scholarly journals The Frequency of Combined IFITM3 Haplotype Involving the Reference Alleles of Both rs12252 and rs34481144 is in Line with COVID-19 Standardized Mortality Ratio of Ethnic Groups in England

Author(s):  
Dimitris Nikoloudis ◽  
Dimitrios Kountouras ◽  
Asimina Hiona

Evidence was recently brought forward in England and the USA that Black, Asian, Latinos and Minority Ethnic people present higher mortality risk from COVID-19 than White people. While socioeconomic factors were suggested to contribute to this trend, they arguably do not explain the range of the differences observed, allowing for possible genetic implications. Almost concurrently, the analysis of a cohort in Chinese COVID-19 patients proposed an association between the severity of the disease and the presence of the minor allele of rs12252 of the IFITM3 gene. This SNP, together with rs34481144, are the two most studied polymorphisms of IFITM3 and have been associated in the past with increased severity in Influenza, Dengue, Ebola, and HIV viruses. Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 is an immune effector protein that is pivotal for the restriction of viral replication, but also for the regulation of cytokine production. Following up to these two developments in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the present study investigates a possible connection between differences in mortality of ethnic groups in England and the haplotypes of rs12252 and rs34481144. The respective allele frequencies were collected for all 1000 Genomes Project’s populations and subgroups were pooled wherever possible to create correspondences with ethnic groups in England. A strong correlation was observed between the reported Standardized Mortality Ratios and the frequency of the combined haplotype of both reference alleles. If confirmed clinically, this finding could be pointing at possible hijacking of IFITM3 by SARS-CoV-2 virus and is expected to impact our understanding of the disease mechanisms behind COVID-19.

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10402
Author(s):  
Dimitris Nikoloudis ◽  
Dimitrios Kountouras ◽  
Asimina Hiona

Evidence was brought forward in England and the USA that Black, Asian, Latino and Minority Ethnic people exhibit higher mortality risk from COVID-19 than White people. While socioeconomic factors were suggested to contribute to this trend, they arguably do not explain the range of the differences observed, allowing for possible genetic implications. Almost concurrently, the analysis of a cohort in Chinese COVID-19 patients proposed an association between the severity of the disease and the presence of the minor allele of rs12252 of the Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) gene. This SNP, together with rs34481144, are the two most studied polymorphisms of IFITM3 and have been associated in the past with increased severity in Influenza, Dengue, Ebola, and HIV viruses. IFITM3 is an immune effector protein that is pivotal for the restriction of viral replication, but also for the regulation of cytokine production. Following up on these two developments in the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the present study investigates a possible association between the differences in mortality of ethnic groups in England and the combined haplotypes of rs12252 and rs34481144. The respective allele frequencies were collected for 26 populations from the 1000 Genomes Project and subgroups were pooled wherever possible to create correspondences with ethnic groups in England. A significant correlation (r = 0.9687, p = 0.0003) and a striking agreement was observed between the reported Standardized Mortality Ratios and the frequency of the combined haplotype of both reference alleles, suggesting that the combination of the reference alleles of the specific SNPs may be implicated in more severe outcomes of COVID-19. This study calls for further focus on the role of IFITM3 variants in the mechanism of cellular invasion of SARS-CoV-2, their impact in COVID-19 severity and their possible implications in vaccination efficacy.


Author(s):  
Dimitris Nikoloudis ◽  
Dimitrios Kountouras ◽  
Asimina Hiona

Evidence was brought forward in England and the USA that Black, Asian, Latino and Minority Ethnic people exhibit higher mortality risk from COVID-19 than White people. While socioeconomic factors were suggested to contribute to this trend, they arguably do not explain the range of the differences observed, allowing for possible genetic implications. Almost concurrently, the analysis of a cohort in Chinese COVID-19 patients proposed an association between the severity of the disease and the presence of the minor allele of rs12252 of the Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) gene. This SNP, together with rs34481144, are the two most studied polymorphisms of IFITM3 and have been associated in the past with increased severity in Influenza, Dengue, Ebola, and HIV viruses. IFITM3 is an immune effector protein that is pivotal for the restriction of viral replication, but also for the regulation of cytokine production. Following up to these two developments in the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the present study investigates a possible association between the differences in mortality of ethnic groups in England and the combined haplotypes of rs12252 and rs34481144. The respective allele frequencies were collected for 26 populations from 1000 Genomes Project and subgroups were pooled wherever possible to create correspondences with ethnic groups in England. A significant correlation (r=0.9687, p= 0.0003) was observed between the reported Standardized Mortality Ratios and the frequency of the combined haplotype of both reference alleles, suggesting that the combination of reference alleles of the specific SNPs may be implicated in more severe outcomes of COVID-19. This study calls for further focus on the role of IFITM3 variants in the mechanism of cellular invasion of SARS-CoV-2, their impact in COVID-19 severity and their possible implications in vaccination efficacy.


Stroke ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole L. De La Mata ◽  
Philip Masson ◽  
Rustam Al-Shahi Salman ◽  
Patrick J. Kelly ◽  
Angela C. Webster

Background and Purpose— People with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are at greater risk of stroke. We aimed to compare stroke mortality between the ESKD population and the general population. Methods— We included all patients with incident ESKD in Australia, 1980 to 2013, and New Zealand, 1988 to 2012. The primary cause of death was ascertained using data linkage with national death registers. We produced standardized mortality ratios for stroke deaths, by age, sex, and calendar year. Results— We included 60 823 patients with ESKD, where 941 stroke deaths occurred during 381 874 person-years. Patients with ESKD had >3× the stroke deaths compared with the general population (standardized mortality ratio, 3.4; 95% CI, 3.2–3.6), markedly higher in younger people and women. The greatest excess was in intracerebral hemorrhages (standardized mortality ratio, 5.2; 95% CI, 4.5–5.9). Excess stroke deaths in patients with ESKD decreased over time, although were still double in 2013 (2013 standardized mortality ratio, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.5–2.9). Conclusions— People with ESKD experience much greater stroke mortality with the greatest difference for women and younger people. However, mortality has improved over time.


1990 ◽  
Vol 132 (supp1) ◽  
pp. 178-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALLAN N. WILLIAMS ◽  
REBECCA A. JOHNSON ◽  
ALAN P. BENDER

Abstract In spite of their limitations, mortality data are used in many epidemiologic and public health settings. In this investigation, the authors examined the extent to which community cancer mortality rates were affected by incorrect reporting or coding of residence on death certificates. Observed and expected cancer mortality for two adjacent communities in northern rural Minnesota for the periods 1970–1974 and 1980–1984 were obtained from computerized state mortality data. Using statewide rates to obtain expected values, standardized mortality ratios for total cancers for both periods combined were 138 for men (101 observed deaths) and 148 for women (86 observed deaths). These excesses were statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, after review of data from the actual death certificates, city maps, and information from city officials, 44 of the 187 total cancer deaths (24%) were found to have had an incorrectly reported or coded residence status. After removal of these cases, the standardized mortality ratio for total cancers for males went from 138 to 107, and for females the standardized mortality ratio went from 148 to 111. No standardized mortality ratios remained statistically significant These findings may have implications for those who use mortality data for assessing cancer rates in communities in rural areas.


1993 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Hall ◽  
Göran Lundell ◽  
Lars-Erik Holm

Causes of death were studied in 10,552 Swedish hyperthyroid patients treated with 131I diagnosed between 1950 and 1975. The patients were followed for an average of 15 years (range 0-35 years) and were matched with the Swedish Cause of Death Register. A total of 5,400 deaths were observed and the overall standardized mortality ratio was 1.47 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43-1.51). The standardized mortality ratio for females was 1.50(95% CI 1.46-1.55) compared to 1.31(95% CI 123-1.39) in males. The most common cause of death (61%) was from cardiovascular diseases (standardized mortality ratio 1.65; 95% CI 1.59-1.71). Significantly elevated risks were also seen for tumours, diseases of the endocrine system, respiratory system, gastro-intestinal system, and congenital malformations. In all causes of death, except tumours and trauma, decreasing standardized mortality ratios over time were seen. Patients followed for more than 10 years had significantly elevated risks for tumours, diseases of the endocrine, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Patients given higher 131I activity and younger patients had higher standardized mortality ratios than those given lower activity and older patients. The hyperthyroidism per se. rather than the 131I treatment, appeared to be the major explanation for the elevated mortality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
I S Lolowang

This article discusses about the struggles in cultural construction by some ethnic groups. These groups are attributed to their race and class as well. Through blending and negotiation experiences, the ethnic groups struggle to invent their identity and power in facing the dominant culture, the white people. They have to face both the external and the internal factors of their coexistence in the society. The groups discussed are the Mexican-American or the brown people, the African-American or the black, and the Asian-American or the yellow one.Keywords: cultural construction, Mexican-American, AfricanAmerican, Asian-American, color people


Lupus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 598-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y B Joo ◽  
S Won ◽  
C-B Choi ◽  
S-C Bae

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the association of lupus nephritis on organ damage and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods A total of 1112 patients with SLE were investigated. Lupus nephritis was defined as a proteinuria based on the 1997 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Damage was assessed using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index. The associations of lupus nephritis with overall, non-renal, corticosteroid-associated, and non-associated damage were analyzed using logistic regression. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted standardized mortality ratio was evaluated in patients with and without lupus nephritis. Results The prevalence of lupus nephritis in patients with SLE was 46.3%. Patients with lupus nephritis had a higher percentage of overall cumulative damage than patients without lupus nephritis (51.5% vs. 35.7%, p < 0.001). The odds ratio was 1.40 after adjusting for age at SLE diagnosis, sex, disease duration, anti-malarial agents, immunosuppressive agents and cumulative corticosteroid dose. Among non-renal damage, the odds of corticosteroid-associated damage were higher (2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–2.96) whereas the odds of non-associated damage were lower (0.50, 95% CI 0.35–0.75) in patients with lupus nephritis. The standardized mortality ratios of patients with and without lupus nephritis were 5.17 (95% CI 3.49–7.38) and 2.32 (95% CI 1.47–3.48), respectively. Conclusion In patients with SLE, the presence of lupus nephritis is associated with increased corticosteroid-associated damage but less corticosteroid non-associated damage. Also, mortality is significantly higher in patients with lupus nephritis than in those without lupus nephritis.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 169-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Connolly

SummaryTreatment of mental illness in Black and minority ethnic groups differs from that in the White majority. Large differences in admission, detention and seclusion rates have been recorded. These disparities extend into the physical healthcare setting, particularly in the USA but also within the UK National Health Service. There are many influences on prescribing of psychotropic medication, not least the metabolising capacity of the individual. Ethnic differences do occur, particularly for East Asian peoples. However, these differences are broadly similar across ethnic groups, particularly for the cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for metabolising psychotropic medicines. Psychotropic medication prescribing also differs by ethnicity. Specifically, antipsychotic dose, type and route of administration may differ. However, most data originate in the USA and UK studies have not replicated these findings, even after controlling for multiple confounding factors. Similarly, antidepressant prescribing and access to treatment may differ by ethnicity. These differences may have complex causes that are not well understood. Overall, prescribing of antipsychotics appears to be broadly equitable in Black and minority ethnic groups.


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