Vitamin D is an immunomodulator hormone with an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect with a high safety profile. A lot of COVID-19 infected patients develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which may lead to multiple organ damage. These symptoms are associated with a cytokine storm syndrome. The aim of this letter is to note the 5 crucial points that vitamin D could have protective and therapeutic effects against COVID-19. For that reason, COVID-19 infection-induced multiple organ damage might be prevented by vitamin D.

The present study examined the relationship between polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test positivity and clinical outcomes of vitamin D levels measured within the 6 months before the PCR test in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive patients. In this retrospective cohort study, and non-COVID-19 patients (260) were divided into four groups according to their vitamin D levels:Group I (0-10 ng/ml), Group II (10-20 ng/ml), Group III (20-30 ng/ml), and Group IV (vitamin D > 30 ng/ml). Laboratory test results and the radiological findings were evaluated. In addition, for comparative purposes, medical records of 1200 patients who had a hospital visit in the November 1, 2019-November 1, 2020 period for complaints due to reasons not related to COVID-19 were investigated for the availability of vitamin D measurements. This search yielded 260 patients with tested vitamin D levels. Vitamin D levels were below 30 ng/ml in 94.27% of 227 COVID-19-positive patients (average age, 46.32 ± 1.24 years [range, 20-80 years] and 56.54% women) while 93.07% of 260 non-COVID-19 patients (average age, 44.63 ± 1.30 years [range, 18-75 years] and 59.50% women) had vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml. Nevertheless, very severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) was considerably more common in COVID-19 patients (44%) (average age, 44.15 ± 1.89 years [range, 23-80 years] and 57.57% women) than in non-COVID-19 ones (31%) (average age, 46.50 ± 2.21 years [range, 20-75 years] and 62.5% women). Among COVID-19-positive patients, the group with vitamin D levels of >30 ng/ml had significantly lower D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, number levels, number of affected lung segments and shorter hospital stays. No difference was found among the groups in terms of age and gender distribution. Elevated vitamin D levels could decrease COVID-19 PCR positivity, D-dime and CRP levels and the number of affected lung segments in COVID-19-positive patients, thereby shortening the duration of hospital stays and alleviating the intensity of COVID-19.

AIM: The present study aimed to determine the protective effect of melatonin and agomelatine on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats by electrocardiographic, scintigraphic and biochemical methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine male Wistar rats were randomly separated into seven groups; control (CON), doxorubicin (DOX), melatonin (MEL), agomelatine (AGO), melatonin+doxorubicin (MEL+DOX), agomelatine+doxorubicin (AGO+DOX) and melatonin+agomelatine+doxorubicin (MEL+AGO+DOX) groups. Cardiotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DOX (18 mg/kg daily for three days). Rats receiving MEL and AGO treatment in the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity group received MEL and AGO (40 mg/kg/day, i.p., for seven days). They were injected with doxorubicin (18 mg/kg, i.p.) on days 5, 6, and 7. The rats were given MEL and AGO as substance control (40 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 7 days). On day 8 of the experiment, animals were evaluated by means of electrocardiography (ECG) and 99m technetium pyrophosphate (99m Tc PYP) scintigraphy and their biochemical parameters [blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatine kinase (CK), cardiac troponin T (cTnT)] were examined. RESULTS: DOX-induced acute cardiotoxicity in rats is characterized by conduction abnormalities in the ECG pattern (including decreased P wave and QRS complex duration, increased QT and RR intervals, and STsegment elevation), increased serum BUN, CK, and cTnT parameters and increased 99m Tc PYP uptake (p < 0.001). Pretreatment with MEL, AGO, or MEL+AGO effectively alleviated DOX-induced ECG abnormalities close to normal (p < 0.001). Moreover, serum biochemical evidence and 99m Tc PYP uptake values demonstrated that pretreatment with MEL, AGO, or MEL+AGO has the same protective effect against the abnormalities produced in the heart by DOX (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MEL and AGO have a potential protective effect on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. At the same time, this study suggests that 99m Tc PYP is a non-invasive method suitable for early determination of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (Tab. 3, Fig. 5, Ref. 41).

Objectives: Doxorubicin (DOX) is an antineoplastic drug that is widely used in chemotherapy but its cardiotoxicity is the most important side effect that limits the clinical use of this drug. We investigated DOX treatment and the effects of vitamin D and melatonin on heart by electrocardiography, scintigraphic and biochemical methods. Methods: In this study, forty-nine adult male Wistar albino rats (220 ± 15 g) were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 7 each), namely control (CON, n = 7), doxorubicin (DOX, n = 7), melatonin (MEL, n = 7), vitamin D (Vit D, n = 7), doxorubicin plus melatonin (DOX+MEL, n = 7), doxorubicin plus vitamin D (DOX+Vit D, n = 7), and doxorubicin plus melatonin and vitamin D (DOX+MEL+Vit D, n = 7) groups. Cardiotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of DOX (18 mg/kg, i.p.) on the 15 th , 16 th and 17 th days. Rats receiving vitamin D and melatonin treatment in the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity group received vitamin D (60,000 IU/kg, i.p.) were administered in a single dose and melatonin (40 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 17 days and were injected with (18 mg/kg, i.p.) on doxorubicin 15 th , 16 th , and 17 th days. On the 18 th day electrocardiography (ECG), 99m Technetium pyrophosphate scintigraphy and biochemical parameters were assessed. Results: DOX caused changes in the ECG pattern, a significant decrease in heartbeat (p < 0.01), P wave (p < 0.001) and QRS complex durations (p < 0.001), R wave amplitude (p < 0.001); elevation in ST-segment (p < 0.001) and decrease in QT interval (p < 0,001), and R-R interval durations (p < 0.001); increase in the serum levels of cardiac injury markers (CK, BUN, cardiac troponin T), (p < 0.01), and increased 99m Technetium pyrophosphate uptake (p < 0.001) as compared to the CON group. MEL, Vit D and MEL+Vit D administration showed a same protective effect against DOX-induced altered ECG pattern. Pre-treatment with MEL, Vit D and MEL+Vit D significantly protected the heart from the toxic effect of DOX, by decreasing the levels of of cardiac injury markers (CK, BUN, cardiac troponin T) (p < 0.001) and decreased the elevated level of 99m Technetium pyrophosphate uptake (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Vitamin D and melatonin treatment prevented all the parameters of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) are ATP sensitive cation channels and have been shown to be effective in various epilepsy models. Absence epilepsy is a type of idiopathic, generalized, non-convulsive epilepsy. Limited data exist on the role of P2X7Rs and no data has been reported regarding the interaction between P2X7Rs and glutamate receptor NMDA in absence epilepsy. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the role of P2X7 and NMDA receptors and their possible interaction in WAG/Rij rats with absence epilepsy. Permanent cannula and electrodes were placed on the skulls of the animals. After the healing period of the electrode and cannula implantation, ECoG recordings were obtained during 180 min before and after drug injections. P2X7R agonist BzATP, at doses of 50 µg and 100 µg (intracerebroventricular; i.c.v.) and antagonist A-438079, at doses of 20 µg and 40 µg (i.c.v.) were administered alone or prior to memantine (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal; i.p.) injection. The total number (in every 20 min), the mean duration, and the amplitude of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) were calculated and compared. Rats were decapitated and the right and left hemisphere, cerebellum, and brainstem were separated for the measurements of the advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxide (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR). BzATP and A-438079 did not alter measured SWDs parameters, whereas memantine reduced them, which is considered anticonvulsant. BzATP did not alter the anticonvulsant effect of memantine, while A-438079 decreased the effect of memantine. Administration of BzATP increased the levels of SOD and GR in cerebrum hemispheres. A-438079 did not alter any of the biochemical parameters. Memantine reduced the levels of MDA, GSH, and GR while increased the level of CAT in the cerebrum. Administration of BzATP before memantine abolished the effect of memantine on MDA levels. The evidence from this study suggests that P2X7Rs

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract