Neuroprotective effect of renin angiotensin system blockers on experimentally induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major world-wide health problem. Much evidence points to a link between hypertension and AD. However, the exact effects of different antihypertensive drugs on AD need to be more assessed. The aim was to evaluate and compare the possible effects of perindopril, and candesartan on cognitive impairment, oxidative stress markers, and brain concentrations of amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ-P) in a rat model of induced dementia.Methods: Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were distributed among 4 groups; (1) normal controls; (2) rats with dementia induced by intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) and received no treatment; (3) ICV-STZ rats treated orally with perindopril for 3 weeks; and (4) ICV-STZ rats treated orally with candesartan for 3 weeks. The assessed parameters were spatial memory by Morris Water Maze test, brain tissue level of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde [MDA]), and Aβ-P.Results: Both perindopril and candesartan attenuated STZ-induced memory impairment, caused a significant increase in TAC and GSH levels, reduced MDA levels, whereas only candesartan significantly reduced Aβ-P levels.Conclusions: This study reports that candesartan and perindopril can reverse the free radical induced damages and resultant memory defects, and may suggest candesartan as worthy drugs for prevention of Aβ-P deposition in this animal model of AD

THE ROLE OF ANTICOAGULANTS AND ANTIPLATELETS IN PROPHYLAXIS AND/OR TREATMENT OF SEVERE SARS-COV-2 INFECTION

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARAS-COV-2) was reported firstly in China by the end of  2019 then disseminated vigorously worldwide  and in 2020 reported by WHO as pandemic disease. It is associated by many symptoms, however; high incidence of thrombotic events was strongly correlated with SARAS-COV-2. Exploring anticoagulants to be added as thromboprophylaxis for Covid 19 patients become a must. Many options for thromboprophylaxis are available including anticoagulants, antiplatelets and fibrinolytics which were illustrated in this mini review.                       Peer Review History: Received 19 January 2021; Revised 3 February; Accepted 24 February, Available online 15 March 2021 Academic Editor: Essam Mohamed Eissa, Beni-Suef University, Egypt, [email protected] Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Cecilia Nwadiuto Amadi, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] Similar Articles: COVID-19: PHARMACOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES USE OF COLCHICINE TO COUNTERACT THE STRONG HYPERINFLAMMATORY STATE INDUCED BY SARS-COV-2 THE RISKS AND ADVANTAGES OF ANTI-DIABETES THERAPY IN THE POSITIVE COVID-19 PATIENT EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL; AN OFF-LABEL USE TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC: REVIEW-BASED HYPOTHESES SUDANESE EXPERIENCE OF HERBAL FORMULAS USED DURING COVID-19 INFECTION TRADITIONAL TO RECENT APPROACHES IN HERBAL MEDICINE THERAPY OF COVID-1

ROLE OF AMBROXOL AS A PROPHYLACTIC AGENT AGAINST COVID-19

 Currently the world is facing a pandemic disease, namely Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As finding recent drugs targeting COVID-19 will take a long time, so repositioning currently existing FDA approved drugs for treating this disastrous disease is an acceptable solution. It has been found that for SARS-CoV-2 to be infective, this necessitates splitting of the viral spike glycoproteins by the serine protease “type II transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2” that has shown to be widely expressed in pulmonary tissues. Thus, TMPRSS2 is suggested to be potential target for antiviral drug design against COVID-19.  The mucokinetic drug “Ambroxol” has been reported as a potent inhibitor of TMPRSS2, thus it could represent a therapeutic as well as a prophylactic candidate against SARS-CoV2. This review gives a brief summary about ambroxol’s potential role against COVID-19’s TMPRSS2.                            Peer Review History: Received 8 January 2021; Revised 5 February; Accepted 25 February, Available online 15 March 2021 Academic Editor: Dr. DANIYAN Oluwatoyin Michael, Obafemi Awolowo University, ILE-IFE, Nigeria, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.  Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Nuray Arı, Ankara University, Turkiye, [email protected] Prof. Cyprian Ogbonna ONYEJI, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, [email protected]  Similar Articles: RISK FACTORS OF PERIODONTAL DISEASES AMONG YEMENI YOUNG DENTAL PATIENTS KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF MOLAR INCISOR HYPOMINERALIZATION AMONG DENTAL PRACTITIONERS IN SANA’A CITY- YEME

Possible protective effect of procainamide as an epigenetic modifying agent in experimentally induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that is associated with disturbed carbohydrates, lipids and protein metabolism due to insulin deficiency and/or impaired insulin action. Recently epigenetic mechanisms were shown to be involved in endocrine cell differentiation and islets function. Procainamide which is a cardiac antiarrhythmic drug has been recently classified as one of the epigenetic drugs targeting DNA methylation. Aim: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of procainamide as a demethylating epigenetic agent on streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats. Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats of weight ranging from 150 to 200 g were included in this study. Rats were divided into five groups (each of 10 rats) as follows: group I: served as a normal control group, group II: diabetic rats that received 1 ml gum acacia 2% orally, daily for 4 weeks, group III: diabetic rats that received procainamide (20 mg/kg body weight)/day, orally for 4 weeks, group IV: diabetic rats that received metformin (300 mg/kg/day), orally for 4 weeks, group V: diabetic rats that received both procainamide and metformin in the same previous doses for 4 weeks. The following parameters were assessed in rats of all studied groups: fasting blood glucose level, serum insulin level, serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (as a proinflammatory cytokine as well as an indirect biomarker of DNA methylation) and DNA methyltransferase enzyme (DNMT) activity in pancreatic tissues (as a direct marker of DNA methylation). Results: The present study revealed that combined administration of both procainamide and metformin produced a statistically significant reduction of fasting blood glucose levels as compared to untreated diabetic rats as well as diabetic rats treated by either procainamide or metformin alone. In addition, procainamide administration either alone or in combination with metformin resulted in a statistically significant rise of serum insulin levels. TNF-α levels were statistically elevated in diabetic untreated rats as well as those treated with metformin only while procainamide intake led to its statistical decrease. Also, procainamide administration produced a statistically significant reduction in the activity of DNA methyltransferase in pancreatic tissues reflecting its possible role as a demethylating agent that increases insulin expression and release by pancreatic cells. Conclusion: The present work could provide a proof of concept that procainamide could be used as a possible therapeutic potential in type 2 diabetics as an epigenetic demethylating agent to increase insulin levels and it is better to be used in combination with oral hypoglycemic agent e.g. metformin to decrease insulin resistance