The COVID-19 pandemic raised a need to characterise the biochemical response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and find biological markers to identify therapeutic targets. In support of these aims, we... Show moreThe COVID-19 pandemic raised a need to characterise the biochemical response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and find biological markers to identify therapeutic targets. In support of these aims, we applied a range of LC-MS platforms to analyse over 100 plasma samples from patients with varying COVID-19 severity and with detailed clinical information on inflammatory responses (>30 immune markers). The first publication in a series reports the results of quantitative LC-MS/MS profiling of 56 amino acids and derivatives. A comparison between samples taken from ICU and ward patients revealed a notable increase in ten post-translationally modified amino acids that correlated with markers indicative of an excessive immune response: TNF-alpha, neutrophils, markers for macrophage, and leukocyte activation. Severe patients also had increased kynurenine, positively correlated with CRP and cytokines that induce its production. ICU and ward patients with high IL-6 showed decreased levels of 22 immune-supporting and anti-oxidative amino acids and derivatives (e.g., glutathione, GABA). These negatively correlated with CRP and IL-6 and positively correlated with markers indicative of adaptive immune activation. Including corresponding alterations in convalescing ward patients, the overall metabolic picture of severe COVID-19 reflected enhanced metabolic demands to maintain cell proliferation and redox balance, alongside increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Show less
Aliee, H.; Massip, F.; Qi, C.C.; Biase, M.S. de; Nijnatten, J. van; Kersten, E.T.G.; ... ; INER-Ciencias Mexican Lung Program 2021
How long does the average person sleep? Here, Kocevska et al. conducted a meta-analysis including over 1.1 million people to produce age- and sex-specific population reference charts for sleep... Show moreHow long does the average person sleep? Here, Kocevska et al. conducted a meta-analysis including over 1.1 million people to produce age- and sex-specific population reference charts for sleep duration and efficiency.We aimed to obtain reliable reference charts for sleep duration, estimate the prevalence of sleep complaints across the lifespan and identify risk indicators of poor sleep. Studies were identified through systematic literature search in Embase, Medline and Web of Science (9 August 2019) and through personal contacts. Eligible studies had to be published between 2000 and 2017 with data on sleep assessed with questionnaires including >= 100 participants from the general population. We assembled individual participant data from 200,358 people (aged 1-100 years, 55% female) from 36 studies from the Netherlands, 471,759 people (40-69 years, 55.5% female) from the United Kingdom and 409,617 people (>= 18 years, 55.8% female) from the United States. One in four people slept less than age-specific recommendations, but only 5.8% slept outside of the 'acceptable' sleep duration. Among teenagers, 51.5% reported total sleep times (TST) of less than the recommended 8-10 h and 18% report daytime sleepiness. In adults (>= 18 years), poor sleep quality (13.3%) and insomnia symptoms (9.6-19.4%) were more prevalent than short sleep duration (6.5% with TST < 6 h). Insomnia symptoms were most frequent in people spending >= 9 h in bed, whereas poor sleep quality was more frequent in those spending <6 h in bed. TST was similar across countries, but insomnia symptoms were 1.5-2.9 times higher in the United States. Women (>= 41 years) reported sleeping shorter times or slightly less efficiently than men, whereas with actigraphy they were estimated to sleep longer and more efficiently than man. This study provides age- and sex-specific population reference charts for sleep duration and efficiency which can help guide personalized advice on sleep length and preventive practices. Show less
Plaat, D. van der; Vonk, J.M.; Terzikhan, N.; Jong, K. de; Vries, M. de; Bastide-van Gemert, S. la; ... ; BIOS Consortium 2019
