Cryptic SARS-CoV-2 lineage identified on two mink farms as a possible result of long-term undetected circulation in an unknown animal reservoir, Poland, November 2022 to January 2023.

In late 2022 and early 2023, SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected on three mink farms in Poland situated within a few km from each other. Whole-genome sequencing of the viruses on two of the farms showed that they were related to a virus identified in humans in the same region 2 years before (B.1.1.307 lineage). Many mutations were found, including in the S protein typical of adaptations to the mink host. The origin of the virus remains to be determined.

Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease Complicated by Diabetes Mellitus Has a Relatively Small Effect on Endothelial and Lipoprotein Lipases Expression in the Human Atrial Myocardium and Coronary Perivascular Adipose Tissue.

Endothelial (EL) and lipoprotein (LPL) lipases are enzymes involved in lipoproteins metabolism and formation of atherosclerosis, a pathological feature of coronary artery disease (CAD). This paper examines the role of the lipases in the right atrial appendage (RAA) and coronary perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) of patients with CAD alone or with accompanying diabetes. Additionally, correlation analysis for plasma concentration of the lipases, apolipoproteins (ApoA-ApoJ) and blood lipids (Chol, HDL-C, LDL-C, TAG) was performed. We observed that CAD had little effect on the lipases gene/protein levels in the RAA, while their transcript content was elevated in the PVAT of diabetic CAD patients. Interestingly, the RAA was characterized by higher expression of EL/LPL (EL: +1-fold for mRNA, +5-fold for protein; LPL: +2.8-fold for mRNA, +12-fold for protein) compared to PVAT. Furthermore, ApoA1 plasma concentration was decreased, whereas ApoC1 and ApoH were increased in the patients with CAD and/or diabetes. The concentrations of ApoC3 and ApoD were strongly positively correlated with TAG content in the blood, and the same was true for ApoB with respect to LDL-C and total cholesterol. Although plasma concentrations of EL/LPL were elevated in the patients with diabetes, CAD alone had little effect on blood, myocardial and perivascular fat expression of the lipases.

New PA/1220/98-like variant of infectious bronchitis virus in Poland.

The aim of the present study was to report the first detection of a new infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) variant in Polish commercial flocks which is completely different to any previously known in this region. In 2018, samples from Ross 308 breeding hens aged 35 weeks were delivered for IBV diagnosis. IBV presence was detected, but all attempts to amplify the S gene fragment were negative. The field material was analysed using the Illumina MiSeq platform and a 1073-nt fragment of the S1 coding region was obtained. The gCoV/ck/Poland/516/2018 strain shared only 52.7-58.1% nucleotide identity to any known genotype of IBV and shared the highest identity of 81.4% to the unique North American PA/1220/98 variant. Based on the obtained sequence, a specific molecular test was constructed and used for screening of chicken samples from 35 field cases delivered to our laboratory between 2018 and 2019 for IBV diagnosis. Application of this test enabled detection of another three chicken flocks as positive for this new strain. All positives were identified in commercial layers with egg production problems. To date, the virus has not been detected in broiler chickens. Taking into account the proposed criteria for the definition of a new IBV genotype or lineage, it seems that the detected viruses in Poland, together with the unique North American PA/1220/98 variant, may be classified as separate lineages/genotype in the new IBV classification. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS The new IBV variant is distantly related to other known GI-GVII IBV genotypes/lineages. It affects long-lived birds causing egg production problems. The detected IBV and the unique North American PA/1220/98 variant are candidates for separate lineages in the new GVIII genotype.

The Gene and Protein Expression of the Main Components of the Lipolytic System in Human Myocardium and Heart Perivascular Adipose Tissue. Effect of Coronary Atherosclerosis.

The aim of our study was to examine the regulation of triacylglycerols (TG) metabolism in myocardium and heart perivascular adipose tissue in coronary atherosclerosis. Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is the major TG-hydrolase. The enzyme is activated by a protein called comparative gene identification 58 (CGI-58) and inhibited by a protein called G0/G1 switch protein 2 (G0S2). Samples of the right atrial appendage and perivascular adipose tissue were obtained from two groups of patients: 1-with multivessel coronary artery disease qualified for coronary artery bypass grafting (CAD), 2-patients with no atherosclerosis qualified for a valve replacement (NCAD). The mRNA and protein analysis of ATGL, HSL, CGI-58, G0S2, FABP4, FAT/CD36, LPL, ß-HAD, CS, COX4/1, FAS, SREBP-1c, GPAT1, COX-2, 15-LO, and NFκß were determined by using real-time PCR and Western Blot. The level of lipids (i.e., TG, diacylglycerol (DG), and FFA) was examined by GLC. We demonstrated that in myocardium coronary atherosclerosis increases only the transcript level of G0S2 and FABP4. Most importantly, ATGL, ß-HAD, and COX4/1 protein expression was reduced and it was accompanied by over double the elevation in TG content in the CAD group. The fatty acid synthesis and their cellular uptake were stable in the myocardium of patients with CAD. Additionally, the expression of proteins contributing to inflammation was increased in the myocardium of patients with coronary stenosis. Finally, in the perivascular adipose tissue, the mRNA of G0S2 was elevated, whereas the protein content of FABP-4 was increased and for COX4/1 diminished. These data suggest that a reduction in ATGL protein expression leads to myocardial steatosis in patients with CAD.

Identification and assessment of virulence of a natural reassortant of infectious bursal disease virus.

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is one of the most important immunosuppressive viral agents in poultry production. Prophylactic vaccinations of chicken flocks are the primary tool for disease control. Widely used immunoprophylaxis can, however, provide high pressure which contributes to the genetic diversification of circulating viruses, e.g. through reassortment of genome segments. We report the genetic and phenotypic characterization of a field reassortant IBDV (designated as Bpop/03) that acquired segment A from very virulent IBDV and segment B from classical attenuated D78-like IBDV. Despite the mosaic genetic make-up, the virus caused high mortality (80%) in experimentally infected SPF chickens and induced lesions typical of the acute form of IBD. The in vivo study results are in contrast with the foregoing experimental investigations in which the natural reassortants exhibited an intermediate pathotype, and underline the complex nature of IBDV virulence.

Alterations of soluble TWEAK and CD163 concentrations in patients with chronic heart failure.

UNLABELLED: Inflammatory activation plays a pivotal role in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF). A novel mediator from TNF family: soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) along its soluble decoy receptor CD163 (sCD163) recently has been investigated in other cardiovascular pathologies. We aimed to evaluate sTWEAK and sCD163 concentrations in HF-REF patients. The study enrolled 79 patients with stable HF-REF, EF < 35%. The control population without history of heart failure included two groups: 26 comorbidities matched patients and 27 healthy volunteers. sTWEAK and sCD163 serum concentrations were determined using ELISA kits. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to assess variables affecting concentration of sTWEAK and sCD163. HF-REF patients were characterized by higher sTWEAK (median 374 IQR: 321-429 vs 201 IQR: 145-412pg/ml, P=0.005), sCD163 (median 744 IQR: 570-1068 vs 584 IQR: 483-665pg/ml, P=0.03) concentrations and sTWEAK/sCD163 ratio (median 0.53 IQR: 0.32-0.7 vs 0.3 IQR: 0.22-0.37, P=0.001) comparing to healthy volunteers. Comparing to comorbidities matched controls, HF-REF patients had lower sTWEAK levels (median 374 IQR: 321-429 vs 524 IQR: 384-652pg/ml; P=0.002), while sCD163 and sTWEAK/sCD163 ratio didn't differ. Concentration of sTWEAK in HF-REF was affected by white blood cell count and aspirin intake, while sCD163 by exercise capacity, LV diastolic volume, CRP and presence of arterial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: HF-REF patients present increased sTWEAK and sCD163 levels as well as sTWEAK/sCD163 ratio when compared to healthy subjects, however CHF itself appears to be associated with down-regulation of sTWEAK.

Astrovirus-induced "white chicks" condition - field observation, virus detection and preliminary characterization.

Chicken astrovirus (CAstV) was recently indicated as the factor of the "white chicks" condition associated not only with increased embryo/chick mortality but also with weakness and white plumage of hatched chicks. In February 2014, organ samples (livers and kidneys) from dead-in-shell embryos, as well as 1-day-old whitish and normal chicks, were delivered from one hatchery in Poland for disease diagnosis. The samples originated from the same 30-week-old breeder flock in which the only observed abnormal signs were 4-5% decrease in the number of hatched chickens and the presence (about 1%) of weaker chicks with characteristic whitish plumage among normal ones. CAstV was detected in submitted samples and was then isolated in 10-day-old embryonated specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken eggs. We also reproduced an infection model for the "white chicks" condition in SPF layer chickens using the isolated PL/G059/2014 strain as the infectious agent. Results of experimental reproduction of the "white chicks" condition were somewhat more serious than field observation. The administration of the CAstV material into the yolk sac of 8-day-old SPF chicken eggs caused delay and prolongation of hatching, as well as death of embryos/chicks, and also a change of plumage pigmentation. Only two chicks of a total of 10 inoculated SPF eggs survived and were observed for 2 months. A gradual elimination of the CAstV genome was noted in this period. Moreover, a few contact-naive SPF chicks, which had been placed in the same cage, were infected with CAstV. Molecular characterization of detected CAstV was performed by nucleotide sequencing of the full ORF2 region encoding the capsid precursor protein gene. Phylogenetic studies showed that the PL/G059/2014 isolate clustered in the subgroup Aiii of CAstV. In the light of the new classification rules, the Polish PL/G059/2014 CAstV isolate could be assigned to a new species of the Avastrovirus genus.

Potassium induced contraction of the internal thoracic artery in vitro is time related: the potential consequences in the analysis of the mechanism of the spasm after coronary artery bypass grafting and in the analysis of the results of in vitro studies.

The aim of the present study was to examine how, under in vitro conditions, the human left internal thoracic artery (LITA) reacts to contractile agonist:potassium chloride (KCL) as a function of time, as well as to examine whether a change in the LITA reactivity can correlate with the occurrence of the refractory vascular spasm (RVS). Distal segments of LITA obtained from 33 patients aged 38-73, at the time of routine coronary artery surgical revascularization (CABG). Contractile response to 80 mmol K(+) was recorded under isometric conditions. In 16 (48,5 %) LITA segments, contractile reaction to K(+) after experiments ranging 1-10 h were registered. No contractile response even after 10 h of incubation was observed in 17 (51.5 %) LITA segments. Between 120 and 300 min after the beginning of the experiment, the reaction was maximum and amounted up to 300 % control reaction, then decreased. First, with respect to in vitro research isolated by LITA rings, while analyzing the results of the research, one should take into consideration the possibility that during the research, the functional state of the tissues changes and in particular its sensitivity to depolarization of the cell membrane. Second, the change in the sensitivity to depolarization of the cell membrane of the smooth muscles' LITA might be the potential mechanism causing the occurrence of the postoperative spasm after the CABG treatment.

Predictors of Long-Term Mortality in Patients Hospitalized in an Intensive Cardiac Care Unit.

Patients admitted to an intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) are a heterogeneous population with a high mortality rate. The aim of our study was to investigate which clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic parameters routinely assessed may affect long-term mortality in a non-selected ICCU population.A total of 392 patients hospitalized between 2008-2011 (mean age, 70 ± 13.8 years, 43% women) were consecutively and prospectively assessed with the following admission diagnoses: 168 with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), 122 with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), and 102 with other acute cardiac disorders. Patients were treated according to the current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines.During a mean 29.3 (± 18.9) months of observation, 152 (38.8%) patients died and 7.9% of the patients needed a red blood cell transfusion (RBC Tx). Patients who died were significantly older and had lower baseline levels of hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron concentration (SIC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), cholesterol, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), as well as lower eGFR values, and higher white blood cell (WBC) counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P < 0.05). Predictors of death in multivariate regression analysis were age, Hb, LVEF, WBC, and CRP. The most powerful factor was hospitalization for non-ACS. The risk of long-term mortality increased with decreasing levels of Hb (P < 0.001), SIC (P = 0.001), TIBC (P = 0.009), and the need for RBC Tx (P < 0.001), as well as the diagnosis of ADHF (P < 0.001) and the absence of ACS (P = 0.007).In ICCU patients, age, Hb, parameters of iron status, and LVEF are strong predictors of long-term mortality. Among the ICCU population, patients with ACS diagnosis have better survival.

Detection and molecular characterization of infectious bronchitis-like viruses in wild bird populations.

We examined 884 wild birds mainly from the Anseriformes, Charadriiformes and Galliformes orders for infectious bronchitis (IBV)-like coronavirus in Poland between 2008 and 2011. Coronavirus was detected in 31 (3.5%) of the tested birds, with detection rates of 3.5% in Anseriformes and 2.3% in Charadriiformes and as high as 17.6% in Galliformes. From the 31 positive samples, only 10 gave positive results in molecular tests aimed at various IBV genome fragments: five samples were positive for the RdRp gene, four for gene 3, eight for gene N and eight for the 3'-untranslated region fragment. All analysed genome fragments of the coronavirus strains shared different evolutionary branches, resulting in a different phylogenetic tree topology. Most detected fragment genes seem to be IBV-like genes of the most frequently detected lineages of IBV in this geographical region (i.e. Massachusetts, 793B and QX). Two waves of coronavirus infections were identified: one in spring (April and May) and another in late autumn (October to December). To our knowledge this is the first report of the detection of different fragment IBV-like genes in wild bird populations.

Pentraxin 3 as a marker of development and severity of stable coronary artery disease.

PURPOSE: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is produced at the site of inflammation and has been identified as a specific marker of atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, and progression of the coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the study was to establish if PTX3 has potential relations with classical markers of cardiovascular risk, and if PTX3 may act as an independent risk factor of CAD occurrence and advancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 98 patients with stable CAD confirmed in coronary angiography (CAD group) (median age 65 interquartile range [IQR] 61-72 years; 72% men). The control group consisted of 40 patients without CAD. RESULTS: The CAD group had significantly higher PTX3 concentration compared to the control group. There was a correlation with age, male gender, lipid profile and intima-media thickness. There was no correlation between PTX3 concentration and the number of coronary vessels with significant atherosclerotic lesions and the advancement of atherosclerotic lesions on the Gensini scoring scale. The cut-off point was determined for 0.89 ng/ml for the exclusion of angiographically significant atherosclerotic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CAD have significantly higher concentration of PTX3. There was no correlation between PTX3 and the advancement of angiographically significant atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries. Low PTX3 concentration may serve as an indicator for the absence of atherosclerosis.

The Importance of Lung Ultrasound and IGFBP7 (Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 7) Assessment in Diagnosing Patients with Heart Failure.

Background: In daily practice, there are problems with adequately diagnosing the cause of dyspnea in patients with heart failure with preserved and mildly reduced ejection fractions (HFpEF and HFmrEF). This study aimed to assess the usefulness of lung ultrasound in diagnosing HFpEF and HFmrEF and determine its correlation with IGFBP7 (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7), NTproBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), and echocardiographic markers. Methods: The research was conducted on 143 patients hospitalized between 2018 and 2020, admitted due to dyspnea, and diagnosed with HFpEF and HFmrEF. Venous blood was collected from all participants to obtain basic biochemical parameters, NTproBNP, and IGFBP7. Moreover, all participants underwent echocardiography and transthoracic lung ultrasound. Two years after hospitalization a follow-up telephone visit was performed. Results: The number of B-lines in the LUS ≥ 16 was determined with a sensitivity of-73% and specificity of-62%, indicating exacerbation of heart failure symptoms on admission. The number of B-lines ≥ 14 on admission was determined as a cut-off point, indicating an increased risk of death during the 2-year follow-up period. The factors that significantly impacted mortality in the study patient population were age and the difference between the number of B-lines on ultrasound at admission and at hospital discharge. IGFBP7 levels had no significant effect on the duration of hospitalization, risk of rehospitalization, or mortality during follow-up. Conclusions: Lung ultrasonography provides additional diagnostic value in patients with HFpEF or HFmrEF and exacerbation of heart failure symptoms. The number of B-lines ≥ 14 may indicate an increased risk of death.

Sustained decrease in plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate concentration and its accumulation in blood cells in acute myocardial infarction.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a cardioprotective sphingolipid present at high concentration in plasma and blood cells. However, effect of the myocardial infarction on S1P metabolism in blood is poorly recognized. Therefore, we aimed to examine the dynamics of changes in concentration of sphingolipids in blood of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study was performed on two groups of subjects: healthy controls (n=32) and patients with STEMI (n=32). In the latter group blood was taken upon admission to intensive heart care unit, and then on the second, fifth and thirtieth day, and approximately two years after admission. STEMI patients showed decreased plasma S1P concentration and accumulation of free sphingoid bases and their 1-phosphates in erythrocytes. This effect was already present upon admission, and was maintained for at least thirty days after the infarction. Interestingly, two years post-infarction plasma S1P level recovered only partially, whereas the content of erythrocyte sphingolipids decreased to the values observed in the control subjects. The most likely reason for the observed reduction in plasma S1P level was its decreased release or increased degradation by vascular endothelial cells, as we did not find any evidence for downregulation of S1P synthesis or release by blood cells. We conclude that patients with STEMI are characterized by marked alterations in sphingolipid metabolism in blood which could be a consequence of the infarction itself, the antiplatelet treatment given or both. Our data suggest that cardioprotective action of S1P may be diminished in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Venous thromboembolism: Why is it still a significant health problem?

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the third leading cause of acute cardiovascular syndrome following myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. The global burden of disease worldwide is high and shows a steady upward trend in recent years with an incidence of 1-2 per 1000 adults per year. The overarching goal of the initial management of VTE is to prevent early and late adverse outcomes. Rapid evaluation and therapeutic intervention is vital to improving prognosis. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus databases for articles published in the last 10 years. Additionally, some earlier articles were analyzed. RESULTS: For the purposes of this review, we discussed how understanding the epidemiology of VTE and the current knowledge of early and late complications of this disease have shaped the current approach to VTE prevention. We also analyzed the current knowledge and the most up-to-date information about VTE in COVID-19 infection. Contemporary perspective presented in this article on mortality in VTE, the incidence of recurrences, the risk of major bleeding during therapy and the chronic complications indicate why this is a major challenge for today's medicine and a current target for further research. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the interaction between environmental and genetic factors appears to be crucial in the diagnostic process. It can provide insight into the pathophysiology of VTE, potentially identifying options for targeted prevention and treatment. However, due to differences in clinical presentation, diagnosing pulmonary embolism may not be an easy task which perfectly illustrates the scale and complexity of the disease.

Assessment of caffeine intake in groups of pregnant and breastfeeding women: A cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Caffeine is commonly consumed by pregnant and breastfeeding women. The maximum safe dose of caffeine in their diet is 200 mg per day, according to the European Food Safety Authority. The purpose of this study was to assess the consumption of caffeinated products by pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as to estimate their caffeine intake. METHODS: The number of subjects who qualified for the study was 1112 women, of whom 401 were pregnant and 711 were breastfeeding. The research was conducted with the use of a questionnaire, which included information about food frequency and history of consumption of caffeinated products during the past 3 days. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) daily caffeine intake among pregnant women was 114.5 (57.6-202.8) mg, and the level of caffeine intake increased with the duration of pregnancy (p < 0.001). For breastfeeding women it was 193.7 (100.5-324.8) mg/d. The majority of participants (58.9%) were not able to correctly identify the safe amount of caffeine in their diets. It was observed that the intake of 73.8% of pregnant women and 51.9% of breastfeeding women fit within the safe range (0-200 mg/d). The main sources of caffeine were ground coffee, black tea, and instant coffee. For 63,6% of women knowledge about nutrition and supplementation came most often from blogs and social media run by medical professionals. Pleasure was the main reason for drinking coffee and tea. CONCLUSION: Most pregnant women did not exceed the recommended maximum daily dose of caffeine, while breastfeeding women often did.

Epidemiology of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Poland during 2016-2022.

Infectious bursal disease virus is an immunosuppressive ubiquitous pathogen that causes serious economic losses in poultry production. The virus is prone to genetic changes through mutations and reassortment, which drive the emergence of new variants and lead to a change in the epidemiological situation in a field. Such a situation is currently being reported due to a large wave of IBDV A3B1 reassortant infections in northwestern Europe. On the other hand, in Poland, which is the largest producer of chicken meat in the EU, the IBDVs of genotypes A3B2 and A3B4 were circulating just before the emergence of A3B1 reassortants. The purpose of the presented study was to update the IBDV epidemiological situation. The performed molecular survey based on the sequence of both genome segments showed the presence of very virulent strains (A3B2) and reassortants of genotypes A3B4 and A3B1; moreover, two of these genotypes are newly introduced IBDV lineages. In addition, a number of amino acid substitutions were demonstrated, including within antigenic epitopes and virulence determinants. In conclusion, the results obtained indicated a dynamic epidemiological situation in Poland, which highlights the need for further monitoring studies in the region and verification of protection conferred by the vaccines used against infection with detected IBDV.

Pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to temporary hospital - The follow-up study.

PURPOSE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked with major coagulation disorders, especially higher risk of developing pulmonary embolism (PE). Our study summarizes COVID-19 patients' management with concomitant PE during the first weeks of pandemic and underlines the importance of D-dimer concentration assessment at admission in terms of prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study group consisted of 107 outpatients (mean age 68.91 â€‹± â€‹12.83 years) admitted to the Temporary COVID-19 Hospital in Bialystok, Poland with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and suspicion of PE based on elevated D-dimer concentration (>500 â€‹µg/l) and/or low saturation rate (<90%). The clinical follow-up lasted 6 months. Death or re-hospitalization were used as composite clinical endpoint (CEP). RESULTS: Cumulative incidence of PE was 62.3% (73/107 patients). Most of the patients were in the intermediate PE risk group according to the pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) score. The mean total computed tomography (CT) lung involvement of COVID-19 findings was 48.42 â€‹± â€‹27.71%. Neither D-dimers nor NT-proBNP concentrations correlated significantly with the percentage of lung abnormalities in CT. Patients with baseline D-dimer concentration higher than 1429 â€‹µg/l had worse prognosis in 6-months observation, log-rank test, p â€‹= â€‹0.009. CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection along with massive involvement of lung tissue and concomitant thrombi in pulmonary arteries are challenging for physicians. It seems that simple D-dimer concentration assessment at admission may be a helpful tool not only to predict PE but also to estimate the long-term prognosis.

Bacterial and Viral Rodent-borne Infections on Poultry Farms. An Attempt at a Systematic Review.

Introduction: Rodents are quite common at livestock production sites. Their adaptability, high reproductive capacity and omnivorousness make them apt to become a source of disease transmission to humans and animals. Rodents can serve as mechanical vectors or active shedders of many bacteria and viruses, and their transmission can occur through direct contact, or indirectly through contaminated food and water or by the arthropods which parasitise infected rodents. This review paper summarises how rodents spread infectious diseases in poultry production. Material and Methods: The aim of this review was to use PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) principles to meta-analyse the available data on this topic. Three databases - PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus - and grey literature were searched for papers published from inception to July 2022 using the established keywords. Results: An initial search identified 2,999 articles that met the criteria established by the keywords. This number remained after removing 597 articles that were repeated in some databases. The articles were searched for any mention of specific bacterial and viral pathogens. Conclusion: The importance of rodents in the spread of bacterial diseases in poultry has been established, and the vast majority of such diseases involved Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus (MRSA), Pasteurella, Erysipelothrix or Yersinia infections. Rodents also play a role in the transmission of viruses such as avian influenza virus, avian paramyxovirus 1, avian gammacoronavirus or infectious bursal disease virus, but knowledge of these pathogens is very limited and requires further research to expand it.

Disparities in the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Carotid and Lower Extremities Atherosclerosis in a General Population-Bialystok PLUS Study.

This study was conducted in a representative sample of area residents aged 20-80 years old. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of classic risk factors of atherosclerosis in the studied population and to search for new risk factors in these patient subpopulations. A total of 795 people (mean age 48.64 ± 15.24 years, 45.5% male) were included in the study group. Two independent data analyses were performed. In the first analysis, the study group was divided into two subgroups depending on the presence or absence of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries (APCA). APCA were observed in 49.7% of the study group: in the population aged between 41 and 60 years in 49.3%, and those between 61 and 70 years in 86.3%. Patients with APCA were more often diagnosed with arterial hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. In the second analysis, the study group was divided into two subgroups depending on the presence of lower extremities atherosclerotic disease (LEAD). Patients with an ABI (ankle-brachial index) ≤ 0.9 constituted 8.5% of the study group, and they were significantly older, and more often diagnosed with diabetes and APCA. To identify the factors most strongly associated with APCA and an ABI ≤ 0.9, logistic regression was used, with stepwise elimination of variables. The strongest factors associated with APCA were current smoking and diastolic central pressure. We did not note such an association and did not find additional parameters to facilitate the diagnosis of LEAD in asymptomatic patients. The most important observation in our study was the high prevalence of APCA in the study population, especially in the group of young people under the age of 60.

The FCGR2A Is Associated with the Presence of Atherosclerotic Plaques in the Carotid Arteries-A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries (APCA) are a prevalent condition with severe potential complications. Studies continuously search for innovative biomarkers for APCA, including those participating in cellular metabolic processes, cell adhesion, immune response, and complement activation. This study aimed to assess the relationship between APCA presence and a broad range of cardiometabolic biomarkers in the general population. METHODS: The study group consisted of consecutive participants of the population study Bialystok PLUS. The proximity extension assay (PEA) technique from the Olink Laboratory (Uppsala, Sweden) was used to measure the levels of 92 cardiometabolic biomarkers. RESULTS: The study comprised 693 participants (mean age 48.78 ± 15.27 years, 43.4% males, N = 301). APCA was identified in 46.2% of the participants (N = 320). Of the 92 biomarkers that were investigated, 54 were found to be significantly linked to the diagnosis of APCA. After adjusting for the traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis in multivariate analysis, the only biomarker that remained significantly associated with APCA was FCGR2A. CONCLUSION: In the general population, the prevalence of APCA is very high. A range of biomarkers are linked with APCA. Nonetheless, the majority of these associations are explained by traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis. The only biomarker that was independently associated with APCA was the FCGR2A.