Immunogenicity, Safety, and Protective Efficacy of Mucosal Vaccines Against Respiratory Infectious Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Mucosal vaccines, delivered intranasally or via inhalation, are being studied for respiratory infectious diseases like COVID-19 and influenza. These vaccines aim to provide non-invasive administration and strong immune responses at infection sites, making them a promising area of research. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed their immunogenicity, safety, and protective efficacy.

Xixin Decoction's novel mechanism for alleviating Alzheimer's disease cognitive dysfunction by modulating amyloid-β transport across the blood-brain barrier to reduce neuroinflammation.

Purpose: Xixin Decoction (XXD) is a classical formula that has been used to effectively treat dementia for over 300 years. Modern clinical studies have demonstrated its significant therapeutic effects in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) without notable adverse reactions. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms underlying its efficacy remain to be elucidated.

Comparison of Rehydration Techniques for Fingerprinting the Deceased after Mummification.

Postmortem decay causes fingertip decomposition, desiccation, shriveling, and rigidity, reducing the possibility of obtaining sufficiently clear fingerprints for identification. In this study, five rehydration solutions (ammonium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, urea, and warm water) followed by three fingerprint recording methods (photograph, inking roll, and dusting tape) were investigated to process mummified fingertips from an unidentified cadaver. The results show that sodium carbonate treatment is the most effective for minutiae restoration, followed by ammonium hydroxide treatment.

Latent fingermark development using low-vacuum vaporization of ninhydrin.

The vacuum technique is a method of vaporizing a solid material to its gas phase, helping deposit reagents gently on target surfaces to develop latent fingermarks. However, this application is rarely reported in the literature. In this study, a homemade fume hood with a built-in vacuum control system and programmable heating system designed by the Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau is introduced.

Development of an on-line isotope dilution laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) method for determination of boron in silicon wafers.

A method has been developed based on an on-line isotope dilution technique couple with laser ablation/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), for the determination of boron in p-type silicon wafers. The laser-ablated sample aerosol was mixed on-line with an enriched boron aerosol supplied continuously using a conventional nebulization system. Upon mixing the two aerosol streams, the isotope ratio of boron changed rapidly and was then recorded by the ICP-MS system for subsequent quantification based on the isotope dilution principle.

The effects of ciprofloxacin on chest radiographic regression in patients with drug intolerance or resistant tuberculosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical efficacy of ciprofloxacin as a second-line anti-tuberculosis agent in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with drug intolerance or resistance.

Methods: There were 20 patients with drug related adverse effects or drug resistance enrolled in the ciprofloxacin treatment group (CG). There were also 32 patients enrolled in the non-ciprofloxacin treatment group (NCG) that maintained conventional drug regimens or the addition of other drugs like streptomycin.

Zafirlukast improves pulmonary function in patients with moderate persistent asthma receiving regular inhaled steroids: a prospective randomized control study.

Background: Zafirlukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that was invented to treat patients with chronic asthma.

Methods: To evaluate whether the zafirlukast improved the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and clinical symptoms, 31 asthmatic patients with moderate persistent asthma who received regular inhaled corticosteroid were randomly divided into the study group (N = 17). They received the zafirlukast 20 mg bid for 4 weeks, and the control group (N = 14) received a placebo.

Identification of tiny and thin smears of automotive paint following a traffic accident.

Three complementary methods in the order of stereomicroscopy, micro-FT-IR spectroscopy and solubility tests were used for the purpose of matching known and questioned paint samples in an auto accident case. Grayish green paint smears scattered on a silvery gray coated plastic bar were taken from a blue car and referred to as questioned samples. Green paint chips were collected as known samples from a green car.