Is there a link between pre-existing antibodies acquired due to childhood vaccinations or past infections and COVID-19? A case control study

Background: There is growing evidence indicating that children are less affected from COVID-19. Some authors speculate that childhood vaccinations may provide some cross-protection against COVID-19. In this study, our aim was to compare the circulating antibody titers for multiple childhood vaccine antigens, as an indicator of the state of immune memory between patients with COVID-19 and healthy controls, with a specific aim to identify the association between disease severity and antibody titrations which may indicate a protective function related to vaccine or disease induced memory. Methods: This study is a case-control study including 53 patients with COVID-19 and 40 healthy volunteers. COVID-19 severity was divided into three groups: asymptomatic, mild and severe. We measured the same set of antibody titers for vaccine antigens, and a set of biochemical and infection markers, in both the case and control groups. Results: Rubella (p = 0.003), pneumococcus (p = 0.002), and Bordetella pertussis (p 0.0001) titers were found to be significantly lower in the case group than the control group. There was a significant decline in pneumococcus titers with severity of disease (p = 0.021) and a significant association with disease severity for Bordetella pertussis titers (p = 0.014) among COVID patients. Levels of AST, procalcitonin, ferritin and D-dimer significantly increased with the disease severity Discussion: Our study supports the hypothesis that pre-existing immune memory, as monitored using circulating antibodies, acquired from childhood vaccinations, or past infections confer some protection against COVID-19. Randomized controlled studies are needed to support a definitive conclusion. © 2021 PeerJ Inc.. All rights reserved

Increased aortic intima-media thickness may be used to detect macrovascular complications in adult type II diabetes mellitus patients

Abstract Background Carotid intima media thickness (C-IMT) and aortic IMT (A-IMT) increase in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), respectively. In both age groups IMT is used for early detection of macrovascular complications. In adult DM patients, A-IMT is still not a routine examination and is not used frequently. We aimed to determine whether there is an increase in A-IMT values measured from abdominal aorta besides traditional C-IMT in patients with type II DM and to determine parameters closely related to A-IMT in the same patient group. Methods We included 114 type II DM patients and 100 healthy control subjects similar in age and sex in our study. Bilateral C-IMT and A-IMT values were measured by B-mode ultrasonography (USG) in addition to anamnesis, physical examination and routine examinations of all patients. Results When the clinical, demographic and laboratory data of patients with and without DM were compared, there was a high level of glucose and HbA1c and low hemoglobin levels in the DM patient group. All other parameters were found to be similar between the two groups. When the B-mode USG findings were examined, it was found that C-IMT and A-IMT were increased in patients with DM, with the A-IMT increase being more prominent. A-IMT values were found to be strongly and positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, DM onset time and HbA1c levels, and a negatively and significantly correlated with hemoglobin levels (p < 0.05, for each). In the regression model, the parameters correlating most closely with A-IMT were DM diagnosis onset time, HbA1c and hemoglobin levels (p = 0.001 and β = 0.353, p = 0.014 and β = 0.247 and p < 0.001 and β = − 0.406). Conclusions As in pediatric DM patients also in adult DM patients A-IMT can easily be measured with new model USG devices. A-IMT must be measured during abdominal USG which is routine in adult DM patients. A-IMT is an easy, reproducible and non-invasive parameter that may be used in the diagnosis of macrovascular complications of adult type II DM

Increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and common carotid artery intima-media thickness obtained to assess target organ damage in hypertensive patients are closely related

Background: Increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in hypertension (HT) patients are indicators of asymptomatic organ damage. The relationship between carotid IMT and CF-PWV has been shown; studies comparing CF-PWV and IMT values within different vascular regions are limited. We aimed to investigate the relationship between IMT value measured from different anatomical regions and CF-PWV, and the localization of IMT that determines increased CF-PWV best. Methods: This study included 312 patients with HT. CF-PWV measurements with Doppler ultrasonography (USG). Vascular IMTs were measurements of common-internal carotid, brachial, and femoral arteries with B-mode USG (CC-IMT, IC-IMT, B-IMT, and F-IMT, respectively). Patients were divided into two groups according to their CF-PWV value (Increased CF-PWV >10 m/s and normal CF-PWV ≤10m/s). Results: Increased CF-PWV was detected in 54 (17.3%) of HT patients. The patient group with increased CF-PWV was older, and their CC-IMT, IC-IMT and F-IMT values were found to be higher. The other 3 IMT increases excluding B-IMT were closely related to the CF-PWV increase. Only age and CC-IMT values were found to be most closely related to CF-PWV. CC-IMT and age were found to be independently associated with increased CF-PWV. CC-IMT (each-0.1 mm) and age (each year) were found to augment the development of increased CF-PWV by 50.3% and 14.6%, respectively. Conclusion: There is a close relationship between CC-IMT and CF-PWV increase in HT. It was thought that it would still be more useful to look at the increase of CC-IMT compared to other vascular regions for screening asymptomatic organ damage

Increased renal cortical stiffness in patients with advanced diabetic kidney disease

We aimed to determine whether cortical stiffness (CS) values obtained by point shear wave elastography (pSWE) were increased in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) according to increased disease stage and to determine the parameters associated with CS value in the same patient group. A total of 120 patients with Type-II diabetes mellitus who developed DKD and 22 healthy controls were included in the study. In addition to routine laboratory tests and renal ultrasonography (USG), CS levels were measured using pSWE. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and aortic-IMT values were measured. Patients were grouped according to DKD stage (Stage I-II-III-IV-V), then the control group was added and, the six groups were compared within themselves. Renal CS values were found to be significantly higher in all stages of DKD than in the control group and were found to be increased in accordance with the increase in DKD stage (P 70% for parathyroid hormone (PTH), common and internal carotid-IMT, NT-proBNP, cortical thickness, and CS values. It was found that cortical thickness and PTH levels were independently associated with renal CS in DKD patients and independently determined the risk of increased CS (>9.0 kPa) in DKD patients (P <0.05). Renal CS is increased with increasing DKD stage and this is closely related to decreased cortical thickness and serum PTH levels. Renal CS measurement should be used during follow-up of a patient as part of the renal USG

Ovarian Stiffness Is Significantly Increased in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Related With Anti-Mullerian Hormone A Point Shear Wave Elastography Study

Objectives Parenchymal stiffness obtained by point shear-wave elastography (pSWE) in solid organs is used as a sign of damage in these organs. However, its clinical use and whether patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have increased ovarian tissue stiffness are still unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the parameters related to ovarian stiffness and whether there is an increase in ovarian stiffness in patients with PCOS compared with healthy controls. Methods Forty-five women who were followed up regularly with the diagnosis of PCOS and 30 healthy controls similar to age and sex were included in this study. In addition to the routine follow-up parameters for PCOS, serum homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels were examined in all patients, and pSWE examination was performed with pelvic ultrasound (US) and ElastPQ technique. Results Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and AMH were higher in PCOS compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). Right, left, and mean ovary stiffness and volumes were significantly higher in PCOS group than healthy controls (P < 0.001). Correlation analysis was performed between mean ovary stiffness and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, homeostatic model assessment, and AMH and ovary volumes (P < 0.01 for each one). In linear regression analysis, only AMH was found to be related to mean ovary stiffness (P < 0.001 and beta = 0.734). Conclusions Ovarian stiffness value obtained by ElastPQ technique and pSWE method increases in PCOS patients compared with healthy controls and is closely related to serum AMH levels. In patients with PCOS, in addition to the conventional US, ovarian stiffness measured by pSWE may be an auxiliary examination in the follow-up of the disease. However, it was concluded that the ovarian stiffness measurement obtained in our current study should be supported by studies involving more patients and the transvaginal US method

Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio in hypertensive patients with primary aldosteronism

Introduction: There is no study evaluating the Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios with T wave peak to end interval (Tp-e interval) used for evaluation of cardiac arrhythmia risk and ventricular repolarization changes in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). We aimed to investigate whether there was a change in Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios in patients with PA. Method: Thirty patients with newly diagnosed hypertension (HT) and PA and 30 patients with primary HT were included. Twelve-lead electrocardiography (ECG) was performed in all patients. Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were measured in addition to routine measurements in ECG. Results: Sodium, potassium, and plasma renin activity (PRA) were significantly lower in patients with PA; systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma aldosterone, plasma aldosterone/PRA were significantly higher in patients with PA (p < .05 for each one). When ventricular repolarization parameters were examined; while QT and QTc interval were similar between two groups, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio values were significantly higher in patients with PA (p < .05 for each one). Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio values were positively correlated with the serum calcium, aldosterone, and aldosterone/PRA levels and negatively correlated with serum sodium, potassium, renin levels (p < .05 for each one). In linear regression analyses, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were independently associated with the aldosterone/PRA ratio. Conclusion: Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc were increased in hypertensive patients with PA and were independently associated with aldosterone/PRA levels. This may be related to the changing neuroendocrine state in patients with PA

Impaired self-reported sleep quality improves with radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with premature ventricular complexes

Background: The frequency of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) increases in patients with poor sleep quality (PSQ). Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate PSQ in patients referred for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) due to PVCs and to determine the effect of RFA on PSQ. Methods: A total of 207 patients who were diagnosed with the PVC burden greater than 10% and underwent 3-dimensional RFA in our center were included in this cross -sectional study. Self -reported sleep quality was assessed in all patients in addition to a 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram before ablation and at 3-month follow -up. The effect of RFA on self -reported sleep quality in patients with PVCs was evaluated. Results: Before RFA, 87% of the study patients had PSQ. In those with PVCs, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, and the global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) improved after RFA (P  &lt; 0.001). Positive correlations were found between the PSQI and the total number of PVCs, PVC burden, PVC burden in the morning, PVC burden at midday, PVC burden in the evening, and PVC burden at nighttime (P &lt; 0.01). In linear regression analysis, only the nighttime PVC burden was found to be related to the PSQI (P = 0.002, β = 0.397). Conclusion: Poor sleep quality is common in patients with PVCs and it improves significantly after the RFA procedure. Poor sleep quality in patients with PVCs is closely related to the PVC burden at nighttime. Our study showed that, while evaluating PVCs, we also should suspect PSQ, especially due to PVCs

Morning blood pressure surge increases in patients with hypertensive primary hyperparathyroidism and is independently associated with serum calcium level

Introduction: There is not enough data on the effects of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) on morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) in the literature. We aimed to determine whether there was any change in MBPS value in patients with hypertensive pHPT and to determine the parameters related to MBPS. Method: 80 patients with newly diagnosed pHPT with hypertension (HT) and 80 controls with newly diagnosed hypertension were included. Routine laboratory examinations and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) were performed in all patients. Results: In patients with pHPT, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglyceride, hs-CRP, uric acid, serum calcium (Ca), parathormone (PTH), daytime SBP and MBPS levels are higher than others (p < 0.05). Body mass index (BMI) and Ca level were independently associated with MBPS. In patients with MBPS ≥ 25 mmHg, BMI, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, Ca and PTH levels were found to be higher than others. BMI values and Ca levels determine the patients with MBPS ≥ 25 mmHg (p < 0.05) independently. According to this analysis, increase in BMI (for each 1 unit) and Ca level (for each 0.1 mg/dL) was found to increase the probability of MBPS ≥ 25 mmHg by 17.8% and 7.7%, respectively. When the cut-off value for Ca was taken as 10 mg/dL, the patients with MBPS ≥ 25 mmHg were determined with 73.5% sensitivity and 73.1% specificity. Conclusion: MBPS significantly increases in patients with newly diagnosed hypertensive pHPT. This increase in MBPS is closely associated with increased Ca levels. In patients with pHPT, lowering the Ca level below 10 mg/dL may have clinical implications