Associations between post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 vaccination and HIV infection: a United States cohort study.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) are at higher risk of complications from acute COVID-19, but their risk of subsequent post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV2 (PASC) remains unclear. Although vaccination is protective of PASC among survivors in the general population, its effectiveness in PWH has not been explored. Methods: We used the TriNetX health research database to identify patients with and without HIV aged ≥18 years with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 between January 1, 2020 and July 20, 2023. We employed 1:1 propensity score matching to balance HIV and non-HIV cohorts based on demographics and key comorbidities. The primary outcomes accessed odds of PASC and mortality and secondary outcomes assessed odds of PASC and mortality by vaccination status. PASC was defined as new-onset conditions ≥ 28 days after COVID-19 diagnosis. We reported odd ratios (OR) of outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Of 3,029,340 people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 0.5% (n=13,214) were PWH, with 7.5% of PWH (n=989) vaccinated. After 28 days post-COVID-19, PWH had higher odds of mortality compared with their non-HIV counterparts (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.40) and developing new-onset HTN (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.36), heart disease (OR 1.35 95% CI 1.18-1.54), malignancy (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.22-1.81), and mental disorders (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.42-1.85). Furthermore, vaccinated PWH had significantly lower odds of death (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42-0.93) and new-onset PASC outcomes: DM (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-0.99), heart disease (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.4-0.85), mental disorders (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.43-1.00), fatigue (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.67-0.98), respiratory (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.95) and gastrointestinal symptoms (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67-0.90). Conclusion: HIV-positive status increased PASC odds, while COVID-19 vaccination reduced PASC and all-cause mortality risks in PWH.

Reduced risk of de novo Barrett esophagus after bariatric surgery: a national database study.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity and may decrease the morbidity and mortality of obesity-associated cancers. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the risk of a new diagnosis of Barrett esophagus (BE) following bariatric surgery compared to screening colonoscopy controls. SETTING: Large national database including patients who received care in inpatient, outpatient, and specialty care services. METHODS: A national healthcare database (TriNetX, LLC) was used for this analysis. Cases included adults (aged ≥18 yr) who had undergone either sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Controls included adults undergoing screening colonoscopy and an esophagoduodenoscopy on the same day and had never undergone bariatric surgery. Cases and controls were propensity-matched for confounders. The risk of de novo diagnosis of BE at least 1 year after bariatric surgery was compared between cases and controls. Secondary analyses examined the effect of bariatric surgery on metabolic outcomes such as weight loss and body mass index (BMI). The risk of de novo diagnosis of BE in SG was compared with RYGB. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were used to report on these associations. RESULTS: In the propensity-matched analysis, patients who had undergone a bariatric surgical procedure showed a significantly reduced risk of de novo BE when compared with screening colonoscopy controls (.67 [.48, .94]). There was substantial reduction in weight and BMI in the bariatric surgery group when compared with baseline. There was no significant difference in de novo BE diagnosis between the propensity-matched SG and RYGB groups (.77 [.5, 1.2]). CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent bariatric surgery (RYGB or SG) had a lower risk of being diagnosed with BE compared with screening colonoscopy controls who did not receive bariatric surgery. This effect appears to be largely mediated by reduction in weight and BMI.

Elevation of C-reactive protein in adolescent bipolar disorder vs. anxiety disorders.

Bipolar disorder (BD) largely begins in adolescence, but diagnosis lags for years, causing significant morbidity and mortality, and demonstrating the need for better diagnostic tools. Suggesting an association between BD and immune activity, elevated levels of peripheral inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), have been found in adults with BD. As similar data are extremely limited in adolescents, this study examined CRP levels in adolescents with BD (n = 37) compared to those with anxiety disorders (ADs, n = 157) and healthy controls with no psychiatric diagnoses (HCs, n = 2760). CRP blood levels for patients aged 12-17 years were retrieved from a nationwide repository of deidentified clinical data. After excluding patients with inflammatory conditions, differences in CRP were examined using multivariate and weighted regressions (covariates: demographics and BMI). Mean CRP levels were significantly elevated in adolescents with BD relative to those with ADs and HCs. Mean CRP levels were lower in the ADs cohort versus HCs. Although CRP levels were significantly higher in males and younger patients, the significant between-cohort differences in CRP remained after controlling for multiple confounders. To our knowledge, our study is the first to compare CRP levels between adolescent BD, ADs, and HCs, comprising a novel and essential contribution. Our results suggest the presence of a unique immune process in adolescents with BD and indicate that CRP may represent a biomarker with a crucial role in the diagnostic assessment of adolescent BD.

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States: A Multicenter Study From a Large Global Health Research Network (TriNetX).

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) is a presumed risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet little is known about COVID-19 outcomes in people with HIV (PWH). METHODS: We used the TriNetX database to compare COVID-19 outcomes of PWH and HIV-negative controls aged ≥18 years who sought care in 44 healthcare centers in the United States from January 1 to December 1, 2020. Outcomes of interest were rates of hospitalization (composite of inpatient non-intensive care [ICU] and ICU admissions), mechanical ventilation, severe disease (ICU admission or death), and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Of 297 194 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1638 (0.6%) were HIV-infected, with >83% on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 48% virally suppressed. Overall, PWH were more commonly younger, male, African American or Hispanic, had more comorbidities, were more symptomatic, and had elevated procalcitonin and interleukin 6. Mortality at 30 days was comparable between the 2 groups (2.9% vs 2.3%, P = .123); however, PWH had higher rates hospitalization (16.5% vs 7.6%, P < .001), ICU admissions (4.2% vs 2.3%, P < .001), and mechanical ventilation (2.4% vs 1.6%, P < .005). Among PWH, hospitalization was independently associated with male gender, being African American, integrase inhibitor use, and low CD4 count; whereas severe disease was predicted by older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 8.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-50.00; P = .044) and CD4 <200 cells/mm3 (aOR, 8.33; 95% CI, 1.06-50.00; P = .044). CONCLUSIONS: People with HIV had higher rates of poor COVID-19 outcomes but were not more at risk of death than their non-HIV-infected counterparts. Older age and low CD4 count predicted adverse outcomes.

Trastornos vestibulares y del equilibrio en niños y adolescentes mexicanos: revisión de registros clínicos de 8 años / Vestibular and balance disorders in Mexican children and adolescents: Review of 8-year clinical records

Introducción: El vértigo es un síntoma poco estudiado en la población pediátrica, donde la prevalencia es inferior al 1%. Los trastornos vestibulares en el niño no son equiparables a los del adulto y a menudo son subdiagnosticados. Identificar las principales causas de estos trastornos proporcionaría datos fidedignos y precisos de las enfermedades en ciertos grupos de edad, mejorando el proceso de diagnóstico.Material y métodosEstudio observacional, transversal y retrospectivo. Se revisaron los expedientes consecutivos de pacientes, de entre 3 y 17años, atendidos por síntomas vestibulares, del equilibrio y asociados (vértigo, mareo, hipoacusia, alteraciones del equilibrio y cefalalgia) en el servicio de Otoneurología de un hospital de tercer nivel de atención entre septiembre de 2010 y septiembre de 2018. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva e inferencial para el análisis. Todos los valores de p informados de estos análisis fueron de dos colas con un nivel de significación <0,05.ResultadosSe registraron 212 casos entre 6.444 consultas, por lo que la frecuencia fue del 3,3%. La proporción entre hombres y mujeres fue similar. La edad media del grupo fue de 14,5 (±3,9) años, la mediana de la edad de inicio de los síntomas fue de 11 (RIC 8-14) años y la de la primera consulta fue de 13 (RIC 10-15) años. Como síntoma cardinal, el 51,9% acudieron por vértigo, el 25,5% por mareo, el 9,9% por inestabilidad de la marcha, el 7,5% por hipoacusia y el 5,2% por cefalalgia. El 61,8% de los episodios de vértigo tuvieron un origen periférico, el 32,5% central y el 5,7% fuera del sistema vestibular. El vértigo paroxístico benigno de la infancia, la disfunción y migraña vestibular representaron más del 65% de los casos. No se encontraron diferencias entre los diagnósticos con respecto al sexo y la edad de los participantes (p>0,05). (AU)

Introduction: Vertigo is a seldom studied symptom in the paediatric population, where the prevalence is less than 1%. Vestibular disorders in children are not comparable to those of adults and are often underdiagnosed. Identifying the main causes of these disorders would provide reliable and accurate data of the diseases in certain age groups, improving the diagnostic process.Material and methodsObservational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study. Consecutive records of patients, aged 3 to 17years, attended due to vestibular, balance and associated symptoms (vertigo, dizziness, hearing loss, balance disorders and headache), attended by the otoneurology service of a tertiary hospital, between September 2010 and September 2018, were included. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. All p-values reported from these analyses were two-tailed with a significance level <.05.Results212 cases were registered from 6,444 consultations (3.3%). The proportion between males and females was similar. The mean age of the group was 14.5 (±3.9) years, the median age of onset of symptoms was 11 (IQR 8-14) years and that of the first consultation was 13 (IQR 10-15) years. As a cardinal symptom, 51.9% attended due to vertigo, 25.5% due to dizziness, 9.9% due to gait instability, 7.5% due to hearing loss and 5.2% due to headache. Of the episodes of vertigo, 61.8% were of peripheral origin, 69 32.5% central and 12 5.7% outside the vestibular system. Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, dysfunction and vestibular migraine accounted for more than 65% of cases. No differences were found between the diagnoses regarding the sex and age of the participants (P>.05).ConclusionVestibular and balance disorders are rare in the study population and most of the causes are benign and potentially self-limited disorders. (AU)

Vestibular and balance disorders in Mexican children and adolescents: Review of 8-year clinical records. / Trastornos vestibulares y del equilibrio en niños y adolescentes mexicanos: revisión de registros clínicos de 8 años.

INTRODUCTION: Vertigo is a seldom studied symptom in the paediatric population, where the prevalence is less than 1%. Vestibular disorders in children are not comparable to those of adults and are often underdiagnosed. Identifying the main causes of these disorders would provide reliable and accurate data of the diseases in certain age groups, improving the diagnostic process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study. Consecutive records of patients, aged 3 to 17years, attended due to vestibular, balance and associated symptoms (vertigo, dizziness, hearing loss, balance disorders and headache), attended by the otoneurology service of a tertiary hospital, between September 2010 and September 2018, were included. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. All p-values reported from these analyses were two-tailed with a significance level <.05. RESULTS: 212 cases were registered from 6,444 consultations (3.3%). The proportion between males and females was similar. The mean age of the group was 14.5 (±3.9) years, the median age of onset of symptoms was 11 (IQR 8-14) years and that of the first consultation was 13 (IQR 10-15) years. As a cardinal symptom, 51.9% attended due to vertigo, 25.5% due to dizziness, 9.9% due to gait instability, 7.5% due to hearing loss and 5.2% due to headache. Of the episodes of vertigo, 61.8% were of peripheral origin, 69 32.5% central and 12 5.7% outside the vestibular system. Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, dysfunction and vestibular migraine accounted for more than 65% of cases. No differences were found between the diagnoses regarding the sex and age of the participants (P>.05). CONCLUSION: Vestibular and balance disorders are rare in the study population and most of the causes are benign and potentially self-limited disorders.

Utilidad de los potenciales evocados visuales con patrón invertido en el diagnóstico de la dislexia / Utility of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials in the diagnosis of dyslexia

Antecedentes: En los disléxicos se ha demostrado que existe una alteración de la vía magnocelular, lo cual ha sido corroborado con estudios electrofisiológicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la utilidad de los potenciales evocados visuales con patrón invertido (PEVp) en el diagnóstico de la dislexia. Método: Estudio comparativo en el que se estudiaron 16 niños disléxicos del Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación en México D.F. El diagnóstico de dislexia se efectuó con la prueba ENI; se realizaron estudios de agudeza visual, la prueba WISC-R y PEVp. Los disléxicos ingresaron a un programa de terapia de aprendizaje durante 6 meses, de esta manera se obtuvieron y compararon mediciones neuropsicológicas y neurofisiológicas al inicio y al concluir el programa terapéutico. Resultados: En la batería neuropsicológica se encontraron puntuaciones superiores al 75% en las áreas de lectura, escritura y habilidades espaciales. Al aplicar la prueba t-Student se encontraron diferencias significativas para las amplitudes de N2 en PEVp mono y binocular con una p < 0,05; no así en las latencias de N1, P100 y N2. Conclusiones: Las amplitudes en los PEVp se deben tomar en cuenta para poder entender los mecanismos de procesamiento visual y de compensación cerebral en pacientes con dislexia. Se recomienda una terapia específica para los problemas de lectoescritura de acuerdo con el sujeto disléxico (AU)

Background: Dyslexics have been shown to have an impaired magnocellular pathway, a finding that has been corroborated by electrophysiological studies. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (pVEP) in the diagnosis of dyslexia. Methods: A comparative study was performed in 16 dyslexic children in the National Rehabilitation Institute in Mexico City. The diagnosis of dyslexia was performed with the child neuropsychological assessment battery. Tests of visual acuity and the WISC-R and pVEP tests were also performed. Dyslexics entered a learning therapy program for 6 months. Neuropsychological and neurophysiological measurements were conducted at the beginning and end of the therapeutic program. Results: The neuropsychological battery scores were above 75% in the areas of reading, writing and spatial skills. Student’s t-test showed significant differences in mono and binocular pVEP N2 amplitudes (P < .05). No significant differences were found in N1, N2 and P100 latencies. Conclusions: pVEP amplitudes should be taken into account to understand the mechanisms of visual processing and stroke clearing in patients with dyslexia. Specific therapy is recommended for reading and writing problems in individual dyslexic persons (AU)