The effect of donepezil hydrochloride on post-COVID memory impairment: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Post-Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) condition, known as "post-COVID syndrome," is associated with a range of complications persisting even after recovery. Among these complications, cognitive dysfunction, including memory impairment, has been relatively common observed, impacting executive function and quality of life. To date, no approved treatment exists for this specific complication. Therefore, the present clinical trial aimed to investigate the impact of Donepezil Hydrochloride on post-COVID memory impairment. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial (Approval ID: IRCT20210816052203N1) was conducted, enrolling 25 patients with post-COVID memory impairment. Participants with a history of hospitalization were randomly assigned to either the drug group (n = 10) or the control group (n = 15). Memory indices were assessed at baseline, one month, and three months later using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised test. SPSS software and appropriate statistical tests were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in WMS-R subtest and index scores between the drug and control groups at the 4-week and 12-week follow-up periods. However, within the drug group, there was a notable increase in the visual reproduction I and verbal paired associates II subtests during the specified time intervals. CONCLUSION: While donepezil 5 mg did not exhibit a significant overall increase in memory scales compared to the control group over time, our findings suggest that this medication may exert a positive effect on specific memory subtests. Further research and exploration are warranted to better understand the potential benefits of donepezil in managing post-COVID-related memory impairment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Aja University of Medical Sciences (Approval ID: IR.AJAUMS.REC.1400.125) and registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) (Approval ID: IRCT20210816052203N1).

Donepezil Beyond Alzheimer's Disease? A Narrative Review of Therapeutic Potentials of Donepezil in Different Diseases.

Donepezil hydrochloride is an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor studied and approved to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, this drug can have positive therapeutic potential in treating different conditions, including various neurodegenerative disorders such as other types of dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, psychiatric and mood disorders, and even infectious diseases. Hence, this study reviewed the therapeutic potential of this drug in treating Alzheimer's and other diseases by reviewing the articles from databases including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Science Direct. It was shown that donepezil could affect the pathophysiology of these diseases via mechanisms such as increasing the concentration of acetylcholine, modulating local and systemic inflammatory processes, affecting acetylcholine receptors like nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, and activating various cellular signaling via receptors like sigma-1 receptors. Despite many therapeutic potentials, this drug has not yet been approved for treating non-Alzheimer's diseases, and more comprehensive studies are needed.

Prevalence of substance use among Iranian male adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and aims: Substance use among adolescents is one of the most challenging behavioral disorders with direct consequences. It is of the essence (that) the prevalence of substance use is investigated among Iranian male adolescents. Methods: The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. All published articles titled "prevalence of substance use among Iranian adolescents" authored in Persian and English from 2004 to 2020 on Pub Med, Scopus, SID, and Google Scholar, a top list of academic research databases, were reviewed. Thirty-three out of 805 articles, hinge on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were eligible. Statistical analysis carried out in STATA 14.0.Q index, I2 index, and χ 2 test were applied. Results: Overall prevalence reported with (95% confidence interval) for substance use 7% (4%-11%), methamphetamine 4% (3%-6%), tobacco 10% (3%-19%), and any addictive substances 4% (2%-7%) among male adolescents respectively. Besides, overall prevalence of alcohol consumption reported 10% (8%-11%). Conclusion: The prevalence of substance use among male adolescents is high, so it is indispensable for researchers to pay special attention to this issue.

Sexual Function Before and After Mid-Urethral Sling Procedure for Stress Urinary Incontinence.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the effect of TOT procedure on sexual function and quality of life in sexually active patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients with SUI aged 18-70 years participated in this study during 2015-2019. Sexual function was evaluated by Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urogenital Distress Inventory Questionnaire (UDI-6) prior to TOT surgery and six months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores were significant lower after surgery (P < 0.001). The mean FSFI score was 22.69 ± 5.48 prior to surgery and 29.79 ± 4.12 in the sixth month after surgery (P < 0.001). We found significant changes in all FSFI domains except for pain. Two patients complained of new dyspareunia after surgery. There was also a direct significant correlation between education and sexual function improvement in terms of desire (P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: TOT can significantly enhance sexual function with low rate of complications in patients with SUI.