A Historical Review of Mechanical Circulatory Support

Meaningful and contemporary data regarding the clinical use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is founded on the work conducted in the 1950s when a “heart-lung” machine was incorporated to provide support during surgical interventions. Following this milestone, the need to support artificial circulation in patients with heart failure initiated an investigational and legislative collaboration to implement the mission-oriented Artificial Heart Program in the United States during the 1960s. In the subsequent decades, technological discoveries have integrated a series of mechanical systems employed as therapeutic options for short- and long-term artificial circulation in children and adults with advanced heart failure. Since their clinical application, MCS devices have been employed as a bridge to transplantation in over 4000 patients globally. In recent years, the adverse effects and economic burden of MCS have been counterbalanced by the harmonization of therapeutic protocols, the inclusion of multidisciplinary insight, and the allowance of families and patients to participate in shared decision making to address candidacy. In this chapter, we provide a review of the historical aspects of MCS, a therapeutic option for overcoming complexities encountered in reestablishing adequate hemodynamic states and providing a reasonable quality of life

\u3ci\u3eClinostomum poteae\u3c/i\u3e n. sp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae), in the trachea of a double-crested cormorant \u3ci\u3ePhalacrocorax auritus\u3c/i\u3e Lesson, 1831 and molecular data linking the life-cycle stages of \u3ci\u3eClinostomum album\u3c/i\u3e Rosser, Alberson, Woodyard, Cunningham, Pote & Griffin, 2017 in Mississippi, USA

Clinostomum spp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae) are a group of trematodes commonly found in the buccal cavity and oesophagus of a variety of piscivorous birds. The metacercariae, colloquially known as ‘‘yellow grubs,’’ have been reported from a diverse group of freshwater fishes worldwide. In the catfish farming region of the southeastern USA, piscivorous birds present a continuous challenge for aquaculturists in the form of fish depredation and the introduction of trematodes into these static, earthen pond systems. Clinostomum spp. are commonly encountered in farmraised catfish. While generally considered pests of minimal importance, heavy infections can result in unmarketable fillets. Of the piscivorous birds that frequent catfish aquaculture operations in the southeastern US, the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus Lesson) is one of the most damaging, although reports of Clinostomum spp. from P. auritus are limited. In this study, adult trematodes morphologically consistent with Clinostomum sp. were found in the trachea of a double-crested cormorant captured in Lowndes Co., Mississippi, USA. These specimens differed from other recognised Clinostomum spp. in several key morphological characters. Moreover, sequence data of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nad1) and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions did not match any known Clinostomum sp. for which sequence data are available. While genetically similar to C. marginatum and C. album Rosser, Alberson, Woodyard, Cunningham, Pote & Griffin, 2017 reported from the great egret Ardea alba L. in Mississippi, these adult clinostomids were larger in size and limited to the trachea, whereas both C. marginatum Rudolphi, 1819 and C. album are found in the oral cavity and esophagus. Given these distinct morphological and molecular characters we propose a new member of the genus, known hereafter as Clinostomum poteae n. sp. Additionally, larval stages in the life-cycle of C. album are morphologically and molecularly identified for the first time from ramshorn snails Planorbella trivolvis Say and fathead minnows Pimephales promelas Rafinesque

Experimental Elucidation of the Life Cycle of \u3ci\u3eDrepanocephalus Spathans\u3c/i\u3e (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) with Notes on the Morphological Plasticity of \u3ci\u3eD. Spathans\u3c/i\u3e in the United States

The echinostomatid Drepanocephalus spathans (syn. Drepanocephalus auritus) parasitizes the doublecrested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus. In North America, the marsh rams-horn snail Planorbella trivolvis and ghost rams-horn snail Biomphalaria havanensis serve as snail intermediate hosts, both of which inhabit catfish aquaculture ponds in the southeastern United States. Studies have demonstrated D. spathans exposure can be lethal to juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Two studies were undertaken to elucidate the life cycle of D. spathans to establish a developmental time line. In both studies, D. spathans cercariae collected from naturally infected P. trivolvis individuals were used to infect channel catfish fingerlings, which were then fed to double-crested cormorants (DCCOs) that had been pharmaceutically dewormed. In study 1, laboratory-reared P. trivolvis and B. havanensis individuals were placed in aviary ponds with experimentally infected DCCO and examined bi-weekly for release of cercariae. Trematode eggs were observed in the feces of exposed birds 3 days post-infection. Birds were sacrificed 18 days post-exposure (dpe), and gravid adults morphologically and molecularly consistent with D. spathans were recovered. Snails from the aviary pond were observed shedding D. spathans cercariae 18–54 dpe. In study 2, trematode eggs were observed in the feces of exposed DCCOs beginning 8 dpe. Once eggs were observed, birds were allowed to defecate into clean tanks containing naı¨ve laboratory-reared P. trivolvis individuals. Additionally, eggs from experimental DCCO feces were recovered by sedimentation and placed in an aquarium housing laboratory-reared P. trivolvis individuals. Birds in study 2 were sacrificed after 60 days, and gravid D. spathans specimens were recovered. Snails from the experimental DCCO tanks shed D. spathans cercariae 89–97 dpe. Lastly, trematode eggs were isolated and observed for the hatching of miracidia, which emerged on average after 16 days at ambient temperatures. No D. spathans adults were observed in control birds fed non-parasitized fish. This is the first experimental confirmation of the D. spathans life cycle, resolving previously unknown developmental time lines. In addition, the effects of fixation on adult trematode morphology were assessed, clarifying reports of pronounced morphological plasticity for D. spathans

\u3ci\u3eClinostomum album\u3c/i\u3e n. sp. and \u3ci\u3eClinostomum marginatum\u3c/i\u3e (Rudolphi, 1819), parasites of the great egret \u3ci\u3eArdea alba\u3c/i\u3e L. from Mississippi, USA

Members of the genus Clinostomum Leidy, 1856, colloquially known as yellow grubs, are cosmopolitan parasites of piscivorous birds, freshwater snails, fish and amphibians. In the southeastern United States, piscivorous birds present a continuous challenge for producers of farm-raised catfish. Ciconiiform birds are common hosts of Clinostomum spp. in North America and are endemic on most commercial catfish operations. The great egret Ardea alba L. is an avian predator often found foraging on commercial catfish operations, but to date the trematode fauna of great egrets preying on catfish ponds remains mostly understudied. Thirteen great egrets were captured from commercial catfish ponds in northeast Mississippi, and examined for trematode infections. Two morphologically distinct Clinostomum spp. were observed in the great egrets sampled, one morphologically consistent with Clinostomum marginatum (Rudolphi, 1819) and one morphologically unique species. These morphological descriptions were supplemented with molecular sequence data (c.4,800 bp of ribosomal DNA and c.600 bp of mitochondrial DNA). Gene sequences confirmed the identification of C. marginatum. However, the second species differed significantly from its congeners in both morphology and DNA sequence. Given these distinct morphological and molecular characters we propose this second species as Clinostomum album n. sp

\u3ci\u3eClinostomum poteae\u3c/i\u3e n. sp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae), in the trachea of a double-crested cormorant \u3ci\u3ePhalacrocorax auritus\u3c/i\u3e Lesson, 1831 and molecular data linking the life-cycle stages of \u3ci\u3eClinostomum album\u3c/i\u3e Rosser, Alberson, Woodyard, Cunningham, Pote & Griffin, 2017 in Mississippi, USA

Clinostomum spp. (Digenea: Clinostomidae) are a group of trematodes commonly found in the buccal cavity and oesophagus of a variety of piscivorous birds. The metacercariae, colloquially known as ‘‘yellow grubs,’’ have been reported from a diverse group of freshwater fishes worldwide. In the catfish farming region of the southeastern USA, piscivorous birds present a continuous challenge for aquaculturists in the form of fish depredation and the introduction of trematodes into these static, earthen pond systems. Clinostomum spp. are commonly encountered in farmraised catfish. While generally considered pests of minimal importance, heavy infections can result in unmarketable fillets. Of the piscivorous birds that frequent catfish aquaculture operations in the southeastern US, the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus Lesson) is one of the most damaging, although reports of Clinostomum spp. from P. auritus are limited. In this study, adult trematodes morphologically consistent with Clinostomum sp. were found in the trachea of a double-crested cormorant captured in Lowndes Co., Mississippi, USA. These specimens differed from other recognised Clinostomum spp. in several key morphological characters. Moreover, sequence data of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nad1) and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions did not match any known Clinostomum sp. for which sequence data are available. While genetically similar to C. marginatum and C. album Rosser, Alberson, Woodyard, Cunningham, Pote & Griffin, 2017 reported from the great egret Ardea alba L. in Mississippi, these adult clinostomids were larger in size and limited to the trachea, whereas both C. marginatum Rudolphi, 1819 and C. album are found in the oral cavity and esophagus. Given these distinct morphological and molecular characters we propose a new member of the genus, known hereafter as Clinostomum poteae n. sp. Additionally, larval stages in the life-cycle of C. album are morphologically and molecularly identified for the first time from ramshorn snails Planorbella trivolvis Say and fathead minnows Pimephales promelas Rafinesque

The TMEM43 S358L mutation affects cardiac, small intestine, and metabolic homeostasis in a knock-in mouse model

The transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43/LUMA) p.S358L mutation causes arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy named as ARVC5, a fully penetrant disease with high risk of ventricular arrhythmias, sudden death, and heart failure. Male gender and vigorous exercise independently predicted deleterious outcome. Our systems genetics analysis revealed the importance of Tmem43 for cardiac and metabolic pathways associated with elevated lipid absorption from small intestine. This study sought to delineate gender-specific cardiac, intestinal, and metabolic phenotypes in vivo and investigate underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of S358L mutation. Serial echocardiography, surface electrocardiography (ECG), treadmill running, and body EchoMRI have been used in knock-in heterozygous (Tmem43WT/S358L), homozygous (Tmem43S358L), and wildtype (Tmem43WT) littermate mice. Electron microscopy, histology, immunohistochemistry, transcriptome, and protein analysis have been performed in cardiac and intestinal tissues. Systolic dysfunction was apparent in 3-mo-old Tmem43S358L and 6-mo-old Tmem43WT/S358L mutants. Both mutant lines displayed intolerance to acute stress at 6 mo of age, arrhythmias, fibro-fatty infiltration, and subcellular abnormalities in the myocardium. Microarray analysis found significantly differentially expressed genes between left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) myocardium. Mutants displayed diminished PPARG activities and significantly reduced TMEM43 and β-catenin expression in the heart, whereas junctional plakoglobin (JUP) translocated into nuclei of mutant cardiomyocytes. Conversely, elongated villi, fatty infiltration, and overexpression of gut epithelial proliferation markers, β-catenin and Ki-67, were evident in small intestine of mutants. We defined Tmem43 S358L-induced pathological effects on cardiac and intestinal homeostasis via distinctly disturbed WNT-β-catenin and PPARG signaling thereby contributing to ARVC5 pathophysiology. Results suggest that cardiometabolic assessment in mutation carriers may be important for predictive and personalized care.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This manuscript describes the findings of our investigation of cardiac, small intestine, and metabolic features of Tmem43-S358L mouse model. By investigating interorgan pathologies, we uncovered multiple mechanisms of the S358L-induced disease, and these unique mechanisms likely appear to contribute to the disease pathogenesis. We hope our findings are important and novel and open new avenues in the hunting for additional diagnostic and therapeutic targets in subjects carrying TMEM43 mutation