The present study was designed to test pretreatment multiple doses of irbesartan (IRB) 50 mg, aspirin (ASP) 100 mg and the combination of both drugs for 7 days on middle cerebral artery—occluded (MCAO) rats. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by MCA occlusion for 2 hours followed by reperfusion for 22 hours. After 24 hours of ischemia, grip strength and locomotor activity tests were performed. Animals were immediately sacrificed, infarct volume was measured followed by the estimation of markers of oxidative stress in the whole brains. Locomotor activity and grip strength were improved in IRB- and ASP-treated rats. Infarct volume was reduced in both IRB and ASP pretreatment as compared with MCAO rats. An elevation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and a reduction in glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were observed following MCAO. Pretreatment of IRB and ASP showed the reduction in TBARS, elevation in GSH, SOD and catalase levels as compared with MCAO rats. The protective effects of IRB, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist having affinity for AT1 receptor subtypes, could be due to inhibition of AT 1 receptor expression in addition to its neuroprotective and free radical scavenging properties in cerebral ischemia. Further, it may be possible that the combination of IRB and ASP may be useful as an add-on therapy and would yield beneficial effects, if administered immediately following the ischemia in reducing the severity of the neurological deficits. However, our results are preliminary, further studies with posttreatment of IRB and ASP are required to provide more firm view.

BACKGROUND WHO has declared Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as a pandemic. Covid-19 leads to sickness and death. Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most common circulating protein in the body having oncotic as well as non-oncotic properties. The role of albumin in death among Covid-19 subjects, especially in this part of the country has not been frequently reported. The aim of the study was to analyse the role of serum albumin level as prognostic marker for Covid-19 positive patients. METHODS The present study was conducted in the department of Medicine at Chhatrapati Shivaji Subharti Hospital, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, UP. The study comprised of 100 subjects who were Covid positive from May 2020 to July 2020. A detailed explanation was given to all the participating respondents regarding the study and their contribution to it. Covid-19 was diagnosed on the basis of the WHO interim guidelines. A questionnaire was prepared to collect the patients’ demographic profile. Patients date of admission and discharge was recorded along with the outcome i.e., whether patient expired or survived. Patients’ diagnosis was identified along with the comorbidity (if present). Laboratory investigations comprised of CBC and serum albumin detection. Data so collected was tabulated in an excel sheet, under the guidance of statistician. Collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 24 and the tests used were t test and Fisher’s exact test and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS The study comprised of 100 subjects, out of which 45 were males and 55 were females. The overall mean age of the study subjects was 37.52 years. In our study, mortality was 35.29 %, 9.33 % and 85.7 % of the subjects having Covid-19+ type 2 diabetes (T2DM), only Covid-19 and Covid-19+ hypertension respectively with statistically significant difference as p < 0.05. Albumin level was significantly lower in expired patients (2.99) as compared to survivors (3.85) as p < 0.05. Hospital stay was also higher in expired patients. CONCLUSIONS Covid-19 patients had low serum albumin levels and that might play a role in the survival of patient. KEYWORDS Covid-19, Mortality, Albumin

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