COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between humans through respiratory droplets and contact routes.•Transportation of COVID-19 patient carries very high transmission risk to personals involved.•Worldwide, clinicians are using many measures that can be executed easily to prevent aerosol exposure.Cholinergic agonists, like levamisole, are a major class of anthelmintic drugs that are known to act selectively on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on the somatic muscle and nerves of nematode parasites to produce their contraction and spastic paralysis. Previous studies have suggested that in addition to the nAChRs found on muscle and nerves, there are nAChRs on non-excitable tissues of nematode parasites. We looked for evidence of nAChRs expression in the cells of the intestine of the large pig nematode, Ascaris suum, using RT-PCR and RNAscope in situ hybridization and detected mRNA of nAChR subunits in the cells. These subunits include components of the putative levamisole receptor in A. suum muscle Asu-unc-38, Asu-unc-29, Asu-unc-63 and Asu-acr-8. Relative expression of these mRNAs in A. suum intestine was quantified by qPCR.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Decitabine.html  We also looked for and found expression of G protein-linked acetylcholine receptors (Asu-gar-1). We used Fluo-3 AM to detect intracellular calcium changes in response to receptor activation by acetylcholine (as a non-selective agonist) and levamisole (as an L-type nAChR agonist) to look for evidence of functioning nAChRs in the intestine. We found that both acetylcholine and levamisole elicited increases in intracellular calcium but their signal profiles in isolated intestinal tissues were different, suggesting activation of different receptor sets. The levamisole responses were blocked by mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist in A. suum, indicating the activation of intestinal nAChRs rather than G protein-linked acetylcholine receptors (GARs) by levamisole. The detection of nAChRs in cells of the intestine, in addition to those on muscles and nerves, reveals another site of action of the cholinergic anthelmintics and a site that may contribute to the synergistic interactions of cholinergic anthelmintics with other anthelmintics that affect the intestine (Cry5B).Background Thyroid Imaging Reporting Data System (TI-RADS) is used to characterize thyroid nodules while reducing unnecessary FNAC. Over the years, several versions of TI-RADS have been developed but there is no consensus on which TI-RADS is the best system. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and ability of ACR TI-RADS, EU TI-RADS, K TI-RADS, AI TI-RADS to eliminate unnecessary FNAC. Methods In this prospective study, thyroid nodules were characterized by using the four TI-RADS systems and US-guided FNAC was done for nodule with the highest ACR TI-RADS score. Correlation between TI-RADS and FNAC results were analyzed. Results Out of 244 thyroid nodules, 100 nodules with either size less then 1 cm (43 nodules) non-diagnostic or inconclusive FNAC results (57 nodules) were excluded. Seven nodules (4.9%) were confirmed to be malignant on FNAC. K TI-RADS showed 100% sensitivity and NPV but the lowest specificity (40.2%). EU TI-RADS had the highest specificity (83.2%) but the lowest sensitivity (57.1%) and NPV (97.4%). ACR TI-RADS had an average sensitivity (85.7%) and NPV (98.6%). The specificity of ACR TI-RADS (51.1%) was lower than EU TI-RADS but higher than K TI-RADS. AI TI-RADS showed higher specificity (61.8% vs 51.1%, p less then 0.05) but comparable NPV and sensitivity to ACR TI-RADS. AI TI-RADS was able to avoid the highest number of unnecessary FNAC (62.5%) followed by ACR TI-RADS(54.2%), EU TI-RADS(37.5%) and K TI-RADS(11.8%). Conclusion AI TI-RADS is a more simple scoring system with better overall diagnostic performance and ability to exclude unnecessary FNAC with high NPV. Advances in knowledge Highest number of unnecessary FNAC thyroid could be prevented by applying AI TI-RADS.Objective Baicalin mediates bone metabolism and has shown protective activity against periodontal tissue damage in a rat model of periodontitis. Therefore, we hypothesized that baicalin may inhibit the root resorption that occurs during orthodontic tooth movement and examined its effect on the histological changes in periodontal tissue that occur during tooth movement. Methods First molars of rats were subjected to traction using excessive orthodontic force to produce a root resorption model. Rats in the baicalin group received baicalin for 3 weeks during tooth movement, and the amount of first molar movement on day 21 after the initiation of traction was measured by three-dimensional micro-computed tomography analysis. After tooth movement, tissue samples from the mesial and tension sides were collected, and successive horizontal sections were prepared and examined using hematoxylin-eosin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and immunohistochemical staining for the receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). The severity of root resorption was also determined by histological analysis. Results There was no significant intergroup difference in tooth movement during the experimental exaggerated tooth movement. In comparison with the control group, the baicalin-treated group showed increased OPG expression, suppressed RANKL expression, and significantly fewer TRAP-positive cells in the first molars. The root resorption area was significantly smaller in the baicalin group. Conclusions Treatment with baicalin prevented root resorption without preventing tooth movement. Baicalin may be useful for the management of root resorption during orthodontic treatment.Objective Diabetes increases the incidence/severity of periodontal diseases by inducing a chronic inflammation, driven by accumulation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products). We tested whether glycated human serum albumin (G-HSA, a form of AGE), representing a diabetic state, augments the pro-inflammatory response of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) to a bacterial challenge (Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)). Methods Primary hGFs were incubated with LPS (0.5-5 μg/mL) and G-HSA (50-200 μg/mL) and the production and gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, MCP-1, and TNFα were analyzed by Magnetic Luminex Assay and real-time PCR, respectively. Non-glycated serum albumin (HSA) served as negative control. Cytotoxicity of the 2 agents was tested with an XTT assay. NFκB activation (p65 phosphorylation) was measured with an ELISA. Results P. gingivalis LPS and G-HSA were not toxic to hGFs and increased the amount of MMP-1, MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8, (but not TNFα and IL-1β) secreted into the medium at 24 h.