COVID-19 and Comorbidities: is Inflammation the Underlying Condition in Children? A narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Pinna ◽  
Lavinia Sanfilippo ◽  
Pier Paolo Bassareo ◽  
Vassilios Fanos ◽  
Maria Antonietta Marcialis

: This paper examines the potential link between COVID-19 and the presence of comorbidities and assesses the role of inflammation in this correlation. In COVID-19 patients, the most frequently associated diseases share a pathogenic inflammatory basis and apparently act as a risk factor in the onset of a more severe form of the disease, particularly in adulthood. However, in children, the understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms is often complicated by the milder symptoms presented. A series of theories have therefore been put forward with a view of providing a better understanding of the role played by inflammation in this dramatic setting. All evidence available to date on this topic is discussed in this review.

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1484.1-1484
Author(s):  
S. Ahmed ◽  
E. Nikiphorou ◽  
J. Bayliss

Background:The role of dietary salt consumption in the etiopathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and autoimmune disease in general, has received renewed interest. This has been fueled by the increased prevalence of autoimmune disease worldwide correlating with western diets and heightened consumption of salt rich foods and also studies at the cellular level demonstrating induction of IL 17 producing T helper cells (Th17) by dietary salt.Objectives:To conduct a narrative review of observational studies and clinical trials on the role of dietary salt as an environmental risk factor for the onset and development of RA.Methods:A comprehensive search was done of the literature from 2010 to 2021, using the search terms dietary salt and RA; the native interfaces EBSCO and Ovid were used. Databases searched included Pubmed, Embase, EMCare, Medline and CINAHL using a Population, Exposure and Outcome framework; the MESH terms RA, risk factors, nutrition and salt were used. Data was extracted by an independent reviewer.Results:Out of the 72 studies initially identified, 50 were included in this review. Studies in murine models have demonstrated that high concentrations of sodium chloride promote the differentiation of T helper lymphocytes, via the serum- and glucocorticoid- inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) mediator towards the proinflammatory Th17 driven immune response. Six studies were carried out in human subjects. Study design ranged from cross sectional observational to nested case control studies. Sodium intake amongst participants characterized as having high intake, or being placed in the higher quartiles, ranged from 4.5-5grams per day. 5 out of 6 studies demonstrated that increased dietary salt consumption is associated with earlier onset RA. One study suggested an association between high salt intake and erosive disease at diagnosis and the development of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), although evidence was weak and from a single study only. Another study found that increased consumption of salt was only associated with risk of RA in smokers, highlighting the need to explore confounding variables further.Conclusion:This narrative review of the literature provides some evidence that supports a role of excess dietary salt consumption as a risk factor for the onset and severity of RA.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 205510292098746
Author(s):  
Håvard R Karlsen ◽  
Florian Matejschek ◽  
Ingvild Saksvik-Lehouillier ◽  
Eva Langvik

The aim of this paper is to summarise and evaluate the empirical support for the association between anxiety and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to address challenges related to method and study design. We review results from meta-analyses and more recent findings on the association of anxiety and the risk of CVD. Depression and anxiety are often listed as psychosocial risk markers of CVD, but the role of anxiety as a risk factor for CVD has not received the same evidential support as the effects of depression. Through a narrative review we identified six meta-analyses as well as 15 recent large studies of anxiety and CVD that we summarise. Some of the conflicting findings may be artefacts of study design or population the sample is drawn from. Researchers should take care to be population specific, measurement specific and outcome specific, and to control for comorbid depression.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (03) ◽  
pp. 109-112
Author(s):  
A. Hirt ◽  
C. Zwicky ◽  
W.A. Wuillemin ◽  
K. Leibundgut

SummaryA boy (age: 71/12 years) with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia developed thrombosis of the sinus sagitalis superior with secondary haemorrhagic infarction while on induction treatment with vincristine, prednisone, and asparaginase. Based on this report, the potential pathogenic mechanisms are discussed with respect to congenital prothrombotic defects as well as to the role of antileukaemic treatment. Current hypotheses on mechanisms for thromboembolism in children and proposed prophylactic strategies are briefly summarized.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Tudor Car ◽  
Bhone Myint Kyaw ◽  
Josip Car

BACKGROUND Digital technology called Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly employed in health professions’ education. Yet, based on the current evidence, its use is narrowed around a few most applications and disciplines. There is a lack of an overview that would capture the diversity of different VR applications in health professions’ education and inform its use and research. OBJECTIVE This narrative review aims to explore different potential applications of VR in health professions’ education. METHODS The narrative synthesis approach to literature review was used to analyse the existing evidence. RESULTS We outline the role of VR features such as immersion, interactivity and feedback and explain the role of VR devices. Based on the type and scope of educational content VR can represent space, individuals, objects, structures or their combination. Application of VR in medical education encompasses environmental, organ and micro level. Environmental VR focuses on training in relation to health professionals’ environment and human interactions. Organ VR educational content targets primarily human body anatomy; and micro VR microscopic structures at the level of cells, molecules and atoms. We examine how different VR features and health professional education areas match these three VR types. CONCLUSIONS We conclude by highlighting the gaps in the literature and providing suggestions for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 4416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Console ◽  
Maria Tolomeo ◽  
Matilde Colella ◽  
Maria Barile ◽  
Cesare Indiveri

Background: the SLC52A2 gene encodes for the riboflavin transporter 2 (RFVT2). This transporter is ubiquitously expressed. It mediates the transport of Riboflavin across cell membranes. Riboflavin plays a crucial role in cells since its biologically active forms, FMN and FAD, are essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids. Mutation of the Riboflavin transporters is a risk factor for anemia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration. Inborn mutations of SLC52A2 are associated with Brown-Vialetto-van Laere syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterized by infancy onset. In spite of the important metabolic and physio/pathological role of this transporter few data are available on its function and regulation. Methods: the human recombinant RFVT2 has been overexpressed in E. coli, purified and reconstituted into proteoliposomes in order to characterize its activity following the [3H]Riboflavin transport. Results: the recombinant hRFVT2 showed a Km of 0.26 ± 0.07 µM and was inhibited by lumiflavin, FMN and Mg2+. The Riboflavin uptake was also regulated by Ca2+. The native protein extracted from fibroblast and reconstituted in proteoliposomes also showed inhibition by FMN and lumiflavin. Conclusions: proteoliposomes represent a suitable model to assay the RFVT2 function. It will be useful for screening the mutation of RFVT2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen Meagher ◽  
Bothaina Attal ◽  
Preeti Patel

Abstract Background The ripple effects of protracted armed conflicts include: significant gender-specific barriers to accessing essential services such as health, education, water and sanitation and broader macroeconomic challenges such as increased poverty rates, higher debt burdens, and deteriorating employment prospects. These factors influence the wider social and political determinants of health for women and a gendered analysis of the political economy of health in conflict may support strengthening health systems during conflict. This will in turn lead to equality and equity across not only health, but broader sectors and systems, that contribute to sustainable peace building. Methods The methodology employed is a multidisciplinary narrative review of the published and grey literature on women and gender in the political economy of health in conflict. Results The existing literature that contributes to the emerging area on the political economy of health in conflict has overlooked gender and specifically the role of women as a critical component. Gender analysis is incorporated into existing post-conflict health systems research, but this does not extend to countries actively affected by armed conflict and humanitarian crises. The analysis also tends to ignore the socially constructed patriarchal systems, power relations and gender norms that often lead to vastly different health system needs, experiences and health outcomes. Conclusions Detailed case studies on the gendered political economy of health in countries impacted by complex protracted conflict will support efforts to improve health equity and understanding of gender relations that support health systems strengthening.


Author(s):  
Ana P. Sehn ◽  
Anelise R. Gaya ◽  
Caroline Brand ◽  
Arieli F. Dias ◽  
Roya Kelishadi ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesThe combination of sleep duration, television (TV) time and body mass index (BMI) may be related to the alteration of cardiometabolic risk. However, there are few studies that use these variables grouped, and showing the moderating role of age. This study aimed to verify if the combination of sleep duration, TV time and BMI is associated with cardiometabolic risk and the moderating role of age in this relationship in youth.MethodsCross-sectional study conducted with 1411 adolescents (611 male), aged 10–17 years. Sleep duration, TV time and BMI were assessed and grouped into eight categories. Cardiometabolic risk was assessed by a continuous metabolic risk score, including the following variables: low HDL-cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, dysglycemia, high systolic blood pressure, high waist circumference and low cardiorespiratory fitness. Generalized linear models were used to test moderation of age in the relationship between the eight categories of sleep duration/television time/BMI with cardiometabolic risk.ResultsCardiometabolic risk factor showed association with all overweight or obesity independent of sleep time and TV time. Age moderated the relationship between sleep duration/television time/BMI with cardiometabolic risk. This association was stronger in younger adolescents (11 and 13 years), indicating that individuals with inadequate sleep, prolonged TV time and overweight/obesity present higher cardiometabolic risk values when compared to 15-year-old adolescents.ConclusionOverweight/obesity, independently of sleep duration and TV time, is the main risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders in adolescence. When moderated by age, younger adolescents that presented the combination of risk factors had higher cardiometabolic risk.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Waleed Haddad ◽  
Nikita Reddy Mallepalli ◽  
John Emerson Scheinuk ◽  
Pranav Bhargava ◽  
Elyse M. Cornett ◽  
...  

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