Association of human leukocyte antigen class II alleles with epithelial cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix production in acute COVID-19.

Introduction: Pathogenic mechanisms and long-term consequences of COVID-19 require attention in studies on SARS-CoV-2. The association of the severity of COVID-19 with genetic factors, such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, remains underexplored. Our study assessed the relationships between HLA class II alleles and COVID-19 severity and blood-based indicators of systemic inflammation and organ damage, serum markers of epithelial cell apoptosis such as caspase-cleaved CK18 fragment M30 (CK18-M30) and the extracellular matrix product hyaluronic acid (HA). Material and methods: The study included 101 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (mean age 60 ±14 years). Clinical tests were performed at admission to the hospital. The levels of CK18-M30 and HA were detected in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HLA typing was performed in HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 loci by the polymerase chain reaction with low-resolution sequence-specific primers. Results: Sixty-one patients had a non-severe and 40 had a severe or critical disease course (following the WHO definition). The severity was associated with older age, male gender, higher HA, CK18-M30, and some indicators of inflammation. Despite the lack of direct association between HLA alleles and the severity of COVID-19, the presence of HLA-DRB1*04 and 12 alleles in the genotype was associated with lowered or elevated HA, respectively. The HLA-DQB1*03:01 allele was associated with lowered CK18-M30, aspartate aminotransferase, and ferritin. In addition, HLA-DQB1*06:01 was associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase. Conclusions: Associations of HLA class II alleles with markers of epithelial cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix production indirectly support the influence of HLA genes on acute COVID-19 severity.

Intriguing findings of liver fibrosis following COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Studies on a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) show the elevation of liver enzymes and liver fibrosis index (FIB-4) independently on pre-existing liver diseases. It points to increased liver fibrogenesis during acute COVID-19 with possible long-term consequences. This study aimed to assess liver fibrosis in COVID-19 patients by serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and FIB-4. METHODS: The study included the acute COVID-19 group (66 patients, 50% females, mean age 58.3 ± 14.6), the post-COVID group (58 patients in 3-6 months after the recovery, 47% females, mean age 41.2 ± 13.4), and a control group (17 people, 47% females, mean age 42.8 ± 11.0). Ultrasound elastography was performed in the post-COVID and control groups. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of the acute COVID-19 group had increased FIB-4 (> 1.45), and 38% of patients had FIB-4 ≥ 3.25. After matching by demographics, 52% of acute COVID-19 and 5% of the post-COVID group had FIB-4 > 1.45, and 29% and 2% of patients had FIB-4 ≥ 3.25, respectively. Increased serum HA (≥ 75 ng/ml) was observed in 54% of the acute COVID-19 and 15% of the post-COVID group. In the acute COVID-19 group, HA positively correlated with FIB-4, AST, ALT, LDH, IL-6, and ferritin and negatively with blood oxygen saturation. In the post-COVID group, HA did not correlate with FIB-4, but it was positively associated with higher liver stiffness and ALT. CONCLUSION: More than half of acute COVID-19 patients had increased serum HA and FIB-4 related to liver function tests, inflammatory markers, and blood oxygen saturation. It provides evidence for the induction of liver fibrosis by multiple factors during acute COVID-19. Findings also indicate possible liver fibrosis in about 5% of the post-COVID group.

Childhood abuse experiences, depression and dissociation symptoms in relation to suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.

This study aimed to examine associations between suicide attempts (SA), suicidal ideation (SI), depression, dissociative symptoms, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse, and to explore predictors of SA and SI, as well as possible mediating factors. We also aimed to examine support for a dissociative depression subgroup. Participating in this study were 342 adults, of these were 138 respondents with a diagnosis of depression (DG), and 204 respondents comprising a community sample (CS). Respondents completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale - Revised (CESD-R), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF), and Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). All but two (DES-Absorption and DES - Depersonalization/Derealization) of the study variable mean scores were higher in the DG than in the CS group. Regression analysis showed that SA was predicted by sexual abuse and DES-Amnesia in the CS group. Structural equation modeling revealed that in both groups the types of abuse were reciprocally correlated, emotional abuse was linked to dissociation, which in turn was related to depression, which is turn was predictive of suicide ideation. Depression had a full mediating effect between dissociation and suicide ideation in the CS, and a partial mediating effect in the DG. Sexual abuse had a direct effect upon depression and suicide ideation in the DG. Cluster analysis provided support for a dissociative depression subtype.

Expression of ORAI1 and STIM1 genes in blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

This study aimed to detect the expression level of ORAI1 and STIM1 genes in blood of patients with bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in comparison with the control group. Both genes encode proteins providing store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) into the cells, including immune cells, to activate transcriptional factors for producing cytokines and inflammation-restricting proteins. The study included 45 patients with confirmed TB, aged 20 to 86, and 35 volunteers, aged from 21 to 73, without active TB infection. The expression of ORAI1 and STIM1 genes in blood was performed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as the referent gene. Inflammation was assessed by levels of interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) in serum (ELISA method). The results showed lower expression of ORAI1 in blood and higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-18 in serum of TB patients than that of the control group and no differences in expression of the STIM1 gene. It indicates some impairment in the SOCE mechanism of immune cells, which is associated with TB.

Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire (BCSQ-36): reliability and validity study in Latvia.

The study aimed to test the validity of the burnout subtypes hierarchic model operationalized by the 'Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire' (BCSQ-36) and its applicability in other cultures. To that aim psychometric properties, factorial and convergent validity regarding the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS), and correlation with demographic factors were reviewed. A voluntary internet-based approach was used on a multi-occupational sample of adult Latvians (n = 394). The results of the internal consistency of the Latvian version of the BCSQ-36 exceeded .89 for all three subtypes. The CFA was used to test a hierarchical factorial model, and the analysis revealed an acceptable fit of the model to the data. Correlation analysis showed results as expected, similarly to the original sample - Underchallenged and Worn-out subtypes correlated with all MBI-GS scales, while Frenetic subtype did not correlate with the MBI-GS Cynicism scale. Besides, demographic data showed some correlation only on the subscale level. Overall research results provide support of the validity of the burnout subtypes hierarchical model and applicability in another culture.

Sense of country: General and specific factors covary with social identification and predict emigration plans.

Theoretical analyses of person-environment interaction describe complex models, addressing different levels of social systems, while models of the sense of community provide a base for transferring views of this interaction to the national level. This paper presents two studies that explored the structure of the sense of country and its relation to emigration plans and social identification. Study 1 involved 1,005 adults from Latvia. The Sense of Country Inventory (SOCI) included influence, perceived opportunities, belonging, and spatiotemporal commitment as the components of this sense. The bifactor model demonstrated the best fit and confirmed the general factor, integrating components of the sense of country, and specific factors, emphasizing its complexity. The validation demonstrated that the general sense of country is the main negative predictor of emigration plans. Study 2 included 247 participants who completed the SOCI and Identification With All Humanity Scale (IWAH). Correlating with national identification, the sense of country negatively predicted emigration plans that reflected the social identity continuity pathway. In turn, a negative relationship between the sense of country and global identification, which positively predicted emigration plans, revealed a social identity gain pathway. Together, the studies present the integrative nature of the sense of country and its links to emigration plans and national and global social identification.

Seroprevalence of diphtheria and measles antibodies and their association with demographics, self-reported immunity, and immunogenetic factors in healthcare workers in Latvia.

Latvia is among European countries with outbreaks of diphtheria and measles. Healthcare workers (HCW) are exposed to infections and can transmit them to unvaccinated patients. We assessed the seroprevalence of antibodies against diphtheria and measles and their association with demographics, self-reported immunity, the presence of the HLA-B27 allele, and level of interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in Latvian HCW. Anti-diphtheria and anti-measles IgG antibodies and the level of IRF5 in serum were tested by enzyme immunoassay. The presence of the HLA-B27 allele was detected by a real-time polymerase chain reaction. The study involved 176 HCW, including 29% doctors and 44% nurses. Among HCW, 95.5% were seropositive for diphtheria. However, only 65.9% had full seroprotection against it. The seronegativity for measles (21.6%) was higher than for diphtheria (4.5%) without differences in gender and medical staff groups. Older age was associated with waning immunity against diphtheria and a higher rate of seropositivity for measles. Considered immunogenetic factors did not affect the level of antibodies, and variability of the level of IRF5 in serum can reflect ageing processes. Self-reported vaccination status had a low informative value regarding full seroprotection against diphtheria and seropositivity for measles indicating the need for pre-vaccination IgG screening in planning the booster vaccination.

The Sense of Belonging to the Country: Integrative Relationships and Spatiotemporal Commitment.

The satisfaction of the need to belong reflects in the sense of being an integrative part of the group or social system. There is some lack of empirical evidence for the structure of this sense at the macro level. This study assessed a two-dimensional model of the sense of belonging to the country, which included relational and spatiotemporal components. Participants were 539 university students from 18 to 50 (74% females). Questions regarding involvement, perceived acceptance, sense of commonality, and feeling at home represented the relational component of the sense of belonging. Four temporal categories-the recent past, present, and the near and distant future-were included in the assessment of its spatiotemporal component. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed an acceptable fit of the two-factor model. Its convergent validity was demonstrated by the association with an explicit single-item measure of belonging. The predictive effect of the spatiotemporal component emphasized the importance of continuity of belonging in considering emigration. In sum, the results confirmed the complexity of the sense of belonging to the country and the interconnectedness of integrative relationships and spatiotemporal commitment and revealed functional differences between them.

Epidemics among perceived impacts on Latvia before and during COVID-19: emerging threats versus stability.

BACKGROUND: In the time of global challenges, perception of the ongoing change at different levels of social systems modulates individual expectations, decisions, and emotional health. A previous study in Latvia revealed that perceived threats, globalization, political power, and personal control form the latent structure of perceived impacts on the country. The present study assessed the stability of this structure, comparing a relatively favorable situation and the situation of the COVID-19 emergency in Latvia. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Two successive independent samples included 254 and 171 university students in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Participants assessed the impact of 15 factors on Latvia: personal impact, parents and relatives, friends, people of Latvia, political parties and leaders, Saeima (the parliament of Latvia), the government of Latvia, the European Union, the United States, other countries, global economic crises, war and military conflicts, terrorism, epidemics, and natural disasters. RESULTS: A series of confirmatory factor analyses established partial invariance of the model. During the COVID-19 emergency, a significant shift in the perceived impact of epidemics, natural disasters, and global economic crises combined with the relative stability of personal, meso-, and macro-level factors. CONCLUSIONS: This stability indicates possible resources for balancing perceived threats in the situation of successful coping with COVID-19 in Latvia in Spring 2020.

Age-related trends of lesser pelvic architecture in females and males: a computed tomography pelvimetry study.

The pelvis and the spine form a system balancing human skeleton. Within this system, the pelvis adapts to age-related changes in the spine. Previous studies were predominantly focused on changes of pelvic parameters in the sagittal plane. The aim of this study was to reveal age-related changes of lesser pelvic dimensions at different levels of the pelvic cavity in the sagittal and coronal planes and to explore sexual dimorphism in age-related tendencies. The computed tomography pelvimetry was performed on the three-dimensional workstation. The research sample included 211 females aged 18 to 84 years and 181 males aged 18 to 82 years, who underwent an examination at the Riga East University Hospital, Clinical Center "Gailezers," Latvia. Three pelvic angles and transverse and sagittal diameters of the lesser pelvis were measured at four levels: the inlet, two axial planes in the mid-cavity, and the outlet. The results demonstrated that more pronounced age-related changes occurred in the inlet and the outlet of the lesser pelvis. The mid-cavity was less changing. The transverse diameter between acetabular centers and the sagittal diameter at the level of ischial spines were independent of age. In general, the common age-related trends were observed for pelvic parameters in females and males. A single exception was the proportion of diameters at the level of ischial spines, which decreased in males only. For parameters associated with pelvic floor diseases, age-related changes occurred in the direction of pathology.