Ever since its outbreak, Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has affected more than 26 million individuals in more than 200 countries. Although the mortality rate of COVID-19 is low, but several clinical studies showed, patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) or other major complication at high risk of COVID-19 and reported more severe disease and increased fatality. The angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2), a component of renin-angiotensin-system (RAS); acts on ACE/Ang-II/AT1recptor axis, and regulates pathological processes like hypertension, cardiac dysfunction, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) etc. The progression of T2DM and hypertension show decreased expression and activity of ACE2. There are several treatment strategies for controlling diabetes, hypertension, etc; like ACE2 gene therapies, endogenous ACE2 activators, human recombinant ACE2 (hrACE2), Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors (ACEi) medications. ACE2, the receptors for SARS-CoV2, facilitates virus entry inside host cell. Clinicians are using two classes of medications for the treatment of COVID-19; one targets the SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 interaction, while other targets human immune system. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of ACE2 in diabetes and in COVID-19 and to provide an analysis of data proposing harm and benefit of RAS inhibitor treatment in COVID-19 infection as well as showing no association whatsoever. This review also highlights some candidate vaccines which are undergoing clinical trials.

Cisplatin based chemoradiation (CRT) is the standard treatment for cervical cancer, which controls tumor growth and improves the overall survival of patients. However, patients undergoing chemo-radiation show widespread toxicities which may be either early or late. There is a constant effort to improve cancer therapy and overcome current challenges in cervical cancer by developing a combinatorial drug therapy using phytocompounds. In the present study, we review the combinatorial therapy of Cynodon dactylon and metformin with cisplatin as an alternative therapy for cervical cancer. During frequent exposures to chemotherapy, patients develop resistance to cisplatin, leading to cytotoxicity and recurrence. The conjugate of biologically active moieties of natural products along with cisplatin will probably lead to development of a new therapy with improved drug efficacy and reduced toxicity. Therefore, Cynodon dactylon (Doob) is a natural source of antioxidants and metformin which is an antidiabetic and has anticancerous properties too. The combinatorial regimen of Cynodon dactylon and metformin along with cisplatin may increase the drug efficacy and reduce cisplatin-related toxicity. However, widespread research is required in this field for the mainstream application of this combinatorial therapy.

Objectives Type 2 diabetes (T2D) imposes an enormous burden all over the world in both developed and developing countries. Inter-individual differences are attributed to polymorphisms in candidate genes resulting in altered absorption, transportation, distribution, and metabolism of oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs). Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the pharmacogenetic impact of SLC22A1 gene variant rs628031 (G/A) on metformin monotherapy in newly diagnosed untreated T2D patients. Methods Newly diagnosed T2D patients (n = 500) were enrolled according to inclusion/exclusion criteria. Initially, enrolled subjects were prescribed metformin monotherapy and followed up for at least 12 weeks. Response to metformin was evaluated in 478 patients who revisited for follow-up by measuring HbA1c.Result Out of 478 patients, 373 were responders to metformin monotherapy while 105 were non-responders. The pharmacogenetic impact was evaluated by genotype, haplotype, and pharmacogenetic analyses. 'GG' genotype and 'G' allele of SLC22A1 rs628031 G/A were observed in 48.8% and 67.7% of Met responders, respectively, while 20.9% and 49.1 % were in non-responders. Therefore, there was a 2.18-fold increase in the success rate of Met therapeutics. ConclusionIndividuals carrying the 'GG' genotype or 'G' allele for SLC22A1 gene variant rs628031 G/A are better responders for Metformin monotherapy. Pharmacogenetics and Genomics 33: 51-58

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