1.Systematic review on current antiviral therapy in COVID-19 pandemic
Rawshan Ara Perveen ; Morshed Nasir ; Khandaker Abu Talha ; Farhana Selina ; Mohammad Ashraful Islam
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(6):710-716
Introduction: Currently, there are several attempts to find an
effective antiviral drugs against the COVID-19. Although
majority of the COVID-19 patients have mild to moderate
clinical events, up to 5-10% may have severe, life
threatening events that urgently require effective drugs. The
purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the
effectiveness of antiviral therapies in the treatment of
COVID-19.
Methods: An extensive search was performed in PubMed,
EMBASE, Cochrane Library for randomised controlled trials
(RCTs), prospective case series studies that evaluated
therapies COVID-19. The outcomes searched for were
mortality, recovery rate, length of hospital stay and clinical
improvement from January to May 15, 2020. Independent
reviewers searched, identified, screened, and related
studies were included.
Results: Total of five RCTs on 439 patients and seventeen
case series involving 1656 patients were found in the
specified review period that reported the use of Lopinavir,
Ritonavir, Remdesivir. Oseltamivir, Ribavirin in patients with
COVID-19; but none of which showed efficacy of antiviral
therapy. Such current findings impede researchers from
recommending an appropriate and effective antiviral therapy
against COVID-19, making it a serious concern for the global
community.
Discussion: In the present pandemic and any future
epidemics, all the related authorities should pursue many
more RCTs, cohort and case series for a prospective
outcome in the management and treatment guidelines.
2.Assessment of Bangladeshi People’s Knowledge, Awareness, Precautionary Behavior and Preventive Actions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Survey
Ashfia Tasnim Munia ; K. M. Yasif Kayes Sikdar ; Md. Anamul Haque ; Mohammad Ashraful Islam ; Md Raihan Sarkar
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.2):225-233
3. Leonurus sibiricus L. (honeyweed): A review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology
Md. Abu SAYED ; Md. Abu SAYED ; Md. Ashraful ALAM ; Md. Shariful ISLAM ; Abu Zaffar SHIBLY ; Md. Taif ALI ; Md. Emdad ULLAH ; Md. Aslam ALI ; Md. Mahdi HASAN-OLIVE
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2016;6(12):1076-1080
Leonurus sibiricus is a herbaceous plant found in many countries in Asia and America. This plant is widely practiced as a remedy for the treatment of diabetes, menstrual irregularities, and bronchitis. The approval of therapeutic implications of any drugs depends on the well characterized mode of actions of the compounds. The bioactive compounds like diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids and phenolic acids in Leonurus sibiricus show analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-atherogenic and anti-hemorrhagic, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial and allelopathic potency. Interestingly, the expression level of some genes is altered by the crude extract treatments, which are effective against cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases where the molecular mechanisms are yet to be explored. Intriguingly, the extracts significantly induce nitric oxide production by endothelial nitric oxide synthase, a signaling molecule of vasodilation in combination with interferon-γ indicating positive effect on atherosclerosis. Further investigations are required to unlock the effects of bioactive compounds found in extracts at clinical settings.