[Corticosteroid-induced diabetes: Novelties in pathophysiology and management]

Addressing Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in Cancer Patients, from Visceral Obesity and Myosteatosis to Systemic Inflammation: Implications in Cardio-Onco-Metabolism

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the two leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. The emerging field of cardio-oncology described several shared risk factors that predispose patients to both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome is a chronic condition that occurs in many patients who have experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection, mainly based on chronic fatigue, sedentary lifestyle, cramps, breathing difficulties, and reduced lung performance. Post-acute COVID-19 exposes patients to increased visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, myosteatosis, and white adipose tissue content (surrounded by M1 macrophages and characterized by a Th1/Th17 phenotype), which increases the risk of cardiovascular mortality and cancer recurrence. In this review, the main metabolic affections of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in cancer patients at low and high risk of cardiomyopathies will be summarized. Furthermore, several non-pharmacological strategies aimed at reducing atherosclerotic and cardiac risk will be provided, especially through anti-inflammatory nutrition with a low insulin and glycemic index, appropriate physical activity, and immune-modulating bioactivities able to reduce visceral obesity and myosteatosis, improving insulin-related signaling and myocardial metabolism.

Study of HbA1c levels in non-diabetic individuals recovered from Covid-19

Objectives

To study the glycemic control by estimating HbA1c levels among previously non-diabetic individuals aged above 40 years, who recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection.

Materials and Methods

This is an analytical cross-sectional study of people affected with Covid-19 infection, who were home-isolated, hospitalized, and discharged. The simple random sampling technique was used for the study group. Tirupati City, Andhra Pradesh State, India. We assessed socio-demographic profiles, hba1c levels, RBS, and severity of infection. The obtained laboratory reports were analyzed by using means and proportions after entering data in MS Excel and converted to SPSS software new version.

Results

The study participants comprised mostly middle age group males and females (mostly 40-60 years, with 60% of them being females). Most of the study subjects were healthy, and 58% of them have normal hba1c levels. 32% of them are in border line diabetic. The prevalence of diabetes post Covid-19 infection is 10%. The majority of participants have normal random blood sugar levels (around 92%), and very less individuals have abnormal random blood sugar levels (2% of the subjects). There is no significant association between hypertension and raised blood sugar levels post Covid-19 infection.

Conclusions

Based on the study, Covid-19 infection has an impact on blood sugar levels and altered glycemic control, switching a few individuals into diabetic and a significant number of individuals into the pre-diabetic state, who are non-diabetic individuals before Covid-19 infection.

[Which adjuvant measures should be associated with long-term oral corticosteroid therapy in inflammatory diseases? A summary of existing French recommendations]

It is common to initiate a long-term corticosteroid therapy for inflammatory diseases. Various specialists are involved in this prescription, and associated measures to prevent side effects are not consensual, with the exception of osteoporosis. The specialty of the prescriber has indeed a significant impact on the attention paid to the adjuvant associated measures. The aim of this review was to draw a summary of the side effects of long-term corticosteroid therapy and of the existing recommendations related to associated measures to prevent them. Unfortunately, it is difficult to give clear recommendations because of the lack of evidence in some fields, especially as they should be adapted to patient's age and comorbidities. We propose a summary table of associated measures to long-term steroid therapy prescription and suggest a monitoring frequency.

Chronic stress and Alzheimer's disease

Stress is a key factor in the development and progress of diseases. In neurodegenerative conditions, stress management can play an important role in maintaining the quality of life and the capacity to improve. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, cause the motor and cognitive malfunctions that are spontaneously stressful and also can disturb the neural circuits that promote stress responses. The interruption of those circuits leads to aggressive and inappropriate behavior. In addition, stress contributes to illness and may exacerbate symptoms. In this review, we present stress-activated neural pathways involved in Alzheimer's disease from a clinical and experimental point of view, as well as supportive drugs and therapies.