SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Acute pancreatitis with cytomegalovirus infection in a kidney transplant recipient: A case report

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause significant inflammation. Besides, it is an important cause of pancreatitis in organ transplantations. We report a case of CMV pancreatitis in a 48-year-old male kidney transplant recipient who was admitted with elevated amylase (3 337 U/L) and lipase (1 160 U/L) enzymes, and abdominal pain. CMV infection was tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and the result was positive. CMV viremia was successfully cleared with ganciclovir. Then the absence of some of more noticeable clinical symptoms of pancreatitis may not be a decisive reason not to rule out the disease in transplanted cases

Unmasking sarcoidosis following SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination: A case report

Abstract Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory and granulomatous disorder, developed due to dysregulation between immune response and certain environmental antigens. We hereby report an interesting case of sarcoidosis following COVID‐19 vaccination (COVIran Barekat), which presented with inflammation of previous tattoo sites as well as the development of erythema nodosum and systemic lymphadenopathy, suggested a possible link between the COVID vaccination and dysregulation of the inflammatory process and served as a reminder for clinicians to have enough vigilance before proposing a vaccine booster to these patients

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, a mini review

Abstract Background The SARS‐Cov‐2 pandemic has caused dermatologists around the world to adapt their practice in the aim of protecting patients with special clinical conditions such as those having skin cancers or premalignant conditions and some diagnostic or therapeutic programs would be suspended due to being infected to SARS‐CoV‐2. We focused the existing data in this regard through searching on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus and tried to summarize recommendations for treating this group of patients in COVID era to provide a practical guide for clinicians. Recent findings The number of diagnosed skin cancers dropped significantly since the beginning of the pandemic, specially in the peaks of various variants of the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The new guidelines allowed even a 3‐month delay in excision and recommended surgery for non‐melanoma growing skin cancers. Conclusion Dermatologists should perform a careful, individualized risk–benefit assessment for their patients and consider some changes in routine protocols such as having a delayed diagnostic or therapeutic intervention

Clinical misdiagnosis of influenza infection with a confusing clinical course: A case report

Abstract A 32‐year‐old woman with a history of hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder was admitted with severe weakness and somnolence. She had tachycardia and hypotension, indicative of severe dehydration, and was treated with a vasopressor and sodium bicarbonate, but her clinical manifestations deteriorated. A high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan showed a patchy ground glass appearance with interlobular septal thickening, suggesting pneumonia. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was requested for the influenza A virus (IAV), which was positive. The patient was treated with oseltamivir and discharged with improved clinical symptoms

Cervical Spine Spondylitis with an Epidural Abscess in a Patient with Brucellosis: A Case Report

Human brucellosis, the most prevalent zoonotic disease worldwide, is a systemic infection which can involve several organs. Among musculoskeletal complaints, spondylitis is the most frequent complication of brucellosis and primarily affects the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae. The involvement of the cervical spine is infrequent

Unusual isolated extrapulmonary sarcoidosis: Case report

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous condition with unidentified etiology. This disease should be considered in differential diagnosis if non-caseating granulomas is noted in biopsies, because numerous cases presented with no clinical symptoms. Although the lung is the most common organ involved in the disease, there also is an extra-pulmonary form (<10%). It should be noted that the presentation of sarcoidosis may be atypical. In this article, we report a systemic sarcoidosis case, with specific clinical findings: extrathoracic onset with lymph nodes

A Comprehensive Review on HIV-Associated Dermatologic Manifestations: From Epidemiology to Clinical Management

Dermatological disorders are among the most prevalent manifestations of HIV infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this review, we aimed to characterize the various dermatologic presentations among HIV-infected patients with a detailed categorization of the mucocutaneous signs and symptoms, their etiopathogenic factors, and clinical management. In fact, cutaneous manifestations of HIV are quite various, ranging from AIDS-specific skin eruptions (xerosis, pruritic papular eruptions, eosinophilic folliculitis, and acne), opportunistic infections (herpes simplex, molluscum contagiosum, cutaneous leishmaniasis, bacillary angiomatosis, disseminated histoplasmosis, disseminated cryptococcosis, and zoster) to AIDS-related malignancies (Kaposi’s sarcoma, lymphoma, and nonmelanoma skin cancers) and antiretroviral therapy (ART)-associated drug eruptions. We tried to classify HIV-related cutaneous presentations which can help clinicians for a better understanding of the various specific and nonspecific features of AIDS-associated cutaneous manifestations and management of the condition

Tuberculosis arthritis of ankle: A case report

Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) primarily involves the respiratory tract, but any organ in the body can be affected. In recent years, extrapulmonary TB cases have significantly increased due to the prevalence of immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of unilateral ankle arthritis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection