Statins and pleiotropic effects in COVID-19: a scoping review

Introduction: The infection caused by SARS-COV-2 represents a major emergency in public health worldwide, morbid adults have an increased risk of severe infection and mortality. Metabolic and cardiovascular diseases have been managed with statins based on their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and even antiviral effects.

Feline infectious peritonitis in a local cat confirmed by rivalta test: a case report

Minmin, a 1-year-old male local cat weighing 4.3 kg has decreased appetite and an enlarged abdominal cavity. Based on physical examination, there was abdominal distension. Routine hematology and blood biochemical examinations were performed which showed chronic inflammation and abnormal liver and kidney function. Radiographic examination and abdominocentesis showed fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity (ascites) with pale yellow fluid and thickened liquid consistency. The results of the rivalta test showed a positive accumulation of exudate which was characterized by a jellyfish-like formation. The cat was diagnosed with effusive feline infectious peritonitis. The therapies given are diuretic furosemide 5 mg/kg BW (twice a day) intravenously, antibiotic cefotaxime sodium 30 mg/kg BW (twice a day) intravenously, anti-inflammatory dexamethasone 0,5 mg/kg BW (twice a day) subcutaneously, hepato-protector betaine 2.5 mg/kg BW (every two days) subcutaneously, and keto acid 11 mg/kg BW orally (every two days). The results of treatment for one week only provide temporary results in reducing the degree of abdominal distension. The cat died in the sixth month after therapy.

Lutein and astaxanthin as dietary support of therapy

Lutein and astaxanthin belong to carotenoids which have wide applications in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The total chemical syntheses of lutein and astaxanthin produces a mixture of stereoisomers. Both carotenoids are extracted from the plant material as the mixture of mono- and diesters. Lutein is extracted from marigold and tagetes flowers. Lutein supplementation increases its concentration in blood serum and in the macula of the eye. There is increasing evidence that lutein is important in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and may improve eye health. Astaxanthin is extracted from the Haematococcus pluvialis algae. Due to its strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, they can be used to support the treatment of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, eye diseases, and to supplement the diet of COVID-19 patients.

Emerging Roles of the Iron Chelators in Inflammation.

Iron is a crucial element for mammalian cells, considering its intervention in several physiologic processes. Its homeostasis is finely regulated, and its alteration could be responsible for the onset of several disorders. Iron is closely related to inflammation; indeed, during inflammation high levels of interleukin-6 cause an increased production of hepcidin which induces a degradation of ferroportin. Ferroportin degradation leads to decreased iron efflux that culminates in elevated intracellular iron concentration and consequently iron toxicity in cells and tissues. Therefore, iron chelation could be considered a novel and useful therapeutic strategy in order to counteract the inflammation in several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Several iron chelators are already known to have anti-inflammatory effects, among them deferiprone, deferoxamine, deferasirox, and Dp44mT are noteworthy. Recently, eltrombopag has been reported to have an important role in reducing inflammation, acting both directly by chelating iron, and indirectly by modulating iron efflux. This review offers an overview of the possible novel biological effects of the iron chelators in inflammation, suggesting them as novel anti-inflammatory molecules.

Functional foods and medicinal plants versus COVID-19

Introduction: The world has been suffering from the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic since December 2019. To date there is no specific treatment for such a deadly disease, but there are some plants with different phytochemical components that help the body to combat and reduce the sequelae along with the other treatments.

Use of "Intrafen" in mild to moderate COVID-19

An increase in a person's body temperature is a self-contained response to the action of some agent and/or pathogen that has entered the body. With any infectious diseases in the human body, a person's body temperature increases. In addition, with the current coronavirus infection, an increase in body temperature is one of the symptoms of the disease. Purpose: in our article, we would like to consider the clinical situation of patients with COVID-19 and draw attention to the fact that a number of observations and analyses were carried out to assess the effectiveness and safety of using the drug "Intrafen" in order to relieve elevated fever. Materials and methods: in order to reduce elevated body temperature, anti-inflammatory and improve the general condition of the patient, to suggest that we will achieve a positive result by injecting the drug intrafen into the vein in patients with mild to moderate severity with symptoms of coronavirus infection disease. Result: based on Anamnesis data obtained from the patient, the results of Clinical, Laboratory, and instrumental studies, the effective effect of intrafen was determined.

Diosmin and hesperidin - the current state of knowledge

Diosmin is the 7-rutinoside of 3 ', 5,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone (7-O-rutinoside of diosmetin), and hespheridine is the 7-rutinoside of 3', 5,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone (7 -O-rutinoside hesperetin). Diosmin, is a gray-yellow or pale-yellow, hygroscopic powder, whereas hesperidine is in the form of light-yellow spherocrystals. Diosmin was isolated from fruits of the Citrus genus (C. sinensis, C. limonia), now it is obtained semi-synthetically from natural hesperidin. These flavonoids have, among others: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, analgesic, antioxidant and possibly anti-virus activity, that cause COVID-19. The metabolism of diosmin takes place initially in the small intestine and involves demethoxylation and hydrolysis. In contrast, oxidation and conjugation take place in the liver. There is no presence of diosmin and diosmetin in the urine, which are mainly eliminated in the form of glucuronic acid conjugates. The dominant metabolite detected in urine samples is m-hydroxy-phenylpropionic acid, excreted in conjugated form. Diosmin may reduce the aggregation of Red Blood Cells, and thus it is able to reduce blood viscosity. The LD50 of the mixture of 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin for rats is over 3 g/kg. The tests did not reveal any mutagenic effects or effects on reproductive functions. It also does not pose a significant threat during breast feeding, as it poorly passes into breast milk.

Phytotherapy in prevention, treatment and counteraction side effects after having COVID-19

Plant extracts and natural compounds show scientifically proven activity against numerous viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for causing COVID-19. Among plant constituents, polyphenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, catechins) show the greatest potential. Characteristic for plant extracts containing a mixture of secondary metabolites is the multidirectional action and improvement of the functioning of numerous tissues and organs. As a result, in addition to their antimicrobial activity, they alleviate a number of side effects caused by infection. They show anti-inflammatory properties and stimulate the immune system. Few clinical trials of the use of herbs, bee products, natural compounds, and vitamin D as an adjunct to standard therapies have confirmed their beneficial effects, both in patients with moderate and severe disease. Herbal preparations should be recommended both for prophylaxis and as an adjunct to standard COVID-19 treatment.

COVID-19 pandemic and immune boost up: the synergistic role of nutrients

World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency due to the recent spread of COVID-19 throughout the world. Millions of people are affected daily and thousands died. Almost all countries are now paying attention to control this pandemic outbreak. Therefore, researchers are trying to identify the pathophysiology of the disease, appropriate prognosis, effective management and prevention of COVID-19. Based on current published evidence, this review article specifies the role of different nutrients in the possible prevention and management of COVID-19 and viral infections. Balanced nutrition including adequate vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, zinc and phytonutrients have shown promising immune-boosting roles in COVID-19 and other respiratory infections due to their potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. These micronutrients act against COVID-19 infections both individually and synergistically.

Vitamin D deficiency and its relation with some diseases: a review

Vitamin D is fat soluble vitamin synthesis from isoprenoid units by condensation process in vivo when exposure to sun light (weak UV source). The main function of vitamin D is maintenance on calcium hemostasis, beside this function has important role as a protection factor from many disease such as autoimmune diseases and cancer. There are several suggestions to support the immunity such as intake vitamin D that has the ability to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections, such as epidemiology of influenza and COVID-19. Vitamin D can reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection through the mechanisms including lowering replication of virus by induction of cathelicidins and reduced the inflammatory cytokines that produced from the lining cells of lungs which lead to pneumonia and lung fibrosis due to autoimmune diseases as well as increase the concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Chemical composition, biological activity and factors influencing the quality of Algerian bee-honey (Apis mellifera)

For centuries, honey, the main bee-hive product, has been widely used as an effective therapeutic agent against several health disorders, in addition to its extensive uses as a natural-healthy and energetic food. Further, bee-honey is a beneficial substance when we explore the many uses in medicine, including bacteria-and-virus killing such as Covid-19, body-protecting chemicals, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities. Honey is characterized by complex and variable chemical compositions depending on several fac-tors;botanical origin, climatic condition, bee health, and other stress factors, in particular, uncontrolled use of pesticides and adulteration in this product. Additionally, honey contains an important number of bioactive compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals) whose main roles are involved in medical therapies and wound healing. Thus, this review summarizes the literature about the chemical composition, biological activity, and factors affecting bee-honey production and quality.

Bioinformatics approaches to natural product discovery

Introduction: Bioinformatics is a multi-disciplinary field that usually uses approaches in Computer Science such as algorithms and machine learning to solve problems in the domains of Biology, Biochemistry, and other domains involving molecular biology data. This approach can also be used to screen natural products that have certain properties. Jamu or Indonesian herbal medicine works with the principle of multi-component multi-target. This principle focuses on the complex interactions of system components that describe how multi-components (compounds) can work together to affect multi-targets (protein targets). This mechanism is also popularly called Network Pharmacology. In this study, we introduce a workflow to screen herbal compounds based on Network Pharmacology and machine learning approach.

The effect of nutritional micronutrients in immune system against coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

According to preliminary research, recovery from coronavirus disease needs a strong immune response across multiple cell types (COVID-19). The latest coronavirus pandemic is affecting people all over the world. The virus is known to infect several tissues and, in extreme cases, can lead to respiratory failure. The immune system must be healthy to prevent the disease from progressing to this stage and to limit the damage caused by the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Nutritional health is important for effective immunological defence and, as a result, a good response to SARS-CoV-2. Micronutrients help immune cells conduct functions that are critical for stopping SARS-CoV-2. Their regular intake is part of a non-pharmacological strategy to maintain the immune system in good shape. Various micronutrients play a critical role in the interactions between the host immune system and viruses, like COVID-19, according to a large number of studies. The relationship between micronutrient status, the host immune response, and pathogenic virus virulence is complex and multifaceted. Micronutrients are essential for the coordinated recruitment of innate and adaptive immune responses to viral infections, as well as the regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory host responses. Furthermore, insufficient micronutrients not only impair the immune system's ability to fight viral infections, but also lead to the development of more virulent strains by altering the viral genome's genetic makeup. The aim of this study was to assess the evidence that indicates micronutrients play a role in COVID-19 transmission, morbidity, and mortality. When considering the use of micronutrients in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection, both the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among infected individuals and the impact of micronutrient supplementation on immune responses and overall disease outcome may be of great interest. These studies may be extremely useful in dealing with potential viral outbreaks.

Psychotropic drugs: Therapeutic perspectives against Covid-19

Based on older reports about antiviral effects in vitro, several antipsychotics and antidepressants have recently been investigated for possible activity against the Covid-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2). A few have been found to be active in vitro, like chlorpromazine and some other phenothiazine antipsychotics as well as the antidepressants fluoxetin and fluvoxamine. For chlorpromazine, two clinical studies with Covid-19 patients are currently under way in France and Egypt, while for fluoxetine clinical data are not yet available. The specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine is also a potent sigma-1 receptor agonist and has been shown to reduce inflammation in an animal model of cytokine-stress. In analogy to these findings, fluvoxamine treatment for 15 days was superior to placebo in reducing symptoms of impaired respiratory function in a first placebo-controlled clinical study. © 2021 Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart.