Comparison of 1-year survival between patients initiating chronic hemodialysis under public and private health insurance: register-based data analysis from Brazil.

PURPOSE: Brazil has one of the world's highest numbers of patients on hemodialysis (HD). Most dialysis centers are private and perform HD for patients with private and public health insurance. We compared 1-year survival between patients initiating chronic HD with public and private health insurance. METHODS: This is an HD register-based retrospective cohort. Adult patients starting HD from January 2011 to December 2021 were included. Survival analysis was stratified according to the period entered in the HD register. Multivariate Cox regression focused on 1-year survival differences between private and public patients. RESULTS: In the final sample (n = 5114), 68.5% of participants had public and 31.3% to private health insurance, with overall 1-year survival of 92.8% and 89.9%, respectively (p = 0.002). Crude analysis showed a slightly higher survival rate among patients with public health insurance than those with private health insurance (91 vs. 87%, p = 0.030) in the first period (2019-21). However, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) did not remain significantly higher for patients with private health insurance compared to those with public health insurance (HR = 1.07; 95% CI 0.80-1.41; p = 0.651), even after propensity score matching of the groups by several baseline features. CONCLUSION: Brazilian chronic HD patients funded by either private health plans or the public system have a similar 1-year mortality risk after controlling for several sociodemographic and clinical parameters.

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.

The plasma metabolome of long COVID patients two years after infection.

One of the major challenges currently faced by global health systems is the prolonged COVID-19 syndrome (also known as "long COVID") which has emerged as a consequence of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. It is estimated that at least 30% of patients who have had COVID-19 will develop long COVID. In this study, our goal was to assess the plasma metabolome in a total of 100 samples collected from healthy controls, COVID-19 patients, and long COVID patients recruited in Mexico between 2020 and 2022. A targeted metabolomics approach using a combination of LC-MS/MS and FIA MS/MS was performed to quantify 108 metabolites. IL-17 and leptin were measured in long COVID patients by immunoenzymatic assay. The comparison of paired COVID-19/long COVID-19 samples revealed 53 metabolites that were statistically different. Compared to controls, 27 metabolites remained dysregulated even after two years. Post-COVID-19 patients displayed a heterogeneous metabolic profile. Lactic acid, lactate/pyruvate ratio, ornithine/citrulline ratio, and arginine were identified as the most relevant metabolites for distinguishing patients with more complicated long COVID evolution. Additionally, IL-17 levels were significantly increased in these patients. Mitochondrial dysfunction, redox state imbalance, impaired energy metabolism, and chronic immune dysregulation are likely to be the main hallmarks of long COVID even two years after acute COVID-19 infection.

Untargeted analysis in post-COVID-19 patients reveals dysregulated lipid pathways two years after recovery.

Introduction: Similar to what it has been reported with preceding viral epidemics (such as MERS, SARS, or influenza), SARS-CoV-2 infection is also affecting the human immunometabolism with long-term consequences. Even with underreporting, an accumulated of almost 650 million people have been infected and 620 million recovered since the start of the pandemic; therefore, the impact of these long-term consequences in the world population could be significant. Recently, the World Health Organization recognized the post-COVID syndrome as a new entity, and guidelines are being established to manage and treat this new condition. However, there is still uncertainty about the molecular mechanisms behind the large number of symptoms reported worldwide. Aims and Methods: In this study we aimed to evaluate the clinical and lipidomic profiles (using non-targeted lipidomics) of recovered patients who had a mild and severe COVID-19 infection (acute phase, first epidemic wave); the assessment was made two years after the initial infection. Results: Fatigue (59%) and musculoskeletal (50%) symptoms as the most relevant and persistent. Functional analyses revealed that sterols, bile acids, isoprenoids, and fatty esters were the predicted metabolic pathways affected in both COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 patients. Principal Component Analysis showed differences between study groups. Several species of phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins were identified and expressed in higher levels in post-COVID-19 patients compared to controls. The paired analysis (comparing patients with an active infection and 2 years after recovery) show 170 dysregulated features. The relationship of such metabolic dysregulations with the clinical symptoms, point to the importance of developing diagnostic and therapeuthic markers based on cell signaling pathways.

Survival estimates of childhood malignancies treated at the Mexican telethon pediatric oncology hospital.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric cancer incidence in Mexico is ~160/million/year with leukemias making 49.8% of the cases. While survival rates have been reported in various Mexican studies, no data is available from the Telethon Pediatric Oncology Hospital-HITO, a nonprofit private institution specialized exclusively in comprehensive pediatric oncology care in the country that closely follows high-income countries' advanced standards of cancer care. AIM: To determine overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients treated at HITO between December 2013 and February 2018. METHODS AND RESULTS: Secondary analysis of data extracted from medical records. It included 286 children aged 0-17 years diagnosed with various cancers grouped into three categories based on location: (1) Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), (2) tumors within the central nervous system (TWCNS), and (3) tumors outside the CNS (TOCNS). OS and RFS rates for patients who completed 1 (n = 230) and 3 (n = 132) years of follow-up after admission were computed by sex, age, and cancer location, and separately for a subsample (1-year = 191, 3-years = 110) who fulfilled the HITO criteria (no prior treatment, underwent surgery/chemotherapy when indicated, and initiated therapy). TOCNS accounted for 45.1%, but ALL was the most frequent single diagnosis with 28%. Three-year OS for patients with ALL, TWCNS, and TOCNS who fulfilled the HITO criteria were 91.9%, 86.7%, and 79.3%, respectively; for 3-year RFS these were 89.2%, 60%, and 72.4%. Boys showed slightly higher OS and RFS, but no major differences or trends were seen by age group. CONCLUSION: This study sets a relevant reference in terms of survival and relapse for children with cancer in Mexico treated at a private oncology center that uses a comprehensive and integrated therapeutic model.

Factors Associated with Unprotected Anal Sex among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Mexico.

The global prevalence of HIV is notably higher in men who have sex with men (MSM) compared with other male populations. Unprotected anal intercourse is the riskiest sexual behavior for HIV acquisition and/or transmission among this minority population. The purpose of the study was to identify if the syndemic of psychosocial stressors and experienced stigma are predictors of unprotected anal sex in Mexican MSM. A cross-sectional analytic study was carried out. It included adults residing in Manzanillo, Mexico, with oral/anal sex practices within the last year. Informed consent was given by 142 participants selected using snowball sampling. Collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial stressors, experienced stigma, HIV knowledge, knowing a friend/acquaintance living with HIV/AIDS, and sexual risk behaviors. Adjusted logistic regression was used to identify predictors of unprotected anal sex within the last six months. Presence of syndemic of psychosocial stressors, drug use during sex, having friends/acquaintances with HIV/AIDS, and experiencing high stigma were positively associated; high level of HIV knowledge was negatively linked. Reducing psychosocial stressors and integrating stigma-mitigation strategies are key elements to reduce HIV transmission.

miR-146a, miR-221, and miR-155 are Involved in Inflammatory Immune Response in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

COVID-19 infection triggered a global public health crisis during the 2020-2022 period, and it is still evolving. This highly transmissible respiratory disease can cause mild symptoms up to severe pneumonia with potentially fatal respiratory failure. In this cross-sectional study, 41 PCR-positive patients for SARS-CoV-2 and 42 healthy controls were recruited during the first wave of the pandemic in Mexico. The plasmatic expression of five circulating miRNAs involved in inflammatory and pathological host immune responses was assessed using RT-qPCR (Reverse Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction). Compared with controls, a significant upregulation of miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-221 was observed; miR-146a had a positive correlation with absolute neutrophil count and levels of brain natriuretic propeptide (proBNP), and miR-221 had a positive correlation with ferritin and a negative correlation with total cholesterol. We found here that CDKN1B gen is a shared target of miR-146a, miR-221-3p, and miR-155-5p, paving the way for therapeutic interventions in severe COVID-19 patients. The ROC curve built with adjusted variables (miR-146a, miR-221-3p, miR-155-5p, age, and male sex) to differentiate individuals with severe COVID-19 showed an AUC of 0.95. The dysregulation of circulating miRNAs provides new insights into the underlying immunological mechanisms, and their possible use as biomarkers to discriminate against patients with severe COVID-19. Functional analysis showed that most enriched pathways were significantly associated with processes related to cell proliferation and immune responses (innate and adaptive). Twelve of the predicted gene targets have been validated in plasma/serum, reflecting their potential use as predictive prognosis biomarkers.

Anxiety, depression, and academic stress among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The social distancing policies implemented by the health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico and elsewhere led to major changes in teaching strategies for college undergraduates. So far, there is limited data regarding the impact of the lockdown on the academic stress and mental health of these students. Objective: To assess the occurrence of academic difficulties, anxiety, depression, and academic stressors resulting in somatization with subsequent coping strategies linked to the pandemic. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 728 medical students (years 1-5). A purposely designed questionnaire to assess academic difficulties associated with the pandemic was administered electronically. The validated Goldberg anxiety and depression scale was also used, as well as the SISCO-II inventory on academic stress. Results: Screening for anxiety and depression led to a prevalence of 67.9 and 81.3%, respectively. Most relevant stressors, reported always or nearly always, included professors' evaluations (63.9%), and reading overload of academic papers (50.6%). Factorial analyses showed that women were more prone to stress than men (p < 0.001). Somatization symptomatology included drowsiness or increased need of sleep, anxiety, anguish, desperation, chronic fatigue, and sleep disorders. Common coping strategies included practicing a hobby, done always or nearly always by 65% of students with high stress, and 34% of those with low stress (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was a relevant impact of the mandatory lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical students reflected in the high prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and stressors in the studied population pointing to the need for designing and implementing preventive strategies to deal with the effects of lockdowns.

Kynurenine and Hemoglobin as Sex-Specific Variables in COVID-19 Patients: A Machine Learning and Genetic Algorithms Approach.

Differences in clinical manifestations, immune response, metabolic alterations, and outcomes (including disease severity and mortality) between men and women with COVID-19 have been reported since the pandemic outbreak, making it necessary to implement sex-specific biomarkers for disease diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to identify sex-associated differences in COVID-19 patients by means of a genetic algorithm (GALGO) and machine learning, employing support vector machine (SVM) and logistic regression (LR) for the data analysis. Both algorithms identified kynurenine and hemoglobin as the most important variables to distinguish between men and women with COVID-19. LR and SVM identified C10:1, cough, and lysoPC a 14:0 to discriminate between men with COVID-19 from men without, with LR being the best model. In the case of women with COVID-19 vs. women without, SVM had a higher performance, and both models identified a higher number of variables, including 10:2, lysoPC a C26:0, lysoPC a C28:0, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, lactic acid, cough, fever, anosmia, and dysgeusia. Our results demonstrate that differences in sexes have implications in the diagnosis and outcome of the disease. Further, genetic and machine learning algorithms are useful tools to predict sex-associated differences in COVID-19.

Quality of life in primary caregivers of patients in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis / Qualidade de vida em cuidadores primários de pacientes em diálise peritoneal e hemodiálise

Abstract Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is gaining track as an efficient/affordable therapy in poor settings. Yet, there is little data regarding differences in quality of life (QoL) of primary caregivers (PCG) of patients in PD and hemodialysis (HD). Aim: To compare the QoL of PCG of patients in PD and HD from an upper middle-income population in a Mexican city. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out with PCG of patients in PD (n=42) and HD (n=95) from 4 hospitals (response rate=70.2%). The SF 36-item QoL questionnaire, the Zarit burden interview, and the Goldberg anxiety/depression scale were used. Mean normalized scores for each QoL domain were compared by dialysis type. Adjusted odds were computed using logistic regression to determine the probability of low QoL (<70% of maximum possible score resulting from the added scores of the 8 dimensions). Results: The PD group had higher mean scores for emotional role functioning (+10.6; p=0.04), physical functioning (+9.2; p=0.002), bodily pain (+9.2; p=0.07), social functioning (+5.7; p=0.25), and mental health (+1.3; p=0.71); the HD group had higher scores for physical role functioning (+7.9, p=0.14), general health perception (+6.1; p=0.05), and vitality (+3.3; p=0.36). A non-significant OR was seen in multivariate regression (1.51; 95% CI 0.43-5.31). Zarit scores were similar, but workload levels were lower in the PD group (medium/high: PD 7.2%, HD 14.8%). Anxiety (HD 50.5%, PD 19%; p<0.01) and depression (HD 49.5%, PD 16.7%; p<0.01) were also lower in the PD group. Conclusion: Adjusted analysis showed no differences in the probability of low QoL between the groups. These findings add to the value of PD, and strengthen its importance in resource-limited settings.

Resumo Histórico: A diálise peritoneal (DP) vem ganhando terreno como terapia eficiente/acessível em ambientes pobres. Contudo, há poucos dados sobre diferenças na qualidade de vida (QV) dos cuidadores primários (CP) de pacientes em DP e hemodiálise (HD). Objetivo: Comparar QV dos CP de pacientes em DP e HD de uma cidade mexicana de renda média. Métodos: Estudo transversal com CP de pacientes em DP (n=42) e HD (n=95) de 4 hospitais (taxa resposta=70,2%). Aplicou-se o questionário QV-36 itens, entrevista de sobrecarga de Zarit e escala de ansiedade/depressão Goldberg. Escores médios normalizados para cada domínio de QV foram comparados por tipo de diálise. Probabilidades ajustadas foram calculadas usando regressão logística para determinar a probabilidade de baixa QV (<70% da pontuação máxima possível resultante das pontuações adicionadas das 8 dimensões). Resultados: O grupo DP apresentou escores médios mais altos para aspectos emocionais (+10,6; p=0,04), capacidade funcional (+9,2; p=0,002), dor (+9,2; p=0,07), aspectos sociais (+5,7; p=0,25), saúde mental (+1,3; p=0,71); o grupo HD teve pontuação maior para aspectos físicos (+7,9, p=0,14), estado geral de saúde (+6,1; p=0,05), vitalidade (+3,3; p=0,36). Uma probabilidade não significativa foi observada na regressão multivariada (OR=0,66; 95% IC 0,18-2,31). Os escores de Zarit foram semelhantes, mas os níveis da sobrecarga foram menores na DP (médio/alto: DP 7,2%, HD 14,8%). Ansiedade (50,5% vs 19%; p<0,01) e depressão (49,5% vs 16,7%; p<0,01) foram menores na DP. Conclusão: O risco de baixa QV entre grupos não foi diferente na análise ajustada. Estes achados fortalecem a importância da DP em ambientes com recursos limitados.

Urinary Metabolomic Profile of Neonates Born to Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most frequent pregnancy complications with potential adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns. Its effects on the newborn appear during the neonatal period or early childhood. Therefore, an early diagnosis is crucial to prevent the development of chronic diseases later in adult life. In this study, the urinary metabolome of babies born to GDM mothers was characterized. In total, 144 neonatal and maternal (second and third trimesters of pregnancy) urinary samples were analyzed using targeted metabolomics, combining liquid chromatographic mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and flow injection analysis mass spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS) techniques. We provide here the neonatal urinary concentration values of 101 metabolites for 26 newborns born to GDM mothers and 22 newborns born to healthy mothers. The univariate analysis of these metabolites revealed statistical differences in 11 metabolites. Multivariate analyses revealed a differential metabolic profile in newborns of GDM mothers characterized by dysregulation of acylcarnitines, amino acids, and polyamine metabolism. Levels of hexadecenoylcarnitine (C16:1) and spermine were also higher in newborns of GDM mothers. The maternal urinary metabolome revealed significant differences in butyric, isobutyric, and uric acid in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. These metabolic alterations point to the impact of GDM in the neonatal period.

False-Positive Maternal Serum Screens in the Second Trimester as Markers of Placentally Mediated Complications Later in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple-marker, maternal serum screening (MSS) has been the cornerstone of prenatal diagnosis since the 1980s. While combinations of these markers are used to predict fetal risk of Down syndrome and other genetic conditions, there is some evidence that individual markers may also predict nongenetic pregnancy complications, particularly those related to placental dysfunction. The objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate the utility of false-positive, second-trimester MSS for Down syndrome as a marker of placentally mediated complications amongst singleton pregnancies globally. METHODS: Electronic searches of PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature to 2019 were performed to identify observational studies comparing risk of pregnancy complications amongst pregnancies with false-positive MSS versus controls. A random-effects model of pooled odds ratios by outcome of interest (stillbirth, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth) and subgrouped by type of MSS test (double-, triple-, and quadruple-marker MSS) was used. RESULTS: 16 studies enrolling 68515 pregnancies were included. There were increased odds of preeclampsia (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.09-1.51) and stillbirth (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.94-3.12) amongst pregnancies with false-positive MSS. There was no significant association with preterm birth or growth restriction. CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence of an association between false-positive, second-trimester MSS for Down syndrome and increased odds of preeclampsia and stillbirth. Future large-scale prospective studies are still needed to best determine the predictive value of false-positive MSS as a marker of placentally mediated complications later in pregnancy and evaluate potential clinical interventions to reduce these risks.

Clinical Factors Associated with COVID-19 Severity in Mexican Patients: Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Multicentric Hospital Study.

(1) Background: Latin America has been harshly hit by SARS-CoV-2, but reporting from this region is still incomplete. This study aimed at identifying and comparing clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 at different stages of disease severity. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional multicentric study. Individuals with nasopharyngeal PCR were categorized into four groups: (1) negative, (2) positive, not hospitalized, (3) positive, hospitalized with/without supplementary oxygen, and (4) positive, intubated. Clinical and laboratory data were compared, using group 1 as the reference. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to compare adjusted odds ratios. (3) Results: Nine variables remained in the model, explaining 76% of the variability. Men had increased odds, from 1.90 (95%CI 0.87-4.15) in the comparison of 2 vs. 1, to 3.66 (1.12-11.9) in 4 vs. 1. Diabetes and obesity were strong predictors. For diabetes, the odds for groups 2, 3, and 4 were 1.56 (0.29-8.16), 12.8 (2.50-65.8), and 16.1 (2.87-90.2); for obesity, these were 0.79 (0.31-2.05), 3.38 (1.04-10.9), and 4.10 (1.16-14.4), respectively. Fever, myalgia/arthralgia, cough, dyspnea, and neutrophilia were associated with the more severe COVID-19 group. Anosmia/dysgeusia were more likely to occur in group 2 (25.5; 2.51-259). (4) Conclusion: The results point to relevant differences in clinical and laboratory features of COVID-19 by level of severity that can be used in medical practice.

[Quality of life among primary caregivers of patients in dialysis in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico]. / Calidad de vida en cuidadores primarios de pacientes en diálisis en la ciudad de Chihuahua, México.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in dialysis endure a process of physical/emotional erosion derived from the implications of treatment and permanent care for prolonged periods of time. OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of primary caregivers of patients with ESRD in dialysis, and to identify predictors of low QoL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional multicenter study. From May to September 2019, 137 caregivers and 174 patients, residents of Chihuahua city, were interviewed from four hospitals. Instruments used included: 1) questionnaire for sociodemographic/clinical data, 2) SF-36 and KD-SF to assess QoL of caregivers and patients with ESRD, respectively, 3) Zarit burden interview for caregivers, and 4) Goldberg anxiety/depression scale symptom inventory. RESULTS: Except for mental health, where mean QoL scores were similar between patients, caregivers, and non-caregivers, means were higher in caregivers and non-caregivers for all other domains. Caregivers showed lower summary scores compared with healthy non-caregivers in both physical and mental components. Caregiver's age, anxiety, time in dialysis, and patient's QoL were predictors of low QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers of patients in dialysis have better QoL compared with patients, but relatively similar to healthy individuals who do not take care of patients.

INTRODUCCIÓN: los cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica terminal (ERCT) en diálisis sufren un proceso de erosión física-emocional derivado de las implicaciones del tratamiento y del cuidado permanente por largos periodos de tiempo. OBJETIVO: evaluar la calidad de vida (CV) de cuidadores primarios de pacientes con ERCT en diálisis, e identificar predictores de baja CV. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio multicéntrico transversal. De mayo a septiembre de 2019 se entrevistó a 137 cuidadores y 174 pacientes residentes de la ciudad de Chihuahua de cuatro hospitales. Los instrumentos empleados incluyeron: 1) un cuestionario para datos sociodemográficos/clínicos; 2) cuestionarios SF-36 y KD-SF para evaluar CV en cuidadores y pacientes con ERCT, respectivamente; 3) la escala de sobrecarga de Zarit para cuidadores, y 4) el inventario de síntomas para ansiedad y depresión de Goldberg. RESULTADOS: excepto para salud mental, donde las puntuaciones medias de CV fueron similares entre pacientes, cuidadores y no cuidadores sanos de referencia externa, las medias fueron mayores en cuidadores y no cuidadores para los demás dominios. Los cuidadores tuvieron menores medias para los componentes físico y mental, en comparación con los no cuidadores sanos. La edad del cuidador, la ansiedad, el tiempo en diálisis y la CV del paciente fueron predictores de baja CV. CONCLUSIONES: los cuidadores de pacientes en diálisis tienen mejor calidad de vida que los pacientes, y relativamente similar a la de individuos sanos que no cuidan pacientes.

Immunometabolic signatures predict risk of progression to sepsis in COVID-19.

Viral sepsis has been proposed as an accurate term to describe all multisystemic dysregulations and clinical findings in severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients. The adoption of this term may help the implementation of more accurate strategies of early diagnosis, prognosis, and in-hospital treatment. We accurately quantified 110 metabolites using targeted metabolomics, and 13 cytokines/chemokines in plasma samples of 121 COVID-19 patients with different levels of severity, and 37 non-COVID-19 individuals. Analyses revealed an integrated host-dependent dysregulation of inflammatory cytokines, neutrophil activation chemokines, glycolysis, mitochondrial metabolism, amino acid metabolism, polyamine synthesis, and lipid metabolism typical of sepsis processes distinctive of a mild disease. Dysregulated metabolites and cytokines/chemokines showed differential correlation patterns in mild and critically ill patients, indicating a crosstalk between metabolism and hyperinflammation. Using multivariate analysis, powerful models for diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 induced sepsis were generated, as well as for mortality prediction among septic patients. A metabolite panel made of kynurenine/tryptophan ratio, IL-6, LysoPC a C18:2, and phenylalanine discriminated non-COVID-19 from sepsis patients with an area under the curve (AUC (95%CI)) of 0.991 (0.986-0.995), with sensitivity of 0.978 (0.963-0.992) and specificity of 0.920 (0.890-0.949). The panel that included C10:2, IL-6, NLR, and C5 discriminated mild patients from sepsis patients with an AUC (95%CI) of 0.965 (0.952-0.977), with sensitivity of 0.993(0.984-1.000) and specificity of 0.851 (0.815-0.887). The panel with citric acid, LysoPC a C28:1, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and kynurenine/tryptophan ratio discriminated severe patients from sepsis patients with an AUC (95%CI) of 0.829 (0.800-0.858), with sensitivity of 0.738 (0.695-0.781) and specificity of 0.781 (0.735-0.827). Septic patients who survived were different from those that did not survive with a model consisting of hippuric acid, along with the presence of Type II diabetes, with an AUC (95%CI) of 0.831 (0.788-0.874), with sensitivity of 0.765 (0.697-0.832) and specificity of 0.817 (0.770-0.865).

Association Between Iron-Related Protein Lipocalin 2 and Cognitive Impairment in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum.

A worldwide increase in longevity is bringing novel challenges to public health and health care professionals. Cognitive impairment in the elderly may compromise living conditions and precede Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia. Therefore, finding molecular markers associated with cognitive impairment is of crucial importance. Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), an iron-related protein, has been suggested as a potential marker for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. This study aimed at investigating the association between LCN2 measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with cognitive impairment. A cross-sectional design based on two aging cohorts was used: individuals diagnosed with subjective cognitive complaints (SCC), MCI, and AD from a Swedish memory clinic-based cohort, and individuals diagnosed with SCC and AD from a Portuguese cohort. Binary logistic [for the outcome cognitive impairment (MCI + AD) in the Swedish cohort and AD in the Portuguese cohort] and multinomial logistic (for the outcomes MCI and AD) regression analyses were used. No associations were found in both cohorts when controlling for sex, education, and age. This explanatory study suggests that the association between serum and CSF LCN2 concentrations with cognitive impairment reported in the literature must be further analyzed for confounders.

Targeted metabolomics identifies high performing diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for COVID-19.

Research exploring the development and outcome of COVID-19 infections has led to the need to find better diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This cross-sectional study used targeted metabolomics to identify potential COVID-19 biomarkers that predicted the course of the illness by assessing 110 endogenous plasma metabolites from individuals admitted to a local hospital for diagnosis/treatment. Patients were classified into four groups (≈ 40 each) according to standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing and disease course: PCR-/controls (i.e., non-COVID controls), PCR+/not-hospitalized, PCR+/hospitalized, and PCR+/intubated. Blood samples were collected within 2 days of admission/PCR testing. Metabolite concentration data, demographic data and clinical data were used to propose biomarkers and develop optimal regression models for the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC; 95% CI) was used to assess each models' predictive value. A panel that included the kynurenine: tryptophan ratio, lysoPC a C26:0, and pyruvic acid discriminated non-COVID controls from PCR+/not-hospitalized (AUC = 0.947; 95% CI 0.931-0.962). A second panel consisting of C10:2, butyric acid, and pyruvic acid distinguished PCR+/not-hospitalized from PCR+/hospitalized and PCR+/intubated (AUC = 0.975; 95% CI 0.968-0.983). Only lysoPC a C28:0 differentiated PCR+/hospitalized from PCR+/intubated patients (AUC = 0.770; 95% CI 0.736-0.803). If additional studies with targeted metabolomics confirm the diagnostic value of these plasma biomarkers, such panels could eventually be of clinical use in medical practice.

Quality of life in primary caregivers of patients in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is gaining track as an efficient/affordable therapy in poor settings. Yet, there is little data regarding differences in quality of life (QoL) of primary caregivers (PCG) of patients in PD and hemodialysis (HD). AIM: To compare the QoL of PCG of patients in PD and HD from an upper middle-income population in a Mexican city. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was carried out with PCG of patients in PD (n=42) and HD (n=95) from 4 hospitals (response rate=70.2%). The SF 36-item QoL questionnaire, the Zarit burden interview, and the Goldberg anxiety/depression scale were used. Mean normalized scores for each QoL domain were compared by dialysis type. Adjusted odds were computed using logistic regression to determine the probability of low QoL (<70% of maximum possible score resulting from the added scores of the 8 dimensions). RESULTS: The PD group had higher mean scores for emotional role functioning (+10.6; p=0.04), physical functioning (+9.2; p=0.002), bodily pain (+9.2; p=0.07), social functioning (+5.7; p=0.25), and mental health (+1.3; p=0.71); the HD group had higher scores for physical role functioning (+7.9, p=0.14), general health perception (+6.1; p=0.05), and vitality (+3.3; p=0.36). A non-significant OR was seen in multivariate regression (1.51; 95% CI 0.43-5.31). Zarit scores were similar, but workload levels were lower in the PD group (medium/high: PD 7.2%, HD 14.8%). Anxiety (HD 50.5%, PD 19%; p<0.01) and depression (HD 49.5%, PD 16.7%; p<0.01) were also lower in the PD group. CONCLUSION: Adjusted analysis showed no differences in the probability of low QoL between the groups. These findings add to the value of PD, and strengthen its importance in resource-limited settings.

Poverty and survival from COVID-19 in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence points to the relevance of poverty and inequality as factors affecting the spread and mortality of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19 patients living in Mexican municipalities with high levels of poverty have a lower survival compared with those living in municipalities with low levels. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Secondary data was used to define the exposure (multidimensional poverty level) and outcome (survival time) among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between 27 February and 1 July 2020. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) from Cox regression were computed. RESULTS: Nearly 250 000 COVID-19 patients were included. Mortality was 12.3% reaching 59.3% in patients with ≥1 comorbidities. Multivariate survival analyses revealed that individuals living in municipalities with extreme poverty had 9% higher risk of dying at any given time proportionally to those living in municipalities classified as not poor (HR 1.09; 95% CI 1.06-1.12). The survival gap widened with the follow-up time up to the third to fourth weeks after diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that the poorest population groups have a lower survival from COVID-19. Thus, combating extreme poverty should be a central preventive strategy.