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Medicine May 2024To evaluate left atrial volume and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) combined with left atrial appendage thrombosis and patients with...
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate left atrial volume and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) combined with left atrial appendage thrombosis and patients with paroxysmal AF without left atrial appendage thrombosis by 3-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI), and to explore the application value of this set of parameters in the evaluation of left atrial function in patients with paroxysmal AF.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 40 patients with paroxysmal AF admitted from December 2018 to December 2020 were selected as the observation group. All patients with paroxysmal AF in the observation group underwent transesophageal echocardiography. According to the presence of left atrial appendage thrombosis, the patients were divided into the AF without thrombosis group (24 cases) and the AF with thrombosis group (16 cases). Thirty normal people were selected as control group who were chosen as having no heart-related disease. The left atrial volume parameters (Left atrial maximum volume LAVmax, Left atrial minimum volume LAVmin, Left atrial volume before atrial contraction LAVpre-A, Left atrial stroke volume LAEV), left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF) and left atrial strain parameters (Left atrial reservoir longitudinal strain LASr, Left atrial conduit longitudinal strain LAScd, Left atrial contraction longitudinal strain LASct, Left atrial reservoir circumferential strain LASr-c, Left atrial conduit circumferential strain LAScd-c, Left atrial contraction circumferential strain LASct-c) of the 3 groups were measured by 3D-STI.
RESULTS
With the progression of paroxysmal AF, the left atrial volume increased, and the reservoir, conduit and contractile function were damaged. The left atrial volume continued to increase, and the reservoir, conduit and contractile function further decreased significantly in patients with AF combined with left atrial appendage thrombosis. LAEF was positively correlated with LASr and LASr_c.
CONCLUSION
Real-time 3-dimensional spot tracking imaging (3D-STI) can evaluate the changes in left atrial volume and function in patients with paroxysmal AF, and has a certain reference value for clinical judgment of disease progression and prognosis.
Topics: Humans; Atrial Fibrillation; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Atrial Function, Left; Atrial Appendage; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; Heart Atria; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Aged; Thrombosis
PubMed: 38788025
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038206 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Bovine ischaemic teat necrosis (ITN) is a disease affecting the skin of the teats of dairy cows with an unknown aetiopathogenesis. Digital dermatitis (DD)-associated...
Bovine ischaemic teat necrosis (ITN) is a disease affecting the skin of the teats of dairy cows with an unknown aetiopathogenesis. Digital dermatitis (DD)-associated treponemes have previously been suggested as a potential aetiological agent in ITN, although the sample size was small. The current study, using established PCR techniques, aimed to examine the association with the presence of DD-associated treponemes in a large number of ITN samples from a wider geographical area, and surveyed the potential of milk as an infection reservoir. From 95 ITN lesions, 35.8% ( = 34) were positive for at least one DD-associated treponeme compared with only 5.6% ( = 1) of 18 non-lesioned teats from cows with ITN lesions on a different teat using a nested PCR approach. All 10 age- and production-matched control cows were negative for DD-associated treponemes via PCR. No DD-associated treponemes could be detected from foremilk of cows with ( = 19) and without ( = 31) a DD lesion on the hind feet. DD-associated treponemes could be detected via PCR after incubation in milk for up to 2 h. Therefore, milk does not appear to be a competent reservoir for transmission of DD-associated treponemes. Moreover, in the current study DD-associated treponemes were only detected in a subset of ITN samples, so it is unlikely these opportunistic skin-associated pathogens are the major or sole agent of ITN.
PubMed: 38787279
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050427 -
Veterinary Sciences May 2024Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is an eye disease caused by that affects domestic and wild caprines, including Iberian ibex (), a medium-sized mountain ungulate....
Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is an eye disease caused by that affects domestic and wild caprines, including Iberian ibex (), a medium-sized mountain ungulate. However, its role in IKC dynamics in multi-host communities has been poorly studied. This study assessed in Iberian ibex and seasonally sympatric domestic small ruminants in the Natural Space of Sierra Nevada (NSSN), a mountain habitat in southern Spain. From 2015 to 2017, eye swabs were collected from 147 ibexes (46 subadults, 101 adults) and 169 adult domestic small ruminants (101 sheep, 68 goats). was investigated through real-time qPCR and statistically assessed according to species, sex, age category, year, period, and area. The lppS gene of was sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. was endemic and asymptomatic in the host community of the NSSN. Three genetic clusters were shared by ibex and livestock, and one was identified only in sheep, although each host species could maintain the infection independently. Naïve subadults maintained endemic infection in Iberian ibex, with an epizootic outbreak in 2017 when the infection spread to adults. Wild ungulates are epidemiologically key in maintaining and spreading IKC and other shared diseases among spatially segregated livestock flocks.
PubMed: 38787189
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11050217 -
Insects Apr 2024Insects constitute the largest proportion of animals on Earth and act as significant reservoirs and vectors in disease transmission. Rice thrips ( family...
Insects constitute the largest proportion of animals on Earth and act as significant reservoirs and vectors in disease transmission. Rice thrips ( family Phlaeothripidae) are one of the most common pests in agriculture. In this study, the full genome sequence of a novel , provisionally named "Rice thrips ollusvirus 1" (RTOV1), was elucidated using transcriptome sequencing and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). A homology search and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the newly identified virus is a member of the family (order ). The genome of RTOV1 contains four predicted open reading frames (ORFs), including a polymerase protein (L, 7590 nt), a glycoprotein (G, 4206 nt), a nucleocapsid protein (N, 2415 nt) and a small protein of unknown function (291 nt). All of the ORFs are encoded by the complementary genome, suggesting that the virus is a negative-stranded RNA virus. Phylogenetic analysis using polymerase sequences suggested that RTOV1 was closely related to ollusvirus 1. Deep small RNA sequencing analysis reveals a significant accumulation of small RNAs derived from RTOV1, indicating that the virus replicated in the insect. According to our understanding, this is the first report of an identified in a member of the insect family Phlaeothripidae. The characterisation and discovery of RTOV1 is a significant contribution to the understanding of diversity in insects.
PubMed: 38786859
DOI: 10.3390/insects15050303 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Equine leptospirosis can result in abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death, placentitis, and uveitis. Horses can also act as subclinical reservoir hosts of infection, which...
Equine leptospirosis can result in abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death, placentitis, and uveitis. Horses can also act as subclinical reservoir hosts of infection, which are characterized as asymptomatic carriers that persistently excrete leptospires and transmit disease. In this study, PCR and culture were used to assess urinary shedding of pathogenic from 37 asymptomatic mares. Three asymptomatic mares, designated as H2, H8, and H9, were PCR-positive for , a gene specific for pathogenic species of . One asymptomatic mare, H9, was culture-positive, and the recovered isolate was classified as serogroup Australis serovar Rushan. DNA capture and enrichment of genomic DNA from PCR-positive, culture-negative samples determined that asymptomatic mare H8 was also shedding serogroup Australis, whereas asymptomatic mare H2 was shedding serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. Sera from all asymptomatic mares were tested by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and 35 of 37 (94.6%) were seropositive with titers ranging from 1:100 to 1:3200. In contrast to asymptomatic mares, mare H44 presented with acute spontaneous abortion and a serum MAT titer of 1:102,400 to serogroup Pomona serovar Pomona. Comparison of serogroup Australis strain H9 with that of serogroup Pomona strain H44 in the hamster model of leptospirosis corroborated differences in virulence of strains. Since lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a protective antigen in bacterin vaccines, the LPS of strain H9 (associated with subclinical carriage) was compared with strain H44 (associated with spontaneous abortion). This revealed different LPS profiles and immunoreactivity with reference antisera. It is essential to know what species and serovars of are circulating in equine populations to design efficacious vaccines and diagnostic tests. Our results demonstrate that horses in the US can act as reservoir hosts of leptospirosis and shed diverse pathogenic species via urine. This report also details the detection of serogroup Australis serovar Rushan, a species and serotype of , not previously reported in the US.
PubMed: 38784659
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1346713 -
One Health Outlook May 2024Yellow Fever (YF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. Uganda is located within the Africa YF belt. Between 2019 and 2022, the Ugandan Health Authorities reported at... (Review)
Review
Yellow Fever (YF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. Uganda is located within the Africa YF belt. Between 2019 and 2022, the Ugandan Health Authorities reported at least one outbreak of YF annually with an estimated 892 suspected cases, on average per year. The persistent recurrence of this disease raises significant concerns about the efficacy of current response strategies and prevention approaches. YF has been recognized as a One Health issue due to its interrelatedness with the animal and environmental domains. Monkeys have been recognized as the virus primary reservoir. The YF virus is transmitted through bites of infected Aedes or Haemagogus species mosquitoes between monkeys and humans. Human activities, monkey health, and environmental health issues (e.g., climate change and land use) impact YF incidence in Uganda. Additionally, disease control programs for other tropical diseases, such as mosquitoes control programs for malaria, impact YF incidence.This review adopts the One Health approach to highlight the limitations in the existing segmented YF control and prevention strategies in Uganda, including the limited health sector surveillance, the geographically localized outbreak response efforts, the lack of a comprehensive vaccination program, the limited collaboration and communication among relevant national and international agencies, and the inadequate vector control practices. Through a One Health approach, we propose establishing a YF elimination taskforce. This taskforce would oversee coordination of YF elimination initiatives, including implementing a comprehensive surveillance system, conducting mass YF vaccination campaigns, integrating mosquito management strategies, and enhancing risk communication. It is anticipated that adopting the One Health approach will reduce the risk of YF incidence and outbreaks.
PubMed: 38783349
DOI: 10.1186/s42522-024-00103-x -
Nature Communications May 2024Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite complete control of viral replication with...
Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite complete control of viral replication with antiretrovirals, cells with integrated HIV-1 provirus can produce viral transcripts. In a cross-sectional study of 84 HIV+ individuals of whom 43 were followed longitudinally, we found that HIV-1 RNAs are present in extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from cerebrospinal fluid and serum of all individuals. We used seven digital droplet polymerase chain reaction assays to evaluate the transcriptional status of the latent reservoir. EV-associated viral RNA was more abundant in the CSF and correlated with neurocognitive dysfunction in both, the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Sequencing studies suggested compartmentalization of defective viral transcripts in the serum and CSF. These findings suggest previous studies have underestimated the viral burden and there is a significant relationship between latent viral transcription and CNS complications of long-term disease despite the adequate use of antiretrovirals.
Topics: Humans; Extracellular Vesicles; HIV-1; RNA, Viral; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; HIV Infections; Female; Adult; Middle Aged; Longitudinal Studies; Viral Load; Virus Latency; Neurocognitive Disorders
PubMed: 38782925
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48644-z -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Jun 2024We describe an unusual mortality event caused by a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.4.4b involving harbor (Phoca vitulina) and gray...
We describe an unusual mortality event caused by a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.4.4b involving harbor (Phoca vitulina) and gray (Halichoerus grypus) seals in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Quebec, Canada, in 2022. Fifteen (56%) of the seals submitted for necropsy were considered to be fatally infected by HPAI H5N1 containing fully Eurasian or Eurasian/North American genome constellations. Concurrently, presence of large numbers of bird carcasses infected with HPAI H5N1 at seal haul-out sites most likely contributed to the spillover of infection to the seals. Histologic changes included meningoencephalitis (100%), fibrinosuppurative alveolitis, and multiorgan acute necrotizing inflammation. This report of fatal HPAI H5N1 infection in pinnipeds in Canada raises concerns about the expanding host of this virus, the potential for the establishment of a marine mammal reservoir, and the public health risks associated with spillover to mammals.Nous décrivons un événement de mortalité inhabituelle causé par un virus de l'influenza aviaire hautement pathogène A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b chez des phoques communs (Phoca vitulina) et gris (Halichoerus grypus) dans l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent au Québec, Canada, en 2022. Quinze (56%) des phoques soumis pour nécropsie ont été considérés comme étant fatalement infectés par le virus H5N1 de lignées eurasiennes ou de réassortiment eurasiennes/nord-américaines. Un grand nombre simultané de carcasses d'oiseaux infectés par le H5N1 sur les sites d'échouement a probablement contribué à la contamination de ces phoques. Les changements histologiques associés à cette infection incluaient : méningo-encéphalite (100%), alvéolite fibrinosuppurée et inflammation nécrosante aiguë multi-organique. Cette documentation soulève des préoccupations quant à l'émergence de virus mortels, à la possibilité d'établissement de réservoirs chez les mammifères marins, et aux risques pour la santé publique associés aux propagations du virus chez les mammifères.
Topics: Animals; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; Quebec; Disease Outbreaks; Estuaries; Influenza in Birds; Seals, Earless; Phylogeny; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Birds
PubMed: 38781927
DOI: 10.3201/eid3006.231033 -
Circulation Research May 2024HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy alter mitochondrial function, which can progressively lead to mitochondrial damage and accelerated aging. The interaction... (Review)
Review
HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy alter mitochondrial function, which can progressively lead to mitochondrial damage and accelerated aging. The interaction between persistent HIV reservoirs and mitochondria may provide insight into the relatively high rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality in persons living with HIV. In this review, we explore the intricate relationship between HIV and mitochondrial function, highlighting the potential for novel therapeutic strategies in the context of cardiovascular diseases. We reflect on mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial DNA, and mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein in the context of HIV. Furthermore, we summarize how toxicities related to early antiretroviral therapy and current highly active antiretroviral therapy can contribute to mitochondrial dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and poor clinical outcomes. There is a need to understand the mechanisms and develop new targeted therapies. We further consider current and potential future therapies for HIV and their interplay with mitochondria. We reflect on the next-generation antiretroviral therapies and HIV cure due to the direct and indirect effects of HIV persistence, associated comorbidities, coinfections, and the advancement of interdisciplinary research fields. This includes exploring novel and creative approaches to target mitochondria for therapeutic intervention.
Topics: Humans; HIV Infections; Cardiovascular Diseases; Mitochondria; DNA, Mitochondrial; Animals; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Mitochondrial Dynamics; Anti-HIV Agents
PubMed: 38781302
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.324296 -
Circulation Research May 2024People living with HIV have a 1.5- to 2-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Despite treatment with highly effective antiretroviral therapy, people... (Review)
Review
People living with HIV have a 1.5- to 2-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Despite treatment with highly effective antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV have chronic inflammation that makes them susceptible to multiple comorbidities. Several factors, including the HIV reservoir, coinfections, clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), microbial translocation, and antiretroviral therapy, may contribute to the chronic state of inflammation. Within the innate immune system, macrophages harbor latent HIV and are among the prominent immune cells present in atheroma during the progression of atherosclerosis. They secrete inflammatory cytokines such as IL (interleukin)-6 and tumor necrosis-α that stimulate the expression of adhesion molecules on the endothelium. This leads to the recruitment of other immune cells, including cluster of differentiation (CD)8 and CD4 T cells, also present in early and late atheroma. As such, cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems contribute to both systemic inflammation and vascular inflammation. On a molecular level, HIV-1 primes the NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome, leading to an increased expression of IL-1β, which is important for cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, activation of TLRs (toll-like receptors) by HIV, gut microbes, and substance abuse further activates the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Finally, HIV proteins such as Nef (negative regulatory factor) can inhibit cholesterol efflux in monocytes and macrophages through direct action on the cholesterol transporter ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1), which promotes the formation of foam cells and the progression of atherosclerotic plaque. Here, we summarize the stages of atherosclerosis in the context of HIV, highlighting the effects of HIV, coinfections, and antiretroviral therapy on cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and describe current and future interventions to reduce residual inflammation and improve cardiovascular outcomes among people living with HIV.
Topics: Humans; HIV Infections; Atherosclerosis; Inflammation; Animals; Immunity, Innate
PubMed: 38781301
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.323891