Aptamer Sandwich Assay for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Antigen.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged at the end of 2019, resulting in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The high transmissibility of the virus and the substantial number of asymptomatic individuals have led to an exponential rise in infections worldwide, urgently requiring global containment strategies. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction is the gold standard for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Modifies Serum Iron-Related Variables in Patients with Morbid Obesity.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is frequently associated with severe obesity. The liver is the principal storage repository for iron, and the excessive accumulation of this metal may promote hepatic inflammation. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) results in weight loss and improvement in comorbidities such as NASH.

New haematologic score to discriminate beta thalassemia trait from iron deficiency anaemia in a Spanish Mediterranean region.

Several studies have stablished discriminant formulas (DF) from red blood cell (RBC) data as simple, low time-consuming and inexpensive tools to differentiate β-thalassemia trait (β-TT) from iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). The aim of this work is to introduce new formulas and evaluate them in the differentiation of microcytic anaemia (MA) into either β-TT or IDA in the Mediterranean region of Tarragona. A total of 200 anonymized haematological determinations with MA were collected, 100 diagnosed of β-TT and 100 diagnosed of IDA.

Interaction between the functional SNP rs2070951 in NR3C2 gene and high levels of plasma corticotropin-releasing hormone associates to postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mood disorder that occurs after delivery with a prevalence of approximately 10%. Recent reports have related placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) to postpartum depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine whether pCRH, ACTH, and cortisol (measured 48 h after delivery) and glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor genotypes (NR3C1 and NR3C2) and their interaction are associated with PPD.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and paraoxonase-1 and 3 levels in patients with sepsis treated in an intensive care unit: a preliminary report.

Background: There is considerable interest in the research of molecules modulating the acute inflammatory response in patients with sepsis. Paraoxonases (PON) are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory enzymes that inhibit the production of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). This preliminary study investigated changes in PON status and MCP-1 concentrations in critically ill patients with severe sepsis treated in an ICU and their relationship with the evolution of disease.

Serum fatty acid synthase concentration is increased in patients with hepatitis viral infection and may assist in the prediction of liver steatosis.

Background: Liver steatosis is frequent in patients with chronic hepatitis viral infections. Intracellular fatty acid synthase (FASN) seems to play a substantial role in its pathogenesis. FASN can also be found in circulation and is significantly increased in HIV-infected individuals, especially if they are co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Increased morning adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH) levels in women with postpartum thoughts of harming the infant.

Introduction: Some postpartum women experience intrusive thoughts of harming the infant. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been linked to postpartum depression, may play a role in the aetiology of postpartum thoughts of harming the infant. We aimed to study whether HPA axis hormones measured early postpartum are related to postpartum intrusive thoughts.

An association between plasma ferritin concentrations measured 48 h after delivery and postpartum depression.

Context: Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional problem experienced by childbearing women, and postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common psychiatric disorder seen during the first year after delivery. The possible link between iron deficiency and PPD is not clear.

Objective: To evaluate whether iron status 48 h after delivery was associated with PPD.

Thyroid function 48h after delivery as a marker for subsequent postpartum depression.

Physiological changes during gestation and after delivery are associated with postpartum thyroid dysfunction, which is due to thyroid autoimmunity in some cases. Postpartum thyroid dysfunction, in turn, has been associated with postpartum depression (PPD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether thyroid function immediately after delivery can predict postpartum depression at 8 weeks and 32 weeks after delivery.