Extraction-free protocol combining proteinase K and heat inactivation for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR.

Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) is the gold-standard technique for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection in nasopharyngeal swabs specimens. The analysis by RT-qPCR usually requires a previous extraction step to obtain the purified viral RNA. Unfortunately, RNA extraction constitutes a bottleneck for early detection in many countries since it is expensive, time-consuming and depends on the availability of commercial kits.

Active Surveillance of Asymptomatic, Presymptomatic, and Oligosymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-Infected Individuals in Communities Inhabiting Closed or Semi-closed Institutions.

The high COVID-19 dissemination rate demands active surveillance to identify asymptomatic, presymptomatic, and oligosymptomatic (APO) SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. This is of special importance in communities inhabiting closed or semi-closed institutions such as residential care homes, prisons, neuropsychiatric hospitals, etc., where risk people are in close contact.

Structural changes of fibrinogen molecule mediated by the N-homocysteinylation reaction.

Homocysteine and its cyclic ester homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) have been involved in the detrimental consequences associated to hyperhomocysteinemia, an independent risk factor for vascular diseases. HTL reacts with protein lysine residues in a process named N-homocysteinylation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of HTL on the fibrinogen through electrophoretic methods.

Impact of homocysteine-thiolactone on plasma fibrin networks.

Epidemiologic studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for vascular disease. Homocysteine (Hcy) circulates as different species, mostly protein bound, and approximately 1% as its reduced form and the cyclic thioester homocysteine-thiolactone (HTL). Despite the level of plasma thiolactone being markedly low, detrimental effects are related to its high reactivity.

Characterization of N-homocysteinylated albumin adducts.

Increased plasma homocysteine levels are considered an important risk factor for vascular disease. Homocysteine, an intermediate compound in methionine metabolism, is an amino acid that includes a thiol group, and circulates as different species. One of them, Homocysteine thiolactone (HTL) forms adducts through irreversible reactions with epsilon-NH2 groups of lysine residues.

The C677T thermolabile variant of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase on homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in a hemodialysis center.

Homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Mutations in a key enzyme in homocysteine metabolism, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, may contribute to hyperhomocysteinemia and alter folate and cobalamin levels. After starting hemodialysis, 10 mg oral folate daily and 500 micrograms intravenous methylcobalamin once weekly were prescribed to 27 hemodialysis patients (time on hemodialysis > or = 12 months) and two groups were defined: Group A normal; Group B heterozygous.