The American journal of medicine
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Persistence of COVID-19 symptoms may follow severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. The incidence of long COVID increases with the severity of acute disease, but even mild disease can be associated with sequelae. ⋯ Elevated levels of complement are present in acute COVID-19 patients and may persist at lower levels in long COVID. Evidence supports complement activation, with endotheliopathy-associated disease as the molecular mechanism causing both acute and long COVID.
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In the academic professions, publications are essential for high-stakes decisions about employment, recognition, and promotion. Therefore, impartial frameworks are needed for evaluating the rigor of scholarly physicians' bibliographies. ⋯ Key threats to the fair assessment of physicians' bibliographies include disparities regarding underrepresentation and professional opportunities, not recognizing the successes of disadvantaged authors, and exploiting publications to gain favor and abuse positions of power. Unbiased criteria for evaluating bibliographies mitigate these threats to fair assessment.
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An increased understanding of the predisposing genetics and complex pathogenic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease have facilitated delineation of the long preclinical course and re-invigorated the search for disease-modifying treatments. Establishment of accurate blood-based biomarkers has enabled preclinical identification of early disease and permits trials of preventative treatment and quantitative monitoring of therapeutic effects. The broad range of therapeutic possibilities encompasses gene editing, enzyme activators and inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides, and antagonists of receptors for inflammatory mediators.
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Persistent multi-organ symptoms after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been termed "long COVID" or "post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection." The complexity of these clinical manifestations posed challenges early in the pandemic as different ambulatory models formed out of necessity to manage the influx of patients. Little is known about the characteristics and outcomes of patients seeking care at multidisciplinary post-COVID centers. ⋯ The experience at our multidisciplinary comprehensive COVID-19 center shows common utilization of multiple specialists by long COVID patients, who harbor frequent neurologic, pulmonary, and cardiologic abnormalities. Differences in post-hospitalization and non-hospitalized groups suggest distinct pathogenic mechanisms of long COVID in these populations.