Severe Course Of COVID-19 Research Articles

Magnetic resonance imaging-derived portrait of cardiac patients in one specialized cardiovascular center during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose. The objective of the study was to elucidate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)-derived portrait of a patient in one specialized cardiovascular center.Material and Methods. The study comprised 987 patients who underwent CMR with paramagnetic contrast enhancement in cardiovascular center from 01.01.2019 to 01.06.2022. Data were obtained from electronic medical records stored in the electronic module keeping track of instrumental studies. Data contained information on type and characteristics of protocol, referring department, clinical and demographic patient characteristics, and diagnosis. Gender, age, type of visit (ambulatory, in-hospital), instrumental data, and unstructured text were analyzed. Contrast-enhanced CMR was performed according to standard method using 1.5-Tesla MRI system Vantage Titan 1.5T (Toshiba Medical Systems) with ECG-synchronization.Results. Proportion of CMR among all MRI studies increased during the study period. Maximum number of cardiac diseases was detected in 2021. Incidence of fibrosis-dystrophic myocardial changes increased from 67.17% in 2019 to 84.14% in 2022 potentially due to the past cardiac inflammation. Patient numbers in each age group peaked in 2021, and the highest incidence rate was observed in the group of 60-69-year-old patients with high risk for severe COVID-19 course and complications. In 2020, the incidence of acute myocarditis significantly decreased to 10% in men and 13% in women and then gradually increased in 2021. The rate of ambulatory visits significantly increased in 2020, but returned to the pre-pandemic level in 2021.Conclusion. COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for CMR. Patients with history of COVID-19 had persistent and newly occurring symptoms of myocardial damage suggesting chronic cardiac involvement. Regional myocardial fibrosis was the main COVID-19-associated presentation on contrast-enhanced CMR. Continuous follow-up of patients is required to assess their risk for the left ventricular remodeling.

Magnetic resonance imaging-derived portrait of cardiac patients in one specialized cardiovascular center during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose. The objective of the study was to elucidate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)-derived portrait of a patient in one specialized cardiovascular center.Material and Methods. The study comprised 987 patients who underwent CMR with paramagnetic contrast enhancement in cardiovascular center from 01.01.2019 to 01.06.2022. Data were obtained from electronic medical records stored in the electronic module keeping track of instrumental studies. Data contained information on type and characteristics of protocol, referring department, clinical and demographic patient characteristics, and diagnosis. Gender, age, type of visit (ambulatory, in-hospital), instrumental data, and unstructured text were analyzed. Contrast-enhanced CMR was performed according to standard method using 1.5-Tesla MRI system Vantage Titan 1.5T (Toshiba Medical Systems) with ECG-synchronization.Results. Proportion of CMR among all MRI studies increased during the study period. Maximum number of cardiac diseases was detected in 2021. Incidence of fibrosis-dystrophic myocardial changes increased from 67.17% in 2019 to 84.14% in 2022 potentially due to the past cardiac inflammation. Patient numbers in each age group peaked in 2021, and the highest incidence rate was observed in the group of 60-69-year-old patients with high risk for severe COVID-19 course and complications. In 2020, the incidence of acute myocarditis significantly decreased to 10% in men and 13% in women and then gradually increased in 2021. The rate of ambulatory visits significantly increased in 2020, but returned to the pre-pandemic level in 2021.Conclusion. COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for CMR. Patients with history of COVID-19 had persistent and newly occurring symptoms of myocardial damage suggesting chronic cardiac involvement. Regional myocardial fibrosis was the main COVID-19-associated presentation on contrast-enhanced CMR. Continuous follow-up of patients is required to assess their risk for the left ventricular remodeling.

Standard error estimation in meta-analysis of studies reporting medians.

We consider the setting of an aggregate data meta-analysis of a continuous outcome of interest. When the distribution of the outcome is skewed, it is often the case that some primary studies report the sample mean and standard deviation of the outcome and other studies report the sample median along with the first and third quartiles and/or minimum and maximum values. To perform meta-analysis in this context, a number of approaches have recently been developed to impute the sample mean and standard deviation from studies reporting medians. Then, standard meta-analytic approaches with inverse-variance weighting are applied based on the (imputed) study-specific sample means and standard deviations. In this article, we illustrate how this common practice can severely underestimate the within-study standard errors, which results in poor coverage for the pooled mean in common effect meta-analyses and overestimation of between-study heterogeneity in random effects meta-analyses. We propose a straightforward bootstrap approach to estimate the standard errors of the imputed sample means. Our simulation study illustrates how the proposed approach can improve the estimation of the within-study standard errors and consequently improve coverage for the pooled mean in common effect meta-analyses and estimation of between-study heterogeneity in random effects meta-analyses. Moreover, we apply the proposed approach in a meta-analysis to identify risk factors of a severe course of COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 in Pregnancy-A Retrospective Analysis of Selected Maternal and Fetal Laboratory Parameters.

Pregnant women and their neonates belong to the group of individuals with elevated risk for COVID-19 infection. Data on the course of the disease and how it affects the pregnancy and neonatal wellbeing remain conflicting. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of SARS CoV-2 infection on the mode of delivery, neonatal condition and selected maternal and fetal laboratory parameters. This was a single-center retrospective case-control study. This dataset was generated using electronic medical records collected by medical personnel. Two groups of patients, hospitalized between April, 2020 and February, 2021, were included in the study: study group (304)-pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 and control group (N = 329)-healthy pregnant women or parturients. Mothers with a severe course of COVID-19 had higher activated partial thromboplastin-APTT (p = 0.02), C-Reactive Protein-CRP (p = 0.00) and procalcitonin (p = 0.032) levels as compared to pregnant women with mild or moderate course of the disease. Neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers presented with worse condition at 1 and 5 minutes of life (p = 0.000 and 0.00, respectively) and lower Arterial Blood Gas-ABG pH scores (p = 0.016). Elective cesarean section is the most common mode of delivery for SARS-CoV2-infected mothers. Emergency cesarean sections are performed at earlier gestational age as compared to vaginal delivery and elective cesarean section. Lower Apgar scores were observed in neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers who required oxygen therapy and whose procalcitonin levels were elevated. There is a relationship between more severe course of COVID-19 and APTT, as well as CRP and procalcitonin levels.

Orofacial and facial pain during the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic. Choosing a non-steroid anti-inflammator – focus on nimesulide

Doctors of various specialties face orofacial and facial pain in their practice: dentists, maxillofacial surgeons, neurologists, neurosurgeons, otorhinolaryngologists, therapists, general practitioners, traumatologists, ophthalmologists, psychotherapists, physiotherapists, aesthetic medicine doctors, anesthesiologists, plastic surgeons and other specialists. The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic, spread by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has become a challenge for all medical specialties and health care systems around the world. The respiratory system is the dominant target of SARS-CoV-2. The oral mucosa is also highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, due to the wide distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme type II receptors in the oral cavity. We searched the literature for the period from the beginning of the pandemic until August 22, 2022, on the study of the association of orofacial pain with a new coronavirus infection COVID-19 in the electronic search engines PubMed and Scopus. Analysis of the found sources indicates an increase in the frequency of various types of orofacial pain associated with 1) violation of dentoalveolar and related structures during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) temporomandibular disorders; 3) with damage or disease of the cranial nerves; and 4) like manifestations of primary headache. This growth is due both directly to the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, its complications, and to a complex of biopsychosocial factors directly related to the pandemic. In the second part of the article, as part of the review, the possibility of using nimesulide for the treatment of orofacial and facial pain during the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed. The choice of nimesulide is supported by 1) the likely coadjuvant effect of nimesulide in the treatment of COVID-19; 2) positive experience with the use of nimesulide in the treatment of facial and orofacial pain in the period preceding the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) the safety of using nimesulide in comorbid patients, who are the main risk group for the development and severe course of COVID-19.

Epidemic Outbreak of COVID-19 in Foreign Closed Long-Term Care Facilities

Objective. Of particular interest is the incidence of COVID-19 in closed groups, in institutions, in particular, in nursing homes, geriatric centers, veterans' homes and neuropsychiatric boarding schools.Methods. Analysis and description of COVID-19 foci in closed long-term care facilities was carried out using literature sources from the MEDLINE medical information database using the PubMed electronic search engine, using the search query CARE HOME OR NURSING HOME OR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY AND COVID-19 AND OUTBREAK. The share of sick people as a percentage of the total number of residents and individual employees was considered only in those publications that described the outbreak of COVID-19 in a single institution. The absence of data on the number of hospitalizations and deaths, symptoms, and data on the time frame of the outbreak was not an exclusion criterion, but their presence was taken into account in the analysis. We selected mainly publications where people with a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA were considered to be ill with COVID-19. However, it is worth considering that the authors describe outbreaks during the first rise in the incidence of COVID-19 in the world, when there was a shortage of test systems for a new coronavirus infection.Results. An overview of the incidence of COVID-19 in the world in closed long-term care institutions is presented. It has been shown that residents of closed communities are elderly people with many concomitant diseases, in connection with which a severe course of COVID-19 and high mortality are often noted.Conclusion. Convictions about the need to strengthen the quality of anti-epidemic measures in closed long-term care institutions, which are at risk, are summarized.

Impact of Exercise on Covid-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: The importance of exercise is improving the human body in different ways. Studies have shown that physical activity has a relationship with the enhancement of the immune system and maintains the body in a fit state, which explains the positive results of exposure to infection. Aim of the study: To measure the effectiveness of moderate exercise concerning symptoms, severity, and the recovery rate in COVID-19 patients METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in main cities in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. This investigation was undertaken during the pandemic of COVID-19, targeting individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. The final sample size was 385 individuals out of the 1,450,000 million Saudi Arabia population in Al-Qassim. The data was collected using a Self-administered online questionnaire and analyzed using statistical software SPSS. RESULTS: A total of 186 participants were included in this study. The majority of respondents were female (68.8%), most of the respondents (47.3%) were normal weight, and 35.5% were overweight. Regarding the medical history of COVID19 infection (75.8%), they are infected with COVID19. A statistically significant association was found between exercise practice and the disappearance of symptoms (p<0.01). It disappeared early during exercise. In addition, normal-weight respondents resolved their symptoms faster than other respondents (p <0.05). The results show that the most common and less common symptoms of COVID-19 were most frequently reported among normal weight respondents, and the most severe symptoms were most frequently reported among overweight respondents (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The present study results show that moderate exercise in patients with COVID-19 can be a valuable tool to improve symptoms, severity, and the recovery rate in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, our results showed that overweight patients were correlated with a severe clinical course of COVID-19.

Epidemiology and course of infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Report 1. HIV infection, hepatitis c and tuberculosis

Pathological conditions of various natures are capable of mutual aggravation, significantly affecting the overall burden of the disease, its manifestations and severity. This analytical review is devoted to the interaction between pathogens of socially significant infections human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), hepatitis C, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2. Foreign and own data covering the issues of syndemia and interference of pathogens are presented. The results of epidemiological analysis in the North-Western Federal District (NWFD) are presented, which demonstrated the absence of a significant impact of the pandemic caused by a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the epidemic incidence of HIV, viral hepatitis C or tuberculosis at the population level, which may be due to various mechanisms of transmission of infections and the required infectious dose of the pathogen. The absence of a negative effect of COVID-19 on mortality rates in HIV infection, viral hepatitis C and tuberculosis in the territories of the NWFD was noted. Special attention is paid to the clinical picture of the combined course of HIV infection, tuberculosis and COVID-19. The data are demonstrated, which allow us to conclude that the worst prognosis and risk of death are patients in the progressive stage of the disease, which is characterized by the presence of opportunistic infections, especially AIDS-indicator conditions, with disseminated tuberculosis and in the cirrhotic stage of viral hepatitis. The significance of severe manifestations of infectious pathology in cases of deterioration of the prognosis of COVID-19 is shown. Based on the experience of two years of the pandemic, the problems contributing to the syndrome of new coronavirus infection and other conditions, as well as the causes of high mortality from COVID-19, which include: limited resources for non-infectious areas of medical care; insufficient funding for planned and high-tech care; a decrease in the volume of primary diagnosis and detection of infectious and non-infectious pathology; delayed and limited research in areas; distraction of specialists from preventive and dispensary work outside of infectious pathology; shortage of medicines and consumables; social instability and deterioration of the well-being of the population, characteristic of pandemics. The role of a personalized approach to patients with concomitant somatic and infectious diseases as a preventive measure for the severe course and complications of COVID-19 is determined.

Goal-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation with EEG-Neurofeedback for a visual artist with PTSD resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, followed by severe course of neuroCovid and the sequelae of long term pharmacological coma

The purpose of the study was twofold: 1) to evaluate the effectiveness of goal-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation, with EEG-Neurofeedback, developed for a visual artist with PTSD resulting from infection with SARS-CoV-2, followed by severe course of neuroCovid and the sequelae of long term pharmacological coma, 2) to evaluate QEEG/ERP results showing a reduction of late-onset PTSD symptoms (as defined by DSM-5) over the course of the subject’s rehabilitation. The present study describes a 67-year-old right-handed visual artist with PTSD after infection with SARS-CoV-2, resulting in severe course of COVID-19 complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). She was send at ICU, put on a respirator and treated with analgesic sedation during 13 weeks of pharmacologically induced coma. After returning home she received rehabilitation to improve motor functioning, and was referred for further diagnosis and therapy to the Reintegration and Training Center of the Polish Neuropsychological Society. In neuropsychological diagnosis she presented with neurocognitive dysfunctions, including lost ability to paint. In the course of rehabilitation she received: 1. Program A consisted in goal-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation, including art therapy, aimed at the reduction of the neurocognitive dysfunctions (Pąchalska 2008). This program lasted for 9 months (from the beginning of March till the end of November 2022). 2. Program B based on the most commonly used form of EEG-Neurofeedback: frequency/ ower EEG-Neurofeedback, using 2 bipolar surface electrodes, called “surface neurofeedback” (Kropotov 2016). She received Theta/Beta, SMR training on C3, including (1) strengthening Beta1 and inhibiting Theta + inhibiting Beta 2,and (2) at C4, strengthening SMR and inhibiting Theta + inhibiting Beta, based on the international 10-20 system (Thompson & Thompson 2012). This program was given after a diagnosis of PTSD with late onset symptoms (as defined by DSM-5), from the beginning of August till the end of November, twice a week. Almost all the short and the long-term side effects of neuroCOVID (including the PTSD) were reduced in magnitude. The artist showed marked improvement and was able to return to painting. The artwork she made after her illness is in high demand with art collectors, which has improved the patient's quality of life. Goal-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation, with EEG-Neurofeedback administered for patient with PTSD resulting from infection with SARS-CoV-2, followed by severe course of neuroCovid symptoms and the sequelae of long term pharmacological coma, might be helpful in the reduction of short and long term neurocognitive dysfunctions, including the reduction of PTSD symptoms.

Determining factors of a personalized approach to patients with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective. To study the epidemiological, medical, social and clinical factors that affect the manifestations and treatment of diseases — infections caused by the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which underlie the formation of a personalized approach to the management and treatment of people living with HIV (PLHIV).Materials and methods. Epidemiological analysis of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the Leningrad region for 2021–2022 was carried out. The research team conducted a questionnaire and analysis of medical documentation of 122 HIVpositive patients registered at the Leningrad Regional Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases who suffered a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the period from 2020 to 2022. An assessment was made of the psychological and social characteristics of patients affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the clinical picture of the course of HIV infection, including in combination with COVID-19. The fact of SARS-CoV-2 disease was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) smears from the mouth and nasopharynx. Additionally, a group of 59 PLHIV hospitalized in hospitals in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region with a severe form of COVID-19 was isolated for analysis.Results and discussion. Number of COVID-19 cases in 2020–2021 in the Leningrad region amounted to 15.553 people, of which 1.553 had a history of HIV infection (13.5% of patients registered at the dispensary). The mortality rate among PLHIV who underwent COVID-19 was 5.1%. An equal ratio of women and men was observed among 122 surveyed patients, the average age of respondents was 41 years. When assessing the social status of the respondents, it was found that 25.4% had higher education, 56.5% had specialized secondary education. 72.9% had a permanent job. 61.4% of respondents considered themselves to be in the category of material well-being of «average level», 24.6% — to «below average». The sexual route of HIV infection was established in 50.8% of patients, injectable was 29.5%, in other cases it was not unknown. The average level of CD4 lymphocytes in the blood was 544 cl/mcl, most patients (90.2%) had an undetectable indicator of HIV viral load (VL). The average duration of the disease with the new coronavirus in HIV patients was 15.6 days. At the same time, 108 (88.5%) people noted a mild course of COVID-19 and did not need hospitalization. Coverage of COVID-19 vaccination among the surveyed PLHIV was 40.9%. According to data from 59 case histories of PLHIV hospitalized as a result of the severe course of COVID-19, 55 people died, a pathoanatomic autopsy was performed in 26 cases. The autopsy revealed the following complications and concomitant diseases: miliary tuberculosis (7.7%), purulent endocarditis (11.5%), sepsis (19.2%). Improvement in the dynamics was observed only in 4 PLHIV, whose further fate is unknown.Conclusion. The study showed that the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 among PLHIV in the Leningrad region is comparable to the general population, however, the total mortality among HIV-infected patients is higher than in the region and across the country. As a result of the analysis, we came to the conclusion that HIV infection and COVID-19 are independent in terms of co-infection at the outpatient stage. The exception is severe and aggravated comorbid cases, which required a more detailed assessment of the condition, the involvement of a larger number of specialists, as well as laboratory and instrumental research methods. The results obtained determined the need for a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to patients with HIV infection, taking into account their personal needs. Medical personnel providing care to PLHIV should take into account not only the clinical picture of the disease, but also the psychosocial status of the patient, in order to improve the outcomes of COVID-19 and HIV infection.

Clinical case of long-term persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in infant with congenital acute myeloid leukemia

According to the available data, children are less susceptible for developing a severe course of COVID-19 and commonly have mild or asymptomatic course of infection. It is reported about an increased risk of having more severe course in infants, at the same time, according to the literature data, the course in children receiving antineoplastic and immunosuppressive therapy is milder in comparison with other concomitant pathologies. This article presents the unique clinical case and the literature review of combined COVID-19-pneumonia and extremely rare congenital myeloid leukemia in the infant with the description of long-term infection persistence, changes in clinical data in dynamics, bone marrow test results and the experience of using donor plasma with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Prediction Value of KREBS Von Den Lungen-6 (KL-6) Biomarker in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major issue that necessitates the use of cutting-edge disease prediction models. The aim of the study was to assess the existing evidence regarding association between Krebs von den Lungen-6 levels and COVID-19 severity. A literature search was performed on Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from 1 January 2020 up to 2 August 2022. The electronic database search was supplemented by searching Google Scholar. In addition, reference lists of relative articles were also reviewed. KL-6 levels among COVID-19 positive vs. negative patients varied and amounted to 443.37 ± 249.33 vs. 205.73 ± 86.8 U/mL (MD = 275.33; 95%CI: 144.57 to 406.09; p < 0.001). The KL-6 level was 402.82 ± 261.16 U/mL in the severe group and was statistically significantly higher than in the non-severe group (297.38 ± 90.46 U/mL; MD = 192.45; 95%CI: 118.19 to 266.72; p < 0.001). The KL-6 level in the mild group was 272.28 ± 95.42 U/mL, compared to 268.04 ± 55.04 U/mL in the moderate COVID-19 group (MD = -12.58; 95%CI: -21.59 to -3.57; p = 0.006). Our meta-analysis indicates a significant association between increased KL-6 levels and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, KL-6 levels are significantly higher in patients with a more severe course of COVID-19, indicating that KL-6 may be a useful predictor to identify patients at risk for severe COVID-19.

Diagnostic Values of Laboratory Biomarkers in Predicting a Severe Course of COVID-19 on Hospital Admission.

We intend to identify differences in the clinicodemographic and laboratory findings of COVID-19 patients to predict disease severity and outcome on admission. This single-centred retrospective study retrieved laboratory and clinical data from 350 COVID-19 patients on admission, represented as frequency tables. A multivariate regression model was used to assess the statistically significant association between the explanatory variables and COVID-19 infection outcomes, where adjusted odds ratio (AOR), p value, and 95% CI were used for testing significance. Among the 350 COVID-19 patients studied, there was a significant increase in the WBC count, neutrophils, aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet ratio (NLPR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), D-dimer, interleukin-6 (IL-6), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), prothrombin time (PT), glucose, urea, urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and a significant decrease in lymphocytes, eosinophils, total protein, albumin, prealbumin serum, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio in the severe group when compared with the mild and moderate groups. However, after adjusting their age, gender, and comorbidities, WBC count (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.888, 95% CI = 1.590-29.839, p = 0.010), neutrophils (AOR = 5.912, 95% CI = 2.131-16.402, p = 0.001), and urea (AOR = 4.843, 95% CI = 1.988-11.755, p = 0.001) were strongly associated with disease severity. Interpretation and Conclusion. On admission, WBC count, neutrophils, and urea, with their cut of values, can identify at-risk COVID-19 patients who could develop severe COVID-19.

Association of Alleles of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class II Genes and Severity of COVID-19 in Patients of the 'Red Zone' of the Endocrinology Research Center, Moscow, Russia.

The aim of this study was to assess the correlations of clinical features of patients with moderate and severe courses of COVID-19, comorbidity (endocrine, autoimmune, cardiovascular, oncological, and pulmonary diseases), and alleles of the HLA class II system genes. One hundred COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Endocrinology Research Centre, Moscow, Russia, were analyzed for age, gender, smoking, comorbidity, and invasive mechanical ventilation. Computer tomography was used to assess the severity of the disease. HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, and HLA-DQB1 alleles were identified in samples from 100 patients and samples from 327 randomly selected individuals collected in the prepandemic period (control group). There was no association of gender, age, weight, body mass index, smoking, and comorbidity with the severity of COVID-19. Allele DQB1*06:02-8 was more common in patients (p < 0.00005), and DQB1*06:01 and DQB1*05:03 were more common in the control group (p < 0.00005, and p = 0.0011, respectively). DQB1*06:02-8 can probably be considered as predisposing to moderate and severe COVID-19, and DQB1*06:01 can be considered as protective. No association of these alleles with comorbidity was found. Our results suggest that carriers of predisposing alleles, with cardiovascular and non-autoimmune endocrine diseases, should take more stringent preventive measures, and if infected, a more aggressive COVID-19 treatment strategy should be used.

Risk of Severe COVID-19 in Non-Adherent OSA Patients.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are at increased risk of severe course of COVID-19. Vaccination remains to be the most effective prevention of complicated courses of infection. The best contemporary conservative treatment of OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. To compare vaccination acceptance and outcomes of COVID-19 infection between OSA patients adhering to the CPAP therapy and those who rejected CPAP and surgical therapy. Subjects were divided into two groups: group A (N = 167) were individuals with sufficient CPAP adherence (more than 4 hours per night on average) over the last 10 years. Group B (N = 106) were individuals who did not use the CPAP therapy at all and had no indications to surgical therapy. Three patients in group B died, and one had a severe course of COVID-19. None of the patients in group A died or experienced a severe course of COVID-19. Group A had a significantly higher proportion of males (77.8% compared to 66% in group B) and all parameters of OSA severity. The vaccination status was similar among both groups, with a complete triple dose vaccination rate of 69.5% and 67.9% in groups A and B, respectively. The results show that the patients with OSA adherent to CPAP therapy were less likely to experience a severe course of COVID-19 or death than the OSA patients non-compliant with therapy, despite the former group having more severe OSA. This result underlines the importance of adherence to CPAP therapy in OSA.

Protocol for a 30-day randomised, parallel-group, non-inferiority, controlled trial investigating the effects of discontinuing renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in patients with and without COVID-19: the RASCOVID-19 trial

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic caused by the virus SARS-CoV has spread rapidly and caused damage worldwide. Data suggest a major overrepresentation of hypertension and diabetes among patients experiencing severe courses of...

Role of IFNγ in pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection

To date, there is no consensus explaining the relationship between varying concentrations of IFNγ and the severity of infection caused by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this article was to analyze and formulate conclusions from the selected studies and publications, which, in sum, provide a potentially reasonable view on the role of IFNγ in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This article highlights current data on the immunological role of IFNγ which affects differentiation of naive T helper cells, acting as a polarizing factor. It activates the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II, by increasing the expression of MHC I/II subunits, inhibiting replication of the viral particles by initiating activation of interferon-stimulated genes followed by subsequent synthesis of antiviral proteins. Moreover, IFNγ activates the production of cytokines by T cells, enhancing cytotoxic activity of the T killers. IFNγ exerts immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory effects via STAT1, SOCS1 and PIAS genes, thus regulating activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. A number of studies were considered where the patterns of changes in serum IFNγ concentration were examined in viral infections and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a systemic analysis of the results of studies that showed a relationship between high concentrations of IFNγ and COVID-19 severity. In a number of studies, the significantly high levels of IFNγ in COVID-19 patients were often associated with a poor outcome of the disease. The median values of the IFNγ concentration in severe COVID-19 were found to be significantly higher compared to the results obtained in the cases of moderate severity. It shows an increase, in parallel with viral load in the nasopharyngeal samples upon worsening of the clinical condition. Based on the data on the decreased IFNγ concentrations in convalescent patients, the mechanism of antagonism between IFNγ and IL-4 is considered, where the decreases serum concentrations of IFNγ along with increasing level of IL-4 may be an indirect proof of normal adaptive immune response with subsequent development of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and gradual elimination of the virus from the body. Moreover, the evidence is discussed that the patients harboring some parasitic infections (Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis hominis, Giardia duodenalis, Entamoeba histolytica) with persistently elevated level of IFNγ are at reduced risk for severe course of COVID-19.

Molnupiravir Outpatient Treatment for Adults with COVID-19 in a Real-World Setting-A Single Center Experience.

Molnupiravir is approved for the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. The main goal of the treatment is to reduce hospitalization and mortality rate. This study aimed at the all-cause hospitalization and all-cause death assessment in patients at high risk of severe COVID-19 treated with molnupiravir. This was a prospective, observational single center study. Non-hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 symptoms with the onset of up to 5 days, and at high risk of severe COVID-19 illness received molnupiravir based on attending physician decisions. In total, 107 patients were enrolled. Adverse events were reported in 28.0% of patients, with nausea and abdominal pain being the most commonly observed. No treatment-emergent AEs resulted in therapy discontinuation. Overall, 15 patients required hospitalization. During the observation, 2.8% (n = 3) of patients subsequently died. All deaths were considered to be related to COVID-19 complications. Age over 65 years, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease showed a significant correlation with the severe course of COVID-19. Molnupiravir may be perceived as an alternative treatment for patients with immunosuppression and advanced chronic kidney disease. Nevertheless, further studies are required to conclusively establish a role for molnupiravir in future COVID-19 treatment recommendations.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 Variants Is Associated with Different Long COVID Phenotypes.

COVID-19 has been associated with a broad range of long-term sequelae, commonly referred to as "long-COVID" or "post-COVID-19" syndrome. Despite an increasing body of literature, long COVID remains poorly characterized. We retrospectively analysed data from electronic medical records of patients admitted to the post-COVID-19 outpatient service of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, between June 2020 and June 2021, 4-12 weeks after hospital discharge. A total of 428 patients, 41% women, median age 64 years, underwent a follow-up visit a median 53 days after hospital discharge. Overall, 76% patients reported at least one persistent symptom, including dyspnoea (37%), chronic fatigue (36%), insomnia (16%), visual disorders (13%) and brain fog (13%). Increasing oxygen support (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8), use of immunosuppressants (OR 6.4, 95% CI 1.5-28) and female sex (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.9) were associated with a higher risk of long COVID symptoms. Comparison between symptomatic patients infected in the period March-December 2020 (prevalent circulation of wild-type SARS-CoV-2) with those infected in the period January-April 2021 (prevalent circulation of B.1.1.7 Alpha variant) showed a significant modification in the pattern of symptoms belonging to the neurological and cognitive/emotional categories. Our findings confirmed shortness of breath and chronic fatigue as the most frequent long COVID manifestations, while female sex and severe COVID-19 course were the main risk factors for developing lingering symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 variants may induce different long COVID phenotypes, possibly due to changes in cell tropism and differences in viral-host interaction.

The burden of a new coronavirus infection in a Children’s multidisciplinary hospital in St. Petersburg 2020–2021

Objective: To describe the burden of COVID-19 in a children’s multidisciplinary hospital for two years of the pandemic, taking into account of age, severity of the disease, the spectrum of underlying conditions and the intensive care need.Methods: An assessment of 6048 cases of COVID-19 in patients under 18 years of age hospitalized from March 26, 2020 to December 31, 2021 was carried out. The diagnosis was confirmed by PCR on an outpatient basis or after hospitalization with the help of diagnostic kits registered in the Russian Federation. The features of the work of a children’s multidisciplinary hospital in new conditions, the dynamics of hospitalization, age characteristics and new coronavirus (CV) infection severity in the pandemic development process are presented. The analysis of the underlying condition’s structure depending on the severity of the disease, as well as the need and volume of therapy in the intensive care unit. The frequency and main characteristics of children’s multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in hospital conditions, long-term PCR positivity and its effect on the duration of inpatient treatment of children have been established.Results: The spread of SARS-COV-2 in St. Petersburg required a radical change in the work of the children’s multidisciplinary hospital. During the two years of the pandemic, four waves of hospitalization of children with new CV were revealed, differing in duration, intensity, and frequency of lung damage, but having no significant differences in the proportion of severe forms of the disease (1.7-2.8% of cases). Intensive therapy was required in 3.6% of cases, of which only 1/3 was due to the severe course of COVID-19 with a lung lesion volume of up to 100%. In 1/3 of cases, patients had risks of developing severe forms and in 1/3 – other pathology. Severe course of new CV was significantly more often accompanied by the need for respiratory support, anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory therapy. Contributing factors of severe forms and unfavorable outcomes were: pathology of the central nervous system, genetic diseases and malformations, obesity, as well as chronic bronchopulmonary pathology. Mortality in the hospital was recorded only among children with severe underlying conditions (0.1% of cases). D-MVS was registered significantly more often in boys (7 out of every 10 patients), accounting for 1.2% of cases of hospitalization of children with new CV over the entire period. Convalescent PCR-positivity in the outcome of COVID-19 was detected in 1/3 of children, significantly more often during the autumnwinter waves of the pandemic and among patients of high school age.Conclusion: New CV is gradually strengthening its position in the structure of acute respiratory pathology in children. Some of SARS-COV-2 infection cases is accompanied by extensive lung damage, as well as severe systemic inflammation independently or in the other infectious diseases structure, induction of the debut of various somatic pathology is not excluded. The presented data confirm the need for increased attention at high risk of adverse respiratory diseases outcomes children. All severe cases of COVID-19 in children require a personalized approach, taking into account the existing background diseases and possible options for the progression of the process. MIS-C should be considered as a systemic inflammatory response syndrome within the framework of an infectious disease of various etiologies, differentiated with Kawasaki disease and the debut of systemic diseases. The long-term PCR-positivity in the outcome of COVID-19 requires further study to address the need and nature of therapy in order to prevent further spread of infection in the population.