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Objetivo: Establecer la prevalencia de eosinofilia en sangre en adultos con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) según varios puntos de corte. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en pacientes con EPOC. La frecuencia de eosinofilia en sangre se determinó a partir de la concentración absoluta (células/µL) y relativa (%) de eosinófilos. Fueron realizados modelos multivariados para identificar factores asociados. Resultados: En 81 pacientes incluidos, la edad promedio fue de 71.9 ± 9.8 años; de los cuales, 46 (57 %) fueron hombres. La prevalencia de eosinofilia para los puntos de corte ≥ 100, ≥ 150, ≥ 200, ≥ 300 y ≥ 400 células/µL fue de 64.2, 43.2, 37.0, 16.1 y 9.9 %, respectivamente. De 81 pacientes, 34 (42 %) tuvieron una concentración ≥ 2 %; 21 (25.9 %) ≥ 3 %; 14 (17.3 %) ≥ 4 %; y 10 (12.3 %) ≥ 5 %. La eosinofilia ≥ 100 células/µL se asoció con la edad ≥ 80 años (RM = 6.04, p = 0.026) y con la exacerbación de la EPOC (RM = 9.40, p = 0.038); en cambio, la eosinofilia ≥ 2 %, lo hizo con solamente la edad ≥ 80 años (RM = 3.73, p = 0.020). Complementariamente, la concentración de eosinófilos ≥ 100 y < 300 células/µL se asoció con la exacerbación de la EPOC (RM = 11.00, p = 0.026). Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados sugieren que la frecuencia de eosinofilia en EPOC muestra variaciones sustanciales según la definición adoptada.

IntroductionCOVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a virus notable for its rapid mutation rate, which has led to the emergence of various variants such as Delta and Omicron, each with potentially different levels of transmissibility and virulence. Therefore, this study aims to compare clinical charactheristics and markers associated with the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients from western Mexico who were infected with the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 66 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, diagnosed by RT-qPCR. SARS-CoV-2 variants were identified through whole genome sequencing using the COVIDseq platform from Illumina. Upon admission, patients underwent a clinical history assessment, blood gas analysis, and blood biometry. Additionally, several tests and markers were measured, including the percentage of neutralizing antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin.Results and discussionPatients hospitalized with the Omicron were found to be older, compared to those infected with the Delta (64 vs. 54 years, p = 0.006). Additionally, a higher proportion of male patients were observed in the Omicron compared to the Delta (p = 0.029). Both Omicron and Delta variants were associated with lymphopenia, although the lymphocyte count was lower in Omicron (0.9 vs. 0.56 10x3/L; p = 0.007). The COVID-GRAM scale indicated a high risk for severe disease in both groups, but the score was higher in Omicron compared to Delta (157 vs. 128 points; p = 0.0004). Patients infected with Omicron exhibited a lower percentage of neutralizing antibodies than those with Delta (35.99 vs. 81%; p < 0.05), regardless of their vaccination status. Among the markers assessed, globular ESR was found to be lower in Omicron compared to Delta (30.5 vs. 41.5 mm/h; p = 0.001), while ferritin levels were higher in patients infected with the Omicron (1,359 vs. 960.6 μg/L; p = 0.007). In patients with severe COVID-19, markers such as lymphopenia, neutralizing antibody levels, ferritin, and COVID-GRAM scores are elevated in the Omicron variant, while only the leukocyte count and ESR for the Delta variant.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a group of rare, acquired autoimmune diseases characterized by profound muscle weakness and immune cell invasion into non-necrotic muscle. They are related to the presence of antibodies known as myositis-specific antibodies and myositis-associated antibodies, which are associated with various IIM phenotypes and the clinical prognosis. The possibility of the participation of other pathological mechanisms involved in the inflammatory response in IIM has been proposed. Such mechanisms include the overexpression of major histocompatibility complex class I in myofibers, which correlates with the activation of stress responses of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Taking into account the importance of the ER for the maintenance of homeostasis of the musculoskeletal system in the regulation of proteins, there is probably a relationship between immunological and non-immunological processes and autoimmunity, and an example of this might be IIM. We propose that ER stress and its relief mechanisms could be related to inflammatory mechanisms triggering a humoral response in IIM, suggesting that ER stress might be related to the triggering of IIMs and their auto-antibodies’ production.

Background. COVID-19 presents an important vascular inflammation disturbance that could be related to oral dysbiosis; nevertheless, this is not completely understood. Methods. 51 SARS-CoV-2 positive out and inpatients, and 15 follow-up subjects SARS-CoV-2 negative were included. Angiotensin 2, 1-7, vascular cytokines and inflammatory factors in serum were detected. Microbiome in saliva and bronchial secretion samples (BSS) were determined by 16S NGS with Illumina platform. Results. Ang 2 was significantly higher in the inpatients compared to the follow up group. sST2, sRAGE, TIE-2, sDC40L, IL-6, IL-18 and MCP-1 were increased in COVID-19 patients, notably sST2 was the most suitable marker according to ROC curves. On the other hand, Alloprevotella and Atopobium represented the microbiome taxa in saliva of COVID-19 patients. In contrast, Porphyromomnas and Neisseria characterized the follow up group. In BSS, Staphylococcus and Firmicutes predominated. Positive correlation of IL-10 and Flt-1 with Rothia, Staphylococcus and Veillonella in saliva was observed, while sST2 correlated negatively with Gemella, Porphyromonas and Haemophilus in saliva of inpatients. Otherwise, IL-18, Ang 2, and viral load correlated positively with BSS Campylobacter, Lactobacillus and Veillonella. Conclusion. Vascular inflammation in COVID-19 can be influenced by oral bacterial taxa demonstrated by correlation analysis in patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antecedentes: La asociación el asma con la COVID-19 continúa siendo controversial. Objetivo: establecer la prevalencia de asma en una muestra de pacientes con neumonía asociada COVID-19; además, describir las características clínicas de los pacientes con asma en comparación con los pacientes sin asma. Métodos: Se analizaron los datos clínicos correspondientes a120 pacientes hospitalizados por neumonía asociada a infección por SARS-CoV-2. Los pacientes con y sin asma fueron comparados en función de la gravedad de la COVID-19. Resultados: La prevalencia de asma en los pacientes con neumonía por COVID-19 fue del 3.5% (IC 95%: 1.5% a 9.6%). Al comparar la gravedad de la COVID-19 entre los pacientes con asma con los pacientes sin asma, ésta no difirió en función de los síntomas, la comorbilidad, la duración de los síntomas, la necesidad de ventilación mecánica asistida, los biomarcadores de inflamación y la ocurrencia de muerte. Los pacientes con asma y COVID-19 mostraron un fenotipo T2 alto, con pobre función respiratoria y sin uso de tratamiento regular para el control del asma. Conclusiones: No se observaron diferencias significativas en la frecuencia de la ventilación mecánica asistida o de la muerte entre los pacientes hospitalizados por neumonía asociada con COVID-19 con y sin historia de asma. Palabras clave: asma; COVID-19; prevalencia; SARS-CoV-2.