The goal of this study was to analyze the effect of COVID-19 drugs and biologicals on hyperglycemia. A literature search with key terms, such as “COVID-19 drugs and hyperglycemia” and “COVID-19 vaccines and hyperglycemia,” was conducted using PubMed through September 2021. The CDC data were referenced for current COVID-19 profile and statistics. The NIH COVID-19 guidelines were referenced for updated treatment recommendations. Micromedex and UpToDate were used for drug and disease information. Current results suggested that corticosteroids (dexamethasone), remdesivir and antivirals (lopinavir and ritonavir) all have the potential to significantly raise blood glucose levels putting patients at elevated risk for severe complications. In contrary, hydroxychloroquine is associated with hypoglycemia, and tocilizumab decreases inflammation which is associated with improving glucose levels. Other anti-cytokine bioactive molecules are correlated with lower blood glucose in patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Ivermectin, used for mild COVID-19 disease, possesses the potential for lowering blood glucose. Covishield, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Moderna have all been associated with hyperglycemia after the first dose. Individualized /personalized patient care is required for diabetic mellitus patients with COVID-19 infection. Improper drug therapy aggravates hyperglycemic conditions and other comorbid conditions, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

No abstract

No abstract

While chemotherapy is the most effective therapeutic approach for treating a variety of cancer patients, commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, often induce several adverse effects. Escalating evidence indicates that chemotherapeutics, particularly doxorubicin (DOX) and cyclophosphamide (CPS), induce cognitive impairment associated with central nervous system toxicity. This study was performed to determine neuroprotective effects of Oroxylum indicum extract (OIE) in regard to preventing chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment (CICI) occurring after 4 cycles of DOX (2mg/kg) and CPS (50mg/kg) combination chemotherapy in male C57BL/6J mice. OIE significantly prevented the chemotherapy impaired short-term cognitive performance, exploratory behavior associated with cognitive performance, cognitive performance, and spatial learning and memory in the Y-maze, Open-Field, Novel Object Recognition, and Morris Water Maze tests, respectively. These data suggest that OIE protects from the CICI. OIE decreased the reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxide generated by the chemotherapy treatment in the brain, while also blocking the chemotherapy-induced glutathione depletion. These results establish that OIE exhibits potent antioxidant activity in chemotherapy treated mice. Notably, OIE significantly increased the Complex-I and Complex-IV activities in the brain, indicating that OIE enhances mitochondrial function in the brain. In silico analysis of the major active chemical constituents (Oroxylin A, Baicalein and Chrysin) of OIE indicated that OIE has a favorable absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) profile. Taken together, our results are consistent with the conclusion that OIE prevents CICI by counteracting oxidative stress and perhaps by improving mitochondrial function.

BackgroundChoosing the most effective chemotherapeutic agent with safest side effect profile is a common challenge in cancer treatment. Although there are standardized chemotherapy protocols in place, protocol changes made after extensive clinical trials demonstrate significant improvement in the efficacy and tolerability of certain drugs. The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tolerance of anti‐cancer medications are all highly individualized. A driving force behind these differences lies within a person's genetic makeup.Recent findingsPharmacogenomics, the study of how an individual's genes impact the processing and action of a drug, can optimize drug responsiveness and reduce toxicities by creating a customized medication regimen. However, these differences are rarely considered in the initial determination of standardized chemotherapeutic protocols and treatment algorithms. Because pharmacoethnicity is influenced by both genetic and nongenetic variables, clinical data highlighting disparities in the frequency of polymorphisms between different ethnicities is steadily growing.  Recent data suggests that ethnic variations in the expression of allelic variants may result in different pharmacokinetic properties of the anti‐cancer medication. In this article, the clinical outcomes of various chemotherapy classes in patients of different ethnicities were reviewed.ConclusionGenetic and nongenetic variables contribute to the interindividual variability in response to chemotherapeutic drugs. Considering pharmacoethnicity in the initial determination of standard chemotherapeutic protocols and treatment algorithms can lead to better clinical outcomes of patients of different ethnicities.