Healthy Immunity on Preventive Medicine for Combating COVID-19

Dietary trends among young adults during the COVID-19 lockdown: socioeconomic and gender disparities

BACKGROUND

Healthy eating is vital to well-being and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was especially important for boosting immunity and protecting against viral infections. Yet, by many accounts, keeping a nutritious diet was a casualty of the pandemic rather than a means to fight it. Young adults experienced disproportionate pandemic-related disruptions during a formative stage of development while little is still known about dietary outcomes.

METHODS

We employed a cross-sectional design to examine dietary disparities targeting young adults (ages 18-28) during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Participants (N = 254) responded to a 15-20-min online survey with questions related to food composition and sources of food, perceptions of healthy eating, weight change, physical activity, and food insecurity. Comparisons were made by household income and gender. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate factors that predicted perceptions of healthy eating behaviors while controlling for other sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

A clear overall trend toward unhealthy behaviors was found while positive changes were also identified. Consumption of junk food significantly increased (+ 3%), 40% gained weight, a third were less active, and 5-8% were food insecure on a regular basis. Meanwhile, eating food from restaurants declined and, for some, home-based cooking increased. Lower income participants were overly represented in unhealthy changes and higher income participants were disproportionately represented in healthy changes. Males reported more changes in dietary composition while females reported more fluctuation in weight. Reduced activity, weight gain, and food insecurity predicted unhealthy eating behaviors. Living with friend(s)/roommate(s) predicted healthier eating, but only among lower income participants.

CONCLUSIONS

It is recommended that pandemic minded public health interventions account for negative dietary trends with particular attention to low-income young adults. Solutions should be geared toward reshaping fiscal, social and physical environments, rather than relying solely on behavioral interventions.

Regulation of retinoid mediated StAR transcription and steroidogenesis in hippocampal neuronal cells: Implications for StAR in protecting Alzheimer's disease

Retinoids (vitamin A and its derivatives) play pivotal roles in diverse processes, ranging from homeostasis to neurodegeneration, which are also influenced by steroid hormones. The rate-limiting step in steroid biosynthesis is mediated by the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. In the present study, we demonstrate that retinoids enhanced StAR expression and pregnenolone biosynthesis, and these parameters were markedly augmented by activation of the PKA pathway in mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells. Deletion and mutational analyses of the 5'-flanking regions of the StAR gene revealed the importance of a retinoic acid receptor (RAR)/retinoid X receptor (RXR)-liver X receptor (LXR) heterodimeric motif at -200/-185 bp region in retinoid responsiveness. The RAR/RXR-LXR sequence motif can bind RARα and RXRα, and retinoid regulated transcription of the StAR gene was found to be influenced by the LXR pathway, representing signaling cross-talk in hippocampal neurosteroid biosynthesis. Steroidogenesis decreases during senescence due to declines in the central nervous system and the endocrine system, and results in hormone deficiencies, inferring the need for hormonal balance for healthy aging. Loss of neuronal cells, involving accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and/or phosphorylated Tau within the brain, is the pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). HT22 cells overexpressing either mutant APP (mAPP) or mutant Tau (mTau), conditions mimetic to AD, enhanced toxicities, and resulted in attenuation of both basal and retinoid-responsive StAR and pregnenolone levels. Co-expression of StAR with either mAPP or mTau diminished cytotoxicity, and concomitantly elevated neurosteroid biosynthesis, pointing to a protective role of StAR in AD. These findings provide insights into the molecular events by which retinoid signaling upregulates StAR and steroid levels in hippocampal neuronal cells, and StAR, by rescuing mAPP and/or mTau-induced toxicities, modulates neurosteroidogenesis and restores hormonal balance, which may have important implications in protecting AD and age-related complications and diseases.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Association Between SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Myocarditis or Pericarditis

INTRODUCTION

There have been reports of potential negative cardiovascular effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, such as myocarditis or pericarditis. This study sought to ascertain the risk of myocarditis/pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination by conducting an extensive meta-analysis of published cases.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in 7 online databases by March 31, 2022. Heterogeneity was tested by I² index. RR and 95% CI were pooled through either random-effect or fixed-effect models. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 11 studies with 58,620,611 subjects were included. COVID-19 vaccination correlated with an increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis (RR=2.04; 95% CI=1.33, 3.14). In addition, an increased risk of myocarditis or pericarditis in people who received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine compared with that in those who received only the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine was also found (RR=4.06; 95% CI=2.08, 7.92). An increased incidence of pericarditis or myocarditis was noted predominantly in those who received BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines (RR=2.19; 95% CI=1.46, 3.29 and RR=4.15; 95% CI=1.87, 9.22, respectively).

DISCUSSION

Study results indicate that a higher incidence of myocarditis or pericarditis was found after COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, the risk of developing myocarditis or pericarditis was greater after the second dose than after the first dose. Nevertheless, the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis in COVID-19 vaccine recipients are still significantly lower than the health risks observed in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, the benefits and harms must be carefully assessed to determine the best management option for patients who are in the high-risk group of myocarditis or pericarditis.

Cancer Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini-Review

Since its emergence, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the entire world and all commerce and industries, including healthcare systems. COVID-19 adversely affects cancer patients because they are immunocompromised. Increased COVID-19 infection and shortage of medical supplies, beds and healthcare workers in hospitals affect cancer care. This paper includes a description of the existing research that shows the impact of COVID-19 on the management of cancer patients. Aged people with various chronic conditions such as cancer and comorbidities face more challenges as they have a greater risk of disease severity. COVID-19 has affected care delivery, including patient management, and has been responsible for increased mortality among cancer patients. Cancer patients with severe symptoms require regular therapies and treatment; therefore, they have a higher risk of exposure. Due to the risk of transmission, various steps were taken to combat this disease; however, they have affected the existing operational efficiency. Herein, we present the changing priorities during COVID-19, which also affected cancer care, including delayed diagnosis, treatment, and surgeries.

Evaluation of the Anticancer and Probiotic Potential of Autochthonous (Wild) Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strains from New Ecological Niches as a Possible Additive for Functional Dairy Foods

Probiotics such as Lactobacillus spp. could modulate the intestinal microbiota composition, supporting gastrointestinal tract barrier function and benefiting human health. To evaluate the anticancer and probiotic properties of potentially active autochthonous Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strains on proliferating and differentiated enterocytes, human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 was used as a model. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from new ecological niches—mountain anthills populated by redwood ants (Formica rufa L.). Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29, ATCC, HTB-38™) were treated for twenty-four hours with supernatants (SNs) derived from four strains of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei: P4, C8, C15 and M2.1. An MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase activity, IAP, Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR) and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were evaluated. The MTT assay revealed that the observed effects varied among groups. However, 10% neutralized supernatants from P4, C8, C15 and M2.1 strains did not show cytotoxic effects. In contrast to non-differentiated cells, a significant (p < 0.001) rise in ALP activity in all treatments, with an average of 18%, was established in differentiated cells. The IAP expression was remarkably downregulated in the differentiated M2.1 group (p < 0.05) and upregulated in the non-differentiated P4 (p < 0.05) and M2.1 (p < 0.05) groups. The Bax/Bcl-2 quantity expression ratio in P4 was significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in proliferating cancer cells, but in P4- and M2.1-differentiated cells these values were downregulated (p < 0.05). The obtained results indicate that the isolated L. paracasei strains possess anticancer and probiotic properties and could be used as additives for functional dairy foods and thus benefit human health.

COVID-19 and its genomic variants: Molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), caused by a β-coronavirus and its genomic variants, is associated with substantial morbidities and mortalities globally. The COVID-19 virus and its genomic variants enter host cells upon binding to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptors that are expressed in a variety of tissues, but predominantly in the lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Patients afflicted with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or present with critical symptoms possibly due to diverse lifestyles, immune responses, aging, and underlying medical conditions. Geriatric populations, especially men in comparison to women, with immunocompromised conditions, are most vulnerable to severe COVID-19 associated infections, complications, and mortalities. Notably, whereas immunomodulation, involving nutritional consumption, is essential to protecting an individual from COVID-19, immunosuppression is detrimental to a person with this aggressive disease. As such, immune health is inversely correlated to COVID-19 severity and resulting consequences. Advances in genomic and proteomic technologies have helped us to understand the molecular events underlying symptomatology, transmission and, pathogenesis of COVID-19 and its genomic variants. Accordingly, there has been development of a variety of therapeutic interventions, ranging from mask wearing to vaccination to medication. This review summarizes the current understanding of molecular pathogenesis of COVID-19, effects of comorbidities on COVID-19, and prospective therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of this contagious disease.

Effects of a New Multicomponent Nutritional Supplement on Muscle Mass and Physical Performance in Adult and Old Patients Recovered from COVID-19: A Pilot Observational Case-Control Study

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of a specific oral nutritional supplement among patients recovered from COVID-19 but suffering symptoms of fatigue. Methods: This is an observational case–control study involving a sample of 66 COVID-19 survivors divided in two groups, 33 subjects in the intervention group who received the nutritional supplement and 33 subjects in the control group. The nutritional supplement received by subjects in the active group was based on amino acids; vitamin B6 and B1; and malic, succinic and citric acids. After an 8-week follow-up, the main outcomes considered were skeletal muscle index (measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis), physical performance measures (handgrip strength, one-minute chair–stand test, six-minute walking test), and quality of life (using EuroQol visual analogue scale). Results: All the considered areas increased significantly in the subjects receiving the active treatment with oral nutritional supplement in comparison with the baseline values. After adjusting for age, gender, and baseline values, skeletal muscle index, handgrip strength test, the one-minute chair–stand test, and six-minute walking test values were higher among participants in the treatment group compared with subjects in control group. The oral nutritional supplement significantly improved the handgrip strength; similarly, participants in the active group showed a higher improvement in skeletal muscle index, the one-minute chair–stand test, the six-minute walking test, and in quality of life. Conclusion: The nutritional supplement containing nine essential amino acids plus cysteine; vitamin B6 and B1; and malic, succinic and citric acids had a positive effect on nutritional status, functional recovery, and quality of life in COVID-19 survivors still suffering from fatigue. Additional controlled clinical trials are required to corroborate these results.

Fermented Carica papaya and Morinda citrifolia as Perspective Food Supplements for the Treatment of Post-COVID Symptoms: Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Laboratory Study

Food supplements based on fermented Carica papaya and Morinda citrifolia, known for their immune modulating, redox balancing, and anti-inflammatory effects, were added to conventional treatment protocols prescribed to patients recovering after severe and moderate COVID-19 disease in order to alleviate long-lasting post-COVID symptoms. A randomized single-center placebo-controlled clinical laboratory study was designed and performed (total number of participants 188, with delta variant of virus 157, with omicron 31). Clinical statuses were assessed using computer tomography, electrocardiography, a questionnaire, and physical endurance. Plasma cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, and INF-gamma), nitrate/nitrite ratio, antioxidant activity (AOA), and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) ATP levels were determined before and 20 days following the addition of 28 g of fermented supplements twice per day. The capacity of PMN to phagocyte and the oral-nasal-pharyngeal microbiota were assessed. Clinical symptoms, IL-6, IL-8, and nitric oxide metabolites diminished significantly compared to the placebo group and their background expression. The PMN capacity to phagocyte, AOA, and ATP content remarkably increased. The oral-nasal-pharyngeal microbiota were unchanged. On these grounds, we suggest that fermented tropical fruits could efficiently diminish post-COVID clinical symptoms through several immune-modulating, redox balancing, and pro-energy mechanisms.