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Premraj L, Weaver NA, Ahmad SA, White N, Whitman G, Arora R, Battaglini D, Fanning J, Dalton H, Suen J, Li Bassi G, Fraser JF, Robba C, Griffee M, Cho SM. Sex differences in the outcome of critically Ill patients with COVID-19 - An international multicenter critical care consortium study. Heart Lung 2024; 68:373-380. [PMID: 39260269 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2024.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex differences in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility, illness severity, and hospital course are widely acknowledged. The effects of sex on outcomes experienced by patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of sex on ICU mortality in patients with COVID-19 METHODS: This retrospective analysis of an international multi-center prospective observational database included adults admitted to ICU for treatment of acute COVID-19 between 1st January 2020 and 30th June 2022. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. Multivariable Cox regression was used to ascertain the hazard of death (Hazard Ratio=HR) adjusted for pre-selected covariates. The secondary outcome was sex differences in complications of COVID-19 during hospital stay. RESULTS Overall, 10,259 patients (3,314 females, 6,945 males) were included with a median age of 60 (interquartile range [IQR]=49-68) and 59 (IQR=49-67) years, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar between sexes. More females were non-smokers (65% vs. 44 %, p < 0.01) and obese (39% vs. 30 %, p < 0.01), compared to males. Also, males received greater ICU intervention (mechanical ventilation, prone ventilation, vasopressors, and tracheostomy) than females. Males had a greater hazard of death (compared to females, HR=1.14; 95 % CI=1.02-1.26). Adjustment for complications during hospital stay did not alter the hazard of death (HR=1.16; 95 % CI=1.05-1.28). Males had a significantly elevated hazard of death among patients who received ECMO (HR=1.24; 95 % CI=1.01-1.53). Male sex was associated with cardiac arrest (adjusted OR [aOR]=1.37; 95 % CI=1.16-1.62) and PE (aOR=1.28; 95 % CI=1.06-1.55). CONCLUSION Among patients admitted to ICU for severe COVID-19, males experienced higher severity of illness and more frequent intervention than females. Ultimately, the hazard of death was moderately elevated in males compared to females despite greater PE and cardiac arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavienraj Premraj
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Griffith University School of Medicine, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Natasha Anne Weaver
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Syed Ameen Ahmad
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicole White
- Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Glenn Whitman
- Neuroscience Critical Care Division, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rakesh Arora
- Cardiac Science Program, St Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; University of Manitoba, Canada; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Denise Battaglini
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Department of Surgical Science and Diagnostic Integrated, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Jonathon Fanning
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia; Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, UK; St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, UnitingCare, Australia
| | | | - Jacky Suen
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gianluigi Li Bassi
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health, Brisbane, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - John F Fraser
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Surgical Science and Diagnostic Integrated, University of Genoa, Italy; St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, UnitingCare, Australia
| | - Chiara Robba
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy; Department of Surgical Science and Diagnostic Integrated, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Matthew Griffee
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sung-Min Cho
- Neuroscience Critical Care Division, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Cocetta V, Zorzi M, Bejor S, Cesta MC, De Pizzol M, Theurillat JP, Allegretti M, Alimonti A, Montopoli M, Rugge M. Retrospective Analysis of the Effect of Postmenopausal Women Medications on SARS-CoV-2 Infection Progression. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:1107. [PMID: 39337891 PMCID: PMC11433321 DOI: 10.3390/life14091107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been evident that women and young people were less susceptible to severe infections compared to males. In a previous study, we observed a reduced prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in hormonal-driven breast cancer patients undergoing SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator) therapy with respect to other treatments inhibiting estrogen synthesis. In addition to being used in anticancer therapy, SERMs are also prescribed for postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Therefore, in this study, a retrospective analysis of the clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a population of women over 50 years who were treated for the management of menopausal symptoms was performed. SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalizations, and death rates were evaluated in women residing in the Italian north-eastern Veneto Region who were undergoing treatment with Estrogen Modulators (EMs); Estrogen or Progestin, and their combination (EPs); Bisphosphonates (BIs); or cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) ± calcium supplementation (CC). The final cohort study included 124,393 women, of whom 6412 were found to be SARS-CoV-2 infected (CoV2+ve). The results indicated that only women treated with vitamin D3 alone or in combination with calcium showed a significant reduction in their SARS-CoV-2 infection risk by 26% (OR 0.74; 95%CI 0.60-0.91). On the other hand, an increased risk of hospitalization (OR 2.69; 95%CI 1.77-4.07) was shown for the same treatments. The results highlighted in this work contribute to shedding some light on the widely debated role of vitamin D in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the disease's treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Cocetta
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Manuel Zorzi
- Veneto Tumour Registry, Azienda Zero, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Bejor
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Jean-Philippe Theurillat
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, 6500 Bellinzona & Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Andrea Alimonti
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, 6500 Bellinzona & Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- VIMM-Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monica Montopoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, 6500 Bellinzona & Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- VIMM-Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Massimo Rugge
- Veneto Tumour Registry, Azienda Zero, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
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Cuperlovic-Culf M, Bennett SA, Galipeau Y, McCluskie PS, Arnold C, Bagheri S, Cooper CL, Langlois MA, Fritz JH, Piccirillo CA, Crawley AM. Multivariate analyses and machine learning link sex and age with antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination. iScience 2024; 27:110484. [PMID: 39156648 PMCID: PMC11328020 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Prevention of negative COVID-19 infection outcomes is associated with the quality of antibody responses, whose variance by age and sex is poorly understood. Network approaches identified sex and age effects in antibody responses and neutralization potential of de novo infection and vaccination throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Neutralization values followed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific receptor binding immunoglobulin G (RIgG), spike immunoglobulin G (SIgG) and spike and receptor immunoglobulin G (S, and RIgA) levels based on COVID-19 status. Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody titers correlated with neutralization only in females 40-60 years old (y.o.). Network analysis found males could improve IgA responses after vaccination dose 2. Complex correlation analyses found vaccination induced less antibody isotype switching and neutralization in older persons, especially in females. Sex-dependent antibody and neutralization decayed the fastest in older males. Shown sex and age characterization can direct studies integrating cell-mediated responses to define yet elusive correlates of protection and inform age and sex precision-focused vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Cuperlovic-Culf
- Digital Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Steffany A.L. Bennett
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Yannick Galipeau
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Pauline S. McCluskie
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Corey Arnold
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Salman Bagheri
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation (CI3), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Curtis L. Cooper
- Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation (CI3), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Marc-André Langlois
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jörg H. Fritz
- Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC, Canada
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits (MRCCT), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ciriaco A. Piccirillo
- Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre of Excellence in Translational Immunology (CETI), Montréal, QC, Canada
- McGill University Research Centre on Complex Traits (MRCCT), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Angela M. Crawley
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Centre for Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation (CI3), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Harvey BJ, McElvaney NG. Sex differences in airway disease: estrogen and airway surface liquid dynamics. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:56. [PMID: 39026347 PMCID: PMC11264786 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00633-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological sex differences exist for many airway diseases in which females have either worse or better health outcomes. Inflammatory airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma display a clear male advantage in post-puberty while a female benefit is observed in asthma during the pre-puberty years. The influence of menstrual cycle stage and pregnancy on the frequency and severity of pulmonary exacerbations in CF and asthma point to a role for sex steroid hormones, particularly estrogen, in underpinning biological sex differences in these diseases. There are many ways by which estrogen may aggravate asthma and CF involving disturbances in airway surface liquid (ASL) dynamics, inappropriate hyper-immune and allergenic responses, as well as exacerbation of pathogen virulence. The deleterious effect of estrogen on pulmonary function in CF and asthma contrasts with the female advantage observed in airway diseases characterised by pulmonary edema such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19. Airway surface liquid hypersecretion and alveolar flooding are hallmarks of ARDS and COVID-19, and contribute to the morbidity and mortality of severe forms of these diseases. ASL dynamics encompasses the intrinsic features of the thin lining of fluid covering the airway epithelium which regulate mucociliary clearance (ciliary beat, ASL height, volume, pH, viscosity, mucins, and channel activating proteases) in addition to innate defence mechanisms (pathogen virulence, cytokines, defensins, specialised pro-resolution lipid mediators, and metabolism). Estrogen regulation of ASL dynamics contributing to biological sex differences in CF, asthma and COVID-19 is a major focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Harvey
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 126 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
- Department of Medicine, RCSI ERC, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Noel G McElvaney
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 126 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
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5
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Donald J, Bilasy SE, Yang C, El-Shamy A. Exploring the Complexities of Long COVID. Viruses 2024; 16:1060. [PMID: 39066223 PMCID: PMC11281588 DOI: 10.3390/v16071060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 2019, nearly 700 million COVID-19 cases and 7 million deaths have been reported globally. Despite most individuals recovering within four weeks, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 7.5% to 41% develop post-acute infection syndrome (PAIS), known as 'Long COVID'. This review provides current statistics on Long COVID's prevalence, explores hypotheses concerning epidemiological factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, initial COVID-19 severity, and vaccine interactions, and delves into potential mechanisms, including immune responses, viral persistence, and gut dysbiosis. Moreover, we conclude that women, advanced age, comorbidities, non-vaccination, and low socioeconomic status all appear to be risk factors. The reasons for these differences are still not fully understood and likely involve a complex relationship between social, genetic, hormonal, and other factors. Furthermore, individuals with Long COVID-19 seem more likely to endure economic hardship due to persistent symptoms. In summary, our findings further illustrate the multifaceted nature of Long COVID and underscore the importance of understanding the epidemiological factors and potential mechanisms needed to develop effective therapeutic strategies and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Donald
- College of Graduate Studies, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA; (J.D.); (C.Y.)
| | - Shymaa E. Bilasy
- College of Dental Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA;
| | - Catherine Yang
- College of Graduate Studies, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA; (J.D.); (C.Y.)
| | - Ahmed El-Shamy
- College of Graduate Studies, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA; (J.D.); (C.Y.)
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Zhu Y, Cao X, Ying R, Liu K, Chai Y, Luo M, Huang Q, Gao P, Zhang C. Mapping the vast landscape of multisystem complications of COVID-19: Bibliometric analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30760. [PMID: 38765136 PMCID: PMC11098853 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background With the rapid global spread of COVID-19, it has become evident that the virus can lead to multisystem complications, leading to a significant increase in related publications. Bibliometrics serves as a valuable tool for identifying highly cited literature and research hotspots within specific areas. Objective The aim of this study is to identify current research hotspots and future trends in COVID-19 complications. Methods The dataset was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection, covering COVID-19 complications from December 8, 2019, to October 31, 2022. Various aspects, including publication general information, authors, journals, co-cited authors, co-cited references, research hotspots, and future trends, were subjected to analysis. Visual analysis was conducted using VOSviewer, The Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology, and Charticulator. Results There were 4597 articles in the study. The top three countries with the most published articles are the USA (n = 1350, 29.4 %), China (n = 765, 16.6 %), and Italy (n = 623, 13.6 %). USA and China have the closest collaborative relationship. The institute with the largest number of publications is Huazhong University of Science and Technology, followed by Harvard Medical School. Nevertheless, half of the top 10 institutes belong to the USA. "Rezaei, Nima" published 13 articles and ranked first, followed by "Yaghi, Shadi" with 12 articles and "Frontera, Jennifer" with 12 articles. The journal with the largest number of publications is "Journal of Clinical Medicine". The top 3 co-cited authors are "Zhou, Fei", "Guan, Wei-Jie", "Huang, Chaolin". The top 3 co-cited references addressed COVID-19's clinical features in China and noticed that COVID-19 patients had a wide range of complications. We also list four research hotspots. Conclusions This study conducted a bibliometric visual analysis of the literature on COVID-19 complications and summarized the current research hotspots. This study may provide valuable insights into the complications of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiyu Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Rongtao Ying
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yilu Chai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Maocai Luo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingsong Huang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Peiyang Gao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuantao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Al-Bdairi AA, Makki HA, Shawki O, Alkhudair SH, Al-Hilli NM, Alkhalidi BA, Alkadhim HK, Shweliyya AA. The Multi-faceted Effects of COVID-19 on Female Reproductive Health: An Updated Narrative Review. Cureus 2024; 16:e57944. [PMID: 38738039 PMCID: PMC11082527 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Concerns about the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic's possible impact on sexual and reproductive health have grown significantly. In this narrative review, the latest research on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on several facets of sexual and reproductive health is reviewed. The review starts initially by going through the possible consequences of SARS-CoV-2 on female menstrual cycles. The virus may interfere with the menstrual cycle, which could affect hormone synthesis and endometrial reactions, according to newly available evidence. Menstrual blood loss may be impacted by COVID-19's potential to influence endothelial cell function and systemic hemostasis. Hypothalamic amenorrhea may be brought on by severe COVID-19 disease. There is little research on this subject, although most women resume their regular menstrual cycles after 1-2 months of recuperation. The review also examines how SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. There are few clinical data, although some research points to potential effects on embryo quality. Overall, ART results, however, did not materially change from the time before the epidemic. Obstetric problems are more likely when SARS-CoV-2 infection occurs during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. Even though the maternal death rate is still low, pregnant women, especially those with comorbidities, are more likely to experience serious sickness. The review emphasizes how the COVID-19 vaccine affects menstrual cycles, showing brief, modest modifications without serious health hazards. Also included are the psychological effects of family planning choices during the pandemic. In conclusion, this narrative review offers a thorough assessment of the complicated and changing effects of SARS-CoV-2 on sexual and reproductive health. The different requirements of people and couples during and after the pandemic are highlighted, underscoring the necessity for ongoing study and specialized healthcare practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan A Al-Bdairi
- Infertility, Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Teba IVF and Genetic Center, Babylon, IRQ
| | - Hayder A Makki
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Babylon, Babylon, IRQ
| | - Osama Shawki
- Gynecology Surgery, School of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, EGY
| | - Sallama H Alkhudair
- Fertility, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Alzaitoon Specialized Fertility Center, Baghdad, IRQ
| | - Nadia M Al-Hilli
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Babylon, IRQ
| | - Batool A Alkhalidi
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Najaf, IRQ
| | - Hanan K Alkadhim
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iraqi Fertility Society, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Babylon, IRQ
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Hasenmajer V. Only as strong as the weakest link: Adrenal insufficiency in the COVID-19 storm. J Intern Med 2024; 295:278-280. [PMID: 38160325 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Hasenmajer
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Gebhard CE, Sütsch C, Gebert P, Gysi B, Bengs S, Todorov A, Deforth M, Buehler PK, Meisel A, Schuepbach RA, Zinkernagel AS, Brugger SD, Acevedo C, Patriki D, Wiggli B, Beer JH, Friedl A, Twerenbold R, Kuster GM, Pargger H, Tschudin-Sutter S, Schefold JC, Spinetti T, Henze C, Pasqualini M, Sager DF, Mayrhofer L, Grieder M, Tontsch J, Franzeck FC, Wendel Garcia PD, Hofmaenner DA, Scheier T, Bartussek J, Haider A, Grämer M, Mikail N, Rossi A, Zellweger N, Opić P, Portmann A, von Känel R, Pazhenkottil AP, Messerli M, Buechel RR, Kaufmann PA, Treyer V, Siegemund M, Held U, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Gebhard C. Impact of sex and gender on post-COVID-19 syndrome, Switzerland, 2020. Euro Surveill 2024; 29:2300200. [PMID: 38214079 PMCID: PMC10785203 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2024.29.2.2300200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BackgroundWomen are overrepresented among individuals with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). Biological (sex) as well as sociocultural (gender) differences between women and men might account for this imbalance, yet their impact on PASC is unknown.AimWe assessed the impact of sex and gender on PASC in a Swiss population.MethodOur multicentre prospective cohort study included 2,856 (46% women, mean age 44.2 ± 16.8 years) outpatients and hospitalised patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsAmong those who remained outpatients during their first infection, women reported persisting symptoms more often than men (40.5% vs 25.5% of men; p < 0.001). This sex difference was absent in hospitalised patients. In a crude analysis, both female biological sex (RR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.41-1.79; p < 0.001) and a score summarising gendered sociocultural variables (RR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03-1.07; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with PASC. Following multivariable adjustment, biological female sex (RR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.74-1.25; p = 0.763) was outperformed by feminine gender-related factors such as a higher stress level (RR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06; p = 0.003), lower education (RR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.03-1.30; p = 0.011), being female and living alone (RR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.29-2.83; p = 0.001) or being male and earning the highest income in the household (RR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60-0.97; p = 0.030).ConclusionSpecific sociocultural parameters that differ in prevalence between women and men, or imply a unique risk for women, are predictors of PASC and may explain, at least in part, the higher incidence of PASC in women. Once patients are hospitalised during acute infection, sex differences in PASC are no longer evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E Gebhard
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Claudia Sütsch
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- These authors contributed equally
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Pimrapat Gebert
- Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bianca Gysi
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Susan Bengs
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Atanas Todorov
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Manja Deforth
- Department of Biostatistics at Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp K Buehler
- Institute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Meisel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Reto A Schuepbach
- Institute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annelies S Zinkernagel
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvio D Brugger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Acevedo
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dimitri Patriki
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benedikt Wiggli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of Baden, Baden, Switzerland
| | - Jürg H Beer
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of Baden, Baden, Switzerland
| | - Andrée Friedl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of Baden, Baden, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Twerenbold
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology and University Center of Cardiovascular Science, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela M Kuster
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans Pargger
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Tschudin-Sutter
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joerg C Schefold
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thibaud Spinetti
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Henze
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Mina Pasqualini
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Dominik F Sager
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Lilian Mayrhofer
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mirjam Grieder
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Janna Tontsch
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabian C Franzeck
- Department of Informatics, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pedro D Wendel Garcia
- Institute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel A Hofmaenner
- Institute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Scheier
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Bartussek
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Muriel Grämer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Nidaa Mikail
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Alexia Rossi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Núria Zellweger
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Petra Opić
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Angela Portmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Roland von Känel
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aju P Pazhenkottil
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Messerli
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ronny R Buechel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp A Kaufmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Valerie Treyer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Siegemund
- Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Held
- Department of Biostatistics at Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vera Regitz-Zagrosek
- Institute of Gender in Medicine (GiM), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catherine Gebhard
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
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10
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Sinaga JP, Sinaga BYM, Siagian P, Eyanoer PC, Unata IM. Factors associated with the quality of life and persistent dyspnea severity in COVID-19 survivors: A cross-sectional study among healthcare workers. NARRA J 2023; 3:e419. [PMID: 38455626 PMCID: PMC10919434 DOI: 10.52225/narra.v3i3.419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on global health. The alterations in quality of life (QoL) and the persistent symptoms of dyspnea have been the healthcare workers' challenges during and after the pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with the QoL and persistent dyspnea experienced by COVID-19 survivors, particularly among healthcare workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers at H. Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia, using direct interviews to collect the data. The EuroQol 5-dimensional 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) and the self-assessment EuroQol-visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) were employed to assess the QoL of the healthcare workers; and persistent dyspnea was evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. Several possible risk factors such as demographic characteristics (gender and age), clinical characteristics (comorbidities, history of hospitalization, oxygen usage, history of COVID-19 vaccination, the severity of previous COVID-19, existence of post-COVID syndrome) and the symptoms of the post-COVID syndrome were collected. Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test was used to identify the risk factors associated with the QoL and persistent dyspnea. A total of 100 healthcare workers were included in the study. The EQ-5D-5L assessment found that 2% of healthcare workers experienced pain/discomfort and 4% experienced anxiety/depression. The average healthcare worker's EQ-VAS score was 87.6±8.1. There was no significant association between studied demographics and clinical characteristics with QoL dimensions. However, post-COVID symptoms of activity limitation (p=0.004), sore throat (p=0.026), headache (p=0.012), myalgia (p=0.006), and arthralgia (p=0.001) were associated with pain/discomfort dimension of QoL. In addition, there was a significant association between activity limitation (p=0.012), headache (p=0.020), myalgia (p=0.015) and arthralgia (p=0.032) with anxiety/depression dimension of QoL. Our data suggested that the presence of post-COVID syndrome (p=0.006) and the presence of post-COVID syndrome symptoms of cough (p=0.021) and fatigue (p=0.015) were associated with persistent dyspnea. In conclusion, this study suggests that the presence of post-COVID syndrome and its symptoms are associated with low quality of health-related QoL and persistent dyspnea. Therefore, cautions are needed for such patients to prevent low QoL in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P. Sinaga
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, H. Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Bintang YM. Sinaga
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, H. Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Parluhutan Siagian
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
- Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, H. Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Putri C. Eyanoer
- Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Iduh M. Unata
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medical laboratory science/College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
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11
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Gomez-Romero N, Basurto-Alcantara FJ, Velazquez-Salinas L. Assessing the Potential Role of Cats ( Felis catus) as Generators of Relevant SARS-CoV-2 Lineages during the Pandemic. Pathogens 2023; 12:1361. [PMID: 38003825 PMCID: PMC10675002 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Several questions regarding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly elucidated. One of these questions is the possible evolutionary impact of SARS-CoV-2 after the infection in domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential role of cats as generators of relevant SARS-CoV-2 lineages during the pandemic. A total of 105 full-length genome viral sequences obtained from naturally infected cats during the pandemic were evaluated by distinct evolutionary algorithms. Analyses were enhanced, including a set of highly related SARS-CoV-2 sequences recovered from human populations. Our results showed the apparent high susceptibility of cats to the infection SARS-CoV-2 compared with other animal species. Evolutionary analyses indicated that the phylogenomic characteristics displayed by cat populations were influenced by the dominance of specific SARS-CoV-2 genetic groups affecting human populations. However, disparate dN/dS rates at some genes between populations recovered from cats and humans suggested that infection in these two species may suggest a different evolutionary constraint for SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the branch selection analysis showed evidence of the potential role of natural selection in the emergence of five distinct cat lineages during the pandemic. Although these lineages were apparently irrelevant to public health during the pandemic, our results suggested that additional studies are needed to understand the role of other animal species in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ninnet Gomez-Romero
- Comisión México-Estados Unidos para la Prevención de Fiebre Aftosa y Otras Enfermedades Exóticas de los Animales, Carretera Mexico-Toluca Km 15.5 Piso 4 Col. Palo Alto, Cuajimalpa de Morelos, Mexico City 05110, Mexico;
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad No. 3000 Col Copilco Universidad, Mexico City 14510, Mexico;
| | - Francisco Javier Basurto-Alcantara
- Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad No. 3000 Col Copilco Universidad, Mexico City 14510, Mexico;
| | - Lauro Velazquez-Salinas
- Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Greenport, NY 11944, USA
- National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
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12
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Huang T, Jiang N, Song Y, Pan H, Du A, Yu B, Li X, He J, Yuan K, Wang Z. Bioinformatics and system biology approach to identify the influences of SARS-CoV-2 on metabolic unhealthy obese patients. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1274463. [PMID: 37877121 PMCID: PMC10591333 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1274463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) has posed a significant challenge to individuals' health. Increasing evidence shows that patients with metabolic unhealthy obesity (MUO) and COVID-19 have severer complications and higher mortality rate. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between MUO and COVID-19 are poorly understood. Methods: We sought to reveal the relationship between MUO and COVID-19 using bioinformatics and systems biology analysis approaches. Here, two datasets (GSE196822 and GSE152991) were employed to extract differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to identify common hub genes, shared pathways, transcriptional regulatory networks, gene-disease relationship and candidate drugs. Results: Based on the identified 65 common DEGs, the complement-related pathways and neutrophil degranulation-related functions are found to be mainly affected. The hub genes, which included SPI1, CD163, C1QB, SIGLEC1, C1QA, ITGAM, CD14, FCGR1A, VSIG4 and C1QC, were identified. From the interaction network analysis, 65 transcription factors (TFs) were found to be the regulatory signals. Some infections, inflammation and liver diseases were found to be most coordinated with the hub genes. Importantly, Paricalcitol, 3,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl, PD 98059, Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Dexamethasone and Tretinoin HL60 UP have shown possibility as therapeutic agents against COVID-19 and MUO. Conclusion: This study provides new clues and references to treat both COVID-19 and MUO.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kefei Yuan
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Division of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Laboratory of Liver Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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13
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Merdji H, Long MT, Ostermann M, Herridge M, Myatra SN, De Rosa S, Metaxa V, Kotfis K, Robba C, De Jong A, Helms J, Gebhard CE. Sex and gender differences in intensive care medicine. Intensive Care Med 2023; 49:1155-1167. [PMID: 37676504 PMCID: PMC10556182 DOI: 10.1007/s00134-023-07194-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite significant advancements in critical care medicine, limited attention has been given to sex and gender disparities in management and outcomes of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). While "sex" pertains to biological and physiological characteristics, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes and sex hormones, "gender" refers more to sociocultural roles and human behavior. Unfortunately, data on gender-related topics in the ICU are lacking. Consequently, data on sex and gender-related differences in admission to the ICU, clinical course, length of stay, mortality, and post-ICU burdens, are often inconsistent. Moreover, when examining specific diagnoses in the ICU, variations can be observed in epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, severity, and treatment response due to the distinct impact of sex hormones on the immune and cardiovascular systems. In this narrative review, we highlight the influence of sex and gender on the clinical course, management, and outcomes of the most encountered intensive care conditions, in addition to the potential co-existence of unconscious biases which may also impact critical illness. Diagnoses with a known sex predilection will be discussed within the context of underlying sex differences in physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology with the goal of identifying areas where clinical improvement is needed. To optimize patient care and outcomes, it is crucial to comprehend and address sex and gender differences in the ICU setting and personalize management accordingly to ensure equitable, patient-centered care. Future research should focus on elucidating the underlying mechanisms driving sex and gender disparities, as well as exploring targeted interventions to mitigate these disparities and improve outcomes for all critically ill patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Merdji
- Intensive Care Unit, Department of Acute Medicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Micah T Long
- Departments of Anaesthesiology and Medicine, Division of Critical Care, University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, Madison, USA
| | - Marlies Ostermann
- Department of Critical Care, King's College London, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
| | - Margaret Herridge
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila N Myatra
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Silvia De Rosa
- Centre for Medical Sciences - CISMed, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Victoria Metaxa
- Department of Critical Care, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Katarzyna Kotfis
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Therapy and Acute Intoxications, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Chiara Robba
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Integrate e Diagnostiche, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
- Anestesia e Rianimazione, IRCCS Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Audrey De Jong
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Regional University Hospital of Montpellier, St-Eloi Hospital, University of Montpellier, PhyMedExp, INSERM U1046, CNRS UMR, 9214, Montpellier, CEDEX 5, France
| | - Julie Helms
- Faculté de Médecine, Service de Médecine Intensive-Réanimation, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)Hôpitaux Universitaires de StrasbourgNouvel Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France
- INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), UMR 1260, Regenerative Nanomedicine (RNM), FMTS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Caroline E Gebhard
- Intensive Care Unit, Department of Acute Medicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
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14
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Beetler DJ, Fairweather D. Sex differences in coronavirus disease 2019 myocarditis. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 35:100704. [PMID: 37662585 PMCID: PMC10470486 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Myocarditis is frequently caused by viral infections, but animal models that closely resemble human disease suggest that virus-triggered autoimmune disease is the most likely cause of myocarditis. Myocarditis is a rare condition that occurs primarily in men under age 50. The incidence of myocarditis rose at least 15x during the COVID-19 pandemic from 1-10 to 150-400 cases/100,000 individuals, with most cases occurring in men under age 50. COVID-19 vaccination was also associated with rare cases of myocarditis primarily in young men under 50 years of age with an incidence as high as 50 cases/100,000 individuals reported for some mRNA vaccines. Sex differences in the immune response to COVID-19 are virtually identical to the mechanisms known to drive sex differences in myocarditis pre-COVID based on clinical studies and animal models. The many similarities between COVID-19 vaccine-associated myocarditis to COVID-19 myocarditis and non-COVID myocarditis suggest common immune mechanisms drive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J. Beetler
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - DeLisa Fairweather
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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15
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Bous M, Schmitt C, Hans MC, Weber R, Nourkami-Tutdibi N, Tenbruck S, Haj Hamoud B, Wagenpfeil G, Kaiser E, Solomayer EF, Zemlin M, Goedicke-Fritz S. Sex Differences in the Frequencies of B and T Cell Subpopulations of Human Cord Blood. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11511. [PMID: 37511278 PMCID: PMC10380850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cord blood represents a link between intrauterine and early extrauterine development. Cord blood cells map an important time frame in human immune imprinting processes. It is unknown whether the sex of the newborn affects the lymphocyte subpopulations in the cord blood. Nine B and twenty-one T cell subpopulations were characterized using flow cytometry in human cord blood from sixteen male and twenty-one female newborns, respectively. Except for transitional B cells and naïve B cells, frequencies of B cell counts across all subsets was higher in the cord blood of male newborns than in female newborns. The frequency of naïve thymus-negative Th cells was significantly higher in male cord blood, whereas the remaining T cell subpopulations showed a higher count in the cord blood of female newborns. Our study is the first revealing sex differences in the B and T cell subpopulations of human cord blood. These results indicate that sex might have a higher impact for the developing immune system, urging the need to expand research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bous
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Charline Schmitt
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Muriel Charlotte Hans
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Regine Weber
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Nasenien Nourkami-Tutdibi
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Tenbruck
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Bashar Haj Hamoud
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Gudrun Wagenpfeil
- Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics (IMBEI), Saarland University, Campus Homburg, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kaiser
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Erich-Franz Solomayer
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Michael Zemlin
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Sybelle Goedicke-Fritz
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
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16
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Abstract
The current epidemic of corona virus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in an immense health burden that became the third leading cause of death and potentially contributed to a decline in life expectancy in the United States. The severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 binds to the surface-bound peptidase angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2, EC 3.4.17.23) leading to tissue infection and viral replication. ACE2 is an important enzymatic component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) expressed in the lung and other organs. The peptidase regulates the levels of the peptide hormones Ang II and Ang-(1-7), which have distinct and opposing actions to one another, as well as other cardiovascular peptides. A potential consequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 infection is reduced ACE2 activity by internalization of the viral-ACE2 complex and subsequent activation of the RAS (higher ratio of Ang II:Ang-[1-7]) that may exacerbate the acute inflammatory events in COVID-19 patients and possibly contribute to the effects of long COVID-19. Moreover, COVID-19 patients present with an array of autoantibodies to various components of the RAS including the peptide Ang II, the enzyme ACE2, and the AT1 AT2 and Mas receptors. Greater disease severity is also evident in male COVID-19 patients, which may reflect underlying sex differences in the regulation of the 2 distinct functional arms of the RAS. The current review provides a critical evaluation of the evidence for an activated RAS in COVID-19 subjects and whether this system contributes to the greater severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 infection in males as compared with females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C. Chappell
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
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17
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Miller RAJ, Williams AP, Kovats S. Sex chromosome complement and sex steroid signaling underlie sex differences in immunity to respiratory virus infection. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1150282. [PMID: 37063266 PMCID: PMC10097973 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1150282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have revealed sex differences in the incidence and morbidity of respiratory virus infection in the human population, and often these observations are correlated with sex differences in the quality or magnitude of the immune response. Sex differences in immunity and morbidity also are observed in animal models of respiratory virus infection, suggesting differential dominance of specific immune mechanisms. Emerging research shows intrinsic sex differences in immune cell transcriptomes, epigenomes, and proteomes that may regulate human immunity when challenged by viral infection. Here, we highlight recent research into the role(s) of sex steroids and X chromosome complement in immune cells and describe how these findings provide insight into immunity during respiratory virus infection. We focus on the regulation of innate and adaptive immune cells by receptors for androgen and estrogens, as well as genes with a propensity to escape X chromosome inactivation. A deeper mechanistic knowledge of these pathways will help us to understand the often significant sex differences in immunity to endemic or pandemic respiratory pathogens such as influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses and pathogenic coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reegan A. J. Miller
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Abigael P. Williams
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Susan Kovats
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
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