Antinuclear antibodies detected by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in severe COVID-19: clinical and laboratory associations.

OBJECTIVE: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are detected in approximately a quarter of COVID-19 patients when assessed by indirect immunofluorescence. Since there is no information, our study investigated the presence of ANA detected by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and its clinical and laboratory associations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted on 92 patients with severe COVID-19, 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and 25 healthy subjects. Blood samples were obtained at hospital admission. Commercial ELISA was used to detect ANA, while flow cytometry was used to measure serum interferons. RESULTS: ANAs were positive in 8.6% of COVID-19 patients, 10% of myocardial infarction patients, and 4% in healthy individuals (p=0.676). COVID-19 patients with ANA+ had less ferritin, troponin, and neutrophils but more albumin and lymphocytes than ANA- patients. Serum levels of type I, II, and III interferons were similar between groups. At follow-up, all ANA+ patients survived, while mortality was significant in ANA- patients (0 vs. 36%; p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: ANA detection is not increased in severe cases of COVID-19 when assessed by ELISA. However, its presence appears to be associated with a less aggressive disease phenotype, regardless of circulating levels of interferons.

Relationship Between Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators and Inflammatory Markers in Chronic Cardiac Disorders.

The term cardiovascular diseases (CVD) refers to disorders of heart and blood vessels, and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure, among others. Atherosclerosis is a common background of these diseases. It is not infrequent that some acute diseases, such as coronary syndromes, appear superimposed on a chronic arterial disease. Acute coronary syndromes (ACS), found worldwide among the leading causes of death, can be the origin of disabling chronic CVD such as heart failure [46]. Clinical and experimental evidence associates this group of alterations with an inflammatory process that takes part in its pathophysiology. In fact, inflammation is one of the most important factors for its initiation, progression, and consolidation [6].

CHRONIC UNPREDICTABLE MILD STRESS PROGRESSIVELY DISTURBS GLUCOSE METABOLISM AND APPETITE HORMONES IN RATS.

CONTEXT: Chronic stress is characterized by increased release of catecholamines, glucocorticoids and other neurohumoral factors, predisposing individuals to obesity, insulin resistance and vascular disease, pathologies considered priority health problems. Study of alterations induced by stress on metabolism in association with food intake modulatory hormones (insulin, leptin and ghrelin) is mandatory. OBJECTIVE: This research studied temporal course during 60 days of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on glucose and lipids metabolism, and on the neuroendocrine system that regulates appetite-satiety balance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to CUMS for 20, 40 and 60 days. Corticosterone stayed high during 60 days of CUMS; after 40 days, body weight, cholesterol and triglycerides decreased and glucose intolerance was evident at day 60; insulin and ghrelin increased at 20 and 40 days, respectively; leptin decreased after day 20. Data suggest that 60 days of CUMS progressively disturb metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids as well as food intake regulatory hormones, affecting the metabolism, and can lead to the development of chronic degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.