scholarly journals Long COVID 19 Syndrome: Is It Related to Microcirculation and Endothelial Dysfunction? Insights From TUN-EndCOV Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salma Charfeddine ◽  
Hassen Ibn Hadj Amor ◽  
Jihen Jdidi ◽  
Slim Torjmen ◽  
Salma Kraiem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Multisystem Disease ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Multicenter Observational Study ◽  
Endothelium Dysfunction ◽  
Cognitive Difficulties ◽  
Independent Risk Factors

The COVID-19 disease is a multisystem disease due in part to the vascular endothelium injury. Lasting effects and long-term sequelae could persist after the infection and may be due to persistent endothelial dysfunction. Our study focused on the evaluation of endothelial quality index (EQI) by finger thermal monitoring with E4 diagnosis Polymath in a large cohort of long COVID-19 patients to determine whether long-covid 19 symptoms are associated with endothelial dysfunction. This is a cross-sectional multicenter observational study with prospective recruitment of patients. A total of 798 patients were included in this study. A total of 618 patients (77.4%) had long COVID-19 symptoms. The mean EQI was 2.02 ± 0.99 IC95% [1.95–2.08]. A total of 397 (49.7%) patients had impaired EQI. Fatigue, chest pain, and neuro-cognitive difficulties were significantly associated with endothelium dysfunction with an EQI <2 after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, and the severity of acute COVID-19 infection. In multivariate analysis, endothelial dysfunction (EQI <2), female gender, and severe clinical status at acute COVID-19 infection with a need for oxygen supplementation were independent risk factors of long COVID-19 syndrome. Long COVID-19 symptoms, specifically non-respiratory symptoms, are due to persistent endothelial dysfunction. These findings allow for better care of patients with long COVID-19 symptoms.

scholarly journals Pathophysiological Mechanisms in Gaseous Therapies for Severe Malaria

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 874-882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina A. V. Kayano ◽  
João Conrado K. Dos-Santos ◽  
Marcele F. Bastos ◽  
Leonardo J. Carvalho ◽  
Júlio Aliberti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Malaria ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Adjunctive Treatment ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanisms ◽  
Endothelium Dysfunction ◽  
Clinical Complications ◽  
Cerebrovascular Dysfunction

Over 200 million people worldwide suffer from malaria every year, a disease that causes 584,000 deaths annually. In recent years, significant improvements have been achieved on the treatment of severe malaria, with intravenous artesunate proving superior to quinine. However, mortality remains high, at 8% in children and 15% in adults in clinical trials, and even worse in the case of cerebral malaria (18% and 30%, respectively). Moreover, some individuals who do not succumb to severe malaria present long-term cognitive deficits. These observations indicate that strategies focused only on parasite killing fail to prevent neurological complications and deaths associated with severe malaria, possibly because clinical complications are associated in part with a cerebrovascular dysfunction. Consequently, different adjunctive therapies aimed at modulating malaria pathophysiological processes are currently being tested. However, none of these therapies has shown unequivocal evidence in improving patient clinical status. Recently, key studies have shown that gaseous therapies based mainly on nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hyperbaric (pressurized) oxygen (HBO) alter vascular endothelium dysfunction and modulate the host immune response to infection. Considering gaseous administration as a promising adjunctive treatment against severe malaria cases, we review here the pathophysiological mechanisms and the immunological aspects of such therapies.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Associated Metabolic Factors for Thyroid Nodules: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwest of China with More Than 120 Thousand Populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Xu ◽  
Fanling Zeng ◽  
Yutong Wang ◽  
Ye Bai ◽  
Xuefeng Shan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Central Obesity ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Metabolic Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Independent Risk Factors

Abstract Objective. To explore the prevalence and its associated metabolic factors of thyroid nodules (TNs) among subjects who participated in the physical examinations in Chongqing, China. Methods. The participants from the Health Management Center of JinShan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, between September 2015 and May 2020, were included in this study. All of the participants underwent thyroid ultrasonography, anthropometric measurements, and serum examinations. Differences in the TNs prevalence were compared with the chi-square test or Wilcoxon rang-sum test. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the metabolic factors associated with TNs and multi thyroid nodules (MTNs). Results. Of the included 121702 participants, 41547 had TNs, and 20899 had MTNs, with the prevalence of 34.1% and 17.0%, respectively. Women had a significantly higher prevalence of TNs than men (40.6% vs. 29.8%; χ2 = 1517.33, P < 0.001), and TNs prevalence was gradually increased with age (P for trend < 0.001). Female gender, advanced age, and metabolic factors including central obesity, BMI,hypertension, diabetes and fatty liver were positively associated with TNs; hyperlipoidemia and hyperuricemia were not independent risk factors of TNs. While female gender, advanced age, central obesity, hypertension and diabetes were independent risk factors of MTNs. Conclusions. The prevalence of thyroid nodules was relatively high. The associated factors identified in this study could help the clinicians to detect the high-risk patients and make targeted screening strategies for the preventing of the occurrence of TNs.

scholarly journals Subsequent Identification of a Connective Tissue Disease Amongst Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis : A Long-term Observational Study in 527 Patients

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byeong-zu Ghang ◽  
So Hye Nam ◽  
Jungsun Lee ◽  
Doo-Ho Lim ◽  
Soo Min Ahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Connective Tissue Disease ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Survival Duration ◽  
Independent Risk Factors ◽  
Citrullinated Protein ◽  
Subsequent Identification

Abstract Background: Connective tissue disease (CTD) might occur during the course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Clinical factors associated with CTD development in IPF patients have still not been identified. We investigated which antibodies have a significant association with the development of CTD during the clinical course of IPF.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 527 patients with a first diagnosis of IPF between January 2007 and March 2014 and investigated the time to CTD development after IPF diagnosis in these patients.Results: CTD developed in 15 patients at a median of 2.1 years (range 1.2–4.8) after IPF diagnosis. All patients had anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) or autoantibodies that met the serology criteria for interstitial pneumonitis with autoimmune features. Survival duration for IPF patients with progression to CTD was 5.3 (3.8, 6.7) years, which was significantly longer than for IPF patients without progression to CTD [2.9 (1.7, 4.8), p = 0.001]. Independent risk factors for CTD development in IPF patients included female gender [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 5.319, p = 0.0082], titer of rheumatoid factor (RF; adjusted HR, 1.006; p = 0.022), titer of anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA; adjusted HR, 1.009; p = 0.0011), and titer of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA (adjusted HR, 1.02; p < 0.0001).Conclusions: Progression to CTD is uncommon in IPF patients. However, a significant number of IPF patients with high titers of RF, ACPA, or MPO-ANCA progressed to CTD. RF, ACPA, and MPO-ANCA might be significantly associated with CTD development in IPF patients.

Correlation of Biomarkers of Endothelium Dysfunction and Matrix Remodeling in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 984-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
SOPHIE BLAISE ◽  
RENKE MAAS ◽  
CANDICE TROCME ◽  
GHAINSOM D. KOM ◽  
MATTHIEU ROUSTIT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Microvascular Dysfunction ◽  
Matrix Remodeling ◽  
Multisystem Disease ◽  
Endothelium Dysfunction ◽  
Plasma Adma ◽  
Median Serum ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass

Objective.Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disease characterized by microvascular dysfunction and excessive fibrosis. However, the relationship between these 2 features remains unclear. Endothelial dysfunction can be assessed by quantifying plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Matrix remodeling can be assessed by quantifying serum tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). Both biomarkers are elevated in patients with SSc. Our objective was to test whether plasma ADMA is correlated with serum TIMP-1.Methods.We enrolled 91 subjects, 39 patients with SSc, 28 patients with primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP), and 24 healthy volunteers. Plasma ADMA concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Serum TIMP-1 concentrations were determined by ELISA.Results.Mean ADMA concentrations were higher in patients with SSc (0.68 μM ± 0.12) than in patients with primary RP or healthy volunteers (respectively, 0.56 μM ± 0.14 and 0.62 μM ± 0.12; p = 0.002). Median serum TIMP-1 concentrations were increased in patients with SSc compared to primary RP and healthy volunteers [12 (9–15), 11 (8–13), and 10 (7–13) nM, respectively; p = 0.05]. In the SSc group, we observed a statistically significant correlation between plasma ADMA and serum TIMP-1 (r = 0.34, p = 0.035).Conclusion.These data are consistent with our hypothesis of an association of endothelial dysfunction and matrix remodeling in scleroderma spectrum disorders.

scholarly journals FRI0447 FIRST COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM ASSESSMENT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL CONSEQUENCES AMONG EBOLA SURVIVORS

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 821.1-821
Author(s):  
Y. M. Pers ◽  
A. Dubois ◽  
T. A. Barry ◽  
M. D. Sall ◽  
L. March ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
West African ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Specialized Care

Background:The tremendous size of the 2013-2016 West African outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) resulted in a sizeable population of survivors, many reporting short-term sequelae such as arthralgia and myalgia.Objectives:We aimed to report a detailed and long-term description of patients’ musculoskeletal (MS) symptoms.Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study following systematic rheumatological screening of patients included in the Postebogui cohort (Conakry district). We used regression models to establish the magnitude of EVD as a risk factor for developing chronic MS pain by comparison with a control cohort and to establish risk factors for developing MS pain among survivors.Results:The study included 313 patients (55.6% female), with a median age of 28.2 years (IQR 21-37), and a median time from ETC discharge to rheumatological visit of 26.2 months (IQR 23-30). Chronic MS pain was reported in 216 (69%) patients, and was predominantly mechanical (48%). Enthesis and painful peripheral joints were largely involved (91%) with symmetrical distribution. Previous Ebola infection was a major risk factor for chronic MS pain (aOR, 6.662 [95% CI, 4.522–9.921]). Among survivors, increasing age (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.08-1.22) and female gender (OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.22-11.80) were both associated with persistent MS pain, while myalgia experienced during the acute phase of EVD appeared protective (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.04-0.42).Conclusion:Our study provides the most accurate long-term description of MS disorders among Ebola survivors. Joint and muscle pain sequelae are frequent and require specialized care.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated metabolic factors for thyroid nodules: a cross-sectional study in Southwest of China with more than 120 thousand populations

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Xu ◽  
Fanling Zeng ◽  
Yutong Wang ◽  
Ye Bai ◽  
Xuefeng Shan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Central Obesity ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Metabolic Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Independent Risk Factors ◽  
Obesity Hypertension

Abstract Objective To explore the prevalence and its associated metabolic factors of thyroid nodules (TNs) among subjects who participated in the physical examinations in Chongqing, China. Methods The participants from the Health Management Center of JinShan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, between September 2015 and May 2020, were included in this study. All of the participants underwent thyroid ultrasonography, anthropometric measurements, and serum examinations. Differences in the TNs prevalence were compared with the chi-square test or Wilcoxon rang-sum test. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the metabolic factors associated with TNs and multiple thyroid nodules (MTNs). Results Of the included 121,702 participants, 41,547 had TNs, and 20,899 had MTNs, with the prevalence of 34.1 and 17.0 %, respectively. Women had a significantly higher prevalence of TNs than men (40.6 % vs. 29.8 %; χ2 = 1517.33, P < 0.001), and TNs prevalence was gradually increased with age (P for trend < 0.001). Female gender, advanced age, and metabolic factors including central obesity, hypertension, diabetes and fatty liver were positively associated with TNs; BMI, hyperlipoidemia and hyperuricemia were not independent risk factors of TNs. While female gender, advanced age, central obesity, hypertension and diabetes were independent risk factors of MTNs. Conclusions The prevalence of thyroid nodules was relatively high. The associated factors identified in this study could help the clinicians to detect the high-risk patients and make targeted screening strategies for the preventing of the occurrence of TNs.

Abstract P218: Induction of Human Endothelin-1 Overexpression for 3 Months Causes Blood Pressure Rise and Small Artery Endothelial Dysfunction and Stiffening

Hypertension ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suellen C Coelho ◽  
Sofiane Ouerd ◽  
Julio C Fraulob-Aquino ◽  
Tlili Barhoumi ◽  
Stefan Offermanns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vascular Stiffening ◽  
Relaxation Responses

Background: The mechanisms of blood pressure (BP) regulation by endothelin (ET)-1 produced by endothelial cells are complex and remain unclear. Recently, we developed a transgenic mouse with tamoxifen-inducible endothelium-restricted human ET-1 overexpression (ieET-1) using Cre/loxP technology. ieET-1 mice exhibited BP rise after three weeks of induction in an ET type A (ET A ) receptor-dependent manner, in absence of vascular and kidney injury. It is unknown whether long-term exposure to ET-1 overexpression results in sustained BP elevation and vascular injury. Design and methods: Nine to 12-week old male ieET-1 mice and control ieCre mice expressing a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase under the control of endothelium-specific Tie2 promoter, were treated with tamoxifen (1 mg/kg/day, s.c.) for 5 days and studied 3 months later. ieET-1 mice were treated or not with ET A receptor blocker, atrasentan (10 mg/kg/day, PO) in the last 2 weeks of the study. BP by telemetry, endothelial function and vascular remodeling by pressurized myography and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using dihydroethidium staining in mesenteric artery (MA) or perivascular fat (PVAT) and renal artery flow (RAF) by ultrasonography were determined. Results: Systolic BP was increased in ieET-1 and normalized by atrasentan compared to ieCre mice (141±0 and 124±4 vs 120±0 mm Hg, P <0.001). Endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to acetylcholine were impaired in ieET-1 and uncorrected by atrasentan compared to ieCre (35±4 and 32±4 vs 65±8%, P <0.01). Media/lumen and media cross-sectional area were unchanged, but stiffness was increased in ieET-1 and normalized by atrasentan compared to ieCre mice (strain at 140 mm Hg: 0.6±0.0 and 0.7±0.0 vs 0.7±0.0 ΔD/D, P <0.05). ROS generation was enhanced in PVAT of ieET-1 and normalized with atrasentan when compared to ieCre mice (1.4±0.1 and 0.9±0.1 and vs 1.0±0.1 relative fluorescence units/μm 2 , P <0.05). RAF was decreased in ieET-1 and unchanged by atrasentan compared with control (1.8±0.2 and 2.0±0.2 vs 3.0±0.3 mL/min, P <0.01). Conclusions: Long-term exposure to endothelial human ET-1 overexpression caused sustained BP elevation, endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffening and oxidative stress.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Refractive Errors in a Population of Adults in the Central Region of Poland

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal S. Nowak ◽  
Piotr Jurowski ◽  
Andrzej Grzybowski ◽  
Janusz Smigielski
Keyword(s):  
Female Gender ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Refractive Errors ◽  
Spherical Equivalent ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Asian Populations ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Independent Risk Factors

Background: To investigate the distribution of refractive errors and their characteristics in older adults. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional study. A total of 1107 men and women were interviewed and underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations, 998 subjects underwent refraction. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent (SER) refraction &le; &minus;0.5 dioptres (D) and hyperopia was defined as SER &ge; +0.5 dioptres (D). Results: Among those who were refracted the distribution of myopia and hyperopia was 24.1% (95% CI 21.4&ndash;26.7) and 37.5% (95% CI 34.5&ndash;40.5), respectively. Myopia decreased from 28.7% in subjects aged 35-59 years to 19.3% in those aged 60 years or older and hyperopia increased from 21.8% at 35&ndash;59 years of age to 53.3% in subjects aged &ge;60 years. Multiple regression analysis showed decreasing age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96&ndash;1.00), female gender (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.18&ndash;2.95) and presence of cataract (OR 2.40 , 95% CI 1.24&ndash;4.63) were independent risk factors associated with myopia. Conclusions: The distribution of refractive errors found in our study is similar to those reported in other Caucasian populations and differs from Asian populations. Myopia was positively associated with younger age, female gender and presence of cataract.

Theoretical and Methodological Problems of a 10-Year Follow-Up Program Evaluation Study

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt A. Heller ◽  
Ralph Reimann
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Partial Inclusion ◽  
Methodological Problems

Summary In this paper, conceptual and methodological problems of school program evaluation are discussed. The data were collected in conjunction with a 10 year cross-sectional/longitudinal investigation with partial inclusion of control groups. The experiences and conclusions resulting from this long-term study are revealing not only from the vantage point of the scientific evaluation of new scholastic models, but are also valuable for program evaluation studies in general, particularly in the field of gifted education.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document