[Potential impact of human genetic variations in COVID-19 infection ]
VÁRNAI Réka1, SZENTPÉTERI L. József2, SIPEKY Csilla3
JUNE 07, 2021
Lege Artis Medicinae - 2021;31(05-06)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33616/lam.31.016
Journal Article
VÁRNAI Réka1, SZENTPÉTERI L. József2, SIPEKY Csilla3
JUNE 07, 2021
Lege Artis Medicinae - 2021;31(05-06)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33616/lam.31.016
Journal Article
[The aim of COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative (HGI) research collaboration is to identify human genetic variation that influences responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and its subsequent disease, COVID-19. In the COVID-19 HGI consortium more than 1000 scientists share their own data. The authors of this study participate in the Hungarian communication of the published results at the request of COVID-19 HGI.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a very common comorbidity of hypertension and it is often unrecognised by physicians. The factors involved in the pathomechanism of both diseases should be realised when choosing treatment. Among factors, hypoxia, increased tone of sympathetic nervous system and activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system should primarily be considered. Vascular wall damage and endothelial dysfunction has an important role in both conditions. The goals of treatment are elimination of risk factors, optimizing the blood pressure, the consequential prevention of cardio-cerebrovascular, renal and pulmonary damage; finally prolonging the patients’ life and improving their quality of life as well. Both hypertension and COPD significantly worsen the condition of COVID-19 patients since they increase the severity of the disease and the rate of in-patients’ and their mortality. In the treatment of hypertension among COPD and COVID-19 patients there must be emphasized the medication inhibiting of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-II AT1 receptor antagonists. Special attention concerned the beneficial effect of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone. Other antihypertensive drugs (calcium channel blockers, thiazide-like diuretics, high selectivity β1 receptor antagonists) may supplement the treatment if necessary. Long-acting β2 receptor agonists, muscarinic receptor antagonists and inhalation corticosteroids may be administered in double or triple combination also in hypertension and COPD as well. It is important to note, that statin therapy and also vitamin D3 improve the condition of COVID-19 patients.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[Parkinson’s disease is the elderly people’s condition which increases the risk of infections in the upper airways in its advanced stages. Specific diseases (as hypertension, diabetes mellitus), older age and the male sex are significantly worsening the course of COVID-19. It would be challenging to examine parallel these diseases, since they are raising two important questions. First, if Parkinson’s disease be a risk factor of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Secondly, how the COVID-19 pandemic can influence the Parkinson’s disease patients. The authors are seeking answers to these questions based on the published results in the topic concerned.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[We aim to review the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on epilepsy and epilepsy-care. While the virus has no specific link with epilepsy, it may affect the nervous system both directly and indirectly, leading to seizures in several ways. The hyper-coagulable state occurring with the infection may cause strokes leading to seizures. The infection may first manifest in the form of disturbances of consciousness and behaviour, seizures, and even status epilepticus. The interactions of antiviral/antiepileptic drugs need to be taken into account during treatment. The hypercoagulable state induced by COVID-2 infection may cause stroke, which leads to seizures. The infection can occur also as an impaired consciousness of non-epileptic origin. Interactions of antiviral/antiepileptic drugs have also to be taken into account. The pandemic itself as well as quarantines and social distancing may cause anxiety and insomnia, challenge continuous antiepileptic supply; each one carrying the risk of seizing. Young epilepsy patients with learning disabilities and mental health issues are most vulnerable, justifying their hyper-protection. The danger of infection has highlighted the role of telemedicine. Internet-based video communication may ensure full care for chronic patients. Those methods favour bested patients with higher education. Epilepsy does not increase directly the risk of infection, but its comorbidities may worsen the course of the disease. Brain lesions and hypoxia, stress, insomnia and fever joining the infection increase seizure susceptibility. Because the danger of infection made telemedicine an essential tool of patient care, education and better computer supply for those in need is crucial. ]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[The course of COVID-19 has several stages according to the elapsed time and severity. Cytokine storm-induced multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS) and consequent multiorgan failure occur in severe and critical phases. From a pathological point of view, there is important the co-presenting of inflammation (endothelitis) and microthrombotic events. Beyond respiratory failure, they may harm the cardiovascular and nervous system, the liver and the kidneys. COVID-19 may be associated also with production of autoantibodies and development of autoimmune diseases. Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome can be attenuated by corticosteroids, anti-cytokine antibodies and JAK inhibitors (“repurposing”). Most IL-6 inhibitors, and baricitinib proved to be effective in several studies, when applied in appropriate stage by MIS identification.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[Coronavirus infection has a multiple impact on the coagulation system and anticoagulant therapies. Patients admitted with COVID-19 have unusually high incidence of coagulation abnormalities. The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) seems also to be more frequent among COVID-19 out- and especially in-patients. Among COVID-19 patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy, for minimizing the risk of bleeding or thromboembolic complications there should also be considered the renal and hepatic functions and drug-drug interactions of oral anticoagulant and COVID-19 therapy. In case of direct anticoagulants, in addition to the benefits of better safety, more favorable treatment adherence, and fixed dosing, the use of this class of drugs does not require laboratory monitoring of efficacy, which may be of explicit benefit in terms of social distancing and health network burdens. This study reviews the possible interactions of drugs used for viral infection and anticoagulation, and in addition to the issues of coagulopathy associated with COVID-19, we discuss also the concerning difficulties of continued anticoagulant therapy related to the social distancing measures.]
Lege Artis Medicinae
[The rapidly spreading SARS-CoV2 respiratory virus has evoked an epidemic with serious aftermath around the world. In addition to the health effects, the global economic damage is actually unpredictable. At the same time, the pandemic has launched a series of unprecedented collaborative scientific research, including the development of vaccines. This study summarizes up-to-date information on vaccines, immune memory, and some emerging clinical effects.]
Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[The present study aimed to assess the level of burn-out among health-care workers in 2020 and its correlations with socio-demographic and workplace related factors. The cross-sectional study was conducted by the means of a self-constructed online survey in the beginning of 2021. The responses of 1965 people were analysed with the help of SPSS 23.0. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis probes were run (p<0.05). Severe burnout was present in 46.7% of the responders. Age, marital status, type of health-care provided and years spent in the health-care system didn’t show any correlation with burnout. Unsure vision, opinion about salary raise and uncertainty at the workplace influenced the level of burnout significantly (p<0.000). The mental health of health-care workers is in continuous decline, in which the COVID-19 pandemic might play a big role. People with worse mental health feel more uncertain regarding their future and job; this might make providing health-care more and more difficult.]
Clinical Neuroscience
Vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been rapidly developed to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. There is increasing safety concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccines. We report a 78-year old woman who was presented with tetraparesis, paresthesias of bilateral upper extremities, and urinary retention of one-day duration. Three weeks before these symptoms, she was vaccinated with CoronaVAC vaccine (Sinovac Life Sciences, China). Spine magnetic resonance imaging showed longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (TM) from the C1 to the T3 spinal cord segment. An extensive diagnostic workup was performed to exclude other possible causes of TM. We suggest that longitudinally extensive TM may be associated with COVID-19 vaccination in this case. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of longitudinally extensive TM developing after CoronaVac vaccination. Clinicians should be aware of neurological symptoms after vaccination of COVID-19.
Clinical Neuroscience
The current study aimed to examine the effect of sniffing Turkish coffee on the sense of smell in COVID-19 patients. This study utilized the experiment-control method. Data were collected using a patient and disease information form and the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) Test. An experimental group of patients sniffed Turkish coffee, and the coffee’s effect on the patients’ sense of smell was examined. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 (IBM). Of the patients in the experimental group, 25% had moderate hyposmia, 58.3% had severe hyposmia, and 16.7% had anosmia prior to sniffing Turkish coffee. After sniffing the Turkish coffee, 13.3% of these patients regained their ability to smell normally, while 18.3% had mild hyposmia, 45% had moderate hyposmia, 6.7% had severe hyposmia, and 16.7% had anosmia. There was no difference in the control group between first and second measurement. COVID-19 patients who sniffed Turkish coffee intermittently regained some of their sense of smell for one hour. Turkish coffee is cheap, fragrant, widely available, and easy to access. Therefore, results of this study suggest that it may be recommended for treating olfactory disorder in COVID-19 patients.
Clinical Neuroscience
This study was conducted to examine the effect of starting a meal with salt and date palm on the sense of taste in COVID-19 patients. This study was conducted using a randomized controlled method. Patient and disease information forms and Visual Analog Scale were used for data collection. Salt and date palm were used to stimulate the sense of taste in two different experimental groups. No procedure was made in the control group except for the practice of the clinic. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The mean ages of all groups were between 43.42 ± 8.60 and 47.22 ± 12.04 years. Fever, sore throat, dry mouth, cough, muscle weakness, and similar symptoms were present in all groups. Significant improvements were found in patients with hypoageusia and ageusia after date palm and salt application (p<0.01). For taste impairment caused by COVID-19, consumption of date palm and tasting very little salt for therapeutic purposes may help to alleviate taste impairment. Based on the data obtained from this study, the pathophysiology of the effects of date palm and salt on taste complications should be investigated.
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Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[Correlations Between Burnout and Socio-demographic and Workplace Related Factors Among Health-care Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemics]1.
Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[Burnout and depression among healthcare nursing staff]2.
Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[Evaluation of clinical practices among academic nursing students]3.
Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[Identifying osteoporosis in a primary care setting with quantitative ultrasound]4.
Journal of Nursing Theory and Practice
[The Effect of Asthma Bronchiale on Everyday life Activities Among Adolescents]5.
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