Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Fluid Flow Modeling in the Llanos Basin, Colombia

International audienc

The distribution of thermogenic, bacterial and inorganic fluid sourcesin the petroleum systems of the Llanos Basin (Colombia) e Insightsfrom the noble gases and carbon stable isotopes

International audienceThe Colombian Andean foreland is a rich petroleum province, where various source rocks and an activecirculation of fresh water are present in the subsurface, resulting in a complex fluid mixture within thereservoirs. Moreover, some of the traps are shallow, and low API gravity oils are found. Massive meteoricwater infiltration and local biodegradation have been proposed to explain these observations, but requiresome in-depth investigation to be confirmed. In order to provide some new insights into the Llanos Basinpetroleum system, we performed a natural gas geochemical survey over different areas of the basin,including stable isotopes of hydrocarbon, non-hydrocarbon and noble gases. Results show that the influenceof meteoric water infiltration is dominant in the shallow area eastward, but decreases towardsthe deepest part of the basin westward. A general gas/oil phase separation differentiates gas-depletedbiodegraded, shallow reservoirs from deep gas-rich less-altered reservoirs. Data suggest that there is ashallow biodegradation associated with meteoric water circulation in the Carbonera Fm, while some ofthe deeper heavy oils (Mirador, Une fms) were more likely produced by an early mature source rock.However, biodegraded oil later mixed with less altered oil and associated gas are plausible. This studyalso indicates a contribution of mantle fluids in the deepest parts of the basin near the contact with theGuaycaramo Fault System. There, older rift sequences may have recorded mantle fluid fluxes, or alternatelythe presence of diffuse mantle fluxing along the deep-rooted thrust front during the formation ofthe Llanos Basin

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Associated with Salmonella typhi Infection in a Child: A Case Report with Review of Literature

We present the case of an 8-year-old girl with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to a Salmonella typhi infection. She received antibiotic treatment and intravenous immunoglobulin with complete resolution of the symptoms. We present a review of previously reported pediatric cases and propose a gradual approach to treatment