A prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 chronic renal inflammation patients with nephritic syndrome without using lipid lowering drugs for 1 month before the study. Nephritic syndrome was characterized by severity edema, urinary protein ≥ 3.5g/24 hours, protein < 60g/l, albumin < 30g/l, elevated levels of cholesterol, triglyceride. Results of the study: among these patients, 100% with elevated cholesterol, ApoA1 and ApoB, 97.14% with elevated triglyceride, 62.86% with elevated LDL-C, 68.57% with elevated ApoA1, 48.57% with low HDL-C. Cholesterol level had a significant reverse correlation with serum protein; cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-C levels had significant reverse correlations with serum albumin
Nephritis, Lipids, Serum, Proteins

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread worldwide rapidly and patients with cancer have been considered as a vulnerable group for this infection. This study aimed to examine the expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) in tumor tissues of six common cancer types. Materials and Methods: The expression levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in tumors and control samples were obtained from online databases. Survival prognosis and biological functions of these genes were investigated for each tumor type. Results: There was the overexpression of ACE2 in colon and stomach adenocarcinomas compared to controls, meanwhile colon and prostate adenocarcinomas showed a significantly higher expression of TMPRSS2. Additionally, survival prognosis analysis has demonstrated that upregulation of ACE2 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with higher overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.65; p=0.016) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.66; p=0.007), while overexpression of TMPRSS2 was associated with a 26% reduced risk of death in lung adenocarcinoma (p=0.047) but 50% increased risk of death in breast invasive carcinoma (p=0.015). Conclusion There is a need to take extra precautions for COVID-19 in patients with colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer. Further information on other types of cancer at different stages should be investigated.

Severe illness and poor outcome are mainly associated with aging or certain medical comorbidities, especially chronic diseases. However, factors for unfavorable prognosis have not been well described owing to relatively small sample sizes and single-center reports. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the contribution of comorbidities in the development of critical conditions in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Pooled estimates of relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by conducting a meta-analysis and network meta-analysis of 18 studies. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was most strongly associated with the overall critical condition (RR = 4.22, 95% CI = 3.12 – 5.69), followed by cardiovascular disease (CVD) (RR = 3.00, 95% CI = 2.41 – 3.73), malignancy (RR = 2.91, 95% CI = 2.16 – 3.91), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (RR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.95 – 4.19), diabetes (RR = 2.10, 95% CI = 2.16 – 3.91), hypertension (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.82 – 2.23), and chronic kidney disease (RR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.36 – 2.94).The presence of comorbidities except for chronic liver disease and chronic kidney disease significantly increased the risk of severe infection, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and cardiac injury in the subgroup analysis by types of critical conditions. Preexisting hypertension and diabetes additionally increased the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Among comorbidities, COPD had the highest probability of leading to severe COVID-19, ICU admission, and liver injury, while malignancy was most likely to cause ARDS and cardiac injury. In summary, preexisting COPD, CVD, CVA, hypertension, diabetes, and malignancy are more likely to worsen the progression of COVID-19, with severe infection, ICU admission requirement, and cardiac injury development.

Severe illness and poor outcome are mainly associated with aging or certain medical comorbidities, especially chronic diseases. However, factors for unfavorable prognosis have not been well described owing to relatively small sample sizes and single-center reports. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the contribution of comorbidities in the development of critical conditions in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Pooled estimates of relative risks (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by conducting a meta-analysis and network meta-analysis of 18 studies. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was most strongly associated with the overall critical condition (RR = 4.22, 95% CI = 3.12 – 5.69), followed by cardiovascular disease (CVD) (RR = 3.00, 95% CI = 2.41 – 3.73), malignancy (RR = 2.91, 95% CI = 2.16 – 3.91), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (RR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.95 – 4.19), diabetes (RR = 2.10, 95% CI = 2.16 – 3.91), hypertension (RR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.82 – 2.23), and chronic kidney disease (RR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.36 – 2.94).The presence of comorbidities except for chronic liver disease and chronic kidney disease significantly increased the risk of severe infection, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and cardiac injury in the subgroup analysis by types of critical conditions. Preexisting hypertension and diabetes additionally increased the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Among comorbidities, COPD had the highest probability of leading to severe COVID-19, ICU admission, and liver injury, while malignancy was most likely to cause ARDS and cardiac injury. In summary, preexisting COPD, CVD, CVA, hypertension, diabetes, and malignancy are more likely to worsen the progression of COVID-19, with severe infection, ICU admission requirement, and cardiac injury development.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the food intake behavior of cancer survivors based on main sources of energy intake from different food groups in comparison with healthy individuals.METHODS: Baseline survey data from the Health Examinee cohort, which recruited participants from 2014 to 2013 were applied. A total of 5,269 cancer survivors and 5,219 healthy subjects without comorbidities who were matched by age, sex, and enrollment center were included in the analysis. The proportion of energy intake for 17 food groups was devided into lower median and median or upper. OR and 95% CIs were determined to measure the difference of energy intake proportion in cancer survivors, five major types of cancer survivors versus healthy individuals.RESULTS: Generally, the proportion of calories intake from sugars and sweets, meat and poultry, oils and fats, and beverage was lower in cancer survivors than in healthy individuals (OR = 0.83 [95% CI = 0.79–0.88], 0.75 [95% CI = 0.71–0.80], 0.84 [95% CI = 0.80–0.89], and 0.93 [95% CI = 0.88–0.99], respectively) with more prominently shown in breast, colon, and thyroid cancer individuals. In contrast, cancer survivors tended to intake calories from potatoes and starches, legume, seeds and nuts, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, and seasonings more than healthy individuals (OR = 1.09 [95% CI = 1.03–1.16], 1.13 [95% CI = 1.06–1.19], 1.15 [95% CI = 1.09–1.22], 1.07 [95% CI = 1.01–1.13], 1.07 [95% CI = 1.02–1.14], 1.15 [95% CI = 1.08–1.21], and 1.17 [95% CI = 1.10–1.23], respectively) which were more prominent in gastric and breast cancer survivors.CONCLUSIONS: The dietary behavior measured by main sources of energy intake in cancer survivors was different from healthy individuals in terms of several food groups. Although there are nutrition guidelines for cancer survivors, because of the differences between Western population and Asian people in terms of food culture, the guidelines for balanced nutritious behavior should be established among Asian cancer survivors.
Agaricales ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Beverages ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carbohydrates ; Cohort Studies ; Colon ; Comorbidity ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Fabaceae ; Fats ; Fruit ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Meat ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutritional Status ; Nuts ; Oils ; Poultry ; Seasons ; Solanum tuberosum ; Starch ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Survivors ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Vegetables

Coronaviruses have caused serious Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks, and only remdesivir has been recently indicated for the treatment of COVID-19. In the line of therapeutic options for SARS and MERS, this study aims to summarize the current clinical evidence of treatment options for COVID-19. In general, the combination of antibiotics, ribavirin, and corticosteroids was considered as a standard treatment for patients with SARS. The addition of this conventional treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir, interferon, and convalescent plasma showed potential clinical improvement. For patients with MERS, ribavirin, lopinavir/ritonavir, interferon, and convalescent plasma were continuously recommended. However, a high-dose of corticosteroid was suggested for severe cases only.The use of lopinavir/ritonavir and convalescent plasma was commonly reported. There was limited evidence for the effect of corticosteroids, other antiviral drugs like ribavirin, and favipiravir. Monoclonal antibody of tocilizumab and antimalarial agents of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were also introduced. Among antibiotics for infection therapy, azithromycin was suggested. In conclusion, this study showed the up-to-date evidence of treatment options for COVID-19 that is helpful for the therapy selection and the development of further guidelines and recommendations. Updates of on-going clinical trials and observational studies may confirm the current findings.

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread worldwide rapidly and patients with cancer have been considered as a vulnerable group for this infection. This study aimed to examine the expressions of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) in tumor tissues of six common cancer types. Materials and Methods: The expression levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in tumors and control samples were obtained from online databases. Survival prognosis and biological functions of these genes were investigated for each tumor type. Results: There was the overexpression of ACE2 in colon and stomach adenocarcinomas compared to controls, meanwhile colon and prostate adenocarcinomas showed a significantly higher expression of TMPRSS2. Additionally, survival prognosis analysis has demonstrated that upregulation of ACE2 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with higher overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.65; p=0.016) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.66; p=0.007), while overexpression of TMPRSS2 was associated with a 26% reduced risk of death in lung adenocarcinoma (p=0.047) but 50% increased risk of death in breast invasive carcinoma (p=0.015). Conclusion There is a need to take extra precautions for COVID-19 in patients with colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer. Further information on other types of cancer at different stages should be investigated.

Background: This study aims to elucidate the associations among dietary seaweed (gim and miyeok/dashima) and iodine intakes, the rs77277498 polymorphism of the SLC5A5 gene codifying the sodium/iodine symporter, and thyroid cancer risk in a Korean population. Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 117 thyroid cancer cases and 173 controls who participated in the Cancer Screenee Cohort between 2002 and 2014 at the National Cancer Center, Korea. The amount of seaweed and iodine consumption (g/day) was estimated using the residual energy adjustment method. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a multivariable logistic regression model for the separate and combined effect of dietary iodine-based intake and SLC5A5 polymorphism (rs77277498, C>G) on thyroid cancer. Results: Dietary gim and iodine intakes were inversely associated with thyroid cancer, with ORs of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.30 to 0.83) and 0.57 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.95), respectively, whereas the associations for dietary miyeok/dashima and total seaweed intakes were not significant. However, compared with individuals carrying the C/C genotype of the rs77277498 polymorphism with a low intake of all dietary factors, those carrying the G allele with a high intake had a lower risk of thyroid cancer, with ORs of 0.25 (95% CI, 0.10 to 0.56), 0.31 (95% CI, 0.12 to 0.77), 0.26 (95% CI, 0.10 to 0.62), and 0.30 (95% CI, 0.12 to 0.73) for the consumption of gim, miyeok/dashima, total seaweed, and iodine, respectively. Conclusion In summary, our results supported the evidence of the protective effects of dietary gim and iodine intake against thyroid cancer risk, and this association can be strengthened by SLC5A5 rs77277498 genotypes.

Purpose: Obesity has been determined to be associated with fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene and thyroid cancer risk. However, the effect of combined interactions between obesity and the FTO gene on thyroid cancer needs further investigation. This study aimed to examine whether interactions between body mass index (BMI) and the FTO gene are associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 705 thyroid cancer cases and 705 sex- and age-matched normal controls were selected from the Cancer Screenee Cohort in National Cancer Center, Korea. A conditional logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the measure of associations and the combined effect of BMI and FTO gene on thyroid cancer. Results: BMI was associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer in subclasses of overweight (23-24.9 kg/m2; adjusted OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.00) and obese (≥ 25 kg/m2) (adjusted OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.14). There were positive associations between the FTO genetic variants rs8047395 and rs8044769 and an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Additionally, the combination of BMI subclasses and FTO gene variants was significantly associated with thyroid cancer risk in the codominant (rs17817288), dominant (rs9937053, rs12149832, rs1861867, and rs7195539), and recessive (rs17817288 and rs8044769) models. Conclusion Findings from this study identified the effects of BMI on thyroid cancer risk among individuals carrying rs17817288, rs9937053, rs12149832, rs1861867, rs7195539, and rs8044769, whereas the effects of BMI may be modified according to individual characteristics of other FTO variants.

PURPOSE: Previous observational epidemiological studies have reported inconsistent findings on the association between dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and endocrine-related gynecological cancer such as ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. This study aimed to investigate this association using a meta-analysis of observational studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library by using key words related with the topic in April 2017. The pooled odd ratios (pORs), relative risks (pRRs), or hazard ratios (pHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on the random-effects model. Also, we performed subgroup meta-analysis by methodological quality, types of cancer, study design, and omega-3 fatty acids. RESULTS: A total of ten observational studies with six case-control and four cohort studies were included in the final meta-analysis. In the meta-analysis of all the studies, dietary intake of total omega-3 fatty acids was not significantly associated with the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers (pOR/HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.73-1.04; I²=67.2%) (highest versus lowest intake). In the subgroup meta-analysis by type of study, there was no significant association between them in cohort studies (pHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.63-1.67, I²=81.9%), whereas its reduced risk was observed in case-control studies (pOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.98, I²=55.7%). CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis of observational studies suggests that there is no higher level of evidence to support the protective effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on endocrine-related gynecological cancer. Further prospective studies should be conducted to confirm the association.
Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 ; Female ; Observational Study ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prospective Studies