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

Effects of an exercise program on hepatic metabolism, hepatic fat, and cardiovascular health in overweight/obese adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia (the HEPAFIT study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: A considerable proportion of contemporary youth have a high risk of obesity-related disorders such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although there is consistent evidence for the positive effects of physical activity on several health aspects, most adolescents in Colombia are sedentary. It is, therefore, important to implement strategies that generate changes in lifestyle. The HEPAFIT study aims to examine whether a 6-month exercise program has benefits for hepatic fat content and cardiovascular health outcomes among overweight/obese adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia. Methods/design: Altogether, 100 hundred overweight/obese, sedentary adolescents (aged 11–17 years) attending two public schools in Bogotá, Colombia, will be included in a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Adolescents will be randomly assigned to an intervention group following one of four curricula: (1) the standard physical education curriculum (60 min per week of physical activity, n = 25) at low-to-moderate intensity; (2) a high-intensity physical education curriculum (HIPE, n = 25), consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive activities, such as running, gymkhanas, lifting, pushing, wrestling, or hauling, for 60-min sessions, three times per week, with an energy expenditure goal of 300 to 500 kcal/session at 75–85% maximum heart rate (HRmax); (3) a low-to-moderate intensity physical education curriculum (LIPE, n = 25) consisting of endurance and resistance games and non-competitive activities (e.g., chasing, sprinting, dribbling, or hopping) for 60-min sessions, three times per week with an energy expenditure goal of 300 kcal/session at 55–75% HRmax; and (4) a combined HIPE and LIPE curriculum (n = 25). The HIPE, LIPE, and combined interventions were performed in addition to the standard physical education curriculum. The primary outcome for effectiveness is liver fat content, as measured by the controlled attenuation parameter 1 week after the end of the intervention program. Discussion: The translational focus may be suitable for collecting new information in a school setting on the possible effects of physical activity interventions to reduce liver fat content and to improve metabolic profiles and the cardiometabolic health of overweight/obese adolescents. This may lead to the more efficient use of school physical education resources.The HEPAFIT study was carried out with the financial support of Instituto Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la Tecnología “Francisco José de Caldas” COLCIENCIAS (code 59700 and no 122277757900). Katherine González-Ruíz receive a scholarship from Universidad del Rosario, Colombia, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, to do a Doctorate. This article presents independent research commissioned by COLCIENCIAS under its Program Grants for Applied Research funding scheme (Convocatoria 777–2017)

Tratamiento periodontal integral para paciente con periodontitis crónica generalizada severa

La periodontitis crónica es una enfermedad multifactorial que se caracteriza por presentar inflamación en los tejidos de soporte del diente, que con el paso del tiempo llevan a una pérdida de inserción y reabsorción ósea. Objetivo: Tratar la enfermedad periodontal del paciente, y recuperar la salud oral. Reporte de Caso: Paciente de 48 años de edad, género femenino, presenta hipotiroidismo,  por ello se  inicio con una terapia básica periodontal que tiene como meta eliminar el biofilm duro y blando de las superficies dentarias y mediante un enjuague de clorhexidina al 0,12% controlar la progresión de esta enfermedad. Una vez controlada la inflamación periodontal se remitió a la fase quirúrgica al paciente para extraer los restos radiculares, y evitar posibles infecciones. Posteriormente se realizaron procedimientos endodónticos, restaurativos y protésicos para mejorar la funcionalidad y estética. Conlusiones: Un buen diagnóstico es fundamental  para un adecuado plan de tratamiento, ya que de esto dependerá gran parte del éxito del tratamiento

Prevalencia de enfermedad periodontal y valoración de proteína c-reactiva ultrasensible en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica

La enfermedad isquémica cardiaca representa la octava causa de muerte en el Ecuador, y se sabe que la periodontitis puede ser un factor de riesgo para el desencadenamiento o progresión de la misma. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de enfermedad periodontal y el valor de la proteína C reactiva ultrasensible en pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular. Materiales y métodos: El presente estudio analizó la prevalencia de periodontitis en 43 pacientes del Hospital de la Policía Nacional con diagnóstico de cardiopatía isquémica establecida. Adicionalmente, se valoró la proteína C reactiva ultrasensible (PCR-US) que se utiliza como predictor de riesgo cardiovascular, la cual varios autores han determinado se presenta en niveles más altos en pacientes con enfermedad periodontal. Los datos fueron ingresados en una base electrónica en Microsoft Excel y específicamente diseñada para este estudio. Posteriormente se realizó el análisis inferencial para lo cual se calculó la prueba de Chi cuadrado en las variables cuantitativas y la prueba de t de Student en las variables cuantitativas utilizando el paquete estadístico Instat GraphPad v.3.05 Resultados: Mostraron que el 58% de los pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular tuvieron concomitantemente enfermedad periodontal, mientras que de los pacientes que padecían cardiopatía isquémica y periodontitis, el 48% presentaron niveles de PCR-US más altos que los normales. Conclusión: La enfermedad periodontal es un factor de riesgo modificable, susceptible de ser prevenido y tratado con procedimientos de bajo riesgo, por lo tanto, su tratamiento puede ser un componente integral de la cardiología preventiva

Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a Rapid Oligochromatographic Assay for Specific Detection of New Human Influenza A H1N1 Virus ▿

A new oligochromatographic assay, Speed-Oligo Novel Influenza A H1N1, was designed and optimized for the specific detection of the 2009 influenza A H1N1 virus. The assay is based on a PCR method coupled to detection of PCR products by means of a dipstick device. The target sequence is a 103-bp fragment within the hemagglutinin gene. The analytical sensitivity of the new assay was measured with serial dilutions of a plasmid that contained the target sequence, and we determined that down to one copy per reaction of the plasmid was reliably detected. Diagnostic performance was assessed with 103 RNAs from suspected cases (40 positive and 63 negative results) previously analyzed with a reference real-time PCR technique. All positive cases were confirmed, and no false-positive results were detected with the new assay. No cross-reactions were observed when other viral strains or clinical samples with other respiratory viruses were tested. According to these results, this new assay has 100% sensitivity and specificity. The turnaround time for the whole procedure was 140 min. The assay may be especially useful for the specific detection of 2009 H1N1 virus in laboratories not equipped with real-time PCR instruments

Transcriptomic Analysis of Olea europaea L. Roots during the Verticillium dahliae Early Infection Process

Olive cultivation is affected by a wide range of biotic constraints. Verticillium wilt of olive is one of the most devastating diseases affecting this woody crop, inflicting major economic losses in many areas, particularly within the Mediterranean Basin. Little is known about gene-expression changes during plant infection by Verticillium dahliae of woody plants such as olive. A complete RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis of olive tree roots was made. Trinity assembler proved to be the best option to assemble the olive and V. dahliae transcriptomes. The olive transcriptome (Oleup) consisted of 68,259 unigenes (254,252 isoforms/transcripts), and the V. dahliae transcriptome (Vedah) consisted of 37,425 unigenes (52,119 isoforms/transcripts). Most unigenes of the Oleup transcriptome corresponded to cellular processes (12,339), metabolic processes (10,974), single-organism processes (7263), and responses to stimuli (5114). As for the Vedah transcriptome, most unigenes correspond to metabolic processes (25,372), cellular processes (23,718), localization (6385), and biological regulation (4801). Differential gene-expression analysis of both transcriptomes was made at 2 and 7 d post-infection. The induced genes of both organisms during the plant-pathogen interaction were clustered in six subclusters, depending on the expression patterns during the infection. Subclusters A to C correspond to plant genes, and subcluster D to F correspond to V. dahliae genes. A relevant finding was that the differentially expressed gene (DEGs) included in subclusters B and C were highly enriched in proteolysis as well as protein-folding and biosynthesis genes. In addition, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) defense was induced first in the pathogen and later in the plant roots.This work was supported by Grant AGR-5948 from Junta de Andalucía (Consejería de Economía, Innovación y Ciencia) and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Technical and human support provided by CICT of Universidad de Jaén (UJA, MINECO, Junta de Andalucía, FEDER) is gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewe