Objective We evaluated whether ivermectin combined with doxycycline reduced the clinical recovery time in adults with COVID-19 infection. Methods This was a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms randomly assigned to treatment (n = 200) and placebo (n = 200) groups. The primary outcome was duration from treatment to clinical recovery. Secondary outcomes were disease progression and persistent COVID-19 positivity by RT-PCR. Results Among 556 screened patients, 400 were enrolled and 363 completed follow-up. The mean patient age was 40 years, and 59% were men. The median recovery time was 7 (4–10, treatment group) and 9 (5–12, placebo group) days (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.60–0.90). The number of patients with a ≤7-day recovery was 61% (treatment group) and 44% (placebo groups) (hazard ratio, 0.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.04–0.09). The proportion of patients who remained RT-PCR positive on day 14 and whose disease did not progress was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group. Conclusions Patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection treated with ivermectin plus doxycycline recovered earlier, were less likely to progress to more serious disease, and were more likely to be COVID-19 negative by RT-PCR on day 14. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04523831. Data Repository ID Dryad. doi:10.5061/dryad.qjq2bvqf6

Bacteria and archaea possess adaptive immunity against foreign genetic materials through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) systems. The discovery of this intriguing bacterial system heralded a revolutionary change in the field of medical science. The CRISPR and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) based molecular mechanism has been applied to genome editing. This CRISPR-Cas9 technique is now able to mediate precise genetic corrections or disruptions in in vitro and in vivo environments. The accuracy and versatility of CRISPR-Cas have been capitalized upon in biological and medical research and bring new hope to cancer research. Cancer involves complex alterations and multiple mutations, translocations and chromosomal losses and gains. The ability to identify and correct such mutations is an important goal in cancer treatment. In the context of this complex cancer genomic landscape, there is a need for a simple and flexible genetic tool that can easily identify functional cancer driver genes within a comparatively short time. The CRISPR-Cas system shows promising potential for modeling, repairing and correcting genetic events in different types of cancer. This article reviews the concept of CRISPR-Cas, its application and related advantages in oncology.

Background: The human skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) caused by microbial pathogens during or after trauma, burn injuries, and surgical procedures result in the production of pus, a white to yellow fluid comprised of dead WBCs, cellular debris, and necrotic tissues.Objective: The purpose of the present study was to see the frequency and distribution of bacteria isolated from pus and sensitivity pattern.Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Dhaka from January 2016 to December 2016 for a period of one (01) year. The pus samples were collected from the patients who were visited in outpatient department and were admitted at IPD in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital (ShSMCH), Dhaka with skin and soft tissue infection. Bacteria were detected by culture and biochemical test and antibiotic susceptibility test done by disc diffusion method.Result: A total number of 212 patients presented with wound infection or pus were recruited for this study. Among 212 patients majority were in the age group of 20 to 40 years which was 89(42.0%) cases. Interestingly male was predominant than female which was 119(56.1%) cases and 93(43.9%) cases respectively. aerobic culture was positive in majority cases which were 131(61.8%) cases.Conclusion: In conclusion the most common isolated bacteria after aerobic culture of pus is the Staphylococcus aureus. However the gram positive cocci is less in number than gram negative bacilli.Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases 2018;5(1):10-14

Hub-and-spoke LT networks are effective in offering equivalent clinical outcomes, high patient satisfaction and alleviate clinical pressure on the hub centre. They have to potential to help eliminate the geographical disparity in mortality rates from chronic liver disease.

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