Genetic and hormonal influence on SARS-CoV-2-infection susceptibility

Background & Aims: Previous genome-wide association studies showed that genetic polymorphisms in toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) and protein kinase AMP-activated alpha 1 catalytic subunit (PRKAA1) genes were associated with gastric cancer (GC) or increased Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection susceptibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between TLR1 and PRKAA1 genes polymorphisms and H.pylori infection, atrophic gastritis (AG) or GC in the European population.Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analysed in 511 controls, 340 AG patients and 327 GC patients. TLR1 C>T (rs4833095) and PRKAA1 C>T (rs13361707) were genotyped by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. H. pylori status was determined by testing for anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in the serum.Results: The study included 697 (59.2%) H. pylori positive and 481 (40.8%) H. pylori negative cases. We observed similar distribution of TLR1 and PRKAA1 alleles and genotypes in H. pylori positive and negative cases. TLR1 and PRKAA1 SNPs were not linked with the risk of AG. TC genotype of TLR1 gene was more prevalent in GC patients compared to the control group (29.7% and 22.3% respectively, p=0.002). Carriers of TC genotype had a higher risk of GC (aOR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.26–2.83, p=0.002). A similar association was observed in a dominant inheritance model for TLR1 gene SNP, where comparison of CC+TC vs. TT genotypes showed an increased risk of GC (aOR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.26–2.75, p=0.002). No association between genetic polymorphism in PRKAA1 gene and GC was observed.Conclusions: TLR1 rs4833095 SNP was associated with an increased risk of GC in a European population, while PRKAA1 rs13361707 genetic variant was not linked with GC. Both genetic polymorphisms were not associated with H. pylori infection susceptibility or the risk of AG.

Download Full-text

Diagnostic and Treatment of Ovarian Cystic Lesions in Premenarcheal Girls: a 3 Year Study

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.20.2.7950 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 71 (2) ◽

pp. 460-464

Author(s):

Ioana Anca Stefanopol ◽

Zina Tiron ◽

Anca Iulia Neagu ◽

Liliana Lacramioara Pavel ◽

Vasile Sarbu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multidisciplinary Team ◽

Cystic Lesions ◽

Hormonal Influence ◽

Ovarian Preservation

Ovarian cystic lesions, once considered uncommon in children, represent nowadays subject for many studies. Controversies regarding the diagnostic and treatment still exist. Unspecific symptoms and difficulties in performing an accurate ultrasound in children, sometimes led to misdiagnose this condition. Ovarian cystic lesions in premenarcheal girls may have hormonal influence, changing the biochemical balance, so an endocrinologist should be consulted. The main goal is to preserve the adnexal tissue. The purpose of this study is to analize the diagnostic and treatment of ovarian cystic lesions in premenarcheal girls, highlighting the opportunity of a multidisciplinary team and the necessity of the ovarian preservation.

Download Full-text

Studying Infection Worries by Ecological Momentary Assessment: Development and Causal Factors in Sweden during the Early Phase of the Covid-19 Pandemic (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.26743 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Schulz ◽

Elin Andersson ◽

Nicole Bizzotto ◽

Margareta Norberg

Keyword(s):

Study Design ◽

Preventive Action ◽

Causal Factors ◽

Perceived Severity ◽

Assessment Development ◽

Infection Susceptibility ◽

The Face ◽

New Type ◽

Ecological Momentary ◽

Special Case

BACKGROUND The foray of Covid-19 around the globe is sure to have instigated worries in many humans, and lockdown measures may well have created their own worries. Sweden, in contrast to most other countries, had first relied on voluntary measures, but had to change its policy in the face of an increasing number of infections. OBJECTIVE The aim was to better understand the worried reactions to the virus and the lockdown measures. To grasp the reactions, their development over time was studied. METHODS Results were based on an unbalanced panel sample of 261 Swedish participants filling in 3218 interview questionnaires by smartphone in a 7-week period in 2020. Causal factors considered in this study include the perceived severity of an infection, the susceptibility of a person to the threat posed by the virus, the perceived efficacy of safeguarding measures and the assessment of government action against the spread of Covid-19. The effect of these factors on worries was traced in two analytical steps: the effects at the beginning of the study, and the effect on the trend during the study. RESULTS Findings confirmed that the hypothesized causal factors (severity of infection, susceptibility to the threat of the virus, efficacy of safeguarding and the assessment of government preventive action did indeed affect worries. CONCLUSIONS The results confirmed earlier research in a very special case and demonstrated the usefulness of a different study design, which takes a longitudinal perspective, and a new type of data analysis borrowed from multi-level study design.

Download Full-text

Tacrolimus exposure windows responsible for Listeria monocytogenes infection susceptibility

Transplant Infectious Disease ◽

10.1111/tid.13655 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hilary Miller‐Handley ◽

John J. Erickson ◽

Emily J. Gregory ◽

Nina Salinger Prasanphanich ◽

Tzu‐Yu Shao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Listeria Monocytogenes ◽

Infection Susceptibility ◽

Listeria Monocytogenes Infection ◽

Exposure Windows

Download Full-text

COVID-19 vaccines that reduce symptoms but do not block infection need higher coverage and faster rollout to achieve population impact

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94719-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

David A. Swan ◽

Chloe Bracis ◽

Holly Janes ◽

Mia Moore ◽

Laura Matrajt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Model ◽

No Reduction ◽

King County ◽

Symptomatic Disease ◽

Population Impact ◽

Susceptibility To Infection ◽

Infection Susceptibility ◽

Asymptomatic Infections ◽

The U.S

AbstractTrial results for two COVID-19 vaccines suggest at least 90% efficacy against symptomatic disease (VEDIS). It remains unknown whether this efficacy is mediated by lowering SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility (VESUSC) or development of symptoms after infection (VESYMP). We aim to assess and compare the population impact of vaccines with different efficacy profiles (VESYMP and VESUSC) satisfying licensure criteria. We developed a mathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, calibrated to data from King County, Washington. Rollout scenarios starting December 2020 were simulated with combinations of VESUSC and VESYMP resulting in up to 100% VEDIS. We assumed no reduction of infectivity upon infection conditional on presence of symptoms. Proportions of cumulative infections, hospitalizations and deaths prevented over 1 year from vaccination start are reported. Rollouts of 1 M vaccinations (5000 daily) using vaccines with 50% VEDIS are projected to prevent 23–46% of infections and 31–46% of deaths over 1 year. In comparison, vaccines with 90% VEDIS are projected to prevent 37–64% of infections and 46–64% of deaths over 1 year. In both cases, there is a greater reduction if VEDIS is mediated mostly by VESUSC. The use of a “symptom reducing” vaccine will require twice as many people vaccinated than a “susceptibility reducing” vaccine with the same 90% VEDIS to prevent 50% of the infections and death over 1 year. Delaying the start of the vaccination by 3 months decreases the expected population impact by more than 50%. Vaccines which prevent COVID-19 disease but not SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thereby shift symptomatic infections to asymptomatic infections, will prevent fewer infections and require larger and faster vaccination rollouts to have population impact, compared to vaccines that reduce susceptibility to infection. If uncontrolled transmission across the U.S. continues, then expected vaccination in Spring 2021 will provide only limited benefit.

Download Full-text

Characterization of HIV-induced remodeling reveals differences in infection susceptibility of memory CD4+ T cell subsets in vivo

Cell Reports ◽

10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 109038

Author(s):

Guorui Xie ◽

Xiaoyu Luo ◽

Tongcui Ma ◽

Julie Frouard ◽

Jason Neidleman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

T Cell Subsets ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Infection Susceptibility

Download Full-text

Deficiency of Th17 cells in hyper IgE syndrome due to mutations in STAT3

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20080218 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 205 (7) ◽

pp. 1551-1557 ◽

Cited By ~ 487

Author(s):

Cindy S. Ma ◽

Gary Y.J. Chew ◽

Nicholas Simpson ◽

Archana Priyadarshi ◽

Melanie Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Th17 Cells ◽

Immunoglobulin E ◽

Orphan Receptor ◽

Primary Immune Deficiency ◽

Interleukin 17 ◽

Th 17 ◽

Infection Susceptibility ◽

Fungal Antigens

Hyper–immunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES) is a primary immune deficiency characterized by abnormal and devastating susceptibility to a narrow spectrum of infections, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Recent investigations have identified mutations in STAT3 in the majority of HIES patients studied. Despite the identification of the genetic cause of HIES, the mechanisms underlying the pathological features of this disease remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate a failure of CD4+ T cells harboring heterozygous STAT3 mutations to generate interleukin 17–secreting (i.e., T helper [Th]17) cells in vivo and in vitro due to a failure to express sufficient levels of the Th17-specific transcriptional regulator retinoid-related orphan receptor γt. Because Th17 cells are enriched for cells with specificities against fungal antigens, our results may explain the pattern of infection susceptibility characteristic of patients with HIES. Furthermore, they underscore the importance of Th17 responses in normal host defense against the common pathogens S. aureus and C. albicans.

Download Full-text

Hormonal influence on ionic channels in myometrium

Microscopy Research and Technique ◽

10.1002/jemt.1070250206 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 134-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jack Ludmir ◽

Solomon D. Erulkar

Keyword(s):

Ionic Channels ◽

Hormonal Influence

Download Full-text

Effect of low level of exposure to deltamethrin on infection susceptibility in mice

Toxicology Letters ◽

10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.06.689 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 229 ◽

pp. S204-S205

Author(s):

Hasibur Rehman ◽

Sheikh Raisuddin

Keyword(s):

Low Level ◽

Infection Susceptibility

Download Full-text

Physical exercise, immune response and susceptibility to infections -- current knowledge and growing research areas

10.22541/au.162499395.57514876/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marcin Kurowski ◽

Sven Seys ◽

Matteo Bonini ◽

Stefano R. Del Giacco ◽

Luís Delgado ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Acute Exercise ◽

Professional Athletes ◽

Strenuous Exercise ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Future Research ◽

Specific Response ◽

Proinflammatory Mediators ◽

Infection Susceptibility

This review presents state-of-the-art knowledge and identifies knowledge gaps for future research in the area of exercise-associated modifications of infection susceptibility. Regular moderate-intensity exercise is believed to have beneficial effects on immune health through lowering inflammation intensity and reducing susceptibility to respiratory infections. Infection-promoting consequences are attributed to strenuous exercise as performed by professional athletes. In about half of the athletes presenting respiratory symptoms, no causative pathogen can be identified. Acute bouts of exercise enhance release of proinflammatory mediators thus probably leading to appearance of infection-like respiratory symptoms. Studies assessing influence of regularly repeated exercise on immune response and systemic inflammation are far less numerous than those regarding acute exercise effects. This identifies another knowledge gap requiring further assessment both in recreational and in professional athletes Additionally, ambient and environmental conditions modify systemic inflammatory response and infection susceptibility in particular in outdoor athletes. Both acute and chronic regular exercise influence humoral and cellular immune response mechanisms resulting in decreased specific and non-specific response in competitive athletes. Most promising areas of further research in exercise immunology include: detailed immunological characterization of infection-prone and infection-resistant athletes; efficacy of nutritional and pharmaceutical interventions as countermeasures to infections’ symptoms; and influence of various exercise loads on susceptibility to infections with respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Establishing uniform definition of “elite athlete’ shall hopefully allow for comparable and straightforward interpretation of data coming from different studies and settings.

Download Full-text