Correlation of Vitreous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Uric Acid Concentration Using Optical Coherence Tomography in Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose. We investigated two factors linked to diabetic macular edema (DME), vitreous and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and uric acid (UA) in patients with DME, and compared the results with changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual acuity (VA). Methods. A prospective study of 29 eyes, 16 cystoid DME and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) and 13 nondiabetic controls. Biochemical analysis of vitreous and serum samples was performed and OCT scans were graded according to central retinal thickness (CRT), cube volume (CV), cube average thickness (CAT), and serous retinal detachment (SRD). Results. In DME group, intravitreal concentrations of VEGF (p<0.001), UA (p=0.038), and total protein (p<0.001) were significantly higher than in control group. In DME subjects, intravitreal UA correlated significantly with intravitreal VEGF (ƍ = 0.559, p=0.03) but not with total vitreous protein and serum UA. Increased intravitreal VEGF in DME group correlated with increase in CV (ƍ = 0.515/p=0.041). None of the OCT parameters correlated with the VA. Conclusions. The results suggest that the CV might be assessor of anti-VEGF therapy efficacy. Second, apart from VEGF, the role of UA in the pathogenesis and progression of DR should be considered

Long-Term Monitoring of Microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia Infections in Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Different Stages of Habituation in Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic

Background Infectious diseases pose one of the greatest threats to endangered species, and a risk of gastrointestinal parasite transmission from humans to wildlife has always been considered as a major concern of tourism. Increased anthropogenic impact on primate populations may result in general changes in communities of their parasites, and also in a direct exchange of parasites between humans and primates. Aims To evaluate the impact of close contact with humans on the occurrence of potentially zoonotic protists in great apes, we conducted a long-term monitoring of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in western lowland gorillas at different stages of the habituation process, humans, and other wildlife in Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas in the Central African Republic. Results We detected Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotypes I and II (7.5%), Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D and three novel genotypes (gorilla 1–3) (4.0%), Giardia intestinalis subgroup A II (2.0%) and Cryptosporidium bovis (0.5%) in gorillas, whereas in humans we found only G. intestinalis subgroup A II (2.1%). In other wild and domestic animals we recorded E. cuniculi genotypes I and II (2.1%), G. intestinalis assemblage E (0.5%) and C. muris TS03 (0.5%). Conclusion Due to the non-specificity of E. cuniculi genotypes we conclude that detection of the exact source of E. cuniculi infection is problematic. As Giardia intestinalis was recorded primarily in gorilla groups with closer human contact, we suggest that human-gorilla transmission has occurred. We call attention to a potentially negative impact of habituation on selected pathogens which might occur as a result of the more frequent presence of humans in the vicinity of both gorillas under habituation and habituated gorillas, rather than as a consequence of the close contact with humans, which might be a more traditional assumption. We encourage to observe the sections concerning hygiene from the IUCN best practice guidelines for all sites where increased human-gorilla contact occurs

CSF Markers of Oxidative Stress Are Associated with Brain Atrophy and Iron Accumulation in a 2-Year Longitudinal Cohort of Early MS

In this prospective longitudinal study, we quantified regional brain volume and susceptibility changes during the first two years after the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and identified their association with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers at baseline. Seventy patients underwent MRI (T1 and susceptibility weighted images processed to quantitative susceptibility maps, QSM) with neurological examination at the diagnosis and after two years. In CSF obtained at baseline, the levels of oxidative stress, products of lipid peroxidation, and neurofilaments light chain (NfL) were determined. Brain volumetry and QSM were compared with a group of 58 healthy controls. In MS patients, regional atrophy was identified in the striatum, thalamus, and substantia nigra. Magnetic susceptibility increased in the striatum, globus pallidus, and dentate and decreased in the thalamus. Compared to controls, MS patients developed greater atrophy of the thalamus, and a greater increase in susceptibility in the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus and a decrease in the thalamus. Of the multiple calculated correlations, only the decrease in brain parenchymal fraction, total white matter, and thalamic volume in MS patients negatively correlated with increased NfL in CSF. Additionally, negative correlation was found between QSM value in the substantia nigra and peroxiredoxin-2, and QSM value in the dentate and lipid peroxidation levels

Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis infection in humans, wild and domestic animals.

<p><b>n</b>  =  number of samples; <b>EC I</b>  =  <i>E. cuniculi</i> genotype I; <b>EC II</b>  =  <i>E. cuniculi</i> genotype II; <b>E</b>  =  <i>Giardia intestinalis</i> assemblage E; <b>A</b>  =  <i>Giardia intestinalis</i> assemblage A.</p

Neighbour-joining tree based on nucleotide sequences of the whole ITS region of Enterocytozoon bieneusi isolates, including our new sequences (underlined).

<p>Genotypes previously found in apes and humans are shaded. The host is listed for each sample. Values on branches are percent bootstrapping using 1 000 replicates. The bootstrap proportions greater than 50% are shown on each branch. Nucleotide sequences generated from this study are underlined and are deposited in the GenBank under Accession Nos. JQ837793-JQ837800.</p

<i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i>, <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i>, <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>Giardia intestinalis</i> infection in wild western lowland gorillas (<i>Gorilla gorilla gorilla</i>) under different levels of human contact.

<p><b>D</b> =  <i>E. bieneusi</i> genotype D; <b>gorilla 1</b>  =  <i>E. bieneusi</i> genotype gorilla 1; <b>gorilla 2</b>  =  <i>E. bieneusi</i> genotype gorilla 2; <b>gorilla 3</b>  =  <i>E. bieneusi</i> genotype gorilla 3; <b>EC I</b>  =  <i>E. cuniculi</i> genotype I; <b>EC II</b>  =  <i>E. cuniculi</i> genotype II; <b>A</b>  =  <i>Giardia intestinalis</i> assemblage A; <b>n¹</b> number of samples; <b>n²</b> number of animals sampled.</p

Low Frequency of Cancer-Predisposition Gene Mutations in Liver Transplant Candidates with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mainly stems from liver cirrhosis and its genetic predisposition is believed to be rare. However, two recent studies describe pathogenic/likely pathogenic germline variants (PV) in cancer-predisposition genes (CPG). As the risk of de novo tumors might be increased in PV carriers, especially in immunosuppressed patients after a liver transplantation, we analyzed the prevalence of germline CPG variants in HCC patients considered for liver transplantation. Using the panel NGS targeting 226 CPGs, we analyzed germline DNA from 334 Czech HCC patients and 1662 population-matched controls. We identified 48 PVs in 35 genes in 47/334 patients (14.1%). However, only 7/334 (2.1%) patients carried a PV in an established CPG (PMS2, 4×NBN, FH or RET). Only the PV carriers in two MRN complex genes (NBN and RAD50) were significantly more frequent among patients over controls. We found no differences in clinicopathological characteristics between carriers and non-carriers. Our study indicated that the genetic component of HCC is rare. The HCC diagnosis itself does not meet criteria for routine germline CPG genetic testing. However, a low proportion of PV carriers may benefit from a tailored follow-up or targeted therapy and germline testing could be considered in liver transplant recipients