Phobia and Fear of COVID-19: origins, complications and management, a narrative review.

Introduction: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have changed into a global crisis. Psychologically, this process of alteration can lead to feelings of fear, insecurity, and anxiety. This fear and anxiety can be caused by a variety of factors. However, due to the lack of extensive studies at this time, there are little data on these conditions related to COVID-19. Therefore, in this narrative review, we have tried to identify the most important possible causes of anxiety and fear due to this disease, based on logical shreds of evidence. Then we tried to discuss the consequences and ways to manage and prevent them. Methods: The current focus was on three major axes of corona-phobia, fear and anxiety. PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar and authoritative news and information sources were considered as the data sources. Results: Findings from the analysis of the results revealed that, in addition to the real and the logical reasons which belong to the intrinsic properties of SARS-CoV-2, some misleadings and misconceptions induced by media, governmental policies, public awareness level, and non-scientific speculations and contradictory data expressed by experts, researchers and scientific societies, could provide the way for the development of corona-phobia, and fear. Conclusions: Each of these causal components, in its place, leads to some degrees of psychological disorders and subsequent consequences and complications. Finally, here we reviewed, summarized the previous research findings on how to prevent and manage this type of psychological disorder, and made comparisons.

Effects of pentoxifylline on coagulation profile and disseminated intravascular coagulation incidence in Egyptian septic neonates.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neonatal sepsis is frequently associated with pathological activation of the coagulation system, leading to microcirculatory derangement and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). The key role in the pathogenesis of sepsis has been attributed to proinflammatory cytokines. These trigger the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) via the tissue factor-dependent pathway of coagulation. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative that is used in peripheral vascular disease, has the potential to modify inflammatory response. The current work was designed to evaluate the potential protective effects of PTX against sepsis-induced microcirculatory derangement in Egyptian neonates. METHODS: A double-blind placebo-controlled quasi-randomized design was used. Thirty-seven neonates with sepsis were randomly allocated into two groups. Seventeen patients were given PTX (5 mg/kg/h for 6 h; for 6 successive days). Twenty patients received equivalent volume of normal saline and represented the placebo group. Prothrombin time (PT), Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, d-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), complete blood count (CBC), also hemodynamic parameters comprising arterial blood pressure, heart rate, capillary refill and urinary output were assessed in both groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: Coagulation parameters in the two groups showed no significant differences. However, a higher incidence of DIC was observed in the placebo group neonates. PTX significantly lowered the percentage of bleeding (P = 0.0128) and less frequent use of FFP was observed in the PTX group (35.53% in PTX group vs. 80% in placebo group, P = 0.003). Incidence of MODS was significantly lower (P = 0.037) and hospital stay duration of survivors was significantly shorter (P = 0.044) in the PTX treated-infants. CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline protects against sepsis-induced microcirculatory derangement in neonates. It significantly lowered the incidence of bleeding and MODS and shortened the length of hospital stay.

Potential antioxidant phenolic metabolites from doum palm leaves

The antioxidant activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract of doum leaves, Hyphaene thebaica L.(Palmae) was studied. Data obtained showed that the extract can inhibit reactive oxygen species attack on salicylic acid (IC50 = 1602 µg/ml) in a dose dependant manner using xanthine/hypoxanthine oxidase assay. Four major flavonoidal compounds were identified by LC/SEI as; Quercetin glucoside, Kaempferol rhamnoglucoside and Dimethyoxyquercetin rhamnoglucoside. While, further in-depth phytochemical investigation of this extract lead to the isolation and identification of fourteen compounds; their structures were elucidated based upon the interpretation of their spectral data (UV, 1H, 13C NMR and ESI/MS) as; 8-C--D-glucopyranosyl-5, 7, 4`-trihydroxyflavone (vitexin) 1, 6-C--D-glucopyranosyl-5, 7, 4`-trihydroxyflavone (iso-vitexin) 2, quercetin 3-O--4C1-D-glucopyranoside 3, gallic acid 4, quercetin 7-O--4C1-D-glucoside 5, luteolin 7-O--4C1-D-glucoside 6, tricin 5 O--4C1-D-glucoside 7, 7, 3` dimethoxy quercetin 3-O-[6''-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl]--D-gluco-pyranoside (Rhamnazin 3-O-rutinoside) 8 kaempferol-3-O-[6''-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl]--D-glucopyranoside (nicotiflorin) 9, apigenin 10, luteolin 11, tricin 12, quercetin 13 and kaempferol 14

Iridoid glycosides from Thunbergia grandiflora.

The novel iridoid glycosides, isounedoside and grandifloric acid, were isolated from Thunbergia grandiflora. Grandifloric acid contains C-10 as a carboxylic acid group, the presence of which was predicted by recent iridoid biosynthesis studies carried out within T. alata. Isounedoside contains a rare 6,7-epoxide functional group. A revision in some of the NMR spectral assignments for the known iridoid glycoside alatoside was also made.

Verbascoside derivatives and iridoid glycosides from Penstemon crandallii.

The new phenylethanoid glycosides 2-O-acetyl-3'''-O-methylverbascoside and 2,4"-di-O-acetyl-3'''-O-methylverbascoside were isolated and identified from Penstemon crandallii. The major iridoid glycoside was plantarenaloside and no aucubin type iridoids were found. This contrasted with a previous analysis of P. teucrioides, from the same Penstemon subsection, which was dominated by aucubin derivatives.

Rhombifoline and 5,6-dehydrolupanine from Anagyrus foetida L.

Rhombifoline and 5,6-dehydrolupanine were isolated for the first time from the leaves and stems of A. foetida L. indigenous to Saudi Arabia. In addition, five other alkaloids, previously identified in A. foetidia L., namely N-methylcytisine, sparteine, anagyrine, lupanine and cytisine, were isolated. The isolated alkaloids were characterized by UV, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and Mass spectral data. 13C-NMR data of rhombifoline and 5,6-dehydrolupanine are reported for the first time.

Chemical constituents of Curatella americana (Dilleniaceae).

A phytochemical investigation of an ethanolic extract of the leaves of Curatella americana Linn. (Dilleniaceae) resulted in the isolation and identification of the flavonol glycoside avicularin and gallic acid.