Post-COVID syndrome, inflammation, and diabetes.

The raging COVID-19 pandemic is in its third year of global impact. The SARS CoV 2 virus has a high rate of spread, protean manifestations, and a high morbidity and mortality in individuals with predisposing risk factors. The pathophysiologic mechanisms involve a heightened systemic inflammatory state, cardiometabolic derangements, and varying degrees of glucose intolerance. The latter can be evident as significant hyperglycemia leading to new-onset diabetes or worsening of preexisting disease. Unfortunately, the clinical course beyond the acute phase of the illness may persist in the form of a variety of symptoms that together form the so-called "Long COVID" or "Post-COVID Syndrome". It is thought that a chronic, low-grade inflammatory and immunologic state persists during this phase, which may last for weeks or months. Although numerous insights have been gained into COVID-related hyperglycemia and diabetes, its prediction, course, and management remain to be fully elucidated.

Expression of Key Androgen-Activating Enzymes in Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumor, Not Otherwise Specified.

To characterize the expression of steroidogenic enzymes implicated in the development of ovarian steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified (SCT-NOS). We present 4 ovarian SCT-NOS evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of steroidogenic enzymes as an approach to define this entity pathologically. All 4 ovarian SCT-NOS showed increased expression for cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1), 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1), aldo-ketoreductase type 1 C3 (AKR1C3), 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (HSD3B2), 5α-reductase type 2 (SRD5A2), steroid sulfatase (SULT2A1), estrogen sulfotransferase (EST), and aromatase (CYP19A1). Expression was negative for 21-hydroxylase (CYP21A2) and 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (HSD17B2). 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (HSD17B3) and 5α-reductase type 1 (SRD5A1) showed variable expression. Our analysis reveals a novel finding of increased expression of AKR1C3, HSD17B1, SRD5A2, SULT2A1, and EST in ovarian SCT-NOS, which is clinically associated with androgen excess and virilization. Further studies are needed to validate these enzymes as new markers in the evaluation of hyperandrogenic ovarian conditions.

AN AGGRESSIVE TEMPORAL BONE SDHC PARAGANGLIOMA ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED HIF-2α SIGNALING.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with a germline succinate dehydrogenase (SDHC) gene mutation presenting with primary hyperparathyroidism and a large catecholamine-producing temporal bone paraganglioma (PGL). METHODS: Evaluation of a SDHC mutation-positive PGL tumor biology using staining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), hypoxia-inducible factors 1α (HIF-1α) and 2α (HIF-2α). RESULTS: A 66-year-old man was noted to have a lytic skull base mass during work-up for his primary hyperparathyroidism. Biochemical evaluation with 24-hour urine catecholamines and metanephrines revealed marked elevation of norepinephrine and normetanephrine. Genetic testing revealed a germline SDHC mutation. A partial excision of skull base tumor was performed, which upon further examination revealed PGL. Immunohistochemistry of skull base PGL demonstrated heavy expression of TH and HIF-2α but reduced expression of HIF-1α. The remaining skull base PGL was treated with adjuvant radiation therapy. The patient's normetanephrine levels significantly decreased after surgery and radiation. CONCLUSION: Here, we report an unusual case of a patient presenting with a germline SDHC mutation-related functional PGL along with concomitant primary hyperparathyroidism. The present case illustrates that overexpression of HIF-2α but not of HIF-1α is linked to the pathogenesis of SDHC mutation-related PGL, and it may be responsible for the aggressive clinical behavior of a usually indolent course of SDHC-related PGLs.

Association between admission hyperglycemia and length of stay after renal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare length of stay, readmissions, infections, and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease who have been admitted to receive renal transplant, stratified according to diabetes status and admission glucose concentration. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all adult patients who underwent renal transplant at an academic center during 2006. Patients were stratified according to diabetes status before transplant and glucose concentration at hospital admission (hyperglycemic [> 180 mg/dL] or normoglycemic [≤ = 180 mg/dL]). The groups were compared with respect to length of stay, number of readmissions during the 2-year period after transplant, infections, and mortality. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients underwent renal transplant during the study period, and 11 were excluded because of incomplete data. Thus, 87 patients were included. There was a trend towards greater length of stay and higher mortality in patients with known diagnosis of diabetes. When stratified according to glucose concentration at admission, patients with hyperglycemia had a significantly longer length of stay than normoglycemic patients (10 ± 4.3 days vs 7.9 ± 2.9; P = .039), even after correcting for diabetes status. CONCLUSION: Hyperglycemia at hospital admission, rather than a known diagnosis of diabetes, is associated with increased length of stay in patients admitted for renal transplant.