Chronic ß-adrenergic stress contributes to cardiomyopathy in rodents with collagen-induced arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a much higher incidence of cardiac dysfunction, which contributes to the high mortality rate of RA despite anti-arthritic drug therapy. In this study, we investigated dynamic changes in cardiac function in classic animal models of RA and examined the potential effectors of RA-induced heart failure (HF). Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) models were established in rats and mice. The cardiac function of CIA animals was dynamically monitored using echocardiography and haemodynamics. We showed that cardiac diastolic and systolic dysfunction occurred in CIA animals and persisted after joint inflammation and that serum proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1ß, TNF-α) levels were decreased. We did not find evidence of atherosclerosis (AS) in arthritic animals even though cardiomyopathy was significant. We observed that an impaired cardiac ß1AR-excitation contraction coupling signal was accompanied by sustained increases in blood epinephrine levels in CIA rats. Furthermore, serum epinephrine concentrations were positively correlated with the heart failure biomarker NT-proBNP in RA patients (r2 = +0.53, P < 0.0001). In CIA mice, treatment with the nonselective ßAR blocker carvedilol (2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1, for 4 weeks) or the specific GRK2 inhibitor paroxetine (2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1, for 4 weeks) effectively rescued heart function. We conclude that chronic and persistent ß-adrenergic stress in CIA animals is a significant contributor to cardiomyopathy, which may be a potential target for protecting RA patients against HF.

Case report: Thoracic vertebral abscess caused by Salmonella via diagnosed next-generation sequencing.

The genus Salmonella consists of Gram-negative bacteria with various serotypes. It commonly causes bacterial infections that affect the intestines. Infection can occur in humans and animals through the ingestion of contaminated food or water, or through contact with infected animals or environments. Complications commonly include intestinal hemorrhage and perforation, though vertebral osteomyelitis is rarely observed. Therefore, in patients with spinal cord abscesses, The genus Salmonella is typically not considered a likely pathogen, especially in the absence of typical symptoms. In this case, the limited information provided by traditional cultivation methods, particularly under the influence of antibiotics. However, next-generation sequencing (NGS) unexpectedly detected Salmonella, which assisted in formulating the final treatment plan. This underscores the role and clinical value of NGS in pathogen identification.