Diabetes mellitus association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality: A pooled analysis.

Highlights There are ~ 2-fold increased odds of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a ~ 2-fold increased risk of odds of mortality in patients with history of diabetes mellitus compared to those without diabetes mellitus. Patients with a history of diabetes mellitus should be closely monitored if they get infected with COVID-19. Results of meta-analysis showing association of diabetes mellitus with severity (Panel A) of disease and mortality (Panel B) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Approaching Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Non-Coding RNA Research.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the biggest cause of sickness and mortality worldwide in both males and females. Clinical statistics demonstrate clear sex differences in risk, prevalence, mortality rates, and response to treatment for different entities of CVD. The reason for this remains poorly understood.

Obesity and Outcomes in COVID-19: When an Epidemic and Pandemic Collide.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and in much of the westernized world, contributing to considerable morbidity. Several of these obesity-related morbidities are associated with greater risk for death with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 penetrates human cells through direct binding with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors on the cell surface.

COVID-19: unravelling the clinical progression of nature's virtually perfect biological weapon.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has shocked the world and caused morbidity and mortality on an unprecedented level in the era of modern medicine. Evidence generated to-date on the virulence and pathogenicity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) suggests that COVID-19 may be considered a perfect storm, caused by a nature's virtually perfect biological weapon. This conclusion is supported by an updated analysis of pathogenesis and clinical progression of this infectious disease.

Do genetic polymorphisms in angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene play a role in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Although some demographic, clinical and environmental factors have been associated with a higher risk of developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and progressing towards severe disease, altogether these variables do not completely account for the different clinical presentations observed in patients with comparable baseline risk, whereby some subjects may remain totally asymptomatic, whilst others develop a very aggressive illness. Some predisposing genetic backgrounds can hence potentially explain the broad inter-individual variation of disease susceptibility and/or severity. It has been now clearly established that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19, infects the host cell through biding and being internalized with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a surface protein expressed in a noticeable number of human cells, especially in those of upper and lower respiratory tracts, heart, kidney, testis, adipose tissue, gastrointestinal system and in lymphocytes.

Metabolic Impacts of Confinement during the COVID-19 Pandemic Due to Modified Diet and Physical Activity Habits.

While the detrimental effects of a chronic positive energy balance due to a sedentary lifestyle have been well established, the impacts of a short period of abruptly reduced physical activity and overeating arising from strict confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic will soon start to emerge. To reasonably anticipate major consequences according to the available evidence, we hereby review the literature for studies that have explored the health impacts of several weeks of a reduction in physical activity and daily step-count combined with modified eating habits. These studies identify as main metabolic consequences increases in insulin resistance, total body fat, abdominal fat and inflammatory cytokines.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): the portrait of a perfect storm.

The "novel" coronavirus disease 2019 (abbreviated "COVID-19") is the third coronavirus outbreak emerging during the past two decades. This infectious disease, sustained by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been recently declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Despite the concerning epidemiological burden, many people, including some policymakers, are underestimating this pandemic and are remaining enigmatically inactive against a human pathology which, for a combination of reasons, can be reasonably defined as a perfect storm (i.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 and Antihypertensives (Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors) in Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is being defined as the worst pandemic disease of modern times. Several professional health organizations have published position papers stating that there is no evidence to change the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in the management of elevated blood pressure in the context of avoiding or treating COVID-19 infection. In this article, we review the evidence on the relationship between the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and COVID-19 infection.

Antisense lipoprotein[a] therapy: State-of-the-art and future perspectives.

Several lines of evidence now attest that lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]) is a significant risk factor for many cardiovascular disorders. This enigmatic lipoprotein, composed of a single copy of apolipoprotein B (apoB) and apolipoprotein[a] (apo [a]), expresses peculiar metabolism, virtually independent from lifestyle interventions. Several therapeutic options have hence been proposed for lowering elevated Lp[a] values, with or without concomitant effect on low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, mostly encompassing statins, ezetimibe, nicotinic acid, lipoprotein apheresis, and anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies.

Large-scale epidemiological data on vascular disorders of the intestine.

This article aims to provide updates on the worldwide epidemiology of vascular disorders of the intestine. A comprehensive search for obtaining worldwide epidemiologic information on the burden of vascular disorders of the intestine was carried out in the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) repository. The condition 'vascular intestinal disorders' was associated with other epidemiologic variables such as year, sex, age, location and socioeconomic status.

Effects of endurance exercise on serum concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP): a potential link between exercise intensity and headache.

Background Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a powerful neuropeptide that is strongly involved in headache pain pathogenesis by triggering vasodilation, mast cell degranulation and neurogenic inflammation. This evidence has prompted us to investigate the acute influence of endurance exercise on CGRP concentration in blood. Methods The study population consisted of 48 male amateur runners, who ran a half-marathon distance at 75%-85% of maximal oxygen uptake.

Non-coding RNAs and Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading death cause worldwide. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) are key regulators of genetic expression and thus can affect directly or indirectly the development and progression of different diseases. ncRNA can be classified in several types depending on the length or structure, as long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA) and circularRNA (circRNA), among others.

Health risks and potential remedies during prolonged lockdowns for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, an increasing number of countries and territories are adopting restrictive measures based on physical ("social") distancing, aimed at preventing human-to-human transmission and thereby limiting virus propagation. Nationwide lockdowns, encompassing mass quarantine under stay-at-home ordinances, have already been proven effective to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in some countries. Nevertheless, a prolonged homestay may also be associated with potential side effects, which may jeopardize people's health and thus must be recognized and mitigated in a way without violating local ordinances.

Special Article - Exercise-induced right ventricular injury or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM): The bright side and the dark side of the moon.

There is still debate on the range of normal physiologic changes of the right ventricle or ventricular (RV) function in athletes. Genetic links to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) are well-established. There is no current consensus on the importance of extensive exercise and exercise-induced injury to the RV.

Concise update on colorectal cancer epidemiology.

Colorectal cancer is a type of gastrointestinal malignancy originating from either the colon or rectum. In this short report we provide a concise update on recent colorectal cancer statistics, especially concerning frequency, mortality, life expectancy and risk factors. Overall, colorectal cancer is the third more frequent malignant disease around the world (1.

Physical activity and laryngeal cancer.

Although an active lifestyle physical has been convincingly associated with a decreased risk of developing many forms of cancers, including neck and head malignancies, uncertainty surrounds the relationship between physical activity (PA) and laryngeal carcinogenesis. Epidemiologic evidence, garnered from some well-conducted cross-sectional, prospective and retrospective studies, seemingly attests that the impact of PA may be not so straightforward in lowering laryngeal cancer risk as for other malignancies. Reasonable consensus has been reached that moderate-intensity PA may generate the larger potential benefits, whilst the effect of high-intensity PA appears more controversial and even contradictory.

Global epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: An increasing epidemic and public health challenge.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia. It has been estimated that 6-12 million people worldwide will suffer this condition in the US by 2050 and 17.9 million people in Europe by 2060.