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Elevated Atherogenicity in Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Elevated Atherogenicity in Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background Long COVID (LC) is a complex, multi-organ syndrome that persists following recovery from the acute phase of coronavirus infection. Cardiovascular involvement is frequently reported in LC, often accompanied by a spectrum of related symptoms. Dysregulated lipid profiles and elevated atherogenic indices have been implicated in LC, yet no comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis has specifically addressed these biomarkers. Objective This study aims to systematically evaluate atherogenic indices and lipid-related biomarkers in individuals with LC compared to healthy controls. Methods A systematic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and SciFinder from September to November 2024. Eligible studies reported lipid biomarker data for LC patients and controls, yielding 44 studies encompassing 8,114 participants (3,353 LC patients and 4,761 controls). Results LC patients exhibited significant elevations in Castelli Risk Indexes 1 (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.199; 95% confidence intervals, CI: 0.087–0.312) and 2 (SMD = 0.202; 95% CI: 0.087–0.318). Atherogenic ratios, including triglyceride (TG)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (SMD = 0.294; 95% CI: 0.155–0.433), (TG + low-density lipoprotein, LDL + very low-density lipoprotein, VLDL)/(HDL + apolipoprotein, ApoA) (SMD = 0.264; 95% CI: 0.145–0.383), and ApoB/ApoA (SMD = 0.515; 95% CI: 0.233–0.796), were also significantly elevated. Additionally, LC patients demonstrated increased levels of LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and ApoB, alongside reduced HDL and ApoA levels. Results were free from publication bias. Conclusion LC is associated with a pro-atherogenic lipid profile, marked by increased atherogenic components and decreased protective lipid biomarkers. These findings highlight a potential heightened risk for cardiovascular complications in LC patients, warranting further clinical and mechanistic investigations. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The study was funded by FF66 grant and a Sompoch Endowment Fund (Faculty of Medicine), MDCU (RA66/016) to MM, and Grant № BGRRP2.0040007„01Strategic Research and Innovation Program for the Development of MU PLOVDIV (SRIPD MUP), Creation of a network of research higher schools, National plan forrecovery and sustainability, European Union NextGenerationEU. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes The corresponding author (MM) will consider reasonable requests for access to the dataset (Excel file) utilized in this meta-analysis, following the completion of data usage by all contributing authors.
Atherogenicity
·medrxiv.org·
Elevated Atherogenicity in Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Mitigating the risks of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) with intranasal chlorpheniramine: perspectives from the ACCROS studies
Mitigating the risks of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) with intranasal chlorpheniramine: perspectives from the ACCROS studies
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) global public health emergency on May 5, 2023, but its long-term consequences have still been haunting the global population. Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) and long-term COVID-19 are serious concerns and present with various symptoms. Intranasal chlorpheniramine (iCPM) has been shown to decrease the viral burden of SARS-COV-2. iCPM uses decreased COVID-19 disease progression and severity in Accelerating COVID-19 Clinical Recovery in an Outpatient Setting (ACROSS)-I & III randomized control trials (RCT). Methods This prospective survey study included 259 participants in ACROSS I and III RCTs. We compared the effect of iCPM versus placebo on the reduction of PASC symptoms. A PASC questionnaire containing 17 questions regarding the most common PASC symptoms was used in this study. T-test and Pearson chi-square statistics were performed according to continuous and categorical data using STATA 17.0 Basic Edition software. Findings The iCPM cohort had a lower proportion of patients with fatigue or tiredness vs. placebo (0 Vs 17, 21, p 0.001). iCPM cohort had a lower proportion of patients with difficulty concentrating or mental confusion (0 vs. 22, 27, p 0.001). iCPM cohort had also a lower number of patients with difficulty in the ability to perform daily activities or work vs. placebo (1 Vs 38, 48, p 0.001). A smaller number of patients in the iCPM cohort sought medical attention for PACS symptoms compared to placebo (0 vs. 48, 68, p 0.001). Interpretation The use of intranasal chlorpheniramine shows promise in preventing COVID-19 progression to the often-debilitating post-COVID-19 syndrome PASC. The association between iCPM use and a lower prevalence of PASC symptoms is strong. Further studies are needed to establish the role of ICPM in preventing PASC. Keywords COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Intranasal chlorpheniramine, Efficacy, Randomized clinical trial, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled clinical trial
·pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov·
Mitigating the risks of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) with intranasal chlorpheniramine: perspectives from the ACCROS studies
Comparison of viral load in the nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in different epidem …
Comparison of viral load in the nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in different epidem …
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has repeatedly undergone mutations since its emergence, based on which it has been as …
·jstage.jst.go.jp·
Comparison of viral load in the nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in different epidem …
Long COVID Breakthrough: Spike Proteins Persist in Brain for Years
Long COVID Breakthrough: Spike Proteins Persist in Brain for Years
Researchers have discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein persists in the brain and skull bone marrow for years after infection, potentially leading to chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers from Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) have uncovere
·scitechdaily.com·
Long COVID Breakthrough: Spike Proteins Persist in Brain for Years
An ultra-long heavy chain bovine antibody neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and reacts broadly with sarbecoviruses.
An ultra-long heavy chain bovine antibody neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and reacts broadly with sarbecoviruses.
The threat of emergence of further SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the future spillover potential of other sarbecoviruses has prompted continued efforts to isolate broadly reactive monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic use. In this study, we generated monoclonal antibodies from immunised cattle, primarily because of their ability to produce antibodies with ultra-long heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) domains. Such antibodies have been shown to have potent and cross-reactive neutralisation phenotypes in other virus infections. Following extended immunisation with different forms of spike protein and using single B-cell sorting and phage display techniques, we isolated 33 mAbs, including 10 with ultra-long CDRH3s (50 amino acids). Of these, mAbs P7 and 99 exhibited remarkable neutralisation breadth and potency. Notably, mAb P7, which possessed an ultra-long CDRH3, neutralised all tested variants, including SARS-CoV-1, with IC50 values ranging from 0.01 ug/mL to 1.06 ug/mL. This antibody was also cross-reactive against a panel of RBDs from diverse sarbecovirus species. Structural studies revealed that mAb 99 targets a region of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein that overlaps with the ACE2 binding site. Although the structure of the P7 Fab-RBD complex was not resolvable, data suggest P7 induces trimer dissociation by binding to an occluded RBD epitope, likely mediated by the extended CDRH3 structure. Syrian hamster challenge experiments, using several VOCs, showed that mAbs P7 and 99 significantly reduced lung viral load. These findings highlight the potential of bovine-derived, especially those possessing ultra-long CDRH3s, as effective therapeutics against current and future sarbecovirus threats.
·biorxiv.org·
An ultra-long heavy chain bovine antibody neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and reacts broadly with sarbecoviruses.
Assessment of safety and intranasal neutralizing antibodies of HPMC-based human anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG1 nasal spray in healthy volunteers
Assessment of safety and intranasal neutralizing antibodies of HPMC-based human anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG1 nasal spray in healthy volunteers
Scientific Reports - Assessment of safety and intranasal neutralizing antibodies of HPMC-based human anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG1 nasal spray in healthy volunteers
·nature.com·
Assessment of safety and intranasal neutralizing antibodies of HPMC-based human anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG1 nasal spray in healthy volunteers
Tattoo ink induces inflammation in the draining lymph node and impairs the immune response against a COVID-19 vaccine
Tattoo ink induces inflammation in the draining lymph node and impairs the immune response against a COVID-19 vaccine
Despite safety concerns regarding the toxicity of tattoo ink, no studies have reported the consequences of tattooing on the immune response. In this work, we have characterized the transport and accumulation of different tattoo inks in the lymphatic system using a murine model. Upon quick lymphatic drainage, we observed that macrophages mainly capture the ink in the lymph node (LN). An initial inflammatory reaction at local and systemic levels follows ink capture. Notably, the inflammatory process is maintained over time as we observed clear signs of inflammation in the draining LN two months following tattooing. In addition, the capture of ink by macrophages was associated with the induction of apoptosis in both human and murine models. Furthermore, the ink accumulated in the LN altered the immune response against a COVID-19 vaccine. We observed a reduced antibody response following vaccination with a mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, which was associated with a decreased expression of the Spike protein in macrophages in the draining LN. Considering the unstoppable trend of tattooing in the population, our results are crucial in informing the toxicology programs, policymakers, and the general public regarding the potential risk of the tattooing practice associated with an altered immune response. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
·biorxiv.org·
Tattoo ink induces inflammation in the draining lymph node and impairs the immune response against a COVID-19 vaccine
Risk Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and Spike Protein on Cardiac Tissue: A Comprehensive Review
Risk Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and Spike Protein on Cardiac Tissue: A Comprehensive Review
The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to significant morbidity and mortality, with a profound impact on cardiovascular health. This review investigates the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2's interaction with cardiac tissue, particularly emphasizing the role of the Spike protein and ACE2 receptor in facilitating viral entry and subsequent cardiac complications. We dissect the structural features of the virus, its interactions with host cell receptors, and the resulting pathophysiological changes in the heart. Highlighting SARS-CoV-2's broad organ tropism, especially its effects on cardiomyocytes via ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the review addresses how these interactions exacerbate cardiovascular issues in patients with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, we assess both direct and indirect mechanisms of virus- induced cardiac damage, including myocarditis, arrhythmias, and long-term complications such as 'long COVID'. This review underscores the complexity of SARS-CoV-2’s impact on the heart, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to fully understand its long-term effects on cardiovascular health.
·biomed.cas.cz·
Risk Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and Spike Protein on Cardiac Tissue: A Comprehensive Review
COVID-19 pandemic reshaped seasonal patterns and age distributions of respiratory viruses
COVID-19 pandemic reshaped seasonal patterns and age distributions of respiratory viruses
Objectives This study aims to investigate the changes in the prevalence and demographic characteristics of common respiratory viruses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We retrospectively enrolled children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) at Shiyan Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, from January 2020 to December 2023. Specimens serum, nasopharyngeal aspirate, and alveolar lavage fluid were collected for direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA): respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), influenza A virus (IAV), influenza B virus (IBV), and parainfluenza virus (PIV). Demographic data and laboratory test results were analyzed accordingly. Results A total of 10,193 patients were enrolled. The positive infection rates for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 were 3.97%, 3.15%, 36.20%, and 38.82%, respectively. The seasonal patterns for ADV transitioned from peaking in the summer and autumn of 2022 to summer and winter in 2023, while RSV peaked in the spring and summer of 2022 but moved to spring and autumn in 2023. PIV shifted from autumn 2022 to both spring and autumn in 2023. Intriguingly, IAV stably remained a two-season pattern of summer and winter in 2022 and 2023, while IBV showed up at 2022 winter but largely diminished later. The age distribution of children infected with ADV, RSV and PIV showed an upward trend, while no significant changes were observed for IAV and IBV. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the seasonal circulation of respiratory viruses. The seasonal pattern of influenza virus has been restored in 2022. In contrast, ADV, PIV, and RSV showed significant seasonal changes after the pandemic. The increasing age distributions of cases indicates an expanded age range of infection. Continuous monitoring of pathogen distribution and adjustment of preventive strategies are crucial for the effective management of pediatric ARIs. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This work was supported by The Domestic Scholar Visiting Program of Wuhan University. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiyan Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine (File NO. SYRMYY-2024-137). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors
·medrxiv.org·
COVID-19 pandemic reshaped seasonal patterns and age distributions of respiratory viruses
SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein induces neurodegeneration via affecting Golgi-mitochondria interaction - Translational Neurodegeneration
SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein induces neurodegeneration via affecting Golgi-mitochondria interaction - Translational Neurodegeneration
Background Neurological complications are a significant concern of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the pathogenic mechanism of neurological symptoms associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is poorly understood. Methods We used Drosophila as a model to systematically analyze SARS-CoV-2 genes encoding structural and accessory proteins and identified the membrane protein (M) that disrupted mitochondrial functions in vivo. The M protein was stereotaxically injected to further assess its effects in the brains of wild-type (WT) and 5 × FAD mice. Omics technologies, including RNA sequencing and interactome analysis, were performed to explore the mechanisms of the effects of M protein both in vitro and in vivo. Results Systematic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 structural and accessory proteins in Drosophila identified that the M protein induces mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction, leading to reduced ATP production, ROS overproduction, and eventually cell death in the indirect flight muscles. In WT mice, M caused hippocampal atrophy, neural apoptosis, glial activation, and mitochondrial damage. These changes were further aggravated in 5 × FAD mice. M was localized to the Golgi apparatus and genetically interacted with four wheel drive (FWD, a Drosophila homolog of mammalian PI4KIIIβ) to regulate Golgi functions in flies. Fwd RNAi, but not PI4KIIIα RNAi, reversed the M-induced Golgi abnormality, mitochondrial fragmentation, and ATP reduction. Inhibition of PI4KIIIβ activity suppressed the M-induced neuronal cell death. Therefore, M induced mitochondrial fragmentation and apoptosis likely through disruption of Golgi-derived PI(4)P-containing vesicles. Conclusions M disturbs the distribution and function of Golgi, leading to mitochondrial abnormality and eventually neurodegeneration via a PI4KIIIβ-mediated mechanism. This study reveals a potential mechanism for COVID-19 neurological symptoms and opens a new avenue for development of therapeutic strategies targeting SARS-CoV-2 M or mitochondria.
·translationalneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com·
SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein induces neurodegeneration via affecting Golgi-mitochondria interaction - Translational Neurodegeneration
SARS-CoV-2-Membranprotein induziert Neurodegeneration durch Beeinträchtigung der Interaktion zwischen Golgi und Mitochondrien
SARS-CoV-2-Membranprotein induziert Neurodegeneration durch Beeinträchtigung der Interaktion zwischen Golgi und Mitochondrien
„Zunehmende Hinweise deuten auf signifikante und lang anhaltende neurologische Manifestationen von COVID-19 hin. Etwa vier von fünf Patienten, die an … — Ralf Wittenbrink (@RWittenbrink)
·x.com·
SARS-CoV-2-Membranprotein induziert Neurodegeneration durch Beeinträchtigung der Interaktion zwischen Golgi und Mitochondrien
Virological and antigenic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants LF.7.2.1, NP.1, and LP.8.1
Virological and antigenic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants LF.7.2.1, NP.1, and LP.8.1
XEC and KP.3.1.1 have surpassed KP.3 to become the globally dominant lineages due to their unique NTD mutations. However, several emerging JN.1 sublineages, such as LF.7.2.1, MC.10.1, NP.1, and, especially, LP.8.1, have demonstrated superior growth advantages compared to XEC. It is critical to access the virological and antigenic characteristics of these emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we found that LF.7.2.1 is significantly more immune invasive than XEC, primarily due to the A475V mutation, which enabled the evasion of Class 1 neutralizing antibodies. However, LF.7.2.1's weak ACE2 binding affinity substantially impaired its fitness. Likewise, MC.10.1 and NP.1 exhibited strong antibody immune evasion due to the A435S mutation, but their limited ACE2 engagement efficiency restricted their growth advantage, suggesting that A435S may regulate the Spike conformation, similar to the NTD glycosylation mutations found in KP.3.1.1 and XEC. Most importantly, we found that LP.8.1 showed comparable humoral immune evasion to XEC but demonstrated much increased ACE2 engagement efficiency, supporting its rapid growth. These findings highlight the trade-off between immune evasion and ACE2 engagement efficiency in SARS-CoV-2 evolution, and underscore the importance of monitoring LP.8.1 These findings highlight the trade-off between immune evasion and ACE2 engagement efficiency in SARS-CoV-2 evolution, and underscore the importance of monitoring LP.8.1 and its descend lineages. ### Competing Interest Statement Y.C. has provisional patent applications for the BD series antibodies (WO2024131775A9 and WO2023151312A1), and is the founder of Singlomics Biopharmaceuticals. The other authors declare no competing interests.
·biorxiv.org·
Virological and antigenic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants LF.7.2.1, NP.1, and LP.8.1
The thrombo-inflammation and neuropathology sequence motifs of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein appear to have been engineered into the virus
The thrombo-inflammation and neuropathology sequence motifs of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein appear to have been engineered into the virus
A landmark paper[1] entitled, “Fibrin drives thrombo-inflammation and neuropathology in COVID-19,” was published in August 2024 that concluded the mechanism of the thrombotic and neurological symptoms following a SARS-CoV-2 infection, often called “long COVID,” is attributable to the binding of fibrin to discrete portions of the spike protein, specifically three N-terminal domains. This paper is a high impact publication with 110,000 views, placing it in the 99th percentile of articles published contemporaneously. Here I examine the regions of the spike protein that bind to fibrin, fibrinogen, or both. The N-terminus of the spike protein contains the three strongest binding peptides and surprisingly, these regions are also the three insertions in the protein sequence that are unique to SARS-CoV-2 and not found in natural sarbecoviruses. All pre-pandemic sarbecoviruses have either a partial deletion in these regions or have protein amino acid substitutions that are non-conserved and therefore would not support fibrin binding. In addition, the three inserts also correspond to regions of the spike protein that have been shown previously to have high sequence homology with the HIV gp120 protein. GP120 is an HIV surface protein that binds to a host cell surface receptor on CD4+ T-cells and facilitates cell entry to begin infections.  In comparing the immunological and clinical presentation of HIV and COVID-19 patients, the commonality of D-dimer production, CD4+ lymphopenia, neurotropism, and IL-10 expression strongly suggests that these protein sequence homologies are clinically relevant. A conclusion that the pathophysiology of long COVID is based on the insertion of spike protein motifs with sequence homology that mimic the HIV gp120 protein motif properties, and that these SARS-CoV-2 motifs are not found in the sarbecovirus subgenus strongly suggests that these inserts were design features in the synthetic assembly of SARS-CoV-2. [1] Ryu, J.K., Yan, Z., Montano, M. et al. Fibrin drives thromboinflammation and neuropathology in COVID-19. Nature 633, 905–913 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07873-4
·zenodo.org·
The thrombo-inflammation and neuropathology sequence motifs of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein appear to have been engineered into the virus
The association between baseline viral load and long-term risk in patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a territory-wide study
The association between baseline viral load and long-term risk in patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a territory-wide study
Scientific Reports - The association between baseline viral load and long-term risk in patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a territory-wide study
Splines showing the association between CT values (viral load) and the relative risk of death (A), any hospitalization (B), cardiovascular hospitalization (C), hospitalization for mental reasons (D), respiratory hospitalization (E) or hospitalization for gastro-intestinal reasons (F).
·nature.com·
The association between baseline viral load and long-term risk in patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong: a territory-wide study