This paper describes the evolving role of robotics in healthcare and allied areas with special concerns relating to the management and control of the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The prime utilization of such robots is to minimize person-to-person contact and to ensure cleaning, sterilization and support in hospitals and similar facilities such as quarantine. This will result in minimizing the life threat to medical staff and doctors taking an active role in the management of theCOVID-19 pandemic. The intention of the present research is to highlight the importance of medical robotics in general and then to connect its utilization with the perspective of COVID-19 management so that the hospital management can direct themselves to maximize the use of medical robots for various medical procedures. This is despite the popularity of telemedicine, which is also effective in similar situations. In essence, the recent achievement of the Korean and Chinese health sectors in obtaining active control of the COVID-19 pandemic was not possible without the use of state of the art medical technology.

Dyslipidemia is a prevalent condition in the Pakistani population, significantly contributing to coronary heart disease (CHD). Atorvastatin, a widely used hypolipidemic drug, exhibits variable efficacy and safety influenced by genetic factors. This study aimed to assess the impact of SLCO1B1 rs2306283 (A > G) polymorphism on the efficacy and safety profile of atorvastatin in the Pakistani population. One hundred dyslipidemic patients, aged 40–75, received atorvastatin 10 mg daily for one month. Blood samples were collected on days 0 and 28 to measure lipid profiles and creatinine kinase (CK). Genotyping for rs2306283 (388 A> G) polymorphism was performed, and myopathy was evaluated using the Statin Associated Muscle Symptoms (SAMS) clinical index tool and CK levels. The minor allele frequency of rs2306283 was 12%. Only the AA (76%) and AG (24%) genotypes were observed; the GG genotype was absent. Atorvastatin significantly improved lipid parameters; however, no association was observed between rs2306283 polymorphism and lipid-lowering efficacy. A significant association was found with myopathy, with an incidence of 18.4% in patients with the AA genotype and 0% in those with the AG genotype. The G allele demonstrated a protective effect, as it was completely absent in the myopathy group. No significant elevation in CK levels was associated with myopathy. The SLCO1B1 rs2306283 polymorphism does not affect atorvastatin’s lipid-lowering efficacy; however, individuals with the AG genotype exhibit a significantly reduced risk of statin-induced myopathy in the Pakistani population. These findings support the potential role of pharmacogenetic screening in enhancing the safety of statin therapy. NCT06674044, Date: 03/09/2024.

To determine the relative effectiveness of combination therapy of antidepressants with low-dose methylfolate versus antidepressant monotherapy in patients with depressive disorder. In an open-label clinical trial, forty-four patients with depressive disorder (6A70, 6A71, and 6A72 according to ICD-11) received an evidence-based antidepressant therapy (either escitalopram 10-20 mg, sertraline 50-100 mg, fluoxetine 20-40 mg, duloxetine 30-60 mg, mirtazapine 15-30 mg, venlafaxine 75-150 mg, trazodone 50-100 mg, amitriptyline 25-75 mg, or clomipramine 25-75 mg orally daily for 4 weeks). The experimental group, Group B was additionally given a dose of methylfolate 800 µg daily for four weeks. The psychometric testing of depression was achieved through administration of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) on days 0, 14, and 28, to find the improvement in the depressive score on day 28, the remission rate on day 28, and decrease in the time lag on day 14. Adverse effects were analyzed by self-assessment questionnaire to observe the tolerability. The paired sample t-test and the independent sample t-test were applied for analysis by using SPSS v27.0. The p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. On day 28, patients on low dose methylfolate and antidepressant combination therapy showed a 40.33% improvement in depression symptoms, compared to 26.43% in patients on antidepressant monotherapy (p-value < 0.05). This treatment strategy had no effect on the time-lag of outcomes on day 14 and the remission rate on day 28 was not found statistically significant. Only one patient reported insomnia, while another mentioned irritability. Combination therapy of antidepressants with low-dose methylfolate may provide a safe and effective treatment strategy for patients with depressive disorder. NCT05931965.ClinicalTrials.gov. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05931965