Browsing by Author "Rovīte, Vita"

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    Amino acid metabolism is significantly altered at the time of admission in hospital for severe COVID-19 patients: findings from longitudinal targeted metabolomics analysis
    (2021-12-08) Ansone, Laura; Briviba, Monta; Silamikelis, Ivars; Terentjeva, Anna; Pērkons, Ingus; Birzniece, Līga; Rovīte, Vita; Rozentāle, Baiba; Vīksna, Ludmila; Koļesova, Oksana; Kļaviņš, Kristaps; Klovins, Jānis; Rīga Stradiņš University
    The heterogeneity in severity and outcome of COVID-19 cases points out the urgent need for early molecular characterization of patients followed by risk-stratified care. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the fluctuations of serum metabolomic profiles of COVID-19 patients with severe illness during the different disease stages in a longitudinal manner. We demonstrate a distinct metabolomic signature in serum samples of 32 hospitalized patients at the acute phase compared to the recovery period, suggesting the tryptophan (tryptophan, kynurenine, and 3-hydroxy-DL-kynurenine) and arginine (citrulline and ornithine) metabolism as contributing pathways in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 with a potential link to the clinical severity of the disease. In addition, we suggest that glutamine deprivation may further result in inhibited M2 macrophage polarization as a complementary process, and highlight the contribution of phenylalanine and tyrosine in the molecular mechanisms underlying the severe course of the infection. In conclusion, our results provide several functional metabolic markers for disease progression and severe outcome with potential clinical application. IMPORTANCE Although the host defense mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly described, they are of central importance in shaping the course of the disease and the possible outcome. Metabolomic profiling may complement the lacking knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of COVID-19. Moreover, early identification of metabolomics-based biomarker signatures is proved to serve as an effective approach for the prediction of disease outcome. Here we provide the list of metabolites describing the severe, acute phase of the infection and bring the evidence of crucial metabolic pathways linked to aggressive immune responses. Finally, we suggest metabolomic phenotyping as a promising method for developing personalized care strategies in COVID-19 patients.
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    Severity of COVID-19 : Causes and Consequences — From Obesity to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
    (2021-12-14) Arāja, Diāna; Rovīte, Vita; Murovska, Modra; Terentjeva, Anna; Vaidere, Diāna; Vecvagare, Katrīne; Vīksna, Ludmila; Institute of Microbiology and Virology; Rīga Stradiņš University
    In circumstances of COVID-19 epidemiological uncertainty, the causes and consequences of the disease remain important issues. The aim of this study was to investigate obesity as a potential predisposition and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as a possible consequence of COVID-19. The study was conducted in two parts: a theoretical part, in which a literature review was performed, and an empirical part, in which COVID-19 patient survey data were analysed. To identify the main findings regarding the relationship between obesity and COVID-19, the literature review was focused on the investigation of systematic reviews and meta-analyses by three databases — Med-line (via PubMed), Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, and PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews). The patient survey was performed to investigate the relationship between obesity and severity of the disease, as well as the presence of CFS symptoms in COVID-19 patients in Latvia. The main findings of the literature review showed that obesity increases the risk of hospitalisation, disease severity, clinical complications, poor outcomes, and mortality. The results of the patient survey showed that overweight and obesity were more critical factors for men (males) suffering with COVID-19 than for women (females) in Latvia. The patient group with obesity caused almost half of all hospitalisations. The research data assumed that CFS patients were not a high-risk group for COVID-19, but COVID-19 caused CFS-like symptoms in patients and potentially increased the number of undiagnosed patients. In the context of further epidemiological uncertainty and the possibility of severe post-viral consequences, preventive measures are becoming increasingly important.