Laboratory and genetic predictors for severe COVID-19 infection

This study aims to identify laboratory and genetic markers important for COVID-19 severity to improve patient assessment and treatment. COVID-19 patients were divided into two groups based on disease severity. Clinical, laboratory (complete blood count, complete biochemical parameters - lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum ferritin), and genetic markers (OAS1 rs4767027) were analyzed. A total of 61 COVID-19 patients and 48 negative controls were investigated. Group I showed more often lymphopenia – 3.16 (1.39–3.89) vs 5.61(4.21–7.98), p-0.027 and thrombocytopenia – 165 (75–256) vs 212 (198–349), p-0.031, higher LDH (621 ± 218 U/L vs 312 ± 110 U/L), p-0.014. OAS1 rs4767027 genotype and allele frequencies did not differ significantly from worldwide population frequencies. Lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia are likely associated with immune inflammation and COVID-19 severity. While increased OAS1 transcript levels are correlated with reduced risk of infection, they can contribute to NLRP3 inflammasome activation once the infection has been established

Novel Mitochondria-Targeting Peptide in Heart Failure Treatment: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Elamipretide

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction and energy depletion in the failing heart are innovative therapeutic targets in heart failure management. Elamipretide is a novel tetrapeptide that increases mitochondrial energy; however, its safety, tolerability, and therapeutic effect on cardiac structure and function have not been studied in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose trial, patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (ejection fraction, ≤35%) were randomized to either a single 4-hour infusion of elamipretide (cohort 1 [n=8], 0.005; cohort 2 [n=8], 0.05; and cohort 3 [n=8], 0.25 mg·kg CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate elamipretide in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and demonstrates that a single infusion of elamipretide is safe and well tolerated. High-dose elamipretide resulted in favorable changes in left ventricular volumes that correlated with peak plasma concentrations, supporting a temporal association and dose-effect relationship. Further study of elamipretide is needed to determine long-term safety and efficacy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02388464