The S/S Genotype of the 5-HTTLPR (Serotonin-Transporter-Linked Promoter Region) Variant of the SLC6A4 Gene Decreases the Risk of Pre-Eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder characterized by hypertension in the second trimester of pregnancy that results from abnormal placentation affecting fetal development and maternal health. Previous studies have shown the role of serotonin (5-HT) that leads to poor placental perfusion, where S/S and S/L polymorphisms promote the solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4) gene associated with the risk of developing changes in the microvasculature of the placenta. This study looked at the association between the gene variant 5-HTTLPR (serotonin-transporter-linked promoter region) of the SLC6A4 gene and the occurrence of PE. A total of 200 women were included: 100 cases (pregnant with PE) and 100 controls (pregnant without complications). Genotyping of the 5-HTTLPR variant was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Associations between the presence of the genetic variant of interest and PE and other clinical features were evaluated statistically. The frequencies of S/S, S/L, and L/L genotypes were 32%, 53%, and 15% for the cases and 55%, 25%, and 20% in the control group. Compared to the controls, the genotype frequencies S/S vs. S/L + L/L (recessive model) in the cases group were different (p = 0.002). The S/S genotype decreased the probability of PE (OR = 0.39, 95% IC: 0.22-0.69, p = 0.002) and PE with severity criteria (OR = 0.39, 95% IC: 0.17-0.91, p = 0.045). The 5-HTTLPR gene variant of the SLC6A4 gene modifies the risk of PE development among the studied population.

Oral Lesions Associated with COVID-19 and the Participation of the Buccal Cavity as a Key Player for Establishment of Immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: Some oral lesions have been described in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); the possibility has been raised that the buccal lesions observed in patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are due to this virus and the patient's systemic condition. The aim of this review was to integrate the knowledge related to the oral lesions associated with COVID-19 and the participation of the buccal cavity in the establishment of immunity against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: A literature search on the manifestations of buccal lesions from the beginning of the pandemic until October 2021 was carried out by using the PubMed database. A total of 157 scientific articles were selected from the library, which included case reports and reports of lesions appearing in patients with COVID-19. RESULTS: Oral lesions included erosions, ulcers, vesicles, pustules, plaques, depapillated tongue, and pigmentations, among others. The oral cavity is a conducive environment for the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the mucosal immune system and target cells; direct effects of the virus in this cavity worsen the antiviral inflammatory response of underlying oral disorders, immunodeficiencies, and autoimmunity primarily. CONCLUSIONS: The oral cavity is an accessible and privileged environment for the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the mucosal immune system and target cells; the direct effects of the virus in this cavity worsen the antiviral inflammatory response of underlying oral disorders, in particular those related to immunodeficiencies and autoimmunity.

Evaluation of the Potential Risk of Mortality from SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Hospitalized Patients According to the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

Background: The pandemic of COVID-19 has represented a major threat to global public health in the last century and therefore to identify predictors of mortality among COVID-19 hospitalized patients is widely justified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible usefulness of Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) as mortality predictor in patients hospitalized because COVID-19. Methods: This study was carried out in Zacatecas, Mexico, and it included 705 hospitalized patients with suspected of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical data were collected, and the CCI score was calculated online using the calculator from the Sociedad Andaluza de Medicina Intensiva y Unidades Coronarias; the result was evaluated as mortality predictor among the patients with COVID-19. Results: 377 patients were positive for SARS-COV-2. Obesity increased the risk of intubation among the study population (odds ratio (OR) = 2.59; 95 CI: 1.36-4.92; p = 0.003). The CCI values were higher in patients who died because of COVID-19 complications than those observed in patients who survived (p < 0.001). Considering a CCI cutoff > 31.69, the area under the ROC curve was 0.75, with a sensitivity and a specificity of 63.6% and 87.7%, respectively. Having a CCI value > 31.69 increased the odds of death by 12.5 times among the study population (95% CI: 7.3-21.4; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The CCI is a suitable tool for the prediction of mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The presence of comorbidities in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 reflected as CCI > 31.69 increased the risk of death among the study population, so it is important to take precautionary measures in patients due to their condition and their increased vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 infection.