RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) and the severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present case-control study was carried out on 295 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 (≥18 years old), including 104 critical patients (Intensive care unit [ICU] admission) and 191 COVID-19 patients without severe complications (Non-intensive care unit [Non-ICU] patients) as cases. Dietary intake was assessed by a 147-item, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the considered risk factors. Our outcomes (after multivariate adjustment) suggested that higher adherence to DAQS was significantly associated with a decreased risk of COVID-19 infection severity (OR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.04-0.29, p < 0.001). Similar results were seen when analyzed by sex [men (OR = 0.02; 95% CI: 0.002-0.15, p < 0.001) and women (OR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.06-0.68, p = 0.012)]. A significant association between vitamin D3 intake and decreased risk of COVID-19 severity (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.89-0.94, p < 0.001) was also observed. Moreover, multivariate results revealed that there were no significant associations between vitamin C (OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99-1.00, p = 0.067), vitamin E (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.86-1.11, p = 0.798), zinc (OR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.86-1.20, p = 0.805), and selenium (OR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99-1.00, p = 0.077) intakes with the risk of COVID-19 severity. However, subgroup analyses by sex suggested a significant association between vitamin C intake and the risk of COVID-19 infection severity in women (OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 1.00-1.00, p = 0.028). Our findings showed a negative association between DAQS adherence and the risk of COVID-19 infection severity. Our results may be used to develop potential dietary therapies to decrease COVID-19 severity.
RESUMEN
Background: Carcinogen nitrosamine 4-(methyl-trosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) remarkably affects the actions of growth factors: EGFR, VEGFR-2, as well as the natural tumor suppressors: TGFß-1 and TIMP-1. We propose that utilizing non-chemical interventions such as swimming and Nigella sativa nanocapsule play role in controlling cancer progression through direct effects on tumor-inherent factors. Material and methods: Male rats were randomly placed into seven groups: Control (C), Solvent (S), (NNK), NNK+N.sativa (NNK+NS), NNK+Exercise (NNK+E), N.sativa+Exercise (NS+E), NNK+N.sativa+Exercise (NNK+NS+E). The exercise program consisted of 12 weeks of submaximal swimming. NNK and NS groups received weekly doses of 12/5 mg/kg and 125 µg/kg of NNK and N.sativa, respectively. By the end of the protocol, the levels of VEGFR-2, and TIMP-1 were determined using immunohistochemistry method and EGFR, and TGFß-1 levels were measured by RT-PCR assay. Results: In comparison with control group, there was a significant increase in the levels of VEGFR-2 in NNK, NNK+E, NNK+NS, NS+E, and NNK+NS+E groups (P ≤ 0.001), also TGFß-1 levels of NNK+E and NS+E groups significantly increased (P ≤ 0.001). While EGFR levels did not change remarkably (PË0.05), except in NNK group (P ≤ 0.001), TIMP-1 in NNK, NNK+E, NS+E, NNK+NS+E groups significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: We recommend 12 weeks of submaximal swimming and 125 µg/kg N.sativa nanocapsule are safe interventions to recover the balance of selected angiogenic/ angiostatic markers and to control tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis in lung carcinoma induced by 12/5 mg/kg of NNK injection.
