Expression of cardiac copper chaperone encoding genes and their correlation with cardiac function parameters in goats

The expression of copper chaperone (Cu-Ch) encoding genes enables an in-depth understanding of copper-associated disorders, but no previous studies have been undertaken to highlight Cu-Ch disturbances in heart tissue in ruminants after copper deficiency (CuD). The current study aimed to investigate the Cu-Ch mRNA expression in goat’s heart after experimental CuD and highlight their relationship with the cardiac measurements. Eleven male goats were enrolled and divided into the control group (n = 4) and CuD group (treatment, n = 7), which received copper-reducing dietary regimes (molybdenum and sulfur). Heart function was evaluated by electrocardiography and echocardiography, and at the end of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed, and the cardiac tissues were collected for quantitative mRNA expression by real-time PCR. In the treatment group, cardiac measurements revealed increased preload and the existence of cardiac dilatation and significant cardiac tissue damage by histopathology. Also, the relative mRNA expression of Cu-Ch encoding genes; ATP7A, CTr1, LOX, COX17, as well as ceruloplasmin (CP), troponin I3 (TNNI3), glutathione peroxidase (GPX1), and matrix metalloprotease inhibitor (MMPI1) genes were significantly down-regulated in CuD group. Besides, there was a variable significant correlation between investigated genes and cardiac measurements; meanwhile, a significant inverse correlation was observed between histopathological score and ATP7B, CTr1, LOX, and COX17. In conclusion, this study revealed that CuD induces cardiac dilatation and alters the mRNA expression of Cu-Ch genes, in addition to TNNI3, GPX1, and MMPI1 that are considered key factors in clinically undetectable CuD-induced cardiac damage in goats which necessitate further studies for feasibility as biomarkers.

COVID-19 and the Heart: A Systematic Review of Cardiac Autopsies

Importance: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated cardiac injury has been postulated secondary to several mechanisms. While tissue diagnosis is limited during the acute illness, postmortem studies can help boost our understanding and guide management.Objective: To report the cardiac tissue autopsy findings in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) decedents.Evidence Review: Articles published in PubMed and Embase reporting postmortem cardiac pathology of COVID-19 decedents till September 2020. We included adult studies excluding preprints. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports was used to assess quality. We extracted gross and histology data as well as the incidence of myocarditis, cardiac ischemia, thrombosis, and dilatation. We also looked at the reported cause of death (PROSPERO registration CRD42020190898).Findings: Forty-one relevant studies identified including 316 cases. The deceased were mostly male (62%) and elderly (median age, 75; range, 22–97 years). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (48%) and coronary artery disease (33%). Cardiac pathologies contributed to the death of 15 cases. Besides chronic cardiac pathologies, postmortem examination demonstrated cardiac dilatation (20%), acute ischemia (8%), intracardiac thrombi (2.5%), pericardial effusion (2.5%), and myocarditis (1.5%). SARS-CoV-2 was detected within the myocardium of 47% of studied hearts.Conclusions and Relevance: SARS-CoV-2 can invade the heart, but a minority of cases were found to have myocarditis. Cardiac dilatation, ischemia, mural, and microthrombi were the most frequent findings. The systematic review was limited by the small number of cases and the quality of the studies, and there is a need to standardize the cardiac postmortem protocols.

The virus-immune hypothesis for cardiac dilatation

The paper gives an update on the pathogenetic role of viral infection and immune mechanisms in the development of cardiac dilatation at the cellular, ultrastructural, and molecular levels. Particular attention is given to the discussion of the possible role of herpesvirus infection in the mechanisms of cardiomyocyte damage with the direct or indirect impact of viral infection through immunoinflammatory responses. Data on the protective and damaging action of a number of cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of viral myocarditis are considered.

The pathogenic basis for the development of cardiovascular disease in obesity: difficulties of diagnosis and treatment

Cardiovascular abnormalities associated with morbid obesity include cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac dilatation, diastolic dysfunction. Also obesity predispose to numerous cardiac complications such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, and sudden death. The cardiovascular clinical evaluation of obese patients may be limited by morphological changes, which are specific for increased amount of body fat mass. The incidence of sudden and unexplained death in morbid obesity may be a manifestation of occult cardiovascular disease in this population.