Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 Genotype (ApoE rs429358-ApoE rs7412 Polymorphisms) Is Not Associated with Long COVID Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors.

The role of genetics as a predisposing factor related to an increased risk of developing long COVID symptomatology is under debate. The aim of the current secondary analysis was to identify the association between the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene, a gene affecting cholesterol metabolism and previously associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, and the development of long COVID in a cohort of individuals who had been hospitalized by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 287 previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. Three genotypes of the ApoE gene (ApoE ε2, ε3, ε4) were obtained based on the combination of ApoE rs429358 and ApoE rs7412 polymorphisms. Participants were asked to self-report the presence of any post-COVID symptom in a face-to-face interview at 17.8 ± 5.2 months after hospital discharge and medical records were obtained. Each participant reported 3.0 (1.9) post-COVID symptoms. Overall, no significant differences in long COVID symptoms were observed depending on the ApoE genotype (ApoE ε2, ApoE ε3, ApoE ε4). The presence of the ApoE ε4 genotype, albeit associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, did not appear to predispose for the presence of long COVID in our cohort of previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.

Genetic Association between ACE2 (rs2285666 and rs2074192) and TMPRSS2 (rs12329760 and rs2070788) Polymorphisms with Post-COVID Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors.

The aim of the study was to identify the association between four selected COVID-19 polymorphisms of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors genes with the presence of long-COVID symptomatology in COVID-19 survivors. These genes were selected as they associate with the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the cells, so polymorphisms could be important for the prognoses of long-COVID symptoms. Two hundred and ninety-three (n = 293, 49.5% female, mean age: 55.6 ± 12.9 years) individuals who had been previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 were included. Three potential genotypes of the following single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained from non-stimulated saliva samples of participants: ACE2 (rs2285666), ACE2 (rs2074192), TMPRSS2 (rs12329760), TMPRSS2 (rs2070788). Participants were asked to self-report the presence of any post-COVID defined as a symptom that started no later than one month after SARS-CoV-2 acute infection and whether the symptom persisted at the time of the study. At the time of the study (mean: 17.8, SD: 5.2 months after hospital discharge), 87.7% patients reported at least one symptom. Fatigue (62.8%), pain (39.9%) or memory loss (32.1%) were the most prevalent post-COVID symptoms. Overall, no differences in long-COVID symptoms were dependent on ACE2 rs2285666, ACE2 rs2074192, TMPRSS2 rs12329760, or TMPRSS2 rs2070788 genotypes. The four SNPs assessed, albeit previously associated with COVID-19 severity, do not predispose for developing long-COVID symptoms in people who were previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic.

Post-COVID Pain Is Not Associated with Inflammatory Polymorphisms in People Who Had Been Hospitalized by COVID-19.

Our aim was to assess the association between four inflammatory polymorphisms with the development of post-COVID pain and to associate these polymorphisms with the clinical pain phenotype in individuals who had been hospitalized by COVID-19. Three potential genotypes of IL-6 (rs1800796), IL-10 (rs1800896), TNF-α (rs1800629), and IFITM3 (rs12252) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained from no-stimulated saliva samples from 293 (49.5% female, mean age: 55.6 ± 12.9 years) previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors by polymerase chain reactions. Pain phenotyping consisted of the evaluation of pain features, sensitization-associated symptoms, anxiety levels, depressive levels, sleep quality, catastrophizing, and kinesiophobia levels in patients with post-COVID pain. Analyses were conducted to associate clinical features with genotypes. One hundred and seventeen (39.9%) patients experienced post-COVID pain 17.8 ± 5.2 months after hospital discharge. No significant differences in the distribution of the genotype variants of any SNPs were identified between COVID-19 survivors with and without post-COVID pain (all, p > 0.47). Similarly, the clinical pain phenotype was not significantly different between patients with and without post-COVID pain since no differences in any variable were observed for any SNPs. In conclusion, four SNPs associated with inflammatory and immune responses did not appear to be associated with post-COVID pain in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. Further, neither of the SNPs were involved in the phenotyping features of post-COVID pain.

A Population-Based Study of Diabetes During Pregnancy in Spain (2009-2015): Trends in Incidence, Obstetric Interventions, and Pregnancy Outcomes.

(1) Background: We examined trends in incidence and outcomes in women with existing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with a control group without diabetes. (2) Methods: This was an observational, retrospective epidemiological study using the National Hospital Discharge Database. (3) Results: There were 2,481,479 deliveries in Spain between 2009 and 2015 (5561 mothers with T1DM, 4391 with T2DM, and 130,980 with GDM). Incidence and maternal age of existing diabetes and GDM increased over time. Women with T2DM were more likely to have obstetric comorbidity (70.12%) than those with GDM (60.28%), T1DM (59.45%), and no diabetes (41.82%). Previous cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, smoking, hypertension, and obesity were the most prevalent risk factors in all types of diabetes. Women with T1DM had the highest rate of cesarean delivery (Risk Ratio (RR) 2.34; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.26-2.43) and prolonged maternal length of stay. Labor induction was higher in T2DM (RR 1.99; 95% CI 1.89-2.10). Women with T1DM had more severe maternal morbidity (RR 1.97; 95% CI 1.70-2.29) and neonatal morbidity (preterm birth, RR 3.32; 95% CI 3.14-3.51, and fetal overgrowth, RR 8.05; 95% CI 7.41-8.75). (4) Conclusions: existing and GDM incidence has increased over time. We found differences in the prevalence of comorbidities, obstetric risk factors, and the rate of adverse obstetric outcomes among women with different types of diabetes. Pregnant women with diabetes have the highest risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Oral health status among Spanish adults with diabetes: National Health Survey, 2017.

AIMS: We aim i) to describe self-reported oral health among patients with diabetes in Spain; ii) to recognize which variables (socio-demographic, lifestyle and health-related), were related to poor self-reported oral health in patients with diabetes. METHODS: We used data from subjects of the National Health Interview Survey performed in 2017. Diabetes status was self-reported. One non-diabetes patient was matched by gender and age for each diabetes case. Poor self-reported oral health was defined using the answers "I have dental caries" to the following question: "What is the state of your teeth and molars?". Socieconomic, demographic, comorbidities, health status, health care-related were independent variables. RESULTS: We found that the prevalence of dental caries was higher among subjects with diabetes than their matched controls (23.8% vs. 16.5%; P < 0.001). The OR of dental caries for people with diabetes was 1.45 (95% CI 1.12-1.30). Older age, having lower monthly income, obesity, periodontal disease, very poor/poor/ fair self-rated health and having public dental health insurance increased the probability of suffering caries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor self-reported oral health was higher among people with diabetes compared to non-diabetes controls. Physicians and dentists should increase their awareness with their patients with diabetes, especially those with obesity, younger and with lower education.

Time Trends in the Incidence of Long-Term Mortality in T2DM Patients Who Have Undergone a Lower Extremity Amputation. Results of a Descriptive and Retrospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: The aims of this study were to examine the incidence of lower extremity amputations (LEAs) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to compare the mortality risk of diabetic individuals who underwent LEA with age and sex-matched diabetic individuals without LEA. (2) Methods: We performed a descriptive observational study to assess the trend in the incidence of LEA and a retrospective cohort study to evaluate whether undergoing LEA is a risk factor for long-term mortality among T2DM patients. Data were obtained from the Hospital Discharge Database for the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain (2006-2015). (3) Results: The incidence rates of major below-knee and above-knee amputations decreased significantly from 24.9 to 17.1 and from 63.9 to 48.2 per 100000 T2DM individuals from 2006 to 2015, respectively. However, the incidence of minor LEAs increased over time. Mortality was significantly higher among T2DM patients who underwent LEA compared with those who did not undergo this procedure (HR 1.75; 95% CI 1.65-1.87). Male sex, older age, and comorbidity were independently associated with higher mortality after LEA. (4) Conclusions: Undergoing a LEA is a significant risk factor for long term mortality among T2DM patients, and those who underwent a major above-knee LEAs have the highest risk.

Infection by Epstein-Barr virus in Fes (Morocco). Prevalence and predictors of positivity in nasopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and genotypic distribution of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a sample of patients of Hassan II University Hospital (Morocco) due to nasopharyngeal pathologies and requiring a biopsy. We identified factors associated to the EBV infection. METHODS: 112 patients were recruited (January 2012-October 2014). Biopsies were conducted for the molecular diagnosis of EBV. The data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, smoking and drug abuse, medical background and histologic diagnosis. The EBV diagnosis was performed via the Polymerase Chain Reaction. RESULTS: 50% of patients were infected by EBV (98.2% with EBV type A compared to 1.8% type B). Most infected patients were ≥40years(65.5%), male (59.6%) and in unfavorable socioeconomic circumstances. 83.3% of patients with lymphoma and 69.8% of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented concomitant EBV infections. 88.9% of patients who took drugs were infected by EBV compared to 47.7% of those who did not. In the multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.03; IC95% 1.02-1.06), smoking (OR 4.28; IC95%1.24-14.78) and having a malignant process (OR 6.96; IC95% 2.26-21.44) were significantly associated with EBV. CONCLUSIONS: Infection by EBV is related to several factors, such as advanced age, smoking, and suffering a malignant process. In subjects with malignant pathologies, positivity to EBV seems to be inferior to that found in other countries.

Salivary cortisol and melatonin levels in children with frequent episodic tension-type headache do not differ from healthy children.

AIM: To investigate the differences in cortisol and melatonin concentrations between children with frequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH) and healthy children. METHODS: Forty-four children, 12 boys/32 girls (age: 9 ± 2 years) with FETTH associated to peri-cranial tenderness and 44 age- and sex- matched healthy children participated. Both salivary cortisol and melatonin concentrations were collected from non-stimulated saliva following standardized guidelines. A headache diary for 4 weeks was used for collecting intensity, frequency and duration of headache. RESULTS: No significant differences for cortisol (t = -0.431; p = 0.668), and melatonin (z = -1.564; p = 0.118) concentrations and salivary flow rate (z = -1.190; p = 0.234) were found between both groups. No significant effect of age or gender was found. In addition, no significant association between cortisol-melatonin concentrations and between cortisol-melatonin concentrations and headache clinical parameters were found. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that children with FETTH, at first instance, do not present deficits in the secretion of these cortisol and melatonin. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to further elucidate the direction of current findings, particularly the synchronism of cortisol and melatonin and the course of the headache.