The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) unleashed a global pneumonia pandemic, causing significant harm to both physical and mental health. It emphasized the urgency for specialized therapies and protective measures. Approaches, including immunotherapy, antiviral drugs, and lifestyle improvements, like diet and exercise, have shown promise in controlling viral spread before widespread vaccination. However, COVID-19 vaccinations, while critical for reducing disease severity, have been associated with potential side effects, including transient cognitive impairment, rare renal disorders, physiologic anomalies, and dermatological reactions. The scientific community continues to rigorously study these issues to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccination programs and to address the multifaceted impact of the pandemic.

The severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been closely linked to an exacerbated proinflammatory response and cytokine storm. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a pivotal proinflammatory cytokine, plays a crucial role in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiorgan dysfunction. Single nucleotide polymorphisms within the IL-1 gene have been shown to modulate IL-1 cytokine levels. This study aimed to investigate the association of IL-1 gene polymorphisms (IL-1 + 3953C > T, IL-1 beta -511 T > C, and IL-1Ra) with the severity of COVID-19. Genotyping of IL-1 gene polymorphisms (IL-1 + 3953C > T, IL-1 beta -511 T > C) were performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), while IL-1Ra genotyping was done by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). PCR-RFLP data were validated through Sanger sequencing (SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer). Data analysis was carried out by SPSS-v21 and SHesis (online version). The frequency of the T allele of the IL-1 + 3953C > T polymorphism was found to be higher in mild cases as compared to severe cases, demonstrating a significant protective effect against COVID-19 severity (P = 0.001). However, no significant associations were observed for IL-1 beta -511 T > C and IL-1Ra polymorphisms (P > 0.05). In haplotype analysis (between IL-1 + 3953C > T, and IL-1 beta -511 T > C gene polymorphisms), individual with CT haplotype showed a higher risk of severity (OR = 1.8, P = 0.001), while individuals with TT haplotype showed significant protection against severity (P = 0.001). Our findings suggest that the T allele of IL-1 beta + 3953C > T polymorphism may confer protective effect against the severity of COVID-19.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an array of metabolic diseases, which results from deregulation in insulin secretion or its action leading to abnormally high levels of blood sugar associated with long-term damage, organs failure, especially the eyes, heart, kidneys, blood vessels and nerves whose frequency has increased progressively worldwide. Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the plasma levels of miRNA-126, miRNA-486, miRNA-223 and miRNA-375 in newly diagnosed T2DM susceptible and healthy control individuals. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the T2DM-related miRNAs miRNA-126, miRNA-486, miRNA-223 and miRNA-375 in plasma of three study groups comprising healthy control (N = 36), newly diagnosed T2DM (N = 29) and T2DM susceptible individuals (N = 30) using Real Time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Taqman®). All the statistical analysis were done using SPSS version 21software. Results: Significant associations were found between these parameters. The expression levels of miR-126, miR-486, miR-223, and miR-375 were downregulated in T2DM patients and further reduced in T2DM-susceptible individuals compared to healthy controls. Additionally, miR-223 and miR-375 showed an inverse correlation with HbA1c levels, while all four miRs displayed an inverse correlation with FBS levels in the combined group analysis. Conclusion: These observed associations further suggest that miR-126, miR-223, and miR-375 may be involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism and glycemic control. Their down regulation could potentially contribute to impaired insulin signaling, beta-cell dysfunction, inflammation, and disrupted glucose homeostasis, all of which are characteristics of diabetes.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection is a major causative agent and strongly associated with the development of cervical cancer. Understanding the mechanisms of HPV-induced cervical cancer is extremely useful in therapeutic strategies for primary prevention (HPV vaccines) and secondary prevention (screening and diagnosis of precancerous lesions). However, due to the lack of proper implementation of screening programs in developing countries, cervical cancer is usually diagnosed at advanced stages that result in poor treatment responses. Nearly half of the patients will experience disease recurrence within two years post treatment. Therefore, it is vital to identify new tools for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment prediction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, implicated in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Growing evidence has shown that abnormal miRNA expression is associated with cervical cancer progression, metastasis, and influences treatment outcomes. In this review, we provide comprehensive information about miRNA and their potential utility in cervical cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical management to improve patient outcomes.