The protective role of vitamin C in the management of COVID-19: A Review.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) is globally deemed a significant threat to human life. Researchers are searching for prevention strategies, mitigation interventions, and potential therapeutics that may reduce the infection's severity. One such means that is highly being talked in online and in social media is vitamin C. MAIN TEXT: Vitamin C is a robust antioxidant that boosts the immune system of the human body. It helps in normal neutrophil function, scavenging of oxidative species, regeneration of vitamin E, modulation of signaling pathways, activation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, activation of the signaling cascade, regulation of inflammatory mediators, and phagocytosis and increases neutrophil motility to the site of infection. All of these immunological functions are required for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: Considering the role of vitamin C, it would be imperative to administrate vitamin C for the management of severe COVID-19. However, there is no specific clinical data available to confirm the use of vitamin C in the current pandemic.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 invasion in the central nervous system: a host-virus deadlock.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) devastation on the central nervous system (CNS) is ascertained by the present clinical findings and the noticeable signs and symptoms. The CNS involvement of the virus is not trivial; although the brain has highly protective systems, the virus has ways to breach them with a destructive potential. For successful entry of the virus, different possible routes with favorable mechanisms are used. The SARS-CoV-2 invasion induces a mechanism of both the innate and adaptive immune response to control virus replication and removal from the CNS tissues. The cytokine storm and autoimmune response during the immunological events result in demyelination, damage of resident cells and neurons, cerebrovascular thrombosis, and dysregulation of neuro signaling pathways. Furthermore, hypoxia and toxemia accelerate the neurological destruction process. The acute attributions on psychology due to inflammation is a hallmark of CNS involved pathogenesis; nevertheless, the productivity, durability, and longevity of virus-specific lymphocytes are the vital indicators for complete removal of viral antigen and in combat against reinfection of the CNS. Keywords: CNS invasion; immune response; cytokine storm; demyelination; mental status.

Detection of association of IL1ß, IL4R, and IL6 gene polymorphisms with cervical cancer in the Bangladeshi women by tetra-primer ARMS-PCR method.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is the main cause of cancer-related deaths among women in developing countries. It is the second leading female malignancy in Bangladesh in terms of incidence and mortality. Our present study aimed to investigate the association of IL1ß (rs16944), IL4R (rs1801275), and IL6 (rs1800797) gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility of cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 252 cervical cancer patients and 228 healthy volunteers, using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). RESULTS: In the case of rs16944 polymorphism, GG genotype (OR = 2.10, 95%CI = 1.24-3.56), dominant model (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.11-2.63), recessive model (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.01-2.35), and G allele (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.005-1.68) were significantly associated with increased cervical cancer risk. Among these, GG genotype and dominant model remained significant after the Bonferroni correction (p < 0.017). For rs1801275 polymorphism, GG genotype (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.49-4.75), dominant model (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.04-2.14), recessive model (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.40-4.27), and G allele (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.21-2.10) significantly elevated the risk of cervical cancer but significance did not exist for dominant model after the Bonferroni correction. rs1800797 variant showed significantly increased risk in all genetic models including, AG genotype (OR = 8.13, 95% CI = 5.27-12.55), AA genotype (OR = 9.86, 95% CI = 2.76-35.21), dominant model (OR = 8.25, 95% CI = 5.40-12.60), recessive model (OR = 4.41, 95% CI = 1.25-15.56), and A allele (OR = 4.99, 95% CI = 3.49-7.13) and the significances were consistent with the Bonferroni correction except recessive model. Haplotyping analysis indicates that GAA (p = 5.15x10-5) and GAG haplotypes (p = 4.72x10-9) significantly decreased the risk of CC, whereas AAA (p = 3.89x10-9), AAG (p = 0.0003), AGA (p = 3.98x10-5) and AGG haplotypes (p = 0.002) significantly increased the risk of CC. The IL1ß mRNA level was up-regulated, which was associated with poor prognosis in silico. CONCLUSION: Our results conclude that rs16944 (IL1ß), rs1801275 (IL4R), and rs1800797 (IL6) polymorphisms are associated with cervical cancer in Bangladeshi women.

Association study of IL10 gene polymorphisms (rs1800872 and rs1800896) with cervical cancer in the Bangladeshi women.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is one of the most destructive diseases among females worldwide, especially in developing countries. Interleukin-10 (IL10) is a multifunctional cytokine, and polymorphisms in the IL10 gene have been identified in multiple malignancies. However, no prior studies were conducted to determine the association of IL10 polymorphisms (rs1800872 and rs1800896) with cervical cancer patients in Bangladesh. METHODS: This case-control study was carried out on 240 cervical cancer patients and 204 healthy volunteers. Genotyping was performed using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). RESULTS: In the case of rs1800872, CA and AA genotypes significantly increased the risk of cervical cancer (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.01-2.49, p = 0.043; OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.53-4.93, p = 0.0007, respectively) but the significance did not exist for CA genotype after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.025). An increased risk was also observed for the dominant model, recessive model, and allele model (A vs. C) of rs1800872 (dominant model: OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.18-2.80, p = 0.006; recessive model: OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.22-3.29, p = 0.006; allele model: OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.19-2.03, p = 0.001) which remained significant after the correction of Bonferroni. For rs1800896, only GG genotype and recessive model showed increased risk for cervical cancer (GG vs. AA: OR = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.46-8.31, p = 0.005; recessive model: OR = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.52-8.38, p = 0.003). These associations were statistically significant, and the significance existed after Bonferroni correction. Haplotype analysis revealed that AA haplotype significantly increased the risk (OR = 1.56, p = 0.001) whereas, CA haplotype significantly lowered the risk (OR = 0.42, p = 2.42x10-8), and both rs1800872 and rs1800896 are strongly in linkage disequilibrium (D'=1, r2 = 0.333). Moreover, the IL10 mRNA level was found up-regulated in silico in cervical squamous cell carcinoma tissues compared to healthy tissues (p = 1.11x10-16). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that rs1800872 and rs1800896 polymorphisms of IL10 gene are associated with cervical cancer in Bangladeshi females.