Worldwide distribution of genetic factors related to severity of COVID-19 infection.

Background: Genome-wide association studies of COVID-19 severity have been carried out mostly on European or East Asian populations with small representation of other world regions. Here we explore the worldwide distribution and linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns of genetic variants previously associated with COVID-19 severity.

Methods: We followed up the results of a large Spanish genome-wide meta-analysis on 26 populations from the 1000 Genomes Project by calculating allele frequencies and LD scores of the nine most significant SNPs.

Device-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria surveillance in critically ill children: 10 years of experience.

Aim: Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are a public health problem worldwide. However, most of the information available refers to adults. The main objectives were to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes for device-associated infections, especially those involving multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Prognostic value of biomarkers after cardiopulmonary bypass in pediatrics: The prospective PANCAP study.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of procalcitonin, pro-adrenomedullin and pro-atrial natriuretic peptide as predictors of need for mechanical ventilation and postoperative complications (need for inotropic support and bacterial infection) in critically ill pediatric patients after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: A prospective, observational study.

Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit.

An unexpected world population variation of MCT1 polymorphism 1470T > A involved in lactate transport.

A common missense mutation (1470T > A) in gene SLC16A1 responsible for an amino acid substitution in protein MCT1 has been associated with differential lactate transport and hence, differences in physical performance and muscle injuries in relation to physical exercise. This study describes, for the first time, the worldwide variation of MCT1 variant 1470T > A at an intra- and inter-continental level. Two thousand five hundred and four individual genotypes of 26 populations clustered in 5 population groups have been analysed with data downloaded from the public database 1000 Genomes Phase 3 Browser.

Cytochrome and sulfotransferase gene variation in north African populations.

Aim: To describe the diversity of four cytochrome and four sulfotransferase polymorphisms in six north African samples. Scarce data have been compiled for these samples despite the rich genetic background of north African populations.

Materials & Methods: CYP3A4*1B, CYP3A4*17, CYP3A4*3, CYP3A5*3, SULT1A1*2, SULT1A2*2, SULT1A2*3 and SULT1E1*2 polymorphisms were explored in 556 individuals from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

Sex differences in children with severe health conditions: Causes of admission and mortality in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objectives: Based on the existing sex differences in mortality rates in children, we would like to explore whether girls and boys respond differently under severe health conditions, in terms of mortality and cause of admission.

Methods: We analyzed demographic characteristics (age and sex), causes of admission, clinical parameters, and mortality in a sample of 2,609 patients from a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in a children's hospital in Barcelona, Spain.

Results: PICU admittance was significantly higher in boys (57.

Usefulness of autosomal STR polymorphisms beyond forensic purposes: data on Arabic- and Berber-speaking populations from central Morocco.

Background: This work describes, for the first time, the profile of Middle Atlas Berbers and Arabic-speaking central Moroccans for 15 autosomal STR loci widely used in forensic sciences.

Aim: The main objectives were to determine the degree of heterogeneity among different Moroccan samples to identify geographic or linguistic patterns and to evaluate the usefulness of forensic STRs in anthropological studies.

Subjects And Methods: Blood samples were collected from 71 Arabic-speakers and 75 Berbers from the regions of Doukkala (central-west coast) and Khenifra (Middle Atlas), respectively.