The prevalence of canine H3N8 influenza and human H1N1 and H3N2 influenza in dogs in Ohio was estimated by conducting serologic tests on 1,082 canine serum samples. In addition, risk factors, such as health status and age were examined. The prevalences of human H1N1, H3N2, and canine H3N8 influenzas were 4.0%, 2.4%, and 2.3%, respectively. Two samples were seropositive for two subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2; H1N1 and canine influenza virus [CIV] H3N8). Compared to healthy dogs, dogs with respiratory signs were 5.795 times more likely to be seropositive against H1N1 virus (

The prevalence of canine H3N8 influenza, and human H1N1 and H3N2 influenza in dogs in Ohio was estimated by conducting serologic tests on 1,082 canine serum samples; risk factors, such as health status and age were examined. The prevalence of human H1N1, H3N2, and canine H3N8 were 4.0%, 2.4% and 2.3%, respectively, and two samples were seropositive to two subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2; H1N1 and canine influenza virus (CIV) H3N8). Dogs with respiratory signs were 5.795 times more likely to be seropositive against human H1N1 virus than healthy dogs (p-value=0.042). The prevalence of human flu infection increased in accordance with the increase in age and varied by the serum collection month. A commercial ELISA used in this study could not detect nucleoprotein specific antibodies from many HI positive sera, which indicates the need for the development and validation of rapid tests for influenza screening in canine population. In summary, we confirmed low exposure of dogs to CIV and human influenza viruses in Ohio. We identified potential risk factors involved for consideration in future investigations. Our findings also support the need for establishment of reliable diagnostic standards for serologic detection of influenza infection in canine species.

The prevalence of canine H3N8 influenza and human H1N1 and H3N2 influenza in dogs in Ohio was estimated by conducting serologic tests on 1,082 canine serum samples. In addition, risk factors, such as health status and age were examined. The prevalences of human H1N1, H3N2, and canine H3N8 influenzas were 4.0%, 2.4%, and 2.3%, respectively. Two samples were seropositive for two subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2; H1N1 and canine influenza virus [CIV] H3N8). Compared to healthy dogs, dogs with respiratory signs were 5.795 times more likely to be seropositive against H1N1 virus (p = 0.042). The prevalence of human flu infection increased with dog age and varied by serum collection month. The commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay used in this study did not detect nucleoprotein-specific antibodies from many hemagglutination inhibition positive sera, which indicates a need for the development and validation of rapid tests for influenza screening in canine populations. In summary, we observed low exposure of dogs to CIV and human influenza viruses in Ohio but identified potential risk factors for consideration in future investigations. Our findings support the need for establishment of reliable diagnostic standards for serologic detection of influenza infection in canine species.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heavy cigarette smoking can affect the right ventriclular function. The standard echocardiography may not show early right ventricular functional changes, and a more sensitive measure is needed. The aim of this work was to evaluate the subtle subclinical effects of chronic heavy cigarette smoking on the right ventricular function. The study included 55 healthy asymptomatic chronic heavy cigarette smokers (smoking history of at least 5 pack-years and a daily cigarette consumption of at least 1 pack) and 35 healthy non-smoking control subjects. Patients underwent a full clinical assessment and a conventional as well as a 2D-speckle tracking transthoracic echocardiography of the right ventricle and data was compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: The mean age was 32.9 ± 7.2 years in smokers and 30.9 ± 7.9 years in non-smokers (p = 0.227). The 2 groups showed comparable conventional right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. Smokers showed a significantly lower (less negative) right ventricular global longitudinal strain (- 19.0 ± 3.2% vs. - 24.5 ± 3.5%, p < 0.001). Patients with a higher daily cigarette consumption showed a poorer right ventricular global longitudinal strain (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION: Chronic heavy cigarette smoking can adversely affect the right ventricular function, a finding that can be easily missed by conventional echocardiography and can be better detected by the right ventricular speckle tracking.

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A diarylethene derivative, 1,2-bis(2,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (DMP), is a photoswitch molecule utilizing a reversible aromatic ring-opening reaction. The quantum yield of the ring-opening reaction is however remarkably low. We investigate the origin of this behaviour by means of ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy utilizing sub-10 fs pulses, which is an invaluable tool for simultaneously studying both the electronic and the vibrational molecular dynamics. Namely, a noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) generating sub-10 fs pulses in the spectral range 605-750 nm is employed. The transient absorption signal is modulated by several vibrational modes, which are compared with experimental and computational Raman spectra and then assigned to the ground or excited electronic state. We observe that the most pronounced vibrational mode-the ethylenic stretching mode at a frequency of 1501 cm-1-exhibits instantaneous frequency and amplitude modulation. The observed modulations occur due to weak coupling with another 1431 cm-1 stretching mode mediated by a vibrational mode of low frequency, i.e. around 60 cm-1. Fast internal conversion S1 → S0 originates in a relaxation through a conical intersection (found by density-functional theory computations), facilitated by the two aforementioned stretching modes. © 2019 the Owner Societies.