Increased insulin resistance due to long COVID is associated with depressive symptoms and partly predicted by the inflammatory response during acute infection

Objective: Some months after the remission of acute COVID-19, some individuals show depressive symptoms, which are predicted by increased peak body temperature (PBT) and decreased blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). The present study aimed to examine data on whether long COVID is associated with increased insulin resistance (IR) in association with neuroimmune and oxidative (NIO) processes during the acute infectious and long COVID phases. Methods: This case-control, retrospective cohort study used the Homeostasis Model Assessment 2 (HOMA2) calculator© to compute β-cell function (HOMA2%B) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA2%S) and resistance (HOMA2-IR) and administered the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) to 86 patients with long COVID and 39 controls. Results: Long COVID (3-4 months after the acute infection) is accompanied by increased HOMA2-IR, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and insulin levels; 33.7% of the patients vs. 0% of the controls had HOMA2-IR values > 1.8, suggesting IR. Increased IR was predicted by PBT during acute infection and associated with depressive symptoms above and beyond the effects of NIO pathways (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 [NLRP3] inflammasome, myeloperoxidase [MPO], protein oxidation). There were no significant associations between increased IR and the activated NIO pathways during long COVID. Conclusion: Long COVID is associated with new-onset IR, which may contribute to onset of depressive symptoms due to long COVID by enhancing overall neurotoxicity.

Anti-pepsin activity of silicon dioxide nanoparticles / Actividad antipepsina de nanopartículas de dióxido de silicio / Atividade antipepsina de nanopartículas de dióxido de silício

SiO2NPs as an inhibitor of pepsin enzyme for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) were investigated. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (pepsin coated SiO2NPs) are among the safest nanoparticles that can be used inside the human body. The activity of pepsin before and after the addition of certain amounts of the NPs to the reaction mixture was measured spectrophotometrically. Furthermore, these experiments were repeated at different temperatures, different weights of NPs, and different ionic strengths. The kinetic parameters (Km & Vmax) of the pepsin-catalyzed reactions were calculated from the Lineweaver-Burk plots. The results showed that there is a significant reduction of pepsin activity by SiO2NPs (Vmax of free pepsin = 4.82 U and Vmax of the immobilized pepsin = 2.90 U). The results also indicated that the presence of ionic strength causes remarkable reduction of pepsin activity. It can be concluded the best condition for inhibition of pepsin activity is by using a combinationof SiO2NPs and high concentration NaCl at 37 °C.

Se usaron nanopartículas de dióxido de silicio como inhibidores de la pepsina para el tratamiento del reflujo gastroesofágico (GERD). Estas nanopartículas (SiO2NPs recubiertas de pepsina) son unas de las más seguras y pueden usarse en el cuerpo humano. Se midió a través de espectrofotometría la actividad de la pepsina antes y después de añadir cierta cantidad de NPs a la mezcla reactante. Adicionalmente, se repitieron estas pruebas a diferentes temperaturas, variando el peso de las NPs y la fuerza iónica. Se calcularon los parámetros cinéticos (Km y Vmax) de las reacciones catalizadas con pepsina a través de las gráficas de Lineweaver-Burk. Los resultados mostraron que, usando SiO2NPs (Vmax de pepsina libre = 4.82 U y Vmax de pepsina inmovilizada = 2.90 U) y a través de la presencia de fuerza iónica, la actividad enzimática se reduce significativamente. Se concluye que la mejor condición para inhibir la actividad enzimática es usando una combinación de SiO2NPs y una alta concentración de NaCl a 37 °C.

Foram usadas nanopartículas de dióxido de silício como inibidores da pepsina para o tratamento do refluxo gastroesofágico (GERD). Estas nanopartículas (SiO2NPs cobertas de pepsina) são uma das mais seguras e podem usar-se no corpo humano. Foi medida a atividade da pepsina mediante espectrofotometria antes e depois de agregar certa quantidade de NPs à mistura de reação. Adicionalmente, repetiram-se estas provas a diferentes temperaturas, variando o peso das NPs e a força iónica. Foram calculados os parâmetros cinéticos (Km e Vmax) das reações catalisadas com pepsina a través das gráficas de Lineweaver-Burk. Os resultados mostraram que, usando SiO2NPs (Vmax de pepsina livre = 4.82 U e Vmax de pepsina imobilizada = 2.90 U) e a través da presença de força iónica, a atividade enzimática se reduze significativamente. Foi concluído que a melhor condição para inibir a atividade enzimática é usando uma combinação de SiO2NPs e uma alta concentração de NaCl a 37 °C.

Procalcitonin, Calcium, and Magnesium in Patients with Febrile Seizure during One-Hour Attack.

Aims: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a marker used as an indicator of severe bacterial infection, which causes febrile seizure (FS). In this study, the level of PCT in patients with FS during the first hour of attack was investigated. Furthermore, the correlation between PCT and serum Ca and Mg was determined. Methodology: Sixty children (26 male and 34 female) with hyperthermia-induced seizures participated in the study. Blood sampling was performed when seizure attack elapsed (within the first hour of the attack). Patients were classified according to sex, Ca level, C-reactive protein (CRP, positive >6 mg/L), and PCT level (high PCT>0.5ng/mL). Thirty healthy children were selected as the control group. Results: PCT level increased in patients compared with that of the control group. Patients with normal or hyperPCT showed no correlation between PCT level with the total and ionized Ca and Mg. The PCT level between the hypocalcaemic and normocalcaemic groups was not significantly different. The PCT level significantly increased (p<0.05) in the group with higher CRP compared with that of the normal CRP group. During the first hour of FS attack, PCT increased with the increase in CRP and no correlation was observed between PCT and the total and ionized serum Ca and Mg levels. Conclusion: PCT increased and was correlated with CRP in patients with FS during the first hour of attack. The results indicated that PCT elevation is due to the infection and has no evident effect on Ca metabolism in the patients. It can be concluded that the increase in PCT may be due to the FS as a leading cause rather than the bacterial infection.