The potential effects of metformin and/or sitagliptin on leptin/adiponectin ratio in diabetic obese patients: a new therapeutic effect.

Objective: To explore how metformin, alone or in conjunction with sitagliptin, affects the leptin/adiponectin ratio in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Methods: The case-control study was conducted from March to August 2021 at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, and comprised adult, obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients of either gender and age-matched healthy controls. The MT group included patients taking metformin 1g/day, MTS group had patients taking metformin 1g/day plus sitagliptin 100mg/day, and the control group comprised healthy subjects.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: relation to juvenile obesity, lipid profile, and hepatic enzymes.

The prevalence of juvenile obesity is increasing, reaching epidemic proportions, presenting a link not only to NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) but to abnormal lipid profiles and liver enzyme abnormalities. Liver ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific tool for the recognition of NAFLD. This study aims to assess the association between NAFLD and juvenile obesity and to determine the other related changes in a set of indicators, including lipid profile abnormalities and serum transaminases.

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).

Ellagic acid-rich Pomegranate extracts synergizes moxifloxacin against methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Objective: To elucidate the anti- Methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) effect of pomegranate alone and in combination with moxifloxacin fluoroquinolone.

Methods: A total of five clinical isolates of MRSA (ATCC 43300) were used in the study. Disc diffusion method was used to determine the anti-MRSA effect of pomegranate and/or moxifloxacin by using Mueller-Hinton agar.

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.

Are alterations in melatonin and inflammatory cytokine serum levels linked with recurrent abortion in pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis: The interacted nexus.

Objective: To investigate melatonin serum level and inflammatory biomarkers in acute toxoplasmosis in pregnant women with recurrent abortions.

Methods: The case-control study was conducted at the Department of Parasitology, together with the Department of Obstetrics, Al-Yarmouk teaching hospital, Baghdad Iraq, from September 2018 until February 2019. Included were 60 pregnant women in first trimester with acute toxoplasmosis (n=28) or without toxoplasmosis (n=32) and with the history of recurrent abortions with a control group of healthy pregnant women (n=25).

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).

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.