Severe COVID-19: what have we learned with the immunopathogenesis?


Authors: Bruno Bordallo,  Mozart Bellas, Arthur Fernandes Cortez, Matheus Vieira & Marcelo Pinheiro  Advances in Rheumatology volume 60, Article number: 50 (2020) Cite this article Abstract The COVID-19 outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global major concern. In this review, we addressed a theoretical model on immunopathogenesis associated with severe COVID-19, based on the current literature of SARS-CoV-2 […]

Circulating mitochondrial DNA is an early indicator of severe illness and mortality from COVID-19


Authors: Davide Scozzi,1Marlene Cano,2Lina Ma,2Dequan Zhou,1Ji Hong Zhu,1Jane A. O’Halloran,3Charles Goss,4Adriana M. Rauseo,3Zhiyi Liu,1Sanjaya K. Sahu,2Valentina Peritore,5Monica Rocco,6Alberto Ricci,7Rachele Amodeo,8Laura Aimati,8Mohsen Ibrahim,1,5Ramsey Hachem,2Daniel Kreisel,1Philip A. Mudd,9Hrishikesh S. Kulkarni,2,10 and Andrew E. Gelman1,11 Abstract Background Mitochondrial DNA (MT-DNA) are intrinsically inflammatory nucleic acids released by damaged solid organs. Whether circulating cell-free MT-DNA quantitation could be used to predict […]

Use of DAMPs and SAMPs as Therapeutic Targets or Therapeutics: A Note of Caution


2020 Jun;24(3):251-262. doi: 10.1007/s40291-020-00460-z. Walter Gottlieb Land 1 2 PMID: 32248387 PMCID: PMC7127836 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-020-00460-z Free PMC article Abstract This opinion article discusses the increasing attention paid to the role of activating damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in initiation of inflammatory diseases and suppressing/inhibiting DAMPs (SAMPs) in resolution of inflammatory diseases and, consequently, to the future roles of these novel biomarkers as […]

Role of DAMPs in respiratory virus-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome—with a preliminary reference to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia


Review Article; Published: 17 June 2021 Authors: Walter Gottlieb Land Genes & Immunity volume 22, pages141–160 (2021 )Cite this article Abstract When surveying the current literature on COVID-19, the “cytokine storm” is considered to be pathogenetically involved in its severe outcomes such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and eventually multiple organ failure. In this review, the […]

Potential mechanisms of cerebrovascular diseases in COVID-19 patients


Authors: Manxue Lou 1, Dezhi Yuan 2 3, Shengtao Liao 4, Linyan Tong 1, Jinfang Li 5Affiliations expand Abstract Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2019, it is gaining worldwide attention at the moment. Apart from respiratory manifestations, neurological dysfunction in COVID-19 patients, especially the occurrence of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD), has been intensively investigated. In this review, the effects of COVID-19 infection on […]

Elevated level of C‐reactive protein may be an early marker to predict risk for severity of COVID‐19


Authors: Nurshad Ali 1 The outbreak of coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) is an emerging global health threat. The healthcare workers are facing challenges in reducing the severity and mortality of COVID‐19 across the world. Severe patients with COVID‐19 are generally treated in the intensive care unit, while mild or non‐severe patients treated in the usual isolation ward […]

Inflammasome activation at the crux of severe COVID-19


Authors: Setu M. Vora,1,2Judy Lieberman,2,3 and Hao Wu1,2 Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), results in life-threatening disease in a minority of patients, especially elderly people and those with co-morbidities such as obesity and diabetes. Severe disease is characterized by dysregulated cytokine release, pneumonia and acute lung injury, which can […]

US case series study in children study looking at association of myocarditis with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine


Authors: byUK Science Media Centre|Published onAugust 10, 2021: Prof Peter Openshaw In this case series, 15 cases of myocarditis are described from a single paediatric referral centre in May, June and July 2021.  Each had been given the Pfizer mRNA vaccine between 1 and 6 days prior to diagnosis; children were aged 12-18 years.  In […]

The pathophysiology of bronchiectasis


Authors : King P Abstract:  Bronchiectasis is defined by permanent and abnormal widening of the bronchi. This process occurs in the context of chronic airway infection and inflammation. It is usually diagnosed using computed tomography scanning to visualize the larger bronchi. Bronchiectasis is also characterized by mild to moderate airflow obstruction. This review will describe the […]

How COVID-19 Affects the Brain


Authors: Maura Boldrini, MD, PhD1,2; Peter D. Canoll, MD, PhD3; Robyn S. Klein, MD, PhD4,5,6 COVID-19 has resulted in more than 120 million cases and 2.6 million deaths to date. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms are accompanied by short- and long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPs) and long-term brain sequelae. Some patients present with anosmia, cognitive and attention deficits (ie, brain fog), new-onset anxiety, depression, psychosis, […]