[Clinical and morphological features of lung injury long-term after SARS-CoV-2 recovery].

AIM: To study the clinical and histological profile of lung tissue in patients with persistent pulmonary disease, respiratory symptoms and CT findings after SARS-CoV-2 infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 15 patients (7 females and 8 males) with a mean age of 57.7 years. All patients underwent laboratory tests, chest computed tomography, echocardiography, and pulmonary function tests. Pulmonary tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage samples were obtained by fibrobronchoscopy, transbronchial forceps (2 patients), and lung cryobiopsy (11 patients); open biopsy was performed in 2 patients. Cellular composition, herpesvirus DNA, SARS-CoV-2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, galactomannan optical density index, and bacterial and fungal microflora growth were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage. SARS-CoV-2 was also identified in samples from the nasal mucosa, throat and feces using a polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The results showed no true pulmonary fibrosis in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection with persistent respiratory symptoms, functional impairment, and CT findings after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The observed changes comply with the current and/or resolving infection and inflammatory process. CONCLUSION: Thus, no true pulmonary fibrosis was found in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection with persistent respiratory symptoms, functional impairment, and CT findings. The observed changes comply with the current and/or resolving infection and inflammatory process.

[Clinical portrait of a patient with COVID-19. The experience of a multidisciplinary clinic].

AIM: Evaluation of the clinical characteristics in patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The article presents clinical and instrumental data of 1169 patients included in a single-center mixed study. Patients were tested for COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction, computed tomography (CT), and antibody screening. Clinical history data were collected. RESULTS: In patients with confirmed COVID-19, lung damage and a positive test for antibodies were observed in 75.5 and 45.2% of cases, respectively. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 were: fever (73.2%), weakness, (72.7%) dry cough (62.8%) and shortness of breath (55.4%). Patients with CT-visualized lung lesions were more likely to have clinical symptoms and elevated levels of antibodies. Patients with chronic diseases of the endocrine system, circulatory system, and respiratory system had a more severe course of the disease (CT-14: 91.296.3%) than patients without chronic diseases (CT-14: 85,1%). CONCLUSION: We have compiled a clinical profile of patients with COVID-19 and highlighted the most significant clinical characteristics corresponding to a more severe course of the disease. Our data showed that patients with chronic diseases require a personalized approach and the development of specific criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

[Differential diagnosis of chylothorax in therapeutic practice].

The article is devoted to the differential diagnosis of chylous pleural effusion. The spectrum of traumatic and non-traumatic causes of chylothorax is discussed in detail. Examples of necessary diagnostic measures are given for the accumulation of milky fluid in the pleural cavity in order to verify chylothorax.

[Clinical efficacy of mechanical bacterial lysate in the prevention of infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of mechanical bacterial lysate on the prevention of infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with frequent exacerbations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included patients (n=60) with frequent exacerbations of COPD (groups C and D according to the GOLD classification). All COPD patients were divided into two groups by blind method. The first group (n=30) received conventional therapy for COPD plus MBL (the course included 3 cycles of 10 days therapy with 20-day intervals between them). The second group of patients (control, n=30) received conventional therapy for COPD without MBL.We evaluated the severity of symptoms, frequency of recurrence of COPD exacerbations, readmissions, need for emergency care and changes in basic therapy of COPD. Evaluations were done on 10 days, 1, 3 and 6 months from the start of the study. RESULTS: Adding of MBL to the therapy list of COPD resulted in a significant decrease of biomarkers of systemic inflammation and sputum purulence during compared to the control group. After 6 months of observation MBL group demonstrated statistically significant improvement of respiratory function, decrease in frequency of COPD exacerbations, needs for emergency medical service, reduced changes in basic therapy and hospitalization for exacerbation of COPD. Therapy with MBL showed a high degree of safety and low incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that MBL may be used for the prevention of severe infectious exacerbations of COPD.

Functional insufficiency of the pancreas and the metabolic activity of the microbiota in cystic fibrosis adults patients.

AIM: In order to optimize the therapy, the functional state of the pancreas (P) and the peculiarities of metabolic activity of intestinal microbiota in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 14 CF patients (20-34 years, 7 men, 7 women) were enrolled. In 8 patients, the diagnosis was confirmed in the first year of life on the basis of clinical data, positive sweat test, 5 had genetic confirmation. In 4 patients, the diagnosis was confirmed at the age of 8-13 years and 2 patients aged 18, 27 years. In this group, genetic confirmation was in 4 subjects. In addition to general clinical studies, the level of C-peptide in blood, elastase and the concentration of short chain fatty acids in feces was determined. RESULTS: Of elastase feces in 9 patients was 5.5±4.7 icg/g, that is revealed severe exocrine insufficiency of the pancreas and in 5 patients the elastase level was normal and amounted to 402±124 icg/g. Deployed the clinical picture of diabetes mellitus was observed in 3 patients. Metabolic activity of the colon microflora as a whole was reduced, the sum of the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (ΣCn) was 6.03±4.11 mg/g at a rate of 10.61±5.11 (p<0.05). At the same time, in some patients (group 1, n=9), who were at the time of the study on antibiotic therapy, the value of ΣCn was 3.32±0.33 mg/g, and in patients receiving probiotic drugs (group 2, n=5), the activity of microflora did not differ from the norm ((ΣCn=11.03±2.01 mg/g). The correlation dependence of the ratio of the total iso-acids fraction in patients with MV to the normal values and the level of fecal elastase (r= -0.46, p=0.049) was revealed. CONCLUSION: Most patients with CF (64%) diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency severe according elastase stool. The activity of faecal elastase correlated with parameters of microbiocenosis, which indicates the necessity of correction is not only functional insufficiency of the pancreas, but also the state of the microbiota.