Background: Coxiella burnetii is a common zoonotic pathogen that can lead not only to acute or chronic Q fever but also to post-infectious syndromes, where autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction has been suggested as a contributing mechanism. This study aimed to assess autonomic function in patients presenting with polymorphic symptoms, dysautonomia, or ME/CFS who had serological evidence of acute infection with Coxiella burnetii. Methods: A total of 156 participants were evaluated, including 100 seropositive patients and 56 matched controls. All subjects underwent standardized cardiovascular reflex tests (CART), beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate and blood pressure with baroreflex indices, 24 h Holter ECG with HRV assessment, and, in the Coxiella group, head-up tilt testing (HUTT). Results: A significantly higher prevalence of autonomic dysfunction was observed in the Coxiella group, predominantly affecting parasympathetic regulation, with abnormal CART scores, reduced LF power and baroreflex effectiveness, and a high rate of positive HUTT findings characterized by extreme blood pressure variability. Although long-term HRV measures did not differ significantly between groups, short-term indices consistently indicated ANS impairment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Coxiella burnetii infection may trigger persistent autonomic dysfunction, potentially contributing to the development of ME/CFS and syncope in affected individuals. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications.

COVID-19, a global epidemic of infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), not only initially refers to acute manifestations but also chronic symptoms known as Long COVID-19. Long COVID-19 represents a significant burden to healthcare systems worldwide. This syndrome encompasses a wide range of continuing health problems with variable durations and consequences for patients’ everyday lives. A notable aspect of Long COVID-19 is the emergence of new-onset autoimmune diseases that could be triggered in predisposed patients with altered immune responses. Common autoimmune conditions that arise in post-COVID patients include autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune thyroid diseases, Kawasaki disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, etc., but with unclear evidence of associated disease occurrence. We present a case of a female rheumatoid arthritis patient who developed autoimmune thyroid disease, latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA), and pernicious anemia after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Starvation is a fundamental physiological stressor that triggers conserved adaptive responses across species, however, its effects are shaped by both developmental stage and prior nutritional history. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acute nutrient deprivation in Artemia franciscana, comparing newly hatched nauplii and adult individuals previously exposed to reduced caloric intake during development. Organisms were subjected to starvation for 24, 48, and 72 h, and mortality, morphometric parameters, and locomotor activity were assessed, complemented by in silico analysis of starvation-related pathways. Starvation induced distinct responses between groups, with markedly higher mortality in adults compared to nauplii. While these differences reflect developmental stage-associated responses, they are also influenced by prior nutritional history. Body length was significantly reduced under starvation in both developmental stages, while antennal length remained largely unchanged. Locomotor activity, including distance travelled and swimming velocity, was consistently decreased, indicating energy-conserving behavioral adaptation. Partial recovery of locomotor performance and antennal length was observed following restoration of feeding. Bioinformatic analysis suggested the presence of conserved autophagy-related genes and enrichment of pathways associated with autophagy and TOR signaling. However, these findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating, given the reliance on a proxy species for pathway inference. These findings indicate that starvation responses in A. franciscana are shaped by an interaction between developmental stage and prior nutritional history, supported by conserved stress–response pathways, highlighting the potential of this model for studying metabolic stress responses.

Introduction/Aim: Procaine is a local anesthetic from the amino ester group that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels. Since it can cross the placenta in its ionized form, its potential impact on embryonic development is of concern. Zebrafish, which have a significant degree of homology with the human genome, allow for the study of cardiovascular system development with reliable extrapolation to humans. Investigation of the effects of procaine on key proteins involved in zebrafish heart development using molecular docking. Methods: First, a screening of the interaction between procaine and the entire human proteome was performed using FINDSITEcomb software. Based on significant interactions with a high degree of analysis precision, 113 proteins were selected. Using the ZFIN database, the degree of homology between the selected human proteins and zebrafish proteins, tissue specificity, and expression timing were determined. Nine proteins met all the criteria: kcnh6a, kcnh7, kcnh5a, kcnh2a, psen2, rbfa, and zfpl1, and were further investigated through molecular docking in the AutoDock Vina program. Results: Most of the proteins were highly expressed during the blastula stage. Docking results showed that the scn1laa protein and procaine had the lowest Gibbs free energy value (-6 kCal/mol), while the zfp11 protein had the highest value (-4.4 kCal/mol). Procaine binding to the tested proteins revealed similar amino acid sequences within the same protein family. Conclusion: Procaine interacts with proteins involved in zebrafish heart development under in silico conditions. Further analyses on live embryos are needed to complement these findings.

Introduction: We present a case of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and severe autonomic dysfunction three months after the resolution of the acute phase of COVID-19 infection in a patient with no prior thyroid disease and autonomic dysfunction. Patient Review: We discuss our patient's clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and subsequent management and follow-up. The patient had previously tested positive for COVID-19. A 53-year-old female developed Hashimoto's thyroiditis with normal thyroid function and severe autonomic dysfunction. Her heart rate variability (HRV) is depressed, and her High-Frequency power (HF) is high. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that COVID-19 could have long-term negative effects on antithyroid antibodies. Therefore, testing antithyroid antibodies should be included in the follow-up algorithm for COVID-19 survivors. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction related to COVID-19 may be reversible and early aggressive therapy is necessary. The new technique is important for the early detection of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) in the autonomic nervous system.

Introduction: 2,4-Diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DABA) is an excitatory amino acid with neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, and potentially carcinogenic effects, found in aquatic ecosystems with a tendency to accumulate in plants and animals. Due to its potential impact on development, its embryotoxicity is being studied. Zebrafish (Danio rerio), with high homology to the human genome, serve as an excellent model for studying development and developmental abnormalities. Objective: To investigate the effect of 2,4-DABA on proteins crucial for zebrafish eye development using molecular docking. Methods: Proteome screening was conducted using the FINDSITEcomb software, selecting 1119 proteins based on homology, tissue specificity, and expression timing. Six proteins that met the criteria were analyzed using molecular docking in the AutoDock Vina program. Results: The interaction of the fzd8a protein with 2,4-DABA showed the lowest Gibbs free energy value of -4.6 kCal/mol, while the interaction with the pbx4 protein had the highest value of -3.4 kCal/mol. A similarity was observed in the amino acid sequence of proteins that bind to 2,4-DABA, particularly in those containing an -SH group. Conclusion: 2,4-DABA may affect eye structure development in zebrafish by interacting with proteins throughout the entire development period. The results of in silico analyses provide a basis for further in vivo research, which should be conducted on live embryos to confirm these findings.