PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C IN DONORS FROM THE ALAGOAS BLOOD CENTER

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/223658345918 In this article, we sought to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) as well as some socio-demographic characteristics of HCV-positive blood donors of the center of Alagoas. The medical records of donors from a blood center in Alagoas were analyzed. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for detection of antibodies against HCV, within the period from 2001 to 2004. Samples with positive serology by ELISA were analyzed through the confirmatory RIBA test. 45,832 donations were collected at the blood center. Out of them, 0.62% had positive serology for hepatitis C. With regard to the variables, there was a prevalence of 86.7% for males, with ages ranging from 31 to 40 years. Only 201 people returned to repeat ELISA. Out of these, 42.3% had repeated positive serology by ELISA. For confirmation by RIBA, only 97 donors returned: 55.4% were positive, 15.7% negative, and 9.1% indeterminate. The studies show the need for more specific serological screening tests

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