-
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2024Osteomyelitis is the leading cause of total carcass condemnation in finishing pigs in Portugal, causing significant economic losses in swine production. The present...
Osteomyelitis is the leading cause of total carcass condemnation in finishing pigs in Portugal, causing significant economic losses in swine production. The present study sought to determine a possible link between osteomyelitis in pig carcasses, pre-slaughter factors, and concomitant post-mortem inspection findings. For this purpose, meat inspection data were collected from 100,489 finishing pigs slaughtered in a northern Portuguese abattoir. Information regarding total carcass condemnation, slaughter season, origin, sex, tail-biting lesions, and husbandry invasive procedures (tail docking and teeth resection) was collected. The main cause of total carcass condemnation was osteomyelitis (61.03%). A total of 36.16% of osteomyelitis cases were present in the anterior region and 52.20% in the posterior region. In the anterior region, 94.78% of osteomyelitis cases were in the mandibular bone. Pigs with clipped teeth and carcasses with pleurisies were associated with a higher occurrence of osteomyelitis ( = 0.00262 and < 0.0001, respectively). Second- and third-grade tail-biting lesions were also linked to a higher occurrence of osteomyelitis ( = 0.00128 and < 0.0001, respectively). Slaughter inspection and monitoring procedures should be revised to better assess welfare factors and correlate management practices with the occurrence of osteomyelitis in pig carcasses.
PubMed: 38929413
DOI: 10.3390/ani14121794 -
European Journal of Immunology Jun 2024Tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent before the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, it is important to search for severity...
Tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent before the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, it is important to search for severity biomarkers and devise appropriate therapies. A total of 139 pulmonary TB (PTB) patients and 80 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for plasma soluble CD137 (sCD137) detection through ELISA. Moreover, pleural effusion sCD137 levels were measured in 85 TB patients and 36 untreated lung cancer patients. The plasma cytokine levels in 64 patients with PTB and blood immune cell subpopulations in 68 patients with PTB were analysed via flow cytometry. Blood sCD137 levels were higher in PTB patients (p = 0.012) and correlated with disease severity (p = 0.0056). The level of sCD137 in tuberculous pleurisy effusion (TPE) was markedly higher than that in malignant pleurisy effusion (p = 0.018). Several blood cytokines, such as IL-6 (p = 0.0147), IL-8 (p = 0.0477), IP-10 (p ≤ 0.0001) and MCP-1 (p = 0.0057), and some laboratory indices were significantly elevated in severe PTB (SE) patients, but the percentages of total lymphocytes (p = 0.002) and cytotoxic T cells (p = 0.036) were significantly lower in SE patients than in non-SE patients. In addition, the sCD137 level was negatively correlated with the percentage of total lymphocytes (p = 0.0008) and cytotoxic T cells (p = 0.0021), and PTB patients with higher plasma sCD137 levels had significantly shorter survival times (p = 0.0041). An increase in sCD137 is a potential biomarker for severe TB and indicates a poor prognosis.
PubMed: 38922884
DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350796 -
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology Jun 2024To investigate the expression and function of WNT16, a member of the WNT family protein, in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the expression and function of WNT16, a member of the WNT family protein, in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS
WNT16 expression was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 35 SLE patients and 25 healthy individuals using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, serum WNT16 protein levels were quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 162 SLE patients, 96 healthy controls (HC), and disease controls comprised 154 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS). We investigated the associations between WNT16 protein levels and clinical manifestations, laboratory indices, and disease activity in SLE patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of serum WNT16 for SLE. Furthermore, we performed a knockdown assay on Jeko-1 cells and assessed cell proliferation and apoptosis using Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry.
RESULTS
WNT16 mRNA in SLE patients' PBMCs were significantly lower than those in HC. Furthermore, serum WNT16 in SLE patients were markedly reduced compared to HC, RA, and SS cohorts. ROC curve analysis indicated that plasma WNT16 levels could serve as a potential biomarker for SLE identification (AUC=0.809, SLE vs. HC; AUC=0.760, SLE vs. RA; AUC=0.710, SLE vs. SS). Notably, a weak positive correlation was observed between WNT16 protein and both alkaline phosphatase and lymphocyte percentages. Conversely, a weak negative correlation existed between WNT16 and low-density lipoprotein, neutrophil percentage, and the incidence of pleurisy and disease activity. Additionally, our study confirmed that WNT16 knockdown impairs cell proliferation and enhances apoptosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Serum WNT16 levels effectively differentiate SLE patients from healthy controls and individuals with other autoimmune disorders. WNT16 serves as a potential biomarker with high sensitivity. The diminished expression of WNT16 in SLE may have a significant role in its pathogenesis through the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis.
PubMed: 38910583
DOI: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/mh1d4j -
World Journal of Surgical Oncology Jun 2024Thymic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rare and is known to be associated with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS). SjS is rarely accompanied by serositis....
BACKGROUND
Thymic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rare and is known to be associated with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS). SjS is rarely accompanied by serositis. Here, we describe the first case of postoperative cardiac tamponade and acute pleuritis in a patient with thymic MALT lymphoma associated with SjS.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 33-year-old woman with SjS presented with an anterior mediastinal mass on chest computed tomography, which was performed for further examination of the condition. Suspecting a thymic MALT lymphoma or thymic epithelial tumor, total thymectomy was performed. The mediastinal mass was histopathologically diagnosed as a thymic MALT lymphoma. The patient was discharged with a good postoperative course but visited the hospital 30 days after surgery for dyspnea. Cardiac tamponade was observed and drainage was performed. Four days after pericardial drainage, chest radiography revealed massive left pleural effusion, and thoracic drainage was performed. The patient was diagnosed with serositis associated with SjS and treated with methylprednisolone, which relieved cardiac tamponade and pleuritis.
CONCLUSIONS
Surgical invasion of thymic MALT lymphomas associated with SjS may cause serositis. Postoperative follow-up should be conducted, considering the possibility of cardiac tamponade or acute pleuritis due to serositis as postoperative complications.
Topics: Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone; Female; Adult; Cardiac Tamponade; Sjogren's Syndrome; Pleurisy; Thymus Neoplasms; Postoperative Complications; Thymectomy; Prognosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Acute Disease
PubMed: 38902721
DOI: 10.1186/s12957-024-03442-1 -
BMJ Case Reports Jun 2024Rheumatoid pleurisy is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but distinguishing it from other diseases, such as heart failure and tuberculous pleurisy, is often...
Rheumatoid pleurisy is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but distinguishing it from other diseases, such as heart failure and tuberculous pleurisy, is often difficult. A man in his 70s with stable rheumatoid arthritis presented with cardiac enlargement and bilateral pleural effusion on chest radiography. Pleural fluid studies showed lymphocytosis, adenosine deaminase level of 51.6 U/L and rheumatoid factor level of 2245.3 IU/mL, suggestive of rheumatoid pleurisy and tuberculous pleurisy. Thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia revealed erythema of the parietal pleura, small papillary projections and fibrin deposits. H&E-stained biopsy specimens showed inflammatory granulomas with strong lymphocytic infiltration and non-caseating granulomas. He was diagnosed with rheumatoid pleurisy. His symptoms improved with 30 mg of prednisolone. This study highlights that biopsy using thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia effectively diagnoses rheumatoid pleurisy, which may be challenging to diagnose.
Topics: Humans; Male; Thoracoscopy; Anesthesia, Local; Pleurisy; Aged; Biopsy; Thoracic Wall; Diagnosis, Differential; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Prednisolone; Pleura
PubMed: 38885997
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2024-260140 -
Cureus May 2024Cryptococcosis, primarily an opportunistic infection, often occurs in immunocompromised patients but can also affect immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcosis...
Cryptococcosis, primarily an opportunistic infection, often occurs in immunocompromised patients but can also affect immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcosis typically manifests in the lungs, but pleurisy is rare, particularly in immunocompetent patients. This report details a case of cryptococcal pleuritis in a 74-year-old immunocompetent male with a history of heart failure, presenting initially with pleural effusion. Diagnostic challenges arose due to the initial absence of intrapulmonary lesions. The diagnosis was eventually established through a surgical biopsy and tissue culture, revealing . This case underscores the complexity of diagnosing cryptococcal infections, particularly in immunocompetent patients, and highlights the need for considering cryptococcosis in differential diagnoses of lymphocyte-predominant exudative pleural effusions.
PubMed: 38872700
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60260 -
European Journal of Clinical... Jun 2024Any system or organ involvement can be seen in brucellosis, which is still a significant public health problem in developing countries. The rate of respiratory system...
Any system or organ involvement can be seen in brucellosis, which is still a significant public health problem in developing countries. The rate of respiratory system involvement is lower than that of other systems and which is also difficult to document. Brucellosis-associated pleurisy is a rare complication even in endemic regions. In this case report, a 78-year-old male patient who was assessed for pleural effusion etiology is presented. Brucella spp. were isolated on the 14 day of the pleural fluid incubation in the blood culture set and the patienthas been treated successfully for brucellosis. Based on our experience we think that it is important to use blood culture media for sterile body fluids, particularly for microorganisms that are difficult to isolate such as Brucella spp.
PubMed: 38856827
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04839-2 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jun 2024In this study, we examined the value of chest CT signs combined with peripheral blood eosinophil percentage in differentiating between pulmonary paragonimiasis and...
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we examined the value of chest CT signs combined with peripheral blood eosinophil percentage in differentiating between pulmonary paragonimiasis and tuberculous pleurisy in children.
METHODS
Patients with pulmonary paragonimiasis and tuberculous pleurisy were retrospectively enrolled from January 2019 to April 2023 at the Kunming Third People's Hospital and Lincang People's Hospital. There were 69 patients with pulmonary paragonimiasis (paragonimiasis group) and 89 patients with tuberculous pleurisy (tuberculosis group). Clinical symptoms, chest CT imaging findings, and laboratory test results were analyzed. Using binary logistic regression, an imaging model of CT signs and a combined model of CT signs and eosinophils were developed to calculate and compare the differential diagnostic performance of the two models.
RESULTS
CT signs were used to establish the imaging model, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.856 (95% CI: 0.799-0.913), the sensitivity was 66.7%, and the specificity was 88.9%. The combined model was established using the CT signs and eosinophil percentage, and the ROC was plotted. The AUC curve was 0.950 (95% CI: 0.919-0.980), the sensitivity was 89.9%, and the specificity was 90.1%. The differential diagnostic efficiency of the combined model was higher than that of the imaging model, and the difference in AUC was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
The combined model has a higher differential diagnosis efficiency than the imaging model in the differentiation of pulmonary paragonimiasis and tuberculous pleurisy in children. The presence of a tunnel sign on chest CT, the absence of pulmonary nodules, and an elevated percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils are indicative of pulmonary paragonimiasis in children.
Topics: Humans; Eosinophils; Paragonimiasis; Male; Female; Child; Retrospective Studies; Diagnosis, Differential; Tuberculosis, Pleural; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 38851671
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09461-3 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jun 2024Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) pose a serious threat to older adults but may be underdiagnosed due to atypical presentations. Here we assess LRTI symptom...
BACKGROUND
Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) pose a serious threat to older adults but may be underdiagnosed due to atypical presentations. Here we assess LRTI symptom profiles and syndromic (symptom-based) case ascertainment in older (≥ 65y) as compared to younger adults (< 65y).
METHODS
We included adults (≥ 18y) with confirmed LRTI admitted to two acute care Trusts in Bristol, UK from 1st August 2020- 31st July 2022. Logistic regression was used to assess whether age ≥ 65y reduced the probability of meeting syndromic LRTI case definitions, using patients' symptoms at admission. We also calculated relative symptom frequencies (log-odds ratios) and evaluated how symptoms were clustered across different age groups.
RESULTS
Of 17,620 clinically confirmed LRTI cases, 8,487 (48.1%) had symptoms meeting the case definition. Compared to those not meeting the definition these cases were younger, had less severe illness and were less likely to have received a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or to have active SARS-CoV-2 infection. Prevalence of dementia/cognitive impairment and levels of comorbidity were lower in this group. After controlling for sex, dementia and comorbidities, age ≥ 65y significantly reduced the probability of meeting the case definition (aOR = 0.67, 95% CI:0.63-0.71). Cases aged ≥ 65y were less likely to present with fever and LRTI-specific symptoms (e.g., pleurisy, sputum) than younger cases, and those aged ≥ 85y were characterised by lack of cough but frequent confusion and falls.
CONCLUSIONS
LRTI symptom profiles changed considerably with age in this hospitalised cohort. Standard screening protocols may fail to detect older and frailer cases of LRTI based on their symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Respiratory Tract Infections; Hospitalization; Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Age Factors; COVID-19; United Kingdom; SARS-CoV-2; Young Adult; Comorbidity; Adolescent
PubMed: 38849730
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09425-7 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jul 2024Ovarian fibromas are benign tumours arising from the connective tissue of the ovarian cortex, classified into three pathological subtypes: fibroma, thecoma, and...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Ovarian fibromas are benign tumours arising from the connective tissue of the ovarian cortex, classified into three pathological subtypes: fibroma, thecoma, and fibrothecoma. Their diagnosis is complicated by their solid nature and potential association with ascites and pleural effusion, resembling Meigs syndrome. Elevated serum CA125 levels can further complicate differentiation from malignant ovarian epithelial tumours.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 37-year-old female from a rural area presented with a distended abdomen and weight loss lasting 2 months. Clinical examinations revealed a solid pelvic mass and diagnostic tests showed significantly elevated CA125 levels. Imaging suggested a large ovarian mass and surgical intervention confirmed a fibrothecoma of the left ovary. The postoperative course was uneventful, with subsequent resolution of ascites and pleurisy.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
The diagnosis of ovarian fibromas/fibrothecomas poses challenges due to their asymptomatic nature, solid appearance, and occasional association with the Meigs syndrome. Elevated CA125 levels can mislead the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The case underscores the importance of considering ovarian fibromas/fibrothecomas in the differential diagnosis of ovarian tumours with elevated CA125 levels, especially in women of reproductive age. The benign nature of these tumours necessitates a conservative surgical approach, emphasizing the importance of intraoperative frozen section analysis.
CONCLUSION
Ovarian fibrothecomas associated with elevated serum CA125 levels are rare. Their presentation can mimic malignant ovarian neoplasms, leading to potential diagnostic confusion. Surgical removal remains the treatment of choice, with a favorable prognosis post-surgery.
PubMed: 38830334
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109847