Single nucleotide variants in the CCL2, OAS1 and DPP9 genes and their association with the severity of COVID-19 in an Ecuadorian population.

COVID-19 has a broad clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic-mild form to severe phenotype. The severity of COVID-19 is a complex trait influenced by various genetic and environmental factors. Ethnic differences have been observed in relation to COVID-19 severity during the pandemic. It is currently unknown whether genetic variations may contribute to the increased risk of severity observed in Latin-American individuals The aim of this study is to investigate the potential correlation between gene variants at CCL2, OAS1, and DPP9 genes and the severity of COVID-19 in a population from Quito, Ecuador. This observational case-control study was conducted at the Carrera de Biologia from the Universidad Central del Ecuador and the Hospital Quito Sur of the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (Quito-SUR-IESS), Quito, Ecuador. Genotyping for gene variants at rs1024611 (A>G), rs10774671 (A>G), and rs10406145 (G>C) of CCL2, OAS1, and DPP9 genes was performed on 100 COVID-19 patients (43 with severe form and 57 asymptomatic-mild) using RFLP-PCR. The genotype distribution of all SNVs throughout the entire sample of 100 individuals showed Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (P=0.53, 0.35, and 0.4 for CCL2, OAS1, and DPP9, respectively). The HWE test did not find any statistically significant difference in genotype distribution between the study and control groups for any of the three SNVs. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that individuals with the GG of the CCL2 rs1024611 gene variant had an increased association with the severe COVID-19 phenotype in a recessive model (P = 0.0003, OR = 6.43, 95% CI 2.19-18.89) and for the OAS1 rs10774671 gene variant, the log-additive model showed a significant association with the severe phenotype of COVID-19 (P=0.0084, OR=3.85, 95% CI 1.33-11.12). Analysis of haplotype frequencies revealed that the coexistence of GAG at CCL2, OAS1, and DPP9 variants, respectively, in the same individual increased the presence of the severe COVID-19 phenotype (OR=2.273, 95% CI: 1.271-4.068, P=0.005305). The findings of the current study suggests that the ethnic background affects the allele and genotype frequencies of genes associated with the severity of COVID-19. The experience with COVID-19 has provided an opportunity to identify an ethnicity-based approach to recognize genetically high-risk individuals in different populations for emerging diseases.

[Depression and anxiety among medical students in virtual education during COVID-19 pandemic]. / Depresión y ansiedad en estudiantes de medicina en la educación virtual durante la pandemia por COVID-19.

Background: The lockdown derived from the declaration of a pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020 by the World Health Organization altered daily activities, including the academic ones, which were adapted to virtuality. In Ecuador, the new modality of study had an increase in the use of electronic devices that triggered new problems. Objective: To stablish the prevalence of depression and anxiety among medical students from the Universidad Central del Ecuador (Central University of Ecuador) in virtual education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: Cross-sectional analytic study conducted between June and July of 2021 in students from first to tenth semester during virtual education. All studied subjects were evaluated using an electronic survey, depression and anxiety variables were assessed with the BDI-II and GAD-7 scales, respectively. In addition, sociodemographic data were collected, including the family APGAR. A response rate of 63.3% (1528 students) was obtained. Results: Overall prevalence of depression was 37.8% and the prevalence of anxiety 30.3%. Lower-years students were the most affected by these pathologies. The protective factors found were physical activity and psychological support in religion, whereas the main risk factors found were a dysfunctional family, lack of an exclusive study space and low academic performance. Furthermore, the frequency of depression and anxiety was significantly higher in women. Conclusion: The virtual modality showed a high prevalence of depression and anxiety in medical students.

Introducción: el confinamiento derivado de la declaración de pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 en marzo de 2020 por la Organización Mundial de la Salud alteró las actividades diarias, incluidas las académicas, que se adaptaron a la virtualidad. En Ecuador, la nueva modalidad de estudio tuvo un aumento del uso de dispositivos electrónicos que desencadenó nuevos problemas. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de depresión y ansiedad en estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad Central del Ecuador en el ciclo de educación virtual durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Material y métodos: estudio analítico transversal realizado entre junio y julio de 2021 en estudiantes de medicina de primero a décimo semestre durante la educación virtual. Por medio de una encuesta electrónica enviada a todos los sujetos de estudio, se evaluaron las variables depresión y ansiedad mediante las escalas BDI-II y GAD-7 respectivamente. Además, se recopilaron datos sociodemográficos, incluido el APGAR familiar. Se obtuvo una tasa de respuesta del 63.3% (1528 estudiantes). Resultados: la prevalencia de depresión fue de 37.8% y la de ansiedad 30.3%. Los estudiantes de años inferiores fueron los más afectados. Los factores protectores fueron la actividad física y el apoyo psicológico en la religión, mientras que los factores de riesgo fueron tener una familia disfuncional, la ausencia de un espacio exclusivo de estudio y un bajo rendimiento académico. Asimismo, la frecuencia de depresión y ansiedad fue significativamente superior en mujeres. Conclusión: durante la modalidad virtual se observó una alta prevalencia de sintomatología de depresión y ansiedad en estudiantes de medicina.