Long COVID Syndrome and Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: An Unwelcome Combination.

Since the report of the first case from China in late 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread very rapidly through the countries and regions leaving a trail of devastation in its path, everywhere. Although COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness mainly affecting the lungs; involvement of other organs including the cardiovascular system has been widely recognized. Whilst COVID-19 is an acute illness for a majority of cases; some of the debilitating virus-related symptoms can last for weeks and months, and are collectively termed as long COVID syndrome. Several published reports have described an association between acute COVID-19 illness and cardiac complications such as myocarditis and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. However, little is known about any link between long COVID syndrome and the cardiac disease. We describe the case of a middle-aged woman with long COVID syndrome who presented with central chest pain and breathlessness. Her initial investigations showed an elevated cardiac troponin I and ischemic changes on 12 lead ECG. She was initially treated for non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. A subsequent coronary angiogram showed unobstructed coronary vessels and left ventricle (LV) gram demonstrated apical LV ballooning. She was managed conservatively and was discharged home following her clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of holistic assessment of patients presenting with chest pain with the background of long COVID syndrome. It also outlines an emergent need to better understand pathophysiological mechanisms that underpin the development of cardiac complications in those with COVID-19 and long COVID syndrome.

Protecting endangered species in the USA requires both public and private land conservation.

Crucial to the successful conservation of endangered species is the overlap of their ranges with protected areas. We analyzed protected areas in the continental USA to assess the extent to which they covered the ranges of endangered tetrapods. We show that in 80% of ecoregions, protected areas offer equal (25%) or worse (55%) protection for species than if their locations were chosen at random. Additionally, we demonstrate that it is possible to achieve sufficient protection for 100% of the USA's endangered tetrapods through targeted protection of undeveloped public and private lands. Our results highlight that the USA is likely to fall short of its commitments to halting biodiversity loss unless more considerable investments in both public and private land conservation are made.

Stability of a Tick-Borne Flavivirus in Milk.

The tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFV) occur worldwide and the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) members of the group often cause severe, debilitating neurological disease in humans. Although the primary route of infection is through the bite of an infected tick, alimentary infection through the consumption of TBEV-contaminated dairy products is also well-documented and is responsible for some disease in endemic areas. Experimental infection of goats, cattle, and sheep with TBEV shows that the virus can be excreted in the milk of infected animals. Additionally, the virus remains infectious after exposure to low pH levels, similar to those found in the stomach. To evaluate the survival of virus in milk, we studied the stability of the BSL-2 TBFV, Langat virus, in unpasteurized goat milk over time and after different thermal treatments. Virus was stable in milk maintained under refrigeration conditions; however, there was a marked reduction in virus titer after incubation at room temperature. High temperature, short time pasteurization protocols completely inactivated the virus. Interestingly, simulation of a typical thermal regime utilized for cheese did not completely inactivate the virus in milk. These findings stress the importance of proper milk handling and pasteurization processes in areas endemic for TBEV.