Life stage-specific effects of tire particle leachates on the cosmopolitan planktonic copepod Acartia tonsa.

Tire wear particles (TWP) are a major source of microplastics in the aquatic environment and the ecological impacts of their leachates are of major environmental concern. Among marine biota, copepods are the most abundant animals in the ocean and a main link between primary producers and higher trophic levels in the marine food webs. In this study, we determined the acute lethal and sublethal effects of tire particle leachates on different life stages of the cosmopolitan planktonic copepod Acartia tonsa. Median lethal concentration (LC50, 48 h) ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 g L-1 depending on the life stages, being nauplii and copepodites more sensitive to tire particle leachates than adults. The median effective concentration (EC50, 48 h) for hatching was higher than 1 g L-1, indicating a relatively low sensitivity of hatching to tire particle leachates. However, metamorphosis (from nauplius VI to copepodite I) was notably reduced by tire particle leachates with an EC50 (48 h) of 0.23 g L-1 and the absence of metamorphosis at 1 g L-1, suggesting a strong developmental delay or endocrine disruption. Leachates also caused a significant decrease (10-22%) in the body length of nauplii and copepodites after exposure to TWP leachates (0.25 and 0.5 g L-1). We tested a battery of enzymatic biomarkers in A. tonsa adult stages, but a sublethal concentration of 50 mg L-1 of tire particle leachates did not cause a statistically significant effect on the measured enzymatic activities. Our results show that tire particle leachates can negatively impact the development, metamorphosis, and survival of planktonic copepods. More field data on concentrations of TWPs and the fate and persistence of their leached additives is needed for a better assessment of the risk of tire particle pollution on marine food webs.

Electrocardiographic signs of acute right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: A clinical case series.

This paper reports 6 cases of patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 bilateral pneumonia with associated acute respiratory distress associated and signs of acute right ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiography despite the absence of acute pulmonary embolism or signs of severe pulmonary hypertension on transthoracic echocardiography. These cases suggest a possible connection between acute elevated right ventricular afterload and acute respiratory distress in patients affected by SARS-CoV-2.

Características y evolución de la insuficiencia cardiaca con función sistólica recuperada en un hospital no terciario / Long-term and clinical profile of heart failure with recovered ejection fraction in a non-tertiary hospital

Introducción: La insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) con fracción de eyección (FE) recuperada está emergiendo como un subtipo de IC diferenciada. Existe poca información sobre su perfil clínico en centros que no son referencia. Métodos: Analizamos la evolución y pronóstico de los pacientes afectos de IC con FE recuperada seguidos prospectivamente en una unidad de IC de un hospital no terciario. Resultados: Se ha seguido a 431 pacientes con FE deprimida (mediana 50 meses; edad media de 70,3±12,2 años; el 79,3% eran varones.) El 26,9% normalizaron la FEVI; el 76,7% de ellos en el primer año. Comparados con los pacientes que no normalizaron la FEVI, eran más jóvenes, el origen isquémico de la IC era menos frecuente y presentaban menos comorbilidad. Su pronóstico es mejor (mediana de supervivencia 85,2± 2,1vs. 74,2± 1,9 meses, log-rank χ2 11,5; p = 0,001; hazard ratio de 0,37, intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: 0,21-0,67; p = 0,002). Las causas de muerte principalmente no estaban relacionadas con IC. Las variables predictoras de normalización de la FEVI fueron la edad (odds ratio [OR] para más de 69 años 0,98; IC 95%: 0,96-0,99; p = 0,025), origen no isquémico (OR 1,12; IC 95%: 1,01-1,21; p = 0,003) y prescripción de antialdosterónicos (OR 1,89; IC 95%: 1,05-3,26; p = 0,023). Conclusión: La normalización de la FE en pacientes con IC con FE reducida es frecuente y presenta unas características basales, evolución y pronóstico más favorables que la IC con persistencia de FE reducida. Investigaciones futuras deberán confirmar su historia natural y tratamiento óptimo

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) with recovered ejection fraction (EF) is emerging as a different HF subtype. There is little information about his clinical profile in hospitals that are not a reference. Methods: We analysed characteristics and prognosis in patients with recovered HF followed prospectively in the HF Unit of a non-tertiary hospital. Results: A total of 431 patients with HF with reduced EF were followed (median 50 months, 79.3% males, mean age 70.3±12.2years). Of the patients, 26.9% (N 116) recovered EF, mainly in the first year of follow-up (76.7%). Compared with patients that did not recovered EF in the follow-up, they were younger, rate of ischemic origin of cardiomyopathy was less frequent and presented less comorbidity. Mortality was lower in patients with recovered HF (survival median of 85.2±2.1 vs. 74.2±1.9 months [log-rank χ2 11.5, P=0.001], hazard ratio 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-0.67, P=0.002). Aetiology of deaths was not mainly secondary to HF. Younger age of 68 years (odds ratio [OR] 0-98, 95% CI: 0.96-0,99; P=0.025), ischemic origin (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.21; P=0.003) and use of aldosterone antagonists (OR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.09-3.26; P=0.023) were the variables independently associated to normalisation of EF. Conclusion: HF with recovered EF is a frequent phenomenon. It has a more favourable clinical course, prognosis and basal characteristics than HF with persistent reduced EF. Further studies are needed to identify natural history and optimal medications for HF-recovered patients

Long-term and clinical profile of heart failure with recovered ejection fraction in a non-tertiary hospital. / Características y evolución de la insuficiencia cardiaca con función sistólica recuperada en un hospital no terciario.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) with recovered ejection fraction (EF) is emerging as a different HF subtype. There is little information about his clinical profile in hospitals that are not a reference. METHODS: We analysed characteristics and prognosis in patients with recovered HF followed prospectively in the HF Unit of a non-tertiary hospital. RESULTS: A total of 431 patients with HF with reduced EF were followed (median 50 months, 79.3% males, mean age 70.3±12.2years). Of the patients, 26.9% (N 116) recovered EF, mainly in the first year of follow-up (76.7%). Compared with patients that did not recovered EF in the follow-up, they were younger, rate of ischemic origin of cardiomyopathy was less frequent and presented less comorbidity. Mortality was lower in patients with recovered HF (survival median of 85.2±2.1 vs. 74.2±1.9 months [log-rank χ2 11.5, P=0.001], hazard ratio 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-0.67, P=0.002). Aetiology of deaths was not mainly secondary to HF. Younger age of 68 years (odds ratio [OR] 0-98, 95% CI: 0.96-0,99; P=0.025), ischemic origin (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.21; P=0.003) and use of aldosterone antagonists (OR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.09-3.26; P=0.023) were the variables independently associated to normalisation of EF. CONCLUSION: HF with recovered EF is a frequent phenomenon. It has a more favourable clinical course, prognosis and basal characteristics than HF with persistent reduced EF. Further studies are needed to identify natural history and optimal medications for HF-recovered patients.