Extracellular vesicles are a late marker of inflammation, hypercoagulability and COVID-19 severity

ABSTRACT Exacerbated inflammation and coagulation are a hallmark of COVID-19 severity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are intercellular transmitters involved in inflammatory conditions, which are capable of triggering prothrombotic mechanisms. Since the release of EVs is potentially associated with COVID-19-induced coagulopathy, the aim of this study was to evaluate changes in inflammation- and hypercoagulability-related EVs during the first month after symptom onset and to determine whether they are associated with disease severity. Blood samples of patients with mild or severe forms of the disease were collected on three occasions: in the second, third and fourth weeks after symptom onset for the quantification by flow cytometry of CD41A (platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa), CD162 (PSGL-1), CD31 (PECAM-1) and CD142 cells (tissue factor). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, Kruskal-Wallis and correlation tests were used. Eighty-five patients were enrolled, 71% of whom had mild disease. Seventeen uninfected individuals served as controls. Compared to controls, both mild and severe COVID-19 were associated with higher EV-CD31+, EV-CD41+ and EV-CD142+ levels. All EV levels were higher in severe than in mild COVID-19 only after the third week from symptom onset, as opposed to C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels, which were higher in severe than in mild COVID-19 earlier during disease progression. EV levels were also associated with C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels only after the third week of symptoms. In conclusion, EVs expressing CD41A, CD31, TF, and CD162 appear as late markers of COVID-19 severity. This finding may contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of acute and possibly long COVID-19.

Ideação suicida em pacientes internados em enfermarias de clínica médica: prevalência e sintomas depressivos / Suicidal ideation in patients admitted to general medical wards: prevalence and associated depressive symptoms

OBJETIVO: Verificar a frequência de ideação suicida e os sintomas depressivos associados a ela nos pacientes internados em enfermarias de clínica médica. MÉTODOS: Todos os adultos consecutivamente admitidos nas enfermarias de clínica médica de um hospital universitário foram randomizados e avaliados durante a primeira semana de internação. Coletaram-se dados sociodemográficos e aplicaram-se: o Patient Health Questionnaire (a pergunta sobre ideação suicida), o Inventário Beck de Depressão e o índice Charlson de comorbidade física. Utilizaram-se os testes t de Student, do qui-quadrado e a regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.092 sujeitos, 79 (7,2%) apresentaram ideação suicida. Na análise multivariada, foram capazes de discriminar esses pacientes, após controlar para sexo, idade, comorbidade física e presença de uma síndrome depressiva, os seguintes sintomas, quando presentes em intensidade moderada a grave: tristeza [RR: 3,18; IC 95% = 1,78-5,65; p < 0,001], sensação de fracasso [RR: 2,01; IC 95% = 1,09-3,72; p = 0,03], perda do interesse nas pessoas [RR: 2,69; IC 95% = 1,47-4,94; p = 0,001] e insônia [RR: 1,74; IC 95% = 1,05-2,89; p = 0,03]. CONCLUSÃO: Os pacientes internados no hospital geral em enfermarias clínicas apresentaram prevalência de 7,2% de ideação suicida. Alguns sintomas, quando presentes em intensidade moderada a grave, deveriam alertar ao clínico-geral para investigar a presença de ideação suicida: tristeza, sensação de fracasso, perda do interesse nas pessoas e insônia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and the depressive symptoms associated to it in medical inpatients. METHODS: All adults consecutively admitted to the medical wards of a University Hospital had their names recorded, were randomized and evaluated during the first week of admission. Socio-demographic data were collected and the Patient Health Questionnaire (question 9, assessing suicidal ideation), the Beck Depression Inventory and the Charlson comorbidity index were applied. The Student t test, chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used. RESULTS: Of the 1,092 patients who composed the sample, 79 (7.2%) reported having suicidal ideation. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for gender, age, physical comorbidity and the presence of a depressive syndrome, the following symptoms when in moderate to severe degree discriminated patients who had suicidal ideation: sadness [RR: 3.18; CI 95% = 1.78-5.65; p < 0.001], feeling like a failure [RR: 2.01; CI 95% = 1.09-3.72; p = 0.03], loss of interest in people [RR: 2.69; CI 95% = 1.47-4.94; p = 0.001] and insomnia [RR: 1.74; CI 95% = 1.05-2.89; p = 0.03]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in medical inpatients was 7.2%. When present in a moderate to severe degree, symptoms like sadness, feeling like a failure, loss of interest in people and insomnia should alert the medical team to assess suicidal ideation.