Erector spinae plane block for cancer pain – A scoping review of current evidence

Cancer patients experience pain secondary to the disease process or due to treatment. Refractory cancer pain can present a clinical challenge for pain physicians, which significantly affects patients' quality of life and increases disability. Erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks have rapidly been used in both acute and chronic pain practice. However, the use of ESP block for cancer pain management remains unclear. Thus, we conducted this scoping review to perform a comprehensive overview of current evidence on ESP block for cancer pain management. We searched the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for relevant articles published between January 2016 and March 2023 using the keywords “erector spinae plane block,” “ESP block,” and “cancer pain”. After excluding duplicate and irrelevant articles, we included a total of 26 studies, which were case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized control trials. Both neurolytic and non-neurolytic ESP blocks were used for cancer pain. The ESP blocks were performed in all patients with severe pain (Visual Analog Score or Numerical Rating Scale >7) and the majority of cases had some degree of pain relief. None of the studies has reported any serious complications related to procedure or drug used. There was heterogeneity in the type of drug, volume, and concentration used for ESP block. A definitive conclusion regarding the efficacy and safety of ESP block in cancer pain management was not possible. The current literature suggests that the ESP block can be helpful in cancer pain management. However, caution must be exercised not to overestimate the safety of either neurolytic or non-neurolytic ESP block as 88% (n = 23) of included studies were either case reports or case series. Randomized controlled clinical trials are warranted to establish the efficacy and safety of ESP block in cancer pain management.

Ruthenium Catalyzed Intramolecular C–S Coupling Reactions: Synthetic Scope and Mechanistic Insight

A ruthenium catalyzed intramolecular C–S coupling reaction of <i>N</i>-arylthioureas for the synthesis of 2-aminobenzo­thiazoles has been developed. Kinetic, isotope labeling, and computational studies reveal the involvement of an electrophilic ruthenation pathway instead of a direct C–H activation. Stereoelectronic effect of meta-substituents on the <i>N</i>-arylthiourea dictates the final regioselective outcome of the reaction

Abstracts of AICTE Sponsored International Conference on Post-COVID Symptoms and Complications in Health

This book presents the selected abstracts of the International Conference on Post-COVID Symptoms and Complications in Health, hosted from the 28th to 29th of April 2022 in virtual mode by the LR Institute of Pharmacy, Solan (H.P.)-173223 in Collaboration with AICTE, New Delhi. This conference focuses on the implications of long-term symptoms on public health, ways to mitigate these complications, improve understanding of the disease process in COVID-19 patients, use of computational methods and artificial intelligence in predicting complications, and the role of various drug delivery systems in combating the complications. Conference Title:  International Conference on Post-COVID Symptoms and Complications in HealthConference Sponsor: AICTE, New Delhi.Conference Date: 28-29 April 2022Conference Location: OnlineConference Organizer: LR Institute of Pharmacy, Solan (H.P.)-173223

Abstracts of AICTE Sponsored International Conference on Post-COVID Symptoms and Complications in Health

This book presents the selected abstracts of the International Conference on Post-COVID Symptoms and Complications in Health, hosted from the 28th to 29th of April 2022 in virtual mode by the LR Institute of Pharmacy, Solan (H.P.)-173223 in Collaboration with AICTE, New Delhi. This conference focuses on the implications of long-term symptoms on public health, ways to mitigate these complications, improve understanding of the disease process in COVID-19 patients, use of computational methods and artificial intelligence in predicting complications, and the role of various drug delivery systems in combating the complications. Conference Title:  International Conference on Post-COVID Symptoms and Complications in HealthConference Sponsor: AICTE, New Delhi.Conference Date: 28-29 April 2022Conference Location: OnlineConference Organizer: LR Institute of Pharmacy, Solan (H.P.)-173223

Book of Abstracts of the 2nd International Conference on Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences (ICAMCS-2022)

It is a great privilege for us to present the abstract book of ICAMCS-2022 to the authors and the delegates of the event. We hope that you will find it useful, valuable, aspiring, and inspiring. This book is a record of abstracts of the keynote talks, invited talks, and papers presented by the participants, which indicates the progress and state of development in research at the time of writing the research article. It is an invaluable asset to all researchers. The book provides a permanent record of this asset. Conference Title: 2nd International Conference on Applied Mathematics and Computational SciencesConference Acronym: ICAMCS-2022Conference Date: 12-14 October 2022Conference Organizers: DIT University, Dehradun, IndiaConference Mode: Online (Virtual

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P &lt; 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)