The correlation between serum selenium, zinc, and COVID-19 severity: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Without an adequate immune response, SARS-CoV2 virus can simply spread throughout the body of the host. Two of the well-known immunonutrients are selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Se and Zn deficiency might lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, and viral entry into the cells by decreasing ACE-2 expression; three factors that are proposed to be involved in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Thus, in the current study we aimed at evaluating the correlation between serum Se and Zn status and COVID-19 severity. METHODS: Eighty-four COVID-19 patients were enrolled in this observational study. Patients were diagnosed based on an infectious disease specialist diagnosis, using WHO interim guidance and the recommendations of the Iranian National Committee of Covid-19. The patients with acute respiratory tract infection symptoms were checked for compatibility of chest computed tomography (CT) scan results with that of Covid-19 and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for corona virus infection. The severity of Covid-19 was categorized into three groups (mild, moderate, and severe) using CDC criteria. Serum Zn and Se level of all subjects was measured. The severity of the disease was determined only once at the onset of disease. RESULTS: According to the results of linear regression test, there was a significant association between Zn and Se level and COVID-19 severity (ß = - 0.28, P-value = 0.01 for Se; ß = - 0.26, P-value = 0.02). However the significance disappeared after adjusting for confounding factors. Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant negative association between serum Zn, Se and CRP level (r = - 0.35, P-value = 0.001 for Se; r = - 0.41, P-value < 0.001 for Zn). CONCLUSION: Results suggest that increasing levels of Se and Zn were accompanied by a decrease in serum CRP level. However, the significant association between Se, Zn, and disease severity was lost after adjusting for confounding factors.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Compared With Traditional Wound Care in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT; also known as vacuum-assisted wound closure) has emerged as a promising option that may result in better health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the cost-utility of NPWT compared with traditional wound care (TWC) for the treatment of patients with diabetic foot ulcers in Iran from the perspective of health care providers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This economic evaluation study was conducted in 2016 to estimate the incremental cost effectiveness ratio of NPWT compared with TWC. The Markov model was applied, incorporating the 7 health states of uninfected, infected, infected post-amputation, healed, healed post-amputation, amputation, and death for a 1-year time period and monthly cycles (12 cycles). Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated from utility weights of each diagnosis, which were derived from the published literature. Costs for each diagnosis were estimated monthly and separately based on inpatient and outpatient care. The analysis of cost-effectiveness and sensitivity for uncertain parameters was carried out using TreeAge Pro 2011 software. RESULTS: A total of 200 patient records (NPWT = 100; TWC = 100) were analyzed in this study. The results indicated that annual cost per patient for NPWT and TWC strategies were $5165 ± $3258 and $9833 ± $5861, respectively. In addition, mean effectiveness per patient per year for NPWT and TWC strategies were 8.9026 ± 1.7622 and 8.7974 ± 1.855 QALYs, respectively. When treatment with NPWT was compared with TWC using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of -$44 370 per QALY, NPWT was shown as a more cost-effective treatment strategy than TWC. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that NPWT is less costly and more effective compared with TWC. In addition, NPWT reduces the number of amputations and increases the number of healed wounds, decreasing patients' and payers' costs. The sensitivity analysis of parameters proved the robustness of the Markov model.

Association of Vitamin D Concentrations with subjective health complaints in children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is recognized as a global pandemic. Identification, any association between VDD and subjective health complaints (SHC), can be helpful to realize critical mechanisms and improve psychological and somatic symptoms. Given few studies published on this issue and the importance of its clarification, the main objective of this study was to examine the association between VDD and the SHC in children and adolescents. METHODS: In this national cross-sectional study, 2596 Iranian children and adolescents aged 8-18 years were included. Data on SHC, anthropometric indices, physical activity, and serum levels of vitamin D were collected. Logistic regression models (crude, adjusted) were applied to examine the association between the VDD and the SHC. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 11. P-values< 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Serum levels of vitamin D in approximately 70% of Iranian children and adolescents were lower than 30 ng/mL. Among the SHC, irritability (40.9%) and feeling anxiety (33.7%) were the most prevalent ones. Multiple complaints in students with the VDD was 2.5 times greater than those with sufficient vitamin D concentrations (p <  0.001). Compared to the reference group, the strongest association was found between vitamin D status and difficulties in getting to sleep (OR: 2.5, 95%CI: 1.18, 3.53, p <  0.001). CONCLUSION: VDD was observed in the considerable percentage of the study population. There were no significant differences between the two gender groups. In addition, there were significant associations between vitamin D status and most of the somatic and psychological symptoms, particularly for getting to sleep. It seems national interventional programs for vitamin D supplementation or food fortifications can be helpful.

Erratum to: Calcium vitamin D3 supplementation in clinical practice: side effect and satisfaction.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40200-016-0227-9.].

Does Short-Term Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Influence Brain Hippocampus Gene Expression of Zinc Transporter-3?

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids have been recognized to improve brain cognitive function. Deficiency leads to dysfunctional zinc metabolism associated with learning and memory impairment. The objective of this study is to explore the effect of short-term dietary omega-3 fatty acids on hippocampus gene expression at the molecular level in relation to spatial recognition memory in mice. A total of 24 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups and fed a standard pellet as a control group (CTL, n = 6), standard pellet added with 10% (w/w) fish oil (FO, n = 6), 10% (w/w) soybean oil (SO, n = 6) and 10% (w/w) butter (BT, n = 6). After 3 weeks on the treatment diets, spatial-recognition memory was tested on a Y-maze. The hippocampus gene expression was determined using a real-time PCR. The results showed that 3 weeks of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation improved cognitive performance along with the up-regulation of α-synuclein, calmodulin and transthyretin genes expression. In addition, dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency increased the level of ZnT3 gene and subsequently reduced cognitive performance in mice. These results indicate that the increased the ZnT3 levels caused by the deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids produced an abnormal zinc metabolism that in turn impaired the brain cognitive performance in mice.

Community Interventional Trial (CITFOMIST) of Vitamin D Fortified Versus Non-fortified Milk on Serum Levels of 25(OH) D in the Students of Tehran.

BACKGROUND: As prevention of osteoporosis becomes more imperative with the global ageing of the population, establishing different measures to fight vitamin D deficiency will also become increasingly important. The aim of this study is to help assess the efficacy of vitamin D-fortified milk on circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D (as the primary outcome), a widely accepted indicator of vitamin D status, in Tehran students. Another objective of the protocol is to help assess the compliance with fortified dairy in students of different socioeconomic classes. METHOD: The cluster-randomized trial (CITFOMIST) is conducted on 15- to19-year olds guidance and high school students of both genders from different districts of Tehran, in wintertime. The schools enrolled in this study are randomly assigned to receive one of the three groups of milk (whole milk, milk that contained 600 IU Vit D/1000cc, or milk that contained 1000 IU Vit D /1000cc) for a 30-day period. In order to study the effect of vitamin D-fortified milk on the circulating concentrations of 25(OH) D, a serum vitamin D levels are checked in a subgroup before and after the intervention. CONCLUSION: There are few data on the efficacy of incremental doses of vitamin D from fortified foods among adolescents. This is while developing an optimal model to fight vitamin D deficiency needs further research on bone health outcomes and the safety of vitamin D-fortified products. The modified version of this protocol could be applied in different parts of the country to assess the efficacy of a vitamin-D product.

Calcium vitamin D3 supplementation in clinical practice: side effect and satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess side effects and satisfaction about OsteoCalVitFort (500 mg calcium and 400 I.U. of vitamin D3) usage. METHODS: A total 186 people were participated with range age from 18 to 65 years old. Each participant received 1 pack that contains 60 OsteoCalVitFort tablet and used two tablet OsteoCalVitFort daily (1 tablet after breakfast and 1 after dinner). By a phone call, side effects and satisfaction about OsteoCalVitFort were assessed. RESULTS: The rate of constipating (8.0 %) and bloating (12.5 %) were decreased significantly after OsteoCalVitFort supplement intake (1.2 %, and 0.6 %, respectively). Similar results were observed in metallic taste in mouth, tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, bone/muscle pain and mental/mood change after Calcium Vitamin D3 supplementation intake. Totally, 94 % of patients were satisfied about OsteoCalVitFort usage. CONCLUSION: The results of the research indicate despite the high quality of OsteoCalVitFort supplement, there are no side effects which have been seen in other supplements.

Calcium vitamin D3 supplementation in clinical practice: side effect and satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess side effects and satisfaction about OsteoCalVitFort (500 mg calcium and 400 I.U. of vitamin D3) usage. METHODS: A total 186 people were participated with range age from 18 to 65 years old. Each participant received 1 pack that contains 60 OsteoCalVitFort tablet and used two tablet OsteoCalVitFort daily (1 tablet after breakfast and 1 after dinner). By a phone call, side effects and satisfaction about OsteoCalVitFort were assessed. RESULTS: The rate of constipating (8.0 %) and bloating (12.5 %) were decreased significantly after OsteoCalVitFort supplement intake (1.2 %, and 0.6 %, respectively). Similar results were observed in metallic taste in mouth, tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, bone/muscle pain and mental/mood change after Calcium Vitamin D3 supplementation intake. Totally, 94 % of patients were satisfied about OsteoCalVitFort usage. CONCLUSION: The results of the research indicate despite the high quality of OsteoCalVitFort supplement, there are no side effects which have been seen in other supplements.