Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Agnieszka Dettlaff-Pokora, Julian Swierczynski
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 impairs the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system by binding the ACE2 enzyme, leading to an increase in angiotensin 2 and a decrease in angiotensin (1-7), potentially worsening damage to the lungs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Keiji Kuba, Tomokazu Yamaguchi, Josef M. Penninger
Summary: Seventeen years after the SARS epidemic, the emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has led to an unprecedented pandemic. ACE2 plays a crucial role in cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 and its high affinity to ACE2 results in increased infectivity and transmissibility. In addition to serving as the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 also plays an important role in various aspects of COVID-19 pathogenesis and potential post-COVID-19 syndromes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Alef Aragao Carneiro dos Santos, Luiz Eduardo Rodrigues, Amanda Lins Alecrim-Zeza, Liliane de Araujo Ferreira, Caio dos Santos Trettel, Gabriela Mandu Gimenes, Adelson Fernandes da Silva, Celso Pereira Batista Sousa-Filho, Tamires Duarte Afonso Serdan, Adriana Cristina Levada-Pires, Elaine Hatanaka, Fernanda Teixeira Borges, Marcelo Paes de Barros, Maria Fernanda Cury-Boaventura, Gisele Lopes Bertolini, Priscila Cassolla, Gabriel Nasri Marzuca-Nassr, Kaio Fernando Vitzel, Tania Cristina Pithon-Curi, Laureane Nunes Masi, Rui Curi, Renata Gorjao, Sandro Massao Hirabara
Summary: COVID-19-induced tissue dysfunction is associated with cell damage in multiple organs and involves metabolic disturbances and mechanisms such as the production of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and deregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ikram Omar Osman, Clea Melenotte, Philippe Brouqui, Matthieu Million, Jean-Christophe Lagier, Philippe Parola, Andreas Stein, Bernard La Scola, Line Meddeb, Jean-Louis Mege, Didier Raoult, Christian A. Devaux
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to variations in ACE2 expression and Ang II plasma concentration, potentially affecting blood pressure regulation and COVID-19 outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Filippo Scialo, Maria Vitale, Aurora Daniele, Ersilia Nigro, Fabio Perrotta, Monica Gelzo, Carlo Iadevaia, Francesco Saverio Cerqua, Adriano Costigliola, Valentino Allocca, Felice Amato, Lucio Pastore, Giuseppe Castaldo, Andrea Bianco
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on socio-economic life, especially posing higher risks for individuals with underlying health conditions. Despite year-long efforts in academic research, there is still much to learn about SARS-CoV-2 and its potential future impacts on human health.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ahmed Rakib, Taslima Akter Eva, Saad Ahmed Sami, Saikat Mitra, Iqbal Hossain Nafiz, Ayan Das, Abu Montakim Tareq, Firzan Nainu, Kuldeep Dhama, Talha Bin Emran, Jesus Simal-Gandara
Summary: Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that is often the result of long-standing hypertension. Recent advances in hypertension treatment include novel pathways such as the potential role of beta-arrestin in regulating hypertension. However, there are still controversies surrounding the roles of the two beta-arrestin isoforms in the treatment of HF.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Martin Wiegand, David J. Halsall, Sarah L. Cowan, Kevin Taylor, Robert J. B. Goudie, Jacobus Preller, Mark Gurnell
Summary: Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, this study found that aldosterone levels are generally low in COVID-19 patients upon hospital admission, and that immunoassays can be easily affected by interference. These findings have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.
ENDOCRINE CONNECTIONS
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mei Peng, Jia He, Ying Xue, Xue Yang, Shao Liu, Zhicheng Gong
Summary: Hypertension is identified as a prevalent risk factor for unfavorable outcomes in patients with COVID-19, but antihypertensive drugs do not exacerbate the severity of the infection, and may even have a beneficial effect. The precise mechanism by which hypertension predisposes to negative outcomes in COVID-19 patients remains unclear at this time.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biology
Luana Heimfarth, Mario Adriano dos Santos, Jose Augusto Barreto-Filho, Andre Sales Barreto, Fabricio Nunes Macedo, Adriano Antunes de Souza Araujo, Paulo Martins-Filho, Marcus Tullius Scotti, Luciana Scotti, Lucindo Jose Quintans-Junior
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused chaos in healthcare systems and there is currently no specific treatment available. Drugs with inverse agonist effects to the angiotensin-1 receptor may be promising tools in managing COVID-19 cases. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of angiotensin receptor blockers in treating COVID-19.
Review
Physiology
Simon B. Gressens, Georges Leftheriotis, Jean-Claude Dussaule, Martin Flamant, Bernard I. Levy, Emmanuelle Vidal-Petiot
Summary: This review explores the risks of using RAAS blockers for patients with cardiovascular comorbidities during the COVID-19 pandemic, investigates the impact of RAAS blockers on viral cell entry, and discusses how to maintain the balance between ACE2 and ACE and the effect of RAAS blockers on the course and prognosis of COVID-19 treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Fabio Angeli, Antonio Spanevello, Gianpaolo Reboldi, Dina Visca, Paolo Verdecchia
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can elicit immune responses but concerns about cardiovascular adverse reactions have been raised. Vaccines can increase Spike protein synthesis and immune responses, with genetic and immunological factors possibly impacting reactions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wissam Mekary, Souha Fares, Farah Abdulhai, Gaelle Massoud, Marwan Refaat, Mathias Mericskay, George W. Booz, Fouad A. Zouein
Summary: Patients with COVID-19 who were taking ACEI and ARB showed a significant decrease in troponin T, IL-6, and CRP levels compared to those not taking these medications. However, there was no significant difference in rates of ARDS, sepsis, or death between the two groups.
Review
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Prakash G. Kulkarni, Amul Sakharkar, Tanushree Banerjee
Summary: The third and fourth waves of the COVID-19 pandemic are causing chaos globally, despite vaccination programs. Comorbidities increase the severity of COVID-19, leading to higher mortality rates. ACE2 in host cells mediates SARS-CoV-2 infection, triggering inflammatory responses and mortality risks.
HYPERTENSION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Premjith Gathiram, Irene Mackraj, Jagidesa Moodley
Summary: There is no current data supporting concerns about using ACEIs/ARBs. Many researchers worry that these medications may increase levels of ACE2 in tissues. Therefore, individuals are advised to continue using ACEIs/ARBs unless instructed otherwise by their physicians. Further studies are needed to understand the impact of ACEIs and ARBs on ACE2 expression and COVID-19.
CURRENT HYPERTENSION REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Huai Heng Loh, Quan Hziung Lim, Chee Shee Chai, Siew Li Goh, Lee-Ling Lim, Anne Yee, Norlela Sukor
Summary: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have higher levels of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate compared to those without obstructive sleep apnea, even among patients without resistant hypertension.
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sarah A. Thomas, Michael Puskarich, Michael S. Pulia, Andrew C. Meltzer, Carlos A. Camargo, D. Mark Courtney, Kristen E. Nordenholz, Jeffrey A. Kline, Christopher Kabrhel
Summary: This study investigated the association between baseline therapy with ACEIs or ARBs and outcomes in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. The results showed that baseline ACEI/ARB use was associated with a 25% decrease in mortality, but not significantly associated with respiratory or renal failure.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Rachel S. Morris, Juan F. Figueroa, Courtney J. Pokrzywa, Jason K. Barber, Nancy R. Temkin, Carisa Bergner, Basil S. Karam, Patrick Murphy, Lindsay D. Nelson, Purushottam Laud, Zara Cooper, Marc de Moya, Colleen Trevino, Christopher J. Tignanelli, Terri A. deRoon-Cassini
Summary: This study aimed to develop a model for predicting the quality of life in hospitalized adults with Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). By analyzing the dataset, researchers found that private insurance, higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, and fewer comorbidities were associated with better quality of life. They developed a model (TBI-PRO) for predicting the quality of life scores at different time points and concluded that the model adequately estimates long-term outcomes in patients with TBI.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Surgery
Emma K. Jones, Christopher J. Tignanelli
Review
Surgery
Nicholas E. Ingraham, Emma K. Jones, Samantha King, James Dries, Michael Phillips, Tyler Loftus, Heather L. Evans, Genevieve B. Melton, Christopher J. Tignanelli
Summary: This study critically evaluates the surgical literature to examine the prevalence and methods of equity assessments in the use of clinical decision support systems. The results indicate that only 6% of surgical CDS systems report equity analyses, suggesting inadequate methods for optimizing equity in surgical CDS. The study proposes revising the RE-AIM framework to include an Equity element (RE2-AIM) to address this issue.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Brian E. Driver, Matthew E. Prekker, Emily Wagner, Jon B. Cole, Michael A. Puskarich, Jamie Stang, Paige DeVries, Ellen Maruggi, James R. Miner
Summary: Among patients who underwent emergency tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, approximately 7.4% of patients may recall the awareness during paralysis, and a decreased level of consciousness prior to intubation is associated with this outcome.
Article
Immunology
David R. Boulware, Thomas A. Murray, Jennifer L. Proper, Christopher J. Tignanelli, John B. Buse, David M. Liebovitz, Jacinda M. Nicklas, Kenneth Cohen, Michael A. Puskarich, Hrishikesh K. Belani, Lianne K. Siegel, Nichole R. Klatt, David J. Odde, Amy B. Karger, Nicholas E. Ingraham, Katrina M. Hartman, Via Rao, Aubrey A. Hagen, Barkha Patel, Sarah L. Fenno, Nandini Avula, Neha Reddy, Spencer M. Erickson, Sarah Lindberg, Regina Fricton, Samuel Lee, Adnin Zaman, Hanna G. Saveraid, Walker J. Tordsen, Matthew F. Pullen, Nancy E. Sherwood, Jared D. Huling, Carolyn T. Bramante
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-boosted participants experienced the least severe symptoms during COVID-19, and their symptoms improved the fastest over time. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 was found to be associated with reduced symptom severity in a sample of low to moderate risk adults enrolled in an outpatient COVID-19 treatment trial. Booster shots further reduced symptom severity.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Surgery
Thomas F. Byrd, Jason Ho, Christopher J. Tignanelli
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carolyn T. Bramante, John B. Buse, David M. Liebovitz, Jacinda M. Nicklas, Michael A. Puskarich, Ken Cohen, Hrishikesh K. Belani, Blake J. Anderson, Jared D. Huling, Christopher J. Tignanelli, Jennifer L. Thompson, Matthew Pullen, Esteban Lemus Wirtz, Lianne K. Siegel, Jennifer L. Proper, David J. Odde, Nichole R. Klatt, Nancy E. Sherwood, Sarah M. Lindberg, Amy B. Karger, Kenneth B. Beckman, Spencer M. Erickson, Sarah L. Fenno, Katrina M. Hartman, Michael R. Rose, Tanvi Mehta, Barkha Patel, Gwendolyn Griffiths, Neeta S. Bhat, Thomas A. Murray
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the potential of outpatient COVID-19 treatment with metformin, ivermectin, or fluvoxamine to reduce the risk of long COVID. The findings showed that metformin treatment was associated with a 41% reduction in the incidence of long COVID compared to placebo, while ivermectin and fluvoxamine did not have the same effect.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Theodore S. Jennaro, Michael A. Puskarich, Thomas L. Flott, Laura A. Mclellan, Alan E. Jones, Manjunath P. Pai, Kathleen A. Stringer
Summary: The study aimed to describe the population pharmacokinetics of high-dose L-carnitine in patients with septic shock, test various estimates of kidney function, and evaluate the correlation of PK parameters with pre-treatment metabolites. The results indicated that kidney function estimates and baseline metabolic status are important factors influencing the therapeutic effect of L-carnitine supplementation in septic shock patients.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaifeng Yang, Zhiyu Kang, Weihua Guan, Sahar Lotfi-Emran, Zachary J. Mayer, Candace R. Guerrero, Brian T. Steffen, Michael A. Puskarich, Christopher J. Tignanelli, Elizabeth Lusczek, Sandra E. Safo
Summary: Metabolic disease is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to characterize metabolic features that predict severe COVID-19 and define a novel baseline metabolomic signature. The results showed that metabolites related to lipid metabolism efficiently discriminated between mild and moderate/severe disease, and pathways related to amino acids were significantly enriched in severe disease. The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 (MAP2K5) regulator was differentially activated between groups, suggesting further investigation as a potential therapeutic pathway.
Meeting Abstract
Critical Care Medicine
R. Kohn, N. E. Ingraham, S. Scott, B. Bayes, W. Wang, T. Tran, G. L. Anesi, G. E. Weissman, S. D. Halpern, R. A. Dudley, M. P. Kerlin
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)