The aim of the study was to demonstrate presence of pigeon circovirus in the Czech Republic. Squabs suspected of being infected with pigeon circovirus were selected based on clinical and pathological testing. To reach the diagnosis, a method of proving the pigeon circovirus DNA based on nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed. The specificity of the PCR reaction was verified using PCR product sequencing. A sequence of PCR products was compared against pigeon circovirus sequences published so far. The comparison has confirmed the highest relation between the isolate South Moravian 1 detected by us and the North-Irish isolate 7050. The trial has thus brought an ultimate proof of the presence of pigeon circovirus in the Czech Republic. The nested PCR method for proving pigeon circovirus was developed and a new isolate of the virus was detected.

Data about clinical-laboratory features and outcome of antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) in the course of lupus nephritis (LN) are scarce. To determine prevalence, clinical correlations and outcome of APSN in patients with LN, retrospective analysis of renal specimens and review of medical records from 48 LN patients were performed. APSN was found in 12/48 (25 %) of LN. Positivity for lupus anticoagulant (LAC) and double antiphospholipids positivity [LAC plus anticardiolipin (aCL)] were significantly more frequent in APSN-LN (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively) than in LN, while single aCL positivity was not. Overt antiphospholipid syndrome appeared more frequent in patients with APSN-LN (p = 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between APSN-LN and LN in the proportion of each World Health Organization class of LN (with the exception of a trend toward fewer Class III LN in APS-LN) and in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease duration and severity. At the time of renal biopsy, patients with APSN-LN had median serum creatinine levels significantly higher than patients with LN [1.45 (0.6-6.6) vs. 1.00 (0.7-3.0), p = 0.02]. Double antiphospholipid positivity was the only variable significantly associated with APSN-LN at multivariate regression analysis (OR 8, 95 % CI 1.7-37, p = 0,008). APSN-LN and LN did not differ significantly as regards the rate of complete (25 vs. 19.4 %, p = 0.72) and partial treatment response (25 vs. 29 %, p = 0.82) at 6 months and the progression to end-stage renal disease after a median follow-up of 8.1 ± 3.6 years (16.6 vs. 13.8 %, p = 0.82). APSN was demonstrated in a quart of LN, appeared to be independent from underlying LN class and SLE severity, and did not seem to confer a worse prognosis to LN. The findings of higher creatinine and more interstitial fibrosis in APSN should be confirmed in future prospective larger studies.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), as a measure of endothelial dysfunction, are higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy control subjects. The relationships between ADMA and surrogate measures of arterial stiffness were evaluated.MethodsPatients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy control subjects were recruited. ADMA was quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using pulse wave analysis.ResultsThere was no significant difference in plasma ADMA concentration between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 30). Aortic augmentation pressure was significantly higher in patients than in controls. C-reactive protein and Health Assessment Questionnaire score were independent predictors of arterial stiffness in patients. There was no relationship between ADMA concentration and aortic augmentation pressure in the study population as a whole.ConclusionsArterial stiffness appears to be increased in rheumatoid arthritis and independently associated with systemic inflammation and physical disability. ADMA concentration was not increased in this small group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy controls; nor was it associated with arterial stiffness.

Kubíãek O., L.Taras: Incidence of Pigeon Circovirus in Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Detected by Nested PCR. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 361-368.The paper describes the first demonstration of pigeon circovirus in Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto). Nested PCR was used to examine birds of the Columbiformes family. Pigeon circovirus DNA was identified in the bursa of Fabricius of an accidentally caught dove by nested PCR after the second reaction. Impaired feathers and other clinical signs observed could not, however, be attributed to circoviral infection.The sequence of the amplified PCR product -middle of the capsid protein gene -was compared against all available circovirus sequences. Both the nucleotide and the derived amino acid sequence have a very close similarity to pigeon circovirus sequences. It may therefore be concluded that the sample was demonstrated to contain pigeon circovirus or another very similar virus. We therefore assume that pigeon circovirus may infect doves, too. Whether it is a special subtype or whether doves may be infected by common pigeon circovirus strains cannot be concluded with certainty from the existing results.