Avoiding COVID-19 Complications with Diabetic Patients Could Be Achieved by Multi-Dose Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Vaccine: A Case Study of Beta Cells Regeneration by Serendipity

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major risk factors for COVID-19 complications as it is one of the chronic immune-compromising conditions especially if patients have uncontrolled diabetes, poor HbA1c &/or irregular blood glucose levels. Diabetic patient’s mortality rates with COVID-19 are higher than cardiovascular or cancer patients. Recently Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) has shown successful results in reversing diabetes in both rats and clinical trials based on different mechanisms from aerobic glycolysis to Beta cells regeneration. BCG is a multi-face vaccine that has been used extensively in protection from TB and leprosy and has been repositioned for treatment of bladder cancer, diabetes & multiple sclerosis. Recently, the COVID-19 epidemiological study confirmed that universal BCG vaccination reduced morbidity and mortality in certain geographical areas. Countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination (Italy, Nederland, USA) have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies that have shown low numbers of reported COVID-19 cases. Some countries have started clinical trials that included a single dose BCG vaccine as prophylaxis from COVID-19 or an attempt to minimize its side effects. This proposed research aims to use BCG vaccine as a double-edged weapon countering both COVID-19 & diabetes, not only as protection but also as therapeutic vaccination. The work includes a case study of regenerated pancreatic beta cells based on improved C-peptide & PCPRI laboratory findings after BCG vaccination for a 9 years’ patient. The patient was re-vaccinated based on a negative tuberculin test & no scar at the site of injection of the 1st BCG vaccination at birth. Furthermore, the authors in the present article described a prospective BCG multi-dose clinical study in full details that they will apply in case of acceptance of their submitted grant & the ethical committee approval. The aim of the clinical study is to check if double dose BCG (4 weeks apart) will show a significant difference in the protection of health care professionals in Egypt. The authors suggest and invite the scientific community to take into consideration the concept of direct BCG re-vaccination (after 4 weeks) because of the reported gene expressions & exaggerated innate immunity consequently. As the diabetic MODY-5 patient (mutation of HNF1B, Val2Leu) was on low dose Riomet® while eliminating insulin gradually, a simple analytical method for metformin assay was recommended to ensure its concentration before use as it is not approved yet by the Egyptian QC labs.

The Relationship between Environmental Quality, Sustainable Health, and the Coronavirus Pandemic in European Countries

“…Any country that produces more environmental pollutants is more likely to have coronaviruses. Findings from other researchers' studies confirm the results of this study [14][15][16][17][18]. This study showed that the emission of two gases, SF6, and CO2, had the greatest impact on the infection and death caused by the coronavirus, respectively.…”

“…Any country that produces more environmental pollutants is more likely to have coronaviruses. Findings from other researchers' studies confirm the results of this study [14][15][16][17][18]. Nitrous oxide (N2O): Although N2O gas has the least role in increasing coronavirus cases and active cases, this gas has had a significant effect on the number of deaths and has been very dangerous in this regard .Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC): HFC gas has been ranked fifth, fourth, and fifth in influencing coronavirus, active, and death cases.…”

“…Environmental pollution can increase the incidence of various diseases, including the weakening of the immune system [6], cancer [8], asthma [9], pneumonia [10], influenza [11], respiratory infections [12], and diabetes [13]. Many researchers have looked at the link between environmental pollution and coronavirus cases, and the results show that there is a significant link [14][15][16][17][18]. As shown in Figure 1, environmental pollution can increase the rate of transmission of infectious diseases by affecting humans and increasing the number of patients.…”

The Clinical Characteristics and Gene Mutations of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young Type 5 in Sixty-One Patients

“…This might be due to the upregulation of PAX6 by glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists ( 30 ), which promoted the regeneration of insulin-secreting cells. In addition, MODY5 patients might benefit from Bacillus Calmette – Guerin (BCG) vaccination ( 31 ). Studies showed that BCG treatment might regenerate pancreatic B cell ( 32 , 33 ).…”