Multidrug resistant and multivirulent avian bacterial pathogens: tackling experimental leg disorders using phytobiotics and antibiotics alone or in combination.

Locomotor disorders caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens denote one of the most detrimental issues that collectively threaten the poultry industry leading to pronounced economic losses across the world. Hence, searching for effective alternatives, especially those extracted from plant origins became of great priority targeting a partial or complete replacement of chemical antimicrobials to tackle their developing resistance. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Salmonella species, Mycoplasma synoviae (M. synoviae), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) recovered from 500 broilers and ducks (250 each) with locomotor disorders in various farms in Dakahlia and Sharkia Governorates, Egypt. Additionally, we assessed, for the first time, the in vitro antimicrobial effectiveness of marjoram, garlic, ginger and cinnamon essential oils (EOs) against MDR and multivirulent bacterial isolates as well as the in vivo efficiency of the most effective antibiotics and EOs either separately or in combination in the treatment of experimentally induced poultry leg disorders. The overall prevalence rates of S. aureus, E. coli, Salmonella species, and M. synoviae were 54, 48, 36, and 2%, respectively. Salmonella species and S. aureus prevailed among ducks and broilers (36 and 76%, respectively). Notably, MDR was observed in 100, 91.7, 81.1, and 78.5% of M. synoviae, E. coli, Salmonella, and S. aureus isolates, respectively. Our in vitro results displayed that marjoram was the most forceful EO against MDR and multivirulent chicken vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and duck S. Typhimurium isolates. The current in vivo results declared that marjoram in combination with florfenicol or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid succeeded in relieving the induced duck and chicken leg disorders caused by S. Typhimurium and VRSA, respectively. This was evidenced by improvement in the clinical and histopathological pictures with a reduction of bacterial loads in the experimental birds. Our encountered successful in vitro and in vivo synergistic effectiveness of marjoram combined with florfenicol or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid recommends their therapeutic application for leg disorders and offers opportunities for reducing the antibiotics usage in the poultry industry.

Papillary muscle rupture after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A case report and literature review.

We present a case of posterior papillary muscle rupture associated with severe eccentric mitral regurgitation following transcatheter aortic valve implantation, that was successfully treated with transcatheter edge to edge mitral repair and review similar cases in literature.

Feasibility of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects in adults under transthoracic echocardiography guidance using the Figulla atrial septal defect occluder device.

BACKGROUND: Closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) among adults under transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidance using devices other than the Amplatzer Septal Occluder has not been extensively tested. AIM OF WORK: Assessment of the safety and efficiency of secundum ASD closure using the Occlutech Figulla ASD Occluder under TTE guidance in adult patients with hemodynamically significant secundum ASD. METHODS: Twenty patients (mean age, 32.9 ± 9.7, 75% of them females) were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent TTE and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to assess the characteristics of the ASD prior to percutaneous closure. Procedures were performed using the Figulla Occluder device under both fluoroscopic and TTE guidance. Follow-up clinical and TTE examinations were done at 1, 3, and 6 months following the procedure. RESULTS: TTE estimated mean ASD size was 21.7 ± 7.3 mm with adequate rims except for the aortic rim (deficient in one third of cases). Mean device size was 28.1 ± 8.6 mm with mean procedure and fluoroscopic times of 46.2 ± 16.4 and 15.7 ± 5.4 minutes respectively. ASD was successfully closed in all patients. Two patients showed a small residual shunt immediately after the device placement that disappeared by the end of the 2nd followup TTE examination. Transient complications were detected in 2 patients. All patients were asymptomatic during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter closure of secundum ASD in adults under TTE guidance using the Occlutech Figulla ASD occluder device is safe and effective when performed in a tertiary center and by expert echocardiographers and interventional cardiologists.

Status and Challenges of Care in Africa for Adults With Congenital Heart Defects.

The 54 countries in Africa have an estimated total annual congenital heart defect (CHD) birth prevalence of 300,486 cases. More than half (51.4%) of the continental birth prevalence occurs in only seven countries. Congenital heart disease remains primarily a pediatric health issue in Africa because of the deficient health-care systems: the adults with CHD made up just 10% of patients with CHD in Ghana, and 13.7% of patients with CHD presenting for surgery in Mozambique. With Africa's population projected to double in the next 35 years, the already deficient health systems for CHD care will suffer unbearable strain unless determined and courageous action is undertaken by the African leaders.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Impact of methods of assessment.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), using different echocardiographic parameters, varies widely in the literature. The highest prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction was detected using the mitral inflow indexes that are commonly altered in these patients due to the associated tachycardia, reduced preload, and ventricular septal shift. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the impact of the used echocardiographic method of assessment on the prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with COPD and normal LV systolic function. METHODS: We studied 35 patients with COPD and 18 age-matched controls. A comprehensive approach to diagnose and grade the LV diastolic dysfunction was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography published in 2009. The results were compared with those of mitral inflow indexes. RESULTS: LV diastolic dysfunction was reported in 20 patients using the mitral inflow indexes while in only 12 patients using the comprehensive approach (P=.021). Compared to the controls, LV diastolic dysfunction was significantly more common in patients using the mitral inflow indexes (P=.001), while no statistically significant difference was detected between both groups using the comprehensive approach (P=.1). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with COPD varies according to the used echocardiographic approach. Further studies are recommended to determine which approach is the most accurate in estimating the true prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction among this group of patients.

Cardiac findings in patients with Behçet's disease: Facts and controversies.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. It is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, uveitis, and a number of systemic manifestations. Although the disease is recognized worldwide, its prevalence is highly variable. A detailed review and analysis of the worldwide published reports on BD showed that not only the prevalence of the disease but also its cardiac complications differ according to the geographic distribution of the studied population. With the exception of France, Greece, Spain, and Italy, very few reports and studies regarding BD have been published from the western countries. Cardiovascular complications are an important cause of poor outcome in patients with BD. Over the past few years, many case reports and studies have been published, providing more facts about these complications. For example, peculiar echocardiographic findings in patients with aortic valve regurgitation and intracardiac thrombi secondary to BD were recently described. The role of these findings in the initial diagnosis of the disease, however, remains to be evaluated. On the other hand, some reports present contradictory results, especially concerning the left ventricular diastolic function, pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, and proper management of the cardiac complications in BD. Importantly, management of these complications is based mainly on the discretion of the treating physician due to the absence of large controlled studies and clear guidelines. This approach sometimes creates inconsistent data and allows controversies to persist. The review presented here will discuss some of the facts and controversies related to cardiac complications in BD.

Predictors of aortic pulse wave velocity in the elderly with severe aortic stenosis.

UNLABELLED: Predictors of aortic pulse wave velocity (AoPWV) were not previously studied in the elderly with severe aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to compare the AoPWV in these patients with matched controls and to study the predictors of AoPWV in this population. We measured the AoPWV during cardiac catheterisation in 40 patients with severe AS and 20 matched controls. AoPWV in both groups was similar (p = 0.198) and lied within normal reference value for age in 68 % of elderly with severe AS. Central systolic blood pressure (SBP) (adjusted ß = 0.45, p = 0.001) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (adjusted ß = -0.29, p = 0.023) were the only independent predictors of AoPWV in AS group. Central SBP >140 mmHg was the best predictor of abnormal AoPWV (≥14.6 m/s) with 100 % sensitivity and 70 % specificity, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: AoPWV is not increased in the elderly with severe AS compared to controls, and lies within the reference value for age in the majority of these patients. Central SBP >140 mmHg best predicts abnormal AoPWV in the elderly with severe AS.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Egyptian Patients With Behçet's Disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate left ventricular diastolic function in Egyptian patients with Behçet's disease using variable echocardiographic parameters by combining both transmitral and tissue Doppler velocities to overcome the occasional false interpretation of preload dependent transmitral parameters and to detect the correlation between various left ventricular diastolic parameters and different disease manifestations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients (35 males, 5 females; mean age 31±8 years; range 19 to 52 years) with Behçet's disease and 32 age- and sex- matched healthy controls (26 males, 6 females; mean age 28±6 years; range 19 to 60 years) were enrolled. Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed using an algorithm that combined transmitral and tissue Doppler derived parameters. RESULTS: Mean disease duration of the patients was 7.4±6 years. Left and right ventricular systolic function was normal in both groups. The transmitral E/A was<1 in six patients (15%). There was no difference between patients and controls regarding the other left ventricular diastolic parameters. Compared to patients with an E/A ratio >1, patients with E/A<1 were significantly older and had a longer disease duration (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). All the other echocardiographic parameters in both groups were comparable. CONCLUSION: Egyptian patients with Behçet's disease have normal left ventricular diastolic function regardless of disease duration and activity.

Adult congenital heart disease registry at Cairo University: a report of the first 100 patients.

AIMS: To establish a clinical registry for adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) managed in Cairo University Hospitals, aiming at description of the pattern and clinical profile of such patients. METHODS: Patients were recruited from both Cardiovascular Medicine Department Outpatient Clinic and inpatient wards of Cairo University Hospitals. Clinical data were collected from hospital records and directly from patients by treating cardiologists. Collected data were then registered in a dedicated database system and subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: Patients (49% males) ranged in age from 16 to 63 years, with a median of 25 years. Fifty-one patients were in the age-group from 20 to 30 years, with only 9% aged 50 years or older. Seventy-eight patients had acyanotic lesions, with atrial septal defect being the most common primary diagnosis (20% of total lesions). The remaining 22 patients had cyanotic heart disease, with tetralogy of Fallot being the predominant diagnosis (45% of cyanotic lesions). Six patients presented with infective endocarditis in the setting of CHD. Four women (8% of females) presented during pregnancy. Forty-six patients were sent for surgical correction/repair, while percutaneous intervention was planned in 20 patients. CONCLUSIONS: A new registry of adult patients with CHD managed in Cairo University Hospitals provides useful information, including the extent to which congenital heart defects are underdiagnosed and undertreated during infancy and childhood. In addition, those who were previously treated early in life require long-term follow-up in specialized centers. Establishment of a multidisciplinary team with expert physicians (cardiologists, dentists, obstetricians, and psychiatrists), cardiac surgeons, and nurses may be facilitated by development of a dedicated database system. Continuous financial support is a major challenge.

Value of certain echocardiographic findings in the initial suspicion of Behçet's disease.

PURPOSE: To describe the echocardiographic findings detected as first manifestations of Behçet's disease (BD) and compare these findings with those detected in established cases of BD receiving regular medical treatment. METHODS: Two groups of patients were studied. Group 1 comprised 41 patients with BD on regular medical treatment. Group 2 comprised 5 previously healthy patients who presented to the cardiology department because of cardiac symptoms and were diagnosed in retrospect during hospitalization as BD. Thirty-two age- and sex-matched individuals served as control subjects (control group). All patients and controls underwent complete M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler transthoracic echocardiographic examinations. RESULTS: Of the 41 treated patients with BD (mean age: 32 ± 8 years, 90% males, mean duration since diagnosis: 14.5 years), only 1 patient was found to have severe aortic regurgitation secondary to aortic root dilation. On the other hand, the 5 previously healthy patients who presented with cardiac symptoms (mean age: 24 ± 6 years, all males) had significant cardiac involvement and evident echocardiographic findings (P < 0.001). Four cases had intracardiac masses: 3 in the right atrium (RA), 1 in the right ventricle (RV), while the last patient had pericardial effusion (PE). All these patients were diagnosed in retrospect as BD. The RA masses disappeared on medical therapy, while the RV mass was surgically excised and proved to be multiple thrombi histopathologically. The patient with PE had recurrent attacks of massive effusion so a pericardial window was performed surgically. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of BD might be initially suspected by the cardiologists based on certain echocardiographic findings, namely the presence of right-sided masses. Diagnosis of BD in such patients has important therapeutic implications and accordingly prognostic value.

Behçet's disease, echocardiographers, and cardiac surgeons: together is better.

Behçet's disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions. Many abnormal echocardiographic findings have been previously reported in patients with Behçet's disease. Some of these; namely, aortic root dilation, aortic valve regurgitation, intracardiac thrombi, and pulmonary artery aneurysm may precede other manifestations of the disease and occasionally require surgical intervention for proper management. Compared to patients without Behçet's disease, management of these complications in patients with the disease is challenging and requires different treatment strategies. If diagnosis of Behçet's disease is missed prior to surgical intervention, higher incidence of surgical failure, recurrence, and even higher postoperative mortality may occur. In this review, the author discusses these major cardiac complications of Behçet's disease.