Effect of COVID-19 vaccination on menstrual cycle irregularities among females: A cross-sectional study in Pakistan.

This study was aimed to assess the type and severity of COVID vaccine-induced menstrual disorders and also to investigate the risk factors for menstrual changes following COVID-19 vaccination in Pakistani females. A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in females between 12 -70 years of age from February to July 2022. The survey was conducted via in-person interviews as well as via social media. The data was analyzed using standard descriptive statistical parameters, the sociodemographic and clinical features were evaluated and reported as frequencies (percentages). The study comprised a total of 1023 female subjects. Approximately 36.9% of women reported menstrual abnormalities following immunization, with 30.5% experiencing them following their second dose. However, in majority of these women (21%) the symptoms were resolved after 3 months of irregularity. Vaccine type significantly influenced the incidence of menstrual disorders (p <0.001) which were linked to Pfizer-Biontech, Sinopahrm, Sinovac, Moderna at rates of 14.9%, 9.5%, 4.7% and 2.7%, respectively. Both AstraZeneca and Moderna were implicated in postmenopausal bleeding (1.6% and 0.8%, respectively). The study showed that females receiving COVID-19 vaccines experienced menstrual irregularities such as short duration of periods, decreased volume of bleeding, and frequent menstrual cycles. However, the symptoms were temporary and self-limiting.

Genotoxic and cytotoxic assessment of sitagliptin and simvastatin alone and in combination.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients are at high risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and need a global therapeutic intervention. A fixed-dose combination prescription medication containing anti-diabetic drug (Sitagliptin) and lipid lowering (Simvastatin) has recently been approved. Present study was designed to explore the potential synergistic toxic effects of sitagliptin and simvastatin at cellular level. MTT assay revealed the potential synergistic cytotoxic effect whereas Comet assay spotlighted the genotoxicity. MTT assay conducted on Vero cell lines revealed no significant change in proliferative activity upon treatment with simvastatin but cell survival percentage (CSP) decreased upon treatment with sitagliptin (51% at 1000µg/mL). However, combination of both drugs exhibited a better survival percentage except highest dose combination (1000:500µg/mL) which augmented antiproliferative effects rendering CSP 71.6%. The genotoxic assay spotted that Simvastatin produced less damage to DNA with the threshold of 500µg/ml whereas Sitagliptin significantly damage above the 250µg/mL, However, combination of drugs produced lesser damage than Sitagliptin alone. The findings concluded a non-genotoxic combination of sitagliptin and simvastatin which possess a least cytotoxic potential suggesting the safe use of the combination both in T2DM and CHD.