ABSTRACT
Diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease all raise the risk of hospitalization and mortality in individuals infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Higher levels of flogosis mediators such as TNF, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1, IL-6, leptin, and resistin, as well as increased levels of TNF, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1, IL-6, leptin, and resistin, define diabetes. The goal of this study is to evaluate the levels of D-dimer, total serum bilirubin (TSB), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and CRP in diabetic patients with COVID-19 infection to COVID-19 patients without diabetes. Blood samples were collected from individuals with diabetes who had COVID-19 and non-diabetic COVID patients as control. Moreover, D-dimer and CRP were evaluated by using Min Vidus and Latx, respectively, whereas AccEnT 200 system was used to measure the serum level of TSB, GPT, and GOT in the hematology lab. Also demonstrated that the average serum concentration of D-dimer, GOT and CRP was high in diabetic COVID-19-infected patients (980.66 ng/mL, 67.71 U/L, and 27.06 mg/L, respectively) compared with non-diabetic COVID-19-infected patients (791.17 ng/mL, 54.023 U/L and 20.11 mg/L, respectively) (p < 0.05), while the situation was inverse for the average concentration of TSB and GTP when their average concentrations were low in diabetic COVID-19-infected patients (12.89 Mmol/L and 59.79 U/L, respectively) (p > 0.05). Moreover, the cut-off values for serum D-dimer, TSB, GPT, GOT, and CRP of COVID-19-infected diabetic patients were ≥ 6500 ng/mL, ≥ 350 Mmol/L, ≥ 133 U/L mg/L, ≥ 150 U/L, and ≥ 15.22 mg/L, respectively, represented a perfect test for predicting COVID-19-infected diabetic patients with 100% sensitivity and specificity. In conclusion, serum D-dimer, TSB, GPT, GOT and CRP increased in diabetic COVID-19-infected patients compared to non-diabetic COVID-19 patients and the D-dimer concentration also increases. TSB and CRP were more pronounced among diabetic patients with corona, while liver enzyme concentrations were decreased.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the possibility of inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus using the compounds alpha-Boswellic acid (ABA) and beta-Boswellic acid (BBA) which are active components in the well-known natural product Boswellia carterii (BC). The SARS-CoV-2 virus reproduces in the body by linking its spike with the cell receptor. At the same time, a pH range (4.5-6) of the cell's lysosomes is considered as a perfect environment to release RNA in the cell cytoplasm. In view of these, docking studies were employed to study the interaction between the spikes of the virus and ABA or BBA using Molecular Graphic Laboratory (MGL) tools and AutoDock Vina application. The binding of the ABA and BBA with the spike of the virus could inhibit its reproduction or provide sufficient time for the immune system to recognize the virus and hence, produce suitable antibodies. In addition, the pKa of ABA, BBA and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were calculated using HF/6-311G (d,p) method and then they were compared with the experimental pKa of HCQ. The Lethal Concentrations (LC50) of ABA and BBA were also calculated. In addition, molecular electrostatic potential is reported which indicates the active sites of ABA and BBA.