Annals of medicine
-
Since SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) was first identified as the cause of Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) it has caused over 649,147,421 infections and over 6,730,382 deaths worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 presents higher infectivity than other coronaviridae (MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV). Pregnant patients, according to previous studies are at high risk of severe COVID-19 course and negative pregnancy outcomes (pre-term birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia, operative delivery and ICU admission with need for mechanical ventilation). ⋯ Knowledge of potential interplay between viral infection and physiological changes in pregnancy may point us in the direction of future prophylaxis and treatment in this special population.Key MessagesSARS-CoV-2 having affinity to ACE-2 and causing it's downregulation receptor may cause endothelial injury leading to compliment activation and formation of NETs, together with RAS dysregulation this may cause preeclampsia to develop in pregnant patients.PTB may occur in patients as an effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection in first or second trimester as an effect of TLR4 pathway dysregulation with lower levels of IFNβ.
-
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) derived from gut microbiota causes kidney-heart damage in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, it is controversial whether CKD patients with higher TMAO are associated with a higher risk of death. We aimed to assess the correlation between circulating TMAO concentration and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death in CKD patients of different dialysis statuses and different races by dose-response analyses, and the underlying mechanisms were also explored by analyzing the correlations of TMAO with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and inflammation. ⋯ Increased circulating TMAO concentrations increase the risk of all-cause mortality in non-dialysis and non-black dialysis CKD patients. Moreover, elevated TMAO levels raise the cardiovascular mortality risk in non-black dialysis patients.Key messagesNon-dialysis and non-black dialysis CKD patients with higher circulating TMAO concentrations are associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality.Non-black dialysis patients with higher concentrations of TMAO are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.Circulating TMAO concentrations have a strong negative correlation with GFR and a positive correlation with inflammation biomarkers in non-dialysis CKD patients.
-
Multicenter Study
Influenza vaccine hesitancy and influencing factors among university students in China: a multicenter cross-sectional survey.
Highly mutable and contagious influenza poses a serious health threat to university students and their close contacts. Although annual influenza vaccination is an effective way to prevent influenza, influenza vaccination rates among Chinese university students are still low due to vaccine hesitancy. This study investigated Chinese university students' hesitancy to receive influenza vaccine and its influencing factors during the COVID-19 pandemics based on WHO's vaccine hesitancy matrix. ⋯ Medical staff are suggested to provide health education, improve doctor-patient communication and recommend vaccinations to university students to increase their risk perception and willingness to get an influenza vaccination. Collective vaccination strategies can be implemented to reduce the vaccine hesitancy for students.
-
The R-spondin protein family comprises four members (RSPO1-4), which are agonists of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Emerging evidence revealed that RSPOs should not only be viewed as agonists of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway but also as regulators for tumor development and progression. Aberrant expression of RSPOs is related to tumorigenesis and tumor development in multiple cancers and their expression of RSPOs has also been correlated with anticancer immune cell signatures. ⋯ KEY MESSAGESAberrant expressions of RSPOs are detected in various human malignancies and are always correlated with oncogenesis. Although extensive studies of RSPOs have been conducted, their precise molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that RSPOs may play a part in the development of the immune composition of the tumor microenvironment.
-
Although vaccination with the Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine is important and effective in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the public expressed concerns regarding the adverse effects of vaccine on fertility. Some reviews have focused on it, they have been unable to collect sufficient research data because of the earlier publication period. ⋯ As to female without pregnancy, it is believed that vaccination will not affect fertility; however, more research is needed to explore the short-term impact. Vaccination during any trimester is considered safe in pregnant women.