Monkeypox outbreak 2022: What we know so far and its potential drug targets and management strategies

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The disease can result in flu-like symptoms, fever, and a persistent rash. The disease is currently spreading throughout the world and prevention and treatment efforts are being intensified. Although there is no treatment that has been specifically approved for monkeypox virus infection, infected patients may benefit from using certain antiviral medications that are typically prescribed for the treatment of smallpox. The drugs are tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir, all of which are currently in short supply due to the spread of the monkeypox virus. Resistance is also a concern, as widespread replication of the monkeypox virus can lead to mutations that produce monkeypox viruses that are resistant to the currently available treatments. This article discusses monkeypox disease, potential drug targets, and management strategies to overcome monkeypox disease. With the discovery of new drugs, it is hoped that the problem of insufficient drugs will be resolved, and it is not anticipated that drug resistance will become a major issue in the near future.     

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency with confirmed molecular diagnosis: An important cause of hypoglycemia in children

Objectives:To draw attention towards fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) deficiency as an important cause of hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis and to implement preventive strategies.Methods:This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 7 Saudi patients with genetically confirmed FBPase deficiency from 2008 to 2018 at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results:Participants ranged in age from 1-10 years, and all presented with recurrent hypoglycemia. All but one had associated severe metabolic acidosis, and 3 patients (42.9%) presented with hypoglycemia and severe acidosis since birth. The mean duration from presentation to diagnosis was 39.4 months, as other diagnoses, like glycogen storage diseases and mitochondrial diseases needed to be ruled out. Development was normal apart from speech delay in one patient with a novel variant of the FBP1 gene. All patients have homozygous variants in the FBP1 gene.Conclusion:Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is an important cause of hypoglycemia and acidosis; therefore, it is important to offer early molecular diagnostics in any child presenting with these symptoms. Molecular diagnostics should always be undertaken to confirm the diagnosis and for further preventive strategies.     

Braiding Thermoplastic and Glass Fibers in Composite Dental Post Improves Their Mechanical Compatibility,In Vitro Experiment

Mechanical compatibility with the human dentin is a considerable issue when fabricating dental fiber posts. To this purpose, this study introduces a new method of fabricating compatible dental posts using braiding techniques of thermoplastic fibers (matrix) with glass fibers (reinforcement). Fifty fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) posts of thermoplastic yarns polypropylene (PP) braided with continuous filaments glass fibers (GFs) for reinforcement, varying in fiber volume fraction (FVF), and core types are fabricated and tested. Posts are performed using a braiding machine, and braids are placed in an aluminum mold. The filled mold is playced inside an oven at the melting temperature of the polypropylene to produce the final post’s shape. An ultrasonic test is conducted to measure the shear modulus and Young’s modulus of FRC post specimens by measuring the velocities of both the P-wave and S-wave. In order to ensure the accuracy of the measurements, each sample is measured three times, and then the means and standard deviations of each sample are calculated before analyzing the test results using the means of two steps, namely, clustering and comparing the P and R² values of each cluster, which revealed that FVF, fiber mass, and core type of the specimen had a significant effect on the resulted Young’s and shear modulus. The results indicate that the proposed method can fabricate competitive dental posts with regard to different fabricating variables. The samples show Young’s modulus ranges of from 10.08 GPa to 31.83 GPa. The following tested hypothesis is supported: the braiding technique of thermoplastic fibers with glass fibers will improve the mechanical compatibility of the resulting posts (ex vivo).     

Montelukast modifies simvastatin-induced myopathy and hepatotoxicity

Montelukast (MNK) has prominent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. It can protect the liver in different hepatotoxic models in animals. Simvastatin (SMV) is one of commonly used lipid lowering drugs for treatment of dyslipidemia in order to reduce cardiovascular disease. It has severe side effects such as myopathy and hepatotoxicity. The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible effect of MNK on SMV-induced myopathy and hepatotoxicity. Four groups of male rats: control group which received saline via stomach tube, MNK treated group (received 10 mg/kg/day MNK via stomach tube), SMV treated group (received 30 mg/kg/day SMV via stomach tube), and MNK + SMV (combination) group which received both MNK and SMV. All animals were treated for 14 days before obtaining blood and tissue samples. SMV has both hepatotoxic effects and myopathy. SMV caused a significant increase in myoglobin, creatinine kinase, ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin but, it decreased total proteins, globulin and albumin levels. Co-treatment of SMV and MNK increased the antioxidant activity significantly. MNK modifies partially the myopathic changes and hepatotoxic effect of SMV. Co-administration of MNK and SMV decreased their toxic potentials on the liver, skeletal muscles, and kidney. They have antioxidant activities when given together that produce muscle and hepatic protective effects.     

Shedding light on vitamin D: the shared mechanistic and pathophysiological role between hypovitaminosis D and COVID-19 risk factors and complications

Inflammopharmacology - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) is the culprit of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which has infected approximately 173 million people...     

Coated silver nanoparticles: synthesis,cytotoxicity, and optical properties

Coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently become a topic of interest due to the fact that they have several applications such as in electronic, antimicrobial, industrial, optical, and medical fields as biosensors and drug delivery systems. However, the use of AgNPs in medical fields remains somewhat limited due to their probable cytotoxic effect. Researchers have succeeded in reducing the toxicity of silver particles by coating them with different substances. Generally, the coating of AgNPs leads to change in their properties depending on the type of the coating material as well as the layer thickness. This review covers the state-of-the-art technologies behind (a) the synthesis of coated AgNPs including coating methods and coating materials, (b) the cytotoxicity of coated AgNPs and (c) the optical properties of coated AgNPs.

Coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently become a topic of interest due to the fact that they have several applications such as in electronic, antimicrobial, industrial, optical, and medical fields as biosensors and drug delivery systems.