Background: Self-medication is a common practice in Bangladesh as it provides a low-cost alternative for people, which involves inappropriate and injudicious use of medicines treat self-recognized symptoms by the people.Methods: A cross sectional online survey was conducted on 626 citizens by structured questionnaires during COVID-19 outbreak from April to May 2020 in Dhaka city, to observe the prevalence, pattern and sources of self-medication among the respondents with high socio-economic standings and education.Results: The prevalence of self-medication amid the outbreak of COVID-19 was 88.33% and only 179 (28.59%) took medication with doctors’ advice and remaining 447 (71.40%) respondents took the drugs as “self-medication” by other sources. The most frequently used prescription-only drug during the outbreak were ivermectin (77.15%), azithromycin (54.15%), doxycycline (40.25%). The common symptoms for which the respondent took self-medications were fever, throat pain, dry-cough and total 105 (16.77%) respondents took medications without having any symptoms. Almost 355 (85.33%) had taken medication without doing any test for COVID-19. This could be due to unusual distress, caused by high self-awareness of their health and buying capacity of medication.Conclusions: The study revealed the causes of self-medication as news of spread, effects and remedies in media channels, internet; mental stress of lockdown and isolation, insecurity and panic about scarcity of drug and healthcare support. High risks of developing antibiotic resistance, adverse drug reactions and financial loss was predictable with absence of strict regulatory enforcement to protect people and proper utilization resources during COVID-19 outbreak in Dhaka city.

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Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the current global public health concern. Till date no specific, effective, and approved treatment available. With the rapid increase in rate of infection, repurposing use of anti- viral like remdesivir and favipiravir were considered as an option to find the promising anti-COVID therapeutics. In this study, we aim to observe hepato-renal safety concerns related to these drugs. Method: A retrospective study done from May 17 to September 9, 2020 on total 1348 hospital records. 182 patients were included in the study, devided into two groups who recieved remdesivir only (RO) and favipiravir only (FO). Result: Mean age of respective groups are 59.42 (RO) and 54.64 (FO). Average duration of hospital stay was 11 to 12 days. Mortality rate (28.39%) was higher in RO group. Mean± SD of both ALT (70.65± 50.25) and AST (62.25± 25.46) level was increased in RO group than FO group. On the other hand, Blood urea (56.67± 38.40) and serum creatinine (01.70± 02.41) level was higher in FO group. Hematuria was absent in both group, proteinuria was also unremarkable. Conclusion: In patients with Covid-19 receive remdesivir and favipiravir, showed elevation in the level of hepato- renal markers.

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Background:The mechanisms underlying nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) trafficking are unclear. Results: Cysteine mutations within cytoplasmic loops of the ␣4 nAChR subunit change surface and total receptor expression, and a cysteine in the first loop is palmitoylated. Conclusion: ␣4 nAChR intracellular cysteines influence receptor stability and trafficking. Significance: Identifying the determinants of nAChR trafficking will provide insight into nAChR biology.