Lymphatic filariasis transmission on Mafia Islands, Tanzania: Evidence from xenomonitoring in mosquito vectors.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a chronic nematode infection transmitted by mosquitoes and in sub-Saharan Africa it is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti. The disease was targeted for global elimination by 2020 using repeated community-wide mass drug administration (MDA) distributed in endemic areas. However, recently, there has been a growing recognition of the potential role of including vector control as a supplement to MDA to achieve elimination goal. This study was carried out to determine mosquito abundance and transmission of bancroftian filariasis on Mafia Islands in Tanzania as a prerequisite for a search for appropriate vector control methods to complement the ongoing MDA campaign.Mosquitoes were collected indoor and outdoor using Centre for Disease Control (CDC) light and gravid traps, respectively. Collected mosquitoes were identified based on their differential morphological features and Anopheles gambiae complex and An. funestus group were further identified to their respective sibling species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Filarial mosquito vectors were then examined for infection with Wuchereria bancrofti by microscopy and PCR technique.Overall, a total of 35,534 filarial mosquito vectors were collected, of which Anopheles gambiae complex, An. funestus group and Culex quinquefasciatus Say accounted for 1.3, 0.5 and 98.2%, respectively. Based on PCR identification, An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s) and An. funestus s.s sibling species accounted for 88.3% and 99.1% of the identified members of the An. gambiae complex and An. funestus group, respectively. A total of 7,936 mosquitoes were examined for infection with W. bancrofti by microscopy. The infection and infectivity rates were 0.25% and 0.08%, respectively. Using pool screen PCR technique, analysis of 324 mosquito pools (each with 25 mosquitoes) resulted to an estimated infection rate of 1.7%.The study has shown that Cx. quinquefasciatus is the dominant mosquito on Mafia Islands. By using mosquito infectivity as proxy to human infection, the study indicates that W. bancrofti transmission is still ongoing on Mafia Islands after more than a decade of control activities based on MDA

PCR identification of sibling species of the <i>An</i>. <i>gambiae</i> complex and <i>An</i>. <i>funestus</i> group.

<p>PCR identification of sibling species of the <i>An</i>. <i>gambiae</i> complex and <i>An</i>. <i>funestus</i> group.</p

Comparison of filarial vectors infection and or/infectivity rate as measured by microscopy and PCR.

<p>Comparison of filarial vectors infection and or/infectivity rate as measured by microscopy and PCR.</p

Mafia Islands in Tanzania showing location of the study villages.

<p>Mafia Islands in Tanzania showing location of the study villages.</p

Mosquito abundance by taxa and collection method in three villages on Mafia Islands.

<p>Mosquito abundance by taxa and collection method in three villages on Mafia Islands.</p

International controlled study of revascularization and outcomes following COVID-positive mechanical thrombectomy

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that the mechanisms and outcomes in COVID-19-associated stroke differ from those with non-COVID-19 strokes, but there is limited comparative evidence focusing on these populations. Therefore, we aimed to determine if a significant association exists between COVID-19 status with revascularization and functional outcomes following thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion (LVO), after adjustment for potential confounding factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional, international multicenter retrospective study of consecutively admitted COVID-19 patients with concomitant acute LVO, compared to a control group without COVID-19. Data collected included age, gender, comorbidities, clinical characteristics, details of the involved vessels, procedural technique, and various outcomes. A multivariable adjusted analysis was conducted. RESULTS: In this cohort of 697 patients with acute LVO, 302 had COVID-19 while 395 patients did not. There was a significant difference (p\u3c0.001) in the mean age (in years) and gender of patients, with younger patients and more males in the COVID-19 group. In terms of favorable revascularization (mTICI 3), COVID-19 was associated with lower odds of complete revascularization [OR=0.33; 95% CI=0.23-0.48; p\u3c0.001], which persisted on multivariable modelling with adjustment for other predictors [aOR=0.30; 95% CI=0.12-0.77; p=0.012]. Moreover, endovascular complications, in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay were significantly higher among COVID-19 patients (p\u3c0.001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 was an independent predictor of incomplete revascularization and poor functional outcome in patients with stroke due to LVO. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients with LVO were more often younger and suffered higher morbidity/mortality rates

Characteristics of a COVID-19 cohort with large vessel occlusion: A multicenter international study

Background: The mechanisms and outcomes in coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-associated stroke are unique from those of non-COVID-19 stroke. Objective: To describe the efficacy and outcomes of acute revascularization of large vessel occlusion (LVO) in the setting of COVID-19 in an international cohort. Methods: We conducted an international multicenter retrospective study of consecutively admitted patients with COVID-19 with concomitant acute LVO across 50 comprehensive stroke centers. Our control group constituted historical controls of patients presenting with LVO and receiving a mechanical thrombectomy between January 2018 and December 2020. Results: The total cohort was 575 patients with acute LVO; 194 patients had COVID-19 while 381 patients did not. Patients in the COVID-19 group were younger (62.5 vs 71.2; P \u3c .001) and lacked vascular risk factors (49, 25.3% vs 54, 14.2%; P = .001). Modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 3 revascularization was less common in the COVID-19 group (74, 39.2% vs 252, 67.2%; P \u3c .001). Poor functional outcome at discharge (defined as modified Ranklin Scale 3-6) was more common in the COVID-19 group (150, 79.8% vs 132, 66.7%; P = .004). COVID-19 was independently associated with a lower likelihood of achieving modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 3 (odds ratio [OR]: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.7; P \u3c .001) and unfavorable outcomes (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4-4.5; P = .002). Conclusion: COVID-19 was an independent predictor of incomplete revascularization and poor outcomes in patients with stroke due to LVO. Patients with COVID-19 with LVO were younger, had fewer cerebrovascular risk factors, and suffered from higher morbidity/mortality rates

The C57Bl/6 mouse serves as a suitable model of human skeletal muscle mitochondrial function

There is disagreement whether i) differences in mitochondrial function exist across skeletal muscle types, and ii) mouse skeletal muscle mitochondrial function can serve as a valid model for human skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. The aims of this study were to first compare and contrast three different mouse skeletal muscles from one another, and second to identify the mouse muscle that most closely resembles human skeletal muscle respiratory capacity and control. Mouse quadricep (QUADM), soleus (SOLM), and gastrocnemius (GASTM) skeletal muscles were obtained from 8-10 week old healthy mice (n = 8) representing mixed, oxidative, and glycolytic muscle, respectively. Skeletal muscle samples were also collected from young, active, healthy human subjects (n = 8) from the m. vastis lateralis (QUADH). High-resolution respirometry was used to examine mitochondrial function in all skeletal muscle samples and mitochondrial content was quantified with citrate synthase (CS) activity. Mass-specific respiration was higher across all respiratory states in SOLM versus both GASTM and QUADH (p < 0.01). When controlling for mitochondrial content, however, SOLM respiration was actually lower than GASTM and QUADH (p < 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). When comparing respiration capacity across mouse muscle to human, QUADM only exhibited one different respiratory state when compared to QUADH. These results demonstrate that qualitative differences in mitochondria function exist between different mouse skeletal muscles types when respiratory capacity is normalized to mitochondrial content, and that skeletal muscle respiratory capacity in young, healthy QUADM does correspond well with that of young, healthy QUADH