L-ergothioneine (L-egt) is a bioactive compound recently approved by the food and drug administration as a supplement. L-egt exerts potent cyto-protective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in tissues exposed to injury, while metformin is a first-line prescription in type-2 diabetes. Therefore, the present study investigated the protective effect of L-egt alone, or combined with metformin, on renal damage in a type-2 diabetic (T2D) rat model. T2D was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats using the fructose-streptozotocin rat model. L-egt administration, alone or combined with metformin, began after confirming diabetes and was administered orally for seven weeks. After the experiment, all animals were euthanized by decapitation, blood samples were collected, and both kidneys were excised. Biochemical analysis, Enzyme-link Immunoassay (ELISA), Reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blotting, and histological analyses were done to evaluate various biomarkers and structural changes associated with renal damage. Untreated diabetic rats showed loss of kidney functions characterized by increased serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, proteinuria, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and decreased antioxidant enzymes. Histological evaluation showed evidence of fibrosis, mesangial expansion, and damaged basement membrane in the nephrons. However, L-egt alleviates these functional and structural derangements in the kidney, while co-administration with metformin reduced hyperglycemia and improves therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, L-egt treatment significantly increased the expression of major antioxidant transcription factors, cytoprotective genes and decreased the expression of inflammatory genes in the kidney. Thus, combining L-egt and metformin may improve therapeutic efficacy and be used as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate renal damage in type-2 diabetes.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 infections penetrates body cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptors. Evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 can also affect the urogenital tract. Hence, it should be given serious attention when treating COVID-19-infected male patients of reproductive age group. Other viruses like HIV, mumps, papilloma and Epstein–Barr can induce viral orchitis, germ cell apoptosis, inflammation and germ cell destruction with attending infertility and tumors. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) and blood-epididymis barrier (BEB) are essential physical barricades in the male reproductive tract located between the blood vessel and seminiferous tubules in the testes. Despite the significant role of these barriers in male reproductive function, studies have shown that a wide range of viruses can still penetrate the barriers and induce testicular dysfunctions. Therefore, this mini-review highlights the role of ACE2 receptors in promoting SARS-CoV-2-induced blood-testis/epididymal barrier infiltration and testicular dysfunction.

Background: Diabetic cardiotoxicity is commonly associated with oxidative injury, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. L-ergothioneine (L-egt), a diet-derived amino acid, has been reported to decrease mortality and risk of cardiovascular injury, provides cytoprotection to tissues exposed to oxidative damage, and prevents diabetes-induced perturbation.Objective: This study investigated the cardioprotective effects of L-egt on diabetes-induced cardiovascular injuries and its probable mechanism of action.Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into non-diabetic (n = 6) and diabetic groups (n = 18). Six weeks after the induction of diabetes, the diabetic rats were divided into three groups (n = 6) and administered distilled water, L-egt (35mg/kg), and losartan (20mg/kg) by oral gavage for six weeks. Blood glucose and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded pre-and post-treatment, while biochemical, ELISA, and RT-qPCR analyses were conducted to determine inflammatory, injury-related and antioxidant biomarkers in cardiac tissue after euthanasia. Also, an in-silico study, including docking and molecular dynamic simulations of L-egt toward the Keap1- Nrf2 protein complex, was done to provide a basis for the molecular antioxidant mechanism of Legt.Results: Administration of L-egt to diabetic animals reduced serum triglyceride, water intake, MAP, biomarkers of cardiac injury (CK-MB, CRP), lipid peroxidation, and inflammation. Also, Legt increased body weight, antioxidant enzymes, upregulated Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1 expression, and decreased Keap1 expression. The in-silico study showed that L-egt inhibits the Keap1-Nrf2 complex by binding to the active site of Nrf2 protein, thereby preventing its degradation.Conclusion: L-egt protects against diabetes-induced cardiovascular injury via the upregulation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and its downstream cytoprotective antioxidants.

Studies have shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly infectious disease, with global deaths rising to about 360,438 as of 28 May 2020. Different countries have used various approaches such as lockdown, social distancing, maintenance of personal hygiene, and increased establishment of testing and isolation centers to manage the pandemic. Poor biomedical waste (BMW) management, treatment, and disposal techniques, especially SARS-CoV-2 infected BMW, may threaten the environmental and public health in most developing countries and, by extension, impact the economic status of individuals and the nation at large. This may increase the potential for the transmission of air/blood body fluid-borne pathogens, increase the growth of microorganisms, risk of mutagenesis, and upsurge of more virulent strain. In contrast, uncontrolled substandard burning could increase the potential spread of nosocomial infection and environmental exposure to toxic organic compounds, heavy metals, radioactive, and genotoxic bio-aerosols which might be present in the gaseous, liquid, and solid by-products. The paucity of understanding of pathophysiology and management of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has also necessitated the need to put in place appropriate disposal techniques to cater for the sudden increase in the global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and pharmaceutical drugs to manage the pandemic and to reduce the risk of preventable infection by the waste. Therefore, there is a need for adequate sensitization, awareness, and environmental monitoring of the impacts of improper handling of SARS-CoV-2 infected BMWs. Hence, this review aimed to address the issues relating to the improper management of increased SARS-CoV-2 infected BMW in low middle-income countries (LMICs).

Background. The application of nanomedicine to antiretroviral drug delivery holds promise in reducing the comorbidities related to long-term systemic exposure to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, the safety of drugs loaded with silver nanoparticles has been debatable. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of HAART-loaded silver nanoparticles (HAART-AgNPs) on the behavioural assessment, biochemical indices, morphological, and morphometric of the hippocampus in diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods. Conjugated HAART-AgNPs were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, UV spectrophotometer, HR-TEM, SEM, and EDX for absorbance peaks, size and morphology, and elemental components. Forty-eight male SD rats ( g) were divided into nondiabetic and diabetic groups. Each group was subdivided into ( ) A (nondiabetic+vehicle), B (nondiabetic+HAART), C (nondiabetic+HAART-AgNPs), D (diabetic+vehicle), E (diabetic+HAART), and F (diabetic+HAART-AgNPs). Morris water maze, Y-maze test, and weekly blood glucose levels were carried out. Following the last dose of 8-week treatment, the rats were anaesthetized and euthanized. Brain tissues were carefully removed and postfixed for Nissl staining histology. Results. 1.5 M concentration of HAART-AgNPs showed nanoparticle size 20.3 nm with spherical shape. HAART-AgNPs revealed 16.89% of silver and other elemental components of HAART. The diabetic control rats showed a significant increase in blood glucose, reduced spatial learning, positive hippocampal Nissl-stained cells, and a significant decrease in GSH and SOD levels. However, administration of HAART-AgNPs to diabetic rats significantly reduced blood glucose level, improved spatial learning, biochemical indices, and enhanced memory compared to diabetic control. Interestingly, diabetic HAART-AgNP-treated rats showed a significantly improved memory, increased GSH, SOD, and number of positive Nissl-stained neurons compared to diabetic-treated HAART only. Conclusion. Administration of HAART to diabetic rats aggravates the complications of diabetes and promotes neurotoxic effects on the experimental rats, while HAART-loaded silver nanoparticle (HAART-AgNP) alleviates diabetes-induced neurotoxicity.