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The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Nutrition Bio-shield Superfood (NBS) powder on the immune system function and clinical manifestations in patients with COVID-19. We compare the effects of NBS powder on the immune system function and clinical manifestations among two different groups: 1) intervention group receiving standard treatment scheduled according to treatment guidelines plus NBS powder, and 2) control group receiving only the same standard treatment. The serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, IFNγ, and TNFα were determined after four weeks of treatment by specific ELISA kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Finally, the level of immune system stimulation and inflammatory markers were compared at baseline and after intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 22). A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was set as significant. A total of 47 patients with COVID-19 (24 patients in the intervention group and 23 patients in the control group) were included in this study. Results showed that the differences in the mean decrease of IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α in the intervention group in comparison to the control group were 0.93, 10.28, and 8.11 pg/ml, respectively (P<0.001). On the other hand, there was no difference in IL-17, IFNγ, monocytes, eosinophil, and other inflammatory indices between the intervention and control groups. Although NBS powder was able to significantly decrease the levels of some proinflammatory cytokines in patients with COVID-19, however, it is noteworthy that the course of the disease was to large part unaffected by NBS power and there was a reduction independent of treatment. The present study indicates that NBS powder could provide a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect in patients with COVID-19. Hence, NBS in treating patients with COVID-19 shows promise as an adjuvant to the current standard antiviral treatment of such patients.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://www.irct.ir, identifier IRCT20200426047206N1.

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Physical inactivity is a major health problem in developing countries. Regular Physical Activity (RPA) can reduce the risk of many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity that are prevalent in middle and old ages specifically in women. The (RPA) status among middle-aged Iranian women is not well known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical activity status and related factors among middle-aged women in Hamadan, a city in western Iran. The participants of this cross-sectional study were comprised of 866 middle-aged women in Hamadan who were selected using a proportional stratified random sampling method in 2015. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire containing demographic characteristics and an International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-S).The data were analyzed with SPSS-16 software using Multi-nominal Logistic Regression. The results revealed that about 57% of the study population was inactive or not sufficiently active (light level). Additionally, the results showed that less than a quarter of the study participants (19.3%) exhibited a severe level of physical activity. The associations between RPA and age, education level and job were significant (P<0.05). The chi-square test revealed a significant difference in RPA with regards to residency locations (P<0.05). The demographic variables relationship with physical activity appears to be important and these findings can be a prelude to design of effective intervention strategies in promoting physical activity.