Epicardial adipose tissue thickness is associated with increased COVID-19 severity and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Increased adiposity and visceral obesity have been linked to adverse COVID-19 outcomes. The amount of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may have relevant implications given its proximity to the heart and lungs. Here, we explored the role of EAT in increasing the risk for COVID-19 adverse outcomes. METHODS: We included 748 patients with COVID-19 attending a reference center in Mexico City. EAT thickness, sub-thoracic and extra-pericardial fat were measured using thoracic CT scans. We explored the association of each thoracic adipose tissue compartment with COVID-19 mortality and severe COVID-19 (defined as mortality and need for invasive mechanical ventilation), according to the presence or absence of obesity. Mediation analyses evaluated the role of EAT in facilitating the effect of age, body mass index and cardiac troponin levels with COVID-19 outcomes. RESULTS: EAT thickness was associated with increased risk of COVID-19 mortality (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01-1.39) independent of age, gender, comorbid conditions and BMI. Increased EAT was associated with lower SpO2 and PaFi index and higher levels of cardiac troponins, D-dimer, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and 4 C severity score, independent of obesity. EAT mediated 13.1% (95% CI 3.67-28.0%) and 5.1% (95% CI 0.19-14.0%) of the effect of age and 19.4% (95% CI 4.67-63.0%) and 12.8% (95% CI 0.03-46.0%) of the effect of BMI on requirement for intubation and mortality, respectively. EAT also mediated the effect of increased cardiac troponins on myocardial infarction during COVID-19. CONCLUSION: EAT is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 and mortality independent of obesity. EAT partly mediates the effect of age and BMI and increased cardiac troponins on adverse COVID-19 outcomes.

Valoración preoperatoria en cirugía no cardiaca: un abordaje por pasos.

Preoperative assessment in non-cardiac surgery is essential to reducing the rate of in-hospital complications. Its purpose is to identify patients with higher levels of risk. Preoperative assessment should not be restricted to cardiovascular aspects, but it should focus on all organs and systems and include medication reconciliation. The purpose of this article is to approach the performance of a preoperative assessment in non-cardiac surgery from the perspective of the internist, with the purpose to help prevent adverse events and improve the overall outcome.

La valoración preoperatoria en cirugía no cardiaca es fundamental para disminuir la tasa de complicaciones hospitalarias; su finalidad es identificar pacientes con riesgos mayores. La valoración preoperatoria no se debe limitar a los aspectos cardiovasculares, sino enfocarse en todos los órganos y sistemas e incluir la conciliación de medicamentos. El objetivo de este escrito es abordar la realización de una valoración preoperatoria en cirugía no cardiaca desde la perspectiva del médico internista, con el fin de ayudar a prevenir eventos adversos y mejorar el desenlace general.

Serum Vitamin D Levels Are Associated With Increased COVID-19 Severity and Mortality Independent of Whole-Body and Visceral Adiposity.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with susceptibility to infectious disease. In this study, the association between COVID-19 outcomes and vitamin D levels in patients attending a COVID-19 reference center in Mexico City are examined. METHODS: Consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 were evaluated. All patients underwent clinical evaluation and follow-up, laboratory measurements and a thoracic computerized tomography, including the measurement of epicardial fat thickness. Low vitamin D was defined as levels <20 ng/ml (<50nmol/L) and deficient Vitamin D as a level ≤12 ng/ml (<30 nmol/L). RESULTS: Of the 551 patients included, low vitamin D levels were present in 45.6% and deficient levels in 10.9%. Deficient Vitamin D levels were associated with mortality (HR 2.11, 95%CI 1.24-3.58, p = 0.006) but not with critical COVID-19, adjusted for age, sex, body-mass index and epicardial fat. Using model-based causal mediation analyses the increased risk of COVID-19 mortality conferred by low vitamin D levels was partly mediated by its effect on D-dimer and cardiac ultrasensitive troponins. Notably, increased risk of COVID-19 mortality conferred by low vitamin D levels was independent of BMI and epicardial fat. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency (≤12 ng/ml or <30 nmol/L), is independently associated with COVID-19 mortality after adjustment for visceral fat (epicardial fat thickness). Low vitamin D may contribute to a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic state, increasing the risk for adverse COVID-19 outcomes.

Physiological Network Is Disrupted in Severe COVID-19.

The human body is a complex system maintained in homeostasis thanks to the interactions between multiple physiological regulation systems. When faced with physical or biological perturbations, this system must react by keeping a balance between adaptability and robustness. The SARS-COV-2 virus infection poses an immune system challenge that tests the organism's homeostatic response. Notably, the elderly and men are particularly vulnerable to severe disease, poor outcomes, and death. Mexico seems to have more infected young men than anywhere else. The goal of this study is to determine the differences in the relationships that link physiological variables that characterize the elderly and men, and those that characterize fatal outcomes in young men. To accomplish this, we examined a database of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 (471 men and 277 women) registered at the "Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán" in March 2020. The sample was stratified by outcome, age, and sex. Physiological networks were built using 67 physiological variables (vital signs, anthropometric, hematic, biochemical, and tomographic variables) recorded upon hospital admission. Individual variables and system behavior were examined by descriptive statistics, differences between groups, principal component analysis, and network analysis. We show how topological network properties, particularly clustering coefficient, become disrupted in disease. Finally, anthropometric, metabolic, inflammatory, and pulmonary cluster interaction characterize the deceased young male group.

Characterization of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Expression in Nucleus Accumbens and Hippocampus of Rats Subjected to Food Selection in the Cafeteria Diet Protocol.

Obesity is a world-wide health problem that requires different experimental perspectives to understand the onset of this disease, including the neurobiological basis of food selection. From a molecular perspective, obesity has been related with activity of several endogenous molecules, including the mitogenactivated protein kinases (MAP-K). The aim of this study was to characterize MAP-K expression in hedonic and learning and memory brain-associated areas such as nucleus accumbens (AcbC) and hippocampus (HIPP) after food selection. We show that animals fed with cafeteria diet during 14 days displayed an increase in p38 MAP-K activity in AcbC if chose cheese. Conversely, a diminution was observed in animals that preferred chocolate in AcbC. Also, a decrease of p38 MAP-K phosphorylation was found in HIPP in rats that selected either cheese or chocolate. Our data demonstrate a putative role of MAP-K expression in food selection. These findings advance our understanding of neuromolecular basis engaged in obesity.

Valoración preoperatoria en cirugía no cardiaca: un abordaje por pasos / Preoperative evaluation in noncardiac surgery: a stepwise approach

Resumen La valoración preoperatoria en cirugía no cardiaca es fundamental para disminuir la tasa de complicaciones hospitalarias; su finalidad es identificar pacientes con riesgos mayores. La valoración preoperatoria no se debe limitar a los aspectos cardiovasculares, sino enfocarse en todos los órganos y sistemas e incluir la conciliación de medicamentos. El objetivo de este escrito es abordar la realización de una valoración preoperatoria en cirugía no cardiaca desde la perspectiva del médico internista, con el fin de ayudar a prevenir eventos adversos y mejorar el desenlace general.

Abstract Preoperative assessment in non-cardiac surgery is essential to reducing the rate of in-hospital complications. Its purpose is to identify patients with higher levels of risk. Preoperative assessment should not be restricted to cardiovascular aspects, but it should focus on all organs and systems and include medication reconciliation. The purpose of this article is to approach the performance of a preoperative assessment in non-cardiac surgery from the perspective of the internist, with the purpose to help prevent adverse events and improve the overall outcome.

Microbioma humano / Human microbiome

RESUMEN El estudio del microbioma humano ha crecido de manera exponencial en la última década, y su importancia en el proceso de salud enfermedad del ser humano se hace cada vez más evidente. Se le ha implicado en múltiples enfermedades autoinmunes, autoinflamatorias, en cáncer, obesidad, síndrome metabólico y riesgo cardiovascular. La transgresión del microbioma en ocasiones puede ocurrir por el abuso de ciertos fármacos como antibióticos e inhibidores de bomba de protones, entre otros. Reestablecer el equilibrio entre la microbiota y el ser humano debe de ser prioritario para mantener la salud del individuo.

ABSTRACT The study of the human microbiome has grown exponentially in the last decade and its importance in the human health-disease process is becoming more and more evident. It has been implicated in multiple autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, cancer, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk. The transgression of the normal composition of the microbiome can sometimes occur due to the abuse of drugs such as antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, among others. Re-establishing the balance between the microbiota and the human being must be a priority to maintain the health of the individual.