We used an experimental model in the rat to examine the effects of long-term treatment with crocin, a glycosylated carotenoid from the stigmas of the saffron crocus, on colon cancer. BD-IX rats were divided into four groups: Groups G1 and G2, designated "cancer groups," were used to study the effects of crocin on the progression of colon cancer, and Groups G3 and G4, designated "toxicity groups," were used to study the effects of the treatment on metabolic processes and the parenchyma. DHD/K12-PROb cells were injected subcutaneously into the chest of Group G1 and G2 animals. From 1 to 13 weeks after inoculation, animals in Groups G2 and G4 received a weekly injection of crocin (400 mg/kg body wt s.c.). Animals in Groups G1 and G3 received no treatment. In addition, lines of animal and human colon adenocarcinoma cells (DHD/K12-PROb and HT-29) were used to perform assays in vitro to examine the cytotoxicity of crocin. Life span was extended and tumor growth was slower in crocin-treated female rats, but no significant antitumor effect was found in male rats. Acute tubular necrosis was found in all kidney samples from crocin-treated animals, but slight signs of nephrotoxicity were found by biochemical analysis of the serum. In assays in vitro, crocin had a potent cytotoxic effect on human and animal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29 and DHD/K12-PROb cells, 50% lethal dose = 0.4 and 1.0 mM, respectively). Treated cells exhibited a remarkable loss of cytoplasm and wide cytoplasmic vacuole-like areas. In conclusion, long-term treatment with crocin enhances survival selectively in female rats with colon cancer without major toxic effects. The effects of crocin might be related to its strong cytotoxic effect on cultured tumor cells.
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 infection has widely spread to become the greatest public health challenge to date, the COVID-19 pandemic. Different fatality rates among countries are probably due to non-standardized records being carried out by local health authorities. The Spanish case-fatality rate is 11.22%, far higher than those reported in Asia or by other European countries. A multicentre retrospective study of demographic, clinical, laboratory and immunological features of 584 Spanish COVID-19 hospitalized patients and their outcomes was performed. The use of renin-angiotensin system blockers was also analysed as a risk factor. Results: In this study, 27.4% of cases presented a mild course, 42.1% a moderate one and for 30.5% of cases, the course was severe. Ages ranged from 18 to 98 (average 63). Almost 60 % (59.8%) of patients were male. Interleukin 6 was higher as severity increased. On the other hand, CD8 lymphocyte count was significantly lower as severity grew and subpopulations CD4, CD8, CD19, and NK showed concordant lowering trends. Severity-related natural killer percent descents were evidenced just within aged cases. A significant severity-related decrease of CD4 lymphocytes was found in males. The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with a better prognosis. The angiotensin II receptor blocker use was associated with a more severe course.
Our work does not allow us to establish a common genetic basis for EoE and CD because an increased frequency of the HLA DQ2 and DQ8 alleles predisposing to CD was not observed in adult EoE patients compared to controls.
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