Clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection during the Omicron period in relation to baseline immune status and booster vaccination—A prospective multicentre cohort of health professionals (SURPRISE study)

The effects of different types of pre-existing immunity on the frequency of clinical symptoms caused by the SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection were prospectively assessed in healthcare workers during the Omicron period. Among 518 participants, hybrid immunity was associated with symptom reduction for dizziness, muscle or limb pain and headache as compared to vaccination only. Moreover, the frequencies of dizziness, cough and muscle or limb pain were lower in participants who had received a booster vaccine dose. Thus, hybrid immunity appeared to be superior in preventing specific symptoms during breakthrough infection compared to vaccination alone. A booster vaccine dose conferred additional symptom reduction.     

Current developments for the diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

Current treatment options for the chronic gastrointestinal disorder irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have long been limited to symptomatic treatments due to lack of pathophysiologic understanding of the syndrome. Within the past 10 years, however, a number of new pharmacological targets have been identified that may aid in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Although only a limited number of new drug entities have entered the market in the past years, many new potential pharmacophores are evolving. Among them, several drugs are in the pipeline that target cholecystokinin or corticotropin-releasing factor receptors, serve as inhibitors for specific tryptophan hydroxylase iso-enzymes, modulate chloride secretion, influence immune responses via monoclonal antibodies or ATP-mediated pathways, and even normalize the gastrointestinal microflora via supplementation with probiotics. While new treatments that act via chloride secretion and immune modulation present with favorable outcomes in clinical trials, other novel therapies require further evaluation. This review is intended to provide a synopsis of current and emerging pharmacotherapies for IBS.     

Effects of Papaver rhoeas extract on the expression and development of morphine-dependence in mice

The problem of drug dependence still remains unresolved. In the present study, the effects of water-alcohol extract of Papaver rhoeas on the expression and acquisition of naloxone-induced jumping and diarrhea in morphine-dependent mice were investigated. Administration of three daily doses of morphine (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg) for three days in order to develop dependence to morphine caused a significant and dose-dependent increase in the number of jumping and diarrhea when the animals were challenged with naloxone (4 mg/kg). On the other hand, administration with the plant extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) did not show any effect. Injection of extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) 30 min before the naloxone administration in morphine-dependent mice decreased the number of jumping and diarrhea. Administration of extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) 30 min before morphine injection increased the number of jumping but decreased the diarrhea. It could be concluded that the extract of Papaver rhoeas can ameliorate the withdrawal syndrome in morphine-dependent mice. Therefore, the extract might be useful to treatment of withdrawal signs in opioid addicts.     

Neuropathy and retinopathy in diabetes: Is there any association?

AIM: To evaluate correlation of retinopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as microvascular complications of diabetes and also to identify their risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in an outpatient diabetes clinic during an 18-month period. 100 patients (51 male and 49 female), all affected by non-insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), were examined for the presence of diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: 78.1% of patients with retinopathy had DPN; and 79.1% of patients with DPN had retinopathy. Analysis of the association between DPN and retinopathy showed no significant correlation between them. 90.9% of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) had DPN; and 27.8 % of patients with DPN had PDR. Both the univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significant correlation between them (r =0.42, P =0.02). CONCLUSION: A severe diabetic retinopathy is associated with diabetic neuropathy. Our study further supports that diabetic neuropathy might be used as a tell-tale sign of diabetic retinopathy, necessitating more intensive ophthalmic care, especially in long-lasting diabetes.     

糖尿病神经病变与视网膜病变的相关性研究

目的:探讨糖尿病患者发生微循环障碍时,外周神经病变(DPN)与视网膜病变之间是否有相关性,及二者在2型糖尿病中的危险指数。方法:本研究包括100例(男性51例,女性49例)门诊的糖尿病患者,均为非胰岛素依赖的糖尿病患者(NIDDM),观察患者的外周神经病变及视网膜病变进展情况,随访时间18mo。结果:视网膜病变的患者78.1%同时有外周神经病变,患有外周神经病变的患者79.1%同时有视网膜病变,统计学分析表明外周神经病变与视网膜病变之间并没有明显的相关性。但是,90.9%患有增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变的患者同时有外周神经病变,而27.8%患有视网膜病变的患者同时有外周神经病变,单因素及多因素logistic回归分析均表明它们之间有明显的相关性(r=0.42,P=0.02)。结论:严重的糖尿病视网膜病变与糖尿病性神经病变有相关性。本研究表明糖尿病神经病变可作为糖尿病视网膜病变进程的预警信号,出现神经病变的患者需要更细致广泛的眼科检查,特别是对于病程较长的糖尿病患者。     

Effects of different focus of attention rehabilitative training on gait performance in Multiple Sclerosis patients

The present investigation studied the effects of different focus of attention training on gait performance. Twelve volunteers with Multiple Sclerosis and with an average disability score (Expanded Disability Status Scale = 6.5) were selected from a Medical School and took part in a three-phase intervention including baseline, internal focus, and external focus, for eight weeks. In the baseline condition, the participants walked on a treadmill without any information. In the first (internal-focus) intervention they focused on foot performance and in the second (external-focus) intervention they focused on external markers and auditory information. The results of within-group analysis of variance showed that the external intervention was significantly (p < .05) better than the other conditions for stride length, step length, step speed, and gait energy expenditure, but not for force and stride timing (p > .05).In conclusion, the second (external-focus) intervention was found to be an appropriate perceptual training method and to result in improvements in some of the gait performance parameters.     

Seroprevalence of canine heartworm disease in Kerman, southeastern Iran

Canine dirofilariosis is presumed to be enzootic in different parts of Iran but no study has been done regarding the prevalence of canine dirofilariosis in southeastern Iran. In this study, the presence of Dirofilaria immitis circulating antigen was detected using a commercial immunochromatogeraphy kit in the sera of 100 owned dogs, which were referred to Kerman Veterinary Hospital during a 6-month period. Modified knott test and follow-up radiography and electrocardiography were performed to support the heartworm diagnosis in seropositive dogs. At the same period, 98 stray dogs were subjected to post-mortem examination of the heart, pulmonary arteries, thoracic venae cavae, and lungs for detection of adult heartworm infection. The overall seroprevalence of heartworm was estimated at 5% but only two seropositive dogs showed microfilaremia. No stray dog was infected at necropsy and all seropositive dogs were owned. The prevalence of heartworm disease showed an initial increase with age fallowed by a decline in dogs older than 6 years. There were no significant differences among the dogs regarding sex and breed. Seven infected dogs (70%) were symptomatic in physical examination, and a broad spectrum of specific clinical signs of cardiovascular involvement was noticed. Distinctive radiographic signs with varied degrees of severity were seen in 50% of cases. Electrocardiography of seropositive cases revealed specific signs of right-sided cardiomegaly in 30% of cases. In conclusion, Kerman is a low endemic area for canine dirofilariosis but further epidemiological researches are needed to identify the disease distribution and human cases in southeastern Iran.