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Little is known about the mortality of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) COVID-19 infection globally. We investigated the risk of mortality and critical care admission in hospitalised adults with nosocomial COVID-19, relative to adults requiring hospitalisation due to community-acquired infection. We systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed and pre-print literature from 1/1/2020 to 9/2/2021 without language restriction for studies reporting outcomes of nosocomial and community-acquired COVID-19. We performed a random effects meta-analysis (MA) to estimate the 1) relative risk of death and 2) critical care admission, stratifying studies by patient cohort characteristics and nosocomial case definition. 21 studies were included in the primary MA, describing 8,251 admissions across 8 countries during the first wave, comprising 1513 probable or definite nosocomial COVID-19, and 6738 community-acquired cases. Across all studies, the risk of mortality was 1.3 times greater in patients with nosocomial infection, compared to community-acquired (95% CI: 1.005 to 1.683). Rates of critical care admission were similar between groups (Relative Risk, RR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.50 to 1.08). Immunosuppressed patients diagnosed with nosocomial COVID-19 were twice as likely to die in hospital as those admitted with community-acquired infection (RR=2.14, 95% CI: 1.76 to 2.61). Adults who acquire SARS-CoV-2 whilst already hospitalised are at greater risk of mortality compared to patients admitted following community-acquired infection; this finding is largely driven by a substantially increased risk of death in individuals with malignancy or who had undergone transplantation. These findings inform public health and infection control policy and argue for individualised clinical interventions to combat the threat of nosocomial COVID-19, particularly for immunosuppressed groups. PROSPERO CRD42021249023.

Telomere biology disorders are complex clinical conditions that arise due to mutations in genes required for telomere maintenance. Telomere length has been utilised as part of the diagnostic work-up of patients with these diseases; here, we have tested the utility of high-throughput STELA (HT-STELA) for this purpose. HT-STELA was applied to a cohort of unaffected individuals (n = 171) and a retrospective cohort of mutation carriers (n = 172). HT-STELA displayed a low measurement error with inter- and intra-assay coefficient of variance of 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively. Whilst telomere length in unaffected individuals declined as a function of age, telomere length in mutation carriers appeared to increase due to a preponderance of shorter telomeres detected in younger individuals (< 20 years of age). These individuals were more severely affected, and age-adjusted telomere length differentials could be used to stratify the cohort for overall survival (Hazard Ratio = 5.6 (1.5–20.5); p < 0.0001). Telomere lengths of asymptomatic mutation carriers were shorter than controls (p < 0.0001), but longer than symptomatic mutation carriers (p < 0.0001) and telomere length heterogeneity was dependent on the diagnosis and mutational status. Our data show that the ability of HT-STELA to detect short telomere lengths, that are not readily detected with other methods, means it can provide powerful diagnostic discrimination and prognostic information. The rapid format, with a low measurement error, demonstrates that HT-STELA is a new high-quality laboratory test for the clinical diagnosis of an underlying telomeropathy.

Not as simple as ABC

ObjectiveTo leverage large scale genetic association data to investigate the interplay between circulating cytokines and cardiometabolic traits, and thus identifying potential therapeutic targets.DesignBi-directional Mendelian randomisation study.SettingGenome-wide association studies from three Finnish cohorts (Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, Young Finns Study, or FINRISK study), and genetic association summary statistics pooled from observational studies for expression quantitative trait loci and cardiometabolic traits.ParticipantsData for 47 circulating cytokines in 13 365 individuals from genome-wide association studies, summary statistic data for up to 21 735 individuals on circulating cytokines, summary statistic gene expression data across 49 tissues in 838 individuals, and summary statistic data for up to 1 320 016 individuals on cardiometabolic traits.InterventionsRelations between circulating cytokines and cardiovascular, anthropometric, lipid, or glycaemic traits (coronary artery disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, C reactive protein, glucose, fasting insulin, and lifetime smoking).Main outcome methodsGenetic instrumental variables that are biologically plausible for the circulating cytokines were generated. The effects of cardiometabolic risk factors on concentrations of circulating cytokines, circulating cytokines on other circulating cytokines, and circulating cytokines on cardiometabolic outcomes were investigated.ResultsGenetic evidence (mendelian randomisation P<0.0011) suggests that higher body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, higher concentrations of lipids, and systolic blood pressure increase circulating concentrations of several inflammatory cytokines and C reactive protein. Evidence for causal relations (mendelian randomisation P<0.0011) were noted between circulating cytokines, including a key role of vascular endothelial growth factor on influencing the concentrations of 10 other cytokines. Both mendelian randomisation (P<0.05) and colocalisation (posterior probability >0.5) suggested that coronary artery disease risk is increased by higher concentrations of circulating tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF).ConclusionThis study offers insight into inflammatory mediators of cardiometabolic risk factors, cytokine signalling cascades, and effects of circulating cytokines on different cardiometabolic outcomes.

ponsfordm@cardiff.ac.uk Although clozapine reduces overall mortality in schizophrenia,1 a growing body of evidence links its use with higher rates of admission to hospital for pneumonia234 and mortality.5678 Various mechanisms have been proposed for the rise in pneumonia, including sedation, sialorrhoea and aspiration, agranulocytosis, and smoking.910 Following the introduction of calculated globulin screening in Wales,11 we found a novel and striking association between use of the antipsychotic clozapine and antibody deficiency.12 Patients taking clozapine follow an intensive regimen of blood testing for the rare risk of agranulocytosis (with cumulative incidence of <1% cases), but antibody testing is not included in existing clozapine monitoring programmes. Competing interests: SJ has received support from CSL Behring, Shire, LFB, Biotest, Binding Site, Sanofi, GSK, UCB Pharma, Grifols, BPL SOBI, Weatherden, Zarodex and Octapharma for projects, advisory boards, meetings, studies, speaker, and clinical trials. 1 Tiihonen J Lönnqvist J Wahlbeck K. 11-year follow-up of mortality in patients with schizophrenia: a population-based cohort study (FIN11 study). [...]generation antipsychotic medications and risk of pneumonia in schizophrenia.

The burden of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection remains poorly defined. We report on the outcomes of 2508 adults with molecularly-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 admitted across 18 major hospitals, representing over 60% of those hospitalised across Wales between 1 March and 1 July 2020. Inpatient mortality for nosocomial infection ranged from 38% to 42%, consistently higher than participants with community-acquired infection (31%–35%) across a range of case definitions. Those with hospital-acquired infection were older and frailer than those infected within the community. Nosocomial diagnosis occurred a median of 30 days following admission (IQR 21–63), suggesting a window for prophylactic or postexposure interventions, alongside enhanced infection control measures.

Autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome caused by dominant-negative loss-of-function mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) (STAT3-HIES) is a rare primary immunodeficiency with multisystem pathology. The quality of life in patients with STAT3-HIES is determined by not only the progressive, life-limiting pulmonary disease, but also significant skin disease including recurrent infections and abscesses requiring surgery. Our early report indicated that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation might not be effective in patients with STAT3-HIES, although a few subsequent reports have reported successful outcomes. We update on progress of our patient now with over 18 years of follow-up and report on an additional seven cases, all of whom have survived despite demonstrating significant disease-related pathology prior to transplant. We conclude that effective cure of the immunological aspects of the disease and stabilization of even severe lung involvement may be achieved by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recurrent skin infections and abscesses may be abolished. Donor TH17 cells may produce comparable levels of IL17A to healthy controls. The future challenge will be to determine which patients should best be offered this treatment and at what point in their disease history.

Autosomal recessive mutations in TAP1, TAP2, TAPBP, or B2M , are associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I deficiency. Individuals may present with granulomatous skin ulceration, but the underlying antigenic triggers remain largely unknown. We identified TAP1 deficiency in a 32-year-old female referred with a 7-year history of localized skin ulceration. Histologic immunofluorescence revealed that rubella virus (RuV) infection was a likely driver of the associated inflammation, and modest clinical improvement was observed following topical calcineurin inhibition. To better define the natural history, clinical, and immunological manifestations of this condition, we also performed a scoping literature review. We identified 45 unique individuals from 36 reports with a combined follow-up duration of 1,184 patient years. Chronic necrotizing granulomatous skin lesions and childhood-onset bronchiectasis were common. Five deaths were reported (median age 36 years), typically linked to respiratory complications. Phenotypic heterogeneity was evident, with at least four individuals reaching adulthood without clinical symptoms. Diagnostic delay frequently exceeded a decade amongst symptomatic individuals, with misdiagnosis of granulomatous disease prompting systemic immunosuppression and infection-related morbidity. The presence of an abnormal CD8 + T-cell count or a history of consanguinity offered low sensitivity for MHC I deficiency (~ 50%), indicating a low threshold for further investigation is required for correct diagnosis. Graphical review of case reports identified morphologically similar lesions in other MHC I-deficient individuals. These findings suggest that the phenomenon of MHC I deficiency is underreported and that diagnosis should prompt testing for RuV.