Vaccine versus infection - COVID-19-related loss of training time in elite athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the number of training days lost due to COVID-19 and vaccination against COVID-19 in elite athletes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The questionnaire on the impact of vaccination and COVID-19 on training plans was filled out by 1073 elite Polish athletes who underwent routine medical screening between September and December 2021. RESULTS: COVID-19 was diagnosed in 421 subjects (39 %), of whom 26 % were asymptomatic. On the 10-point scale, <1 % of athletes had perceived severity of the disease above 8, whereas for 64 % it was 4 or below. Vaccination against COVID-19 was administered in 820 athletes (76 %), and adverse events were observed more frequently after the first dose than the second (69 % vs. 47 %). Influence on training (modified or lost) was declared by 369 of 421 (88 %) COVID-19 athletes, and by 226 of 820 vaccinated athletes (28 %). During the observation period, the average number of lost training days was 8.1 for COVID-19 and 2.6 for vaccination (p < 0.001). The cumulative number of person-days lost due to COVID-19 was 1041 versus 295 after vaccination thus, the average loss ratio was 1041/1073 = 0.97 vs. 295/820 = 0.36, respectively, p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes have a considerable loss of training days due to COVID-19. Vaccination against COVID-19 causes significantly smaller and predictable loss. This supports the inclusion of vaccination into prevention policies for athletes whenever they are available.

Impact of polymorphism of selected genes on the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

INTRODUCTION Although the coexistence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be attributed to environmental risk factors common for both diseases, a genetic background should also be considered. Data on the role of genetic factors in the development of T2DM in patients with OSA are lacking. OBJECTIVES The study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of polymorphisms of selected genes that are known to be associated with diabetes or obesity in patients with OSA and concomitant T2DM and to assess these polymorphisms in the context of OSA severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed OSA confirmed by polysomnography underwent genotyping for the following single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): SREBF1 rs11868035, HIF1A rs11549465, APOA5 rs3135506, TCF7L2 rs7903146, and FTO rs16945088. The frequency of genotypes was compared between patients with and without concomitant T2DM and was analyzed with regard to OSA severity. RESULTS A total of 600 patients with newly diagnosed OSA were enrolled to the study. Of these, 121 patients (20.2%) were diagnosed with T2DM (97 men and 24 women; median age, 58 years; range, 52-64 years). The prevalence of T2DM was significantly lower in APOA5 rs3135506 GG homozygotes than in CG heterozygotes (18.8% vs 33.3%, P = 0.02). APOA5 rs3135506 CG heterozygotes were at higher risk for developing T2DM (adjusted odds ratio, 2.64; 95% confidence interval,1.38-5.04; P = 0.003). No significant differences were found for the genotype distribution of the other investigated SNPs. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows a possible link between the polymorphism of the gene encoding APOA5 and T2DM in patients with OSA.

Hemoptysis in a patient with multifocal primary pulmonary angiosarcoma.

Primary pulmonary angiosarcoma (PPA) is a rare tumour arising from arterial or venous pulmonary vessels of various size. It is characterized by aggressive course and poor prognosis. The early diagnosis is difficult due to diverse clinical and radiological manifestations. We present a case report of 70 year-old man, active cigarette-smoker, with a 2-month history of non-massive hemoptysis. The thorax CT revealed several solid pulmonary nodules surrounded by areas of ground glass opacity. As bronchoscopy failed to deliver adequate tissue samples, video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with pleura and lung biopsy was necessary. Histopathological findings were consistent with pulmonary angiosarcoma. Since no extrapulmonary lesions were demonstrated, the final diagnosis of primary pulmonary angiosarcoma was made. The patient died three months after the onset of symptoms. Our case report highlights that differential diagnosis in patients with hemoptysis and pulmonary nodules should include primary pulmonary sarcoma.

T, B, and NKT Cells in Systemic Inflammation in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) brings risk of serious complications. The study objective was to assess elements of the cellular immune response in the course of OSAS. METHODS: Peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes: T, B, NK, NKT-like, Th, Tc, and HLA DR+ T cells were evaluated by flow cytometry of 48 OSA patients; the concentration of adiponectin, interleukin 1ß, and TNFα was measured by ELISA method. The OSA complication score was developed and used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The proportion of B cells and Th/Tc ratio were significantly lower in the BP of OSA patients when compared with control subjects (median 7.9 versus 10.9%, 0.9 versus 1.5, p < 0.05). The proportion of Tc, NK, NKT-like, and HLADR positive T cells were elevated in OSA patients when compared with healthy subjects (36.4 versus 26.8, 15.5 versus 8.5, 5.7 versus 3.0, and 8.4 versus 4.5%, p < 0.05, resp.) and were more pronounced in patients with metabolic syndrome. The grade of OSA complication score correlated with systemic inflammation markers and the proportion of B cells. The value of adiponectin/BMI ratio correlated significantly with SpO2 (r = 0.31, p < 0.05), CRP (r = -0.35, p < 0.05), TNFα concentration (r = -0.36, p < 0.05), and proportion of B cells (r = 0.32, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lymphocytes B, Tc, NK, NKT-like, and adiponectin are involved in systemic immune response in OSA patients possibly predisposing them to cardiovascular and metabolic complications.