Titin truncating variants affect heart function in disease cohorts and the general population

Titin-truncating variants (TTNtv) commonly cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). TTNtv are also encountered in ~1% of the general population, where they may be silent, perhaps reflecting allelic factors. To better understand TTNtv, we integrated TTN allelic series, cardiac imaging and genomic data in humans and studied rat models with disparate TTNtv. In patients with DCM, TTNtv throughout titin were significantly associated with DCM. Ribosomal profiling in rat showed the translational footprint of premature stop codons in Ttn, TTNtv-position-independent nonsense-mediated degradation of the mutant allele and a signature of perturbed cardiac metabolism. Heart physiology in rats with TTNtv was unremarkable at baseline but became impaired during cardiac stress. In healthy humans, machine-learning-based analysis of high-resolution cardiac imaging showed TTNtv to be associated with eccentric cardiac remodeling. These data show that TTNtv have molecular and physiological effects on the heart across species, with a continuum of expressivity in health and disease

Patterns of viral shedding in pandemic and seasonal influenza virus infections in a community setting

This journal issue is the Special Issue: Options for the Control of Influenza VII ... 2010INTRODUCTION: The dynamics of pandemic influenza A⁄H1N1 compared to seasonal strains of influenza is not clearly understood. It is important to understand the patterns of viral shedding and symptoms over time in community-based infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Household infections were followed-up in two large community-based studies. Patterns of viral shedding, symptoms and signs, and tympanic temperature were plotted over time and grouped according to strain for analysis. RESULTS: The patterns of viral shedding, symptoms and signs, and tympanic temperature in three influenza A strains (pandemic A⁄ H1N1, seasonal A⁄ H1N1, and seasonal A⁄ H3N2) were comparable. Peak viral shedding occurred close to the onset of symptoms and resolved after 6–7 days. Patterns of viral shedding in influenza B virus infections differed. DISCUSSION: The patterns of viral shedding and clinical course of pandemic influenza A⁄H1N1 infections were broadly similar to seasonal influenza A⁄H1N1 and A⁄ H3N2. Only the clinical course of seasonal influenza B infections was similar to pandemic influenza A⁄ H1N1. The dynamics of pandemic influenza A⁄H1N1 were observed to be largely alike to the dynamics of seasonal influenza A⁄H1N1 and A⁄ H3N2.link_to_OA_fulltextOptions for the Control of Influenza VII, Hong Kong SAR, China, 3-7 September 2010. In Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 2011, v. 5, suppl. 1, p. 301-30

Exercise intervention and the sleep quality in relation with the procedural learning in psychosis

Congress Theme: Yin and Yang of Mental Health in Asia - Balancing PolaritiesCategory G – Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders: no. G15BACKGROUND: Sleep quality in psychosis has been reported to have abnormalities in terms of sleep efficiency, initiation, and maintenance. Some have even argued that such sleep abnormalities may have caused a few cognitive symptoms in psychosis. In recent years, physical exercise has been reported to have significant effects in reducing cognitive symptoms in patients with psychosis. However, there is no up-to-date study that has investigated the interaction effect derived from physical exercise and sleep on the cognitive ability of patients with psychosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to promote a 12-week physical exercise intervention to the psychotic population, and investigate whether the intervention can improve the sleeping quality as well as a specific few cognitive functions. METHODS: A randomised control trial has been carried out for this study. Patients with psychosis were recruited and randomly assigned to either a 12-week physical exercise intervention or a 12-week Carrom control intervention. Sleep quality, cognitive function, and clinical scale were assessed before and after the 12-week intervention. RESULTS: Statistical tests have been conducted to compare the preliminary baseline differences between patients and healthy control, and a trend of longer sleep latency (t(85) = 2.15, p < 0.05) and poorer sleep efficiency (t(85) = 2.20, p < 0.05) have been shown in the patient’s sample. CONCLUSION: The results may have suggested that the patients have a poor sleep quality that requires a longer sleep latency to compensate the deficits. This study may become an evidence that supports the beneficial effect of exercise towards sleep quality and certain types of cognitive function in psychosis.link_to_OA_fulltex

Influenza viral loads and infectivity

Oral Presentation: Session 3 - Infection & Immunology and Public Health: 3.16The 16th Research Postgraduate Symposium (RPS 2011), the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 7-8 December 2011

Homologous and heterologous immune responses to naturally-acquired influenza virus infection

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