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BACKGROUND: Several studies have found a link between nutritional status and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess both nutritional status and dietary habits of PD patients with respect to controls and to compare disease progression in relation to dietary habits, such as protein distribution diet (PRD) adherence. METHODS: We collected anthropometric measurements, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score, dietary habits, micro- and macronutrients intakes, body composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), muscle strength and gait speed of 66 PD patients and 58 controls (40 healthy controls and 18 subjects with essential tremor). Clinical scales and progression indexes were recorded in PD group. RESULTS: No significant differences emerged between PD and controls in anthropometric and BIA measurements; a comparable dietary intake between the two groups was recorded. Sarcopenia and dynapenia were comparable between the two groups. PD resulted more at risk of malnutrition than controls to MNA, only three patients and one control were malnourished. A notable inverse correlation was observed between MNA and PD Questionnaire 8. PD following a PRD showed a slower progression index. CONCLUSION: Nutritional status of PD patients is not so different from elderly controls. PRD is recommended for patients with PD.

Background: Cats with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (sHCM) have elevated serum insulin levels and serum amyloid A levels correlating with the degree of cardiac hypertrophy. Diet might affect these parameters and other cardiac variables.Objective: Evaluate the effect of a complete, balanced diet with restricted starch and supplemented with eicosapentanoic acid+docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) on echocardiographic parameters and cardiac biomarkers in cats with sHCM.Animals: Forty-four client-owned cats with sHCM. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study enrolled cats with end-diastole interventricular septum thickness (IVSd) and/or left ventricular wall thickness (LVWd) ≥6 mm. Non-sedated, fasted cats were examined at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of Test (restricted starch and EPA+DHA supplements) (n=23) or Control (unrestricted starch without EPA+DHA supplementation) (n=21) diet. Assessments included auscultation, body weight, body condition score, echocardiography and blood analysis. Linear and generalized mixed models analyzed diet, time and diet*time interactions (5% significance level). Results: No differences between diet groups were significant for any variable at any timepoint. There were significant decreases in the Test but not Control group in maximum IVSd (P = .031; P = .524), maximum LVWd (P = .022; P = .905) and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels (P = .036; P = .987) after 12 months, and in ultra-sensitive cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (P = .001; P = .745) after 6 months only.Conclusions and clinical importance: Significant decreases in echocardiographic variables of sHCM, cTnI and IGF-1, were observed in the Test group. Further research is needed to evaluate effects on clinical outcomes.

Background Insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and inflammation possibly are involved in cats with asymptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (aHCM). Objectives To evaluate echocardiography, morphology, cardiac and inflammatory markers, insulin and IGF-1 in cats with aHCM. Animals Fifty-one client-owned cats with aHCM. Methods Observational descriptive study. Variables (body weight [BW], body condition score [BCS], echocardiography, and serum concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], ultra-sensitive troponin-I [c-TnI], serum amyloid A [SAA], insulin, glucose and IGF-1) were evaluated for significant increases above echocardiography cutoff values and laboratory reference ranges, associations and effect of left atrial (LA) remodeling and generalized hypertrophy. Results Cats with aHCM had BCS >= 6/9 (P = .01) and insulin (P < .001), NT-proBNP (P = .001) and cTn-I (P < .001) above laboratory reference ranges. Associations were present between NT-proBNP and maximum end-diastolic interventricular septum thickness (IVSd; rho = .32; P = .05), maximum end-diastolic left ventricular free wall thickness;(rho = .41; P = .01), LA/Aorta (rho = .52; P = .001) and LA diameter (LA-max; rho = .32; P = .05); c-TnI and LA/Aorta (rho = .49; P = .003) and LA-max (rho = .28; P = .05); and SAA and number of IVSd regions >= 6 mm thickness (rho = .28; P = .05). Body weight and BCS were associated with IGF-1 (r = 0.44; P = .001), and insulin (rho = .33; P = .02), glucose (rho = .29; P = .04) and IGF-1 (rho = .32; P = .02), respectively. Concentrations of NT-proBNP (P = .02) and c-TnI (P = .01), and SAA (P = .02), were higher in cats with LA remodeling, and generalized hypertrophy, respectively. Conclusions and clinical importance Results suggest potential implications of insulin, IGF-1, and inflammation in cats with aHCM, but it remains to be confirmed whether these findings represent a physiological process or a part of the pathogenesis and development of disease. Royal Canin SAS van Hoek, I (reprint author), Royal Canin SAS, Res & Dev, 650 Ave Petite Camargue, F-30470 Aimargues, France. ingrid.van.hoek@royalcanin.com

Background The emergence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has evolved into a global pandemic. Systems of care have been reorganized worldwide in an effort to preserve hospital bed capacity. In France, from March 17 to May 11 2020, government imposed a complete lockdown on the whole population. Only urgent cardiac procedures have been ensured such as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) revascularization. Some previously published studies suggest a reduction of admission for STEMI in many countries. Nevertheless, strong evidences and data across different French regions that have been affected variously by the outbreak are still lacking. Purpose We aimed to describe the incidence rates and characteristics of patients presenting with STEMI in order to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on STEMI care in France covering the lockdown period compared to same period one year ago. Methods We performed a retrospective multicenter registry across 60 French interventional cardiology centers including all consecutive STEMI patients referred for urgent revascularization in the heart catheterization laboratory between two periods: March 1st to May 31th 2020 compared with March 1st to May 31th 2019. Comprehensive data, including clinical, biological, COVID status and angiographic variables including time taken for care were recorded at admission. The primary outcome was a composite of invasive mechanical ventilation support or in-hospital death. The secondary outcome was the occurrence of myocardial infarction related complications during hospitalization. Enrollement is not complete at the time of the abstract submission. Conclusion This data collection between two periods with and without COVID19 will gave insights for a complete descriptive cartography of STEMI patients among different French regions which have been variously impacted by the outbreak.

Case series summary Two cats were presented for investigation of bradyarrhythmia detected by their referring veterinarians during routine examination. Both cats had extensive investigations, including haematology, serum biochemistry with electrolytes and thyroxine concentrations, systolic blood pressure measurement, echocardiography, electrocardiography and infectious disease testing. Infectious disease testing included serology for Toxoplasma gondii, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi, and PCR for B burgdorferi antigen in both cats. Case 1 was also assessed by PCR for Bartonella henselae antigen and case 2 was assessed for Dirofilaria immitis by serology. All infectious disease tests, other than for B burgdorferi, were negative. Case 1 was diagnosed with Lyme carditis based on marked bradydysrhythmia, positive B burgdorferi serology, a structurally normal heart and clinical resolution with appropriate treatment with a 4-year follow-up. Case 2 was diagnosed with Lyme carditis based on marked bradydysrhythmia and positive B burgdorferi PCR; however, this cat had structural heart disease that did not resolve with treatment. Relevance and novel information This small case series describes two B burgdorferi positive cats presenting with newly diagnosed cardiac abnormalities consistent with those found in humans and dogs with Lyme carditis. Both cats were asymptomatic as perceived by their owners; the arrhythmia was detected by their veterinarians.

Background Quantitative and semiquantitative methods have been proposed for the assessment of MR severity, and though all are associated with limitations. Measurement of vena contracta width (VCW) has been used in clinical practice. Objective To measure the VCW in dogs with different levels of MR severity. Animals Two hundred and seventy‐nine dogs were classified according to 5 levels of MR severity. Methods This was a retrospective study. EROA and regurgitant volume calculated by the PISA method, were measured and indexed to BSA. Descriptive statistics were calculated for VCW and VCW index for all categories of MR severity. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (ρs) were calculated to compare the results of the different methods (VCW and VCW index vs RV PISA, RV PISA index, EROA, EROA index), and between VCW and VCW index versus MR severity. Results All Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were significant (P

A pericardial cyst developed in a 2-year-old male neutered Maine Coon cat following surgery for an incidentally diagnosed congenital peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia. The cyst caused no clinical signs in the cat, although clinical findings included positional right-sided cardiac tamponade and compression of thoracic structures, associated with a cardiac arrhythmia and axis deviation on electrocardiography. Extensive assessment of the cyst included radiography, echocardiography, computed tomography, exploratory thoracotomy, electrocardiography, histopathology and fluid analysis. Surgical removal of the cyst was curative, and the arrhythmia and axis deviation resolved. This report details case management from initial diagnosis to long-term follow-up, adding to the limited body of literature available on feline pericardial cysts. This is also the first report to associate cardiac arrhythmia with a pericardial cyst.

Background Boxer dogs are reported to be predisposed to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), but the natural history has not been well characterized and inconsistent diagnostic criteria have been applied to identify affected dogs. Echocardiographic examination findings are unremarkable in many affected Boxer dogs, and in these dogs, 24-hour ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring often is used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, despite limited information available relating Holter findings to outcome. Hypothesis/Objectives Boxers with complex ventricular arrhythmias at initial presentation will have shorter survival times. The objective was to investigate the prognostic value of Holter monitoring in Boxer dogs. Animals One hundred and twenty-two Boxer dogs seen at 3 university referral hospitals. Methods Retrospective study. Survival times were obtained for Boxer dogs evaluated by echocardiography and a 24-hour Holter ECG. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the median survival time and Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify variables independently associated with cardiac mortality. Results Outcome data were obtained for 122/163 dogs meeting the inclusion criteria. Of the 70 dogs that had died, 45 were considered to have suffered cardiac-related deaths. Median survival was significantly longer in dogs with a left ventricular systolic diameter (LVIDs) ≤ 35 mm compared with those with LVIDs > 35 mm (P 4.5 years, and male sex were independent predictors of cardiac mortality. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Holter monitoring in Boxer dogs provides valuable prognostic information.

Blends of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) are used as the active layer of field-effect transistors (FETs). By using sequential deposition of the two components, the density of RGO sheets can be tuned linearly, thereby modulating their contribution to the charge transport in the transistors, and the onset of charge percolation. The surface potential of RGO, P3HT and source–drain contacts is measured on the nanometric scale with Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), and correlated with the macroscopic performance of the FETs. KPFM is also used to monitor the potential decay along the channel in the working FETs.