Medical Hypotheses[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Copper acetate aerosols: A possible tool complementary to vaccination in fight against SARS-CoV-2 and variants replication.
Deloncle R, Guillard O, Pineau A … +1 more , Lesage G
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Mar · PMID 35095175 · Full text
In SARS-CoV-2, at the S1/S2 furin cleavage site, a four amino acid insert (P-R-R-A) not found in closely related corona viruses, has been shown to facilitate entry into respiratory epithelial cells and promote virus tran...
In SARS-CoV-2, at the S1/S2 furin cleavage site, a four amino acid insert (P-R-R-A) not found in closely related corona viruses, has been shown to facilitate entry into respiratory epithelial cells and promote virus transmission, infectivity and virulence. By cupric aerosol treatment, complexation of these four amino acids (-P-R-R-A-), at the spike (S) protein site will lead to a conformational change possibly impeding SARS-CoV-2 replication process in the respiratory track. Since these four amino acids yield strong and stable copper complexes, subsequent to a steric hindrance, this complexation will disturb the furin-like protease cleavage at the spike protein site as it has been recently shown in vitro with copper gluconate. The compilation of stability constants for copper amino-acid complex formation, showing values of the same order of magnitude for all the twenty proteinogenic amino-acids demonstrate thermodynamically that copper amino-acid chelation for SARS-CoV-2 virus will not be affected by mutations leading to amino acid exchanges in the spike protein region. Given its low toxicity, and its very low stability formation constant, copper acetate is proposed rather than copper gluconate for possible cupric aerosol or nasal spray treatments aimed at impeding SARS-CoV-2 multiplication. It will open different medical perspectives, complementary to vaccination, in the fight against COVID 19 native virus, variants and future mutants.
Diethylcarbamazine as potential treatment of COVID-19 lung fibrosis.
Medina-De la Garza CE, Salvador Flores-Torres A, García-Hernández M … +1 more , de Los Ángeles Castro-Corona M
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Mar · PMID 35095174 · Full text
Diethylcarbamazine, the antiparasitic drug, also possesses anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. The anti-fibrotic activity of diethylcarbamazine makes it a potential candidate to treat coronavirus disease 2...
Diethylcarbamazine, the antiparasitic drug, also possesses anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. The anti-fibrotic activity of diethylcarbamazine makes it a potential candidate to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related pulmonary fibrosis. Experimental and clinical studies should assess this possible effect.
Bioluminescence and ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by oral biofilm in ICU during COVID-19 -Is there a possible relationship?
Joseph B, Steier L
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Feb · PMID 35002024 · Full text
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has been claiming many lives in the intensive care unit (ICU) during COVID-19. Oral biofilm and bacterial contamination that can be passed on from the oral cavity to the lungs during...
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has been claiming many lives in the intensive care unit (ICU) during COVID-19. Oral biofilm and bacterial contamination that can be passed on from the oral cavity to the lungs during endotracheal intubation has been found to be the main culprit. Bioluminescence-based assays are emerging as potential clinical diagnostics methods. Hence, we hypothesize that the bioluminescent imaging technique can be used in the ICU to determine the load of biofilm-associated with patients undergoing endotracheal intubation. Early detection of such infections and their management can effectively bring down mortality and influence the death rate in ICU caused due to VAP. Government agencies and policymakers should be made to take this issue of deaths in the ICU due to VAP more seriously and act judiciously to methods such as bioluminescence based on sound scientific evidence.
Nanomedicine formulations for respiratory infections by inhalation delivery: Covid-19 and beyond.
Zachar O
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Feb · PMID 35002023 · Full text
For respiratory infections treatment and prevention, we analyze for the first time the possibility of providing a broad range medication based on metallic nanoparticles colloids (NpC) delivery by controlled aerosol inhal...
For respiratory infections treatment and prevention, we analyze for the first time the possibility of providing a broad range medication based on metallic nanoparticles colloids (NpC) delivery by controlled aerosol inhalation. (i) Based on in-vitro data combined with aerosol deposition characteristics in the respiratory system, we calculate the required effective formulations, dosages and delivery parameters for an aerosol inhalation treatment. The goal is to achieve an effective NpC inhibitory concentration (IC) in the target airway surface liquid (ASL); (ii) We evaluate the clinical safety of such dosages, drawing on information from animal testing data and regulatory limits in the USA for such nanoparticles aerosol inhalation safety. Our analysis indicates a wide range of potentially safe and effective dosages that can be clinically explored, targeting the upper respiratory and bronchial tree system. Similar dosages can also provide antibacterial effectiveness for prophylactic treatment in hospital intensive care units to lower the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Our calculations are phenomenological, independent of mechanisms. Nevertheless, we highlight a mechanism of action by which any suitably designed NpC, with nanoparticles sized 2-10 nm and having a large negative zeta-potential, preferentially bind to viruses with predominantly positively-charged spike proteins. These will be ineffective against viruses with predominantly negatively-charged spike proteins. Accordingly, the popular silver metal base for NpC serves just as a construction ingredient, and other metal or metal-oxides which can serve to construct the noted nanoparticle properties would be similarly effective. We suggest that inhalation delivery of the proposed antiviral formulations could be applied as a first-line intervention while respiratory infections are primarily localized to the upper respiratory system and bronchial tree.
Restructuring the ONYX-015 adenovirus by using spike protein genes from SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV: Possible implications in breast cancer treatment.
Parmar HS, Nayak A, Kataria S … +9 more , Tripathi V, Jaiswal P, Gavel PK, Jha HC, Bhagwat S, Dixit AK, Lukashevich V, Das AK, Sharma R
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Feb · PMID 35002022 · Full text
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Proposed mechanism for rare thrombotic events after use of some Covid-19 vaccines.
Feldman PA
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Feb · PMID 35002021 · Full text
Administration of AstraZeneca/Oxford and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Covid-19 vaccines which use an adenovirus vector for DNA delivery has been associated with very rare thromboembolic complications coupled with an immune...
Administration of AstraZeneca/Oxford and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Covid-19 vaccines which use an adenovirus vector for DNA delivery has been associated with very rare thromboembolic complications coupled with an immune response to platelet factor 4 protein. The cause of this has not yet been identified. It is known that binding of coagulation factor proteins to the surface of some adenoviruses can protect their function. Here I propose that the thromboembolic events are caused by impairment of coagulation factor X binding to the virus capsid. The unprotected capsid then stimulates an immune response leading to platelet activation, increased thrombogenicity and formation of an antibody complex with platelet factor 4. Impaired binding of factor X may be due to an undiagnosed mutation in affected individuals. Options to test this mechanism experimentally and potential remedial actions to resolve the hazard are described. This mechanism offers a remedial route to address concerns about the safety of these vaccines, which are otherwise well-positioned to deliver global Covid-19 immunity across diverse healthcare economies.
A one-step platform for screening high-efficient and minimal off-target CRISPR/Cas13 crRNAs to eradicate SARS-CoV-2 virus for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Li PY, Li SQ, Gao SG … +1 more , Dong DY
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Feb · PMID 35002020 · Full text
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new respiratory illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and now spreads globally. Currently, therapeutics and effective treatment option...
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new respiratory illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and now spreads globally. Currently, therapeutics and effective treatment options remain scarce and there is no proven drug to treat COVID-19. Targeting the positive-sense RNA genome and viral mRNAs of SARS-CoV-2 to simultaneously degrade viral genome templates for replication and viral mRNAs for essential gene expression would be a strategy to completely realize virus elimination. Type VI CRISPR enzymes Cas13 have recently been identified as programmable RNA-guided, RNA-targeting Cas proteins with nuclease activity that allows for RNA cleavage and degradation. The precise viral RNA detection and antiviral application of the CRISPR/Cas13 system depend on high-efficient and minimal off-target crRNAs. Although a computer-based algorithm has been applied for the design of crRNAs targeting SRAS-CoV-2, the experimental screening system to identify optimal crRNA is not available. We develop a one-step experimental screening system to identify high-efficient crRNAs with minimal off-target effects for CRISPR/Cas13-based SARS-CoV-2 elimination. This platform provides the foundation for CRISPR/Cas13-based diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19. This platform is versatile and could also be applied for crRNAs screening for other RNA viruses.
might transmit through the skin while the skin barrier function could be the mediator.
Xu Q, Zhang L, Chen L … +7 more , Zhao X, Wang X, Hu M, Le Y, Xue F, Li X, Zheng J
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Feb · PMID 35002019 · Full text
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it were reported that COVID-19 patients could have cutaneous symptoms, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was observed on the skin of COVID-19 pa...
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it were reported that COVID-19 patients could have cutaneous symptoms, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was observed on the skin of COVID-19 patients, which indicated that the skin is one target of . Meanwhile, reports about transmission through food cold-chain overpacks emerged. With the fact that could survive on the skin for more than 9 h, the skin could be implicated in transmission. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a critical membrane protein for that enters a host cell, was recognized to be associated with the risk of infection. Therefore, tissues that express ACE2 might have the potential to be infected by and transmit . The skin is one such tissue that expresses ACE2. However, unlike the lung that expresses ACE2 on the upper-most epithelial layer, the skin is composed of different layers of cells that function as a barrier, and cells under the top epidermal layer express ACE2. Since the skin barrier is the first line of protection, the typical position of ACE2-expressing cells in the skin implies that the skin barrier function could be the mediator of . In our study, we found that ACE2 could be expressed in the skin, and its expression level is increased in psoriasis, an inflammatory disease of the skin with barrier dysfunction. Additionally, by applying the pseudovirus on mouse models with or without deteriorated skin barrier, we found that the pseudovirus could infect the skin and lungs of mouse models, and when the skin barrier was impaired, more -infected cells could be found. Thus, we hypothesized that a deteriorated condition of the skin barrier might increase the risk of infection through the skin.
A new hypothesis for the pathophysiology of symptomatic adult Chiari malformation Type I.
Labuda R, Nwotchouang BST, Ibrahimy A … +4 more , Allen PA, Oshinski JN, Klinge P, Loth F
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Jan · PMID 34992329 · Full text
Chiari malformation Type I (CMI) is characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. The pathophysiology of CMI is not well elucidated; however, the prevailing theory focuses on the under...
Chiari malformation Type I (CMI) is characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum. The pathophysiology of CMI is not well elucidated; however, the prevailing theory focuses on the underdevelopment of the posterior cranial fossa which results in tonsillar herniation. Symptoms are believed to be due to the herniation causing resistance to the natural flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and exerting a mass effect on nearby neural tissue. However, asymptomatic cases vastly outnumber symptomatic ones and it is not known why some people become symptomatic. Recently, it has been proposed that CMI symptoms are primarily due to instability of either the atlanto-axial (AA) or the atlanto-occipital (AO) joint and the cerebellar tonsils herniate to prevent mechanical pinching. However, only a small percentage of patients exhibit clinical instability and these theories do not account for asymptomatic herniations. We propose that the pathophysiology of adult CMI involves a combination of craniocervical abnormalities which leads to tonsillar herniation and reduced compliance of the cervical spinal canal. Specifically, abnormal AO and/or AA joint morphology leads to chronic cervical instability, often subclinical, in a large portion of CMI patients. This in turn causes overwork of the suboccipital muscles as they try to compensate for the instability. Over time, the repeated, involuntary activation of these muscles leads to mechanical overload of the myodural bridge complex, altering the mechanical properties of the dura it merges with. As a result, the dura becomes stiffer, reducing the overall compliance of the cervical region. This lower compliance, combined with CSF resistance at the same level, leads to intracranial pressure peaks during the cardiac cycle (pulse pressure) that are amplified during activities such as coughing, sneezing, and physical exertion. This increase in pulse pressure reduces the compliance of the cervical subarachnoid space which increases the CSF wave speed in the spinal canal, and further increases pulse pressure in a feedback loop. Finally, the abnormal pressure environment induces greater neural tissue motion and strain, causing microstructural damage to the cerebellum, brainstem, and cervical spinal cord, and leading to symptoms. This hypothesis explains how the combination of craniocervical bony abnormalities, anatomic CSF restriction, and reduced compliance leads to symptoms in adult CMI.
Nicotinic receptors as SARS-CoV-2 spike co-receptors?
Dormoy V, Perotin JM, Gosset P … +3 more , Maskos U, Polette M, Deslée G
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Jan · PMID 34924680 · Full text
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in homeostasis and respiratory diseases. Controversies regarding the association between COVID-19 hospitalizations and smoking suggest that nAChRs may con...
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in homeostasis and respiratory diseases. Controversies regarding the association between COVID-19 hospitalizations and smoking suggest that nAChRs may contribute to SARS-CoV-2 respiratory syndrome. We recently detailed the expression and localization of all nAChR subunits in the human lung. Since virus association with nAChRs has been shown in the past, we hypothesize that nAChR subunits act as SARS-CoV-2 Spike co-receptors. Based on sequence alignment analysis, we report domains of high molecular similarities in nAChRs with the binding domain of hACE2 for SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. This hypothesis supported by pilot data provides a rational for the modelling and the experimental validation of the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the nAChRs.
Potential therapeutic effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on COVID-19-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Lee JH
Med Hypotheses · 2022 Jan · PMID 34916733 · Full text
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious diseases caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Now, it is pandemic over the world. SARS-CoV-2 often causes a "cytokine storm" in peop...
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious diseases caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Now, it is pandemic over the world. SARS-CoV-2 often causes a "cytokine storm" in people with COVID-19, causing inflammatory lung damage and pneumonia, which eventually leads to death. Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is well known as an incretin hormone responsible for regulation of blood glucose through its receptor. Beyond glycemic control, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have promising anti-inflammatory actions in human and rodent pathological models. Recent studies proved that GLP-1RAs attenuate pulmonary inflammation, reduce cytokine production, and preserve lung function in mice and rats with experimental lung injury. Moreover, a thickened pulmonary vascular wall, an important characteristic of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was observed in the autopsy lung tissue of a COVID-19 patient. Thus GLP-1RAs may be a novel therapeutic strategy for combating this pandemic specifically for patient characteristics of PHA after COVID-19 infection.
Cardiomyocytes calpain 2 expression: Diagnostic forensic marker for sudden cardiac death caused by early myocardial ischemia and an indicator of the duration of myocardial agonal period?
Kunišek L, Matušan Ilijaš K, Medved I … +4 more , Ferenčić A, Erdeljac D, Arbanas S, Kunišek J
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34863067 · Publisher ↗
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected natural death of cardiac etiology and occurs within one hour of the onset of cardiac symptoms in an apparently healthy subject or within 24 h if death is not witnessed. The dia...
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is an unexpected natural death of cardiac etiology and occurs within one hour of the onset of cardiac symptoms in an apparently healthy subject or within 24 h if death is not witnessed. The diagnosis of early myocardial ischemia (EMI) or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after death is a challenge for forensic pathologists especially when death occurs in a short period of time after the onset of myocardial ischemia. Disorder of cardiomyocytes Ca homeostasis caused by myocardial ischemia during SCD can lead to the activation of calcium-activated non-lysosomal cysteine protease, including calpains. They serve as a proteolytic unit for cell balance and also participate in the processes of apoptosis and necrosis. Agony is a period that precedes somatic death that differs from cellular agony which may evolve for hours after somatic death lasting differently depending on the cell type and mechanism of death. We hypothesize that the expression of calpain 2 in cardiomyocytes could be a specific and sensitive diagnostic forensic marker for SCD caused by EMI and an indicator of the duration of myocardial agonal period. We will conduct a retrospective study that will prove this hypothesis on the respondents who died of SCD by EMI and AMI, instant death by head gunshot and hanging. There is no data on such an analysis in the available literature. The standard hematoxylin-eosin staining will be used to detect cardiac tissue damage. The expression of calpain 2 in cardiomyocytes will be analyzed immunohistochemically. In SCD caused by EMI we expect lower level of calpain 2 expressionin comparison to AMI due to shorter duration of dying. Similar, we predict in the remote region lower calpain 2 expression than in the region of ischemia for both EMI and AMI. In instant death caused by perforating traumatic brain injury we expect mild or no calpain 2 expression throughout the whole myocardium because of very short (immediate) duration of dying. In death caused by hanging calpain 2 expression throughout the whole myocardium should be strong because of longer cellular agonal period. We expect that our results would indicate the immediate activation of calpain 2 in different causes of cardiomyocytes death. From the degree of expression of calpain 2 we could conclude about the duration of cardiomyocytes agony so calpain 2 could be used as a marker for the assessment the duration of somatic and cellular agony.
CCL2/ACKR2 interaction participate in breast cancer metastasis especially in patients with altered lipid metabolism.
Zhong X, Wang X, Sun Q
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34861532 · Publisher ↗
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide and metastasis accounts for the majority of associated deaths. Altered lipid metabolism has been proved to be involved with breast cancer, yet the underlying mechanism...
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide and metastasis accounts for the majority of associated deaths. Altered lipid metabolism has been proved to be involved with breast cancer, yet the underlying mechanism in lipid metabolism mediated metastasis in breast cancer remains inadequately understood. Evidence have indicated that adipocytes can produce chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and several studies have shown that tumor metastasis and patient survival is associated with atypical chemokine receptors/chemokine decoy receptors. We are interested in the factors that may influence cancer metastasis and patient prognosis, particularly in patients with altered lipid metabolism. In this paper, we propose a hypothesis that patients with increased expression levels of atypical chemokine receptor 2 (ACKR2) receptors will have less chance for tumor metastasis, whereas patients with decreased ACKR2 expression but high levels of chemokine receptor 2 positive (CCR2 + ) monocytes are more likely to develop metastasis and have worse outcomes. However, in patients with lower ACKR2 expression level but elevated level of CCR2 + NK cells, primary tumor can be suppressed and therefore present better outcomes.
The oral microbiome and vaccine efficacy.
Sahni V
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34839034 · Publisher ↗
The immune response elicited by vaccines is crucial in determining their eventual efficacy. The human microbiome, in particular, that of the gut has been demonstrated to influence the immunogenicity of vaccines delivered...
The immune response elicited by vaccines is crucial in determining their eventual efficacy. The human microbiome, in particular, that of the gut has been demonstrated to influence the immunogenicity of vaccines delivered by both the oral and non-oral routes. There is a significant overlap between the microflora of the mouth and that recovered from the gut, with certain periodontopathogens playing key roles in influencing the gut microflora. The present paper hypothesized that the oral microflora may play a role in the eventual immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccines.
A mouse zoonotic virus (LCMV): A possible candidate in the causation of SIDS.
Goldwater PN
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34801792 · Publisher ↗
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a ubiquitous virus carried by rodents. It causes human disease through contact with infectious mouse faeces, urine or secretions. The virus initially infects the human respira...
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a ubiquitous virus carried by rodents. It causes human disease through contact with infectious mouse faeces, urine or secretions. The virus initially infects the human respiratory tract and lungs and produces typical viral symptoms and signs. The infection is usually self-limiting and recovery is the norm. A small proportion of individuals may develop aseptic meningitis. It is hypothesised that in infancy the virus may cause respiratory tract infection through contact with mouse excreta. The infection could activate production of staphylococcal enterotoxin in babies who are colonised by Staphylococcus aureus. Indeed, a mouse animal model has shown that the combination of LCMV infection and introduction of enterotoxin B produces fatal haematogenous shock. Neither agent alone is lethal. Pathological (and physiological) evidence indicates shock could be the underlying terminal event in SIDS (the observed tissue damage seen in the heart and diaphragmatic muscles, and apoptosis observed in the brain and brainstem of SIDS cases). These features are consistent with a haematogenous shock event. The epidemiology of SIDS is entirely consistent with a mouse-related viral zoonosis. Moreover, rural cases of SIDS tend to feature more often than urban cases and their occurrence would be consistent with the dynamics of mouse populations. Low socioeconomic living conditions (a major risk factor for SIDS) is consistent with prevalence of mouse populations and poor hygienic conditions, with overcrowding. Prone sleeping would facilitate aspiration or ingestion of infectious material from contaminated surfaces. and poor hygienic conditions, with overcrowding, and prone sleeping would facilitate aspiration or ingestion of infectious material from contaminated surfaces. The epidemiology and pathology of SIDS and the dynamics and ubiquity of mouse populations together with human serological data would support the hypothesis that LCMV is a potential candidate as a key factor in the causation of SIDS.
Professional responsibility between guidelines and customary practice. A conflict of interest?
Tebala GD, Slack Z, Fantini V … +4 more , Masato S, Parla M, Cirocchi R, Di Saverio S
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34801791 · Publisher ↗
In Countries with Common Law, the principles of medical liability in case of malpractice claim are based on the Bolam/Bolitho tests, that is, the opinion of a panel of average professionals of the same specialty. On the...
In Countries with Common Law, the principles of medical liability in case of malpractice claim are based on the Bolam/Bolitho tests, that is, the opinion of a panel of average professionals of the same specialty. On the contrary, in Countries whose legal system is based on the Corpus Iustinianeum the practice of a doctor is benchmarked against established guidelines. Occasionally, the opinion of an expert panel may not overlap the formal guidelines, in particular in cases like the surgical treatment of acute diverticulitis and that of acute cholecystitis where pre-existing old-fashioned ideas are so rooted into the behaviour of doctors that they are extremely difficult to eradicate despite the growing amount of evidence. This may lead to the paradox that a doctor who followed the guidelines might be considered imprudent or negligent as his or her choice did not overlap that of the "average" professional. This is a grey area that needs clarification. We propose that the "expert panel" nominated during a medical malpractice claim should not report their personal - although shared - opinion, but should unbiasedly report all the available acceptable options. Criminal and civil courts, along with other medical panels, must consider this bias when scrutinizing the practice of a professional.
BPC 157 as Potential Treatment for COVID-19.
Deek SA
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34798584 · Full text
The emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China at the end of 2019 has caused a large global outbreak. COVID-19 is largely seen as a thrombotic and vascular disease targeting endothelial cells (ECs) throughout t...
The emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China at the end of 2019 has caused a large global outbreak. COVID-19 is largely seen as a thrombotic and vascular disease targeting endothelial cells (ECs) throughout the body that can provoke the breakdown of central vascular functions. This explains the complications and multi-organ failure seen in COVID-19 patients including acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiovascular complications, liver damage, and neurological damage. Acknowledging the comorbidities and potential organ injuries throughout the course of COVID-19 is therefore crucial in the clinical management of patients. Here we discuss BPC 157, based primarily on animal model data, as a novel agent that can improve the clinical management of COVID-19. BPC 157 is a peptide that has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and endothelial-protective effects in different organ systems in different species. BPC 157 activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is associated with nitric oxide (NO) release, tissue repair and angiomodulatory properties which can lead to improved vascular integrity and immune response, reduced proinflammatory profile, and reduced critical levels of the disease. As a result, discussion of its use as a potential prophylactic and complementary treatment is critical. All examined treatments, although potentiality effective against COVID-19, need either appropriate drug development or clinical trials in humans to be suitable for clinical use.
Vitamin D may prevent COVID-19 induced pregnancy complication.
Al-Kaleel A, Al-Gailani L, Demir M … +1 more , Aygün H
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34784554 · Full text
SARS-CoV-2 enters target cells via the ACE2 receptor and downregulates it. ACE2 exhibits high catalytic activity to produce Angiotensin 1-7 (Ang-1-7), which has a vasodilator effect and also inactivates the vasoconstrict...
SARS-CoV-2 enters target cells via the ACE2 receptor and downregulates it. ACE2 exhibits high catalytic activity to produce Angiotensin 1-7 (Ang-1-7), which has a vasodilator effect and also inactivates the vasoconstrictor Angiotensin II. In normal pregnancy ACE2 expression is raising in the uterus and placenta. Ang-1-7 levels in plasma are significantly higher in third-trimester pregnant women when compared to non-pregnant women. This may be contributing to systemic vasodilation and reduced blood pressure and modulating hemodynamics during pregnancy. Interestingly, Ang-1-7 plasma levels are lower in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia than normal pregnancies. COVID-19 infection increased the inflammatory cytokines and reduced ACE2 level. This may lead to pre-eclampsia or hypertensive pregnancies, then increasing the perinatal and maternal mortality and morbidity. Vitamin D increased ACE2 expression and Ang-1-7 plasma levels and also decreased Ang II level in plasma. Moreover, Vitamin D reduced the inflammatory cytokine storm. So, Vitamin D supplementation can prevent the risk of preeclampsia or hypertension in pregnant women with COVID-19.
Whole adrenal extract for Addison's disease in the 1920s: Where is the cortisol?
Isaacs LL
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Nov · PMID 34773841 · Publisher ↗
Prior to the development of synthetic corticosteroids, Addison's disease was treated with oral dessicated whole adrenal glands or crude extracts. These products could not have contained meaningful amounts of cortisol, ye...
Prior to the development of synthetic corticosteroids, Addison's disease was treated with oral dessicated whole adrenal glands or crude extracts. These products could not have contained meaningful amounts of cortisol, yet some patients improved. There may be something in whole glands that can stimulate failing adrenals to make cortisol.
Are there medium to short-term multifaceted effects of the airborne pollutant PM determining the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants?
Baron YM
Med Hypotheses · 2021 Oct · PMID 34758423 · Full text
The COVID-19 pandemic has been characterised by successiveoutbreaks effecting large swathes of the world's populations. These waves of infection have been mainly driven by a number of more transmissiblevariants which app...
The COVID-19 pandemic has been characterised by successiveoutbreaks effecting large swathes of the world's populations. These waves of infection have been mainly driven by a number of more transmissiblevariants which appear to evade the populations' immunity gained from previous outbreaks. There appears to be a link between COVID-19 and a ubiquitous airborne pollutant calledparticulate matter, PM2.5. Particulate matter through a number of mechanisms, including its anthropogenic effect, appears to be associated with the incidence and the mortality related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper poses a number of hypotheses on the short to medium-term mechanisms whereby PM2.5 may be party to the natural selection of SARS-CoV-2 virus, with the consequent emergence of variants.
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