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Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a public health problem accounting for an estimated one-third of deaths overall. A potential link between infectious agents and atherosclerosis has been suggested. Data obtained from several seroepidemiological studies have suggested that infection with Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus-1 can initiate or maintain the atherosclerotic process. However, there is no single study in which multiple infectious agents have been detected together in different vascular locations in the same population. This would help in determining if there is any leading pathogen in atheromatous plaques of CAD patients. Hence, we screened for C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, CMV and HSV-1 in different vascular locations of CAD patients using quantitative real-time (RT) PCR. We performed multiplex RT-PCR for detecting pathogens, viz. C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, CMV and HSV-1 in different vascular locations of CAD patients. Percent positivity scores for C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, CMV and HSV-1 in different vascular locations were as follows: aorta (64.7, 35.3, 11.7 and 11.7 respectively); carotid (27.2, 27.2, 9 and 0 respectively); coronary artery (58.3, 33.3, 16.6 and 8.3 respectively). Combined positivity for C. pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae IgA and RT-PCR for C. pneumoniae) was the highest compared with all other groups. Aorta and coronary artery were more susceptible to these pathogens as compared with carotid artery. Moreover, CAD patients' characteristics were associated with C. pneumoniae positivity (C. pneumoniae IgA and RT-PCR), suggesting thereby that C. pneumoniae may have caused chronic persistent infection in CAD.

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BackgroundTetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve (TOF/APV) is associated with significant pulmonary artery dilatation and airway compression.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of 73 consecutive patients who underwent repair for TOF/APV between January 2005–August 2015. Mean age was 6.4 ± 5.6 years (28 days–22 years). The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was reconstructed using varied techniques. Freedom from RVOT gradients and re-operation was studied.ResultsThere were four (5.5%) early deaths, two each in infants and older children. Median ICU stay was 2 days (range, 1–12 days). Mean ICU stay for, infants, children and adults, was 6.5 ± 6.04, 2.75 ± 2.45, and 2.33 ± 1.03 days, respectively (p = 0.0762). Median hospital stay was 6 days (range, 4 to 15 days). Mean hospital stay for, infants and children and adults was 7 ± 2, 6.75 ± 2.39, and 6.33 ± 1.63 days, respectively (p = 0.325). Mean follow up was 65 ± 36.6 months (median 56 months, range 7–126 months). On follow up echocardiography, 14 (21.21%) had no pulmonary regurgitation. 21 (31.81%) had mild PR patients, 8 (12.12%) moderate PR and 19 (28.78%) had severe PR. There were five (7.5%) reoperations.Five and ten-year survival was 95% ± 2.12 and 92.3% ± 3.45 respectively. Freedom from RVOT reoperation was 93 ± 2.62% and 89 ± 3.87% at 5 and 10 years.ConclusionsIn contrast to children and adults with TOF/APV, infants carry significant early mortality. But the mid-term outcome for patients who survive the initial repair of TOF/APV is acceptable. However, these patients require constant surveillance and irrespective of the methods of RVOT management, the reoperation rates are expected to be high as more of these patients survive into adulthood.