Irish journal of medical science
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Observational Study
Association of androgenetic alopecia with a more severe form of COVID-19 infection.
Individual susceptibility to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome is related to age and most frequent comorbidities. So far, it is known that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily infects the type II pneumocytes in humans, with the help of transmembrane serine protease type 2 (TMPRSS2). Up to now, the only known transcriptional promoters of genes coding TMPRSS2 are androgenic. Theoretically, the elevated level of androgens or androgen receptors would lead to a higher expression of TMPRSS2 and a higher level of viremia as a consequence. ⋯ Our findings suggest that the Gabrin sign and hypertension are related to a poor COVID-19 prognosis.
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Older adults in acute hospitals are uniquely vulnerable to mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe two eighteen-week periods of specialised liaison psychiatry for older inpatients in a large teaching hospital, pre- and mid-pandemic. Service delivery went from almost completely via face-to-face consultation in the Routine period, to majority remote work in the Pandemic period. ⋯ In the Pandemic period, 197 patients were assessed and received 3.1 consultations on average (range 1-19). Patient age trended toward older in the Pandemic period, mean 77 years (SD 6.9) vs 78 years (SD 1.32) in the Routine period. There were more referrals for behavioural disturbance and confusion during the Pandemic period, and more diagnoses of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, Delirium and Adjustment Disorder during the Pandemic period vs the Routine period.
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WNK1 (WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1) is a kind of protein kinase and participates in angiogenesis, having a potent tumor promoting role. WNK1 is ubiquitously expressed, and its upregulated expression has been reported in several tumor types. ⋯ In all, WNK1 acts as a tumor promoter and may be used as a COAD prognostic biomarker.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that causes cartilage and bone damage as well as disability. AIMS : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise on cytokines such as serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and irisin, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and klotho in RA patients. METHODS: Forty RA patient and 40 healthy volunteers of the same age participated in this study. All participants walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes at 60-80% of maximal heart rate. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the exercise. Serum levels of IL-6, IL1β, TNF-α and irisin, VEGF and klotho were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis. RESULTS: Baseline levels of inflammatory cytokines, irisin, VEGF and klotho were found to be higher in RA patients compared to the control group. In both groups, there was an increase in serum klotho levels after exercise compared to baseline (p<0.05), while a decrease in IL1β, TNF-α levels were observed. While serum VEGF level decreased in RA group, it increased in the control group(p<0.05). Irisin levels decreased in both groups. IL-6 level did not change in the control group, while it increased in RA group. A single exercise session had an acute anti-inflammatory effect in RA patients. ⋯ It can be concluded that acute aerobic exercise can be beneficial for patients with RA through cytokine, irisin, klotho and VEGF levels, and also it can be safely implemented to the RA rehabilitation program for additional anti-inflammatory effects. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04439682.
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Data on lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are lacking. This study aimed to identify the incidence rate, timing, locations, risk factors, and nomogram of lower extremity DVT after acute CO poisoning. ⋯ Clinicians should be aware of and concerned with lower extremity DVT after acute CO poisoning, especially in patients with long coma duration and high D-dimer levels.