Zahraa Jawad Kadhim Al-isawi

Aims COIVD-19 Patients suffering from other diseases such as diabetic mellitus, asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease have increased morbidity and mortality rates resulting in more hospitalization and intensive therapy unit admissions. The study aimed to characterise and investigate the clinical pattern and the severity of symptoms in COVID-19 patients and to study its relationship with the coexisted morbidities. Instrument & Methods The data was collected from COVID-19 patients (N=202) who attended the Al-Shefaa center in Al-Najaf city, Iraq, during the period from 6 September 2020 to 20 January 2021. Demographical features, comorbidities, chronic diseases, and more prevalent symptoms were studied. The data was collected anonymously and processed using IBM SPSS 25 software. The descriptive statistics were performed. Findings 121 patients (59.9%) had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18, while 38 patients (18.8%) have BMI ranged 18.5 to 24.9. Furthermore, 16 patients (7.9%) have BMI between 30-34.9 and only 6 (3%) have a BMI of 35-39.9. Patients with hypertension 9 (4.5%), respiratory diseases 7 (3.5%), atherosclerosis 6 (3%), diabetic Mellitus 6 (3%). Patients with moderate Covid-19 symptoms account for 54% of the cases while only 2% of the patients developed severe manifestations. Hair fall happened in 105 patients (52%), the severity can range from mild (43.6%) to severe (2.5%), and fever 61 (30%). Eighty-five patients (42.1%) of admitted patients with an incubation period of 2 weeks while 6 (3%) for 4 weeks. The requirement for artificial oxygen therapy was seen in 19 (10%) of cases, whereas 183 patients (90%) recovered without artificial oxygen support. Obesity was observed in more than 10% of infected patients, whereas more than 40% of cases have coexisted chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, respiratory tract disorders and other chronic diseases. The duration of the disease ranged from a few days (15.3%) to 2 weeks (41%) to 4 weeks (3%). Conclusion The study highlights the possible role of obesity and concurrent chronic diseases on the magnitude and duration of COVID-19 illness.

Abstract: Macrodomain-I of the NSP3 (non-structural protein 3) is responsible for immune response hijacking in the SARS-CoV-2 infection known as COVID-19. In the omicron variant (B.1.1.529), this domain harbors a new mutation, V1069I, which may increase the binding of ADPr and consequently the infection severity. This macrodomain-I, due to its significant role in infection, is deemed to be an important drug target. Hence, using structural bioinformatics and molecular simulation approaches, we performed a virtual screening of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) database for potential antiviral drugs. The screening of 57,000 compounds yielded the 10 best compounds with docking scores better than the control ADPr. Among the top ten, the best three hits—TCM42798, with a docking score of

Amelioration of chronic cyclosporine A-induced nephrotoxicity by telmisartan in rats Fadhil G. Al-Amran*, Najah R. Hadi, Talib H. Kamoona and Zahraa J. Kadhum Department of Surgery, Box C-320, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO80045, Iraq. Accepted 31 March, 2011 Nephrotoxicity is a major problem of Cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment, despite its beneficial role in organ transplantation and in a variety of immunologic disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate the potential renoprotective role of telmisartan in amelioration of chronic CsA induced nephrotoxicity. The rats were randomized into 4 equal groups. Group 1 received normal saline (control), group 2 received Cremophor EL and ethanol (CsA vehicle), group 3 received CsA 25 mg/kg/day s.c and group 4 received telmisartan 3 mg/kg/day orally in addition to CsA. The rats were pair fed with a standard chow diet throughout the experiment period (8 weeks). CsA nephrotoxicity was assessed in terms of increased S.Cr (from 0.52± 0.16 to 1.29 ± 0.20 mg/ml), blood urea (from 24.69 ± 1.89 to 75.88± 2.33 mg/ml) and serum K (from 3.43 ± 0.18 to 5.23 ± 0.43 meq/l). CsA also caused significant increase (p<0.01) in MDA (from 0.74 ± 0.13 to 2.96 ± 0.43 nmol/mg protein) and significant decrease (p<0.01) in GSH and catalase in renal tissue. Telmisartan failed to restore the altered renal functions. On the other hand, it causes a significant improvement in the histological changes including the tubulointerstitial fibrosis and arteriolopathy (p<0.01). It also caused significant reduction (p<0.01) in CsA-induced oxidative stress. These findings suggested that telmisartan has a promising renoprotective effect against chronic CsA induced nephrotoxicity. Key words: Cyclosporine A, nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress, telmisartan.

In the College of Pharmacy - University of Kufa, a master's student's thesis (Sajjad Aliwi Hafez) was discussed on Wednesday morning, 9/28/2022 at exactly ten o'clock in the graduate studies hall in the College of Pharmacy. The discussion committee was chaired by Prof. Dr. Rahim Jamil Muhaisin from the College of Pharmacy, University of Basra, with the membership of Assistant Professor Ahmed Waheed Radi and the Lecturer Dr. Zahra Jawad Kazem for his thesis tagged (In Silico And In Vitro Evaluation Of Novel Designed And Synthesized Naproxen Derivatives Bearing 1,2,4 Trizole Moiety) .

A training course at the College of Pharmacy, University of Kufa, on (Principles and Protocols of Immunohistochemistry Staining) Within the continuing education activities, a training course was held at the College of Pharmacy, University of Kufa (26-30/09/2021), on (Principles and Protocols of Immunohistochemistry Staining), delivered by (Dr. Zahraa Jawad Kazem, Dr. Nagham Yahya Ghafel). The course included introducing researchers and graduate students to the importance of immunohistochemistry technology Clinically useful for diagnosing diseases, especially cancerous diseases, as well as its importance in the field of scientific research and drug development. The five-day course also included a detailed explanation of the steps of designing and analyzing an ideal experiment using this laboratory technique. At the end of the course, an exam was conducted for the attendees to assess the extent to which they benefited from the course.