Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA), is a persisting global health problem. Although syphilis diagnostics relies mainly on serology, serological tests have some limitations, and it is recommended that the final diagnosis be supported by additional tests. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between serology and PCR in syphilis diagnostics. From the year 2004 to May 2019, a total of 941 samples were taken from 833 patients suspected of having syphilis, in Czech Republic. In all these samples, both nested PCR detection of TPA and serology testing were performed. Of the 941 samples, 126 were seronegative, 651 were seropositive, and 164 were serodiscrepant. Among seronegative samples (n = 126), 11 were PCR-positive (8.7%). Among seropositive samples (n = 651; i.e., samples positive for both non-treponemal and treponemal serology tests), 368 samples were PCR-positive (56.5%). The remaining 164 serodiscrepant samples included RPR negative and treponemal serological test-positive samples (n = 154) and a set of 10 RPR-positive samples negative in treponemal serological tests. While the first group revealed 73 PCR-positive samples (47.4%), the second revealed 5 PCR positive samples (50.0%). PCR detection rates were highest in primary syphilis, with lower rates in the secondary and undetermined syphilis stages. As shown here, the nested PCR can improve diagnostics of syphilis, especially in seronegative patients and in patients with discrepant serology.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- polymerázová řetězová reakce * MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- sérologická diagnostika syfilis metody MeSH
- syfilis krev diagnóza MeSH
- Treponema genetika imunologie izolace a purifikace fyziologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Recent studies focused on epicardial fat, formerly relatively neglected component of the heart, have elucidated some of its key roles. It possesses several properties that can distinguish it from other adipose tissue depots. Its unique anatomical location in the heart predisposes the epicardial fat to be an important player in the physiological and biochemical regulation of cardiac homeostasis. Obesity is associated with an increase in epicardial fat mass. Excess of cardiac fat can contribute to greater left ventricular mass and work, diastolic dysfunction and attenuated septal wall thickening. Imbalance in adipokines levels secreted in autocrine or paracrine fashion by epicardial fat can contribute to the activation of the key atherogenic pathways in the setting of metabolic syndrome. Epicardial fat has also been identified as an important source of pro-inflammatory mediators worsening endothelial dysfunction, eventually leading to coronary artery disease. Increased production of pro-inflammatory factors by epicardial fat can also contribute to systemic insulin resistance in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Here we review the most important roles of epicardial fat with respect to heart disease in the context of other underlying pathologies such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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- diabetes mellitus epidemiologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemoci srdce epidemiologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- obezita epidemiologie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- perikard metabolismus patologie MeSH
- tuková tkáň metabolismus patologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
From January 2011 to December 2013, a total of 262 samples, from 188 patients suspected of having syphilis were tested for the presence of treponemal DNA by PCR amplification of five chromosomal loci, including the polA (TP0105), tmpC (TP0319), TP0136, TP0548, and 23S rRNA genes. Altogether, 146 samples from 103 patients were PCR positive for treponemal DNA. A set of 81 samples from 62 PCR-positive patients were typeable, and among them, nine different genotypes were identified. Compared to a previous study in the Czech Republic during 2004 to 2010, the number of genotypes detected among syphilis patients in a particular year increased to six in both 2012 and 2013, although they were not the same six. The proportion of macrolide-resistant clinical isolates in this 3-year study was 66.7%.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky farmakologie MeSH
- bakteriální geny MeSH
- bakteriální léková rezistence * MeSH
- DNA bakterií chemie genetika MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- genetická variace * MeSH
- genotyp MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- makrolidy farmakologie MeSH
- molekulární typizace * MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- RNA ribozomální 23S genetika MeSH
- syfilis epidemiologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- Treponema pallidum klasifikace účinky léků genetika MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
