic syrup (group A), cough syrup (group B), and control (group C) groups. These groups were further categorized into intragroups according to the treatment with remineralizing agents: groups A1, B1, and C1 received GC Tooth Mousse (casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, CPP-ACP paste) and groups A2, B2, and C2 received Clinpro Tooth Crème.

Trends in cannabis-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations among children aged 0-11 years in Canada from 2015 to 2021: spotlight on cannabis edibles.

Background: Cannabis poisonings among children are of public health concern. Existing evidence from the US and from four provinces in Canada (Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia) indicate an increase in pediatric cannabis-related poisonings since the legalization of cannabis. This study evaluates trends in cannabis-related poisoning pediatric emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in Canada and addresses a gap in literature by describing trends and context around cannabis edible-related poisoning cases using data from a Canadian sentinel surveillance system.

Liver Extracellular Matrix-Based Nanofiber Scaffolds for the Culture of Primary Hepatocytes and Drug Screening.

Immortalized liver cell lines and primary hepatocytes are currently used as in vitro models for hepatotoxic drug screening. However, a decline in the viability and functionality of hepatocytes with time is an important limitation of these culture models. Advancements in tissue engineering techniques have allowed us to overcome this challenge by designing suitable scaffolds for maintaining viable and functional primary hepatocytes for a longer period of time in culture.

Heavy episodic drinking and self-reported increased alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a spotlight on frontline and essential workers in Canada.

Introduction: There is evidence that some frontline and essential workers have increased their alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this has not been examined in Canada.

Methods: Using the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health 2020, weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of self-reported increased alcohol consumption and heavy episodic drinking were calculated for each of the population groups: frontline workers, essential workers, and nonfrontline or essential workers (NFEW). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between social determinants of health, mental health and alcohol use for each group.

Beta1-receptor blockade attenuates atherosclerosis progression following traumatic brain injury in apolipoprotein E deficient mice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with cardiovascular mortality in humans. Enhanced sympathetic activity following TBI may contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis. The effect of beta1-adrenergic receptor blockade on atherosclerosis progression induced by TBI was studied in apolipoprotein E deficient mice.

Opportunities and challenges in capturing severe vaping-related injuries among Canadian children and youth.

Although the long-term harms associated with vaping remain largely unknown, there have been numerous accounts of acute vaping-related injuries in the paediatric population. The study of vaping-related injuries is an important yet challenging undertaking, complicated by a lack of appropriate reporting mechanisms and the absence of consensus on definitions and diagnostic codes. We discuss the results of a 12-month national cross-sectional study from the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program conducted in 2021-2022 and situate these results within the broader context of other Canadian surveillance and reporting mechanisms.

In-vitro anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis effect of Eugenol.

Background/objectives: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis has developed resistance to most of the available antimicrobials. Therefore research on the detection of new antimicrobials against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is needed urgently. Essential oils extracted from plants have been shown to have anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis effect in in-vitro experiments.

Evolution of Electrospinning in Liver Tissue Engineering.

The major goal of liver tissue engineering is to reproduce the phenotype and functions of liver cells, especially primary hepatocytes ex vivo. Several strategies have been explored in the recent past for culturing the liver cells in the most apt environment using biological scaffolds supporting hepatocyte growth and differentiation. Nanofibrous scaffolds have been widely used in the field of tissue engineering for their increased surface-to-volume ratio and increased porosity, and their close resemblance with the native tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) environment.

Amiodarone improves anemia in a murine model of sickle cell disease and is associated with increased erythrocyte bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphate.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with altered plasma and erythrocyte lipid profiles. In a previous study, SCD mice with deficiency of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) were observed to have more severe anemia and increased sickling compared to control SCD mice. Although PCSK9 affects circulating low density lipoprotein (LDL) by regulation of the LDL receptor, the effect of PCSK9 on anemia was independent of LDL receptor expression.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonism leads to improved anaemia in a murine model of sickle cell disease and is associated with reduced ex vivo platelet-mediated erythrocyte sickling.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with haemolytic anaemia and secondary activation of leucocytes and platelets, which in turn may further exacerbate haemolysis. As cytokine signalling pathways may participate in this cycle, the present study investigated whether pharmacological blockade of the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) would mitigate anaemia in a murine model of SCD. Within 2 weeks of treatment, reduced markers of haemolysis were observed in anakinra-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice.

Progressive Vessel Density Reduction on OCT Angiography in Glaucoma Eyes with Disc Hemorrhages.

Purpose: To identify longitudinal changes in peripapillary and parafoveal vessel density (VD) measured by OCT angiography (OCTA) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes with disc hemorrhages (DHs).

Design: Prospective cohort study conducted from August 2016 through August 2020 PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen Asian-Indian participants with POAG (18 eyes) who sought treatment at the clinic with a single DH in the peripapillary region were recruited consecutively.

Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center.

Applying a gendered lens to understanding self-reported changes in alcohol and cannabis consumption during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, September to December 2020.

Introduction: Increased alcohol and cannabis consumption and related harms have been reported since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing evidence shows that substance use and related harms differ by gender. Yet, no Canadian study has applied a gendered lens to alcohol and cannabis consumption use during this time.

Emergency care with lay responders in underserved populations: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess the individual and community health effects of task shifting for emergency care in low-resource settings and underserved populations worldwide.

Methods: We systematically searched 13 databases and additional grey literature for studies published between 1984 and 2019. Eligible studies involved emergency care training for laypeople in underserved or low-resource populations, and any quantitative assessment of effects on the health of individuals or communities.

A scoping review of evaluated Indigenous community-based mental wellness initiatives.

Introduction: Many Indigenous peoples around the world are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, due to intergenerational and collective trauma stemming from historical losses and ongoing colonialism. A growing body of literature suggests that mental wellness initiatives are more culturally safe and result in more successful and sustainable outcomes when they are developed by, for and with Indigenous communities using community-driven approaches that prioritize and privilege Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems, beliefs and practices. However, knowledge has not been synthesized on mental wellness initiatives and the extent of community engagement during the development, implementation, and evaluation stages of these initiatives.

PEGylated Lipid Polymeric Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Acyclovir for In Vitro Controlled Release and Ex Vivo Gut Sac Permeation.

Currently, pharmaceutical research is directed wide range for developing new drugs for oral administration to target disease. Acyclovir formulation is having common issues of short half-life and poor permeability, causing messy treatment which results in patient incompliance. The present study formulates a lipid polymeric hybrid nanoparticles for antiviral acyclovir (ACV) agent with Phospholipon® 90G (lecithin), chitosan, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to improve controlled release of the drugs.

Non-hematopoietic deficiency of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 deficiency leads to more severe anemia in a murine model of sickle cell disease.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) deficiency leads to lower cholesterol and is associated with reduced vascular complications in the general population. Cholesterol lowering may also have beneficial effects in sickle cell disease (SCD). The objective of this study was to determine effects of PCSK9 deficiency in a mouse model of SCD.