A large cohort study of the effects of Lewis, ABO, 13 other blood groups, and secretor status on COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and long COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported Blood type O to confer a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while secretor status and other blood groups have been suspected to have a similar effect as well. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To determine whether any other blood groups influence testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 severity, or prolonged COVID-19, we used a large cohort of 650,156 Danish blood donors with varying available data for secretor status and blood groups ABO, Rh, Colton, Duffy, Diego, Dombrock, Kell, Kidd, Knops, Lewis, Lutheran, MNS, P1PK, Vel, and Yt. Of these, 36,068 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 whereas 614,088 tested negative between 2020-02-17 and 2021-08-04. Associations between infection and blood groups were assessed using logistic regression models with sex and age as covariates. RESULTS: The Lewis blood group antigen Lea displayed strongly reduced SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility OR 0.85 CI[0.79-0.93] p < .001. Compared to blood type O, the blood types B, A, and AB were found more susceptible toward infection with ORs 1.1 CI[1.06-1.14] p < .001, 1.17 CI[1.14-1.2] p < .001, and 1.2 CI[1.14-1.26] p < .001, respectively. No susceptibility associations were found for the other 13 blood groups investigated. There was no association between any blood groups and COVID-19 hospitalization or long COVID-19. No secretor status associations were found. DISCUSSION: This study uncovers a new association to reduced SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility for Lewis type Lea and confirms the previous link to blood group O. The new association to Lea could be explained by a link between mucosal microbiome and SARS-CoV-2.

Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Blood Cell-Endothelium Interactions in Vascular Disorders.

In physiology and pathophysiology the molecules involved in blood cell-blood cell and blood cell-endothelium interactions have been identified. Platelet aggregation and adhesion to the walls belonging to vessels involve glycoproteins (GP), GP llb and GP llla and the GP Ib-IX-V complex. Red blood cells (RBCs) in normal situations have little interaction with the endothelium. Abnormal adhesion of RBCs was first observed in sickle cell anemia involving vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, α4ß1, Lu/BCAM, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-4. More recently RBC adhesion was found to be increased in retinal-vein occlusion (RVO) and in polycythemia vera (PV). The molecules which participate in this process are phosphatidylserine and annexin V in RVO, and phosphorylated Lu/BCAM and α5 laminin chain in PV. The additional adhesion in diabetes mellitus occurs due to the glycated RBC band 3 and the advanced glycation end-product receptors. The multiligand receptor binds advanced glycation end products (AGEs) or S100 calgranulins, or ß-amyloid peptide. This receptor for advanced glycation end products is known as RAGE. The binding to RAGE-activated endothelial cells leads to an inflammatory reaction and a prothrombotic state via NADPH activation and altered gene expression. RAGE blockade is a potential target for drugs preventing the deleterious consequences of RAGE activation.

'Sacrament of (Be)longing': Analysis of Finnish Lutheran and Orthodox Christian Eucharistic Practices amid Absence and Estrangement

This article addresses eucharistic and communal transformations of two local Finnish churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) and the Orthodox Church of Finland (ocF), amid the coven-19 pandemic and precautions. We analyze how eucharistic practices have transformed in the ELCF and the OCF and the ways these transformations are reflected in the experiences of both parishioners and pastors. The data consist of four questionnaires (N = 739) collected from Lutheran and Orthodox believers and Lutheran vicars during the pandemic. Our results indicate that the significance of belonging was emphasized during the time of social distancing. While among those in the ELCF, experiences of belonging were manifested in terms of Eucharist, among those in the OCR, belonging was most often reflected in relation to liturgical community. The differences in eucharistic theologies of the OCF and the ELCF have perhaps become more visible in exceptional circumstances.

A large cohort study of the effects of ABO, Lewis, 16 other blood groups and secretor status on COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and long COVID-19

Background: Early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic a link was reported between ABO blood type and COVID-19 susceptibility. Evidence for this link has been mounting as size and quality of data has grown, although a clear explanation for the mechanism behind this link has yet to be definitively established. Aims: Blood typeOis known to confer lower risk of COVID-19. In order to determine the effect of other blood groups on COVID-19, we used a large cohort of 618,554 SARS-CoV-2 tested Danish blood donors with varying available data for secretor status and blood groups ABO, Rh, Duffy, Diego, Dombrock, Kell, Kidd, Knops, Lewis, Lutheran, MNS, P1PK, Vel and Yt to determine whether any other blood groups influence COVID-19 disease susceptibility, severity, or prolong COVID-19 symptoms. Methods: In total, 618,554 Danish blood donors were investigated. Of these, 33,774 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 whereas 584,780 tested negative between 2020-02-17 and 2021-08-04. Blood groups were retrieved from electronic blood bank systems for the entire cohort, and additionally from genotypes on a subset (~100,000) of the donors. Associations between COVID-19 and blood groups were assessed using logistic regression models with sex and age as covariates. Results: The Lewis blood group antigen Lea displayed strongly reduced COVID-19 susceptibility OR 0.85 CI[0.79-0.93] p = 4.85e-04. Compared to blood type O the blood types B, A and AB were found more susceptible towards SARS-CoV-2 infection with ORs 1.1 CI[1.06-1.14] p = 5.42e-07, 1.17 CI[1.14-1.2] p = 1.29e-36 and 1.2 CI[1.14-1.26] p = 7.85e-12, respectively. No susceptibility associations were found for the other 15 blood groups investigated. There was no association between any blood groups and COVID-19 hospitalization or long COVID-19. No Secretor status associations were found. Summary/Conclusions: In this study, we found strong associations between ABO and Lewis blood groups and COVID-19 susceptibility, whereas the other investigated blood group systems did not display such an association. Larger studies of these blood groups might yet find other COVID-19 associations;however, these are expected to be small given the large sample sizes in our study.

Communication in crisis: Communication practices of clergy in the LCMS during the COVID-19 crisis

This dissertation in practice sought to address the question, "What communication practices did clergy in the Michigan District of the LCMS employ during the COVID-19 crisis?" A literature review indicated that modern clergy members are expected to take on more leadership responsibilities beyond spiritual leadership than they are prepared to handle. Crisis events were also shown to be times when leadership was essential to the continuing function of an organization. There was a high level of expectation for church and school leaders to communicate with many audiences. The phenomenon of the clergy leading their organizations through an unexpected crisis warranted a qualitative investigation. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted. The researcher recruited eight senior-level clergy members in the Michigan District that led congregations with a dedicated parochial school. Interviews with participants were conducted using Zoom videoconferencing. Data were coded and analyzed to discover themes from the research. These themes were organized into four main themes: encouragement, formal and informal communication, who and what, and ability vs. willingness. The main findings of this study were that informal communication is vital to the success of an organization's ability to communicate with various audiences and that clergy need to be trained for future leadership expectations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Spirit and truth: Reckoning with the crises of Covid-19 for the Church.

The Covid-19 pandemic forces North American churches to reckon with long-standing crises and questions surrounding online community, access to worship, decline in membership, the struggle of small congregations, and the reality of our global communion. This article describes a response grounded in faith defined as confidence in our liberation from pride and despair through Jesus Christ. There is need for clarity of doctrine and spiritual courage to fulfill the church's twofold mission to sustain and grow the body of Christ; both these tasks require courage to approach and speak from the Gospel in ever-new contexts and ages.