Thymosin alpha 1:A comprehensive review of the literature

Thymosin alpha 1 is a peptide naturally occurring in the thymus that has long been recognized for modifying,enhancing,and restoring immune function.Thymosin alpha 1 has been utilized in the treatment of immunocompromised states and malignancies,as an enhancer of vaccine response,and as a means of curbing morbidity and mortality in sepsis and numerous infections.Studies have postulated that thymosin alpha 1 could help improve the outcome in severely ill corona virus disease 2019 patients by repairing damage caused by overactivation of lymphocytic immunity and how thymosin alpha 1 could prevent the excessive activation of T cells.In this review,we discuss key literature on the background knowledge and current clinical uses of thymosin alpha 1.Considering the known biochemical properties including antibacterial and antiviral properties,timehonored applications,and the new promising findings regarding the use of thymosin,we believe that thymosin alpha 1 deserves further investigation into its antiviral properties and possible repurposing as a treatment against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

Bottom-up analysis of emergent properties of N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant therapy for COVID-19

N-acetylcysteine(NAC)is an abundantly available antioxidant with a wide range of antidotal properties currently best studied for its use in treating acetaminophen overdose.It has a robustly established safety profile with easily tolerated side effects and presents the Food and Drug Administration's approval for use in treating acetaminophen overdose patients.It has been proven efficacious in offlabel uses,such as in respiratory diseases,heart disease,cancer,human immunodeficiency virus infection,and seasonal influenza.Clinical trials have recently shown that NAC's capacity to replenish glutathione stores may significantly improve coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)outcomes,especially in high risk individuals.Interestingly,individuals with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency have been shown to experience even greater benefit.The same study has concluded that NAC's ability to mitigate the impact of the cytokine storm and prevent elevation of liver enzymes,C-reactive protein,and ferritin is associated with higher success rates weaning from the ventilator and return to normal function in COVID-19 patients.Considering the background knowledge of biochemistry,current uses of NAC in clinical practice,and newly acquired evidence on its potential efficacy against COVID-19,it is worthwhile to investigate further whether this agent can be used as a treatment or adjuvant for COVID-19.

Potential role of intermittent fasting on decreasing cardiovascular disease in human immunodeficiency virus patients receiving antiretroviral therapy

Cardiovascular disease(CVD)has become one of the commonest causes of comorbidity and mortality among People living with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)(PLWH)on antiretroviral therapy(ART).Nearly 50%of PLWH are likely to have an increased risk of developing CVD,including coronary heart disease,cerebrovascular disease,peripheral artery disease and aortic atherosclerosis.Aside from the common risk factors,HIV infection itself and side effects of antiretroviral therapy contribute to the pathophysiology of this entity.Potential non-pharmacological therapies are currently being tested worldwide for this purpose,including eating patterns such as Intermittent fasting(IF).IF is a widespread practice gaining high level of interest in the scientific community due to its potential benefits such as improvement in serum lipids and lipoproteins,blood pressure(BP),platelet-derived growth factor AB,systemic inflammation,and carotid artery intima-media thickness among others cardiovascular benefits.This review will focus on exploring the potential role of intermittent fasting as a non-pharmacological and cost-effective strategy in decreasing the burden of cardiovascular diseases among HIV patients on ART due to its intrinsic properties improving the main cardiovascular risk factors and modulating inflammatory pathways related to endothelial dysfunction,lipid peroxidation and aging.Intermittent fasting regimens need to be tested in clinical trials as an important,cost-effective,and revolutionary coadjutant of ART in the fight against the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in PLWH.