Peculiarities of situational and personal anxiety degree in the schoolchildren with ENT chronic diseases.

BACKGROUND: A number of the QL researches in case of different pathologies are being increased during the last decade. The existing traditional research methods provide mostly arbitrary data on the disease and its treatment, which are not sufficient for the schoolchildren overall psychological and social adaptation and wellness evaluation. METHODS: The research object became schoolchildren of 3 randomly selected schools in Yerevan. 443 monitoring units formed the selection population. The degree of situational and personal anxiety was evaluated with the help of Spielberger's and Gerbachevski's tests. RESULTS: According to our research data the anxiety degree was 29,2 ± 2,3 points among the girls and 12,5 ± 1,6 points among the boys, respectively. The individual anxiety level was especially high: it made up 44,5 ± 0,8 points, and that of the situational anxiety made up 37,2 ± 0,5 points (p < 0,05). According to Gerbachovski's test in the group of schoolchildren with ENT pathology those with a high level of demands made up 53,5 ± 3,2%, with a medium level of demands - 32,4 ± 3,0% and with a low level of demands -14,1 ± 2,2%. A number of the practically healthy schoolchildren with a low level of demands made up 50,3%, and with a high level - 30,7%. CONCLUSION: According to the investigation data those children who suffer from the ENT chronic diseases usually avoided communication, were sluggish and shy. According to the results of the research, the socio-psychological and adaptation abilities of children with the ENT chronic diseases were lower than those of the practically healthy (without ENT pathologies) coevals. This fact urges to improve the prophylactic measures provision in the mentioned pathologies aspect.

Influence of ovarian cysts on ovarian reserve and fertility: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of having an ovarian cyst and undergoing cystectomy on the expression of ovarian reserve markers among adolescent females who live in Armenia. METHODS: We conducted a prospective case-control study. Cases were arranged into two groups. The postoperative group (POG) included those who underwent unilateral ovarian cystectomy, and those in the benign ovarian cyst group (BOCG) had complex ovarian cysts with a diameter of 5 cm or more. Adolescents without ovarian pathologies were included in the reference group (RFG). Levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured, and an ultrasound investigation of antral follicular count (AFC) was also done. RESULTS: Mean differences between baseline and 6-month follow-up levels of AMH, AFC significantly decreased in both the POG and BOCG compared to the RFG. However, the decrease was more significant in the POG: a decrease of 0.86 ng/mL for AMH and 3.11 ng/mL for AFC versus decreasing by 0.61 ng/mL for AMH and 1.68 ng/mL for AFC. Meanwhile, in the BOCG, 6-month FSH levels did not show any significant changes compared to the baseline measurement. In comparison with the reference group, there was a significant decrease in the levels of AMH and AFC among participants who had endometriomas and cystadenomas. CONCLUSION: Benign ovarian cysts 5 cm or more in diameter, as well as cystectomy, statistically affect OR after 6 months. Therefore, adolescents with ovarian cyst or cystectomy need individualized support to maintain reproductive age fertility.

The Role of Complement System's C3 and C4 Fractions in the Pathogenesis of Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To study the role of the complement system's C3 and C4 fractions in the pathogenesis of different types of uveitis. METHODS: A prospective case-control study. 118 patients were enrolled. The control group comprised 60 patients who were otherwise healthy people undergoing cataract or pterygium surgery, whereas the uveitis patients group consisted of 58 people. The levels of C3 and C4 fractions in the blood and in the aqueous humor for both groups were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in the levels of the C3 and C4 fractions in the blood between the groups. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the levels of C3 and C4 in the aqueous humor between the case and control groups, as C3 and C4 fractions were not detected in the control group. The analysis of the mean gradient between the C4 levels in the blood samples and in the aqueous samples did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the case and control groups. However, upon performing an analogous mean gradient analysis of C3 levels, a statistically significant elevation in the value of the mean gradient was observed in the case group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings are in line with our initial hypothesis, that the complement system's C3 and C4 fractions may have a role in the pathogenesis of uveitis.

Tracking the evolution of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and long-term humoral immunity within 2 years after COVID-19 infection.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that gave rise to COVID-19 infection produced a worldwide health crisis. The virus can cause a serious or even fatal disease. Comprehending the complex immunological responses triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential for identifying pivotal elements that shape the course of the disease and its enduring effects on immunity. The span and potency of antibody responses provide valuable perspicuity into the resilience of post-infection immunity. The analysis of existing literature reveals a diverse controversy, confining varying data about the persistence of particular antibodies as well as the multifaceted factors that impact their development and titer, Within this study we aimed to understand the dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against nucleocapsid (anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N)) and spike (anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N)) proteins in long-term immunity in convalescent patients, as well as the factors influencing the production and kinetics of those antibodies. We collected 6115 serum samples from 1611 convalescent patients at different post-infection intervals up to 21 months Study showed that in the fourth month, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N) exhibited their peak mean value, demonstrating a 79% increase compared to the initial month. Over the subsequent eight months, the peak value experienced a modest decline, maintaining a relatively elevated level by the end of study. Conversely, anti-SARS-CoV-2 (S) exhibited a consistent increase at each three-month interval over the 15-month period, culminating in a statistically significant peak mean value at the study's conclusion. Our findings demonstrate evidence of sustained seropositivity rates for both anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N) and (S), as well as distinct dynamics in the long-term antibody responses, with anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N) levels displaying remarkable persistence and anti-SARS-CoV-2 (S) antibodies exhibiting a progressive incline.

Is I-shaped uterus more common in patients with hyperandrogenism?

OBJECTIVES: Subtypes of T-shaped uterus are rare uterine cavity anomalies and there are no morphometric criteria for the diagnosis. Earlier we established a high frequency of I-shaped uterus in patients with adrenalhyperandrogenism, which is more common in Armenian populations. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of I-shaped uterus as a subtype of T-shaped uterus in patients with ovarian and adrenal hyperandrogenism, accompanied by infertility and miscarriage, as well as the development of it's ultrasonic morphometric criteria. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an ultrasound of 486 patients aged 19-40 years (mean 30.1 ± 5.5) who applied for infertility or habitual pregnancy loss.74 of them were diagnosed with the PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) and 43-CAH (congenital adrenal hyperplasia). Ultrasound was performed in early luteal phase. The classification of uterine cavities was carried out according ESHRE/ESGE. RESULTS: 299 had normal ultrasound morphology of the uterine cavity, 20.7% various uterine cavity abnormalities. T-shaped uterus was observed in 3.7%, I-shaped uterus exclusively in patients with hyperandrogenism, 24.3% with PCOS and 39.5% with CAH. To determine the relevant morphometric features as diagnostic criteria for the I-shaped uterus some measurements were performed. The values of dist1-dist2 and dist1-dist3 in the normal cavity had a significant difference (P1-2 0.3), also the cavity width in the middle third and the isthmic section did not have a significant difference (P > 0.05), while in the normal cavity shape these values were significantly different (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Frequency of occurrence of the T-shaped uterus did not exceed that in comparison with a group of women with other causes of infertility, while I-shaped congenital anomaly of the uterine cavity was found in 24.3-39.5% patients with hyperandrogenism. The difference between the interostial and corporal distances and the interostial and isthmic distances was the most relevant morphometric attribute of I-shaped uterus.

Reduction of Hospitalization and Mortality by Echocardiography-Guided Treatment in Advanced Heart Failure.

In advanced heart failure (AHF) clinical evaluation fails to detect subclinical HF deterioration in outpatient settings. The aim of the study was to determine whether the strategy of intensive outpatient echocardiographic monitoring, followed by treatment modification, reduces mortality and re-hospitalizations at 12 months. Methods: 214 patients with ejection fraction < 30% and >1 hospitalization during the last year underwent clinical evaluation and echocardiography at discharge and were divided into intensive (IMG; N = 143) or standard monitoring group (SMG; N = 71). In IMG, volemic status and left ventricular filling pressure were assessed 14, 30, 90, 180 and 365 days after discharge. HF treatment, particularly diuretic therapy, was temporarily intensified when HF deterioration signs and E/e' > 15 were detected. In SMG, standard outpatient monitoring without obligatory echocardiography at outpatient visits was performed. Results: We observed lower hospitalization (absolute risk reduction [ARR]-0.343, CI-95%: 0.287−0.434, p < 0.05; number needed to treat [NNT]-2.91) and mortality (ARR-0.159, CI 95%: 0.127−0.224, p < 0.05; NNT-6.29) in IMG at 12 months. One-year survival was 88.8% in IMG and 71.8% in SMG (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In AHF, outpatient monitoring of volemic status and intracardiac filling pressures to individualize treatment may potentially reduce hospitalizations and mortality at 12 months follow-up. Echocardiography-guided outpatient therapy is feasible and clinically beneficial, providing evidence for the larger application of this approach.

Kinetics of anti-nucleocapsid IgG response in COVID-19 immunocompetent convalescent patients.

The comprehension of a long-term humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 can shed light on the treatment and vaccination strategies of COVID-19 disease, improving the knowledge about this virus infection and/or re-infection. We assessed the IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein (anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N) IgG) in 1441 COVID-19 convalescent patients within 15 months longitudinal study from middle-developed country. The main inclusion criteria was positive RT- PCR result on nasopharyngeal swab samples at least one month before antibody testing and absence of any induced or inherited immunodeficiency. 92.7% of convalescent patients' serum contained anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N) IgG and only 1.3% of patients had a delayed antibody response. In the majority of convalescent patients' the durability of antibodies lasted more than one year. The kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 (N) IgG took a bell-shaped character-increased first 25-30 weeks, then started to decrease, but were still detectable for more than 15 months. We found that on the one hand anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral response level correlates with disease severity, on the other, in particular, the level of peak antibodies correlates with age-older patients develop more robust humoral response regardless of sex, disease severity and BMI.

Incidence patterns and review of Hodgkin lymphoma in the Republic of Armenia.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) accounts for roughly 10% of all lymphomas and 0.6% of all malignant tumours analysed worldwide yearly. Data regarding HL in developing world are exceptionally constrained. The main objective of this research is to investigate the incidence patterns of HL within the Republic of Armenia and to portray disease distribution according to age and sex. There is a very strict evidence on the frequency of HL in Armenia. The results of our research find out that the frequency of HL in Armenia has not changed altogether over the past 15 years and is comparable to that detailed from the USA and Europe.