scholarly journals Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic Including Endocrine and Metabolic Impacts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan M. Heshmati

A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads globally. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a major pandemic that affected human health and activities around the world since the beginning of 2020 and became a major international emergency. Through multiple paths, COVID-19 pandemic influenced life at individual, familial, societal, and environmental levels and led to a global economic recession. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the disease. It invades the target cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Endocrine and metabolic systems can be implicated in COVID-19 infection. Subjects with several comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and obesity) are more likely to be infected and are at a higher risk for complications and death from COVID-19. Wearing mask, social distancing, home confinement, and isolation have been recommended and implemented in several countries to curb the spread of the outbreak. Vaccination remains the best protective measure. Different vaccines are now available and have been used. The worldwide impact of COVID-19 pandemic may last several years.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Fani ◽  
Ali Teimoori ◽  
Shokouh Ghafari

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first identified in several patients who traveled to Wuhan or went to a seafood wholesale market in Wuhan. The phylogenetic tree showed that SARS-CoV-2 was 96.2% identical to bat β-coronaviruses from lineage B. Also, several studies reported that SARS-CoV-2 uses the SARS-CoV receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, for entry to target cells. Lung alveolar and small intestine are potential targets for SARS-CoV-2 due to the high expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. In this review, we focused on the zoonotic β-coronaviruses and given there is no specific drug or vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019, we reviewed the literature on the therapy options for SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, in order to discover their possible use in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taichiro Minami ◽  
Yasunori Iwata ◽  
Takashi Wada

AbstractThe world today is facing a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which mainly causes a respiratory disease known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, its pathogenesis and complications should be identified and understood. SARS-CoV-2 infects the host using the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its receptor, which is expressed in several organs including the lungs, heart, kidneys, and intestines. Kidney complications are relatively common, and acute kidney injury (AKI) is a life-threatening complication in patients with COVID-19. In this review, the renal histological patterns of COVID-19 are described in detail, and its potential mechanisms associated with AKI are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Sukhminder Jit Singh Bajwa ◽  
Ridhima Sharma ◽  
Madhuri S Kurdi

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions of people across the world engendering an unprecedented pandemic. Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 can present asymptomatic or in the form of the acute respiratory syndrome, viral pneumonia,or sepsis. Due to the novelty of the disease, the endocrine manifestations are not fully understood. It becomes indispensable to address the underlying endocrine disruptions contributing to the severe form of illness and thereby increasing the mortality.We discuss here the SARS-CoV-2 virus and endocrine reverberations based on the research with structurally similar SARS-COV-1. SARS-CoV-2 enters the body via its attachment to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. Apart from lungs,ACE2 expression on various organs can lead to endocrine perturbations.In COVID-19 infection, pre-existing endocrine disorders warrant cautious management and may require replacement therapy. COVID-19 and its repercussions on hormones are discussed extensively in this review.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tue W. Kragstrup ◽  
Helene Søgaard Singh ◽  
Ida Grundberg ◽  
Ane Langkilde-Lauesen Nielsen ◽  
Felice Rivellese ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) enabling entrance of the virus into cells and causing the infection termed coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a disease with a very broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic and subclinical infection to severe hyperinflammatory syndrome and death. Methods This study used data from a large longitudinal study of 306 COVID-19 positive patients and 78 COVID-19 negative patients (MGH Emergency Department COVID-19 Cohort with Olink Proteomics). Comprehensive clinical data were collected on this cohort, including 28-day outcomes classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 outcomes scale. The samples were run on the Olink® Explore 1536 platform which includes measurement of the ACE2 protein. Findings High baseline levels of ACE2 in plasma from COVID-19 patients were associated with worse WHOmax category at 28 days with OR=0.56, 95%-CI: 0.44-0.71 (P < 0.0001). This association was significant in regression models with correction for baseline characteristics, pre-existing medical conditions, and laboratory test results. High levels of ACE2 in plasma from COVID-19 patients were also significantly associated with worse WHO category at the time of blood sampling at both day 0, day 3, and day 7 (P = 0.0004, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.0001, respectively). The levels of ACE2 in plasma from COVID-19 patients with hypertension were significantly higher compared to patients without hypertension (P = 0.0045). The plasma ACE2 levels were also significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with pre-existing heart conditions and kidney disease compared with patients without these pre-existing conditions (P = 0.0363 and P = 0.0303, respectively). There was no difference in plasma ACE2 levels comparing patients with or without pre-existing lung disease, diabetes, or immunosuppressive conditions (P = 0.953, P = 0.291, and P = 0.237, respectively). The associations between high plasma levels of ACE2 and worse WHOmax category during 28 days were more pronounced in COVID-19 positive patients compared with COVID-19 negative patients but the difference was not significant in the two-way ANOVA analysis. Interpretation This study suggests that measuring ACE2 is potentially valuable in predicting COVID-19 outcomes. Further, ACE2 levels could be a link between severe COVID-19 disease and its risk factors, namely hypertension, pre-existing heart disease and pre-existing kidney disease. The design of the data analysis using the Olink platform does not allow assessment of quantitative differences. However, previous studies have described a positive correlation between plasma ACE2 and ACE1 activity. This is interesting because ACE1 (serum ACE) analysis is a standardized test in most hospital laboratories. Therefore, our study encourages quantitative investigations of both plasma ACE 1 and 2 in COVID-19. Key Points Question Can plasma levels of the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), predict outcome of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Findings In this study of 306 COVID-19 positive patients, high baseline levels of ACE2 in plasma from COVID-19 patients were associated with worse outcome measured by the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 outcomes scale. Meaning Measuring ACE2 is potentially valuable in predicting COVID-19 outcomes and link COVID-19 disease and the risk factors hypertension, pre-existing heart disease and pre-existing kidney disease.


Author(s):  
Olusegun O. Onabajo ◽  
A. Rouf Banday ◽  
Wusheng Yan ◽  
Adeola Obajemu ◽  
Megan L. Stanifer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for entry into target cells. ACE2 has been proposed as an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG). Thus, interferon-induced variability in ACE2 expression levels could be important for susceptibility to COVID-19 or its outcomes. Here, we report the discovery of a novel, primate-specific isoform of ACE2, which we designate as deltaACE2 (dACE2). We demonstrate that dACE2, but not ACE2, is an ISG. In vitro, dACE2, which lacks 356 N-terminal amino acids, was non-functional in binding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and as a carboxypeptidase. Our results reconcile current knowledge on ACE2 expression and suggest that the ISG-type induction of dACE2 in IFN-high conditions created by treatments, inflammatory tumor microenvironment, or viral co-infections is unlikely to affect the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and promote infection.


TH Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. e138-e144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Miesbach

AbstractThe activated renin–angiotensin system induces a prothrombotic state resulting from the imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis. Angiotensin II is the central effector molecule of the activated renin–angiotensin system and is degraded by the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 to angiotensin (1–7). The novel coronavirus infection (classified as COVID-19) is caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response that can lead to severe manifestations such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and death in a proportion of patients, mostly elderly patients with preexisting comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to enter the target cells, resulting in activation of the renin–angiotensin system. After downregulating the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II is increasingly produced and its counterregulating molecules angiotensin (1–7) reduced. Angiotensin II increases thrombin formation and impairs fibrinolysis. Elevated levels were strongly associated with viral load and lung injury in patients with severe COVID-19. Therefore, the complex clinical picture of patients with severe complications of COVID-19 is triggered by the various effects of highly expressed angiotensin II on vasculopathy, coagulopathy, and inflammation. Future treatment options should focus on blocking the thrombogenic and inflammatory properties of angiotensin II in COVID-19 patients.


Diagnosis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Vikse ◽  
Giuseppe Lippi ◽  
Brandon Michael Henry

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), shares similarities with the former SARS outbreak, which was caused by SARS-CoV-1. SARS was characterized by severe lung injury due to virus-induced cytopathic effects and dysregulated hyperinflammatory state. COVID-19 has a higher mortality rate in men both inside and outside China. In this opinion paper, we describe how sex-specific immunobiological factors and differences in angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression may explain the increased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in males. We highlight that immunomodulatory treatment must be tailored to the underlying immunobiology at different stages of disease. Moreover, by investigating sex-based immunobiological differences, we may enhance our understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology and facilitate improved immunomodulatory strategies.


Author(s):  
Milad Zandi ◽  
Saber Soltani ◽  
Mona Fani ◽  
Haniye Shafipour ◽  
Samaneh Abbasi

SARS-CoV-2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is responsible for the recent pandemic in the world. It has been recently recognized as a challenge for public health and a significant cause of severe illness in all age groups. Young children and older people are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, children usually present mild symptoms compared to adult patients. The relationship between age, severity, and COVID-19 transmission is compared to determine whether there is any reasonable relationship between age and COVID-19. It should be mentioned that some risk factors may increase the probability of developing severe COVID-19 by advancing age, such as pathophysiological changes in the respiratory system, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in the nasopharynx, and smoking. Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection is independent of age, but the mortality rate of COVID-19 depends on age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (7) ◽  
pp. 747-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhian M. Touyz ◽  
Hongliang Li ◽  
Christian Delles

Abstract Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the major enzyme responsible for conversion of Ang II into Ang-(1-7). It also acts as the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV)-2, which causes Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19. In recognition of the importance of ACE2 and to celebrate 20 years since its discovery, the journal will publish a focused issue on the basic science and (patho)physiological role of this multifunctional protein.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-175
Author(s):  
Rudi Saputra

Introduction: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is a new disease due to SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2) which can be transmitted through droplets. One effort to prevent transmission of COVID-19 is to use a mask. Medical masks are effective in preventing transmission of COVID-19, but their numbers are very limited and are very much needed by medical personnel when treating COVID-19 patients. Therefore, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 more broadly, alternative medical masks are needed, namely by using cloth masks which have not been discussed much about the purpose of their use to the public. Discussion: SARS-CoV-2 is a cause of COVID-19 and infects the respiratory tract, especially in the lungs (pulmo) through the ACE2 receptor (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2). SARS-CoV-2 has a diameter of around 120 nm. Cloth masks as an alternative to the scarcity of medical masks are recommended for public use. The recommended cloth masks are made of cotton or a cloth towel. A cloth mask is able to hold large droplets (> 5 μm), but not small droplets. Conclusion: Cloth masks can be used by the community in an effort to minimize transmission of COVID-19 by holding large droplets, but it is not effective in preventing transmission of COVID-19 because it can still be passed by SARS-CoV-2. Suggestion: Cloth masks can be optimized using nanoparticles to resist SARS-CoV-2.


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