Possible association between the lrrk2 gene and anxiety behavior: a systematic literature review

Alterations to the LRRK2 gene have been associated with Parkinson's disease and alcohol consumption in animals and humans. Furthermore, these disorders are strongly related to anxiety disorders (ADs). Thus, we investigated how the LRRK2 gene might influence anxiety in humans and mice. We elaborated a systematic review based on the PRISMA Statement of studies that investigated levels of anxiety in animal or human models with alterations in the LRRK2 gene. The search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and in reference lists with descriptors related to ADs and the LRRK2. From the 62 articles assessed for eligibility, 16 were included: 11 conducted in humans and seven, in mice. Lrrk2 KO mice and the LRRK2 G2019S, LRRK2 R1441G, and LRRK2 R1441C variants were addressed. Five articles reported an increase in anxiety levels concerning the LRRK2 variants. Decreased anxiety levels were observed in two articles, one focusing on the LRRK2 G2019S and the other, on the Lrrk2 KO mice. Eight other articles reported no differences in anxiety levels in individuals with Lrrk2 alterations compared to their healthy controls. This study discusses a possible influence between the LRRK2 gene and anxiety, adding information to the existing knowledge respecting the influence of genetics on anxiety.

Diagnostic value of electrocardiograms to identify pericardial effusion in acute malaria: a cross-sectional study

Background

Patients with acute malaria are at risk of pericarditis and may benefit from timely identification of pericardial effusion. However, diagnostic imaging tools, such as echocardiography, are not always available in malaria endemic regions.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the diagnostic yield of pathology in electrocardiograms (ECG) to identify pericardial effusion in acute malaria.

Methods

We enrolled adult acute malaria patients in community healthcare clinics in a remote area in South America. All patients underwent ECG, echocardiography, and peripheral blood smears. We excluded patients on anti-malarial medication, suspected concomitant infection and pregnant women. All ECGs were examined for the following criteria: (i) PR-depression >0.5mm and/or ST-elevation 0.5–1mm (I, II, aVL, aVF, V2–6) (ii) PR-elevation >0.5mm (only aVR), (iii) ST/T-ratio >0.25 (only V6), (v) low voltage, defined as QRS amplitude <5 mm in limb leads or <10 mm in precordial leads, and (vi) Spodick's sign (all leads). A criterion was positive when present in ≥2 leads. Information on shortness of breath and/or chest pain was also collected. Pericardial effusion was diagnosed by echocardiography and had to be ≥0.5cm in width.

Results

We included 99 non-severe malaria patients (age 40±15 years, 55% men, median parasite density 1517/mm3, [interquartile range 528 to 6,585/mm3]) who suffered from Plasmodium vivax (n=75), falciparum (n=22 falciparum) and mixed vivax/falciparum (n=2). The ECGs showed a mean frequency of 78±16bpm, PR-interval 147±20ms, QRS 88±11ms and QT-interval 376±34ms. A total of 11 patients displayed pericardial effusion (mean width 0.9±0.3cm, n=7 vivax, n=2 falciparum, n=2 mixed). Patients with effusion were older (mean age 39 vs 53 years, P=0.003), but displayed no difference in sex, parasite density or parasite species compared to patients without pericardial effusion (P>0.05). Distribution of ECG findings and symptoms are displayed in figure 1A. PR-depression had a sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing pericardial effusion of 73% and 90%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for other ECG findings and clinical symptoms are displayed in Figure 1B.

Conclusion

ECG findings may aid in identifying pericardial effusion in acute malaria, specifically PR depression which had a diagnostic yield of 73% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Based on this, ECG in acute malaria may improve treatment and risk stratification when echocardiography is not an option.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Novo Nordisk Foundation, Independent Research Fund Denmark ECG findings in malaria patients

Patient reported health status and cardiovascular risk factors in a remote area of South America: a cross-sectional study

Background

Several studies have indicated that self-perception of health is related to cardiovascular disease. Despite cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in South America, the relationship between patient reported health and cardiovascular risk is sparsely explored, specifically in indigenous areas.

Purpose

We assessed if self-rated health is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in a remote area in South America.

Methods

We included participants by cluster-randomization of community health care clinics from June to December 2020. Sociodemographic variables and information on cardiovascular risk factors were collected by questionnaires and physical examination. All participants rated their present health status according to the validated EQ5D-VAS instrument, ranging from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

Results

A total of 492 participants (mean age 41±15 years; 38% men) were included. The mean value of self-rated health was 80 (range 0 to 100) and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors were: Hypertension (19%), hypercholesterolemia (15%), smoking (37%), low intake of vegetables (defined as <3 times per week; 54%), no sport activity (62%), diabetes (6%) and obesity (24%). In logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age and socioeconomic status, higher self-rated health was significantly associated with lower risk of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, obesity and greater vegetable intake (P<0.05; Figure 1). No association was found with sport activity or diabetes. The total number of cardiovascular risk factors increased with lower self-rated health (beta = 0.100 [0.04 to 0.15], P<0.001 per 10 decrease in self-reported health).

Conclusion

Self-rated health was significantly associated with a greater burden of cardiovascular risk factors and may influence ideal cardiovascular health. Future studies should assess if patient reported health status constitutes an independent risk factor for heart disease in this specific population, and studies elucidating gaps on self-perception of cardiovascular health are encouraged.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): The Independent Research Fund Denmark

Serotypes, virulence markers and cell invasion ability of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from healthy dairy cattle

AIM

The occurrence of virulence markers, serotypes and invasive ability were investigated in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from faecal samples of healthy dairy cattle at Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From 1562 stx-positive faecal samples, 105 STEC strains were isolated by immuno-magnetic separation (IMS) or plating onto MacConkey agar (MC) followed by colony hybridisation. Fifty (47·6%) strains belonged to nine serotypes (O8:H19, O22:H8, O22:H16, O74:H42, O113:H21, O141:H21, O157:H7, O171:H2 and ONT:H21). The prevalent serotypes were O157:H7 (12·4%), O113:H21 (6·7%) and O8:H19 (5·7%). Virulence genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). E-hlyA (77·1%) was the more prevalent virulence marker, followed by espP (64·8%), saa (39%), eae (24·8%) and astA (21·9%). All O157:H7 strains carried the γ (gamma) variant of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) genes and the stx2c gene, while the stx1/stx2 genotype prevailed among the eae-negative strains. None of the eae-positive STEC produced the localized adherence (LA) phenotype in HEp-2 or Caco-2 cells. However, intimate attachment (judged by the fluorescent actin staining test) was detected in some eae-positive strains, both in HEp-2 (23·1%) and in Caco-2 cells (11·5%). Most strains (87·5%) showed 'peripheral association' (PA) adherence phenotype to undifferentiated Caco-2 cells. Twenty-five (92·6%) of 27 strains invaded Caco-2 cells. The highest average value of invasion (9·6%) was observed among the eae-negative bovine strains from serotypes described in human disease.

CONCLUSION

Healthy dairy cattle is a reservoir of STEC carrying virulence genes and properties associated with human disease.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Although reports of human disease associated with STEC are scarce in Brazil, the colonization of the animal reservoir by potentially pathogenic strains offers a significant risk to our population.

Salt intake during pregnancy alters offspring's myocardial structure

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To evaluate the effects of low or high salt intake during pregnancy on left ventricle of adult male offspring.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Low- (LS, 0.15%), normal- (NS, 1.3%) or high-salt (HS, 8% NaCl) diet was given to Wistar rats during pregnancy. During lactation all dams received NS as well as the offspring after weaning. To evaluate cardiac response to salt overload, 50% of each offspring group was fed a high-salt (hs, 4% NaCl) diet from the 21st to the 36th week of age (LShs, NShs, HShs). The remaining 50% was maintained on NS (LSns, NSns and HSns). Echocardiography was done at 20 and 30 weeks of age. Mean blood pressure (MBP), histology and left ventricular angiotensin II content (AII) were analyzed at 36 weeks of age. Interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall and relative wall thickness increased from the 20th to the 30th week of age only in HShs, cardiomyocyte mean volume was higher in HShs compared to NShs, LShs and HSns. AII and left ventricular fibrosis were not different among groups.

CONCLUSIONS

HS during pregnancy programs adult male offspring to a blood pressure and angiotensin II independent concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, with no fibrosis, in response to a chronic high-salt intake.

Effect of Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) on Meloidogyne mayaguensis Rammah and Hirschmann (Tylenchida: Meloidoginidae) Infection in Tomato Plants

Some studies suggest that entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) affect plant-parasitic nematode populations. Here, the effects of live and dead IJ of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora JPM4, H. baujardi LPP7, Steinernema feltiae SN and S. carpocapsae All were evaluated against eggs and J2 of the plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne mayaguensis. According to treatment, 100 IJ were applied with 350 eggs, 350 J2 or 175 eggs + 175 J2 to tomato plants. Bioassays were conducted in March to May and repeated in September to November 2005. Both experiments lasted 9 weeks, and the variable evaluated was number of galls per plant. When eggs were used for infections in the first trial, plants exhibited lower gall number compared to control when live and dead H. baujardi IJ and live S. feltiae IJ were added (9.7, 4.5, 7.3 and 85.7 galls, respectively). In the second trial, live S. feltiae and S. carpocapasae IJ influenced gall formation compared to control (14.33, 14.57 and 168.02 galls, respectively). When J2 were used for infections, plants with live H. baujardi IJ presented less galls when compared to control in both trials (38.3 and 355.7 galls in the first trial and 145.2 and 326.2 in the second one, respectively). Infection with a mixture of J2 and eggs resulted in fewer galls than when live S. feltiae IJ were present in both trials, compared to control (38.3 and 44.2 galls vs. 275.3 and 192.2 galls, respectively). We conclude that H. baujardi and S. feltiae apparently may be inhibiting egg hatching and J2 infection.

Effect of iron overload on the severity of liver histologic alterations and on the response to interferon and ribavirin therapy of patients with hepatitis C infection

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of hepatic iron overload in patients with chronic HCV infection and to correlate it with histologic alterations, HCV genotype and response to therapy. Liver tissue samples from 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C were divided into two groups: group I, presence of iron overload in hepatic tissue (Perls' staining) and group II, no iron overload. Hepatic iron overload was detected in 30 (31.6%) of 95 patients. Of the 69 patients tested by genotyping, 49 (71.01%) were genotype 1 and 20 (28.99%) genotype non-1. Iron overload was detected in 14 (28.6%) patients with genotype 1 and in 6 (30%) with genotype non-1 (P = 0.906). There was a significant difference in fibrosis stage between groups (P = 0.005). In group I (N = 30), one patient had stage F0/F1 of fibrosis, while in group II (N = 65), 22 (33.8%) patients had minimal or no fibrosis. Fibrosis stage F2/F3 was observed in 70% of group I patients compared to 46.2% of group II. Eighty-five patients were treated with a combination of interferon and ribavirin; 29 of them (34.1%) had a sustained virologic response and 8 (27.6%) of them had hepatic iron overload. Iron overload was detected in 18 (32.1%) of the 56 non-responders (P = 0.73). Hepatic iron overload was frequent among patients with chronic hepatitis C and was associated with a more severe stage of liver fibrosis. There was no association between iron overload and HCV genotype and response to interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Changes in Esophageal Gland Activity During the Life Cycle of Nacobbus aberrans (Nemata: Pratylenchidae)

Electron and light microscopy were used to study the dorsal gland (DG) and the two subventral glands (SvG) of seven developmental phases of Nacobbus aberrans: pre-parasitic second-stage juveniles (J2), parasitic J2, third- (J3) and fourth- (J4) stages, migratory females, young sedentary females, and mature sedentary females. In each developmental phase the level of esophageal gland activity, was estimated by the abundance of organelles associated with secretory pathways, including endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi, multivesicular bodies, and secretory granules. All esophageal glands were metabolically active in all J2 examined, although only in parasitic J2 were there numerous secretory granules in the esophageal gland extensions and ampullae. No evidence of secretory activity was observed in the esophageal glands of the coiled and relatively inactive J3 and J4, nor in migratory females; these stages apparently do not feed. Observations suggest that reserves stored by J2 sustain three ecdyses and the migratory female's search for a feeding site and induction of a syncytium. Feeding activity is resumed in young and mature sedentary females, in which the DG is highly active and enlarged. The SvG are metabolically active, but with little synthesis of secretory granules, suggesting that in sedentary females the SvG may have physiological roles other than digestion.