Here we report a case where the manifestations of insulin-dependent diabetes occurred following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a young individual in the absence of autoantibodies typical for type 1 diabetes ...mellitus. Specifically, a 19-year-old white male presented at our emergency department with diabetic ketoacidosis, C-peptide level of 0.62 µg l
, blood glucose concentration of 30.6 mmol l
(552 mg dl
) and haemoglobin A1c of 16.8%. The patient´s case history revealed probable COVID-19 infection 5-7 weeks before admission, based on a positive test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 proteins as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Interestingly, the patient carried a human leukocyte antigen genotype (HLA DR1-DR3-DQ2) considered to provide only a slightly elevated risk of developing autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, as noted, no serum autoantibodies were observed against islet cells, glutamic acid decarboxylase, tyrosine phosphatase, insulin and zinc-transporter 8. Although our report cannot fully establish causality between COVID-19 and the development of diabetes in this patient, considering that SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, are expressed on pancreatic β-cells and, given the circumstances of this case, we suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection, or COVID-19, might negatively affect pancreatic function, perhaps through direct cytolytic effects of the virus on β-cells.
Temporal resolution of cellular features associated with a severe COVID-19 disease trajectory is needed for understanding skewed immune responses and defining predictors of outcome. Here, we ...performed a longitudinal multi-omics study using a two-center cohort of 14 patients. We analyzed the bulk transcriptome, bulk DNA methylome, and single-cell transcriptome (>358,000 cells, including BCR profiles) of peripheral blood samples harvested from up to 5 time points. Validation was performed in two independent cohorts of COVID-19 patients. Severe COVID-19 was characterized by an increase of proliferating, metabolically hyperactive plasmablasts. Coinciding with critical illness, we also identified an expansion of interferon-activated circulating megakaryocytes and increased erythropoiesis with features of hypoxic signaling. Megakaryocyte- and erythroid-cell-derived co-expression modules were predictive of fatal disease outcome. The study demonstrates broad cellular effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection beyond adaptive immune cells and provides an entry point toward developing biomarkers and targeted treatments of patients with COVID-19.
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•SARS-CoV2 infection elicits dynamic changes of circulating cells in the blood•Severe COVID-19 is characterized by increased metabolically active plasmablasts•Elevation of IFN-activated megakaryocytes and erythroid cells in severe COVID-19•Cell-type-specific expression signatures are associated with a fatal COVID-19 outcome
Bernardes et al. explore COVID-19 disease trajectories by performing longitudinal multi-omics analyses in peripheral blood samples from hospitalized patients. The analyses identify increased numbers of plasmablasts, interferon-activated megakaryocytes, and erythroid cells as hallmarks of severe disease and define molecular signatures linked to a fatal COVID-19 disease outcome.
Omp85 proteins form a ubiquitous protein family, members of which are found in all Gram-negative bacteria. Omp85 of Neisseria meningitidis and YaeT of Escherichia coli are shown to be essential for ...outer membrane biogenesis. Interestingly, there exists a homologue to YaeT in E. coli and many proteobacteria, denoted YtfM, the function of which has not been described yet. Like YaeT, YtfM is predicted to consist of an amino-terminal periplasmic domain and a membrane-located carboxy-terminal domain. In this study, we present a first characterisation of YtfM by comparison to YaeT concerning structural, biochemical and electrophysiological properties. Furthermore, a knockout strain revealed that ytfM is a non-essential gene and lack of the protein had no effect on outer membrane composition and integrity. The only observable phenotype was strongly reduced growth, indicating an important role of YtfM in vivo.
Embitterment Linden, Michael; Maercker, Andreas
2010, 2010-07-01
eBook
Embitterment is a distinct state of mood yet its effects have so far not found appropriate scientific attention. In this book, pioneers in embitterment research summarize the current knowledge on ...embitterment, its triggers, phenomenology and consequences.
The world relies on continuously better and faster communication between people. The high pace of industry, marketing and sales is a major contribution to this development. As intercontinental ...traveling and businesses evolve, fast and low cost communication is necessary not only within the boundaries of a country, but on a more global perspective. The only way to satisfy this demand is the use of wireless technology. Land based Personal Communication Systems (PCS) will be discussed as the new area of personal wireless communication among people, since it seems like the most cost effective solution at this point. Global covering satellite systems will be visited, but not discussed in detail. The report will be based on systems currently in the US, and also large non-US systems with perspective future in the United States. International standardization will also K- discussed, and the difficulties involved in determining a world wide standard. Markets, economy and other considerations will be the basis of that discussion.All cellular systems have something in common, and that is part of the RF hardware needed for wireless transmission. The most commonly used techniques will be explained, and a hardware design of a digital radio link will be proposed, built and tested to add insight in the basis for these systems. The technology in an actual system might be slightly different, depending on the system standard, but large portions still apply to most systems.
Mindfulness has been shown to be effective in treating various medical and mental problems. Especially its incorporation in cognitive-behavioural interventions has improved long-term outcomes of ...those treatments. It has also been shown, that brief mindfulness-based trainings are effective in reducing distress. There have been few web-based interventions incorporating mindfulness techniques in their manual and it remains unclear whether a brief web-based mindfulness intervention is feasible.
Out of 50 adults (different distress levels; exclusion criteria: <18 years, indication of psychotic or suicidal ideation in screening) who were recruited via e-mail and screened online, 49 were randomized into an immediate 2-weeks-treatment group (N=28) or a waitlist-control group (N=21), starting with a 2-week delay. Distress (BSI), perceived stress (PSQ), mindfulness (FMI), as well as mood and emotion regulation (PANAS/SEK-27) were measured at pre-, post- and 3-month follow-up (3MFU). Intention-to-treat analyses using MI for missing data and per-protocol analyses (≥50% attendance) were performed.
26 participants of the treatment group completed post-measures. Most measures under ITT-analysis revealed no significant improvement for the treatment group, but trends with medium effect sizes for PSQ (d=0.46) and PANASneg (d=0.50) and a small, non-significant effect for FMI (d=0.29). Per-protocol analyses for persons who participated over 50% of the time revealed significant treatment effects for PSQ (d=0.72) and PANASneg (d=0.77). Comparing higher distressed participants with lower distressed participants, highly distressed participants seemed to profit more of the training in terms of distress reduction (GSI, d=0.85). Real change (RCI) occurred for PSQ in the treatment condition (OR=9). Results also suggest that participants continued to benefit from the training at 3MFU.
This study of a brief web-based mindfulness training indicates that mindfulness can be taught online and may improve distress, perceived stress and negative affect for regular users. Although there were no significant improvements, but trends, for most measures under ITT, feasibility of such a program was demonstrated and also that persons continued to use techniques of the training in daily life.
German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00003209.
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