Respiratory Virus Infection Research Articles

The effectiveness of a synthetic analogue purine nucleoside bases in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections

Introduction. The aggravation of the comorbid background of patients with ARVI is the main reason for the addition of secondary pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacterial flora and, as a result, the development of local and general complications.Аim. To conduct a clinical assessment of the efficacy and safety of the drug Triazavirin based on riamilovir in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections.Materials and methods. The study conducted on the basis of the medical center of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of the Russian Ministry of Health involved 56 patients with acute recurrent viral infection. Regarding the prescribed therapy, the patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 27) from day 2, triazavirin was taken as an antiviral drug (riamilo- vir) 250 mg (1 capsule) 3 times a day for 5 days; group 2 (n = 29) – as an antiviral drug, Kagocel took 2 tablets 3 times a day for 2 days, then 1 tablet 3 times a day for 5 days. The effect of the therapy was assessed by the severity of intoxication syndrome, rhinorrhea, difficulty in nasal breathing, decreased olfactory function, pain syndrome localized in the nasopharynx and throat, cough severity and laboratory results.Results. In patients with 7 days of therapy, the indicator of psychological health increased by 34.7 points in the first group, by 28.8 points in the second group. Vital activity increased by 33.7 points in patients of group 1 and by 23.8 points in the second group. Physical activity tended to increase by 19.5 points and 6.0 points in the first and second groups, respectively.Conclusions. The analysis of changes in the severity of clinical symptoms affecting the quality of life of patients confirmed the effectiveness and safety of the drug Triazavirin.

Peculiarities of children’s health status after acute respiratory viral infections: a look at the problem, ways to solve it

Peculiarities of children’s health status after acute respiratory viral infections: a look at the problem, ways to solve it

An Outbreak of Respiratory Viral Infections in a Professional Ice Hockey Team.

Viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are an important cause of illness in athletes. However, their impact on ice hockey players is unclear. We describe an outbreak of ARIs in a professional ice hockey team. Contrary to expected influenza, the 40-day outbreak was caused by 8 different respiratory viruses, that is, 2 different influenza A viruses, human coronavirus-NL63 (HCoV-NL63), respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) A and B, 2 different rhinoviruses, enterovirus D68, and parainfluenza type 2 virus. Only influenza A and HCoV-NL63 were possibly spread within the team thus suggesting an important contraction from the community. The burden of illness was substantial.

Hyperglycemia-triggered lipid peroxidation destabilizes STAT4 and impairs anti-viral Th1 responses in type 2 diabetes.

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more susceptible to severe respiratory viral infections, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that patients with T2D and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, and influenza-infected T2D mice, exhibit defective T helper 1 (Th1) responses, which are an essential component of anti-viral immunity. This defect stems from intrinsic metabolic perturbations in CD4+ Tcells driven by hyperglycemia. Mechanistically, hyperglycemia triggers mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive fatty acid synthesis, leading to elevated oxidative stress and aberrant lipid accumulation within CD4+ Tcells. These abnormalities promote lipid peroxidation (LPO), which drives carbonylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4), a crucial Th1-lineage-determining factor. Carbonylated STAT4 undergoes rapid degradation, causing reduced T-bet induction and diminished Th1 differentiation. LPO scavenger ameliorates Th1 defects in patients with T2D who have poor glycemic control and restores viral control in T2D mice. Thus, this hyperglycemia-LPO-STAT4 axis underpins reduced Th1 activity in T2D hosts, with important implications for managing T2D-related viral complications.

Tripartite motif 25 inhibits protein aggregate degradation during PRRSV infection by suppressing p62-mediated autophagy.

Viral infection causes endoplasmic reticulum stress and protein metabolism disorder, influencing protein aggregates formation or degradation that originate from misfolded proteins. The mechanism by which host proteins are involved in the above process remains largely unknown. The present study found that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection promoted the degradation of intracellular ubiquitinated protein aggregates via activating autophagy. The host cell E3 ligase tripartite motif-containing (TRIM)25 promoted the recruitment and aggregation of polyubiquitinated proteins and impeded their degradation caused by PRRSV. TRIM25 interacted with ubiquitinated aggregates and was part of the aggregates complex. Next, the present study investigated the mechanisms by which TRIM25 inhibited the degradation of protein aggregates, and it was found that TRIM25 interacted with both Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), facilitated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 by targeting KEAP1 for K48-linked ubiquitination and proteasome degradation, and activated Nrf2-mediated p62 expression. Further studies indicated that TRIM25 interacted with p62 and promoted its K63-linked ubiquitination via its E3 ligase activity and thus caused impairment of its oligomerization, aggregation, and recruitment for the autophagic protein LC3, leading to the suppression of autophagy activation. Besides, TRIM25 also suppressed the p62-mediated recruitment of ubiquitinated aggregates. Activation of autophagy decreased the accumulation of protein aggregates caused by TRIM25 overexpression, and inhibition of autophagy decreased the degradation of protein aggregates caused by TRIM25 knockdown. The current results also showed that TRIM25 inhibited PRRSV replication by inhibiting the KEAP1-Nrf2-p62 axis-mediated autophagy. Taken together, the present findings showed that the PRRSV replication restriction factor TRIM25 inhibited the degradation of ubiquitinated protein aggregates during viral infection by suppressing p62-mediated autophagy.IMPORTANCESequestration of protein aggregates and their subsequent degradation prevents proteostasis imbalance and cytotoxicity. The mechanisms controlling the turnover of protein aggregates during viral infection are mostly unknown. The present study found that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection promoted the autophagic degradation of ubiquitinated protein aggregates, whereas tripartite motif-containing (TRIM)25 reversed this process. It was also found that TRIM25 promoted the expression of p62 by activating the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and simultaneously prevented the oligomerization of p62 by promoting its K63-linked ubiquitination, thus suppressing its recruitment of the autophagic adaptor protein LC3 and ubiquitinated aggregates, leading to the inhibition of PRRSV-induced autophagy activation and the autophagic degradation of protein aggregates. The present study identified a new mechanism of protein aggregate turnover during viral infection and provided new insights for understanding the pathogenic mechanism of PRRSV.

New promising antiseptics for individual antiviral protection against seasonal infections including COVID-19

Seasonal viral infections of the upper respiratory tract are widespread throughout the world. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has revealed the importance of timely personalized prevention of acute viral diseases and related bacterial complications. One of the main directions in the preventing viral infections relies on the development of effective antiseptics to inactivate viruses on the hands and mucous membranes. To effectively destroy SARS-CoV-2, the WHO recommends two antiseptics: a 70% ethanol solution and sodium hypochlorite. The proposed antiseptics are outdated and have an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes. In connection with this, a promising research direction includes development of new antiseptics with selective toxicity, low volatility, low coefficients in the oil-water system, weak lipophilic properties, low absorption into the vacuolar skin structures and low content of toxic impurities. One of these antiseptics is anavidin. The development and selection of molecules has been carried out, the next planned stage will be assessment of the effectiveness and safety of new molecules, including preclinical and early phase clinical trials, also analyzing prevention of viral infections, e.g. COVID-19.

Influenza and non-influenza ARVI in children. A relationship between cytokine profile, parameters of the “lipid peroxidation – antioxidant defense system” as well as clinical and laboratory indicators

Influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) impose a substantial damage to the population health in the Russian Federation due to their seasonal circulation and predominantly affect young children. A very few data on the cytokine profile, the nonspecific LPO — AOD system and their relationships with clinical characteristics in such diseases in preschool children are available. The aim of this study was to assess the cytokine profile, LPO — AOD system parameters and their relationship with the clinical and laboratory characteristics of diseases in preschool children with influenza and other ARVI. 86 preschool children (3–6 years old) were examined: with an established diagnosis of influenza (n = 31), non-influenza ARVI (n = 28), apparently healthy children (control group (n = 27). All pediatric samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assessing blood serum concentrations of C-reactive protein and cytokines IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, TNFα, IFNα, IFNγ. Spectrophotometric, fluorometric and enzyme immunoassay methods to assess the state of the “LPO — AOD” system were used. In the group of children with influenza vs other ARVI, a higher incidence of intoxication syndrome was revealed. Cytokine profile in children from both clinical groups compared with control cohort was featured with higher indicators of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory origin. Children with non-influenza ARVI, had increased magnitude of LPO final products in the nonspecific LPO — AOD system along with lowered concentration of fat-soluble vitamins, general antioxidant activity, GSH level, and SOD activity. In the group with influenza, the level of primary and final lipid peroxidation products was increased, whereas that of for retinol,α-tocopherol, and total antioxidant activity was decreased paralleled with higher GSSG and SOD levels. Numerous correlations were noted in the group of children with ARVI: IL-1β/ketones, IL-6/ketones, IL-8/ketones, TNFα/ketones, IL-4/ketones, IFNg/shortness of breath, IFNα/cough, double bonds/fever, double bonds/AST, SO/intoxication, retinol/fever, GSSG/cough. The influenza group differed in the following relationships: IL-4/ketones, IL-4/fever, IFNα/ketones, CDs/AST. It can be concluded that in preschool children with ARVI and influenza, changes in the cytokine profile are accompanied by increased pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, increased intensity of lipid peroxidation reactions along with reduced magnitude of antioxidant factors. In the group with ARVI, there was a relationship between the final toxic products of lipid peroxidation — Schiff bases — and the intoxication index, as well as the presence of protective mechanisms in the form of connections between interferons and disease clinical manifestations. The group with influenza was distinguished by the presence of protective relations, which may have a beneficial effect in the context of developing pathological process. The data obtained will help expand the understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms related to immune reactivity and nonspecific lipid peroxidation reactions in preschool patients and formulate appropriate measures for correction.

Концепция периоперационного риска: обзор литературы

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative risk refers to the likelihood of adverse events occurring during and after surgery. For the purpose of defining and classifying adverse events and predicting them, a comprehensive search of Pubmed and Lens.org was made according to the author expert opinion. OBSERVATIONS: Traditionally, two main types of postoperative adverse events have been investigated: complications and mortality. However, over the past decade, there has been a growing trend to expand the range of adverse events analyzed, from intraoperative critical events and the quality of recovery from anesthesia to the development of intensive care syndrome, assessing quality of life, disability, and survival over time. An important aspect associated with adverse events and outcomes is the provision of additional resources for a long-term stay for patients with acute respiratory viral infections and inpatient care after discharge, among other things. The review formulates its own concept of perioperative risk, based on a critical analysis of literature, with an emphasis on the need to create an ideal tool, such as a calculator, that must undergo external validation. This tool should include available, modifiable variables, and accurately determine the full range of adverse events and outcomes during the intra- and early postoperative periods, as well as delayed events. The concept shall also focus on identifying and characterizing patients with a high risk of perioperative complications.

Tuberculous meningitis in an intravenous drug user: A case report

Tubercle bacilli can cause tuberculous meningitis by hematogenous spread from a primary focus. A 49-year-old foreign national male patient was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of joint pains, fever, cough and malaise. He was diagnosed with a viral upper respiratory tract infection and discharged after treatment was organised. The patient was admitted again the next day with the complaint of inability to urinate, and suprapubic tenderness was also present on physical examination. The patient's laboratory values, different from the previous day, were determined as WBC:16000/µL CRP:115 mg/L, and he was discharged again after oral treatment. On his 3rd admission to the emergency department, he had complaints of weakness and numbness in the legs and spasm in the neck. It was learned that the patient had a history of intravenous substance use. Following the tests, the patient was initially diagnosed with atypical meningitis and was taken to the intensive care unit. As a result of advanced examinations performed here, the patient was diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis and treated. Patients who experience repeated hospitalisations and exhibit abnormal neurological symptoms should have a thorough physical examination, deeper anamnesis, and considered in the diagnosis that takes uncommon illnesses like atypical meningitis into account.

АНАЛИЗ ОБЪЕМА ПРОДАЖ КОМБИНИРОВАННЫХ ПРЕПАРАТОВ ДЛЯ СИМПТОМАТИЧЕСКОЙ ТЕРАПИИ ОСТРЫХ РЕСПИРАТОРНЫХ ВИРУСНЫХ ИНФЕКЦИЙ И ПРОРАБОТКА АССОРТИМЕНТА АНТИГРИППИНА НА ПРИМЕРЕ АПТЕКИ ГОРОДА КАЗАНИ

There is strong competition between pharmacy providers. The abundance of advertising allows the public to be relatively informed in the variety of medicines offered by suppliers. All of the above, including high rent for inventory storage space, emphasizes the problem of the need for rational assortment formation. Only a properly created assortment of goods will allow the pharmacy to compete in the eyes of consumers, not to lose regular customers and to acquire new ones. With effective management of the product assortment can increase the income of the pharmacy due to the lack of unsatisfied demand. It is also possible to reduce the number of sales lost due to lack of goods, to accelerate the turnover of goods, to reduce the cost of storing medicines. Currently, there is a variety of combination medicines offered by suppliers to combat several symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections. The article presents the results of ABC-analysis, XYZ-analysis and their combination on the example of the assortment of dosage forms of antigrippin of the pharmacy of the state network of the city of Kazan. The distribution of antigrippin assortment into groups is shown and recommendations on the strategy of the pharmacy manager in relation to each of the groups are offered. The fact that these are seasonally consumed commodities with medium forecasting capabilities makes it difficult to plan the procurement of combination medicines to control several symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections. After combining the results of ABC XYZ analysis, it was found that antigrippin pharmacy-made antigrippin and antigrippin effervescent tablets are commodity items with a low share of turnover and number of sales units. They showed a medium degree of forecast reliability due to unstable demand. Antigrippin express powder, antigrippin - ANVI capsules and Vicks Antigripp Max powder made up the majority of the assortment, a small share of the turnover of antigrippin dosage forms and the number of sales units. These products showed low forecast reliability due to non-constant demand and generated little profit. This could be due to the fact that the consumer did not have sufficient information about these products.

Patterns of Viral Pathogens Causing Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Under 13 Years Old: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: Respiratory viral infections strain healthcare globally, accounting for 15% of encounters in the UAE. However, seasonal prevalence in the region remains unclear. This hospitalbased study aims to understand viral causes of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in children under 13, focusing on influenza and RSV. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review at Hatta Hospital in Dubai, collecting data from pediatric patients under 13 years old with URTI diagnoses from 2022 to 2023. Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were analyzed using a multiplex chain reaction (mPCR) assay to identify viral pathogens. Data were collected from the hospital’s emergency department, walk-in clinic, and admitted patients. Results: During the study period, 2714 samples were analyzed, with 1870 (69%) testing positive for any respiratory pathogen. Most infected individuals were males (56.7%), aged between 1 and 3 years (37.9%). Single viral infections were predominant (85.3%), with 27.3% attributed to Human Enterovirus/Rhinovirus, 26.6% to Influenza A, and 10.2% to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The RSV season was observed to span from August to December, peaking in October, while Influenza A had semi-seasonal peaks in June and October. Hospital admissions varied significantly between single (21%) and multiple viral infections (27%). Of 340 children hospitalized with single viral infections, 28.2% were infected with Human Enterovirus/Rhinovirus, 16.7% with RSV, and 13.5% with Influenza A. Conclusion: The study provides insights into viral epidemiology among children in the UAE, highlighting the high prevalence and seasonal peaks of viral pathogens. Awareness of these trends can reduce unnecessary streptococcal testing and antibiotic overuse. Understanding the seasonal patterns aids in optimizing prophylactic measures and vaccination strategies for RSV and influenza, benefiting high-risk infants and children.

Microbial dynamics and pulmonary immune responses in COVID-19 secondary bacterial pneumonia

Secondary bacterial pneumonia (2°BP) is associated with significant morbidity following respiratory viral infection, yet remains incompletely understood. In a prospective cohort of 112 critically ill adults intubated for COVID-19, we comparatively assess longitudinal airway microbiome dynamics and the pulmonary transcriptome of patients who developed 2°BP versus controls who did not. We find that 2°BP is significantly associated with both mortality and corticosteroid treatment. The pulmonary microbiome in 2°BP is characterized by increased bacterial RNA mass and dominance of culture-confirmed pathogens, detectable days prior to 2°BP clinical diagnosis, and frequently also present in nasal swabs. Assessment of the pulmonary transcriptome reveals suppressed TNFα signaling in patients with 2°BP, and sensitivity analyses suggest this finding is mediated by corticosteroid treatment. Further, we find that increased bacterial RNA mass correlates with reduced expression of innate and adaptive immunity genes in both 2°BP patients and controls. Taken together, our findings provide fresh insights into the microbial dynamics and host immune features of COVID-19-associated 2°BP, and suggest that suppressed immune signaling, potentially mediated by corticosteroid treatment, permits expansion of opportunistic bacterial pathogens.

Key performance evaluation of commercialized multiplex rRT-PCR kits for respiratory viruses: implications for application and optimization.

The complexity and severity of viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs) emphasize the pivotal role of precise diagnosis for viral RTIs in guiding effective public health responses and ensuring appropriate medical interventions, given the substantial population at risk. This study highlights the necessity and importance of evaluating the analytical validity of multiplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, offering valuable insights into their optimization and application.

Multi-Electrode Extended Gate Field Effect Transistors Based on Laser-Induced Graphene for the Detection of Vitamin C and SARS-CoV-2.

Despite the clinical data showing the importance of ascorbic acid (AA or vitamin C) in managing viral respiratory infections, biosensors for their simultaneous detection are lacking. To address this need, we developed a portable and wireless device for simultaneous detection of AA and SARS-CoV-2 virus by integrating commercial transistors with printed laser-induced graphene (LIG) as the extended gate. We studied the effect of laser printing pass number and showed that with two laser printing passes (2-pass LIG), the sensor sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD) for AA improved by a factor of 1.6 and 12.8, respectively. Using complementary characterization methods, we attribute the improved response to a balanced interplay of crystallinity, defect density, surface area, surface roughness, pore density and diameter, and mechanical integrity/stability. These factors enhance analyte transport, reduce noise/variability, and ensure consistent sensor performance, making 2-pass LIG the most effective material in this work. Our sensors exhibit promising performance for detecting AA with a selective response in the presence of common salivary interfering molecules, with sensitivity and LOD of 73.67 mV/dec and 54.04 nM in 1× phosphate buffered saline and 81.05 mV/dec and 78.34 nM in artificial saliva, respectively. We also showed that functionalization of the 2-pass LIG gate with S-protein antibody enables the detection of SARS-CoV-2 protein antigens with an ultralow LOD of 52 zg/mL─an improvement of more than 10-fold compared to 1-pass LIG─and 4 particles/mL for virion mimics with a selective response against influenza virus and multiple human coronavirus strains. With low signal drift/hysteresis and wireless capabilities, the developed device holds great potential for improving at-home monitoring and clinical decision-making.

Paediatric iGAS Morbidity and Mortality in Ireland 2022-2023 episodic upsurge

Abstract There was an unseasonal upsurge in invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) activity in Ireland during the 2022/2023 winter period. In particular, there was an increase in the proportion of paediatric infections and a rise in the age specific death rate for those under the age of 18, from 0.10 to 1.43 per 100,000. This review aimed to describe the demographic and clinical factors associated with paediatric iGAS infection during this upsurge. All iGAS cases under the age of 16 years, notified to Public Health between 1st October and 30th June 2023, were included. A review of hospital records for each case was conducted using a standardised electronic data collection proforma. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted using SPSS statistical package. There was a total of 183 cases of iGAS notified during this upsurge in Ireland. A hospital chart review was conducted for 169 of these cases, giving a response rate of 92.3%. The median age was 4 years (range 0-15,) with 44.4% (75) having a previous healthcare attendance during their illness. Varicella coinfection occurred in 27.8% (47) of cases. There was respiratory viral coinfection in 40.8% (69) of cases, and this was significantly associated with an increased risk of death RR 6.49 (95% CI 4.45 - 29.08) p < 0.05. A respiratory site of infection was also significantly associated with an increased risk of death RR 10.13 (95% CI 2.23 - 45.95) p < 0.001. However, both factors did not remain significant once adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity and deprivation index. This national review demonstrated the significant burden of paediatric iGAS morbidity and mortality during this upsurge. A significant proportion of cases, 37.9% (64) were associated with vaccine preventable illness, with respiratory viral infections and a respiratory site of infection both being significantly associated with an increased risk of death. Key messages • A significant proportion of iGAS cases were associated with a vaccine preventable illness. • A respiratory site of iGAS infection was significantly associated with an increased risk of death in paediatric cases.

Exploring the Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Rhinovirus Infection in Hospitalized Children Compared with Other Respiratory Viruses

Background: Acute viral respiratory tract infections constitute a significant challenge in pediatric healthcare globally, with rhinovirus representing one of the primary etiological agents. In this context, we conducted a study with the objective of identifying the clinical characteristics and outcomes of rhinovirus infection in comparison with other respiratory viruses in children hospitalized in one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the capital of Romania. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study among children hospitalized for influenza-like illness symptoms and who were tested by multiplex RT-PCR with a nasopharyngeal swab between May 2020 and December 2021. Results: A total of 496 children were eligible for inclusion in the study, and the positivity rate for at least one virus was 58.5%. The rhinovirus was identified in 138 patients (median age 12.5 months), representing 27.8% of all children tested and 49.3% of all positive samples. Although the clinical features of children with rhinovirus were dominated by cough (63.7%) and dyspnea (51.6%), no symptoms were identified that were strongly associated with rhinovirus infection in comparison to other respiratory viruses. The probability of receiving an antibiotic prescription was 1.92 times lower (p = 0.011) in children who tested positive for rhinovirus compared to children with negative RT-PCR results. The incidence of acute bronchiolitis or acute bronchitis, acute respiratory failure, and acute otitis media was higher among rhinovirus-positive children than among those who tested negative via RT-PCR. However, the incidence of these conditions was similar among children who tested positive for other respiratory viruses. Conclusions: Rhinovirus was the most prevalent virus identified in children hospitalized with influenza-like illness symptoms. The utilization of multiplex RT-PCR molecular tests is instrumental in elucidating etiology with precision and implementation of these advanced diagnostic methods, which can bring significant benefits in practice. A positive result for rhinovirus helps to reduce the unnecessary administration of antibiotics and optimizes patient management, thus decreasing the risk of severe complications such as acute respiratory failure and acute otitis media.

Main challenges and measures taken by public health institutions in response to war in Kyiv Region

Abstract Background The establishment of martial law due to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine led to specific adjustments in the functioning of the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (СDС). The negative impact of hostilities is determined by the increased morbidity rate of communicable and non-communicable diseases, insufficient supply of safe drinking water and food to damaged sites, inadequate living conditions, etc. Objectives The purpose of the work was to create an effective system for responding to biological, chemical and radiation hazards and eliminating the consequences of an emergency situation in the realities of martial law. Methods We used the most common methods, namely descriptive, statistical, microbiological and сhemical laboratory tests. Results The activities of the CDC under martial law include daily monitoring studies of environmental objects. The epidemic situation of acute intestinal infection (AII) and other communicable diseases (CD) is constantly analyzed. The Kyiv Oblast CDC became the basic institution for the implementation of the ‘pilot project’ in the direction of sanitary and epidemic assessment and monitoring of environmetal objects in 188 de-occupied areas. The main public health risks were identified: providing the population with high-quality drinking water; low immunization rate of the population; sites for the location of internally displaced persons; natural foci of especially dangerous diseases, such as tularemia, leptospirosis, infection fevers, etc. In 2022, the overall level of CD in the Kyiv region decreased by 44.0% from 2021. The most common nosologies were acute respiratory viral infections and influenza (98.9%), AII (42.4%), tuberculosis (15.3%), Lyme disease (15.3%), and viral hepatitis (14.2%). Conclusions Based on the research conducted, mechanisms have been developed for responding to hazards of various origins by public health institutions, including risk assessmant and laboratory studies. Key messages • The main focus of the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention is aimed at effective response to hazards of various origins in order to ensure public health under martial law. • Risk assessment in de-occupied territories has become an important tool for identifying correct approaches to prevent negative consequences for public health.

The protective effect and immunomodulatory ability of orally administrated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in BALB/c mice.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae represents one of the significant etiologies of community-acquired pneumonia in pediatric patients. However, clinical treatment of M. pneumoniae infection in children has encountered challenges due to the escalating resistance to quinolones. Numerous studies have highlighted the potential of probiotic lactobacillus administration in boosting immune responses to bacterial and viral respiratory infections. In this study, the protective efficacy of pre-oral administration of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Limosilactobacillus reuteri F275, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 8826, L. plantarum S1 or L. plantarum S2 was evaluated in the BALB/c mice model; it was observed that among these five strains of lactobacillus, the supplementation of LGG exhibited the most significant protective effect against M. pneumoniae infection. Moreover, when administered orally, both live LGG and heat-inactivated LGG have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the burden of M. pneumoniae in the lungs and alleviating pulmonary inflammation. Oral supplementation with LGG resulted in the inhibition of neutrophil recruitment into the lungs and increased recruitment of alveolar macrophages in M. pneumoniae-infected mice. Additionally, LGG supplementation led to increased production of IL-10 and secretory IgA (sIgA), while suppressing the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α in the lungs of mice infected with M. pneumoniae. The data suggests that supplementation with LGG can modulate immune responses, decrease pathogen load, and alleviate inflammatory injury in the lungs of M. pneumoniae-infected mice.

Monitoring the Cascade of Monocyte-Derived Macrophages to Influenza Virus Infection in Human Alveolus Chips.

Respiratory viruses ravage the world and seriously threaten people's health. Despite intense research efforts, the immune mechanism underlying respiratory virus-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has not been fully elucidated. Here, the cascade of monocyte-derived macrophages to influenza A virus infection is monitored on an optimized human alveolus chip to reveal the role of macrophages in the development of ALI and PF. We find that viral infection causes damage to the alveolar air-liquid barrier and the release of inflammatory cytokines, which induce the M0 macrophages to gather and polarize to the M1 phenotype at the damaged site through recruitment, adhesion, migration, and activation, leading to ALI. Afterward, M1 macrophages polarize into the M2 phenotype, and then transform into myofibroblasts, followed by enhanced secretion of various anti-inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic cytokines, to promote PF. Our study provides an insight into the pathogenesis of virus-induced ALI and PF, which will assist in the development of therapeutic strategies and drugs for treating influenza and other respiratory virus infections.

Impact of universal masking in reducing the risk of nosocomial respiratory viruses among people with cancer.

Universal masking within healthcare settings was adopted to combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In addition to mitigating the risk for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, it also had an added benefit of preventing the nosocomial transmission of other respiratory viral diseases. This study examines the impact of the masking intervention on nosocomial respiratory viral infections (RVI) in vulnerable sub-populations of people with cancer at a tertiary care hospital. Interrupted time series analysis. We reviewed non-SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial RVI between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2023 and compared its quarterly trends before (January 2017 to March 2020) and after (April 2020 to December 2023) the universal masking intervention was implemented. Prior to the masking policy, there was no significant change in the quarterly rate of non-SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial RVI (baseline trend: P = 0.662). Crude infection rates decreased from 5.6% preintervention to 4.3% after the masking policy was implemented (P < 0.001). Quarterly trends continued to steadily decline post-intervention (β = -0.10, SE = 0.04, P < 0.007). Our results suggest that universal face masking is associated with reduced non-SARS-CoV-2 nosocomial RVI, providing further evidence to support the continued use of face masks in healthcare settings to protect the health of immunocompromised patients.