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Comparative Medicine May 2024Domestic swine () are important translational models for cardiovascular transplant studies. This can be attributed to the anatomic and physiologic similarities of their...
Domestic swine () are important translational models for cardiovascular transplant studies. This can be attributed to the anatomic and physiologic similarities of their cardiovascular system to humans. Transplant studies frequently employ clinically relevant immunosuppression regimens to prevent organ rejection postoperatively. Immunosuppression can lead to opportunistic infection, including presentations that are novel or poorly described in immunocompetent hosts. In this study, we describe the first case of -induced endocarditis affecting the pulmonary valve in a juvenile, immunosuppressed pig following a partial heart transplantation procedure. Clinical signs of infection began at 15 d postoperation, were consistent with a variety of infectious agents, including , and included lethargy, respiratory signs, and elevated white blood cell counts. By 28 d post procedure, lameness and soft tissue swelling around the left tarsus developed. Joint fluid obtained by arthrocentesis was PCR positive for and negative for other tested pathogens. Despite antimicrobial treatment, the transplanted pulmonary valve developed leaflet thickening, stenosis, and insufficiency starting at 30 d after the procedure. At 86 d posttransplantation, the pig reached experimental endpoints and was humanely euthanized for necropsy and histopathology. The pulmonary valve had numerous dark red vegetative expansions of all 3 leaflets. Postmortem testing of a vegetative lesion was positive for , confirming the etiologic agent responsible for endocarditis. -induced endocarditis of an orthotopic transplanted pulmonary valve has yet to be described in swine. This case report demonstrates that infections following immunosuppression may present with novel or undercharacterized clinical signs.
PubMed: 38749668
DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-23-000090 -
PloS One 2024Malaria is a vector-borne disease that initially manifests as fever, headache, and chills. The illness could progress to more severe conditions, including lethargy,...
INTRODUCTION
Malaria is a vector-borne disease that initially manifests as fever, headache, and chills. The illness could progress to more severe conditions, including lethargy, impaired consciousness, convulsions, shortness of breath, blood in urine, jaundice, and haemorrhage if left untreated. The risk of contracting malaria is considerably heightened in specific occupational settings, particularly among forest rangers, following frequent exposure to natural habitats. Consequently, advancing the understanding of malaria and emphasising how specific occupational environments (including those of forest rangers) contribute to disease risk and management is imperative.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to determine the factors associated with malaria infection among forest rangers by systematically reviewing electronic articles from three databases (EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate).
METHODS
The current review was prepared based on the updated preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. First, three independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of the data collected. The information was then stored in Endnote20 based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The articles were critically appraised with the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) to assess their quality.
RESULT
A total of 103, 31, and 51 articles from EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate, respectively, were selected, resulting in 185 unique hits. Nevertheless, only 63 full-text publications were assessed following a rigorous selection screening, from which only five were included in the final review. The studies revealed that several factors contribute to malaria infection among forest rangers. The parameters were classified into sociodemographic, individual, and living condition-related.
CONCLUSION
A better understanding of malaria progresses and identifying its potential risk factors is essential to impact worker well-being. The findings might be utilised to improve malaria infection prevention programme implementations, hence maximising their success. Pre-employment and regular health screenings could also aid in evaluating and identifying potential risks for malaria infection among forest rangers.
Topics: Humans; Malaria; Forests; Risk Factors; Animals
PubMed: 38748721
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303406 -
Journal of Autism and Developmental... May 2024Investigate the association between gastrointestinal (GI) issues and psychometric scores among children with developmental delays and typical development. We examined...
The Association Between Gastrointestinal Issues and Psychometric Scores in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays, Down Syndrome, and Typical Development.
Investigate the association between gastrointestinal (GI) issues and psychometric scores among children with developmental delays and typical development. We examined the association between GI issues and the Mullen Scale of Early Learning (MSEL), Vineland Adaptive Behavior Subscales (VABS), and Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores from participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down syndrome (DS), other developmental delays (DD) and typical development (TD) from the CHildhood Autism Risk from Genetics and Environment (CHARGE) Study (n = 1603). Approximately 32% of children with ASD, 31% of children with DD, and 20% of children with DS reported at least one GI issue, compared to 7% of TD controls. Constipation was the most frequently reported symptom for the entire population, including controls. In general, GI issues correlated with poorer behavioral scores (decreased communication, daily living, socialization, and motor skills on the VABS, and increased irritability/agitation, lethargy/social withdrawal, stereotypic behavior, and hyperactivity/noncompliance on the ABC) among ASD cases. Analysis by sex indicated that GI issues also correlated with poorer cognitive scores (fine motor, receptive language, expressive language, and MSEL composite scores), and adaptive behavior (communication skills, daily living skills, motor, and VABS composite scores) among boys with DD, but not girls with DD-suggesting sex differences among DD cases. Even TD controls showed increased stereotypic behavior and social withdrawal in association with GI issues. However, GI issues were not correlated with impairments in psychometric scores among DS cases. Given that GI issues correlate with deficits in behavioral and cognitive scores, future studies should investigate the treatment of GI symptoms in children with ASD and DD.
PubMed: 38739245
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06387-2 -
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine May 2024To describe the diagnosis and successful treatment of systemic francisellosis in a dog. An 11-year-old female spayed Labrador retriever presented for progressive...
To describe the diagnosis and successful treatment of systemic francisellosis in a dog. An 11-year-old female spayed Labrador retriever presented for progressive lethargy, hyporexia, and cough. The dog was febrile with a neutrophilia, nonregenerative anemia, thrombocytopenia, and had increased activity in serum of liver-derived enzymes. Francisella philomiragia was isolated from aerobic blood culture. The dog was treated for 6 weeks with enrofloxacin orally. Repeated aerobic blood cultures after 2 and 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy were negative. The dog was clinically normal 7 months after diagnosis with no evidence of relapse.
PubMed: 38738486
DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17104 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... Mar 2024Hypothyroidism and pericardial effusion are two conditions that are associated with previous research. Nevertheless, the correlation between the severity of...
The thyroid-pericardium connection: Unveiling the influence of hypothyroidism severity on pericardial effusion in South Gujarat's patient population-A cross-sectional study.
CONTEXT
Hypothyroidism and pericardial effusion are two conditions that are associated with previous research. Nevertheless, the correlation between the severity of hypothyroidism and the occurrence of pericardial effusion remains uncertain.
AIMS
1. To explore and examine the association between the severity of hypothyroidism and the occurrence of pericardial effusion. 2. To compare clinical characteristics and demographic factors with varying degrees of hypothyroidism severity and pericardial effusion.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN
Tertiary care hospital and cross-sectional study using a pretested, semistructured questionnaire and echocardiography.
METHOD AND MATERIAL
The cross-sectional study encompassed a cohort of 60 patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED
Epi-info version 7.0 and Open epi version 3.1, Chi-square, mean, and standard deviation were used.
RESULTS
There were 16 male participants, accounting for 26.7% of the total, and 44 female participants, constituting 73.3% of the cohort. The participants' average age was 35.5 years. Based on TSH levels, the severity of hypothyroidism in the study was classified into three categories: mild (33.4%), moderate (43.3%), and severe (23.3%). The most common symptoms were lethargy, weight gain, and cold intolerance. Also, an association between the severity of hypothyroidism and pericardial effusion was noted.
CONCLUSION
This research established a noteworthy correlation between hypothyroidism severity and pericardial effusion incidence that is statistically significant. Nevertheless, no significant associations were detected with demographic factors or pulse rate. These results underscore the significance of monitoring and addressing pericardial effusion in patients with moderate-to-severe hypothyroidism. Further investigations are warranted to extend these findings.
PubMed: 38736801
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1236_23 -
Molecular Genetics and Metabolism... Jun 2024Isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that manifests as a deficiency of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVD), a key enzyme in leucine...
Isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that manifests as a deficiency of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVD), a key enzyme in leucine metabolism. The clinical presentations associated with IVD deficiency are variable and include feeding intolerance, vomiting, metabolic acidosis, ketonemia, "sweaty feet" odor, lethargy, coma and even death. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods were used to perform organic acid analysis of blood and urine samples from IVA patients, and the genetic analysis included next generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing of the gene. Here, we report the case of an almost seven-year-old male patient from a Chinese family who was asymptomatic during the newborn period, including the clinical manifestations and examination results. Genetic analysis revealed a previously unreported compound heterozygous variant in the gene: c.593G > C (p.W198S) and c.859C > T (p.R287W).
PubMed: 38736698
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2024.101088 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Jul 2024A 7-y-old, castrated male, leucistic sugar glider () was presented because of a progressive history of lethargy, ataxia, diarrhea, and anorexia. Abdominal ultrasound...
A 7-y-old, castrated male, leucistic sugar glider () was presented because of a progressive history of lethargy, ataxia, diarrhea, and anorexia. Abdominal ultrasound revealed fluid in the abdomen and an infiltrative mass in the liver. Due to a poor prognosis, euthanasia was performed. Postmortem examination revealed a focally extensive, infiltrative, off-white, firm mass in the liver with adhesion to the omentum, mesentery, gastric serosa, and diaphragm. The remaining hepatic parenchyma was diffusely yellow. Histologically, the hepatic mass was consistent with metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (cholangiocellular carcinoma) with proliferation of neoplastic epithelial cells surrounded by marked desmoplasia. Neoplastic cells expanded and infiltrated the adjacent omentum, mesentery, and the serosal surfaces of the stomach, kidney, and small and large intestines. To our knowledge, cholangiocarcinoma has not been reported previously in a sugar glider.
Topics: Cholangiocarcinoma; Male; Animals; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Marsupialia; Liver Neoplasms; Fatal Outcome
PubMed: 38721887
DOI: 10.1177/10406387241252815 -
The Journal of the Association of... Nov 2023Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an extremely uncommon hematologic condition that is potentially fatal. It is a disease of histiocyte or lymphocyte...
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an extremely uncommon hematologic condition that is potentially fatal. It is a disease of histiocyte or lymphocyte hyperactivity, which can be inherited (primary) or acquired (secondary). Dengue fever and HLH both can present with fever, lethargy, and a blood profile of pancytopenia, which makes it difficult to diagnose HLH promptly in a region with dengue endemicity. Clinical and supportive biochemistry findings help clinicians to suspect and diagnose HLH. This article presents a case report of a patient who was diagnosed with dengue fever during initial presentation with subsequent swerves toward HLH. Diagnosing HLH associated with dengue can be difficult. However, it is of utmost importance to diagnose it early, as an early diagnosis and management can lead to significantly improved outcomes. : Gandhi A, Patel P, Shah D. Apparent Dengue Fever Turned Out to be Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis. J Assoc Physicians India 2023;71(11):96-99.
Topics: Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic; Humans; Dengue; Male; Adult
PubMed: 38720506
DOI: 10.59556/japi.71.0387 -
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Jul 2024To describe the incidence, aetiology, treatment, and outcomes of farmer-reported clinical mastitis on New Zealand dairy sheep farms.
AIMS
To describe the incidence, aetiology, treatment, and outcomes of farmer-reported clinical mastitis on New Zealand dairy sheep farms.
METHODS
A prospective cohort study was conducted on 20 spring-lambing New Zealand sheep milking farms over the 2022-2023 season. Clinical mastitis was defined as a change in the appearance of milk and/or signs of inflammation in the gland. Farmers were required to report all cases of clinical mastitis and collect information on affected ewes' demographics, clinical features, treatments (where applicable), and outcomes. Milk samples from mastitic glands were submitted for microbiological culture and identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF).
RESULTS
Partial or complete clinical mastitis data were available for 236 cases from 221 ewes on 18/20 study farms. Clinical mastitis was diagnosed in 0-6% of ewes at the farm level, with an overall incidence of 1.8 (95% CI = 1.0-3.2)% using the study data, or 2.3 (95% CI = 1.6-3.3)% using the study data and farmer estimates that included unreported cases. Cases occurred mostly in early lactation, with 59% detected during the lambing period (August-October), at a median of 7 (IQR 3, 40) days in milk. The majority of cases featured clots in the milk (59%), swelling (55%), and unevenness (71%) of the glands. Pyrexia (rectal temperature 40.0°C) was diagnosed in 25% of cases and depression (lethargy, inappetence, or inability to stand) in 26% of cases. Treatment was given to 46% of cases, with tylosin being the most commonly used treatment (50% of treated cases). The most common outcome was immediate drying off to be culled without treatment (32%), followed by still milking and recovered but with lasting problems (25%). Nearly half of all the milk samples submitted were culture negative. (14%), non-aureus staphylococci (12%), and (11%) were the most common isolates, found on 12, 8 and 8 of the 16 farms with microbiological data, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical mastitis affected up to 6% of ewes at the farm level. Systemic signs were observed in one quarter of affected ewes, suggesting a role for supportive treatment. Clinical mastitis can be severe and challenging to fully resolve in New Zealand dairy sheep.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This is the first systematic study of clinical mastitis in New Zealand dairy ewes. It provides baseline information specific to New Zealand conditions for farmers, veterinarians, and other advisors to guide the management of mastitis for the relatively new dairy sheep industry in New Zealand.
Topics: Animals; Sheep; New Zealand; Female; Sheep Diseases; Mastitis; Prospective Studies; Dairying; Incidence; Milk; Farmers; Lactation
PubMed: 38719198
DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2024.2344566