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Grikscheit K, Berger A, Rabenau H, Kohmer N, Appel KS, Scherer M, Bals R, Blaschke S, Hamprecht A, Hopff SM, Krefting D, Meybohm P, Nürnberger C, Heuschmann P, Pley C, Nunes de Miranda SM, Dahl E, Jensen B, Illig T, Anton G, Vehreschild JJ, Ciesek S. Occurrence and clinical correlates of SARS-CoV-2 viremia in two German patient cohorts. Emerg Microbes Infect 2025; 14:2459137. [PMID: 39868965 PMCID: PMC11812106 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2025.2459137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2025] [Indexed: 01/28/2025]
Abstract
Viremia defined as detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the blood is a potential marker of disease severity and prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Here, we determined the frequency of viremia in serum of two independent COVID-19 patient cohorts within the German National Pandemic Cohort Network (German: Nationales Pandemie Kohorten Netzwerk, NAPKON) with diagnostic RT-PCR against SARS-CoV-2. A cross-sectional cohort with 1122 COVID-19 patients (German: Sektorenuebergreifende Platform, SUEP) and 299 patients recruited in a high-resolution platform with patients at high risk to develop severe courses (German: Hochaufloesende Plattform, HAP) were tested for viremia. Our study also involved a comprehensive analysis and association of serological, diagnostic, and clinical parameters of the NAPKON medical dataset. Prevalence of viremia at the recruitment visit was 12.8% (SUEP) and 13% (HAP), respectively. Serological analysis revealed that viremic patients had lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies as well as lower neutralizing antibodies compared to aviremic patients. Viremia was associated with severity (<0.0001 SUEP; 0.002 HAP) and mortality of COVID-19 (both cohorts <0.0001) compared to aviremic patients. While rare, viremia was also detected in patients with mild disease (0.7%). In patients of the SUEP cohort with acute kidney disease (p = 0.0099) and hematooncological conditions (p = 0.0091), viremia was detected more frequently. Compared to the aviremic group, treatment with immunomodulating drugs as well as elevated levels of inflammatory markers in the blood was more frequent in the viremic group. In conclusion, our analysis revealed that detectable viremia correlates with hyperinflammatory conditions and higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Grikscheit
- Institute for Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Annemarie Berger
- Institute for Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Holger Rabenau
- Institute for Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Niko Kohmer
- Institute for Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Katharina S. Appel
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Digital Medicine and Clinical Data Science, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I for Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Margarete Scherer
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Digital Medicine and Clinical Data Science, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I for Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Robert Bals
- Department of Internal Medicine V - Pulmonology, Infectious Diseases, Intensive Care Medicine, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sabine Blaschke
- Emergency Department, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Axel Hamprecht
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Sina M. Hopff
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dagmar Krefting
- Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Meybohm
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Nürnberger
- Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for medical Data Sciences, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Heuschmann
- Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute for medical Data Sciences, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Clinical Trial Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Caitlin Pley
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susana M. Nunes de Miranda
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I for Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Edgar Dahl
- RWTH cBMB at the Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty of RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Björn Jensen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Illig
- Hannover Unified Biobank, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gabriele Anton
- Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jörg Janne Vehreschild
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Digital Medicine and Clinical Data Science, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sandra Ciesek
- Institute for Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Branch Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Lugnier C, Förster S, Sommerlatte S, Schoffer O, Christmann J, Kraeft AL, Terzer T, Kourti E, Overheu O, Schlageter E, Ekmekciu I, Uhl W, Biermann C, Müller L, Sinn M, Kasper-Virchow S, Modest D, Heinemann V, Schmitt J, Schildmann J, Tannapfel A, Reinacher-Schick A. Significant Alterations of Colorectal Cancer Care in the COVID-19 Pandemic With High Adherence to Quality Criteria in German Cancer Centers (CC) ‒ Data From the AIO CancerCOVID Consortium (AIO-YMO/KRK 520/ass). Clin Colorectal Cancer 2025; 24:218-230. [PMID: 39966037 DOI: 10.1016/j.clcc.2025.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2024] [Revised: 12/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2025] [Indexed: 02/20/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of death despite notable advancements through guideline-based management. We present data on changes of CRC care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. METHODS Retrospective data from 22 AIO CCs and an academic Institute of Pathology compared the first (fw, 03-05.2020) and second wave (sw, 11-12.2020) of the pandemic with corresponding 2019 periods. Parameters were: number of cases diagnosed, age, sex, tumor stage, surgical procedures, quality criteria of CRC care (presentation in multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTB), psychological or social consultation), number of precancerous and malignant colorectal lesions (CRL). Data points were compared as mean values with confidence intervals estimated according to Clopper and Pearson (1934). Hypothesis tests were conducted using Poisson regression models that included interaction terms (year*sex or year*age over70). Statistical significance was considered at P < .05. RESULTS A total of 4316 cases diagnosed (AIO CC) revealed a substantial reduction (fw -20.58%; sw -23.48%). Hypothesis test showed a significant decline in incidence due to the fw and sw of the pandemic. Quality criteria of cancer care remained stable except for trial participation. Analysis from 60,695 CRL detected a decrease in precancerous (fw: -16 %/sw: -4 %) and malignant (fw: -18 %) lesions while malignant CRL increased in the sw (+8 %). Hypothesis test revealed a significant decline only for the fw 2020 and detected age > 70 as independent risk factor in both waves. CONCLUSION We detected substantial alterations in cancer care during the pandemic, including detected precancerous CRL. CCs showed high resilience in quality criteria for CRC care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Lugnier
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Sarah Förster
- Institute of Pathology, Georgius Agricola Stiftung Ruhr, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sabine Sommerlatte
- Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Olaf Schoffer
- Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Christmann
- Institute of Pathology, Georgius Agricola Stiftung Ruhr, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Kraeft
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Tobias Terzer
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Eleni Kourti
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Oliver Overheu
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Elena Schlageter
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ira Ekmekciu
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Waldemar Uhl
- Department of Surgery, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Lothar Müller
- Practice for Oncology and Hematology, Study Centrum Unter Ems, Leer, Germany
| | - Marianne Sinn
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Kasper-Virchow
- Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dominik Modest
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Heinemann
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Schmitt
- Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan Schildmann
- Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Andrea Tannapfel
- Institute of Pathology, Georgius Agricola Stiftung Ruhr, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anke Reinacher-Schick
- Dept. of Hematology and Oncology with Palliative Care, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Kim MG, Phan PT, McMaster C, Indraratna P, Yu J, Martin A, Pinheiro R, Altman L, Schreier G, Kwan B, Konecny P, Post JJ, Lovell N, Ooi SY, Overton K. Remote patient monitoring for managing acute COVID-19, and mortality and hospital use in Sydney, New South Wales, 2021-22: a retrospective observational cohort study. Med J Aust 2025. [PMID: 40420504 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 12/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2025]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the influence of remote patient monitoring (RPM) for managing people with acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 28-day mortality and hospital use in Australia. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective observational cohort study; analysis of deterministically linked NSW Notifiable Conditions Information Management System and hospital, emergency department, and non-admitted patient data. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS South Eastern Sydney Local Health District catchment area residents aged 15 years or older for whom positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test results (polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen testing) during 26 November 2021 - 30 June 2022 were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome: All-cause mortality within 28 days of positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. SECONDARY OUTCOMES Hospital length of stay, and numbers of emergency department presentations, hospital admissions, and intensive care unit admissions within 14 days of positive test results. All analyses were undertaken for the unadjusted data (original cohort analysis) and after propensity score matching and inverse probability treatment weighting. RESULTS Of 276 236 people aged 15 years or older with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results and complete demographic information, 4399 (1.6%) participated in RPM. Twenty-eight-day mortality was lower for the RPM group than the usual care group (propensity score-matched: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-0.43; inverse probability treatment-weighted: aOR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10-0.46). The 14-day likelihood of intensive care unit admission and emergency department presentation was similar for both groups; the likelihood of hospital admission was higher for the RPM group (propensity score-matched: aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.12-1.78; inverse probability treatment-weighted: aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.28-1.78), but the mean hospital length of stay was shorter (adjusted mean difference, original cohort: -2.01 [95% CI, -2.81 to -1.21] days; propensity score-matched: -3.54 [95% CI, -6.39 to -0.69] days; inverse probability treatment-weighted: -3.26 [95% CI, -6.01 to -0.50] days). CONCLUSION RPM was associated with greater 14-day likelihood of hospital admission, but also with shorter mean length of stay and lower 28-day mortality, which may indicate that clinical deterioration was detected and treated earlier than with usual care. The benefit of RPM for managing other acute health conditions in the community, particularly infectious diseases, should be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myong Gyu Kim
- Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney, NSW
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | | | | | - Praveen Indraratna
- Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney, NSW
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | - Jennifer Yu
- Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney, NSW
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | - Allison Martin
- The George Institute for Global Health UNSW, Sydney, NSW
| | | | - Lisa Altman
- South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW
| | - Guenter Schreier
- Center for Health and Bioresources, Austrian Institute of Technology Graz, Austria
| | - Benjamin Kwan
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
- Sutherland Hospital, Sydney, NSW
| | - Pamela Konecny
- St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW
- St George Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | - Jeffrey J Post
- Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney, NSW
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | - Nigel Lovell
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | - Sze-Yuan Ooi
- Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney, NSW
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | - Kristen Overton
- Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney, NSW
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
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4
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Pattaro S, Bailey N, Dibben C. Occupational differences in COVID-19 hospital admission and mortality risks between women and men in Scotland: a population-based study using linked administrative data. Occup Environ Med 2025; 82:128-137. [PMID: 40306899 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2024-109562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 05/02/2025]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Occupations vary with respect to workplace factors that influence exposure to COVID-19, such as ventilation, social contacts and protective equipment. Variations between women and men may arise because they have different occupational roles or behavioural responses. We estimated occupational differences in COVID-19 hospital admission and mortality risks by sex. METHODS We combined (1) individual-level data from 2011 Census with (2) health records and (3) household-level information from residential identifiers, using a Scottish cohort of 1.7 million adults aged 40-64 years between 1 March 2020 and 31 January 2021. We estimated age-standardised COVID-19 hospital admission and mortality rates, stratified by sex and occupation. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for pre-pandemic health and occupational exposure factors, including interaction effects between occupation and sex. RESULTS Women had lower age-standardised COVID-19 hospital admission and mortality rates than men. Among women, adjusted death risks were lowest for health professionals, and those in associate professional and technical occupations (paramedics and medical technicians), with the latter supported by results from the interaction model. Among men, elevated adjusted admission and death risks were observed for large vehicle and taxi drivers. Additionally, admission risks remained high among men in caring personal services (including home and care workers), while elevated risks were observed among women in customer service occupations (call centre operators) and process, plant and machine operative roles (assemblers and sorters). CONCLUSIONS Occupational differences in COVID-19 hospital admission and mortality risks between women and men highlight the need to account for sex differences when developing interventions to reduce infections among vulnerable occupational groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Pattaro
- Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR), School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nick Bailey
- Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR), School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Chris Dibben
- Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research (SCADR), School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Saminathan P, Mathews IT, Alimadadi A, Fung K, Kakugawa K, Joosten LA, Netea MG, Jain M, Cheng S, Hedrick CC, Sharma S. Sex differences in adenosine deaminase activity associate with disparities in SARS-CoV-2 innate immunity. iScience 2025; 28:112418. [PMID: 40343269 PMCID: PMC12059719 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2024] [Revised: 01/08/2025] [Accepted: 04/09/2025] [Indexed: 05/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Females demonstrate elevated type-I interferon production and a stronger antiviral immune response; however, the mechanisms underlying sex-based differences in antiviral immunity are incompletely understood. We previously reported that low adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity perturbs the methylation-based transcriptional silencing of endogenous retroviral elements (hERV), which stimulates IFN-Stimulated Genes (ISG) and primes antiviral immunity. Here we demonstrate lower ADA activity in females compared to their male counterparts, which correlated with higher hERV and ISG expression in female lungs. Sex differences in ADA2 were linked to the number and expression profiles of blood and lung-derived monocyte populations. Single-cell RNA sequencing of respiratory cells from patients with COVID-19 showed a significant female bias in hERV-ISG signatures, and implicated IL-18 as a driver of sex-specific ADA2 expression. Observations in healthy and COVID-19 cohorts indicate that higher ADA activity is associated with suppressed antiviral innate immunity in the male respiratory tract, which may drive adverse COVID-19 outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Saminathan
- Center for Sex Differences in the Immune System, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ian T. Mathews
- Center for Sex Differences in the Immune System, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ahmad Alimadadi
- Center for Sex Differences in the Immune System, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Immunology Center of Georgia and Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Kai Fung
- Center for Sex Differences in the Immune System, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kiyokazu Kakugawa
- Laboratory for Inflammatory Immune Metabolism, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Leo A.B. Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Community Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihai G. Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Community Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany
| | - Mohit Jain
- Sapient Bioanalytics, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Susan Cheng
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Catherine C. Hedrick
- Immunology Center of Georgia and Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Sonia Sharma
- Center for Sex Differences in the Immune System, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Laboratory for Inflammatory Immune Metabolism, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama City, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
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Backman E, Gröning R, Lind A, Granvik C, Eilers H, Lange A, Ahlm C, Cajander S, Forsell MNE, Normark J, Urban CF. Elevated Plasma Levels of NET Components in Men with Severe COVID-19 Correlates to Increased Amounts of IL-18. Eur J Immunol 2025; 55:e202451546. [PMID: 40346759 PMCID: PMC12064869 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202451546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2025] [Accepted: 04/17/2025] [Indexed: 05/12/2025]
Abstract
Severe COVID-19 disease is accompanied by high plasma levels of proinflammatory, prothrombotic NETs, and NET-inducing cytokine IL-18. We found that both, IL-18 and NETs, are elevated in men with severe disease, but not in women of the same category. Our findings warrant further investigation of sex-related differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emelie Backman
- Department of Clinical MicrobiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Remigius Gröning
- Department of Clinical MicrobiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Alicia Lind
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Department of Diagnostics and InterventionUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | | | - Hinnerk Eilers
- Laboratory MedicineRegion VästerbottenNorrland University HospitalUmeåSweden
| | - Anna Lange
- Department of Infectious DiseasesFaculty of Medicine and HealthÖrebro UniversityÖrebroSweden
| | - Clas Ahlm
- Department of Clinical MicrobiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Sara Cajander
- Department of Infectious DiseasesFaculty of Medicine and HealthÖrebro UniversityÖrebroSweden
| | - Mattias N. E. Forsell
- Department of Clinical MicrobiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Johan Normark
- Department of Clinical MicrobiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Constantin F. Urban
- Department of Clinical MicrobiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)Umeå UniversityUmeåSweden
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7
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Lenning OB, Myhre R, Vadla MS, Omdal R, Martínez Jarreta B, Gómez Moreno Á, De Blas I, Braut GS. Do genetic variants of the Y chromosome affect mortality from COVID-19. Scand J Public Health 2025:14034948251333236. [PMID: 40230068 DOI: 10.1177/14034948251333236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2025]
Abstract
AIMS During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant differences in mortality patterns emerged based on sex and geographical regions. While we were studying on the heredity of variants of the Y chromosome, we observed that regional variations in mortality rates appeared to correlate with the geographical distribution of certain variants of the Y chromosome. This observation led us to propose that some genes on the Y chromosome, with an influence on immune responses, may represent a confounding factor in the observed geographical mortality differences. METHODS In this analysis, we investigate the potential associations between COVID-19 morbidity and disease-specific mortality and specific Y chromosome variants. The study is based on publicly available pandemic data validated by state authorities or presented in scientific literature documented in PubMed and Medline. RESULTS We find that Y chromosome haplogroups in different populations exhibit wave-like patterns corresponding with persistent global disparities in COVID-19-related mortality. CONCLUSIONS These findings warrant further research to uncover possible new pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole Bernt Lenning
- Research Department, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Ronny Myhre
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Health Data and Digitalization, Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics (HDGB), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Roald Omdal
- Research Department, Stavanger University Hospital, Clinical Immunology Research Group, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Begoña Martínez Jarreta
- Facultad de Medicina/Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Zaragoza/University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza (Spain), Spain
| | - Ángel Gómez Moreno
- Dpto. of Hispanic Literature and Bibliography, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio De Blas
- Facultad of Veterinary Sciences, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto, Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Geir Sverre Braut
- Research Department, Stavanger University Hospital and Department of Social Science, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Stavanger, Norway
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8
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Peckham H, Radziszewska A, Sikora J, de Gruijter NM, Restuadi R, Kartawinata M, Martin-Gutierrez L, Robinson GA, Deakin CT, Wedderburn LR, Jury EC, Butler G, Chambers ES, Rosser EC, Ciurtin C. Estrogen influences class-switched memory B cell frequency only in humans with two X chromosomes. J Exp Med 2025; 222:e20241253. [PMID: 40049222 PMCID: PMC11893172 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20241253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 12/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 03/12/2025] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in immunity are well-documented, though mechanisms underpinning these differences remain ill-defined. Here, in a human-only ex vivo study, we demonstrate that postpubertal cisgender females have higher levels of CD19+CD27+IgD- class-switched memory B cells compared with age-matched cisgender males. This increase is only observed after puberty and before menopause, suggesting a strong influence for sex hormones. Accordingly, B cells express high levels of estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2), and class-switch-regulating genes are enriched for ESR2-binding sites. In a gender-diverse cohort, blockade of natal estrogen in transgender males (XX karyotype) reduced class-switched memory B cell frequency, while gender-affirming estradiol treatment in transgender females (XY karyotype) did not increase these levels. In postmenopausal cis-females, class-switched memory B cells were increased in those taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) compared with those who were not. These data demonstrate that sex hormones and chromosomes work in tandem to impact immune responses, with estrogen only influencing the frequency of class-switched memory B cells in individuals with an XX chromosomal background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Peckham
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Anna Radziszewska
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Justyna Sikora
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Nina M. de Gruijter
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Restuadi Restuadi
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Melissa Kartawinata
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Lucia Martin-Gutierrez
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - George A. Robinson
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claire T. Deakin
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lucy R. Wedderburn
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth C. Jury
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gary Butler
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- University College London Hospital, London, UK
| | - Emma S. Chambers
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth C. Rosser
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Coziana Ciurtin
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
- University College London Hospital, London, UK
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9
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Zhou M, Ma J, Fang M, Liu X, Zhang C, Wu K, Ye J, Zhang Y, Yuan Q, Chen R, Chen P, Zhu H, Guan Y, Cheng T, Yuan L, Xia N. Increased pathogenicity and transmissibility in hamsters of all age groups reveal an underestimated perniciousness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 EG.1 variant. iScience 2025; 28:111875. [PMID: 40034851 PMCID: PMC11872406 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.111875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 11/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2025] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
The evolution and mutation of SARS-CoV-2 is elusive. However, the diverse in vivo pathogenicity and transmissibility of different SARS-CoV-2 Omicron/XBB variants are not well understood. We compared virological attributes of two XBB variants, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.2.1 (EG.1) in new-born, juvenile, adult, middle-aged and senescent Syrian hamsters. In particular, EG.1 has a specific Q613H mutation and causes fatal severe pneumonia in hamsters of all ages. In contrast, all hamsters infected with XBB.1.16 survived and showed milder symptoms. The XBB.1.16 infected hamsters lost significantly less body weight and exhibited lower respiratory viral loads, pro-inflammatory cytokines and lung injury than those with EG.1 infection. In addition, EG.1 is more transmissible than XBB.1.16 in close contact co-housing. Both EG.1 and XBB.1.16 are highly resistant to therapeutic antibodies and convalescent serum. Overall, the unpredictable evolution, global transmission and potential threat of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants necessitate the updating of prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures in all age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Mujin Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Clinical Center for Bio-Therapy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Xiamen Branch), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- Clinical Center for Bio-Therapy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Xiamen Branch), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Kun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jianghui Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Quan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Rirong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases/Joint Laboratory for International Collaboration in Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Joint Institute of Virology (STU/HKU), Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Peiwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases/Joint Laboratory for International Collaboration in Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Joint Institute of Virology (STU/HKU), Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huachen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases/Joint Laboratory for International Collaboration in Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Joint Institute of Virology (STU/HKU), Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases/Joint Laboratory for International Collaboration in Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Joint Institute of Virology (STU/HKU), Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Lunzhi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ningshao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiang an Biomedicine Laboratory, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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10
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Scalzo PL, Marshall AG, Soriano S, Curry K, Dulay M, Hodics T, Quigley EMM, Treangen TJ, Piskorz MM, Villapol S. Gut Microbiome dysbiosis and immune activation correlate with somatic and neuropsychiatric symptoms in COVID-19 patients. J Transl Med 2025; 23:327. [PMID: 40087795 PMCID: PMC11907868 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06348-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2025] [Indexed: 03/17/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can lead to a range of physical symptoms and mental health challenges, including stress, anxiety, and depression. These effects are particularly pronounced in hospitalized patients, likely due to the virus's direct and indirect impact on the nervous system. Gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiome, has been implicated in immune dysfunction and chronic inflammation in COVID-19 patients. However, the interactions between gut microbiome composition and the physical and mental symptoms of COVID-19 remain incompletely understood. METHODS We investigated the association between physical and mental symptoms, cytokine profiles, and gut microbiota composition in 124 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We collected data on demographics, COVID-19 severity, and mental health indicators (stress, anxiety, and depression). Gut microbiome profiling was performed using full-length 16 S rRNA gene sequencing to evaluate microbial diversity and composition. RESULTS COVID-19 severity was categorized as low (27.4%), moderate (29.8%), or critical (42.8%). Common symptoms included fever (66.1%) and cough (55.6%), while somatic symptoms (27.3%), anxiety (27.3%), depressive symptoms (39%), and stress (80.5%) were frequently self-reported. Elevated interleukin-6 levels in severe cases highlighted systemic inflammation, reduced gut bacterial diversity, particularly among women and obese patients, correlated with higher disease severity. Notably, the genus Mitsuokella was associated with increased physical symptoms and mental distress, while Granulicatella was linked to critical illness. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal significant associations between mental health status, systemic inflammation, and gut dysbiosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. These results indicate the potential for microbiome-targeted therapies to mitigate psychological and physical complications and improve recovery outcomes in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula L Scalzo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Austin G Marshall
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sirena Soriano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kristen Curry
- Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Computational Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Mario Dulay
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Timea Hodics
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eamonn M M Quigley
- Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Health, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Todd J Treangen
- Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - María M Piskorz
- Department of Neurogastroenterology, Hospital de Clinicas José de San Martin, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sonia Villapol
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience in Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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11
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Devamani C, Alexander N, Chandramohan D, Stenos J, Cameron M, Abhilash KPP, Mangtani P, Blacksell S, Thu Vu HT, Rose W, Schmidt WP. Incidence of Scrub Typhus in Rural South India. N Engl J Med 2025; 392:1089-1099. [PMID: 40073309 PMCID: PMC7617504 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2408645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital studies suggest that scrub typhus is a leading cause of severe undifferentiated fever in regions across Asia where the disease is endemic, but the population-based incidence of infection and illness has been little studied. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study to assess epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of scrub typhus in 37 villages in Tamil Nadu, India, where the disease is highly endemic. Study participants were visited every 6 to 8 weeks over a period of 2 years; a venous blood sample was obtained from those who had had fever since the last visit. A subcohort of participants underwent blood sampling to estimate the incidence of serologically confirmed Orientia tsutsugamushi infection. RESULTS We systematically assessed 32,279 participants from 7619 households for acute febrile illness. During 54,588 person-years of follow-up, we observed 6175 episodes of fever. A blood sample was obtained in 4474 episodes (72.5%), of which 328 (7.3%) met the clinical case definition of scrub typhus (detection of IgM against O. tsutsugamushi on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] or detection of O. tsutsugamushi on polymerase-chain-reaction assay). The incidence of clinical infection was 6.0 cases per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.8 to 7.5). A total of 71 clinical cases (21.6%) resulted in hospitalization (incidence, 1.3 events per 1000 person-years; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.7). A total of 29 clinical cases (8.8%) were severe, as indicated by the presence of organ dysfunction or adverse pregnancy outcomes (incidence, 0.5 cases per 1000 person-years; 95% CI, 0.4 to 0.8). Among 2128 participants in the subcohort who provided samples at the beginning and end of a study year, the incidence of seroconversion independent of any symptoms was 81.2 events per 1000 person-years (95% CI, 70.8 to 91.6). The incidence of clinical infection was higher in older age groups than in younger age groups and higher among female participants than among male participants. By contrast, the age-adjusted rate of severe infection was similar among male and female participants. Among 5602 participants assessed at the start of the first year of the study, the seroprevalence of IgG as assessed with ELISA was 42.8% (95% CI, 35.8 to 50.2). IgG seropositivity at the beginning of years 1 or 2 did not protect against clinical illness during the subsequent year but was associated with less severe disease than IgG seronegativity. CONCLUSIONS We describe the burden of scrub typhus, including the incidence of asymptomatic infection, in a region of Asia where the disease is endemic. (Funded by the U.K. Medical Research Council; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04506944.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Devamani
- Department of Child Health 3, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Neal Alexander
- MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Daniel Chandramohan
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
| | - Mary Cameron
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Punam Mangtani
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Stuart Blacksell
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Research Medicine Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Huong Thi Thu Vu
- National Institute for Control of Vaccines and Biologicals, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Winsley Rose
- Department of Child Health 3, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Wolf-Peter Schmidt
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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12
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Meyer J, Nadal J, Batsa Debrah L, Debrah AY, Osei-Mensah J, Adu Mensah D, Korir PJ, Kuehlwein JM, Klarmann-Schulz U, Hoerauf A, Adjobimey T. Robust COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Despite Filarial Co-Infection: Insights from a Lymphatic Filariasis Cohort in Ghana. Vaccines (Basel) 2025; 13:312. [PMID: 40266230 PMCID: PMC11945955 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines13030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2025] [Revised: 03/10/2025] [Accepted: 03/11/2025] [Indexed: 04/24/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely concluded, the varied trajectories it has followed in different regions of the world remain incompletely understood. Intensive research is needed to fully grasp its course and the implications for future global health challenges. Notably, the milder trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa has defied initial predictions. An emerging body of evidence suggests that, in addition to the continent's younger average age and the lower prevalence of relevant comorbidities, co-infections with helminths may have also impressively shaped the pandemic's milder trajectory in the region. Indeed, helminths are renowned for their ability to modulate human immune responses, which, while potentially beneficial in limiting excessive inflammation, could also diminish vaccine efficacy and impede viral clearance. This study investigated different aspects of the intricate interactions between COVID-19 and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), a helminth infection caused by parasitic worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori and endemic to various regions in Sub-Saharan Africa and the tropics. METHODS For this purpose, samples of a larger and ongoing clinical trial (ethical approval codes: CHRPE/AP/525/17 and 325/21; trial registration number ISRCTN14042737) were collected from 222 individuals from endemic areas of Ghana, along with comprehensive clinical and demographic data. The samples include LF patients (n = 222) grouped according to their Lymphoedema (LE) stages, as well as COVID-19 vaccinated (n = 81) and non-vaccinated individuals (n = 141). All vaccinated participants received the COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1-S (also known as Vaxzevria) developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZenca. The expressions of SARS-CoV-2 and filarial-specific antibodies (IgG, IgA) were accessed using ELISA, while Luminex-based immunoassays were employed to measure the expression of SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific neutralizing antibodies. The interplay between vaccine responses and demographic factors was analyzed using group comparisons with the Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS The results indicate that a remarkable portion of unvaccinated individuals (56% IgA seropositive, 39% IgG seropositive) developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 despite no confirmed infection. Notably, the study identified a robust antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination, which was independent of the degree of LF pathology or parasitic status. An important observation was the reduced SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in individuals seropositive for Ascaris lumbricoides (p = 0.0264), highlighting an interaction between roundworm infection and COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS The study concludes that the ChAdOx1-S COVID-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) triggers a strong immune response in LF patients; however, filarial and/or soil-transmitted helminth seropositivity might influence the COVID-19 infection-induced response. These findings emphasize the complexity of infectious disease dynamics in co-infected populations and the need to decipher parasite-induced immunomodulatory mechanisms on COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Meyer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jennifer Nadal
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Medical Biometry, Informatics, and Epidemiology (IMBIE), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Alexander Yaw Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Jubin Osei-Mensah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Derrick Adu Mensah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 00233, Ghana
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Royal Ann College of Health, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Patricia Jebett Korir
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Bonn-Cologne Site, German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF), 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Janina M. Kuehlwein
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Bonn-Cologne Site, German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF), 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ute Klarmann-Schulz
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Bonn-Cologne Site, German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF), 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Bonn-Cologne Site, German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF), 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tomabu Adjobimey
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Laboratoire de Biologie Intégrative Pour l’Innovation Thérapeutique (BioInov), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques (FAST), Université d’Abomey Calavi, Abomey Calavi BP 526, Benin
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Adilović M. COVID-19 related complications. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2025; 213:259-314. [PMID: 40246346 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2025.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2025]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global healthcare systems, revealed vulnerabilities and prompted a re-evaluation of medical practices. Acute complications from the virus, including cardiovascular and neurological issues, have underscored the necessity for timely medical interventions. Advances in diagnostic methods and personalized therapies have been pivotal in mitigating severe outcomes. Additionally, Long COVID has emerged as a complex challenge, affecting various body systems and leading to respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, psychological, and musculoskeletal problems. This broad spectrum of complications highlights the importance of multidisciplinary management approaches that prioritize therapy, rehabilitation, and patient-centered care. Vulnerable populations such as paediatric patients, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals face unique risks and complications, necessitating continuous monitoring and tailored management strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhamed Adilović
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo, Hrasnička cesta, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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14
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Cañón-Estrada F, Muñoz-Ordoñez JA, Escalante-Forero M, Rodas Y, Arteaga-Tobar AA, Azcarate-Rodriguez V, Perna E, Mendoza I, Wyss F, Barisani JL, Speranza M, Alarco W, Ortega JC, Ulate A, Mercedes J, Chaves DQ, Oliver P, Valencia-Orozco A, Barbosa MM, León-Giraldo H, Flórez NA, Gómez-Mesa JE, CARDIO COVID 19-20 Research Group. Biochemical differences based on sex and clusters of biomarkers in patients with COVID-19: analysis from the CARDIO COVID 19-20 registry. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2025; 25:147. [PMID: 40045210 PMCID: PMC11881352 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-025-04565-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Collaborators] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2025] [Indexed: 03/09/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The inflammatory response associated with COVID-19 varies with sex, potentially affecting disease outcomes. Males have a higher risk of complications compared to females, requiring an evaluation of differences in inflammatory response severity based on sex. OBJECTIVE To compare clinical data, biochemical biomarkers, and outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Latin America and the Caribbean (LA&C) based on sex and to perform a cluster analysis of biomarker profiles for both sexes. METHODS This prospective, multicenter observational registry made by the Inter-American Council of Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension of the Inter-American Society of Cardiology included hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 44 hospitals in 14 countries in LA&C between May 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. RESULTS Of 3,260 patients (1,201 females and 2,059 males), males had higher C-reactive protein and ferritin levels, while females had higher natriuretic peptides and d-dimer levels. Males had more cardiovascular complications (acute coronary syndrome [3.3% vs. 2.2%], decompensated heart failure [8.9% vs. 7.8%], pulmonary embolism [4.4% vs. 2.9%]), intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (56.9% vs. 47.7%), and overall mortality (27.5% vs. 22.1%). Cluster analysis identified three groups: one with normal-range biomarkers but elevated ferritin, one with coagulation abnormalities, and one with an inflammatory profile linked to renal injury and increased non-cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS In the LA&C population hospitalized with COVID-19, males had higher inflammatory biomarker levels, correlating with increased cardiovascular complications and mortality. The cluster with an inflammatory profile showed higher non-cardiovascular mortality, while clusters with elevated ferritin levels were associated with increased ICU admissions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yorlany Rodas
- Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Fundación Valle del Lili, 76003, Cali, Colombia
| | | | | | - Eduardo Perna
- Departamento de Cardiología, Instituto de Cardiología J.F Cabral, Corrientes, 3400, Argentina
| | - Iván Mendoza
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, 1030, Venezuela
| | - Fernando Wyss
- Departamento de Cardiología, Servicios y Tecnología Cardiovascular de Guatemala S.A-Cardiosolutions, Guatemala City, 01010, Guatemala
| | - José Luis Barisani
- Departamento Cardiovascular, Hospital Presidente Perón, 1710, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mario Speranza
- Departamento de Cardiología, Hospital Clínica Bíblica, San José, 10104, Costa Rica
| | - Walter Alarco
- Departamento de Cardiología, Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular INCOR ESSALUD, Lima, 1507, Perú
| | - Juan Carlos Ortega
- Departamento de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Erasmo Meoz, 540003, Cúcuta, Colombia
| | - Andrés Ulate
- Departamento de Cardiología, Hospital México, San José, 10101, Costa Rica
| | - Jessica Mercedes
- Departamento de Cardiología, Hospital Nacional San Rafael, Santa Tecla, 1502, El Salvador
| | - Daniel Quesada Chaves
- Departamento de Cardiología, Hospital San Vicente de Paúl, Heredia, 40101, Costa Rica
| | - Paola Oliver
- Departamento de Cardiología, Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza, Lima, 15072, Perú
| | | | - Mario Miguel Barbosa
- Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Fundación Valle del Lili, 76003, Cali, Colombia
| | - Hoover León-Giraldo
- Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Fundación Valle del Lili, 76003, Cali, Colombia
| | - Noel Alberto Flórez
- Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Street 98 N. 18-49, 76003, Cali, Colombia
| | - Juan Esteban Gómez-Mesa
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Icesi, 76003, Cali, Colombia.
- Departamento de Cardiología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Street 98 N. 18-49, 76003, Cali, Colombia.
- Centro de Investigaciones Clínicas, Fundación Valle del Lili, 76003, Cali, Colombia.
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Collaborators
Maria Lorena Coronel, Alejandra Ines Christen, Paula Silva, Juan Martin Brunialti, Pedro Schwartzmann, Luis Carlos Santana Passos, Estevão Lanna Figueiredo, Carlos Eduardo Montenegro, Franco Appiani Florit, Ricardo Enrique Larrea Gómez, Fernando Verdugo Thomas, Iván Criollo, Ricardo Ramírez Ramírez, Víctor Rossel, Julián Lugo, Hugo Fernando Fernández, Maria Juliana Rodríguez, Andrés Buitrago, Noel Flórez, Juan Isaac Ortíz, William Millán Orozco, Clara Inés Saldarriaga, Daniel Quesada, Sylvia Sandoval, Liliana Patricia Cárdenas Aldaz, Marlon Aguirre, Freddy Pow Chong, Armando Alvarado, Daniel Sierra, Alexander Romero, Miguel Quintana, Felipe Nery Gervacio Fernández, Roger Martín Correa, Francisco Chávez Sol Sol, Wilbert German Yabar Galindo, Claudia Almonte, Cesar Herrera, Igor Morr, Eglee Castillo,
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15
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Schulz RJ, Ofner H, Nyirády P, Rajwa P, Weiss J, Shariat SF, Fazekas T. Overlooked and underserved: how healthcare fails men in the pursuit of equity. Curr Opin Urol 2025; 35:148-156. [PMID: 39744760 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0000000000001257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2025]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Men face distinctive health-related challenges as a result of biological, behavioral, and sociocultural factors. In addition, the modern healthcare system does not offer men equal opportunities and options to ensure sex-specific access and delivery to health services. Men's health concerns are, indeed, often not addressed or even forgotten. In this review, we wanted to assess the impact of biology and sociocultural effects on sex-specific life-expectancy. RECENT FINDINGS Globally, men have a shorter life expectancy than women. With a 5.8 years gender gap in the USA and 5.4 in the EU-27 (both in 2022). Cardiovascular disease, cancer, and accidents continue to represent the primary causes of mortality for both genders with all having disproportional preponderance in men. In recent years, there has been a notable decline in age-adjusted mortality rates related to cancer, while there has been an increase in deaths from accidental and intentional self-harm. Moreover, in the United States, men are more likely than women to develop and die from nonsex-specific cancers. As a result, men's poor health affects productivity, absenteeism, and employment. SUMMARY The status of men in healthcare is complex. It is rooted in history, culture, and institutions. To address disparities, we need a comprehensive approach that includes policy reforms, sociocultural changes, and a fair and equitable public discourse. Grassroots and top-down strategies are needed to ensure a value-based societal healthcare system acknowledging the unique health needs of men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Schulz
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Heidemarie Ofner
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Péter Nyirády
- Department of Urology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pawel Rajwa
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Second Department of Urology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julia Weiss
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shahrokh F Shariat
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Urology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
- Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Urology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Division of Urology, Department of Special Surgery, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Karl Landsteiner Institute of Urology and Andrology, Vienna, Austria
- Research Center for Evidence Medicine, Urology Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Tamás Fazekas
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Urology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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16
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Sami CA, Rahaman MFU, Khan MMR, Alam Bhuiyan MM, Matin MA, Rashed HM, Khan AH, Arafat SM, Hasan MN. Glycemic Control Status After Six Months in Post-COVID-19 Patients. Cureus 2025; 17:e81225. [PMID: 40291239 PMCID: PMC12023803 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.81225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Despite being typically a viral respiratory disease, COVID-19 has harmful effects that go beyond the respiratory system. The endocrine system is particularly susceptible to damage due to the high expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors. This study evaluates glycemic status in survivors of COVID-19. Methodology In this prospective, observational study, 96 individuals were enrolled from the COVID-19 unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Mild and moderate COVID-19 patients were classified as non-severe, whereas severe and critical cases were classified as severe, following the WHO disease severity classification. Follow-ups were conducted at the post-COVID-19 clinic at BSMMU one and six months after diagnosis. Blood samples for fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin measurements were collected within 24 hours of initial diagnosis and during each follow-up at the first and sixth months. Results Of the 96 participants, the non-severe and severe groups consisted of 49 (51%) and 47 (49%) participants, respectively. Among the participants, 62 (63.9%) were men, the mean age was 54.2 (15.9) years, and hypertension was the most common comorbidity (37, 38.5%). After six months, 12 new cases of diabetes (15.4%) were observed, with a male predominance (10, 62%). After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that severe COVID-19 was substantially linked to a higher risk of diabetes at six months (odds ratio = 5.5, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-27.7, p = 0.03). Conclusions The study findings showed a significant association between a higher frequency of diabetes and severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Md Abdul Matin
- Internal Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BGD
| | - Hasan M Rashed
- Internal Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BGD
| | - Abed H Khan
- Internal Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BGD
| | | | - Md Nazmul Hasan
- Internal Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BGD
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17
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Heydemann L, Ciurkiewicz M, Störk T, Zdora I, Hülskötter K, Gregor KM, Michaely LM, Reineking W, Schreiner T, Beythien G, Volz A, Tuchel T, Meyer Zu Natrup C, Schünemann LM, Clever S, Henneck T, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Schaudien D, Rohn K, Schughart K, Geffers R, Kaneko MK, Kato Y, Gross C, Amanakis G, Pavlou A, Baumgärtner W, Armando F. Respiratory long COVID in aged hamsters features impaired lung function post-exercise with bronchiolization and fibrosis. Nat Commun 2025; 16:2080. [PMID: 40021627 PMCID: PMC11871369 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57267-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 03/03/2025] Open
Abstract
Long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection affect millions of people and strain public health systems. The underlying pathomechanisms remain unclear, necessitating further research in appropriate animal models. This study aimed to characterize the trajectory of lung regeneration over 112 days in the male hamster model by combining morphological, transcriptomic and functional readouts. We demonstrate that in the acute phase, SARS-CoV-2 Delta-infected, male, aged hamsters show a severe impairment of lung function at rest. In the chronic phase, similar impairments persisted up to 7 weeks post-infection but were only evident after exercise on a rodent treadmill. The male hamster model recapitulates chronic pulmonary fibrotic changes observed in many patients with respiratory long COVID, but lacks extra-pulmonary long-term lesions. We show that sub-pleural and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis as well as alveolar bronchiolization persist until 112 dpi. Interestingly, CK8+ alveolar differentiation intermediate (ADI) cells are becoming less prominent in the alveolar proliferation areas from 28 dpi on. Instead, CK14+ airway basal cells and SCGB1A1+ club cells, expressing cell proliferation markers, mainly populate alveolar bronchiolization areas at later time-points. We postulate that pulmonary fibrosis and SCGB1A1+ club cell-rich areas of alveolar bronchiolization represent potential risk factors for other diseases in long-COVID survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Heydemann
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Theresa Störk
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Isabel Zdora
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Kirsten Hülskötter
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | | | | | - Wencke Reineking
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Tom Schreiner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Georg Beythien
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Asisa Volz
- Department of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Tamara Tuchel
- Department of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Christian Meyer Zu Natrup
- Department of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Schünemann
- Department of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Sabrina Clever
- Department of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Timo Henneck
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Maren von Köckritz-Blickwede
- Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Dirk Schaudien
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hanover, Germany
| | - Karl Rohn
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Data Management, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany
| | - Klaus Schughart
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Institute of Virology Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Robert Geffers
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Brunswick, Germany
| | - Mika K Kaneko
- Department of antibody drug development, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Yukinari Kato
- Department of antibody drug development, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Carina Gross
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hanover Medical School (MHH), Hanover, Germany
| | - Georgios Amanakis
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hanover Medical School (MHH), Hanover, Germany
| | - Andreas Pavlou
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Baumgärtner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Foundation, Hanover, Germany.
| | - Federico Armando
- Pathology Unit, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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18
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Gambini F, Arbon D, Nickl P, Zatecka V, Fedosieieva O, Labaj J, Novosadova V, Trylcova J, Weber J, Prochazka J, Balounova J, Sedlacek R. New mouse model for inducible hACE2 expression enables to dissect SARS-CoV-2 pathology beyond the respiratory system. Mamm Genome 2025:10.1007/s00335-025-10115-1. [PMID: 39985688 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-025-10115-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2025] [Indexed: 02/24/2025]
Abstract
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is not limited to the respiratory tract as receptors, including the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), are expressed across many tissues. This study employed a new conditional mouse model, Rosa26creERT2/chACE2, which expresses human ACE2 (hACE2) across multiple organs, to investigate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection beyond the respiratory system. This strain demonstrated susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in a dose and sex-dependent manner, showing that infected male mice exhibited more severe disease outcomes, including significant weight loss, pronounced lung pathology and dysfunction, and increased mortality, compared to females. In contrast to intratracheal infection, intranasal virus administration facilitated viral spread to the brain, thereby underscoring the nasal route's role in the pathogenesis of neurological manifestations. Intranasal infection also led to increased innate immune system activation as compared to intratracheal virus administration, even though both routes activated the adaptive immune response. This model provides a valuable tool to study SARS-CoV-2 in individual tissues or use a multisystemic approach, and it also advances possibilities for preclinical evaluation of antiviral therapies and vaccine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Gambini
- Laboratory of Transgenic Models of Diseases, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Arbon
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Nickl
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Zatecka
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Olha Fedosieieva
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Juraj Labaj
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Vendula Novosadova
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Trylcova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Weber
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Prochazka
- Laboratory of Transgenic Models of Diseases, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, 142 20, Czech Republic
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Balounova
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic.
| | - Radislav Sedlacek
- Laboratory of Transgenic Models of Diseases, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Prague, 142 20, Czech Republic.
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, Vestec, 252 50, Czech Republic.
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19
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Marconi M, Ruocco A, Ristori J, Bonadonna S, Pivonello R, Meriggiola MC, Motta G, Lombardo F, Mosconi M, Oppo A, Federici S, Bruno L, Verde N, Lami A, Crespi CM, Manoli M, Matarrese P, Santangelo C, Giordani L, Pagano MT, Barbati C, D'Arienzo S, Fisher AD, Pierdominici M. Stratified analysis of health and gender-affirming care among Italian transgender and gender diverse adults. J Endocrinol Invest 2025:10.1007/s40618-025-02547-y. [PMID: 39954195 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-025-02547-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2025] [Indexed: 02/17/2025]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to provide the first comprehensive analysis of the health status of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) adults in Italy, addressing disparities in physical and mental health and access to gender-affirming care. By combining self-reported health data with clinical evaluations and incorporating demographic and clinical variables, the research offers a robust and previously unavailable health profile of this population. METHODS An anonymous online survey targeting TGD adults across Italy was conducted from June 2020 to June 2021. The survey consisted of self-reported health assessments and clinician-conducted evaluations, collecting data on chronic physical conditions, mental health disorders, infectious diseases, and gender-affirming care. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, identified associations between demographics and health outcomes. RESULTS Among 959 participants, mental health disorders were prevalent, with over half experiencing depression and/or anxiety. Non-binary individuals reported poorer health compared to binary individuals. Chronic conditions such as thyroid disorders were more common in individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB), whereas those assigned male at birth (AMAB) had higher rates of osteoporosis and sexually transmitted infections. Key health predictors included age, education, employment, and engagement in gender-affirming hormone therapy. CONCLUSION The study reveals stark health disparities among TGD individuals in Italy, emphasizing the need for targeted health policies, expanded mental health services, and specialized healthcare provider training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Marconi
- Reference Centre for Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Ruocco
- Reference Centre for Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Jiska Ristori
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Florence University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Rosario Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Meriggiola
- Division of Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), S. Orsola Hospital, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanna Motta
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Lombardo
- Laboratory of Semiology, Sperm Bank Loredana Gandini, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Mosconi
- Gender Identity Development Service, Hospital S. Camillo-Forlanini, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Oppo
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Luca Bruno
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Nunzia Verde
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Lami
- Division of Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), S. Orsola Hospital, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Michela Crespi
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Martina Manoli
- Reference Centre for Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Matarrese
- Reference Centre for Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Santangelo
- Reference Centre for Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciana Giordani
- Reference Centre for Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Pagano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Barbati
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara D'Arienzo
- Tuscany Central Local Health Company, Florence, Tuscany, Italy
| | - Alessandra Daphne Fisher
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Florence University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marina Pierdominici
- Reference Centre for Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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20
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Gasparoto ALDB, Graeff SVB, de Souza Santiago WM, da Silva DG, Dos Santos TA, Paulino LM, Fava WS, Reis FP, Stutz C, de Oliveira França A, Guerrero Moureau ATG, Montalbano CA, Lemos EF, Gonçalves CCM, Júnior CAB, Dallacqua RP, Croda J, Lorenz AP, Souza C, Martins TN, da Silva KRN, Ferreira AMT, Negri ACG, Paniago AMM, Motta-Castro ARC, Venturini J, da Costa Marques AP, do Valle Leone de Oliveira SM. Mapping the viral battlefield: SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics among healthcare workers in Brazil. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH 2025; 23:8. [PMID: 39934893 PMCID: PMC11817727 DOI: 10.1186/s12960-024-00968-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 12/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and factors associated with in-hospital transmission rates among healthcare workers (HCW) is crucial for their protection. Brazil experienced high mortality rates due to COVID-19, and limited data are available on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW. This cohort study aimed to assess the dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 infections in HCW from two tertiary hospitals in central Brazil, one of them a Reference Hospital for COVID-19. METHODS From May 2020 to January 2021, 554 HCW directly involved with COVID-19 care were followed through 12 biweekly visits. During these visits, blood, nasal, and oropharyngeal samples were collected, and participants underwent interviews. SARS-CoV-2 detection was carried out using RT-qPCR, while the assessment of seroprevalence was based on IgG detection. Additionally, 35 positive samples underwent viral whole-genome sequencing. RESULTS The infection prevalence, as per RT-qPCR, was 28.5% (24.9-32.4), reflecting an overall attack rate ranging from 0.5% to 9.5%, marked by two peaks in August and December 2020. Oligosymptomatic and asymptomatic infections accounted for 14% of prevalent infections. The seroprevalence rate stood at 25.8%. The hospitalization rate was 8.2%, with a fatality rate of 1.3%. Risk factors associated with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 included being male, working at the referral hospital, having a graduate-education level, and using hydroxychloroquine and zinc for prevention or treatment. One reinfection was identified. Absenteeism was 56.6%. The infection dynamics mirrored the pattern observed in the general population. CONCLUSION One-third of the professionals in the followed cohort were infected. Being male, working in a COVID-19 referral center, having a low level of education, and using medications for preventive treatment represented risk factors. Healthcare workers at the COVID-19 referral hospital exhibited a higher incidence rate compared to those at the non-referral hospital, increasing the plausibility that some of the infections occur in the hospital environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Fernanda Paes Reis
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Claudia Stutz
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) - Ceará and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição (FACFAN), Fundação Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Eusébio, CE, 61773-270, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Tereza Gomes Guerrero Moureau
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Vice-Presidência de Ambiente, Atenção e Promoção da Saúde (VPAAPS/FIOCRUZ-RJ), Recife, PE, 50740-465, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Julio Croda
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Mato Grosso do sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79081-746, Brazil
| | | | - Cristina Souza
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - James Venturini
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil
| | | | - Sandra Maria do Valle Leone de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brazil.
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Mato Grosso do sul, Campo Grande, MS, 79081-746, Brazil.
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21
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Pencina KM, Lincoff AM, Klein EA, Nissen SE, Shang YV, Khan N, Li X, Chan A, Miller MG, Bhasin S. Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Risk of COVID-19 and Effect of COVID-19 on Testosterone's Treatment Effect. J Endocr Soc 2025; 9:bvaf002. [PMID: 39911523 PMCID: PMC11795193 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2025] Open
Abstract
Context Whether circulating testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol levels or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) affects the risk of COVID-19 and whether COVID-19 affects response to TRT remains unknown. Objective The study evaluated whether baseline testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol levels or TRT are associated with risk of developing COVID-19 and whether COVID-19 affects treatment response to TRT. Methods Among 5204 men, aged 45 to 80 years, with hypogonadism in the TRAVERSE trial, 379 developed COVID-19. We compared baseline and on-treatment hormone levels, and safety and efficacy in participants with and without COVID-19 diagnosis. Results Neither baseline nor on-treatment testosterone, estradiol, and dihydrotestosterone levels prior to COVID-19 differed significantly between men with and without COVID-19 diagnosis. Incidence of COVID-19 was similar in participants randomized to TRT or placebo groups (3-year Kaplan-Meier incidence 8.0% in TRT and 8.6% in placebo group, P = .823). Incidences of COVID-19-related hospitalizations (38.5% vs 32.8%, P = .222) and deaths (12.8% vs 8.9%, P = .247) were similar in the TRT and placebo groups. Changes in hypogonadal symptoms, libido, energy, and hemoglobin/hematocrit in response to TRT were attenuated in testosterone-treated men who developed COVID-19. Incidences of major adverse cardiovascular events, venous thromboembolism, and acute kidney injury were similar in those with COVID-19 diagnosis and those without. Conclusion In men with hypogonadism and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or increased risk of CVD, baseline and pre-COVID-19 on-treatment testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol levels were similar in those who developed COVID-19 and those who did not. TRT did not affect the risk of COVID-19. COVID-19 attenuated the treatment response to TRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol M Pencina
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - A Michael Lincoff
- Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research (C5Research), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Eric A Klein
- Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research (C5Research), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Urology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Steven E Nissen
- Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research (C5Research), Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Yili Valentine Shang
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nader Khan
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Xue Li
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Anna Chan
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | | | - Shalender Bhasin
- Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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22
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Bachmann M, Gültekin N, Stanga Z, Fehr JS, Ülgür II, Schlagenhauf P. Disparities in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines according to sex and age: A systematic review. New Microbes New Infect 2025; 63:101551. [PMID: 39807161 PMCID: PMC11726804 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2024.101551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2024] [Revised: 12/03/2024] [Accepted: 12/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Background The rapid development and distribution of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines has been essential in containing the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic around the globe. For ongoing and future immunization campaigns globally, there is a need to evaluate the impact of population demographics such as age and sex, on vaccine efficacy and safety. Methods This systematic review (PROSPERO ID CRD42023328245) conducted according to PRISMA guidelines evaluates the impact of age and sex on the safety and efficacy of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations administrated in 15 studies that were chosen according to strict criteria. The ROBIS tool was applied to evaluate the robustness and the quality of the studies included in the review. Results After screening, 15 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The results showed that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines typically elicit robust immune responses, and that younger people have higher antibody levels. Comparing the sexes reveals that higher immunological responses were induced in females, and mild to moderate adverse effects (such as injection site discomfort, exhaustion, and headaches) were also more frequently reported in women. Despite these variations, COVID-19 vaccines have been found to be safe to use across diverse populations, which supports their extensive use in public health initiatives. Conclusion Our results suggests that tailored vaccination may achieve maximum effectiveness and better tolerability depending on age and sex. Currently study results are rarely stratified by age and sex and this is a deficit in clinical trial publications. More research is needed to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the variations in vaccine responses according to age and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bachmann
- Department of Global and Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Centre of Competence for Military Medicine Biology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nejla Gültekin
- Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Zeno Stanga
- Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan S. Fehr
- Department of Global and Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Centre of Competence for Military Medicine Biology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ismail I. Ülgür
- Swiss Armed Forces, Medical Services, Ittigen, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patricia Schlagenhauf
- Department of Global and Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Centre of Competence for Military Medicine Biology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
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23
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Correia LF, de Oliveira T, Anselmo CA, Gervasoni LF, Pereira VC, Winkelstroter LK. Clinical aspects and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Microb Pathog 2025; 199:107273. [PMID: 39742900 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2024] [Accepted: 12/29/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to identify and characterize Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from patients infected and uninfected with SARS-CoV-2, focusing on their phenotypic characteristics and antimicrobial resistance profiles. MAIN METHODS A total of 100 P. aeruginosa isolates were obtained from patients admitted to a hospital in Presidente Prudente, SP, in 2021. The isolates were assessed for antimicrobial resistance, pyocyanin, lipase and phospholipase C production, biofilm formation, and the presence of virulence factor genes, including those associated with metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) production. KEY FINDINGS Among the isolates, 58 were from patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 42 from non-infected patients. P. aeruginosa was predominantly isolated from tracheal secretion samples in infected patients, while urine samples were more common in non-infected patients. Notably, patients with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited a higher rate of resistance to aztreonam and used a wider range of antibiotics. Isolates from infected patients demonstrated higher phospholipase C production and a greater number classified as strong biofilm formers. Virulence factor genes were present in at least 70 % of the isolates, while only three isolates showed genes for MBL production. SIGNIFICANCE The findings of this study indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic creates a favorable environment for the increase of secondary infections by P. aeruginosa. Understanding the characteristics and resistance profiles of these isolates is crucial for improving treatment strategies and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucimeire Fernandes Correia
- Master's in Health Sciences, Universidade do Oeste Paulista/UNOESTE, Rua José Bongiovani, 700 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 19050-920, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Thais de Oliveira
- Master's in Health Sciences, Universidade do Oeste Paulista/UNOESTE, Rua José Bongiovani, 700 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 19050-920, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Alves Anselmo
- Master's in Health Sciences, Universidade do Oeste Paulista/UNOESTE, Rua José Bongiovani, 700 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 19050-920, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Letícia Franco Gervasoni
- Program of Animal Science, Universidade do Oeste Paulista/UNOESTE, Rua José Bongiovani, 700 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 19050-920, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Valéria Cataneli Pereira
- Master's in Health Sciences, Universidade do Oeste Paulista/UNOESTE, Rua José Bongiovani, 700 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 19050-920, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Lizziane Kretli Winkelstroter
- Master's in Health Sciences, Universidade do Oeste Paulista/UNOESTE, Rua José Bongiovani, 700 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 19050-920, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil; Program of Animal Science, Universidade do Oeste Paulista/UNOESTE, Rua José Bongiovani, 700 - Cidade Universitária, CEP: 19050-920, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
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24
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Chan L, Pinedo K, Stabile MA, Hamlin RE, Pienkos SM, Ratnasiri K, Yang S, Blomkalns AL, Nadeau KC, Pulendran B, O'Hara R, Rogers AJ, Holmes SP, Blish CA. Prior vaccination prevents overactivation of innate immune responses during COVID-19 breakthrough infection. Sci Transl Med 2025; 17:eadq1086. [PMID: 39879318 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adq1086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 09/10/2024] [Accepted: 12/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2025]
Abstract
At this stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, most infections are "breakthrough" infections that occur in individuals with prior severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure. To refine long-term vaccine strategies against emerging variants, we examined both innate and adaptive immunity in breakthrough infections. We performed single-cell transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional profiling of primary and breakthrough infections to compare immune responses from unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals during the SARS-CoV-2 Delta wave. Breakthrough infections were characterized by a less activated transcriptomic profile in monocytes and natural killer cells, with induction of pathways limiting monocyte migratory potential and natural killer cell proliferation. Furthermore, we observed a female-specific increase in transcriptomic and proteomic activation of multiple innate immune cell subsets during breakthrough infections. These insights suggest that prior SARS-CoV-2 vaccination prevents overactivation of innate immune responses during breakthrough infections with discernible sex-specific patterns and underscore the potential of harnessing vaccines in mitigating pathologic immune responses resulting from overactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Chan
- Stanford Immunology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kassandra Pinedo
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mikayla A Stabile
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rebecca E Hamlin
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shaun M Pienkos
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kalani Ratnasiri
- Stanford Immunology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Samuel Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andra L Blomkalns
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kari C Nadeau
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bali Pulendran
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ruth O'Hara
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Angela J Rogers
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Susan P Holmes
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Catherine A Blish
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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25
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Kuo RN, Chen W, Shau WY. Risk factors for disease progression and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based cohort study. BMC Pulm Med 2025; 25:43. [PMID: 39865259 PMCID: PMC11765924 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03468-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 12/30/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since 2021, COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on global health and continues to contribute to serious health outcomes. In Taiwan, most research has focused on hospitalized patients or mortality cases, leaving important gaps in understanding the broader effects of the disease and identifying individuals at high risk. This study aims to investigate the risk factors for disease progression through a nationwide population-based cohort study on COVID-19 in Taiwan. METHODS This study included 15,056 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Baseline and clinical characteristics were collected to verify the association with progression to severity outcomes, including hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive ventilatory support, fatal outcome, and the composite outcome of these four events. Patients were observed for 30 days for disease progression. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each outcome, adjusting for age, sex, region, risk factors, and vaccination status. RESULTS Overall, 8,169 patients diagnosed during outpatient visits and 6,887 patients diagnosed during hospitalization were analyzed. Adjusting for age, sex, region, risk factors, and vaccination status, elderly patients had higher risks of hospital admission, ICU admission, invasive ventilatory support, fatal outcome, and composite outcome. Specifically, the risk of the fatal outcome was significantly higher for patients aged 75-84 (odds ratio: 6.11, 95% CI: 4.75-7.87) and those aged 85 years and older (12.70, 9.48-17.02). Patients with cardiovascular disease exhibited higher risks of hospital admission (1.60, 1.31-1.96), ICU admission (1.52, 1.31-1.78), invasive ventilatory support (1.57, 1.26-1.96), and fatal outcomes (1.26, 1.03-1.54) and the composite outcome (1.66, 1.20-1.54). Diabetes mellitus was identified as a significant risk factor for all clinical outcomes (hospital admission: 1.89, 1.53-2.35; ICU admission: 1.53, 1.30-1.79; invasive ventilatory support: 1.27, 1.01-1.60; the composite outcome: 1.45, 1.28-1.66), except for the fatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated the impact of sex, age, and risk factors on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Taiwan. Elderly patients and those with cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus had higher risks for severe outcomes, including hospitalization, ICU admission, invasive ventilatory support, and mortality. These findings can provide evidence for a better understanding of risk factors for disease progression and inform targeted intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond N Kuo
- Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, 632R, No.17, Syujhou Rd., Taipei City 100, Taiwan.
- Population Health Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Wanchi Chen
- Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, 632R, No.17, Syujhou Rd., Taipei City 100, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yi Shau
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
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26
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Hromić-Jahjefendić A, Aljabali AAA. Analysis of the immune response in COVID-19. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2025; 213:31-71. [PMID: 40246347 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2025]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, instigated by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as a significant global health challenge, demanding a profound grasp of the immune response. The innate immune system, a multifaceted network encompassing pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and effector cells, assumes a pivotal function in detecting and countering this viral assailant. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), situated on immune cell surfaces and within endosomes, play a central role in recognizing SARS-CoV-2. TLR-2 and TLR-4 discern specific viral constituents, such as the spike (S) protein, setting off inflammatory signaling cascades and catalyzing the generation of type I interferons. Intracellular PRRs, including the RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), RIG-I and MDA5, detect viral RNA within the cytoplasm of infected cells, provoking antiviral responses by initiating the synthesis of type I interferons. The equilibrium between interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines dictates the outcomes of the disease. Interferons play an indispensable role in governing viral replication, while unregulated cytokine production can result in tissue harm and inflammation. This intricate dynamic underpins therapeutic strategies aimed at regulating immune responses in individuals grappling with COVID-19. Natural killer (NK) cells, with their capacity to recognize infected cells through the "missing self" phenomenon and activating receptors, make significant contributions to the defense against SARS-CoV-2. NK cells play a pivotal role in eliminating infected cells and boosting immune responses through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). In conclusion, comprehending the interplay among PRRs, interferons, and NK cells within innate immunity is paramount for discerning and combatting SARS-CoV-2. This comprehension illuminates therapeutic interventions and vaccine development, casting light on our endeavors to confront this worldwide health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
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27
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Liew CH, Ong SQ, Ng DCE. Utilizing machine learning to predict hospital admissions for pediatric COVID-19 patients (PrepCOVID-Machine). Sci Rep 2025; 15:3131. [PMID: 39856094 PMCID: PMC11760342 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-80538-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has burdened healthcare systems globally. To curb high hospital admission rates, only patients with genuine medical needs are admitted. However, machine learning (ML) models to predict COVID-19 hospitalization in Asian children are lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate ML models to predict pediatric COVID-19 hospitalization. We collected secondary data with 2200 patients and 65 variables from Malaysian aged 0 to 12 with COVID-19 between 1st February 2020 and 31st March 2022. The sample was partitioned into training, internal, and external validation groups. Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) was employed for feature selection, and we trained seven supervised classifiers. Grid Search was used to optimize the hyperparameters of each algorithm. The study analyzed 1988 children and 30 study variables after data were processed. The RFE algorithm selected 12 highly predicted variables for COVID-19 hospitalization, including age, male sex, fever, cough, rhinorrhea, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, body temperature, chest indrawing, and abnormal breath sounds. With external validation, Adaptive Boosting was the highest-performing classifier (AUROC = 0.95) to predict COVID-19 hospital admission in children. We validated AdaBoost as the best to predict COVID-19 hospitalization among children. This model may assist front-line clinicians in making medical disposition decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuin-Hen Liew
- Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Najihah, Jalan Melang, 72000, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Song-Quan Ong
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, University Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
| | - David Chun-Ern Ng
- Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, Jalan Rasah, 70300, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
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28
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Trende R, Darling TL, Gan T, Wang D, Boon ACM. Barcoded SARS-CoV-2 viruses define the impact of duration and route of exposure on the transmission bottleneck in a hamster model. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2025; 11:eads2927. [PMID: 39813353 PMCID: PMC11778309 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads2927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 12/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2025]
Abstract
The transmission bottleneck, defined as the number of viruses shed from one host to infect another, is an important determinant of the rate of virus evolution and the level of immunity required to protect against virus transmission. Despite its importance, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission bottleneck remains poorly characterized. We adapted a SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics system to generate a pool of >200 isogenic SARS-CoV-2 viruses harboring specific 6-nucleotide barcodes, infected donor hamsters with this pool, and exposed contact hamsters to paired infected donors, varying the duration and route of exposure. Following exposure, the nasal turbinates, trachea, and lungs were collected and the number of barcodes in each tissue was enumerated. We found that longer and more direct exposures increased the transmission bottleneck and that the upper airway is the primary source of transmitted virus in this model. Together, these findings highlight the utility of barcoded viruses as tools to rigorously study virus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed Trende
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tamarand L. Darling
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tianyu Gan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David Wang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Adrianus C. M. Boon
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Margiotta RG, Sozio E, Del Ben F, Beltrami AP, Cesselli D, Comar M, Devito A, Fabris M, Curcio F, Tascini C, Sanguinetti G. Investigating the relationship between the immune response and the severity of COVID-19: a large-cohort retrospective study. Front Immunol 2025; 15:1452638. [PMID: 39845955 PMCID: PMC11750771 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1452638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 11/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2025] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark globally, presenting numerous challenges to public health. This crisis, while disruptive and impactful, has provided a unique opportunity to gather precious clinical data extensively. In this observational, case-control study, we utilized data collected at the Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale, Italy, to comprehensively characterize the immuno-inflammatory features in COVID-19 patients. Specifically, we employed multicolor flow cytometry, cytokine assays, and inflammatory biomarkers to elucidate the interplay between the infectious agent and the host's immune status. We characterized immuno-inflammatory profiles within the first 72 hours of hospital admission, stratified by age, disease severity, and time elapsed since symptom onset. Our findings indicate that patients admitted to the hospital shortly after symptom onset exhibit a distinct pattern compared to those who arrive later, characterized by a more active immune response and heightened cytokine activity, but lower markers of tissue damage. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify informative markers for outcome severity. Predictors incorporating the immuno-inflammatory features significantly outperformed standard baselines, identifying up to 59% of patients with positive outcomes while maintaining a false omission rate as low as 4%. Overall, our study sheds light on the immuno-inflammatory aspects observed in COVID-19 patients prior to vaccination, providing insights for guiding the clinical management of first-time infections by a novel virus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emanuela Sozio
- Infectious Disease Unit, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
| | - Fabio Del Ben
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASU FC, Udine, Italy
| | - Antonio Paolo Beltrami
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASU FC, Udine, Italy
| | - Daniela Cesselli
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASU FC, Udine, Italy
| | - Marco Comar
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Martina Fabris
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASU FC, Udine, Italy
| | - Francesco Curcio
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASU FC, Udine, Italy
| | - Carlo Tascini
- Infectious Disease Unit, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC), Udine, Italy
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Guido Sanguinetti
- Physics Department, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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Wagley A, Fatima S, Awan S, Zakaria M, Arshad A, Khalid F, Nasir N, Aqeel M, Nasir N. The comparative effectiveness of methylprednisolone versus dexamethasone on in-hospital mortality in patients with severe or critical COVID-19: a retrospective observational study. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2025; 12:20499361251328824. [PMID: 40297750 PMCID: PMC12035163 DOI: 10.1177/20499361251328824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Studies comparing the effectiveness of dexamethasone versus methylprednisolone for treating severe-to-critical COVID-19 have produced conflicting results. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dexamethasone compared with methylprednisolone on in-hospital mortality among patients with severe or critical COVID-19. Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of dexamethasone in comparison to methylprednisolone in reducing in-hospital mortality in patients suffering from severe-to-critical COVID-19 pneumonia. Design This was a retrospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care academic medical center. Methods Clinical data from 706 hospitalized patients with severe or critical COVID-19 in Karachi, Pakistan, were reviewed. Of these patients, 217 received either oral or intravenous dexamethasone, and 393 were treated with methylprednisolone. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, while secondary outcomes included the length of hospitalization and the need for mechanical ventilation. Results The methylprednisolone group had a male predominance (74% vs 54%; p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in median age between the dexamethasone group (55 years) and the methylprednisolone group (57 years) (p = 0.09). Mortality was significantly higher in the methylprednisolone group compared to the dexamethasone group (13.7% vs 3.2%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that dexamethasone was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.24; 95% CI: 0.09-0.62; p = 0.003). Furthermore, patients in the dexamethasone group had a shorter length of hospital stay (aOR: 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82-0.92)) compared to the methylprednisolone group. A higher proportion of patients required invasive mechanical ventilation in the methylprednisolone group compared to the dexamethasone group (13.7% vs 3.2%; p < 0.001). Conclusion Dexamethasone was associated with lower mortality and a reduced length of hospital stay and a lower proportion of patients required mechanical ventilation compared to methylprednisolone in patients with severe-to-critical COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samar Fatima
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Safia Awan
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Aleena Arshad
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Farah Khalid
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Noreen Nasir
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Masooma Aqeel
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nosheen Nasir
- Section of Adult Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, P.O Box. 3500, Stadium Road, Karachi-74800, Pakistan
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Bach ML, Laftih S, Andresen JK, Pedersen RM, Andersen TE, Madsen LW, Madsen K, Hinrichs GR, Zachar R, Svenningsen P, Lund L, Johansen IS, Hansen LF, Palarasah Y, Jensen BL. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in human kidney tissue and urine extracellular vesicles with age, sex, and COVID-19. Pflugers Arch 2025; 477:83-98. [PMID: 39382598 PMCID: PMC11711140 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-03022-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 virus infects cells by engaging with ACE2 requiring protease TMPRSS2. ACE2 is highly expressed in kidneys. Predictors for severe disease are high age and male sex. We hypothesized that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins are more abundant (1) in males and with increasing age in kidney and (2) in urine and extracellular vesicles (EVs) from male patients with COVID-19 and (3) SARS-CoV-2 is present in urine and EVs during infection. Kidney cortex samples from patients subjected to cancer nephrectomy (male/female; < 50 years/˃75 years, n = 24; ˃80 years, n = 15) were analyzed for ACE2 and TMPRSS2 protein levels. Urine from patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection was analyzed for ACE2 and TMPRSS2. uEVs were used for immunoblotting and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA and antigen detection. Tissue ACE2 and TMPRSS2 protein levels did not change with age. ACE2 was not more abundant in male kidneys in any age group. ACE2 protein was associated with proximal tubule apical membranes in cortex. TMPRSS2 was observed predominantly in the medulla. ACE2 was elevated significantly in uEVs and urine from patients with COVID-19 with no sex difference compared with urine from controls w/wo albuminuria. TMPRSS2 was elevated in uEVs from males compared to female. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 did not co-localize in uEVs/apical membranes. SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein and mRNA were not detected in urine. Higher kidney ACE2 protein abundance is unlikely to explain higher susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in males. Kidney tubular cells appear not highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Loss of ACE2 into urine in COVID could impact susceptibility and angiotensin metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Lykke Bach
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Sara Laftih
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jesper K Andresen
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Rune M Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, and Research Unit for Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Thomas Emil Andersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, and Research Unit for Clinical Microbiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lone W Madsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, and Research Unit for Infectious Diseases, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Unit for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Sygehus Lillebælt, Kolding, Denmark
| | - Kirsten Madsen
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Gitte R Hinrichs
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Rikke Zachar
- Department of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Per Svenningsen
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lars Lund
- Department of Urology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Isik S Johansen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, and Research Unit for Infectious Diseases, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Yaseelan Palarasah
- Unit of Inflammation and Cancer Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Boye L Jensen
- Unit of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Andrade RL, Braga LDCA, Reis RS, Santos FSD, Jesus NRD, Cruz Neto J, Almeida ÉS, Muniz VDO, Sousa ARD. [How did men report their long COVID experience? Health-Disease socio-anthropological meaning]. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2025; 30:e05682023. [PMID: 39879449 DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232025301.05682023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2025] Open
Abstract
The study aims to explain the discourse of the collective subject of adult and elderly men about the experience of long COVID. Qualitative research, derived from a national multicenter clinical-virtual observatory involving 92 adult men, between 2022 and 2023 in Brazil. IRaMuTeQ software was used (data processing), the Collective Subject Discourse technique (analysis) and socio-anthropological references of the disease experience (interpretation). The results showed that the long COVID experience was marked by the prolongation of respiratory symptoms characteristic of COVID-19; systemic symptomatology in the physical-psychic body; and severe clinical complications. The experience of the long COVID-19 disease was shaped by gender relations and masculinities, constructed notions of health-disease, imaginaries about the capacity of the disease in the context of vaccination, the systemic character of syndromic events understood as sequelae left by the disease, resonating the sense of incapacity and stigmatization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lima Andrade
- Instituto Multidisciplinar de Reabilitação e Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal da Bahia. R. Padre Feijó 312 (casas 47 e 49), Canela. 40110-909 Salvador BA Brasil.
| | - Lorena de Cerqueira Andrade Braga
- Instituto Multidisciplinar de Reabilitação e Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal da Bahia. R. Padre Feijó 312 (casas 47 e 49), Canela. 40110-909 Salvador BA Brasil.
| | - Ronisson Santana Reis
- Instituto Multidisciplinar de Reabilitação e Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal da Bahia. R. Padre Feijó 312 (casas 47 e 49), Canela. 40110-909 Salvador BA Brasil.
| | | | - Nadine Ribeiro de Jesus
- Instituto Multidisciplinar de Reabilitação e Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal da Bahia. R. Padre Feijó 312 (casas 47 e 49), Canela. 40110-909 Salvador BA Brasil.
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Hadidchi R, Pakan R, Alamuri T, Cercizi N, Al-Ani Y, Wang SH, Henry S, Duong TQ. Long COVID-19 outcomes of patients with pre-existing dementia. J Alzheimers Dis 2025; 103:605-615. [PMID: 39686622 DOI: 10.1177/13872877241303934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although COVID-19 has been linked to worse acute outcomes in patients with some neurodegenerative disorders, its long-term impact on dementia remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To investigate the outcomes of COVID-19 survivors with dementia. METHODS This retrospective study evaluated 9806 patients with dementia in the Montefiore Health System (January 2016 to July 2023). Comparisons were made between dementia patients with and without a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase-chain-reaction test who had a follow-up at least two weeks post-infection. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), new-onset dysphagia, dyspnea, fatigue, new-onset sleep disturbances, altered mental status, first-time fall, headache, new-onset depression, and new-onset anxiety. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were computed adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and pre-existing comorbidities. RESULTS Dementia patients with COVID-19 were younger, more likely to be male, and had a higher prevalence of major pre-existing comorbidities compared to those without COVID-19. Patients who survived acute COVID-19 were more likely to die than non-COVID controls after adjusting for covariates (aHR = 1.65 [1.43, 1.91]). COVID-19 was significantly associated with higher risk of MACE (aHR = 1.58 [1.41, 1.78]), new-onset dysphagia (aHR = 1.64 [1.42, 1.91]), dyspnea (aHR = 1.27 [1.12, 1.44]), fatigue (aHR = 1.42 [1.22, 1.65]), new-onset sleep disturbances (aHR = 1.36 [1.15, 1.60]), altered mental status (aHR = 1.36 [1.16, 1.59]), and first-time fall (aHR = 1.34 [1.09, 1.65]). CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 increases the risk of mortality and other adverse health outcomes in dementia patients. These findings highlight the need for closer follow-up and management strategies for dementia patients post-COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roham Hadidchi
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Pakan
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Tharun Alamuri
- Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Noel Cercizi
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Yousef Al-Ani
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Stephen H Wang
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Sonya Henry
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Tim Q Duong
- Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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Olivares-Caro L, Nova-Baza D, Sanhueza F, Contreras H, Alarcón B, Alarcon-Zapata P, Mennickent D, Duran D, Bustamante L, Perez AJ, Enos D, Vergara C, Mardones C. Targeted and untargeted cross-sectional study for sex-specific identification of plasma biomarkers of COVID-19 severity. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024:10.1007/s00216-024-05706-x. [PMID: 39714519 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05706-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2024] [Revised: 11/21/2024] [Accepted: 12/05/2024] [Indexed: 12/24/2024]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically appear 2-14 days after virus exposure. While vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of severe complications, strategies for the identification of new biomarkers to assess disease severity remains a critical area of research. Severity biomarkers are essential for personalizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to identify sex-specific biomarkers for COVID-19 severity in a Chilean population (n = 123 female, n = 115 male), categorized as control, mild, moderate, or severe. Data were collected using clinical biochemistry parameters and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and lipidomics to detect alterations in plasma cytokines, metabolites, and lipid profiles related to disease severity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed to select significant characteristic features for each group. The results revealed distinct biomarkers for males and females. In males, COVID-19 severity of was associated with inflammation parameters, triglycerides content, and phospholipids profiles. For females, liver damage parameters, triglycerides content, cholesterol derivatives, and phosphatidylcholine were identified as severity biomarkers. For both sexes, most of the biomarker combinations evaluated got areas under the ROC curve greater than 0.8 and low prediction errors. These findings suggest that sex-specific biomarkers can help differentiate the levels of COVID-19 severity, potentially aiding in the development of tailored treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Olivares-Caro
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Daniela Nova-Baza
- Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Felipe Sanhueza
- Complejo Asistencial Víctor Ríos Ruiz, Los Ángeles, Bío-Bío, Chile
| | - Hector Contreras
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Barbara Alarcón
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pedro Alarcon-Zapata
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Daniela Mennickent
- Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Daniel Duran
- Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Luis Bustamante
- Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Andy J Perez
- Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Daniel Enos
- Complejo Asistencial Víctor Ríos Ruiz, Los Ángeles, Bío-Bío, Chile
- Departamento Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Carola Vergara
- Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Claudia Mardones
- Departamento de Análisis Instrumental, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
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Cianci R, Caldarelli M, Rio P, Pignataro G, Sacco Fernandez M, Ocarino F, Della Polla DA, Franceschi F, Gasbarrini A, Gambassi G, Candelli M. Outcomes of Patients with Heart Failure Hospitalized for COVID-19-A Study in a Tertiary Italian Center. Diseases 2024; 12:337. [PMID: 39727667 PMCID: PMC11726837 DOI: 10.3390/diseases12120337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2024] [Revised: 12/16/2024] [Accepted: 12/18/2024] [Indexed: 12/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), triggered by SARS-CoV-2, has represented a global pandemic associated with an elevated rate of mortality, mainly among older individuals. The extensive pulmonary involvement by the viral infection might have precipitated pre-existing chronic conditions in this vulnerable population, including heart failure (HF). Materials and Methods: The aim of this retrospective, observational study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 in patients with a prior diagnosis of HF referred to the Emergency Department of the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital between March 2020 and January 2023. A total of 886 HF patients (444 men and 442 women, mean age of 80 ± 10 years) were identified. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio by gender, age, number of comorbidities (excluding HF), and vaccination status, using a propensity score matching (PSM) procedure. We compared the outcomes of 189 patients with a concomitant diagnosis of HF with those of 189 matched controls without HF. Results: Among patients with HF, there was a significantly higher prevalence of valvular disease (p = 0.004), atrial fibrillation (p = 0.003), use of anticoagulants (p = 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (p = 0.03), and chronic kidney disease (p = 0.001). In contrast, hypertension was more prevalent among controls than HF patients (p = 0.04). In addition, controls exhibited higher lymphocytes counts and a higher PaO2/FiO2 ratio compared to HF patients. During hospitalization, patients with HF were more frequently treated with high-flow nasal cannulas (p = 0.01), required more frequent admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) (p = 0.04), and showed a significantly higher mortality rate (p 0.0001) than controls. Conclusions: HF is an independent risk factor for ICU admission and death in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Cianci
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (P.R.); (F.O.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
| | - Mario Caldarelli
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (P.R.); (F.O.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
| | - Pierluigi Rio
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (P.R.); (F.O.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
| | - Giulia Pignataro
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
- Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Sacco Fernandez
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
- Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ocarino
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (P.R.); (F.O.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
| | - Davide Antonio Della Polla
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
- Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Franceschi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
- Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (P.R.); (F.O.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
| | - Giovanni Gambassi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (M.C.); (P.R.); (F.O.); (A.G.); (G.G.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
| | - Marcello Candelli
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.P.); (M.S.F.); (D.A.D.P.); (F.F.); (M.C.)
- Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
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D'Onofrio V, Sékaly RP. The immune-endocrine interplay in sex differential responses to viral infection and COVID-19. Trends Immunol 2024; 45:943-958. [PMID: 39562265 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2024] [Revised: 10/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/20/2024] [Indexed: 11/21/2024]
Abstract
Men are at higher risk for developing severe COVID-19 than women, while women are at higher risk for developing post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). This highlights the impact of sex differences on immune responses and clinical outcomes of acute COVID-19 or PASC. A dynamic immune-endocrine interface plays an important role in the development of effective immune responses impacting the control of viral infections. In this opinion article we discuss mechanisms underlying the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of immune responses by sex hormones during viral infections. We propose that disruption of this delicate immune-endocrine interplay can result in worsened outcomes of viral disease. We also posit that insights into these immune mechanisms can propel the development of novel immunomodulatory interventions that leverage immune-endocrine pathways to treat viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentino D'Onofrio
- Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rafick Pierre Sékaly
- Pathology Advanced Translational Research Unit, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Filipas DK, Pose RM, Marks P, Tennstedt P, Beyer B, Tilki D, Isbarn H, Maurer T, Ludwig TA, Heinzer H, Steuber T. Impact of COVID-19 on the time to counseling and treatment of prostate cancer. Aging Male 2024; 27:2347465. [PMID: 38712892 DOI: 10.1080/13685538.2024.2347465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic (CP) impacted the timeline between initial diagnosis (ID) of prostate carcinoma and subsequent therapy consultation (TC) or radical prostatectomy (RP) due to the implementation of a "minimal contact concept," which postponed clinical examinations until the day of admission. METHODS We analyzed patient data from a tertiary care center from 2018 to September 2021. The focus was on comparing the time intervals from ID to TC and from ID to RP before and during the CP. RESULTS Of 12,255 patients, 6,073 (61.6%) were treated before and 3,791 (38.4%) during the CP. The median time from ID to TC reduced from 37 days (IQR: 21 - 58d) pre-CP to 32 days (IQR: 20 - 50d) during CP (p < 0.001). Similarly, the time from ID to RP decreased from 98 days (IQR: 70 - 141d) to 75 days (IQR: 55 - 108d; p < 0.001) during the CP. There was a significant decrease in low-risk tumor cases at ID (18.9% vs. 21.4%; p = 0.003) and post-RP (4% vs. 6.7%; p < 0.001) during the CP. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated more timely treatment of prostate cancer, suggesting potential benefits for both low-risk and aggressive tumor management through expedited clinical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejan K Filipas
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Randi M Pose
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Phillip Marks
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pierre Tennstedt
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Burkhard Beyer
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Klinik Wildetal, Urologisches Kompetenzzentrum für die Rehabilitation, Bad Wildungen, Germany
| | - Derya Tilki
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Isbarn
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Maurer
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tim A Ludwig
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans Heinzer
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Steuber
- Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Centre, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Carosi G, Cremaschi A, Giavoli C, Ferrante E, Mantovani G. Hypopituitarism and COVID-19. Pituitary 2024; 27:925-934. [PMID: 39560821 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-024-01463-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 11/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This review aims to collect and examine recent research findings regarding hypopituitarism and COVID-19, focusing on the virus's impact on the pituitary gland and the outcomes for infected patients with hormonal deficiencies. METHODS Literature review using PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The search included the following terms: "COVID19" in combination with "Pituitary" and "Hypopituitarism". RESULTS Many studies have aimed to evaluate the function of the pituitary gland in infected patients, revealing variable degrees of deficiencies. The results are very heterogenous mostly because many different tests and hormonal cut-off have been adopted. It is unclear whether primary virus damage or the inflammatory response is responsible for these hormonal alterations. Interestingly, pituitary defects may persist long after the initial infection, possibly contributing to the "Long COVID syndrome". However, data on the recovery of pituitary function and long-term follow-up are not yet available. On the other hand, although findings are not consistent, patients with hypopituitarism may be at a higher risk for COVID-19 infection rate, complications, and mortality. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for endocrinologists. The endocrine system appears to be involved in both the acute phase of infection and the recovery period. Hypopituitarism can be a consequence of SARS-COV-2 infection, and patients with existing hypopituitarism may face higher risks of complications. It is advisable to educate these patients on how to adjust their replacement therapies. Long-term follow-up data on pituitary function after recovery from COVID-19 are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Carosi
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Cremaschi
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Giavoli
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Ferrante
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mantovani
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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Shokrollahi Barough M, Darzi M, Yunesian M, Amini Panah D, Ghane Y, Mottahedan S, Sakinehpour S, Kowsarirad T, Hosseini-Farjam Z, Amirzargar MR, Dehghani S, Shahriyary F, Kabiri MM, Nojomi M, Saraygord-Afshari N, Mostofi SG, Yassin Z, Mojtabavi N. Retrospective analysis of COVID-19 clinical and laboratory data: Constructing a multivariable model across different comorbidities. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:102566. [PMID: 39454514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.102566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 10/08/2024] [Accepted: 10/10/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical pathogenesis of COVID-19 necessitates a comprehensive and homogeneous study to understand the disease mechanisms. Identifying clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters as key predictors can guide prognosis and inform effective treatment strategies. This study analyzed comorbidities and laboratory metrics to predict COVID-19 mortality using a homogeneous model. METHOD A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 7500 COVID-19 patients admitted to Rasoul Akram Hospital between 2022 and 2022. Clinical and laboratory data, along with comorbidity information, were collected and analyzed using advanced coding, data alignment, and regression analyses. Machine learning algorithms were employed to identify relevant features and calculate predictive probability scores. RESULTS The frequency and mortality rates of COVID-19 among males (19.3 %) were higher than those among females (17 %) (p = 0.01, OR = 0.85, 95 % CI = 0.76-0.96). Cancer (p < 0.05, OR = 1.9, 95 % CI = 1.48-2.4) and Alzheimer's (p < 0.05, OR = 2.36, 95 % CI = 1.89-2.9) were the two most common comorbidities associated with long-term hospitalization (LTH). Kidney disease (KD) was identified as the most lethal comorbidity (45 % of KD patients) (OR = 5.6, 95 % CI = 5.05-6.04, p < 0.001). Age > 55 was the most predictive parameter for mortality (p < 0.001, OR = 6.5, 95 % CI = 1.03-1.04), and the CT scan score showed no predictive value for death (p > 0.05). WBC, Cr, CRP, ALP, and VBG-HCO3 were the most significant critical data associated with death prediction across all comorbidities (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION COVID-19 is particularly lethal for elderly adults; thus, age plays a crucial role in disease prognosis. Regarding death prediction, various comorbidities rank differently, with KD having a significant impact on mortality outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Shokrollahi Barough
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology research center institute of immunology and infectious diseases Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Darzi
- Genetics Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Yunesian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Danesh Amini Panah
- Antimicrobial resistance research center, institute of immunology and infectious diseases Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yekta Ghane
- Antimicrobial resistance research center, institute of immunology and infectious diseases Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sam Mottahedan
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sohrab Sakinehpour
- Radiation Sciences Department, School of paramedicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Kowsarirad
- Radiation Sciences Department, School of paramedicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Hosseini-Farjam
- ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Amirzargar
- Department of Hematology & Blood Banking, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Dehghani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Shahriyary
- Department of Hematology & Blood Banking, School of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Marzieh Nojomi
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Neda Saraygord-Afshari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medical sciences Iran University of Medical sciences, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Ghazal Mostofi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeynab Yassin
- Antimicrobial resistance research center, institute of immunology and infectious diseases Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Nazanin Mojtabavi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Immunology research center institute of immunology and infectious diseases Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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O’Niel A, Pederson A, Saltontall E, Nguyen K, Pantoja M, Chaudhari M, Sandholm P, Yoon E, Harrison HF, Boutros S, Hirsch AJ, Raber J. Effects of COVID-19 virus-like particles on the behavioral and cognitive performance of human apolipoprotein E targeted replacement mice. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1473366. [PMID: 39660133 PMCID: PMC11628390 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1473366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 11/04/2024] [Indexed: 12/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The effects of viral infections might be apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoform-dependent. In humans, there are three major apoE isoforms, E2, E3, and E4. E4 is associated with the enhanced entry of several viruses into the brain and their disease progression. A concern of infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the development of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID. Genetic risk factors for developing long COVID were reported. Methods In this study, we used virus-like particles (VLPs) that include expression of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N), membrane (M), and envelope (E) structural proteins together with S. In the current study, we used human E2, E3, and E4 targeted replacement mice to assess whether these VLPs affect body weight, behavioral and cognitive performance, and circadian body temperatures. Using VLPs allow working outside an ABSL-3 facility. Results The effects of VLPs on some behavioral measures were apoE isoform-dependent, with the E2 mice being more affected than E3 or E4 mice. The overall decreased activity in the open field containing objects in week 2 indicate that VLPs can also reduce activity levels in an apoE isoform-independent fashion. Discussion The results of the current study indicate that even in the absence of viral replication, detrimental effects of VLPs on behavioral measures and circadian body temperatures are seen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail O’Niel
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Alexandra Pederson
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Elizabeth Saltontall
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Kayla Nguyen
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Monzerrat Pantoja
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Mitali Chaudhari
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Phoebe Sandholm
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Eric Yoon
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Henry F. Harrison
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Center, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Sydney Boutros
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Alec J. Hirsch
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Center, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jacob Raber
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Dong S, Liu X, Wang Y. The impact of COVID-19 on women's reproductive system. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1485022. [PMID: 39635583 PMCID: PMC11614620 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1485022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/04/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a major global focus since 2019. However, drug development and vaccination have been unable to stop the rise in the number of COVID-19 infections. As a result, almost everyone has been infected with COVID-19. As the COVID-19 pandemic nears its end, it is important to explore whether contracting COVID-19 has any irreversible effects on the female reproductive system. This article aims to review the effects of COVID-19 on the female ovary and reproductive system and examine whether these effects are permanent. In conclusion, we can state that COVID-19 has not caused any long-lasting effects on the reproductive health of most women, with the exception of a few cases where premature ovarian failure has been observed. These temporary effects, such as menstrual disturbances and temporary fertility loss, tend to diminish and eventually disappear over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixiang Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Shinan, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yankui Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Shinan, China
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Scalzo PL, Marshall A, Soriano S, Curry K, Dulay M, Hodics T, Quigley EMM, Treangen TJ, Piskorz MM, Villapol S. Gut microbiome dysbiosis and immune activation correlate with somatic and neuropsychiatric symptoms in COVID-19 patients: Microbiome dysbiosis linked to COVID-19 symptoms. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.11.18.24317428. [PMID: 39606341 PMCID: PMC11601728 DOI: 10.1101/2024.11.18.24317428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 patients often exhibit altered immune responses and neuropsychiatric symptoms during hospitalization. However, the potential interactions with gut microbiome profiles have not been fully characterized. Here, COVID-19 disease severity was classified as low (27.4%), moderate (29.8%), and critical (42.8%). Fever (66.1%) and cough (55.6%) were common symptoms. Additionally, 27.3% reported somatic symptoms, 27.3% experienced anxiety, 39% had depressive symptoms, and 80.5% reported stress. Gut microbiome profiling was performed using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Elevated interleukin-6 levels were observed in the most severe cases, indicating systemic inflammation. Reduced gut bacterial diversity was more pronounced in women and obese patients and correlated with higher disease severity. The presence of the genus Mitsuokella was significantly associated with increased physical, stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and Granulicatella with critically ill patients. These findings suggest a link between mental health status, systemic inflammation, and gut dysbiosis in COVID-19 patients, emphasizing the potential of microbiome-targeted therapies to improve recovery and reduce severe complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula L. Scalzo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil
| | - Austin Marshall
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sirena Soriano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kristen Curry
- Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Computational Biology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris 75015, France
| | - Mario Dulay
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Timea Hodics
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eamonn MM Quigley
- Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Health, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Todd J. Treangen
- Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - María M. Piskorz
- Department of Neurogastroenterology, Hospital de Clinicas José de San Martin, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sonia Villapol
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience in Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA
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Keur N, Flikweert AW, Ricaño-Ponce I, Muller Kobold AC, van der Sar-van der Brugge S, Rodenhuis-Zybert IA, Le KT, van Meurs M, Grootenboers MJ, van der Voort PH, Heeringa P, Kumar V, Moser J. Delineating sex-specific circulating host response signatures associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. iScience 2024; 27:111150. [PMID: 39507250 PMCID: PMC11539596 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 09/18/2024] [Accepted: 10/08/2024] [Indexed: 11/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Male SARS-CoV-2-infected patients have higher hospitalization rates, ICU admissions, and mortality compared to females, yet with unclear underlying mechanisms. We investigated the influence of biological sex on COVID-19 severity and patient outcomes. We profiled 41 circulating host response markers and identified differentially regulated proteins based on disease severity using covariates, such as sex, age, BMI, diabetes, and corticosteroid administration. IL-8, D-dimer, S100B, IL-6, Angpt-2, MMP-8, TNF-R1, u-PAR, u-PA, osteopontin, IL-13, TNF-α, pentraxin-3, P-selectin, fractalkine, and SP-D levels were elevated in critically ill COVID-19 males compared to severe cases. In contrast, IL-8, D-dimer, IL-6, Angpt-2, Tie-2, uPAR, and SP-D were higher in females with critical-COVID-19 than in severe cases. Notably, D-dimer, IL-6, pentraxin-3, and S100B were associated with male mortality, yet none of the measured plasma proteins associated with female mortality. Our study delineated distinct sex-specific plasma protein signatures linked to the severity and mortality of COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Keur
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Antine W. Flikweert
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amphia Hospital, Breda, the Netherlands
- Department of Critical Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Isis Ricaño-Ponce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Anneke C. Muller Kobold
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Izabela A. Rodenhuis-Zybert
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Kieu T.T. Le
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Matijs van Meurs
- Department of Critical Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Peter H.J. van der Voort
- Department of Critical Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Heeringa
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jill Moser
- Department of Critical Care, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Mugu VK, Parikh RS, Carr BM, Khandelwal A. CT pulmonary angiography in the inpatients: A 5-year retrospective view at the end of COVID-19 public health emergency. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e40351. [PMID: 39533597 PMCID: PMC11557109 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000040351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 10/15/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
To retrospectively evaluate the trends in utilization and results of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA study) for detection of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in the hospital inpatients during different phases of COVID-19 public health emergency. We conducted an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved retrospective review of CTPA studies for our hospital inpatients in the years from 2019 to 2023, ranging from the prepandemic year (2019) to the year coinciding with the end of public health declarations (2023). Collected characteristics included patient age, patient sex, and result of the study. The utilization of CTPA studies for inpatients was higher in 2020 to 2023, compared to 2019 (3.8% in 2023 compared to 2.4% in 2019, P < .001). The increase in utilization was also statistically significant in each group, when stratified by age and sex (OR = 1.46 for female, OR = 1.71 for male, OR = 1.93 for elderly, and OR = 1.29 for non-elderly inpatients in 2023, compared to 2019). The positivity rate of acute PE in the inpatients was overall higher in 2021, 2022, and 2023, compared to 2019 (for example, 18.5% in 2023 compared to 14.3% in 2019, P = .01). When stratified by age and sex, only the non-elderly patients continued to have a significantly higher rate of acute PE in 2023, compared to 2019 (OR = 1.39). While studies spanning longer time frames and involving multiple institutions are needed to understand and generalize this conclusion, we conclude that the utilization and positivity rates of CTPA studies in inpatients remains high at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brendan M. Carr
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Lucinde RK, Gathuri H, Isaaka L, Ogero M, Mumelo L, Kimego D, Mbevi G, Wanyama C, Otieno EO, Mwakio S, Saisi M, Isinde E, Oginga IN, Wachira A, Manuthu E, Kariuki H, Nyikuli J, Wekesa C, Otedo A, Bosire H, Okoth SB, Ongalo W, Mukabi D, Lusamba W, Muthui B, Adembesa I, Mithi C, Sood M, Ahmed N, Gituma B, Giabe M, Omondi C, Aman R, Amoth P, Kasera K, Were F, Nganga W, Berkley JA, Tsofa B, Mwangangi J, Bejon P, Barasa E, English M, Scott JAG, Akech S, Kagucia EW, Agweyu A, Etyang AO. Prospective clinical surveillance for severe acute respiratory illness and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in Kenyan hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:1246. [PMID: 39501217 PMCID: PMC11536953 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-10140-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 11/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are limited data from sub-Saharan Africa describing the demographic characteristics, clinical features and outcome of patients admitted to public hospitals with severe acute respiratory infections during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We conducted a prospective longitudinal hospital-based sentinel surveillance between May 2020 and December 2022 at 16 public hospitals in Kenya. All patients aged above 18 years admitted to adult medical wards in the participating hospitals were included. We collected data on demographic and clinical characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination status and, admission episode outcomes. We determined COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against admission with SARS-CoV-2 positive severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) (i.e., COVID-19) and progression to inpatient mortality among patients admitted with SARI, using a test-negative case control design. RESULTS Of the 52,636 patients included in the study, 17,950 (34.1%) were admitted with SARI. The median age was 50 years. Patients were equally distributed across sexes. Pneumonia was the most common diagnosis at discharge. Hypertension, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Diabetes Mellitus were the most common chronic comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 test results were positive in 2,364 (27.9%) of the 8,471 patients that underwent testing. After adjusting for age, sex and presence of a chronic comorbidity, SARI patients were more likely to progress to inpatient mortality compared to non-SARI patients regardless of their SARS-CoV-2 infection status (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for SARI and SARS-CoV-2 negative patients 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.37; and aOR for SARI and SARS-CoV-2 positive patients 1.32, 95% CI 1.24-1.40). After adjusting for age, sex and presence of a chronic comorbidity, COVID-19 VE against progression to inpatient mortality following admission with SARI for those with a confirmed vaccination status was 0.59 (95% CI 0.27-0.77). CONCLUSION We have provided a comprehensive description of the demographic and clinical pattern of admissions with SARI in Kenyan hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic period as well as the COVID-19 VE for these patients. These data were useful in providing situational awareness during the first three years of the pandemic in Kenya and informing national response measures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry Gathuri
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lynda Isaaka
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Morris Ogero
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Dennis Kimego
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - George Mbevi
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Conrad Wanyama
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Stella Mwakio
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Metrine Saisi
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Isaac Adembesa
- Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Caroline Mithi
- Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mohammed Sood
- Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya
| | | | | | - Matiko Giabe
- Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisii, Kenya
| | - Charles Omondi
- Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Rashid Aman
- Ministry of Health, Government of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Patrick Amoth
- Ministry of Health, Government of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Fred Were
- Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Wangari Nganga
- Presidential Policy & Strategy Unit, The Presidency, Government of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - James A Berkley
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Tsofa
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Edwine Barasa
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Mike English
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John Athony Gerard Scott
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Akech
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | | | - Ambrose Agweyu
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Kopp K, Motloch LJ, Lichtenauer M, Boxhammer E, Hoppe UC, Berezin AE, Gareeva D, Lakman I, Agapitov A, Sadikova L, Timiryanova V, Davtyan P, Badykova E, Zagidullin N. Sex Differences in Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality After COVID-19 Hospitalization During Alpha, Delta and Omicron Waves. J Clin Med 2024; 13:6636. [PMID: 39597781 PMCID: PMC11594660 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13226636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2024] [Revised: 10/25/2024] [Accepted: 10/30/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Increased mortality and occurrence of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes during hospitalization and in short-term follow-up for moderate to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection have been associated with male sex, yet data regarding long-term outcomes by sex and COVID-19 variant (Alpha, Delta, and Omicron) are limited. Methods: This prospective study of 4882 patients examines potential differences by sex in the occurrence of primary combined cardiovascular outcomes (CV death, CV hospitalization, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, pulmonary embolism) as well as secondary outcomes (CV death, cardiovascular hospitalizations, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism) at 18-month follow-up after urgent hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2-associated pneumonia, as well as evaluating for differences during the three COVID-19 waves. Survival rate was analyzed for the entire cohort by sex and SARS-CoV-2 variant and adjusted for age using the multiple Kaplan-Meier method. To compare survival in groups of men and women for each wave, the Gehan-Wilcoxon test was applied with significance p < 0.05. Univariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to search for potential risk factors of CV death at 18-months follow-up separately for men and women in each COVID-19 wave. Results: Men had significantly higher 18-month CV mortality compared to women in the Delta wave (6.13% men vs. 3.62% women, p = 0.017). Although men had higher percentages of all other CV endpoints (excepting pulmonary embolism) at follow-up during the Delta wave, none were significant compared with women, except for the combined CV endpoint (16.87% men vs. 12.61% women, p = 0.017). No significant differences by sex in CV outcomes were seen during the Alpha and Omicron variants. Discrepancies in CV outcomes in demographical data and concomitant disease between the COVID-19 variants of concern existed. Conclusions: Higher male mortality and higher but non-significant incidences of CV outcomes occurred during the Delta wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the lowest incidence of CV outcomes observed during the Omicron variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Kopp
- University Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (M.L.); (E.B.); (U.C.H.); (A.E.B.)
| | - Lukas J. Motloch
- University Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (M.L.); (E.B.); (U.C.H.); (A.E.B.)
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Salzkammergut Klinikum, OÖG, 4840 Vöcklabruck, Austria
- Department of Cardiology, Kepler University Hospital, Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Michael Lichtenauer
- University Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (M.L.); (E.B.); (U.C.H.); (A.E.B.)
| | - Elke Boxhammer
- University Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (M.L.); (E.B.); (U.C.H.); (A.E.B.)
| | - Uta C. Hoppe
- University Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (M.L.); (E.B.); (U.C.H.); (A.E.B.)
| | - Alexander E. Berezin
- University Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020 Salzburg, Austria (M.L.); (E.B.); (U.C.H.); (A.E.B.)
| | - Diana Gareeva
- Department of Internal Diseases, Bashkir State Medical University, Lenin Str., 3, 450008 Ufa, Russia; (D.G.); (P.D.); (E.B.); (N.Z.)
| | - Irina Lakman
- Scientific Laboratory for the Socio-Economic Region Problems Investigation, Ufa University of Science and Technology, Zaki Validi Str. 32, 450076 Ufa, Russia; (I.L.)
| | - Alexander Agapitov
- Scientific Laboratory for the Socio-Economic Region Problems Investigation, Ufa University of Science and Technology, Zaki Validi Str. 32, 450076 Ufa, Russia; (I.L.)
| | - Liana Sadikova
- Scientific Laboratory for the Socio-Economic Region Problems Investigation, Ufa University of Science and Technology, Zaki Validi Str. 32, 450076 Ufa, Russia; (I.L.)
| | - Venera Timiryanova
- Scientific Laboratory for the Socio-Economic Region Problems Investigation, Ufa University of Science and Technology, Zaki Validi Str. 32, 450076 Ufa, Russia; (I.L.)
| | - Paruir Davtyan
- Department of Internal Diseases, Bashkir State Medical University, Lenin Str., 3, 450008 Ufa, Russia; (D.G.); (P.D.); (E.B.); (N.Z.)
| | - Elena Badykova
- Department of Internal Diseases, Bashkir State Medical University, Lenin Str., 3, 450008 Ufa, Russia; (D.G.); (P.D.); (E.B.); (N.Z.)
| | - Naufal Zagidullin
- Department of Internal Diseases, Bashkir State Medical University, Lenin Str., 3, 450008 Ufa, Russia; (D.G.); (P.D.); (E.B.); (N.Z.)
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Kim H, Park J, Ahn S, Lee H. The impact of sex/gender-specific funding and editorial policies on biomedical research outcomes: a cross-national analysis (2000-2021). Sci Rep 2024; 14:26599. [PMID: 39496696 PMCID: PMC11535369 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77018-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/18/2024] [Indexed: 11/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Reflecting sex and gender characteristics in biomedical research is critical to improving health outcomes and reducing adverse effects from medical treatments. This study investigates the impact of sex/gender-specific funding policies and journal editorial standards on the integration of sex/gender analysis in biomedical research publications. Using data from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries between 2000 and 2021, we assessed how these policies influenced research output in the fields of medicine and life sciences. Our findings show that countries with progressive funding policies and journals promoting sex/gender-based reporting have significantly improved research quality and publication rates. This highlights the importance of coordinated policy efforts and editorial practices in advancing integrated sex/gender research. We recommend continued global efforts from policymakers, funding bodies, and journals to embed sex/gender perspectives in scientific inquiry, ensuring more effective and equitable biomedical advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heajin Kim
- Korea Center for Gendered Innovations for Science and Technology Research, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jinseo Park
- Center for Global R&D Data Analysis, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sejung Ahn
- Center for Global R&D Data Analysis, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Seoul, Korea
| | - Heisook Lee
- Korea Center for Gendered Innovations for Science and Technology Research, Seoul, Korea.
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Alyami A, Barnawi FB, Christmas S, Alyafee Y, Awadalla M, Al-Bayati Z, Alshehri AA, Saif AM, Mansour L. Relationships Between Polymorphisms in HLA-G 3'UTR Region and COVID-19 Disease Severity. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10951-x. [PMID: 39495390 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10951-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 10/23/2024] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to investigate the the relationships between HLA-G gene variants and sHLA-G with susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this case-control study, 65 Patients with COVID-19 were and 67 healthy controls were genotyped for their main functional polymorphisms namely, the 14-bp Ins/Del (rs371194629), +3003C/T (rs1707), +3010C/G (rs1710), +3027A/C (rs17179101), +3035C/T (rs17179108), +3142C/G (rs1063320), +3187A/G (rs9380142) and +3196C/G (rs1610696) in the exon 8 of the 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) using sanger sequencing method. Associations were assessed for five inheritance models (codominant, dominant, recessive, over-dominant and log-additive). Moreover, the levels of plasma soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) were explored using ELISA method. Our results revealed that the 14-bp INS/DEL polymorphism was strongly associated with COVID-19 symptoms development for almost all tested inheritance models (p < 0.001). Inversely, the (+3196C/G) polymorphism exhibited a protective effect against COVID-19. In addition, three haplotypes; UTR-1, UTR-3, and UTR-5 were found associated with COVID-19 symptoms (p < 0.05), The level of HLA-G in the serum was significantly higher in COVID-19 individuals than in healthy individuals (p < 0.001).These findings suggest that HLA-G gene polymorphisms in the regulatory 3'UTR region of the HLA-G gene may influence the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. A deeper comprehension of the functional effect of these associated polymorphisms could be useful in identifying high-risk individuals and in developing adaptive treatments for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Alyami
- Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Medicine Administration, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fawziya B Barnawi
- Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Medicine Administration, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Steve Christmas
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Maaweya Awadalla
- Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zaid Al-Bayati
- Department of Genetic Study, Azadi Teaching Hospital, Kirkuk, Iraq
| | - Ahmad A Alshehri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, P.O. Box 1988, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Saif
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 61421, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lamjed Mansour
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Ahlström B, Frithiof R, Larsson IM, Strandberg G, Lipcsey M, Hultström M. Comorbid burden at ICU admission in COVID-19 compared to sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2024; 68:1417-1425. [PMID: 39183594 DOI: 10.1111/aas.14514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comorbidities are similarly associated with short-term mortality for COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but their adjusted frequencies at admission are unknown. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the adjusted distribution, reported as odds ratios, of known risk factors (i.e., age, sex and comorbidities) for ICU admission between COVID-19, sepsis and ARDS patients in this nationwide registry-based study. METHODS In this cohort study, we included adult patients admitted to Swedish ICUs with COVID-19 (n = 7382) during the pandemic and compared them to patients admitted to ICU with sepsis (n = 22,354) or ARDS (n = 2776) during a pre-COVID-19 period. The main outcomes were the adjusted odds for comorbidities, sex, and age in multivariable logistic regression on diagnostic categories in patients admitted to ICU, COVID-19 or sepsis and COVID-19 or ARDS. RESULTS We found that most comorbidities, as well as age, had a stronger association with sepsis admission than COVID-19 admission with the exception of male sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and asthma that were more strongly associated with COVID-19 admission, while no difference was seen for chronic renal failure and obesity. For COVID-19 and ARDS admission most risk factors were more strongly associated with ARDS admission except for male sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and obesity which were more strongly associated with COVID-19 admission, whereas hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma were not different. CONCLUSIONS Patients admitted to ICU with sepsis or ARDS carry a heavier burden of comorbidity and high age than patients admitted with COVID-19. This is likely caused by a combination of: (1) respiratory failure in COVID-19 being less dependent on comorbidities than in other forms of ARDS, and the cause of critical illness in other infections causing sepsis and (2) COVID-19 patients being deferred admission in situations where patients with the other syndromes were admitted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Ahlström
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research Dalarna, Healthcare Region Dalarna, Falun, Sweden
| | - Robert Frithiof
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ing-Marie Larsson
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Strandberg
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Miklos Lipcsey
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Hedenstierna laboratory, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Michael Hultström
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Integrative Physiology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Beegle K, Demombynes G, de Walque D, Gubbins P, Veillard J. COVID-19 increased existing gender mortality gaps in high-income more than middle-income countries. Int J Infect Dis 2024; 148:107167. [PMID: 39233048 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze how patterns of excess mortality varied by sex and age groups across countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with country income level. METHODS We used World Health Organization excess mortality estimates by sex and age groups for 75 countries in 2020 and 62 countries in 2021, restricting the sample to estimates based on recorded all-cause mortality data. We examined patterns across countries using country-specific Poisson regressions with observations consisting of the number of excess deaths by groups defined by sex and age. FINDINGS Men die at higher rates in nearly all places and at all ages beyond age 45. In 2020, the pandemic amplified this gender mortality gap for the world, but with variation across countries and by country income level. In high-income countries, rates of excess mortality were much higher for men than women. In contrast, in middle-income countries, the sex ratio of excess mortality was similar to the sex ratio of expected all-cause mortality. The exacerbation of the sex ratio of excess mortality observed in 2020 in high-income countries, however, declined in 2021. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic has killed men at much higher rates than women, as has been well documented, but these gender differences have varied by country income. These differences were the result of some combination of variation in gender patterns of infection rates and infection fatality rates across countries. The gender gap in mortality declined in high-income countries in 2021, likely as a result of the faster rollout of vaccination against COVID-19.
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