Unraveling the relation between vitiligo, Interleukin 17, and serum amyloid A.

BACKGROUND: There is debate concerning the precise etiopathogenesis of vitiligo. According to certain theories, a series of inflammatory responses that mediate the loss of melanocytes are caused by both cellular and humoral immune responses. It has also been demonstrated that Interleukin 17 (IL-17) promotes melanocyte death and inhibits melanogenesis through different mechanisms. Serum Amyloid A (SAA) levels are over-expressed in autoimmune diseases. Th17 cytokines are regulated by serum amyloid A proteins. AIMS: To measure serum levels of IL-17 and SAA in vitiligo patients aiming to explain their possible role in disease pathogenesis and the other aim is to correlate their levels with disease activity and severity. METHODS: This study included 60 vitiligo patients and 40 healthy age and sex controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum levels of SAA and IL-17. RESULTS: This study revealed significant increase in levels of serum IL-17 and SAA in patients than controls (p < 0.05). Both markers showed significant positive correlations with VASI score and duration of vitiligo; only IL-17 showed statistically significant positive correlation with VIDA scores. Patients with vitiligo showed a statistically significant positive connection between serum IL-17 levels and SAA (γ = 0.992, p-value <0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased serum level of IL-17 and SAA in vitiligo patients together with their positive relation to vitiligo severity and the duration of the disease show that these two markers play a key role in the vitiligo development.

Nutrition in Cancer Patients Positive for COVID-19; Case Series and a Systematic Review of Literature.

Cancer is making patients vulnerable to diseases by impairing immunity directly or by anticancer therapy. In COVID-19 era, it is mandatory to face cancer with more organized & prompter response. Nutrition plays an important role in prevention & management of cancer patients. The objective of this study is to understand the role of nutrition in cancer patients during Corvid 19 era. We conducted literature searches till May 2020, electronic databases, evidence-based collections, relevant websites and trial registries about SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 and nutrition in cancer patients. Search generated 836 sources; 83/836 sources were relevant. This review summarized role of nutrition in predisposition, prevention and management of COVID-19 in cancer patient and role of vitamins, mineral supplements and microbiota in era of COVID-19. In this review, implementing appropriate nutritional care with vitamins or mineral supplementation & their effect on outcome remain largely unknown. COVID co-infection with cancer whether under chemotherapy or not have worse outcome especially in male adults. Findings may help in creating recommendations on nutritional protocol of management & prevention of complications during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for all cancer patients.