Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly spread from China in 2019/2020 to all continents. Significant geographical and ethnic differences were described, and host genetic background seems to be important for the resistance to and mortality of COVID-19. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (rs4646994) is one of the candidates with the potential to affect infection symptoms and mortality. Methods In our study, we successfully genotyped 408 SARS-CoV-2-positive COVID-19 survivors (163 asymptomatic and 245 symptomatic) and compared them with a population-based DNA bank of 2,559 subjects. Results The frequency of ACE I/I homozygotes was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients compared with that in controls (26.2% vs. 21.2%; P = 0.02; OR [95% CI] = 1.55 [1.17-2.05]. Importantly, however, the difference was driven just by the symptomatic subjects (29.0% vs. 21.2% of the I/I homozygotes; P = 0.002; OR [95% CI] = 1.78 [1.22-2.60]). The genotype distribution of the ACE genotypes was almost identical in population controls and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive patients (P = 0.76). Conclusions We conclude that ACE I/D polymorphism could have the potential to predict the severity of COVID-19, with I/I homozygotes being at increased risk of symptomatic COVID-19.
Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has spread widely around the globe. Significant inter-individual differences have been observed during the course of the infection, which suggests that genetic susceptibility may be a contributing factor. CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), which acts as a co-receptor for the entry of HIV-1 into cells, is promising candidate whose can have an influence on SARS-CoV-2 infection. A genetic mutation known as CCR5Δ32, consisting of a 32-nucleotide deletion, encodes a truncated protein that protects homozygous carriers of the deletion from HIV-1 infection. Similarly, inhibition of CCR5 seems to be protective against COVID-19. In our study, we successfully genotyped 416 first-wave SARS-CoV-2-positive infection survivors (164 asymptomatic and 252 symptomatic) for CCR5Δ32, comparing them with a population based sample of 2,404 subjects. We found the highest number (P=0.03) of CCR5Δ32 carriers in SARS-CoV-2-positive/COVID-19-asympto-matic subjects (23.8 %) and the lowest number in SARS-CoV-2-positive/COVID-19-symptomatic patients (16.7 %), with frequency in the control population in the middle (21.0 %). We conclude that the CCR5Δ32 I/D polymorphism may have the potential to predict the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Lactase non-persistence (leading to primary lactose intolerance) is a genetically dependent inability to digest lactose in adulthood. As part of the human adaptation to dairying, the human lactase LCT-13910C/T mutation (which propagates adult expression of lactase) developed, spread and participated in the adaptation to dairying. This variant is associated with lactase activity persistence, and its carriers are able to digest lactose. We compared the frequencies of lactase 13910C/T (rs4988235) genotypes in Czechs/Slavs (N = 288) and Czech Gypsies/Roma (N = 300), two ethnically different groups where this polymorphism has not yet been analysed. Allelic frequencies significantly differed between the populations (p < 0.0001). In Czechs/Slavs, the lactase persistence T allele was present in 76% of the individuals, which is in agreement with frequencies among geographically neighbouring populations. In the Czech Gypsy/Roma population, only 27% of the adults were carriers of at least one lactase persistence allele, similar to the Indian population. In agreement with this result, dairy product consumption was reported by 70.5% of Czechs/Slavs and 39.0% of the Czech Gypsy/Roma population. Both in the Czech Gypsy/Roma and in the Czech/Slavs populations, the presence of carriers of the lactase persistence allele was similar in subjects self-reporting the consumption of unfermented/fresh milk, in comparison to the others.
Our previous study showed that a diet enriched with 400 g of carp per week improved plasma lipids in subjects after aortocoronary bypass (CABG). The aim of the present study is to determine whether the different carp farming systems have an impact on the effects of carp meat in secondary cardiovascular prevention. We examined 3 groups of patients after CABG over a 4-week period of spa treatment (108 persons, 73 males, 35 females, age over 60 years). We found no differences in baseline values of blood pressure or plasma lipids. The patients were given a standard spa diet (controls; N=36) or a diet enriched of 400 g of carp meat per week, enriched omega 3 (N=37) or cereal carp (N=35). Plasma lipid parameters were examined at start and after 4 weeks in a routine laboratory setting. Group consuming omega-3 carp showed the largest decline in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol (all p<0.01). We found that carp meat from the two production systems showed significantly different effects on plasma lipids. Further trials should be performed to clarify the exact causes of the differences.
Background. Post-infarction left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) is a feared and catastrophic complication of myocardial infarction that carries a high surgical and hospital mortality. Due to the rarity of this complication, little information exists on surgical treatment and outcomes. Goal and Methods. The goal of this study was to present our experience with LVFWR. We present a retrospective cohort of 19 consecutive patients who were surgically treated in the Cardiac Centre of the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague between January 2006 and December 2017. Results. Thirty-day mortality was 26%. Five patients died. Four patients died in the operating theatre and one patient on the ninth postoperative day following re-rupture. Seventy-four percent of the patient cohort survived and were discharged from hospital. The median length of follow-up was 45 months (range 0.75-150). No patient died during follow-up. Median postoperative ejection fraction was 45% (range 25-65%). Angina pectoris and dyspnea were investigated during follow-up and graded according to the Canadian cardiology society (CCS) and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classifications. Fourteen patients had CCS class I, eight patients had NYHA class I dyspnea and six patients had NYHA class II. Re-rupture occurred after hospital discharge in one patient one month after the original surgery. The patient was treated successfully by urgent surgical intervention. Conclusion. LVFWR is a catastrophic and challenging complication of myocardial infarction. Good outcomes can be achieved by rapid diagnosis and urgent surgical intervention as shown by our results.
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.