: The aim of the present study was to review the streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) diabetes model. Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent (90-95%) in adults than type 1. Experimentally-induced diabetes models may be established by chemicals, viral agents, insulin antibodies, surgery, etc. The most advisable and prompt method to induce diabetes is using chemicals, and STZ and alloxan are widely used chemicals. STZ has proven to be a better diabetogenic agent than alloxan because alloxan has many drawbacks, as it induces only type 1 diabetes, has a high mortality rate in rats, and causes ketosis in animals. Moreover, it has lesser selectivity towards β-cells, and the diabetes-induced is reversible. STZ can be used to induce both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is noted that the genotoxic behavior of STZ in animals is accomplished through a reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in pancreatic β-cells via the GLUT2 (Glucose transporter 2), which can cause cellular damage by DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) strand breaks that lead to cell death. NA is a biochemical precursor of NAD+, and it is a poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitor. NAD+ is an important redox reaction co-enzyme for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and many other metabolic pathways. Extreme DNA damage contributes to the over-activation of PARP-1, loss of cellular resources, and necrotic cells death. Some studies have expressed that NA can protect pancreatic β-cells against the severe cytotoxicity of STZ. The review concluded that the STZ-NA model is dependent on the competency of NA to attain partial protection against the β-cytotoxic essence of STZ to induce type-2 diabetes.

Purpose: This study was done to assess the extent of disability in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional study with convenient sampling. Institutional ethical clearance was taken. Informed consent was taken from all patients. Disability assessment was done using WHODAS 2.0. All patients were initial reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive for COVID-19. Patients with neuromuscular deficits or who were taking medication for psychiatric illness before getting infected with COVID-19 were excluded from the study. Results: Fatigue followed by dyspnea was the most common reported symptom after three months of COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 survivors with fatigue or dyspnea had a more significant disability as compared to other patients. Females had a more significant disability when compared to males. We did not find any significant disability in COVID-19 survivors after three months of disease based on body mass index, hospitalization, diabetes, and oxygen requirements. Conclusion: COVID-19 survivors suffered from significant disability after three months of disease especially females and survivors with fatigue or dyspnea. Recognizing post-COVID-19 sequelae and the availability of rehabilitation services will be critical in preventing another public health crisis after acute COVID-19 infection.

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Background: To define the varied presentations of Guillain-Barré syndrome in children in the COVID era and 6 months’ follow-up outcome. Methods: Ambispective study of 15 months’ duration involving children with Guillain-Barré syndrome aged 1 month to 18 years at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. They were categorized into groups A and B based on COVID-19 serology testing. Hughes Disability Scale was used for disability assessment. Modified Rankin scale was used for improvement assessment in follow-up. Results: Of 19 children with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 9 (47%) were females and 10 (53%) were males. Groups A and B had children with negative (8) and positive serology (11), respectively. The most common presentation in both groups was motor weakness. Post-COVID pediatric Guillain-Barré syndrome presented with variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome rather than the classical form ( P = .03). In group B, patients with elevated inflammatory markers had poor response to intravenous immunoglobulin, and 5 of 11 patients had good response to pulse steroids, probably depicting an inflammation-predominant pathology. Conclusion: Post-COVID Guillain-Barré syndrome in children presented with Guillain-Barré syndrome variants rather than the classic form. Neuroimaging is of great value in both confirming Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosis and excluding differentials. Patients with elevated inflammatory markers and residual weakness may be given a pulse steroid trial.