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Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious, rapidly spreading viral disease and has emerged as a public health emergency of international concern. As of this time, there are no specific antiviral therapies available for the treatment of COVID-19. However, it is possible that some existing drugs, usually used for other conditions, may have some benefits. Statins have been widely reported to exert antiviral activity against many enveloped viruses by inhibiting the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Cholesterol likewise contributes to the coronavirus's life cycle, including viral entry, fusion and budding. In addition, statins have been ascribed beneficial anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory effects and promote haemodynamic stability. Therefore, statins, which are cholesterol-lowering drugs with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral properties, may play a role in SARS-CoV-2 therapy. The aim of the present minireview was to delineate the potential beneficial therapeutic effects of statins in treating SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nevertheless, large, randomised trials are needed to confirm the beneficial effects and safety profile of the statins in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

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Fractures are major cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare and social services expenditure in elderly. Fractures often have multifactorial etiologies and the condition emerges due to the interaction between the different predisposing and precipitating factors. One of the most common causes leading to fractures after minimal trauma in older people is osteoporosis. The objective of this article is to describe the clinical concept and summarize the evidence and to explain the future directions for research, focusing on specific issues related to prevent fracture in the elderly. This study reviewed the scientific literature addressing strategies for primary and secondaryprevention of fractures among elderly in the context of pharmacological and non-pharmacological means. A growing body of scientific evidence supports the use of both non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions for the prevention of fracture. Research on these interventions has yielded positive outcomes in fracture rates. The bisphosphonates and vitamin D and calcium suppliments are the preferred therapy for prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Weight-bearing exercise and reducing home hazards have beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of falls and consequently reduce fractures. Prevention of fractures in elderly consists of therapy and prevention of osteoporosis, fall prevention, and using injury-site protection by high-risk elderly patients. Special consideration needs to be taken to reduce home hazard, and falls prevention education can be recommended to the elderly with history of fall or mobility limitations. Future research to prevent fractures in elderly population should not only concentrate on improving bone density and strength but also need to be focused on falls reduction strategies.

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The pathologic and molecular substrate of people diagnosed with cognitive deficits and movement disturbance may not occur exclusively in the context of a brain region, but it may be expressed in another part of body such as muscle. A large body of research has demonstrated that slow motor performance is associated with cognitive impairment in elderly people. The interdependence between motor dysfunction and cognition decline is still not fully understood. Although several factors have been suggested to give a plausible explanation, ß-amyloid (Aß) and τ-protein aggregation is a common feature of a number of neurodegenerative disorders which are characterized by both motor and cognitive impairment, and it is assumed that the aggregation process plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. The purpose of the present review is to provide an overview of the available evidence that can help to better elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the relationship between cognitive and movement disturbances by focusing on Aß and τ-protein.

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BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is an infection that has been reported to be present throughout the year, but some particular months are associated with higher incidences. The primary objective was to review and report on the current knowledge and evidence that existed on seasonality of different type of acute viral hepatitis worldwide in order to develop recommendations for future research, prevention and control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed to identify all the primary reports and studies published during 1970-2013 on acute hepatitis A, B, C and E (AHA, AHB, AHC and AHE) in human subjects by searching PubMed, reference lists of major articles and correspondence with scientific experts. For each report or study included, the following information was extracted (as applicable to study): Location (country and setting), study population (number of cases, patients), seasonal or monthly rate and study duration. RESULTS: There is no definite and consistent seasonal pattern has been observed on AHA; AHB; AHE and AHC, although evidence points towards spring and summer peak for hepatitis A, B, C and E. Multiple source of transmission such as; summer travel to an endemic area, swimming habits of the population in hot months, increase sexual contact, tattoo, poor hygiene and environmental sanitation and food habits (feco-oral transmission of viral hepatitis) probably exists and should be further investigated through analytical and epidemiological.

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THIS PAPER REVIEW SEASONAL PATTERNS ACROSS TWELVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES: Deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection and rupture, stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, hypertension, heart failure, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, venricular arrythmia and atrial fibrillation, and discuss a possible cause of the occurrence of these diseases. There is a clear seasonal trend of cardiovascular diseases, with the highest incidence occurring during the colder winter months, which have been described in many countries. This phenomenon likely contributes to the numbers of deaths occurring in winter. The implications of this finding are important for testing the relative importance of the proposed mechanisms. Understanding the influence of season and other factors is essential when seeking to implement effective public health measures.

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The recognition of seasonal patterns in infectious disease occurrence dates back at least as far as the hippocratic era, but the mechanisms underlying these fluctuations remain poorly understood. Many classes of mechanistic hypotheses have been proposed to explain seasonality of various directly transmitted diseases, including at least the following; human activity, seasonal variability in human immune system function, seasonal variations in vitamin D levels, seasonality of melatonin, and pathogen infectivity. In this short paper will briefly discuss the role of these factors in the seasonal patterns of infectious diseases.

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Hypertension exhibits a winter peak and summer trough in countries both north and south of the equator. A variety of explanations have been proposed to account for the seasonal nature of hypertension. It is likely that this reflects seasonal variations in risk factors. Seasonal variations have been demonstrated in a number of risk factors may play essential roles for seasonality of hypertension such as noradrenalin, catecholamine and vasopressin, vitamin D, and serum cholesterol. However, a number of studies have also suggested a direct effect of environmental temperature and physical activity on blood pressure. This paper was design to review the available evidence on seasonal variations in hypertension and possible explanations for them.

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Sleep disorders are the common side effects of beta blockers. Beta blockers have been shown to reduce the production of melatonin via specific inhibition of adrenergic beta1-receptors. Exogenous melatonin, taken in the evening as a supplement, could reduce the central nervous system (CNS) side effects (sleep disorder) associated with beta-adrenergic receptor blockers as well as the potential risk associated with reduction of the melatonin synthesis.

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OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to review previous studies and analyse the current knowledge and controversies related to seasonal variability of tuberculosis (TB) to examine whether TB has an annual seasonal pattern. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Systematic review of peer reviewed studies identified through literature searches using online databases belonging to PubMed and the Cochrane library with key words "Tuberculosis, Seasonal influence" and "Tuberculosis, Seasonal variation". The search was restricted to articles published in English. The references of the identified papers for further relevant publications were also reviewed. RESULTS: Twelve studies conducted between the period 1971 and 2006 from 11 countries/regions around the world (South Western Cameroon, South Africa, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Spain, UK, Ireland, Russia, and Mongolia) were reviewed. A seasonal pattern of tuberculosis with a mostly predominant peak is seen during the spring and summer seasons in all of the countries (except South Western Cameroon and Russia). CONCLUSIONS: The observation of seasonality leads to assume that the risk of transmission of M. tuberculosis does appear to be the greatest during winter months. Vitamin D level variability, indoor activities, seasonal change in immune function, and delays in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis are potential stimuli of seasonal tuberculosis disease. Additionally, seasonal variation in food availability and food intake, age, and sex are important factors which can play a role in the tuberculosis notification variability. Prospective studies regarding this topic and other related subjects are highly recommended.