Exploring the interplay between coronary microvascular dysfunction and mental health.

BACKGROUND: The intricate relationship between mental health disorders, notably anxiety and depression, and chest pain associated with non-obstructive coronary artery disease has become a focus of investigation. METHODS: This study from the Coronary Microvascular Disease Registry (CMDR) evaluated the association of mental health disorders and coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) among patients with angina with no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) who had undergone comprehensive invasive physiological testing for CMD. Clinical data regarding baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and noninvasive cardiac testing were obtained from chart review. The primary outcome of interest was the potential relationship between mental health diagnoses and the presence of CMD. RESULTS: Of patients included in the CMDR, 27 % (41/152) had at least one documented mental health disorder diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes) and CMD. There was no difference in mental health diagnosis prevalence between CMD-positive and CMD-negative patients (21.1 % vs. 28.9 %, p = 0.34). The most common mental health diagnoses were depression (15.8 %) and anxiety (15.8 %). Furthermore, 46.3 % (19/41) of patients with mental health disorders were prescribed psychiatric medications, with the most common being benzodiazepines (26.8 %). CONCLUSION: Patients with chest pain not due to CMD did not have an increased prevalence of mental health disorders compared with patients with ANOCA due to CMD, challenging the notion of a psychosomatic component in the pathogenesis of ANOCA.

Smoking Susceptibility and Tobacco Media Engagement Among Youth Never Smokers.

BACKGROUND: Susceptibility to future smoking among youth never smokers has not changed in the past 20 years, although experimental cigarette smoking has decreased. We assessed how smoking susceptibility and tobacco industry-related marketing influenced smoking initiation. METHODS: Four waves (2013-2018) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study data were analyzed among youth aged 12 to 17 years at wave 1 who completed wave 4. Susceptibility was assessed by 4 items (openness to curiosity, try soon, try in the next year, and if your best friend offered) and categorized into 4 levels (0 = definitely no to all; 1 = yes to 1; 2 = yes to 2; and 3 + 4 = yes to 3 or 4 susceptibility items). Multivariable logistic regression evaluated how susceptibility levels, electronic cigarette use, and tobacco-related media activity predicted future experimental (≥1 puff), current (past 30 days), or established (≥100 cigarettes) smoking. RESULTS: Among 8899 never smokers at wave 1, 16.4% became experimental smokers, 7.6% current smokers, and 1.8% established smokers at wave 4. Black and Latino/a youth were less likely to experiment. Youth who endorsed 3 or 4 susceptibility items at wave 1 were more likely to be experimental (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.0; confidence interval [CI] = 4.8-7.4), current (aOR = 4.2; CI = 3.2-5.4), or established (aOR = 4.4; CI = 2.4-7.9) smokers at wave 4. Exposure to tobacco marketing, using tobacco-related apps, seeing social media content posted about tobacco, and ever use of electronic cigarettes also predicted experimental smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking susceptibility and exposure to tobacco industry-related marketing were predictive of cigarette smoking. Clinicians should consider screening adolescents for smoking susceptibility and tobacco-related media exposure.

In ovo inoculation of duck embryos with different strains of Bacillus cereus to analyse their synergistic post-hatch anti-allergic potentialities.

BACKGROUND: Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria with few strains reported to be used as probiotics for animals and birds in recent times if the doses are formulated properly. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the synergistic anti-allergic potentiality of different Bacillus cereus strains on experimental in ovo and in vitro duck model, as probiotic immune stimulant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different strains of Bacillus cereus from 29 isolates were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing from the milk samples of buffalo breeds of South Asia. The probiotic properties were tested in aspects of gram staining, catalase test, coagulase, test, bile salt tolerance, pH tolerance and phenol tolerance test. MIC50 and MIC90 levels were profiled using nine different antibiotics, and antimicrobial activity against eight different enteric pathogens was assessed. Finally, the test strains of Bacillus cereus (Colony Forming Unit [CFU] 30X1011 ) were combined-infused at different concentrations in embryonated duck eggs to assess the post-hatch anti-allergic effects against histamine-induced allergic reaction and their immunoglobulin E (IgE) level was tested. RESULTS: Molecular identification confirmed the test strains as B. cereus HKS 1-1, B. cereus LOCK 1,002 and B. cereus BF2, which were all motile, spore-forming, catalase-positive and rod-shaped. All were 0.3% bile salt, 0.4% phenol and pH tolerant. Two-way ANOVA test P values revealed that B. cereus BF2 was statistically significant (p < .0014) in bile salt tolerance test. B. cereus HKS 1-1 was significant in phenol and pH tolerance at p < .0002 and p < .0489, respectively. Besides, the test strains showed antibiotic sensitivity and antimicrobial activity to different enteric pathogens. In vivo model referred the test strains as effective in partial allergy reduction at same CFU but at different concentrations with p < .0001 among the groups. CONCLUSION: The isolated and characterized strains of B. cereus showed partial immune-stimulating potentiality against experimentally induced allergic reaction.

Minimally Invasive Pulmonary Artery Aneurysm Repair Through a Left Anterior Minithoracotomy-an Alternative Approach.

The purpose in this case was to repair a less invasive approach than a standard sternotomy. Workup of asymptomatic patient with computerized tomography scan of chest revealed pulmonary artery aneurysm and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated flow stagnation in aneurysm. An alternative minimally invasive approach was performed to repair the pulmonary artery aneurysm with plication through a left anterior minithoracotomy using normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with percutaneous peripheral cannulation, instead of median sternotomy. Post-repair transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated normal flow in the pulmonary artery. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was seen in the outpatient clinic with excellent recovery. Minimally invasive repair of pulmonary artery aneurysm through a left anterior minithoracotomy is a feasible alternative approach. Minimally invasive repair of pulmonary artery aneurysm through a left anterior minithoracotomy is a feasible alternative approach.

Antidiarrheal Efficacy of Probiotic Bacteria in Castor Oil Induced Diarrheal Mice.

Probiotics may offer a safe intervention for diarrheal diseases. The aim of the present study was the assessment of the antidiarrheal property of probiotic bacteria. For their antidiarrheal efficacy assessment, yogurt was prepared using the isolated bacteria from selective regional yogurt of Bangladesh, and mice model trails were conducted using castor oil induced diarrheal mice. The probiotic treatment was applied on three mice groups, each having 6 mice and their respective doses were 50 mL/kg body weight in treatment group (TG) 1, 100 mL/kg body weight in TG2, and 150 mL/kg body weight in TG3. A four week treatment of probiotic significantly (P<0.001) reduced the percentage (67.37%) of diarrhea in TG3 (150 mL yogurt/kg body weight). All the treatment groups showed a significant (P<0.001) increase in the latent periods, reduced the total fecal output, and frequency and fecal water content compared to the negative control group. Serum electrolytes (Na+ and K+) and total protein levels were higher in the TG3 compared to the negative control group. Further research regarding molecular characterization and identification of specific genes and proteins of interest may help to develop the next generation bacteriocins and antidiarrheal drugs.