100,365 research outputs found
Immune system and COVID-19 by sex differences and age
No full textIn COVID-19 disease, are reported gender differences in relation to severity and death. The aim of this review is to highlight gender differences in the immune response to COVID-19. The included studies were identified using PubMed, until 30 October 2020. The search included the following keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, gender, age, sex, and immune system. Literature described that females compared to males have greater inflammatory, antiviral, and humoral immune responses. In female, estrogen is a potential ally to alleviate SARS-COV-2 disease. In male, testosterone reduces vaccination response and depresses the cytokine response. In the older patients, and in particular, in female older patients, it has been reported a progressive functional decline in the immune systems. Differences by gender were reported in infection diseases, including SARS-CoV-2. These data should be confirmed by the other epidemiological studies
Acute rhabdomiolisys in healthy woman.
No full textOur patient is a 42-year-old woman with muscle paralysis, muscle weakness, and fever. On admission, a neurologic examination showed proximal and distal weakness in the leg. Serum creatine phosphokinase and serum myoglobin level were markedly increased (5600 UI/L and 5197 UI/L, respectively). There was no sign of renal failure. Nerve conduction study was negative. Serologic studies for virus titers showed the antibody immunoglobulin M cytomegalovirus. Muscle weakness and its paralysis, fever, and serum creatine kinase level gradually improved after the administration of methylprednisolone intravenous. Cytomegalovirus infection was thought to have played a central role in this case, leading to an acute but reversible peripheral muscle paralysi
Hyperuricemia and Endothelial Function: Is It a Simple Association or Do Gender Differences Play a Role in This Binomial?
No full textThe endothelium plays a fundamental role in the biological processes that ensure physiological vessel integrity, synthesizing numerous substances that are capable of modulating the tone of vessels, inflammation and the immune system, and platelet function. Endothelial dysfunction refers to an anomaly that develops at the level of the tunica that lines the internal surface of arterial and venous vessels, or, more precisely, an alteration to normal endothelial function, which involves the loss of some structural and/or functional characteristics. Studies on sex differences in endothelial function are conflicting, with some showing an earlier decline in endothelial function in men compared to women, while others show a similar age of onset between the sexes. Since increased cardiovascular risk coincides with menopause, female hormones, particularly estrogen, are generally believed to be cardioprotective. Furthermore, it is often proposed that androgens are harmful. In truth, these relationships are more complex than one might think and are not just dependent on fluctuations in circulating hormones. An increase in serum uric acid is widely regarded as a possible risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, its role in the occurrence of endothelial dysfunction has not yet been elucidated. Several studies in the literature have evaluated sex-related differences in the association between elevated uric acid levels and cardiovascular events, with conflicting results. The association between uric acid and cardiovascular disease is still controversial, and it is not yet clear how gender differences affect the serum concentration of these substances. This review was primarily aimed at clarifying the effects of uric acid at the level of the vascular endothelium and describing how it could theoretically cause damage to endothelial integrity. The second aim was to determine if there are gender differences in uric acid metabolism and how these differences interact with the vascular endothelium
Gender in acute kidney disease: A narrative review
No full textAcute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 3.2 - 9.6% of hospital admissions and in 2.1 - 22.1% of prevalent intensive care unit patients, worldwide. There is a sexual dimorphism in the AKI evolution with implications of sex hormones, endothelin etc. We provide a mini-review on the gender-related differences in the AKI evolution
COVID-19 and Frailty
No full textOlder age is a major risk factor for adverse outcomes of COVID-19, potentially due to immunosenescence and chronic low-grade inflammation, both characteristics of older adults which synergistically contribute to their vulnerability. Furthermore, older age is also associated with decreased kidney function and is consequently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. All of this in the course of COVID-19 infection can worsen and promote the progression of chronic kidney damage and all its sequelae. Frailty is a condition characterized by the decline in function of several homeostatic systems, leading to increased vulnerability to stressors and risk of adverse health outcomes. Thus, it is very likely that frailty, together with comorbidities, may have contributed to the high vulnerability to severe clinical manifestations and deaths from COVID-19 among older people. The combination of viral infection and chronic inflammation in the elderly could cause multiple unforeseen harmful consequences, affecting overall disability and mortality rates. In post-COVID-19 patients, inflammation has been implicated in sarcopenia progression, functional activity decline, and dementia. After the pandemic, it is imperative to shine a spotlight on these sequelae so that we can be prepared for the future outcomes of the ongoing pandemic. Here, we discuss the potential long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its possibility of causing permanent damage to the precarious balance existing in the frail elderly with multiple pathologies
Cardiomyopathies: An overview
No full textBackground: Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of pathologies characterized by structural and functional alterations of the heart. Aims: The purpose of this narrative review is to focus on the most important cardiomyopathies and their epidemiology, diagnosis, and manage-ment. Methods: Clinical trials were identified by Pubmed until 30 March 2021. The search keywords were “cardiomyopathies, sudden cardiac arrest, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), hypertrophic car-diomyopathy (HCM), restrictive cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ARCV), tako-tsubo syndrome”. Results: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common primary car-diomyopathy, with a prevalence of 1:500 persons. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has a prevalence of 1:2500 and is the leading indication for heart transplantation. Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is the least common of the major cardiomyopathies, representing 2% to 5% of cases. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ARCV) is a pathology characterized by the substitution of the myocardium by fibrofatty tissue. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is defined as an abrupt onset of left ventricular dysfunction in response to severe emotional or physiologic stress. Conclusion: In particular, it has been reported that HCM is the most important cause of sudden death on the athletic field in the United States. It is needless to say how important it is to know which changes in the heart due to physical activity are normal, and when they are pathological
Atrial fibrillation: All the elderly go hospitalized? A minireview
No full textAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common in clinical practice. The prevalence of AF is high after the age of 65 years. Patients with AF have a worse quality of life than healthy controls. However, concomitant higher hemorrhagic risks, severe cognitive and functional impairment may at least partly explain under-prescription of oral anticoagulants in the elderly
- …
