COVID-19 and Diabetes: will Novel Drugs for Diabetes Help in COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has afflicted more than 245.37 million individuals worldwide and resulted in more than 4.9 million deaths as of today, with a mortality rate of 2.

Covid-19 and acute kidney injury: A new perspective.

The novel coronavirus disease 19 (nCoV19) is universally known as Covid-19, which is caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and affects diverse range of organs, presenting with pulmonary manifestations as acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and extra-pulmonary manifestations like acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is regarded as a poor prognostic factor in patients with severe Covid-19, thus early detection and management of this critical status may reduce the risk of complications and mortality. We present the case of a 30 years old man with moderate Covid-19 presenting with haematuria and eventually diagnosed as AKI.

Anti-histamines and Covid-19: Hype or Hope.

Abstract: Histamine is a biogenic amine distributed extensively in the human cells. Histamine is linked with different inflammatory and allergic disorders through promoting of chemoatractant activity and endothelial changes. Antihistamine drugs are effective in the treatment and prevention of infection of influenza H7N9 through inhibition of viral entry to the host cells.

Pregnancy and risk of vertical transmission in Covid-19.

Objective: The current systematic review was planned to illustrate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections during pregnancy and to explore pregnancy outcomes, vertical and perinatal transmission as well as management of coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) during pregnancy.

Methods: The multidisciplinary systematic review was conducted at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Bagdad, Iraq. The literature search was conducted in September 2021 and included databases as Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Science Direct databases related to articles on pregnancy and SARS-CoV-2 infections, published between December 2019 and July 2021.

Statins and Covid-19: The Neglected Front of bidirectional effects.

Covid-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 binds angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is greatly expressed in different tissues including lung alveolar type II cells. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 triggers acute host immune response, inflammatory reactions and cytokine storm leading to acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Colchicine in the management of Covid-19: With or lieu of evidence.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), leads to global calamitous effects. Covid-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Covid-19 is associated with development of hyper-inflammation and/or cytokine storm that together with high viral load trigger tissue damage and multi-organ failures (MOF).

Differential effects of statins on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke: A potential for salutary.

Objective: To illustrate the differential outcome of atorvastatin versus rosuvastatin on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: The case-control study was done in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, from March to June, 2020 and involved 66 AIS patients and 22 healthy controls. They sub-grouped into Group A: AIS patient on statins therapy (n=44), with 22 on atorvastatin and 22 on rosuvastatin.

Neuropeptide Y-Agouti related peptide ratio (NAR) in patients with idiopathic primary hypothyroidism: Nudge and Risk.

Objective: To illustrate the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related-peptide (AgRp) and their ratio in patients with primary hypothyroidism (PHT) regarding the effect of levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy.

Methods: The case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq, from March to June, 2020 and involved 40 patients with primary hypothyroidism (PHT), including 20 newly diagnosed patients and 20 patients on levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy compared to 20 healthy controls. Anthropometric, lipid and pressure profiles were evaluated.

Beneficial effects of levothyroxine replacement therapy on leptin adiponectin ratio in patients with idiopathic primary hypothyroidism.

Objective: To assess the metabolic effects of primary hypothyroidism (PHT) on the leptin (LP), adiponectin (ADP) level and leptin adiponectin ratio (LAR), with identification of the beneficial effects of L-thyroxine (LT4) therapy on these parameters.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, from July to October 2019. This study included 62 PHT patients, of whom 27 were newly diagnosed and 35 were on LT4 therapy.

Intercellular adhesive molecule 1(ICAM-1) and acute ischaemic stroke: Role of statins.

Objectives: To demonstrate the differential effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on the Intercellular adhesive molecule 1(ICAM-1) in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Methods: The case-control study was done in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, from May to July, 2020 and involved sixty-six patients with AIS compared with twenty-two healthy controls. They were divided into four groups; Group I: Patients with AIS on atorvastatin therapy (n=22).

Osteocalcin serum levels in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The virtual points observed in a case control study.

Objective: To elucidate the effect of metformin alone or in combination with sitagliptin on osteocalcin serum levels in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic, College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, from February to April, 2019. This study comprised 62 obese T2DM patients compared with 28 healthy controls, they were divided into three groups; Group I: Obese patients with T2DM on metformin (n=36), Group II: Obese patients with T2DM on metformin plus sitagliptin (n=26), and Group III: healthy controls subjects (n=28).

Effects of β-Blockers on the Sympathetic and Cytokines Storms in Covid-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a causative virus in the development of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Respiratory manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection such as acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leads to hypoxia, oxidative stress, and sympatho-activation and in severe cases leads to sympathetic storm (SS). On the other hand, an exaggerated immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 invasion may lead to uncontrolled release of pro-inflammatory cytokine development of cytokine storm (CS).

Neurocysticercosis: A new concept and insight into basic and future pharmacotherapy.

Neurocysticercosis is a neurological infection caused by the larva of taenia solium. The larva infection may affect different parts of the human brain and spinal cord, leading to focal neurological deficit with/without inflammatory reactions. Neurocysticercosis is one of the major causes of epilepsy in the developing countries.

Statins an oft-prescribed drug is implicated in peripheral neuropathy: The time to know more.

Statins are hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors inhibit denovo cholesterol synthesis leading to reduction of serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein as well as elevation of high density lipoprotein level. Statins are used in the treatment of dyslipidaemia, prevention of major cardiovascular events and complications. The potential role of statins in the induction of peripheral neuropathy has not been verified as most of statins induced-peripheral neuropathy had been reported as case reports.

Gingko Biloba protects cardiomyocytes against acute doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity by suppressing oxidative stress.

Objective: To evaluate the cardio-protective effect of Ginkgo Biloba (GB) on doxorubicin induced-cardiotoxicity.

Methods: The experimental study was conducted at the College of Medicine, Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq, from January to March, 2016, and comprised thirty Wistar Sprague male rats aged 3-4 months and weighing 200-400 g. The rats were divided into three equal groups (n=10); Group І (control): rats were treated with distilled water, Group ІІ (doxorubicin): rats were treated with distilled water and doxorubicin 20 mg/kg, and Group ІІІ (GB): rats were treated with GB and doxorubicin 20mg/kg.

Rosuvastatin Attenuates acute nephrotoxicity through modulation of oxidative stress in Sprague Dawley rats.

Objective: To assess the reno-protective effect of rosuvastatin on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Methods: The prospective experimental study was conducted at the College of Medicine, Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq, from March to July, 2018, and comprised Sprague Dawley male rats aged 3-4 months and weighing 200-400g each. The rats were divided into 3 equal groups which were treated for 14 days.

Berberine and Pentoxifylline: A novel combination in amelioration of acute kidney injury.

Objective: To evaluate the nephro-protective effects of berberine and/or pentoxifylline on the reduction of diclofenac-induced acute kidney injury in rats.

Methods: The experimental study was conducted at the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq, from February to April, 2018, and comprised fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3-4 months and weighing 250-400 grams each. They were divided into five equal groups and were treated for 12 days.

Reno-protective effect of berberine.

Objective: To assess the reno-protective effect of berberine on diclofenac-induced acute kidney injury in rats.

Methods: The experimental study was conducted at the College of Medicine, Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq, from January to March 2018, and comprised Sprague Dawley male rats which were divided into 3 equal groups. Group1 rats were treated with distilled water plus normal saline for 14 days, Group2 rats were treated with distilled water plus diclofenac for 14 days and Group3 rats were treated with berberine plus diclofenac for 14 days.