RESUMO
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still a global health issue with no certain treatment option. So far, various treatments have been suggested among which one can mention isotretinoin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of this medication as a side treatment for COVID-19. This open-label controlled clinical trial with the approval ID of IRCT20190624043993N3 was conducted in Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 52 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled. The control group only received standard of care (SOC) treatment while the intervention arm received 40 mg per day of isotretinoin along with the SOC. The patients were followed until discharge. The results showed no death among the groups. The hospitalization duration in the intervention and SOC groups were 5.1 ± 2.29 and 5.1 ± 3.44 days, respectively with no statistical difference (P = 0.98). Moreover, the SpO2, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure also showed no statistical difference neither at admission nor upon discharge (P > 0.05). The laboratory investigations showed that white blood cells, absolute lymphocyte count, hemoglobin value, and platelet count did not differ between the groups at admission or upon discharge (P > 0.05). According to the results, it seems that isotretinoin didn't act as a potent side therapy in patients with COVID-19. However, due to the small sample size, we suggest further investigations.
RESUMO
SUMMARY: Morphine is one of the naturally occurring phenanthrene alkaloids of opium that induces adverse effects on male reproductive system. Resveratrol is a phytoestrogen and antioxidant of red grape. The main goal is to investigate whether resveratrol could inhibit adverse effects of morphine on sperm cell viability, count, motility as well as testis histology, testosterone hormone and nitric oxide levels in mice. In the present study, 48 male rats were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=6) and were treated intraperitoneally for 14 days with normal saline, resveratrol (2, 8, 20 mg/kg/day), morphine (20 mg/kg/day) and morphine (20 mg/kg/day) + resveratrol (2, 8, 20 mg/kg/day). At the end of experiments, sperm parameters (sperm cell viability, count, motility and morphology), testis weight, the diameter of seminiferous tubules, testosterone hormone level and nitric oxide were analyzed. The data were analyzed by SPSS software for windows (version 20) using one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey's post hoc test, and P<0.05 was considered significant. The results indicated that morphine administration significantly decreased testosterone level, count, viability and motility of sperm cells and testis weight and increased nitric oxide compared to the saline group (P=0.000). Administration of resveratrol and resveratrol plus morphine significantly increased motility, count and viability of sperm cells, somniferous tubule diameter and testosterone, while it decreased nitric oxide level compared to morphine group (P=0.025). It seems that resveratrol administration could increase the quality of spermatozoa and prevented morphine-induced adverse effects on sperm parameters.
RESUMEN: La morfina es uno de los alcaloides fenantreno del opio que induce efectos adversos en el sistema reproductivo masculino. El resveratrol es un fitoestrógeno y antioxidante de la uva roja. El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue investigar si el resveratrol puede inhibir los efectos adversos de la morfina sobre la viabilidad celular de los espermatozoides, el recuento y la motilidad, así como la histología de los testículos, la hormona testosterona y los niveles de óxido nítrico en ratones. Se dividieron, aleatoriamente, 48 ratas machos en 8 grupos (n = 6) y se trataron de forma intraperitoneal durante 14 días con solución salina normal, resveratrol (2, 8, 20 mg / kg / día), morfina (20 mg / kg / día ) y morfina (20 mg / kg / día) + resveratrol (2, 8, 20 mg / kg / día). Al final de los experimentos, se analizaron los parámetros espermáticos (viabilidad celular, recuento, motilidad y morfología), el peso de los testículos, el diámetro de los túbulos seminíferos, el nivel de la hormona testosterona y el óxido nítrico. Los datos fueron analizados con el software de SPSS para Windows (versión 20) usando una prueba de ANOVA de una vía seguida de la prueba post hoc de Tukey, y P <0,05 se consideró significativo. Los resultados indicaron que la administración de morfina disminuyó significativamente el nivel de testosterona, el recuento, la viabilidad y la motilidad de los espermatozoides y el peso de los testículos, además del aumento de óxido nítrico en comparación con el grupo salino (p = 0,000). La administración de resveratrol y resveratrol más morfina aumentó significativamente la motilidad, el recuento y la viabilidad de los espermatozoides, el diámetro de los túbulos seminíferos y la testosterona, mientras que disminuyó el nivel de óxido nítrico comparado con el grupo morfina (p = 0,025). En conclusión, la administración de resveratrol podría aumentar la calidad de los espermatozoides y prevenir los efectos adversos inducidos por la morfina sobre los parámetros espermáticos.
