Predictors of mortality in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a 1-year case-control study.

BACKGROUND: A paucity of predictive models assessing risk factors for COVID-19 mortality that extend beyond age and gender in Latino population is evident in the current academic literature. OBJECTIVES: To determine the associated factors with mortality, in addition to age and sex during the first year of the pandemic. DESIGN: A case-control study with retrospective revision of clinical and paraclinical variables by systematic revision of clinical records was conducted. Multiple imputations by chained equation were implemented to account for missing variables. Classification and regression trees (CART) were estimated to evaluate the interaction of associated factors on admission and their role in predicting mortality during hospitalisation. No intervention was performed. SETTING: High-complexity centre above 2640 m above sea level (masl) in Colombia. PARTICIPANTS: A population sample of 564 patients admitted to the hospital with confirmed COVID-19 by PCR. Deceased patients (n=282) and a control group (n=282), matched by age, sex and month of admission, were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality during hospitalisation. MAIN RESULTS: After the imputation of datasets, CART analysis estimated 11 clinical profiles based on respiratory distress, haemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, partial pressure of oxygen to inspired partial pressure of oxygen ratio, chronic kidney disease, ferritin, creatinine and leucocytes on admission. The accuracy model for prediction was 80.4% (95% CI 71.8% to 87.3%), with an area under the curve of 78.8% (95% CI 69.63% to 87.93%). CONCLUSIONS: This study discloses new interactions between clinical and paraclinical features beyond age and sex influencing mortality in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, the predictive model could offer new clues for the personalised management of this condition in clinical settings.

COVID-19 vaccine and autoimmunity. A new case of autoimmune hepatitis and review of the literature.

Autoimmunity following COVID-19 vaccination has been reported. Herein, a 79-year-old man with clinical and immunological features of autoimmune hepatitis type 1 after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination is presented. Clinical manifestations rapidly remitted after the instauration of immunomodulatory management. This case, together with a comprehensive review of the literature, illustrates the association between COVID-19 vaccines and the development of autoimmune conditions.

Persistent Autoimmune Activation and Proinflammatory State in Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The immunopathological pathways enabling post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome (PCS) development are not entirely known. We underwent a longitudinal analysis of patients with COVID-19 who developed PCS aiming to evaluate the autoimmune and immunological status associated with this condition. METHODS: Thirty-three patients were included for longitudinal clinical and autoantibody analyses, 12 of whom were assessed for cytokines and lymphocyte populations. Patients were followed for 7-11 months after acute COVID-19. Autoimmune profile and immunological statuses were evaluated mainly by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Latent autoimmunity and overt autoimmunity persisted over time. A proinflammatory state was observed in patients with PCS characterized by up-regulated interferon-α, tumor necrosis factor-α, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-13, whereas interferon-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10) was decreased. In addition, PCS was characterized by increased levels of Th9, CD8+ effector T cells, naive B cells, and CD4+ effector memory T cells. Total levels of immunoglobulin G S1-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies remained elevated over time. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations of PCS are associated with the persistence of a proinflammatory and effector phenotype induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. This long-term persistent immune activation may contribute to the development of latent and overt autoimmunity. Results suggest the need to evaluate the role of immunomodulation in the treatment of PCS.

New insights into the taxonomy of autoimmune diseases based on polyautoimmunity.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical coexistence of two or more autoimmune diseases (ADs) fulfilling classification criteria is termed "overt polyautoimmunity" (PolyA), whereas the presence of autoantibodies unrelated to an index AD, without clinical criteria fulfillment, is known as "latent PolyA". We aimed to explore a new taxonomy of ADs based on PolyA. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 292 subjects, we evaluated the presence of PolyA in 146, 45, 29, 17, and 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), respectively, and 38 healthy controls. Clinical assessment, autoantibody profile (by autoantigen array chip), lymphocytes immunophenotype and cytokine profile (by flow cytometry) were evaluated simultaneously. A mixed cluster methodology was used to classify ADs. RESULTS: Latent PolyA was more frequent than overt PolyA, ranging from 69.9% in RA to 100% in SSc. Nevertheless, both latent and overt PolyA clustered together. Over-expressed IgG autoantibodies were found to be hallmarks for the identification of index ADs. The combination of autoantibodies allowed high accuracy in the classification of ADs. Three well-defined clusters based on PolyA were observed with distinctive clinical and immunological phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study indicates that ADs can be classified according to PolyA. PolyA should be considered in all studies dealing with ADs, including epidemiological, genetic, and clinical trials.

Cholangiopathy as part of post-COVID syndrome.

Liver compromise in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is common but usually transient and self-limited. However, liver tests on some patients continue to show abnormal results. Herein, a 29-year-old patient with clinical and histological features of cholangiopathy is presented. Despite treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid and cholestyramine, bilirubin and transaminase levels remained elevated. This case report raises awareness of the difficulty of managing this condition in patients with COVID-19.

Post-COVID syndrome. A case series and comprehensive review.

The existence of a variety of symptoms with a duration beyond the acute phase of COVID-19, is referred to as post-COVID syndrome (PCS). We aimed to report a series of patients with PCS attending a Post-COVID Unit and offer a comprehensive review on the topic. Adult patients with previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and PCS were systematically assessed through a semi-structured and validated survey. Total IgG, IgA and IgM serum antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis were conducted, following PRISMA guidelines. Univariate and multivariate methods were used to analyze data. Out of a total of 100 consecutive patients, 53 were women, the median of age was 49 years (IQR: 37.8-55.3), the median of post-COVID time after the first symptoms was 219 days (IQR: 143-258), and 65 patients were hospitalized during acute COVID-19. Musculoskeletal, digestive (i.e., diarrhea) and neurological symptoms including depression (by Zung scale) were the most frequent observed in PCS patients. A previous hospitalization was not associated with PCS manifestation. Arthralgia and diarrhea persisted in more than 40% of PCS patients. The median of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 866.2 U/mL (IQR: 238.2-1681). Despite this variability, 98 patients were seropositive. Based on autonomic symptoms (by COMPASS 31) two clusters were obtained with different clinical characteristics. Levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were not different between clusters. A total of 40 articles (11,196 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. Fatigue/muscle weakness, dyspnea, pain and discomfort, anxiety/depression and impaired concentration were presented in more than 20% of patients reported. In conclusion, PCS is mainly characterized by musculoskeletal, pulmonary, digestive and neurological involvement including depression. PCS is independent of severity of acute illness and humoral response. Long-term antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and a high inter-individual variability were confirmed. Future studies should evaluate the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may cause PCS and the best therapeutic options.

Resilience in women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between resilience and clinical outcomes in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. METHODS: Focus groups, individual interviews, and chart reviews were done to collect data on 188 women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis (n=51), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=70), systemic sclerosis (n=35), and Sjögren's syndrome (n=32). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were assessed including disease activity by patient reported outcomes. Resilience was evaluated by using the Brief Resilience Scale. Bivariate, multiple linear regression, and classification and regression trees were used to analyse data. RESULTS: Resilience was influenced by age, duration of disease, and socioeconomic status. Lower resilience scores were observed in younger patients (<48years) with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis who had low socioeconomic status, whereas older patients (>50years) had higher resilience scores regardless of socioeconomic status. There was no influence of disease activity on resilience. A particular behaviour was observed in systemic sclerosis in which patients with high socioeconomic status and regular physical activity had higher resilience scores. CONCLUSION: Resilience in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases is a continuum process influenced by age and socioeconomic status. The ways in which these variables along with exercise influence resilience deserve further investigation.

Empatia en estudiantes venezolanos de medicina y enfermeria según género, nivel de la carrera y antecedentes de hospitalizacion / Empathy in venezuelan students of medicine and nursing by gender, level of study and background of hospital

Con el objetivo de determinar la empatía cognitiva y afectivade estudiantes de Medicina y Enfermería de la Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), en Venezuela, según género, nivel de la carrera y antecedentes personales de hospitalización, se desarrolló una investigación analítica transversal. La muestra fue estratificada probabilística, constituida por el 50% de los alumnos cursantes del inicio, mitad y final de ambas carreras (223 de Medicina, 78.8% mujeres, y 140 de Enfermería, 89.2% mujeres). Previa información y firma del consentimiento informado después de una actividad docente, se aplicó un instrumento que recogió datos sobre el género y la edad de cada estudiante, antecedentes de hospitalización, y las respuestas obtenidas de la aplicación de la escala Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), constituido por cuatro subescalas: Toma de perspectiva (TP), Preocupación Empática (PE), Fantasía (F) y Malestar personal(MP). Los puntajes obtenidos por los estudiantes fueron más altos en TP (Medicina: 19,6, Enfermería 19,5) y PE (Medicina: 20.3, Enfermería: 20.1) que en las dos restantes subescalas; el puntaje fue más elevado en las mujeres, con diferencia significativa en TP para las estudiantes de Medicina. No hubo diferencias significativas del puntaje en los diversos niveles de las carreras ni según grupo de edad o antecedentes de hospitalización. Se comparan los resultados con otros estudios, concluyéndose en la necesidad de investigar factores presentes en el contexto de aprendizaje y de tipo personal, de lo cual se deriven intervenciones que permitan mejorar la empatía.(AU)

With the aim of determining Medicine and nursery students' cognitive and affective empathy of Lisandro Alvarado University (UCLA), Venezuela, according to gender and career level, a analytic cross-sectional research was carried out. The sample was randomly stratified, constituted by 50 % of students belonging to beginning, half and end of both careers (223 Medicine students, 78.8% women, and 140 Nursery students, 89.2% women). Firstly, information was presented and signature of the informed consent was handed after an educational activity, an instrument was applied. It gathered data about gender and age of each student, hospitalization backgrounds, and answers obtained out of the application of Interpersonal Reactivity the Index scale (IRI), constituted by four subscales: perspective taking (PT), Empathic Worry (EW), Fantasy (F) and Personal Discomfort (PD). Scores obtained by students were higher in TP (Medicine: 19.6, Infirmary 19.5) and EW (Medicine:20.3, Nursery: 20.1) than in the remaining subscales; the score was higher in women, with a significant difference in TP in Medicine students. There were neither significant differences of scores in careers levels nor in group of age nor hospitalization backgrounds. Results are compared to other studies, concluding the need to research present factors in learning context and personal type, from which interventions originate allowing empathy improvement.(AU)

Invaginación intestinal / Intussusception

La invaginación intestinal o intususcepción es causa frecuente de dolor abdominal agudo y de obstrucción intestinal en la infancia. Clínicamente se caracteriza por dolor abdominal intermitente, masa abdominal, y evacuaciones con sangre. Actualmente la ecografía abdominal ha desarrollado un papel importante en el diagnóstico temprano de esta patología, con alto porcentaje de certeza diagnóstica.

Trombosis parcial de la vena cava inferior / Partial thrombosis of the inferior vena cava

La patología que suele afectar más frecuentemente a la vena cava inferior es la trombosis. Numerosas neoplasias han sido asociadas con trombosis de la vena cava inferior. Algunos tumores liberan sustancias protrombóticas, aumentando el riesgo de tromboembolia.

Desarrollo moral en estudiantes de medicina y enfermeria de la Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA) - Venezuela / Moral development in medical and nursing students at the Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA) - Venezuela

Se realizó un estudio no experimental, de campo, de tipo correlacional con el fin de establecer posibles relaciones entre el nivel de desarrollo moral y el nivel de estudios de pregrado alcanzado por estudiantes de medicina y enfermería de la Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Barquisimeto - Venezuela. La muestra se seleccionó de forma probabilística y estratificada quedando conformada por 87 estudiantes de Medicina y 44 de Enfermería. Para evaluar el nivel de desarrollo moral, se utilizó una adaptación del Defining Issues Test (DIT), versión de tres dilemas, traducida, adaptada y validada al contexto venezolano. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los estudiantes poseen un nivel de desarrollo moral convencional y un índice de moral de principios similar al que obtienen muestras latinoamericanas. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre el desarrollo moral y el nivel de estudios alcanzado por la muestra. Los resultados permiten justificar y orientar el diseño e implantación de un eje curricular de formación moral-educación en valores dirigido a estudiantes del Decanato de Ciencias de la Salud de la Institución

A non experimental correlational study was conducted for purposes of establishing a possible relationship between moral development and academic level of Health Science students from Universidad Centro-Occidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Barquisimeto Venezuela. A probabilistic and stratified sample consisting of 131 students, 87 from the Medicine School and 44 from the Nursing School was used. An adapted version of the "Defining Issues Test" (DIT) was run to assess the group moral development. Such test is a version of the three dilemma model which was translated and validated to the Venezuelan context. According to test results, students have a conventional moral development and a moral principles index (Index P) similar to those obtained from Latin-American samples. Non-significant relationship between the moral development and academic level was found. Also, test results set the basis for justifying and designing a new curriculum for the students of the University’s Health Science Faculty based on moral development