scholarly journals Temporal Associations of the SARS-CoV-2 NP Antigen and Anti-Spike Total Ig Levels with Laboratory Parameters in a Greek Cohort of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Erasmia Rouka ◽  
Ourania S. Kotsiou ◽  
Garyfallia Perlepe ◽  
Athanasios Pagonis ◽  
Ioannis Pantazopoulos ◽  
...  

Background. The direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the lungs results in increased hospitalization rates of patients with pneumonia. Severe COVID-19 patients often develop ARDS which is associated with poor prognosis. Assessing risk factors for COVID-19 severity is indispensable for implementing and evaluating therapeutic interventions. We investigated the temporal associations between the SARS-CoV-2 antigen (Ag), total Immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, and several laboratory parameters in hospitalized patients with varying degrees of COVID-19 severity. Methods. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (NP) and total Ig Spike (S) protein-specific antibodies were determined for each patient with lateral flow assays through repeated sampling every two days. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated at the same time points. Results. 40 Greek COVID-19 patients (31 males, 9 females) with a median age of 59.50 ± 16.21 years were enrolled in the study. The median time from symptom onset to hospitalization was 8.0 ± 4.19 days. A significant negative correlation was observed between the SARS-CoV-2 Ag and total Ig levels. The temporal correlation patterns of the SARS-CoV-2 NP Ag and anti-S total Ig levels with laboratory markers varied among patients with differing degrees of COVID-19 severity. Severe-critical cases had lower SARS-CoV-2 Ag and increased total Ig levels as compared to mild-moderate cases. Conclusions. Distinct temporal profiles of the SARS-CoV-2 NP Ag and anti-S total Ig levels may distinguish different groups of COVID-19 severity.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Villa ◽  
Alessia Libera Gazzonis ◽  
Sergio Aurelio Zanzani ◽  
Silvia Mazzola ◽  
Alessia Giordano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Besnoitia besnoiti is an Apicomplexan protozoa causative of bovine besnoitiosis, a chronic and debilitating disease of cattle, with a variety of pathological findings that could alter some laboratory parameters. A study was conducted in a bovine besnoitiosis endemically infected dairy herd located in Italy characterized by high intra-herd seroprevalence and cattle with clinical signs of the disease. In the study, alterations in laboratory parameters, i.e. hematological and biochemical parameters, enzyme activities and serum cortisol levels, in Besnoitia besnoiti naturally infected cows were investigated in depth. Methods Laboratory parameters in 107 cows, of which 61 were seronegative and 46 were seropositive to B. besnoiti, including 27 with clinical signs of bovine besnoitiosis, were compared. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the effect of Besnoitia infection on the considered laboratory parameters. Results Hematological analyses revealed that B. besnoiti infection determined a significant alteration to the leukocyte differential, with a higher percentage of granulocytes and a lower percentage of lymphocytes in seropositive and clinically affected animals (Mann–Whitney U-test, P = 0.022); erythrocyte and platelet counts did not show any difference between the considered groups of cows. Biochemistry tests evidenced that the parasite infection influenced serum protein values in seropositive cows and glutamate dehydrogenase values in clinically affected animals. No or only slight differences were revealed for all of the other biochemical and enzyme activity parameters in B. besnoiti-infected animals. In addition, despite the lack of statistical significance, seropositive and clinically affected cows evidenced higher concentrations of serum cortisol values compared to seronegative animals. Conclusions Although physiological, pathological and farm-related factors could have influenced the results in investigated animals, further studies involving more animals from different farms would be advisable to infer the role of B. besnoiti on these alterations, since laboratory parameters could help veterinarians in the diagnosis of bovine besnoitiosis in cattle.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 4832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Mahfuzur Rahman ◽  
Yu-Chang Lai ◽  
Al Asmaul Husna ◽  
Hui-wen Chen ◽  
Yuiko Tanaka ◽  
...  

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) dysregulation contribute the cancer pathogenesis. However, the miRNA profile of canine oral melanoma (COM), one of the frequent malignant melanoma in dogs is still unrevealed. The aim of this study is to reveal the miRNA profile in canine oral melanoma. MiRNAs profile of oral tissues from normal healthy dogs and COM patients were compared by next-generation sequencing. Along with tumour suppressor miRNAs, we report 30 oncogenic miRNAs in COM. The expressions of miRNAs were further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Pathway analysis showed that deregulated miRNAs impact on cancer and signalling pathways. Three oncogenic miRNAs targets (miR-450b, 301a, and 223) from human study also were down-regulated in COM and had a significant negative correlation with their respective miRNA. Furthermore, we found that miR-450b expression is higher in metastatic cells and regulated MMP9 expression through a PAX9-BMP4-MMP9 axis. In silico analysis indicated that miR-126, miR-20b, and miR-106a regulated the highest numbers of differentially expressed transcription factors with respect to human melanoma. Chromosomal enrichment analysis revealed the X chromosome was enriched with oncogenic miRNAs. We comprehensively analyzed the miRNA’s profile in COM which will be a useful resource for developing therapeutic interventions in both species.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréa Tavares Dantas ◽  
Claudia Diniz Lopes Marques ◽  
Laurindo Ferreira da Rocha Junior ◽  
Mariana Brayner Cavalcanti ◽  
Sayonara Maria Calado Gonçalves ◽  
...  

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the levels of IL-9 in patients with SLE and RA compared with controls and the association of IL-9 levels with clinical and laboratory parameters. IL-9 levels were assessed in 117 SLE patients, 67 RA patients, and 24 healthy controls by ELISA. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded. The IL-9 serum levels were significantly higher in RA patients (4,77 ± 3,618 pg/mL) and in SLE patients (12,26 ± 25,235 pg/mL) than in healthy individuals (1,22 ± 0,706 pg/mL)(p<0,001). In SLE patients, there were no statistically significant associations or correlations between the levels of IL-9 and SLEDAI or other clinical and laboratorial parameters, with the exception of disease time, which showed a statistically significant negative correlation with IL-9 levels(r=-0,1948; p=0,0378). In RA patients, no association or statistically significant correlation was observed with disease duration, DAS28, HAQ, rheumatoid factor positivity, or erosions on radiography. These data demonstrated increased serum levels of IL-9 in SLE and RA patients, but further studies are needed to clarify the precise role of this cytokine and its potential use as therapeutic target.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 837
Author(s):  
Yue Han ◽  
Lin Liu ◽  
Qiaoli Sui ◽  
Jiaxing Zhou

There are many factors affecting poverty, among which education is an important one. Firstly, from the perspective of digital statistics, this research quantitatively analyzes the correlation between average education years (AEY) and Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP/C), and finds that there is a significant positive correlation between AEY and GDP/C in provinces of China. Furthermore, from the perspective of spatial distribution and geostatistics, this research analyzes the correlation between AEY and the distribution of poor counties, revealing the inherent connection between education and poverty. Based on the data processing of nighttime light remote sensing images, this research adopts the machine learning method of random forest to extract the distribution status of spatio-temporal sequences for poor counties. Through the analysis, it is found that poor counties are characterized by centralized distribution and spatial autocorrelation spatially, and the number of poor counties decreases year by year in temporal evolution. On this basis, we analyze the correlation between education levels and the distribution of poor counties. It is found that, on the spatial scale, AEY in poor counties is relatively low, while AEY in non-poor counties is relatively high, showing a significant negative correlation between the two. On the temporal scale, the number of poor counties gradually decreased from 2000 to 2010, and at the same time, the education levels of poor counties also gradually improved. Finally, from the perspective of improving education levels to promote poverty elimination, we analyze the main factors affecting education using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and other methods and obtain a regression model. This research proposes the Linear and Residual Integration Model (LRIM) to more accurately predict AEY in each province in 2020 based on historical data, and identifies the regions with low AEY as key regions for targeted poverty alleviation through education (TPAE) in the future. This research provides a decision-making basis to achieve TPAE means, helping to achieve the victory of the national education poverty elimination battle.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-144
Author(s):  
Caesariska Deswima ◽  
Widodo ◽  
Erikavitri Yulianti

Depression is commonly found in stage 5 CKD patients. However, depression in HD patients is usually neglected, underdiagnosed, and remains untreated. Duration of HD is reported to be significantly correlated with depression. Previously, there were several similar studies with varying results. This study is needed to detect depression and give early intervention to reduce hospitalization rates and patient mortality. This study aims to find the correlation between the duration of hemodialysis and depression in CKD patients. A cross-sectional was carried out on 52 patients with CKD undergoing HD in Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital using consecutive sampling. Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) questionnaire was used to measure the depression score. Data were analyzed with the Pearson correlation test. This study showed a significant negative correlation between the duration of hemodialysis and depression (p =0.005, p > 0,05; r= -0.094). Duration of hemodialysis was significantly correlated with depression. The longer duration of hemodialysis, the lower score of depression. Periodic evaluation of HD patients for depression is needed for early intervention to reduce morbidity.


2003 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 201-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideaki Nagase ◽  
Keith Brew

The tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are endogenous inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that play central roles in the degradation of extracellular matrix components. The balance between MMPs and TIMPs is important in the maintenance of tissues, and its disruption affects tissue homoeostasis. Four related TIMPs (TIMP-1 to TIMP-4) can each form a complex with MMPs in a 1:1 stoichiometry with high affinity, but their inhibitory activities towards different MMPs are not particularly selective. The three-dimensional structures of TIMP-MMP complexes reveal that TIMPs have an extended ridge structure that slots into the active site of MMPs. Mutation of three separate residues in the ridge, at positions 2, 4 and 68 in the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal inhibitory domain of TIMP-1 (N-TIMP-1), separately and in combination has produced N-TIMP-1 variants with higher binding affinity and specificity for individual MMPs. TIMP-3 is unique in that it inhibits not only MMPs, but also several ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) and ADAMTS (ADAM with thrombospondin motifs) metalloproteinases. Inhibition of the latter groups of metalloproteinases, as exemplified with ADAMTS-4 (aggrecanase 1), requires additional structural elements in TIMP-3 that have not yet been identified. Knowledge of the structural basis of the inhibitory action of TIMPs will facilitate the design of selective TIMP variants for investigating the biological roles of specific MMPs and for developing therapeutic interventions for MMP-associated diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (17) ◽  
pp. 2243-2262
Author(s):  
Danlin Liu ◽  
Gavin Richardson ◽  
Fehmi M. Benli ◽  
Catherine Park ◽  
João V. de Souza ◽  
...  

Abstract In the elderly population, pathological inflammation has been associated with ageing-associated diseases. The term ‘inflammageing’, which was used for the first time by Franceschi and co-workers in 2000, is associated with the chronic, low-grade, subclinical inflammatory processes coupled to biological ageing. The source of these inflammatory processes is debated. The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) has been proposed as the main origin of inflammageing. The SASP is characterised by the release of inflammatory cytokines, elevated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, altered regulation of acetylcholine (ACh) nicotinic receptors, and abnormal NAD+ metabolism. Therefore, SASP may be ‘druggable’ by small molecule therapeutics targeting those emerging molecular targets. It has been shown that inflammageing is a hallmark of various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and adverse cardiac remodelling. Therefore, the pathomechanism involving SASP activation via the NLRP3 inflammasome; modulation of NLRP3 via α7 nicotinic ACh receptors; and modulation by senolytics targeting other proteins have gained a lot of interest within cardiovascular research and drug development communities. In this review, which offers a unique view from both clinical and preclinical target-based drug discovery perspectives, we have focused on cardiovascular inflammageing and its molecular mechanisms. We have outlined the mechanistic links between inflammageing, SASP, interleukin (IL)-1β, NLRP3 inflammasome, nicotinic ACh receptors, and molecular targets of senolytic drugs in the context of cardiovascular diseases. We have addressed the ‘druggability’ of NLRP3 and nicotinic α7 receptors by small molecules, as these proteins represent novel and exciting targets for therapeutic interventions targeting inflammageing in the cardiovascular system and beyond.


2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A119-A119
Author(s):  
A WUNDERLICH ◽  
J MURRAY
Keyword(s):  

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. Frei ◽  
Vladimir Sazhin ◽  
Melissa Fick ◽  
Keong Yap

Abstract. Psychiatric hospitalization can cause significant distress for patients. Research has shown that to cope with the stress, patients sometimes resort to self-harm. Given the paucity of research on self-harm among psychiatric inpatients, a better understanding of transdiagnostic processes as predictors of self-harm during psychiatric hospitalization is needed. The current study examined whether coping styles predicted self-harm after controlling for commonly associated factors, such as age, gender, and borderline personality disorder. Participants were 72 patients (mean age = 39.32 years, SD = 12.29, 64% male) admitted for inpatient treatment at a public psychiatric hospital in Sydney, Australia. Participants completed self-report measures of coping styles and ward-specific coping behaviors, including self-harm, in relation to coping with the stress of acute hospitalization. Results showed that younger age, diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, and higher emotion-oriented coping were associated with self-harm. After controlling for age and borderline personality disorder, higher levels of emotion-oriented coping were found to be a significant predictor of self-harm. Findings were partially consistent with hypotheses; emotion-oriented but not avoidance-oriented coping significantly predicted self-harm. This finding may help to identify and provide psychiatric inpatients who are at risk of self-harm with appropriate therapeutic interventions.


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