ABSTRACT
Introduction: Post the coronavirus disease (COVID-19 pandemic), there was a spike in demand for immunity boosters, leading to the irrational use of supplements. To assess the usage of immunity boosters among the citizens of Pune City and correlate the side effects associated with supplements. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to May 2021 in Pune. Data, such as demographic, supplement intake (allopathic, homeopathic, and ayurvedic/home remedies), duration, frequency of supplements, and side effects associated with supplements, were collected through a personal interview and e-form circulation. The correlation of the immunity boosters with the side effects was done using Karl Pearson’s Correlation test in SPSS software version 22.0. Results: Out of 1006, the ayurvedic supplements/home remedies were preferred by 906 (98%) allopathic supplements by 599 (65%) and homeopathic supplements by 256 (28%) participants. The commonly reported side effects were acidity (37%), headache (29.6%), nausea (9%), loss of appetite (8.8%), diarrhea (7%), stomach ache (6%), cough (5.6%), and constipation (4.1%). These side effects had a weak positive linear proportionality with ayurvedic supplements such as amla (r = 0.162), Giloy Vati (r = 0.139), turmeric (r = 0.108), and Kadha (r = 0.102); also, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D showed a linear proportionality with loss of appetite (r = 0.15), headache (r = 0.12), and cough (r = 0.12), respectively. A higher incidence of side effects such as nausea (r = 0.267), diarrhea (r = 0.243), headache (r = 0.164), and acidity (r = 0.113) was observed when supplements were taken for 6 months. Conclusion: Most participants were on immunity boosters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study concluded that using immunity boosters in excess or for more than 6 months causes side effects, the most recurrent ones being acidity, headache, nausea, and lack of appetite.
ABSTRACT
Background: Methotrexate (MTX) blocks MethyleneTetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Enzymethereby, interrupt folate metabolism, it is used in thetreatment of cancer and autoimmune disorders. Aimand Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluatethe relationship of the MTHFR polymorphisms withserum MTX concentration and its toxicity in AcuteLymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) patients treated withhigh dose MTX infusion. Material and Methods: Levelof Serum MTX was measured, along with the detectionof MTHFR polymorphisms viz. C677T and A1298Cby Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) followed byDNA sequencing. The percentages of toxicitydeveloped in patients were calculated among the wildtype and carriers for both polymorphisms and werecompared between the groups. Results:The majority ofpatients 36 (72 %) were wild type for the C677Tpolymorphism and 32 (64 %) of patients were carriersfor the A1298C polymorphism [48% heterozygous(AC), and 16 % homozygous (CC)]. Among 50 ALLpatients studied, significant difference was noted in thegenotype and allele frequencies for C677Tpolymorphism, while only allele frequencies differedsignificantly for A1298C polymorphism. The serumMTX level at 48 hours after the start of High DoseMTX (HDMTX) infusion of the C677T variant (CT)was slightly high in all four cycles however, in the firstcycle, there was a significant increase in the level ofMTX. There was no significant difference in the serumMTX level found in all four cycles between patientswild type and carriers for A1298C polymorphism. ForA1298C polymorphism, the mean SGPT level incarriers was significantly high as compared to wildtype. Conclusion: The present study concludes thatpatients with C667T variant had elevated serum MTXconcentration at 48 hours after the start of HDMTXinfusion.