Monocyte secretory profiling in a clinical and MEFV genotype-characterized cohort of Danish familial Mediterranean fever patients: diagnostic potential of CCL1 and CXCL1.

OBJECTIVE: The autoinflammatory disease familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), characterized by recurrent attacks of sterile fever, serosal, and/or synovial inflammation, is caused by variants in the Mediterranean fever gene, MEFV, coding for the pyrin inflammasome sensor. The diagnosis of FMF is mainly based on clinical symptoms and confirmed by detection of disease-associated MEFV variants. However, the diagnosis is challenging among patients carrying variants of uncertain clinical significance (VUS). In this study, we aimed to identify potential FMF discriminatory diagnostic markers in a cohort of clinically characterized FMF patients. METHOD: We established a cohort of clinically and MEFV genotype-characterized FMF patients by enrolling patients from major Danish hospitals (n = 91). The secretory profile of pyrin inflammasome-activated monocytes from healthy donors (HDs) and MEFV-characterized FMF patients (n = 28) was assessed by analysing cell supernatants for a custom-designed panel of 23 cytokines, chemokines, and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors associated with monocyte and macrophage function. RESULTS: MEFV genotypes in Danish FMF patients were associated with age at symptom onset (p < 0.05), FMF among relatives (p < 0.01), proportion of patients in colchicine treatment (p < 0.01), and treatment response (p < 0.05). Secretion of chemokines CCL1 and CXCL1 from pyrin-activated FMF monocytes was significantly decreased compared to HDs (p < 0.05), and could discriminate FMF patients with 'non-confirmatory' MEFV genotypes from HDs with 80.0% and 70.0% sensitivity for CCL1 and CXCL1, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that a functional diagnostic assay based on CCL1 or CXCL1 levels in pyrin-activated patient monocytes may contribute to FMF diagnosis in patients with VUS.

Characteristics of patients with familial Mediterranean fever in Denmark: a retrospective nationwide register-based cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate epidemiology, demography, and genetic and clinical characteristics of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in Denmark. Method: In this population-based, cross-sectional cohort study, we identified FMF patients from discharge diagnoses using ICD-10 codes in the Danish National Patient Register, and linked data from the Danish Civil Registration System and laboratory databases for results of MEFV gene variant screening. Results: We identified 495 FMF patients (prevalence 1:11 680) with a median age of 29 years and a female ratio of 51%. The median age at diagnosis of FMF was 13 (IQR 7-22) years, with an estimated median diagnostic delay of 3 (IQR 0.7-6.9) years. The predominant ethnicities were Turkish (41.8%), Lebanese (15.8%), Syrian (6.5%), South-West Asian (7.9%), and South-East Asian (3.0%). The MEFV genotype distribution was 18.7% homozygous, 21.2% compound heterozygous, 32.0% heterozygous, 11.0% with complex alleles or unresolved zygosity, and 17.1% with no detected variants. M694V was the most prevalent variant in the overall cohort (32.5%). Homozygous or compound heterozygous MEFV exon 10 variants were associated with younger age at diagnosis (p < 0.001) and reduced number of hospital contacts before diagnosis (p = 0.008). The Charlson Comorbidity Index was ≥ 2 in 8.1% of patients. The prevalence of amyloidosis was 1.0%. Conclusions: FMF in Denmark is rare and patients are mainly of Eastern Mediterranean ethnicity. Diagnostic delay was long but patients with exon 10 MEFV variants were diagnosed at a younger age. Prolonged diagnostic delay is probably caused by lack of FMF awareness in the Danish healthcare system.

Muscle α-adrenergic responsiveness during exercise and ATP-induced vasodilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Sympathetic vasoconstriction is blunted in exercising muscle (functional sympatholysis) but becomes attenuated with age. We tested the hypothesis that functional sympatholysis is further impaired in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We determined leg blood flow and calculated leg vascular conductance (LVC) during 1) femoral-arterial Tyramine infusion (evokes endogenous norepinephrine release, 1 µmol·min-1·kg leg mass-1), 2) one-legged knee extensor exercise with and without Tyramine infusion [10 W and 20% of maximal workload (WLmax)], 3) ATP (0.05 µmol·min-1·kg leg mass-1) and Tyramine infusion, and 4) incremental ATP infusions (0.05, 0.3, and 3.0 µmol·min-1·kg leg mass-1). We included 10 patients with moderate to severe COPD and 8 age-matched healthy control subjects. Overall, leg blood flow and LVC were lower in COPD patients during exercise ( P < 0.05). Tyramine reduced LVC in both groups at 10-W exercise (COPD: -3 ± 1 ml·min-1·mmHg-1 and controls: -3 ± 1 ml·min-1·mmHg-1, P < 0.05) and 20% WLmax (COPD: -4 ± 1 ml·min-1·mmHg-1 and controls: -3 ± 1 ml·min-1·mmHg-1, P < 0.05) with no difference between groups. Incremental ATP infusions induced dose-dependent vasodilation with no difference between groups, and, in addition, the vasoconstrictor response to Tyramine infused together with ATP was not different between groups (COPD: -0.03 ± 0.01 l·min-1·kg leg mass-1 vs. CONTROLS: -0.04 ± 0.01 l·min-1·kg leg mass-1, P > 0.05). Compared with age-matched healthy control subjects, the vasodilatory response to ATP is intact in COPD patients and their ability to blunt sympathetic vasoconstriction (functional sympatholysis) as evaluated by intra-arterial Tyramine during exercise or ATP infusion is maintained. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The ability to blunt sympathetic vasoconstriction in exercising muscle and ATP-induced dilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients remains unexplored. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients demonstrated similar sympathetic vasoconstriction in response to intra-arterial Tyramine during exercise and ATP-induced vasodilation compared with age-matched healthy control subjects.

Marteilia refringens and Marteilia pararefringens sp. nov. are distinct parasites of bivalves and have different European distributions.

Marteilia refringens causes marteiliosis in oysters, mussels and other bivalve molluscs. This parasite previously comprised two species, M. refringens and Marteilia maurini, which were synonymized in 2007 and subsequently referred to as M. refringens 'O-type' and 'M-type'. O-type has caused mass mortalities of the flat oyster Ostrea edulis. We used high throughput sequencing and histology to intensively screen flat oysters and mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the UK, Sweden and Norway for infection by both types and to generate multi-gene datasets to clarify their genetic distinctiveness. Mussels from the UK, Norway and Sweden were more frequently polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for M-type (75/849) than oysters (11/542). We did not detect O-type in any northern European samples, and no histology-confirmed Marteilia-infected oysters were found in the UK, Norway and Sweden, even where co-habiting mussels were infected by the M-type. The two genetic lineages within 'M. refringens' are robustly distinguishable at species level. We therefore formally define them as separate species: M. refringens (previously O-type) and Marteilia pararefringens sp. nov. (M-type). We designed and tested new Marteilia-specific PCR primers amplifying from the 3' end of the 18S rRNA gene through to the 5.8S gene, which specifically amplified the target region from both tissue and environmental samples.

Constant infusion transpulmonary thermodilution for the assessment of cardiac output in exercising humans.

To determine the accuracy and precision of constant infusion transpulmonary thermodilution cardiac output (CITT-Q) assessment during exercise in humans, using indocyanine green (ICG) dilution and bolus transpulmonary thermodilution (BTD) as reference methods, cardiac output (Q) was determined at rest and during incremental one- and two-legged pedaling on a cycle ergometer, and combined arm cranking with leg pedaling to exhaustion in 15 healthy men. Continuous infusions of iced saline in the femoral vein (n = 41) or simultaneously in the femoral and axillary (n = 66) veins with determination of temperature in the femoral artery were used for CITT-Q assessment. CITT-Q was linearly related to ICG-Q (r = 0.82, CITT-Q = 0.876 × ICG-Q + 3.638, P < 0.001; limits of agreement ranging from -1.43 to 3.07 L/min) and BTD-Q (r = 0.91, CITT-Q = 0.822 × BTD + 4.481 L/min, P < 0.001; limits of agreement ranging from -1.01 to 2.63 L/min). Compared with ICG-Q and BTD-Q, CITT-Q overestimated cardiac output by 1.6 L/min (≈ 10% of the mean ICG and BTD-Q values, P < 0.05). For Q between 20 and 28 L/min, we estimated an overestimation < 5%. The coefficient of variation of 23 repeated CITT-Q measurements was 6.0% (CI: 6.1-11.1%). In conclusion, cardiac output can be precisely and accurately determined with constant infusion transpulmonary thermodilution in exercising humans.

Maximal heart rate does not limit cardiovascular capacity in healthy humans: insight from right atrial pacing during maximal exercise.

In humans, maximal aerobic power (VO2 max ) is associated with a plateau in cardiac output (Q), but the mechanisms regulating the interplay between maximal heart rate (HRmax) and stroke volume (SV) are unclear. To evaluate the effect of tachycardia and elevations in HRmax on cardiovascular function and capacity during maximal exercise in healthy humans, 12 young male cyclists performed incremental cycling and one-legged knee-extensor exercise (KEE) to exhaustion with and without right atrial pacing to increase HR. During control cycling, Q and leg blood flow increased up to 85% of maximal workload (WLmax) and remained unchanged until exhaustion. SV initially increased, plateaued and then decreased before exhaustion (P < 0.05) despite an increase in right atrial pressure (RAP) and a tendency (P = 0.056) for a reduction in left ventricular transmural filling pressure (LVFP). Atrial pacing increased HRmax from 184 ± 2 to 206 ± 3 beats min(-1) (P < 0.05), but Q remained similar to the control condition at all intensities because of a lower SV and LVFP (P < 0.05). No differences in arterial pressure, peripheral haemodynamics, catecholamines or VO2 were observed, but pacing increased the rate pressure product and RAP (P < 0.05). Atrial pacing had a similar effect on haemodynamics during KEE, except that pacing decreased RAP. In conclusion, the human heart can be paced to a higher HR than observed during maximal exercise, suggesting that HRmax and myocardial work capacity do not limit VO2 max in healthy individuals. A limited left ventricular filling and possibly altered contractility reduce SV during atrial pacing, whereas a plateau in LVFP appears to restrict Q close to VO2 max .

The effect of purinergic P2 receptor blockade on skeletal muscle exercise hyperemia in miniature swine.

PURPOSE: ATP could play an important role in skeletal muscle blood flow regulation by inducing vasodilation via purinergic P2 receptors. This study investigated the role of P2 receptors in exercise hyperemia in miniature swine. METHODS: We measured regional blood flow with radiolabeled-microsphere technique and systemic hemodynamics before and after arterial infusion of the P2 receptor antagonist reactive blue 2 during treadmill exercise (5.2 km/h, ~60 % VO2max) and arterial ATP infusion in female Yucatan miniature swine (~29 kg). RESULTS: Mean blood flow during exercise from the 16 sampled skeletal muscle tissues was 138 ± 18 mL/min/100 g (mean ± SEM), and it was reduced in 11 (~25 %) of the 16 sampled skeletal muscles after RB2 was infused. RB2 also lowered diaphragm blood flow and kidney blood flow, whereas lung tissue blood flow was increased (all P < 0.05). Infusion of RB2 increased arterial lactate concentration during exercise from 1.6 ± 0.5 to 3.4 ± 0.6 mmol/L and heart rate from 216 ± 12 to 230 ± 9 beats/min, whereas blood pressure was unaltered. Arterial ATP infusion caused a ~twofold increase in blood flow in 15 of the 16 sampled muscle tissues and this effect was abolished after RB2 infusion. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that P2 receptors play a role in regulating skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise in miniature swine.

Contribution of intravascular versus interstitial purines and nitric oxide in the regulation of exercise hyperaemia in humans.

The regulation of blood flow to skeletal muscle involves a complex interaction between several locally formed vasodilators that are produced both in the skeletal muscle interstitium and intravascularly. The gas nitric oxide (NO) and the purines ATP and adenosine, are potent vasodilators that are formed by multiple cell types and released into the skeletal muscle interstitium and in plasma in response to muscle contraction. Cellular sources of ATP and NO in plasma are erythrocytes and endothelial cells, whereas interstitial sources are skeletal muscle cells and endothelial cells. Adenosine originates primarily from extracellular degradation of ATP. During exercise the concentrations of ATP and adenosine increase markedly in the interstitium with smaller increases occurring in plasma, and thus the interstitial concentration during exercise is severalfold higher than in plasma. The concentration of NO metabolites (NOx) in interstitium and plasma does not change during exercise and is similar in the two compartments. Adenosine and NO have been shown to contribute to exercise hyperaemia whereas the role of ATP remains unclear due to lack of specific purinergic receptor blockers. The relative role of intravascular versus interstitial vasodilators is not known but evidence suggests that both compartments are important. In cardiovascular disease, a reduced capacity to form adenosine in the muscle interstitium may be a contributing factor in increased peripheral vascular resistance.

Lifelong physical activity preserves functional sympatholysis and purinergic signalling in the ageing human leg.

Ageing is associated with an impaired ability to modulate sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity (functional sympatholysis) and a reduced exercise hyperaemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a physically active lifestyle can offset the impaired functional sympatholysis and exercise hyperaemia in the leg and whether ATP signalling is altered by ageing and physical activity. Leg haemodynamics, interstitial [ATP] and P2Y(2) receptor content was determined in eight young (23 ± 1 years), eight lifelong sedentary elderly (66 ± 2 years) and eight lifelong active elderly (62 ± 2 years) men at rest and during one-legged knee extensions (12 W and 45% maximal workload (WL(max))) and arterial infusion of ACh and ATP with and without tyramine. The vasodilatory response to ACh was lowest in the sedentary elderly, higher in active elderly (P < 0.05) and highest in the young men (P < 0.05), whereas ATP-induced vasodilatation was lower in the sedentary elderly (P < 0.05). During exercise (12 W), leg blood flow, vascular conductance and VO2 was lower and leg lactate release higher in the sedentary elderly compared to the young (P < 0.05), whereas there was no difference between the active elderly and young. Interstitial [ATP] during exercise and P2Y(2) receptor content were higher in the active elderly compared to the sedentary elderly (P < 0.05). Tyramine infusion lowered resting vascular conductance in all groups, but only in the sedentary elderly during exercise (P < 0.05). Tyramine did not alter the vasodilator response to ATP infusion in any of the three groups. Plasma [noradrenaline] increased more during tyramine infusion in both elderly groups compared to young (P < 0.05). A lifelong physically active lifestyle can maintain an intact functional sympatholysis during exercise and vasodilator response to ATP despite a reduction in endothelial nitric oxide function. A physically active lifestyle increases interstitial ATP levels and skeletal muscle P2Y(2) receptor content.

Vasodilator interactions in skeletal muscle blood flow regulation.

During exercise, oxygen delivery to skeletal muscle is elevated to meet the increased oxygen demand. The increase in blood flow to skeletal muscle is achieved by vasodilators formed locally in the muscle tissue, either on the intraluminal or on the extraluminal side of the blood vessels. A number of vasodilators have been shown to bring about this increase in blood flow and, importantly, interactions between these compounds seem to be essential for the precise regulation of blood flow. Two compounds stand out as central in these vasodilator interactions: nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin. These two vasodilators are both stimulated by several compounds, e.g. adenosine, ATP, acetylcholine and bradykinin, and are affected by mechanically induced signals, such as shear stress. NO and prostacyclin have also been shown to interact in a redundant manner where one system can take over when formation of the other is compromised. Although numerous studies have examined the role of single and multiple pharmacological inhibition of different vasodilator systems, and important vasodilators and interactions have been identified, a large part of the exercise hyperaemic response remains unexplained. It is plausible that this remaining hyperaemia may be explained by cAMP- and cGMP-independent smooth muscle relaxation, such as effects of endothelial derived hyperpolarization factors (EDHFs) or through metabolic modulation of sympathetic effects. The nature and role of EDHF as well as potential novel mechanisms in muscle blood flow regulation remain to be further explored to fully elucidate the regulation of exercise hyperaemia.

Peripheral vasodilatation determines cardiac output in exercising humans: insight from atrial pacing.

In dogs, manipulation of heart rate has no effect on the exercise-induced increase in cardiac output. Whether these findings apply to humans remain uncertain, because of the large differences in cardiovascular anatomy and regulation. To investigate the role of heart rate and peripheral vasodilatation in the regulation of cardiac output during steady-state exercise, we measured central and peripheral haemodynamics in 10 healthy male subjects, with and without atrial pacing (100­150 beats min(−1)) during: (i) resting conditions, (ii) one-legged knee extensor exercise (24 W) and (iii) femoral arterial ATP infusion at rest. Exercise and ATP infusion increased cardiac output, leg blood flow and vascular conductance (P < 0.05), whereas cerebral perfusion remained unchanged. During atrial pacing increasing heart rate by up to 54 beats min(−1), cardiac output did not change in any of the three conditions, because of a parallel decrease in stroke volume (P < 0.01). Atrial pacing increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) at rest and during ATP infusion (P < 0.05), whereas MAP remained unchanged during exercise. Atrial pacing lowered central venous pressure (P < 0.05) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P < 0.05) in all conditions, whereas it did not affect pulmonary mean arterial pressure. Atrial pacing lowered the left ventricular contractility index (dP/dt) (P < 0.05) in all conditions and plasma noradrenaline levels at rest (P < 0.05), but not during exercise and ATP infusion. These results demonstrate that the elevated cardiac output during steady-state exercise is regulated by the increase in skeletal muscle blood flow and venous return to the heart, whereas the increase in heart rate appears to be secondary to the regulation of cardiac output.

Virtual histology assessment of cardiac allograft vasculopathy following introduction of everolimus--results of a multicenter trial.

In this 12-month multicenter Scandinavian study, 78 maintenance heart transplant (HTx) recipients randomized to everolimus with reduced calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) exposure or continued standard CNI-therapy underwent matched virtual histology (VH) examination to evaluate morphological progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Parallel measurement of a range of inflammatory markers was also performed. A similar rate of quantitative CAV progression was observed in the everolimus (n = 30) and standard CNI group (n = 48) (plaque index 1.9 ± 3.8% and 1.6 ± 3.9%, respectively; p = 0.65). However, VH analysis revealed a significant increase in calcified (2.4 ± 4.0 vs. 0.3 ± 3.1%; p = 0.02) and necrotic component (6.5 ± 8.5 vs. 1.1 ± 8.6%; p = 0.01) among everolimus patients compared to controls. The increase in necrotic and calcified components was most prominent in everolimus patients with time since HTx >5.1 years and was accompanied by a significant increase in levels of von Willebrand (vWF) factor (p = 0.04) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) (p = 0.03). Conversion to everolimus and reduced CNI is associated with a significant increase in calcified and necrotic intimal components and is more prominent in patients with a longer time since HTx. A significant increase in vWF and VCAM accompanied these qualitative changes and the prognostic implication of these findings requires further investigation.

Two weeks of muscle immobilization impairs functional sympatholysis but increases exercise hyperemia and the vasodilatory responsiveness to infused ATP.

During exercise, contracting muscles can override sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity (functional sympatholysis). ATP and adenosine have been proposed to play a role in skeletal muscle blood flow regulation. However, little is known about the role of muscle training status on functional sympatholysis and ATP- and adenosine-induced vasodilation. Eight male subjects (22 ± 2 yr, Vo(2max): 49 ± 2 ml O(2)·min(-1)·kg(-1)) were studied before and after 5 wk of one-legged knee-extensor training (3-4 times/wk) and 2 wk of immobilization of the other leg. Leg hemodynamics were measured at rest, during exercise (24 ± 4 watts), and during arterial ATP (0.94 ± 0.03 µmol/min) and adenosine (5.61 ± 0.03 µmol/min) infusion with and without coinfusion of tyramine (11.11 µmol/min). During exercise, leg blood flow (LBF) was lower in the trained leg (2.5 ± 0.1 l/min) compared with the control leg (2.6 ± 0.2 l/min; P < 0.05), and it was higher in the immobilized leg (2.9 ± 0.2 l/min; P < 0.05). Tyramine infusion lowers LBF similarly at rest, but, when tyramine was infused during exercise, LBF was blunted in the immobilized leg (2.5 ± 0.2 l/min; P < 0.05), whereas it was unchanged in the control and trained leg. Mean arterial pressure was lower during exercise with the trained leg compared with the immobilized leg (P < 0.05), and leg vascular conductance was similar. During ATP infusion, the LBF response was higher after immobilization (3.9 ± 0.3 and 4.5 ± 0.6 l/min in the control and immobilized leg, respectively; P < 0.05), whereas it did not change after training. When tyramine was coinfused with ATP, LBF was reduced in the immobilized leg (P < 0.05) but remained similar in the control and trained leg. Training increased skeletal muscle P2Y2 receptor content (P < 0.05), whereas it did not change with immobilization. These results suggest that muscle inactivity impairs functional sympatholysis and that the magnitude of hyperemia and blood pressure response to exercise is dependent on the training status of the muscle. Immobilization also increases the vasodilatory response to infused ATP.

Risk factors for African swine fever incursion in Romanian domestic farms during 2019.

African swine fever (ASF) entered Georgia in 2007 and the EU in 2014. In the EU, the virus primarily spread in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the period from 2014-2018. However, from the summer 2018, numerous domestic pig farms in Romania were affected by ASF. In contrast to the existing knowledge on ASF transmission routes, the understanding of risk factors and the importance of different transmission routes is still limited. In the period from May to September 2019, 655 Romanian pig farms were included in a matched case-control study investigating possible risk factors for ASF incursion in commercial and backyard pig farms. The results showed that close proximity to outbreaks in domestic farms was a risk factor in commercial as well as backyard farms. Furthermore, in backyard farms, herd size, wild boar abundance around the farm, number of domestic outbreaks within 2 km around farms, short distance to wild boar cases and visits of professionals working on farms were statistically significant risk factors. Additionally, growing crops around the farm, which could potentially attract wild boar, and feeding forage from ASF affected areas to the pigs were risk factors for ASF incursion in backyard farms.

Cardiac sarcoidosis and heart transplantation: a report of four consecutive patients.

Heart transplantation (HTx) is a well-established treatment for severe cardiac failure. However, HTx for cardiac sarcoidosis is rare; less than 80 patients have been reported worldwide. In many patients, the diagnosis was not made prior to HTx. The aim of this study was to describe the use of HTx in the treatment of severe cardiac sarcoidosis. The series was comprised of four Caucasian patients (1 male, 3 females), aged 25-57 years. HTx were performed in the period 1990-2006. None of the patients had clinically overt extra-cardiac sarcoidosis. In one patient the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was proven prior to HTx. In three patients, all with dilated cardiomyopathy due to myocardial sarcoidosis, the final diagnosis was obtained by examination of the explanted heart. Arrythmias (supraventricular and ventricular), heart block, mitral valve insufficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy were prominent clinical features. None of the patients had recurrence of sarcoid disease in the allograft. Two patients are long-term survivors and two are deceased, one of primary graft failure, the other from Cytomegalovirus myocarditis. In conclusion, HTx is a viable treatment for cardiac sarcoidosis with end stage cardiac failure. Cardiac sarcoidosis is difficult to diagnose. Myocardial biopsy has a low diagnostic sensitivity. However, when the newest non-invasive diagnostic methods, including magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, are applied, an endomyocardial biopsy should not be mandatory to make a diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis.

A foot and mouth disease simulation exercise involving the five Nordic countries.

Simulation exercises are considered a very valuable tool for testing contingency plans established for the control and eradication of rapid spreading animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever and avian influenza. An inter-Nordic simulation exercise was conducted in 2005 with the objective of testing the national foot and mouth disease contingency plans adopted respectively by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Central Veterinary Administrations of the five countries jointly prepared a scenario which involved about 40 livestock holdings, 4 reindeer flocks, 6 slaughterhouses and approximately 500 people. An Excel spreadsheet with information on the events to take place and the timetable to follow during the exercise was a valuable tool for ensuring that the exercise was kept on track. The evaluation of the exercise dealt both with inter-Nordic activities and the activities of individual countries.

Risk factors for Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 infection in Danish genetic specific pathogen-free pig herds.

Between 1994 and 1998, 297 genetic specific pathogen-free (spf) pig herds participated in a monthly clinical and serological monitoring programme for infection with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 (ap-2). The average annual herd-level incidence was 3.4 per cent but there was a significant decreasing trend. A risk index, summing up the exposure from ap-2-infected neighbouring pigs within a 3 km radius, was derived from a geographical information system. A survival analysis indicates that the risk of ap-2 infection increased in proportion to the risk index, suggesting that local spread of ap-2 from infected neighbours was a significant factor. However, herd-specific purchase policies were not apparently associated with the risk of ap-2 infection.

Leg blood flow is impaired during small muscle mass exercise in patients with COPD.

Skeletal muscle blood flow is regulated to match the oxygen demand and dysregulation could contribute to exercise intolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We measured leg hemodynamics and metabolites from vasoactive compounds in muscle interstitial fluid and plasma at rest, during one-legged knee-extensor exercise, and during arterial infusions of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and acetylcholine (ACh), respectively. Ten patients with moderate to severe COPD and eight age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. During knee-extensor exercise (10 W), leg blood flow was lower in the patients compared with the controls (1.82 ± 0.11 vs. 2.36 ± 0.14 l/min, respectively; P < 0.05), which compromised leg oxygen delivery (372 ± 26 vs. 453 ± 32 ml O2/min, respectively; P < 0.05). At rest, plasma endothelin-1 (vasoconstrictor) was higher in the patients with COPD (P < 0.05) and also tended to be higher during exercise (P = 0.07), whereas the formation of interstitial prostacyclin (vasodilator) was only increased in the controls. There was no difference between groups in the nitrite/nitrate levels (vasodilator) in plasma or interstitial fluid during exercise. Moreover, patients and controls showed similar vasodilatory capacity in response to both endothelium-independent (SNP) and endothelium-dependent (ACh) stimulation. The results suggest that leg muscle blood flow is impaired during small muscle mass exercise in patients with COPD possibly due to impaired formation of prostacyclin and increased levels of endothelin-1.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a reduced blood flow to skeletal muscle during small muscle mass exercise. In contrast to healthy individuals, interstitial prostacyclin levels did not increase during exercise and plasma endothelin-1 levels were higher in the patients with COPD.

Alpha adrenergic receptor blockade increases capillarization and fractional O2 extraction and lowers blood flow in contracting human skeletal muscle.

AIM: To assess the effect of elevated basal shear stress on angiogenesis in humans and the role of enhanced skeletal muscle capillarization on blood flow and O2 extraction. METHODS: Limb haemodynamics and O2 extraction were measured at rest and during one-leg knee-extensor exercise (12 and 24 W) in 10 healthy untrained young men before and after 4-week treatment with an α1 receptor-antagonist (Terazosin, 1-2 mg day-1 ). Corresponding biopsies were taken from the m. vastus lateralis. RESULTS: Resting leg blood flow was increased by 57% 6 h following Terazosin treatment (P < 0.05), while basal capillary-to-fibre ratio was 1.69 ± 0.08 and increased to 1.90 ± 0.08 after treatment (P < 0.05). Leg O2 extraction during knee-extensor exercise was higher (4-5%; P < 0.05), leg blood flow and venous lactate levels lower (6-7%; P < 0.05), while leg VO2 was not different after Terazosin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that daily treatment with an α-adrenergic receptor blocker induces capillary growth in human skeletal muscle, likely due to increased shear stress. The increase in capillarization resulted in an increased fractional O2 extraction, a lower blood flow and venous lactate levels in the exercising leg. The increase in capillarization, and concomitant functional readouts in the exercising leg, may provide a basis for novel angiotherapy.