Examinando por Autor "Gil-Crujera, Antonio"

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Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) "4 Genotype (ApoE rs429358—ApoE rs7412 Polymorphisms) Is Not Associated with Long COVID Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors
(2023-07-10) Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars; Díaz-Gil, Gema; Gómez-Esquer, Francisco; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Gómez-Sánchez, Stella Maris; Ambite-Quesada, Silvia; Palomar-Gallego, Mª Angustias; Pellicer-Valero, Óscar J; Giordano, Rocco
The role of genetics as a predisposing factor related to an increased risk of developing long COVID symptomatology is under debate. The aim of the current secondary analysis was to identify the association between the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene, a gene affecting cholesterol metabolism and previously associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, and the development of long COVID in a cohort of individuals who had been hospitalized by SARSCoV-2 infection. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 287 previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. Three genotypes of the ApoE gene (ApoE "2, "3, "4) were obtained based on the combination of ApoE rs429358 and ApoE rs7412 polymorphisms. Participants were asked to self-report the presence of any post-COVID symptom in a face-to-face interview at 17.8 +/- 5.2 months after hospital discharge and medical records were obtained. Each participant reported 3.0 (1.9) post-COVID symptoms. Overall, no significant differences in long COVID symptoms were observed depending on the ApoE genotype (ApoE "2, ApoE "3, ApoE "4). The presence of the ApoE "4 genotype, albeit associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, did not appear to predispose for the presence of long COVID in our cohort of previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.
Are Pain Polymorphisms Associated with the Risk and Phenotype of Post-COVID Pain in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors?
(2022-07-26) Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César; Giordano, Rocco; Díaz-Gil, Gema; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Gómez-Sánchez, Stella Maris; Ambite-Quesada, Silvia; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars
Objective: To investigate the association of different, selected pain polymorphisms with the presence of de novo long-COVID pain symptoms and to analyze the association between these polymorphisms with clinical, sensory-related, cognitive and psychological variables in COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Two hundred and ninety-three (n = 293, 49.5% female, mean age: 55.6 12.9 years) previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors participated. Three genotypes of the following single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained from non-stimulated saliva: OPRM1 (rs1799971), COMT (rs4680), BDNF (rs6265), and HTR1B (rs6296) by polymerase chain reactions in all participants. Further, clinical (intensity/duration of pain), sensory-related (sensitization-associated symptoms, neuropathic pain features), psychological (anxiety or depressive levels, sleep quality), and cognitive (catastrophizing, kinesiophobia) variables were collected in those COVID-19 survivors suffering from post-COVID pain. Analyses were carried out to associate clinical features with genotype. Results: Participants were assessed 17.8 +/- 5.2 months after hospitalization. One hundred and seventeen (39.9%) experienced post-COVID pain (particularly of musculoskeletal origin). The distributions of the genotype variants of any SNP were not significantly different between COVID-19 survivors with and without long-term post-COVID pain (all, p > 0.178). No differences in sensitization-associated symptoms, neuropathic pain features, catastrophizing, kinesiophobia levels, anxiety and depressive levels or sleep quality according to the genotype variant in any SNPs were found. No effect of gender was identified. Conclusion: The four SNPs generally associated with pain did not appear to predispose to the development of de novo long-COVID pain symptoms in previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. The SNPs were not involved in the phenotypic features of post-COVID pain either.
Carpal tunnel syndrome in the workplace. Triggers, coping strategies, and economic impact: A qualitative study from the perspective of women manual workers
(Elsevier, 2023) Moro-López-Menchero, Paloma; Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César; Güeita-Rodríguez, Javier; Gómez-Sanchez, Stella Maris; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Palacios-Ceña, Domingo
Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may lead to significant work limitations, especially in female manual workers. There is scarce evidence on the perspective of female manual workers with CTS. Purpose: To explore the perspective of female workers who suffer from CTS regarding triggers, coping strategies, and economic impact. Study design: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted involving 18 manual workers with CTS diagnosed by the neurology service of a public hospital. Methods: Purposive sampling was applied, and data were collected using in-depth interviews and researchers’ notes. An inductive thematic analysis was applied to identify themes reflecting the participants’ experience. Guba and Lincoln criteria were applied to establish the trustworthiness of the data. Results: The mean age of participants was 40.06 years (SD 9.86). Four themes were identified: (a) coping with work limitations; (b) work activities that aggravate symptoms; (c) relationships at work; and (d) the economic burden of CTS. The effect of work on CTS, daily constraints, work situations that trigger the symptoms, and the strategies used by participants to adapt to their work are described. In addition, they recounted how relationships with managers and coworkers are modified and how CTS affects family finances. Conclusions: The findings describe aggravating factors among working women, coping strategies used, and the social and occupational impact of CTS.
Comparison between Conditioned Pain Modulation Paradigms Using Cold Pressor Conditioning Stimulus versus Ischemic Pressure Stimulus in Women with Fibromyalgia and Its Impact on Clinical Status: A Cross-Sectional Study
(MDPI, 2024-09-29) Riquelme-Aguado, Víctor; González-Álvarez, Mª Elena; Zabarte-Del-Campo, Alazne; Fernández-Carnero, Josué; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Gómez-Esquer, Francisco; Villafañe, Jorge Hugo
Background/Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by widespread chronic pain as the primary symptom. Neurophysiological pain mechanisms, such as the function of the descending inhibitory system, are impaired in this condition. The main objective of this study was to compare the results of two paradigms to evaluate CPM in women with FM. The secondary objective was to correlate the results of each CPM paradigm with the clinical status of patients with FM. Methods: One hundred and three FM women were divided into two groups: fifty patients diagnosed with FM were assigned to the conditioned pain modulation (CPM) group using a cold pressor stimulus, and fifty-three patients were assigned to the CPM group using the ischemic pressure stimulus. The main outcome measures were pain intensity, disability, mechanical hyperalgesia, and CPM. Results: The primary analysis revealed significant differences between the results obtained from the different CPM protocols. Poorer outcomes in the cold pressor test correlated with higher pain intensity and a greater disability index. Conclusions: Pain modulation abnormalities in FM patients were evident when using either the cold pressor or ischemic pressure stimuli to establish the CPM paradigm. The cold pressor conditioning stimulus elicited a stronger response than the ischemic pressure stimulus in FM patients.
DNA Salivary Methylation Levels of the ACE2 Promoter Are Not Related to ACE2 (rs2285666 and rs2074192), TMPRSS2 (rs12329760 and rs2070788) and ACE1 rs1799752 Polymorphisms in COVID-19 Survivors with Post-COVID-19 Condition
(MDPI, 2025-02-27) Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César; Díaz-Gil, Gema; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Gómez-Sánchez, Stella Maris; Ambite-Quesada, Silvia; Torres-Macho, Juan; Ryan-Murua, Pablo; Franco-Moreno, Ana; Pellicer-Valero, Óscar J.; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars
El artículo publicado en la revista International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS), aborda una cuestión de gran actualidad científica: la interacción entre factores genéticos y epigenéticos en la persistencia de síntomas post-COVID-19. La revista IJMS, editada por MDPI, está indexada en Journal Citation Reports (JCR) y Scopus, y cuenta con un factor de impacto de 5.6 en su edición más reciente (2024), situándose en el primer cuartil (Q1) en las categorías de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. Además, presenta un CiteScore de 6.4 en Scopus, lo que refleja su consolidada reputación en el ámbito de las ciencias biomédicas y su alta visibilidad internacional. Este estudio, con una muestra de 279 pacientes previamente hospitalizados por COVID-19, analiza si existe una relación entre los niveles de metilación del promotor del gen ACE2 y cinco polimorfismos genéticos asociados a la infección por SARS-CoV-2. A través de técnicas avanzadas de pirosecuenciación y genotipado, los autores concluyen que no se observa una asociación significativa entre los perfiles epigenéticos y los genotipos analizados, lo que contribuye a delimitar el papel de estos mecanismos en el desarrollo del síndrome post-COVID. La publicación en una revista de alto impacto, con revisión por pares y posicionamiento Q1, avala la calidad metodológica, el rigor científico y la relevancia clínica del trabajo, cumpliendo con los estándares de excelencia requeridos por ANECA para la evaluación de méritos investigadores.
Genetic Association between ACE2 (rs2285666 and rs2074192) and TMPRSS2 (rs12329760 and rs2070788) Polymorphisms with Post-COVID Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors
(2022-10-24) Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars; Díaz-Gil, Gema; Gómez-Esquer, Francisco; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Gómez-Sánchez, Stella Maris; Ambite-Quesada, Silvia; Palomar-Gallego, Mª Angustias; Pellicer-Valero, Óscar J; Giordano, Rocco
The aim of the study was to identify the association between four selected COVID-19 polymorphisms of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors genes with the presence of long-COVID symptomatology in COVID-19 survivors. These genes were selected as they associate with the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the cells, so polymorphisms could be important for the prognoses of long-COVID symptoms. Two hundred and ninety-three (n = 293, 49.5% female, mean age: 55.6 +/- 12.9 years) individuals who had been previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 were included. Three potential genotypes of the following single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained from non-stimulated saliva samples of participants: ACE2 (rs2285666), ACE2 (rs2074192), TMPRSS2 (rs12329760), TMPRSS2 (rs2070788). Participants were asked to self-report the presence of any post- COVID defined as a symptom that started no later than one month after SARS-CoV-2 acute infection and whether the symptom persisted at the time of the study. At the time of the study (mean: 17.8, SD: 5.2 months after hospital discharge), 87.7% patients reported at least one symptom. Fatigue (62.8%), pain (39.9%) or memory loss (32.1%) were the most prevalent post-COVID symptoms. Overall, no differences in long-COVID symptoms were dependent on ACE2 rs2285666, ACE2 rs2074192, TMPRSS2 rs12329760, or TMPRSS2 rs2070788 genotypes. The four SNPs assessed, albeit previously associated with COVID-19 severity, do not predispose for developing long-COVID symptoms in people who were previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic.
How Does Conditioned Pain Modulation Influence Motor Imagery Processes in Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome? A Cross-Sectional Study Secondary Analysis
(MDPI, 2024-12-02) Riquelme-Aguado, Víctor; Di-Bonaventura, Silvia; González-Álvarez, Mª Elena; Zabarte-Del-Campo, Alazne; Fernández-Carnero, Josué; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Gómez-Esquer, Francisco; Villafañe, Jorge Hugo
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a multifactorial pain syndrome not only characterized by widespread pain as the primary symptom but also accompanied by physical, psychological, and cognitive manifestations. Impairments in conditioned pain modulation (CPM) are common in this population; however, there is significant heterogeneity in the CPM response among women with FMS. The Left/Right Judgment Task (LRJT) is a validated method for studying motor imagery in chronic pain patients. Previous scientific evidence has not yet thoroughly investigated the relationship between CPM alterations and motor imagery processes in FMS patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CPM and motor imagery. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study. Pain intensity (NPRS), disability (FIQ), mechanical hyperalgesia (PPT), descending pain modulation (CPM), and laterality discrimination (LRJT) were assessed in 30 women diagnosed with FMS. Participants were divided into two groups, responder and non-responder, according to their response to the CPM test. Results: Findings showed that the FMS subgroup of non-responders to CPM, performed worse in motor imagery processes (LRJT). Additionally, older age and higher mechanical hyperalgesia were also associated with poorer functioning of the inhibitory system. Conclusions: Women with FMS who are non-responders to CPM exhibit a reduced ability to perform motor imagery processes. Additionally, the non-responder group shown significant differences, such as older age and greater initial mechanical hyperalgesia compared to the responder group.
Limb Laterality Discrimination, Evoked Sensations and Somatosensory Behavior in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study
(MDPI, 2022-07-26) Riquelme-Aguado, Víctor; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Fernández-Carnero, Josué; Cuenca-Martínez, Ferrán; Gómez-Esquer, Francisco
The main objective of this study was to assess the status of body schema using limb laterality discrimination tasks and pain measurement variables of patients with FMS compared to healthy subjects. The secondary aim was to analyze the relationships between laterality discrimination with respect to somatosensory variables. Thirty female patients with FMS (with a mean age of 52.43 ± 11.82 years) and thirty healthy women (with a mean age of 47.93 ± 5.92 years) were recruited. The main outcome measures were laterality discrimination, referral of evoked sensations, pressure pain threshold and conditioned pain modulation. The main analysis showed that patients with FMS have a longer reaction time for laterality discrimination in hands (hands—20 images, t = 4.044, p < 0.0001, d = 1.04; hands—50 images t = 4.012, p < 0.0001, d = 1.31; feet—20 images t = 2.982, p < 0.01, d = 0.76; feet—50 images, t = 2.159, p < 0.05, d = 0.55). With regard the secondary analysis, patients with FM have higher mechanical hyperalgesia (t = −9.550; p < 0.0001, d = 2.51) and decreased response to conditioned pain modulation compared with healthy subjects (t = 15.519; p < 0.0001, d = 4.17). A positive correlation was found in patients with FMS between greater laterality discrimination ability and better function of conditioned pain modulation (hands r = 0.676, p < 0.0001; feet r = 0.485, p < 0.01). In conclusion, patients with FMS have a longer reaction time and lower accuracy for laterality discrimination, increased mechanical hyperalgesia and decreased conditioned pain modulation compared to healthy subjects. Finally, it seems that there is a positive correlation between greater laterality discrimination ability and better conditioned pain modulation function.
Post-COVID-19 Pain Is Not Associated with DNA Methylation Levels of the ACE2 Promoter in COVID-19 Survivors Hospitalized Due to SARS-CoV-2 Infection
(MDPI, 2024-07-25) Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César; Díaz-Gil, Gema; Gil-Crujera, Antonio; Gómez-Sánchez, Stella Maris; Ambite-Quesda, Silvia; Franco-Moreno, Anabel; Ryan-Murua, Pablo; Torres-Macho, Juan; Pellicer-Valero, Óscar J.; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars; Giordano, Rocco
One of theories explaining the development of long-lasting symptoms after an acute severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection include changes in the methylation pattern of the host. The current study aimed to investigate whether DNA methylation levels associated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) promoter are different when comparing individuals previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 who then developed long-lasting post-COVID pain with those previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 who did not develop post-COVID-19 pain symptoms. Non-stimulated saliva samples were obtained from a cohort of 279 (mean age: 56.5, SD: 13.0 years old, 51.5% male) COVID-19 survivors who needed hospitalization. Clinical data were collected from hospital medical records. Participants were asked to disclose pain symptoms developed during the first three months after hospital admission due to COVID-19 and persisting at the time of the interview. Methylations of five CpG dinucleotides in the ACE2 promoter were quantified (as percentages). Participants were evaluated up to 17.8 (SD: 5.3) months after hospitalization. Thus, 39.1% of patients exhibited post-COVID-19 pain. Most patients (77.05%) in the cohort developed localized post-COVID-19 pain. Headache and pain in the lower extremity were experienced by 29.4% of the patients. Seven patients received a post-infection diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on the presence of widespread pain characteristics (11.6%) and other associated symptoms. No significant differences in methylation percentages at any CpG location of the ACE2 promoter were identified when comparing individuals with and without post-COVID-19 pain. The current study did not observe differences in methylation levels of the ACE2 promoter depending on the presence or absence of long-lasting post-COVID-19 pain symptoms in individuals who needed hospitalization due to COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic.