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Dexamethasone is the first and an important therapy that significantly reduces the risk of death in patients with severe COVID-19 disease. Nevertheless, a lot of studies have revealed that it has adverse impacts on multiple systems of the body especially the reproductive system, and dexamethasone exposure during the human foetal period may be associated with various diseases. In this paper, we reviewed the literature regarding the adverse effects of COVID-19 and dexamethasone administration on the reproductive system as well as related disease pathogenesis, in an attempt to clarify the potential harms of dexamethasone treatment in COVID-19 patients. Overall, we strongly support the application of dexamethasone as a pharmaceutical therapy in critical COVID-19 patients before a better therapy is developed, but the adverse side effects that may arise cannot be ignored. Our review will help medical professionals in the prognosis and follow-up of patients treated with dexamethasone. In addition, given that a considerable amount of uncertainty, confusion and even controversy that still remains, further studies and more clinical trials are urgently needed to improve the understanding of the parameters and the effects of dexamethasone on reproductive function of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has precipitated a global health crisis of unprecedented proportions. Because of its severe impact, multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being rapidly developed, approved and manufactured. Among them, mRNA vaccines are considered as ideal candidates with special advantages to meet this challenge. However, some serious adverse events have been reported after their application, significantly increasing concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and doubts about the necessity of vaccination. Although several fertility societies have announced that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are unlikely to affect fertility, there is no denying that the current evidence is very limited, which is one of the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the population, especially in pregnant women. Herein, we provide an in-depth discussion on the involvement of the male and female reproductive systems during SARS-CoV-2 infection or after vaccination. On one hand, despite the low risk of infection in the male reproductive system or fetus, COVID-19 could pose an enormous threat to human reproductive health. On the other hand, our review indicates that both men and women, especially pregnant women, have no fertility problems or increased adverse pregnancy outcomes after vaccination, and, in particular, the benefits of maternal antibodies transferred through the placenta outweigh any known or potential risks. Thus, in the case of the rapid spread of COVID-19, although further research is still required, especially a larger population-based longitudinal study, it is obviously a wise option to be vaccinated instead of suffering from serious adverse symptoms of virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroquinone (HQ), an active metabolite of benzene, plays an important role in the malignant hematopathy caused by benzene. Malignant transformation has been observed after 20 or 29 weeks of in vitro exposure to HQ and two years of in vivo exposure to HQ. Many epigenetic events have been identified in the process of HQ-induced mutations, suggesting that epigenetic changes may play important roles in the onset and process of HQ-induced carcinogenesis. In this review, we for the first time summarize the epigenetic mechanisms identified following exposure to HQ to provide more potential biomarkers and targets for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant hematopathy induced by benzene and its metabolites. The identified epigenetic changes are as follows: global DNA hypomethylation; hypomethylation of the thrombopoietin receptor MPL proto-oncogene; hypermethylation of the Rb and PTEN tumor suppressor genes; hypermethylation of erythroid-specific genes; enzymology of DNA methylation; phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation of histones; aberrant expression of miRNAs and lncRNAs; and chromatin remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in China and spread worldwide. In rare cases, children who were infected with COVID-19 may develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), which could have higher mortality than COVID-19 itself. Therefore, diagnosis and management are critical for treatment. Specifically, most of the initial treatment options of MIS-C choose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and steroids as the first-line treatment for patients. Moreover, antagonists of some cytokines are used as potential future therapeutics. Of note, therapeutic plasmapheresis can be used as a treatment for refractory severe MIS-C. We believe that each patient, especially those with comorbid conditions, should have individualized treatment based on both multidisciplinary consensus approach and expert opinion., (© 2023 Future Medicine Ltd.)

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has swept the whole world and brought about public health crisis of unprecedented proportions. In the process of SARS-CoV-2 entry, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 plays a key role. In addition, other protein molecules, such as transmembrane protease/serine 2, FURIN, Cathepsin L, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 will also affect the interaction between virus and host cells. Since the variations in the virus and human populations could determine the transmissibility of the virus and influence an individual's susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease outcome, research on the variations of the above protein molecules and their role in COVID-19 is in full swing. In this review, we systematically reviewed viral and host genetic variations related to SARSCoV- 2 entry, as well as the relationship between the diversity of these variations and the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to provide better insights into the transmission and pathogenesis of COVID-19 from the perspective of genetic variants and epigenetic factors so as to prevent, control, and treat COVID-19, especially among high-risk populations with genetic risk variants., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)