ABSTRACT
Introduction: As the major mechanism for coronavirus disease 2019, cytokine storm-mediated organ harm continues to dominate current understanding. Despite the first hyper-inflammatory phase, emerging data show that virus-induced poor host immunity may be the true cause of mortality in many individuals. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is an interleukin that participates in the COVID-19 cytokine storm and regulates the immune system. Its role in COVID-19 cytokine storms is thought to be related to its ability to stimulate the formation and activation of immune cells such as T cells and B cells. This meta-analysis aims to determine the relationship, if any, between interleukin-7 and COVID-19 severity. Methods: This study was planned as a systematic review and meta-analysis and followed the PRISMA guidelines. Four main electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched from January 1st, 2020 to September 2nd, 2022, to find papers investigating the prognostic significance of interleukin-7 in COVID-19-hospitalized adults. Google Scholar was used in addition to the online database search. A random effects model was used to calculate mean differences and 95% confidence interval (CIs) as well as the I2 statistics for heterogeneity analysis. Results: Seven papers were chosen for meta-analysis findings synthesis. All six trials reported interleukin-7 levels among severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients. Pooled analysis showed that IL-7 levels in the severe group were 62.79±81.03 pg/mL, compared to 33.39±56.54 pg/mL for the non-severe group (SMD =-0.17;95%CI:-0.93 to 0.60;p=0.67). Discussion: Available evidence suggests that elevated levels of IL-7 were not associated with the disease severity of COVID-19. While IL-7 levels alone may not have a substantial impact on COVID-19 severity, the interaction between IL-7 and other cytokines, immune cells, and variables such as viral load and genetics should be investigated further. Take-home message: This meta-analysis found that there was no strong link between levels of interleukin-7 and the severity of COVID-19. However, further research is needed to explore the interaction between IL-7 and other factors such as cytokines, immune cells, viral load, and genetics in order to better understand the role of IL-7 in COVID-19 pathogenesis. © 2023 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 is particularly hazardous in patients with cardiovascular pathology, diabetes or chronic lung disease. Arginine vasopressin (AVP), an antidiuretic hormone secreted in response to hemodynamic and osmotic disturbances plays a crucial role in maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis. Copeptin has shown promising results regarding its utility in prediction of morbidity and mortality of COVID-19. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the role of copeptin in risk stratification in COVID-19. Methods: This study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis. We systematically searched the following databases: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library through September 10th, 2022. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Results: Pooled analysis of four trials showed that mean copeptin plasma concentrations were higher in patients with severe course of COVID-19 than in patients with non-severe course of the disease (26.64 ± 13.59 vs. 16.75 ± 6.13, respectively;MD=9.39;95%CI: 1.38 to 17.40;I2=99%;p=0.02). Furthermore, higher copeptin concentrations in COVID-19 patients who died than in those who survived (13.25 ± 3.23 vs. 44.65 ± 26.92, respectively;MD=-31.40;95%CI:-42.93 to-19.87;p<0.001). Discussion: Results from the present meta-analysis revealed that increased copeptin plasma concentrations found in COVID-19 patients are associated with the severity of the disease. Copeptin may assist in early identification of COVID-19 progression and possibly in prediction of adverse outcomes, thus its use in risk stratification could be beneficial. Take-home message: Copeptin may assist in early identification of COVID-19 progression and possibly in prediction of adverse outcomes, thus its use in risk stratification could be beneficial. © 2022 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the correlation between IL-4 concentrations and COVID-19 severity. Methods: This study was designed as a systematic review and meta-analysis and was performed in accordance to the PRISMA statement. Titles, abstracts, and full texts of articles were independently reviewed by at least 2 authors. Continuous variables were compared by the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Thirty-three studies reported IL-4 levels among severe versus non-severe COVID-19 patients. Pooled analysis showed that levels of IL-4 among those groups varied and amounted to 2.72 ± 3.76 pg/mL vs 3.08 ± 4.14 pg/mL (MD =-0.26;95%CI:-0.43 to-0.10;p = 0.002. In addition, eight studies reported levels of IL-4 among COVID-19 patients who survived vs deceased and was 2.61 ± 0.49 pg/mL vs (3.44 ± 16.4 pg/mL, respectively (MD = 0.22;95%CI: 0.08 to 0.37;p = 0.002). Discussion: This detailed systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that the plasma concentration of IL-4 is a potential risk factor for COVID-19 severity and mortality. Specifically, old age and male gender were associated with high IL-4 levels. Lung damage could result from the change in IL-4 concentration, thus making critical and severe COVID-19 cases at a very high risk of dying, thereby reducing their quality of life. Therefore, strategies such as using monoclonal antibodies to inhibit Th2 cytokines could be explored in developing an effective treatment regimen for COVID-19 patients. Take-home message: An independent risk factor for the severity and fatality of COVID-19 is the plasma levels of IL-4. High IL-4 levels are specifically related to old age and male gender. Lung damage may be a result of the change in IL-4 concentration, placing COVID-19 critically and severely ill at a high risk of dying. © 2022 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
About 9500 neoplasms of the oral mucosa compromised by Covid infection are registered annually in Russia. They have high mortality rates - more than 50%. One of the risk factors for occurrence of malignant neoplasms of the oral mucosa are human papillomaviruses and Epstein-Barr virus, the mechanism of carcinogenesis of which is not fully understood and is still a subject of research. At the same time, the virus-associated pathology tends to grow, increasingly impacting younger people. With good visual accessibility of the oral mucosa, advanced cases of oncopathology (3-4 stages) are observed quite often (67%), preceded by undiagnosed virus-associated processes. The aim of this study is to optimize the early diagnosis of the mucosal virus-associated processes and to prevent malignization. We examined 375 patients of both sexes aged 18 to 65 years with various diseases of the oral mucosa. 18% of them were carriers of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr. The examination algorithm included a clinical stage (instrumental examination, index assessment, autofluorescent stomatoscopy) and a laboratory stage (liquid cytology, PCR diagnostics of human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr, and, if EBV was detected, an immunochemical blood test for capsid and nuclear antigens). The results of the study show that pathological changes in the oral mucosa and the red border of the lips associated with viral damage, which manifests itself in the form of hyperkeratosis (40 people - 59%), cheilitis (12 people - 17.6%), long-term non-healing erosive and ulcerative phenomena (9 people - 13.1%), oncopathologies (7 people - 10.3%). Thus, our diagnostic algorithm for examining patients with oral mucosal disorders reduces enables to reduce the risk of oncopathology and its neglected forms.