Clinical trials

Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) is a disease characterised by immune mediated destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Overtime, obvious insulin deficiency develops which requires insulin therapy. T1DM accounts for about 5% to 10% of diabetes cases in Europe and United States. Currently, worldwide incidence is estimated to be around 15 per 100,000 people per year. Despite the advancement that has occurred in the field diabetes therapy, patient with T1DM still suffer from managing their disease as well as continuing to face diabetes related complications. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend a goal of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of \< 7%. However, only 21% of adults in the United States has achieved this recommended goal. Once again, a multinational, multicentre study shows that only 24.3% of participants achieved the glycaemic target of HbA1c less than 7.0 %. Unfortunately, intensifying the insulin therapy in order to reach the targeted HbA1c can result in serious adverse effects of hypoglycaemia and weight gain which is in its turn is known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, painful disease associated with considerable morbidity, costs and disability. It is estimated that over a third of people aged over 60 have radiographic knee OA2 and over 50% of these with knee OA will go on to have a total knee replacement in their lifetime. At present there are no licensed treatments that alter disease progress and management is primarily concerned with symptom control to retain or improve joint function, although a trial of strontium ranelate showed promising results.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease (AD). Clinical manifestations of PD can vary, but a formal diagnosis relies on the presence of bradykinesia with rigidity and/or rest tremor according to Movement Disorder Society (MDS) criteria for PD. Non-motor symptoms, such as hyposmia, constipation, depression, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, are common and can in many cases manifest before classical motor symptoms. In later years, more emphasis has been put on non-motor symptoms, especially in the early stages of PD and which is evident in the proposed prodromal PD criterion by MDS.

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are described as complex, recurrent inflammatory conditions which are manifested as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The common symptoms of IBD include debilitating/severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and chronic fatigue; events that may culminate in life-threatening complications. The pathogenesis of IBD has been characterized as complex/multi-factorial that includes disruption of intestinal epithelial barrier with consequent translocation of commensal microbial products as the prime event that instigates severe immune responses and intestinal inflammation.

Debate continues on whether or not male homosexuality (MH) is a result of biological or cultural factors. The debate persists despite the fact that these two sides have different abilities to create a scientific environment to support their cause. Biological theorists produced evidence, however, that these are not always robust. On the other hand, social theorists, without direct evidence confirming their positions, criticize, with good argument, methods and results of the other side.

The most frequent crystal arthropathy is gout, which is also the most prevalent cause of inflammatory arthritis. Gouty Patients frequently have excruciating pain and swelling in their joints. Gout is linked to decreased health-related quality of life and functional disability. Gout and its associated diseases have been shown to have a significant impact on patients mortality and morbidities. Metformin, a biguanide, is used to manage diabetes by reducing insulin resistance and preventing comorbidities such as cerebrovascular and coronary artery disease, as well as providing renal protection to diabetic nephropathy patients

Gout is a systemic disease that results from the deposition of monosodium urate crystals (MSU) in tissues. Increased serum uric acid (SUA) above a specific threshold (\>6.8 mg/dl) is a requirement for the formation of uric acid crystals. MSU crystals can be deposited in all tissues mainly in and around the joints forming tophi. Early presentation of gout is an acute joint inflammation that is quickly relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or colchicine. Lowering SUA levels below deposition threshold either by dietary modification or using serum uric acid lowering drugs is the main goal in management of gout. This results in dissolution of MSU crystals preventing further attacks

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, weight loss, and cardio-metabolic complications. T2DM develops due to the progression of insulin resistance (IR), impairment of insulin insensitivity, and failure of the pancreatic β-cells to release sufficient amount of insulin in response to glucose burden

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting millions of people all over the world. Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal synchronized electrical neuronal discharges that could be either focal or widespread. Pathogenesis of epilepsy involves multiple processes including genetics, oxidative stress, ion channels, neuroinflammation, and cellular damage through autophagy and apoptosis. Neuroinflammation is considered one of the most important factors contributing critically to epileptogenesis.