Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the novel coronavirus that caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Studies have increasingly reported the involvement of other organs, including the gastrointestinal system, in addition to the respiratory system. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease with an unknown cause. Emerging data suggest that the gastrointestinal system may be influenced by COVID-19 via the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2, but data on the association between COVID-19 and ulcerative colitis, are lacking. Methods In 6-month time (June to December 2021) 49 ulcerative colitis (UC) outpatients from Riga East Clinical University Hospital were included in a cross-sectional study. All patients were divided into groups according to medically proven COVID-19 status (COVID-19+ vs COVID-19-) in the last 6 months. Information about diet, IBD medications, food supplements, vitamins, sports activities, marital status, education level, and income level was collected. Data were analyzed with SPSS 20.0. Results Out of 49 patients, 33(63.3%) were males and 13(36.7%) were females, median age was 38.0 [IQR=17] years. Fourteen patients (28.6%: 7(50%) in each gender) were Covid-19+ within last 6 months. Median time patients suffered from COVID-19 was 7 [IQR=15.3] days. The most common symptoms were: 11(19.6%) fever, 6(10.7%) rhinitis and 5(8.9%) weakness. The most common diet among all patients was IBD diet 33(67.3%) from those 12(21.4%) were COVID-19- and 4(78.6%) were COVID-19+, p=0.00. Out of 49 patients, 25(44.6%) were using food supplements (fish oil, curcumin, collagen, zinc, calcium) of those 17(30.4%) patients were COVID-19-, 8(14.3%) COVID-19+, p=0.00. Most commonly used vitamins were vitamin D 18(64,3%), from those 15(42.9%) were COVID-19-, 3(21.4%) COVID-19+, p>0.5; vitamin C – 7(32,8%), from those 4(11.4%) were COVID-19-, 3(21.4%) COVID-19+, p>0.5. Twenty-four (49%) were doing sports, of those 18(51.4%) were COVID-19-, 6 (42.9%) COVID+; p>0.5. Most common sports activities were cycling 8(16.3%), running 8(16.3%) and fitness 6(12.2%). Most commonly used IBD medications were mesalazine 35(71.4%), azathioprine 7(14.3%) and biologics 4(8.16%), there were no statistically significant differences between COVID-19+ and COVID-19-. There were no statistically significant differences between marital status, education level, and income regarding COVID-19 status. Conclusion COVID-19 was less common among patients who were using food supplements and followed IBD diet.
BackgroundAn increasing number of research studies observe that human blood is not a completely sterile environment and has its own representative microbiome. This study aimed to determine the blood microbiome's composition, potential origin, and dynamics in humans.ResultsTo detect the origin of exogenous bacterial nucleic acids in the blood, we determined taxonomic composition based on 16S rRNA gene analysis in samples obtained from skin, vaginal, oral, and faecal swabs along with whole blood samples in a group of 10 volunteers. We observed a presence of bacterial DNA with variable taxonomic composition in all blood samples strongly dominated by members of the Pseudomonas genus. In addition, we detected identical bacterial Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASV) that overlapped between blood and other locations in all participants. Overall, 27.4% median of all ASVs from blood were also found in various locations, with the highest number found in the samples collected from skin swabs. Overall, 25.3% of the ASV found in blood overlapped between the baseline and three-month blood samples, indicating the blood microbiome's relative stability.ConclusionsWe have presented for the first time a remarkable overlap between the bacterial composition of blood and other locations of the same individuals, allowing us to propose the skin microbiota as the primary source of blood-related exogenous DNA. Furthermore, our results add a piece of new knowledge on the stability of the blood microbiome, providing the basis for future studies to identify the potential effect of the blood microbiome on the phenotype or disease.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.