COVID-19 mortality as a fingerprint of biological age

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global emergency able to overwhelm the healthcare capacities worldwide and to affect the older generation especially. When addressing the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations of COVID-19, it becomes evident that the disease targets pathways and domains affected by the main aging- and frailty-related pathophysiological changes. A closer analysis of the existing data supports a possible role of biological age rather than chronological age in the prognosis of COVID-19. There is a need for systematic, consequent action of identifying frail (not only older, not only multimorbid, not only symptomatic) persons at risk of poor outcomes.     

Liver dysfunction as a cytokine storm manifestation and prognostic factor for severe COVID-19

Liver damage in severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 infection occurs in patients with or without preexisting liver disorders, posing a significant complication and mortality risk. During coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), abnormal liver function is typically observed. However, liver injury may occur because of the treatment as well. Ischemia, cytokine storm, and hypoxia were identified as the three major factors contributing to liver damage during COVID-19. Indeed, raised liver enzymes during hospitalizations may be attributed to medications used, as well as sepsis and shock. As a result, the proportion of hospitalized patients afflicted with COVID-19 and pathological liver biomarkers varies from 14% to 53%. Aminotransferases and bilirubin are found most often elevated. Usually, increased gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and decreased serum albumin levels are demonstrated. Additionally, although there is no specific treatment for COVID-19, many of the drugs used to treat the infection are hepatotoxic. In this mini-review, we focus on how liver dysfunction can be one of the features associated with the COVID-19 cytokine storm. Furthermore, data show that liver injury can be an independent predictor of severe COVID-19, the need for hospitalization, and death.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者的血浆同型半胱氨酸与左室几何构型的相关性临床研究

目的 探讨血浆同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征(OSAS)患者左室几何构型改变的影响。方法 选取经多导睡眠呼吸仪(PSG)监测呼吸暂停指数(AHI)≥5次/h确诊为OSAS的患者192例,次日晨行血压、血糖、血脂、血浆同型半胱氨酸水平测定及超声心动图检查,同时选取性别、年龄匹配,血糖、血脂、胸片、心电图和PSG等检查均正常的健康人30例作为对照组。依据左室质量指数(LVMI)和相对室壁厚度(RWT)将OSAS患者按左室几何构型分为四组：正常构型组(NG)、向心性重构组(CR)、向心性肥厚组(CH)、离心性肥厚组(EH)。比较对照组与OSAS四组血浆Hcy水平的差异,对血浆Hcy与其他参数进行单因素相关性分析,并进一步进行多因素逐步回归分析。 结果 ①与对照组相比,CR组、CH组、EH组血浆Hcy水平升高,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)；与NG、CR组相比,CH组、EH组血浆Hcy水平升高,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)；与EH组相比,CH组血浆Hcy水平升高,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)；②单因素相关性分析血浆Hcy与BMI、SBP、腹围、AHI、血糖、LVMI、异常左室几何构型呈正相关,与Em/Am、LVEF呈负相关,而与性别、年龄、DBP、颈围、臀围、T90、MSaO2、LSaO2、RWT无相关性 ；③多因素逐步线性回归进一步分析得出血浆Hcy与AHI、LVMI、异常左室几何构型独立相关。结论 OSAS不同左室几何构型患者的血浆Hcy表达水平不同,血浆Hcy水平是OSAS患者左室几何构型(CH、EH)改变的主要影响因素之一。     

Cerebrovascular events during pregnancy and puerperium

Though cerebrovascular complications of pregnancy remain relatively rare, they represent a potentially devastating event that necessitates prompt identification and treatment. Eighteen percent of strokes occurring in young women are linked to pregnancy. They occur mostly in the third trimester or during the post-partum period. Their biggest risk factors are hypertension, preeclampsia/eclampsia and migraine. Cerebrovascular events occurring during this period may involve specific pathophysiological processes that include embolic phenomena or endothelial dysfunction, but can also have common etiologies that are simply favored by the context of pregnancy. Thus, posterior encephalopathy and vasoconstriction cerebral syndrome are relatively frequently involved in cerebrovascular complications of pregnancy. Other very specific causes like amniotic fluid embolism or postpartum cardiomyopathy can also be responsible for such events. The management of stroke during pregnancy must be multidisciplinary and include a neurovascular expertise. Some conditions can lead to a long-life follow-up and modify the management of a future pregnancy.