ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study aims to identify the dietary patterns of two groups of subjects (with and without COVID-19), and to assess the relationship of findings with the prognosis of COVID-19 and metabolic risk parameters. Design/methodology/approach: This study included 100 individuals in the age range of 19-65 years. The medical history, and data on biochemical, hematological and inflammatory indicators were retrieved from the files. A questionnaire for the 24-h food record and the food intake frequency was administered in face-to-face interviews, and dietary patterns of subjects were assessed. Findings: In individuals with COVID-19, the hip circumference, the waist-hip ratio and the body fat percentage were significantly higher (p < 0.05), and the muscle mass percentage was significantly lower (p < 0.05). Mediterranean diet adherence screener (MEDAS), dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) and healthy eating index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores were low in the two groups. A linear correlation of DASH scores was found with the muscle mass percentage (p = 0.046) and a significant inverse correlation of with the body fat percentage (p = 0.006). HEI-2015 scores were significantly and negatively correlated with body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference and neck circumference (p < 0.05). Every one-unit increase in MEDAS, DASH and HEI-2015 scores caused reductions in C-reactive protein levels at different magnitudes. Troponin-I was significantly and negatively correlated with fruit intake (p = 0.044), a component of a Mediterranean diet and with HEI-2015 total scores (p = 0.032). Research limitations/implications: The limitation of this study includes the small sample size and the lack of dietary interventions. Another limitation is the use of the food recall method for the assessment of dietary patterns. This way assessments were performed based on participants' memory and statements. Practical implications: Following a healthy diet pattern can help reduce the metabolic risks of COVID-19 disease. Originality/value: Despite these limitations, this study is valuable because, to the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first study demonstrating the association of dietary patterns with disease prognosis and metabolic risks concerning COVID-19. This study suggests that dietary patterns during the COVID-19 process may be associated with several metabolic risks and inflammatory biomarkers.
ABSTRACT
Objective: COVID-19 is a serious respiratory and vascular disease that impairs the protective function of the endothelial barrier. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), the most important isoform for nitric oxide (NO) production, is mostly expressed in endothelial cells. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate whether eNOS G894T and variable tandem repeat number (VNTR) functional variants show predisposition to developing COVID-19. Materials and Methods: The study includes a total of 384 subjects (284 COVID-19 patients and 100 healthy controls). Two eNOS gene variants (G894T and VNTR) were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods, with the results being evaluated using statistical methods. Results: A significant association has been identified between eNOS G894T and COVID-19. For the eNOS G894T variant, the T/T genotype (p=0.035) and T allele carriers (p=0.030) appear to have an increased risk of developing COVID-19. The eNOS G894T G/G genotype (p=0.030) was more common in the control group compared to the patient group. No significant difference was found between groups regarding the eNOS VNTR genotype and allele frequencies (p>0.05). The genotypes of the patient and control groups for these variants were in Hardy-Weinburg equilibrium (HWE). Conclusion: These results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that the eNOS G894T variant is associated with an increased risk of developing COVID-19 in the Turkish population. These findings may lead to the emergence of new treatment options. Further research is required to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. © 2023 The authors.
ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 infection, declared as a pandemic by WHO in March 2020, continues its effects all over the world. Cancer patients also get COVID infection and in some patients this infection is mortal. In our study, we examined the course of COVID-19 infection in patients who actively or in the past used Everolimus. Methods: Patients who used everolimus actively or in the past were examined in our study. Patients who survive after the first cases seen in Turkey March 11, 2020 ;were evaluated in terms of whether they had COVID-19. Demographic characteristics and primary malignancies of the patients were examined. Patients who had COVID-19 infection and died were identified. Results: Our study consists of 50 patients in total. 14 (28%) of the patients were male and 36 (72%) were female. The average age of the patients is 56.72 (28-82), the average age of the male patients is 52.8 (28- 80) and the average age of the female patients is 57.58 (36-82). 17 of the patients were treated for breast cancer, 11 for neuroendocrine tumor, 7 for tuberous sclerosis, 5 for renal cell carcinoma, 4 for thymic carcinoma, 2 for thymoma, 2 for ovarian ca, 2 for perivascular ecrine tumor. While it is the most common breast cancer in women (47.2% of female patients), neuroendocrine tumor is the most common in male patients (35.7% of male patients). While 13 patients were actively using everolimus (26%), 37 patients (74%) had discontinued everolimus treatment for 1 year or more.5 of our patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection (10% of all patients). 2 of these five patients are actively using everolimus. Of those diagnosed with COVID-19, 3 are women and 2 are men.The average age of the patients is 50.08 (43-66). While 3 patients had mild illness (60%), 2 patients (40%) died. One of the deceased patients is female and one is male. The female patient had a history of using everolimus for breast cancer, while the male patient died at the age of 52 while actively using everolimus for thymoma. Conclusions: Everolimus is a MTOR inhibitor used in many malignancy treatments. In our study, we found that 10% of our patients had COVID infection and 2 of our patients died due to COVID-19. In the group that discontinued everolimus treatment for a year or more, 1 patient died due to COVID-19, and 1 patient in the group still receiving everolimus treatment. Studies with larger patient populations are needed to determine whether everolimus carries an additional risk of COVID-19 infection.
ABSTRACT
We aimed to compile the effects of the preparations on the new coronavirus outbreak (Covid-19) in the largest pandemic, which is still visible in the world. Pandemics have caused millions of people to become ill, disabled and death for centuries. Thanks to past pandemics that deeply affect the society health, socially and economically, preparations have been made again against possible pandemics. Preparations may not go as planned. Desperation may occur for unforeseen situations. Despite these despair, the tool that can contribute in practice besides the basic principles in combating pandemics can be obtained from the past. Like every pandemic, the pandemic will end one day. Those applied and not implemented after the outbreak will be evaluated and will remain a lesson from the past for future outbreaks.