The Omicron Strain of the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and Its Variants

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has been circulating among the world population for 3 years, infecting hundreds of millions of people. Numerous reports from all over the world indicate that the majority of infections are caused by the Omicron variant and its subvariants, which predominate over all the previously emerged variants. The genome of the Omicron strain has accumulated dozens of mutations that increase the viruss adaptability and cause the emergence of new variants and subvariants with the increased contagiousness, transmissibility, and ability to evade the immune response. This compromises the protection provided by vaccines or the humoral immunity induced by previous infections. Although the biology of SARS-CoV-2 is well understood, its ability to infect, replicate, and spread in a population depends on the specific immune context during different periods of the pandemic. It is assumed that new variants arise as a result of chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. The intralineage recombination is an opportunity for the virus to gain phenotypic advantages from distantly related circulating variants. The last of the subvariants of the Omicron variant, named Kraken due to its unprecedentedly high transmissibility, is a descendant of the recombinant line. The virus is constantly evolving in the direction of evading immune neutralization by vaccines, therefore, a constant work is underway to develop new, more effective vaccines and other antiviral agents

Multiple effects of bariatric surgery on human biochemical status

Beneficial effect of bariatric surgery is expressed not only in reducing body weight, but also in improving the functioning of the body as a whole. On the one hand, numerous studies devoted to the investigations of specific mechanisms of the influence of bariatric surgery on the general condition of an organism testify to the enormous interest of scientists in this problem. On the other hand, the range of changes is so vast that it covers almost all physiological and biochemical processes. The most noticeable response to bariatric surgery is from the digestive (including the composition of the microbiota), immune (reducing the level of systemic and local inflammation), cardiovascular (reducing the risks of atherosclerosis and other diseases) systems. Partial or complete compensation of type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome also occurs. Among the variety of data, there is insufficient research on only standard biomarkers: leptin, C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, etc. A detailed study of the profiles of both circulating biomarkers and local ones is necessary. At the same time, it is obligate to continue to accumulate evidence on the positive effect of bariatric surgery, since this type of surgical intervention has come into practice relatively recently. Unfortunately, at the present time in Russia bariatric surgery is not an affordable and popular treatment for morbid obesity (MO). Nevertheless, it is extremely important to change the current situation, since bariatric treatment is an optimal and effective solution to socially significant diseases such as MO or type 2 diabetes mellitus

Identification of Novel Candidate Markers of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity in Russia by Exome Sequencing with a Limited Sample Size

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity are common chronic disorders with multifactorial etiology. In our study, we performed an exome sequencing analysis of 110 patients of Russian ethnicity together with a multi-perspective approach based on biologically meaningful filtering criteria to detect novel candidate variants and loci for T2D and obesity. We have identified several known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as markers for obesity (rs11960429), T2D (rs9379084, rs1126930), and body mass index (BMI) (rs11553746, rs1956549 and rs7195386) (p < 0.05). We show that a method based on scoring of case-specific variants together with selection of protein-altering variants can allow for the interrogation of novel and known candidate markers of T2D and obesity in small samples. Using this method, we identified rs328 in LPL (p = 0.023), rs11863726 in HBQ1 (p = 8 × 10−5), rs112984085 in VAV3 (p = 4.8 × 10−4) for T2D and obesity, rs6271 in DBH (p = 0.043), rs62618693 in QSER1 (p = 0.021), rs61758785 in RAD51B (p = 1.7 × 10−4), rs34042554 in PCDHA1 (p = 1 × 10−4), and rs144183813 in PLEKHA5 (p = 1.7 × 10−4) for obesity; and rs9379084 in RREB1 (p = 0.042), rs2233984 in C6orf15 (p = 0.030), rs61737764 in ITGB6 (p = 0.035), rs17801742 in COL2A1 (p = 8.5 × 10−5), and rs685523 in ADAMTS13 (p = 1 × 10−6) for T2D as important susceptibility loci in Russian population. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of whole exome sequencing (WES) technologies for searching for novel markers of multifactorial diseases in cohorts of limited size in poorly studied populations

Successful carotid thrombus aspiration, middle cerebral mechanical thrombectomy, and axillary artery clot disruption attempt in a patient with acute ischemic stroke and critical upper limb ischemia

Acute thrombotic occlusions of the large vessels, such as internal carotid artery, arms and legs arteries, and intracranial vessels, frequently require multiple techniques such as selective thrombolysis, manual aspiration, and stent retrievers for mechanical thrombectomy with combination of the mentioned techniques. Because of the massive thrombotic burden associated with these conditions, the response to systemic intravenous thrombolysis is poor. We present a case of a successful massive thrombi aspiration in a single attempt using an 8Fr guide catheter with aspiration syringe, subsequent ipsilateral middle cerebral artery mechanical thrombectomy, and axillary artery clot disruption attempt in a patient with acute ischemic stroke, right arm critical ischemia, and persistent atrial fibrillation

Successful retrograde recanalization of acute right dominant vertebral artery occlusion through the left posterior communicating artery in a patient with acute vertebrobasilar ischemic stroke

Advanced endovascular technology and techniques allow interventional radiologists to utilize novel ways of basilar artery recanalization in the setting of acute ischemic stroke, especially when routine approaches are not eligible. Several authors described nonstandard revascularization techniques in acute ischemic strokes due to basilar and middle cerebral arteries occlusions with full technical and clinical success. In this report, we present retrograde right vertebral artery recanalization using left posterior communicating artery for subsequent anterograde balloon angioplasty and stenting of a right vertebral artery ostium followed by full vertebrobasilar blood flow restoration. The case underscores the complexity of arterial thrombotic events, the beneficial role of endovascular intervention in vertebral occlusions and the necessity of prospective studies that identify optimal methods of treating vertebrobasilar stroke due to large vessel occlusions and their effectiveness and safety. Keywords: Ischemic, Stroke, Vertebral, Basilar, Occlusion, Recanalizatio

RNA Sequencing of Whole Blood Defines the Signature of High Intensity Exercise at Altitude in Elite Speed Skaters

Although high altitude training has been increasingly popular among endurance athletes, the molecular and cellular bases of this adaptation remain poorly understood. We aimed to define the underlying physiological changes and screen for potential biomarkers of adaptation using transcriptional profiling of whole blood. Seven elite female speed skaters were profiled on the 18th day of high-altitude adaptation. Whole blood RNA-seq before and after an intense 1 h skating bout was used to measure gene expression changes associated with exercise. In order to identify the genes specifically regulated at high altitudes, we have leveraged the data from eight previously published microarray datasets studying blood expression changes after exercise at sea level. Using cell type-specific signatures, we were able to deconvolute changes of cell type abundance from individual gene expression changes. Among these were PHOSPHO1, with a known role in erythropoiesis, and MARC1 with a role in endogenic NO metabolism. We find that platelet and erythrocyte counts uniquely respond to altitude exercise, while changes in neutrophils represent a more generic marker of intense exercise. Publicly available data from both single cell atlases and exercise-related blood profiling dramatically increases the value of whole blood RNA-seq for the dynamic evaluation of physiological changes in an athlete’s body

Endovascular management of the peripherally inserted central venous catheter iatrogenic pinch-off syndrome: A case report

The recent increase in the number of patients with implanted peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) requires physicians to be familiar with rare and unusual complication–pinch-off syndrome (POS). We present a case of a 40-years-old female with human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer and implanted Groshong PICC (BARD). The patient was admitted for an elective chest and abdomen CT angiography control after finishing her trastuzumab and paclitaxel chemotherapy course a month earlier. Immediately after the contrast media power injection, the PICC line was embolized to the right segmental pulmonary artery. Due to the low complications rate and early patient ambulation percutaneous foreign body retrieval is a primary option for the pinch-off syndrome, especially in frail, and vulnerable cancer patients. This case underscores the feasibility and safety of percutaneous venous interventions in patients with embolized venous infusion devices. Keywords: Interventional oncology, Breast cancer, PICC, Iatrogenic, Pinch-off syndrom