Deciphering epigenetic(s) role in modulating susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19 infection and/or outcome: a systematic rapid review.

COVID-19 pandemic waves hitting worldwide result in drastic postinfection complications with interindividual variations, which raised the question for the cause of these observed variations. This urged to think "the impact of environment-affected genes"? In an attempt to unravel the impact of environment-affected genes, a systematic rapid review was conducted to study "the impact of host or viral epigenetic modulation on COVID-19 infection susceptibility and/or outcome." Electronic databases including Web of Science, SCOPUS, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and Google Scholar, and other databases were searched. The search strings included "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" AND (Epigenetics'). Articles with randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational study designs, conducted on humans and available in the English language, were selected, with respect to "The interplay between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and Epigenetics" published from 2020 to February 2021 (but not limited to 2020, being expanded to 2015). Database search yielded 1330 articles; after screening, exclusion, and further filtrations, 51 articles were included. Susceptibility to COVID-19 infection is related to the viral-microRNAs (miRNAs) which alter virulence of the transmitted SARS-CoV-2 strains and impact host-miRNA-related innate immunity. Host-DNA methylation and/or chromatin remodeling may be implicated in severe cytokine storm that can ultimately results in fatal outcome.

Rydberg States of H3 and HeH as Potential Coolants for Primordial Star Formation.

Current theory and measurements establish the age of the universe as ca. 13.8 billion years. For the first several hundred million years of its existence, it was a dark, opaque void. After that, the hydrogen atoms comprising most of the "ordinary" matter began to condense and ionize, eventually forming the first stars that would illuminate the sky. Details of how these "primordial" stars formed have been widely debated, but remain elusive. A central issue in this process is the mechanism by which the primordial gas (mainly hydrogen and helium atoms) collected via the action of dark matter cooled and further accreted to fusion densities. Current models invoke collisional excitation of H2 molecular rotations and subsequent radiative rotational transitions allowed by the weak molecular quadrupole moment. In this work, we review the salient considerations and present some new ideas, based on recent spectroscopic observations of neutral H3 Rydberg electronic state emission in the mid-infrared region.

Intervendor consistency and reproducibility of left ventricular 2D global and regional strain with two different high-end ultrasound systems.

AIMS: We aimed to assess intervendor agreement of global (GLS) and regional longitudinal strain by vendor-specific software after EACVI/ASE Industry Task Force Standardization Initiatives for Deformation Imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-five patients underwent prospective dataset acquisitions on the same day by the same operator using two commercially available cardiac ultrasound systems (GE Vivid E9 and Philips iE33). GLS and regional peak longitudinal strain were analyzed offline using corresponding vendor-specific software (EchoPAC BT13 and QLAB version 10.3). Absolute mean GLS measurements were similar between the two vendors (GE -17.5 ± 5.2% vs. Philips -18.9 ± 5.1%, P = 0.15). There was excellent intervendor correlation of GLS by the same observer [r = 0.94, P < 0.0001; bias -1.3%, 95% CI limits of agreement (LOA) -4.8 to 2.2%). Intervendor comparison for regional longitudinal strain by coronary artery territories distribution were: LAD: r = 0.85, P < 0.0001; bias 0.5%, LOA -5.3 to 6.4%; RCA: r = 0.88, P < 0.0001; bias -2.4%, LOA -8.6 to 3.7%; LCX: r = 0.76, P < 0.0001; bias -5.3%, LOA -10.6 to 2.0%. Intervendor comparison for regional longitudinal strain by LV levels were: basal: r = 0.86, P < 0.0001; bias -3.6%, LOA -9.9 to 2.0%; mid: r = 0.90, P < 0.0001; bias -2.6%, LOA -7.8 to 2.6%; apical: r = 0.74; P < 0.0001; bias -1.3%, LOA -9.4 to 6.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Intervendor agreement in GLS and regional strain measurements have significantly improved after the EACVI/ASE Task Force Strain Standardization Initiatives. However, significant wide LOA still exist, especially for regional strain measurements, which remains relevant when considering vendor-specific software for serial measurements.

Use of three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for quantitative assessment of global left ventricular function: a comparative study to three-dimensional echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether global strains derived from three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) are as accurate as left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) obtained by two-dimensional (2D) and 3D echocardiography in the quantification of LV function. METHODS: Two-dimensional and 3D echocardiography and 2D and 3D STE were performed in 88 patients (LVEF range, 17%-79%). Two-dimensional and 3D global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain, and global area strain were quantified and correlated with LV function determined by 2D and 3D echocardiographic LVEF. Reproducibility, feasibility, and duration of study to perform 3D STE were assessed by independent, blinded observers. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients (89%) underwent 3D STE. All 3D speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters had strong correlations with assessment of LV function determined by 2D and 3D echocardiographic LVEF. Three-dimensional GCS was the best marker of LV function (r = -0.89, P < .0001). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that 3D speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters were particularly useful in identifying LV dysfunction (LVEF < 50%). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated areas under the curve of 0.97 for 3D GCS, 0.96 for 3D global radial strain, 0.95 for 3D global area strain, and 0.87 for 3D GLS. An optimal 3D GCS cutoff value of magnitude < -12% predicted LV dysfunction (LVEF obtained by 2D echocardiography < 50%) with 92% sensitivity and 90% specificity. There was good correlation between 2D GLS and 3D GLS (r = 0.85, P < .001; mean difference, -1.7 ± 6.5%). Good intraobserver, interobserver, and test-retest agreements were seen with 3D STE. Time for image acquisition to postprocessing analysis was significantly reduced with 3D STE (3.7 ± 1.0 minutes) compared with 2D STE (4.6 ± 1.5 min) (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Global strain by 3D STE is a promising novel alternative to quantitatively assess LV function. Three-dimensional STE is reproducible, feasible, and time efficient.