[Clinical cases of complicated diverticulitis against the background of severe course COVID-19. Case report].

Two clinical cases of perforation of a previously undiagnosed colon diverticulum in patients with coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus treated at the Hospital №1 of Nalchik. Both patients were elderly, overweight, had a lot of chronic concomitant diseases. Patients received hormone therapy and were targeted: the first patient twice (tocilizumab on the first day of hospitalization and olokizumab on the 7th day of inpatient treatment). The second patient received levilimab on the 3rd day of his stay in the hospital. A short time after targeting, both patients developed acute diffuse abdominal pain, the patients were transferred to the surgical department and operated on. During the operation, both patients were found to have previously undiagnosed diverticular disease, complicated by diverticular perforation and peritonitis on the background of immunosuppression. Both patients died. Thus, when using targeted therapy for patients with COVID-19, it is necessary to take into account that they may have previously undiagnosed chronic diseases that can cause fatal complications against the background of immunosuppression.

Clinical efficacy of umifenovir in influenza and ARVI (study ARBITR).

AIM: The aim of the study is to obtain additional data on safety and therapeutic efficacy of the antiviral drug Arbidol (umifenovir) in patients with a diagnosis of influenza and common cold. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study investigating efficacy and safety of Arbidol (umifenovir) in Treatment and Prophylaxis of Influenza and Common Cold (ARBITR) IV phase started in November 2011 and completed in April 2016 on the basis of 15 research centers in various regions of the Russian Federation. A total of 359 patients, aged 18 to 65 years with influenza or acute respiratory tract infection, of no more than 36 hours' duration were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups: a group of patients (therapy group) treated by Arbidol (umifenovir) at a dosage of 800 mg/day (2 capsules) for 5 days (n=181), and a group of patients receiving placebo 4 times a day for 5 days (n=178). The primary outcome measures of the study were the duration of clinical illness among patients with common cold and influenza/ARVI, the duration and severity of the main symptoms. Number of clinical complications associated with influenza and common cold was assessed as a secondary outcome. Safety was assessed by analyzing number of adverse events that are probably or definitely related to Arbidol, assessing vital signs, examining the physical condition of patients and general clinical laboratory parameters. RESULTS: In the group treated by umifenovir, the number of full recover patients on the 4th day from the disease onset were significantly differed from the number of such cases in the placebo group. The number of cases of complete recovery after 96 hours was 98 patients (54.1%) and 77 (43.3%), p<0.05, and after 108 hours - 117 (64.6%) and 98 (55.1%), p<0.05. Duration of intoxication was reduced with umifenovir compared to placebo, amounted to 77.76 and 88.91 hours, respectively, p=0.013. The duration of all intoxication syndrome symptoms was also lower in the group receiving umifenovir. Thus, in the therapy group and placebo group, these parameters were respectively: fever duration - 67.96 and 75.32 hours (p=0.037), muscle pain - 52.23 and 59.08 hours (p=0.023), headache - 52.78 and 63.28 hours (p=0.013), weakness - 76.90 and 88.89 hours (p=0.008). The incidence of complications in the umifenovir group was 3.8%, in the placebo group 5.62%. Cases of acute tracheobronchitis was an increase in the placebo group (p<0.02). Umifenovir and placebo were well tolerated. A total of 42 cases of adverse events were registered in 11 patients in the treatment group and in 18 patients in the placebo group, which were not associated with umifenovir or placebo. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate umifenovir safety and confirm its effectiveness to the treatment of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections in adult patients. It was found that effect of umifenovir in the treatment of influenza in adults is most pronounced in the acute stage of the disease and appears in the reduction of time to resolution of all symptoms of the disease, reducing the severity of symptoms of the disease.

[Pharmacoepidemiological study of the course of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections in risk groups]. / Farmakoépidemiologicheskoe issledovanie techeniia grippa i drugikh ORVI v gruppakh riska.

AIM: To identify risk factors (RFs) for the development of bacterial complications and the prolonged course of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections (ARVIs) among inpatients treated in Russian healthcare facilities in the post-pandemic period; to determine the clinical presentation of the disease (flu-like syndrome) in risk-group people and to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral therapy with arbidol (umifenovir). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigators retrospectively analyzed randomly selected medical records of inpatients with influenza and other ARVI in 88 hospitals from 50 regions of the Russian Federation: those of 3532 and 1755 patients in the 2010-2011 and 2014-2015 seasons, respectively, by applying parametric and nonparametric statistical methods. RESULTS: The built database of patients with influenza-like syndrome contained data from the histories of 2072 men and 2537 women, of whom there were 317 (12.49%) pregnant women; gender evidence was not given in the medical records for 678 patients. 382 (7.2%) were vaccinated against influenza. 1528 (28.9%) people were admitted to hospital with various complications. Information on laboratory tests was available in 1691 (31.98%) patients; of these, 1291 (76.4%) were detected to have influenza and other respiratory viruses. Influenza viruses were found in 1026 (60.7%) examinees; influenza A viruses in 712 (42.1%) people while pandemic strain of swine influenza A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 viruses was detected in 487 (28.8%) and 107 (6.3%) patients, respectively; influenza A subtype was indicated in 118 (7%) persons with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus. Influenza B viruses were found in 314 (18.6%) examinees. Other types of respiratory viruses were detected in 265 (15.7%) patients. The body mass index exceeded 30 kg/m2 in 227 (4.3%) patients. Single-factor analysis of variance revealed factors influencing the course of flu-like syndrome and identified risk groups: children younger than 2 years old and adults over 65, pregnant women, and people with chronic somatic diseases and obesity. The high-risk groups exhibited a more severe course of flu-like syndrome than did the patients outside the risk groups. The incidence of complications was higher, especially in the under 2-year-year-old children and in patients with endocrine, metabolic, or respiratory diseases, with a large proportion of complications being pneumonia. The efficacy of antiviral therapy was higher in the elderly, patients with chronic diseases, and pregnant women than in patients not at risk. In patients treated with umifenovir (provided that it was administered in the first 48 hours after disease onset), the duration of fever and frequency of complications proved to be lower than those in patients who did not receive antiviral therapy. CONCLUSION: The FRs for influenza and ARVI complications are patient's age (children under 3 years of age and adults older than 65 years), the presence of chronic somatic diseases, and pregnancy. Patients with endocrine, eating, metabolic (including obesity), circulatory, and respiratory disorders are at high risk for influenza and ARVI complications. Umifenovir therapy substantially reduces the duration of fever and risk of complications, especially in patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza infection.

[Chronic hepatitis C in Russia: current challenges and prospects].

This paper evaluates the impact of different medical care strategies for chronic hepatitis C patients in relation to its prevalence, frequency of adverse outcomes and mortality rate.

[Some aspects of the treatment of adult patients with Epstein-Barr virus infection].

The review analyzes the basic aspects of treatment policy in patients with different forms of Epstein-Barr virus infection. Practical recommendations are given on the basis of the extensive literature data published in the past 20 years.

[Oral infections].

In the survey the basic aspects of the infectious pathology are analyzed, that are to be met in the work of stomatologist. There is in detail described the intra-hospital infection, caused by conditionally pathogenic flora. There is given the clinical characteristics of the oral manifestations of the basic of <> infectious diseases.

[Dengue fever in Russian tourists who have come from Thailand].

The review analyzes the major epidemiological and clinical aspects of Dengue fever, by providing the clinical examples of using its imported cases. It gives algorithms for examining patients who have come from tropical countries with the fever of unknown origin. Based on the extensive data available in the literature and international guidelines, the authors present treatment algorithms for out- and inpatients with Dengue fever. Promising studies of vaccination against Dengue fever are analyzed.

[Immunological aspects of HCV/HIV coinfection].

AIM: To evaluate effects of HCV/HIV coinfection on blood lymphocyte phenotype including cells CD56+. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied standard immunogram, subpopulational composition and functional activity of blood cells CD56+ in 67 patients with verified diagnosis of HIV infection and virus hepatitis C. RESULTS: We discovered some pathogenetically sound indices of immune status in patients with HCV/HIV coinfection. Some of the immune shifts detected changed in response to intake of narcotic drugs, antiretroviral treatment, hepatic cirrhosis, pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Parameters of subpopulational composition and functional activity of cells CD56+ in the blood of patients with HCV/HIV coinfection elucidate some unknown features of the above infectious process which should be considered in this coinfection treatment and prophylaxis.

[Chronic Yersinia infections as a therapeutic problem].

Physicians of any specialty encounter the chronic course of yersiniasis, the clinical manifestations of which are polymorphic and similar to the symptoms of other diseases, including autoimmune ones. The long interval of an evolving pathological condition after the acute period of the disease leads to the fact that the clinical and laboratory manifestations of chronic yersiniasis are wrongly regarded as an independent nosological entities unassociated with the persistence of Yersinia. Dynamic blood tests for specific IgA to the Yersinia enterocolitica virulence factors that are an indirect sign of on-going pathogen persistence in the body are required to elaborate the tactics for the examination, treatment, and follow-up of patients.

[Myonecrosis in users of injecting drugs (a clinical case)].

Myonecrosis remains one of the severest manifestations of skin and soft tissue infections. Clostridia (C. perfringens, C. novyi, C. septicum, C. sordellii, C. histolyticum) are dominant and Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Bacteriodes fragilis are much less in the etiology of myonecrosis. Cases of gas gangrene have recently become more frequent among injection drug users all over the world. Russia has become the largest opiate market in Europe and consumption of these narcotic drugs is annually growing. In the Russian Federation, a larger number of injection drug users uniquely results in a rise of cases of Clostridium- and mixed flora-induced myonecrosis. Gas gangrene in HIV-positive drug abusers seems to rapidly progress to multiple organ failure and to show high death rates, rather than to develop a localized form. The analyzed case of mixed flora-induced gas gangrene is of interest to physicians of any specialties who can encounter this wound infection in HIV-positive patients.

[Clinical and prognostic criteria for different forms and types of the course of Yersinia infection].

AIM: to reveal the prognostically significant symptom complexes of pseudotuberculosis/yersiniasis in their different forms and types. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A comprehensive examination and a long-term follow-up were made in 295 patients with yersiniasis and pseudotuberculosis. A special score scale was developed to evaluate the prognostic value of their clinical symptoms. RESULTS: The symptom complexes prognostically significant to the outcome of Yersinia infection were found. CONCLUSION: The use of the described prognostically significant symptom complexes of Yersinia infection makes it possible to correctly evaluate the course of the disease in each case, identify risk-group patients, and to use adequate treatment.

[Laboratory diagnosis of Yersinia infection and its improvement].

Results of the bacteriological and serological tests of patients with Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis infections for the period from 1994 to 2004 were analyzed. Main reasons of imperfect laboratory diagnostics were revealed, such as, low sensitivity of bacteriologic test, nonobservance of existing recommendations on diagnostics of Yersinia infections, performing of single but not repeated serologic test, absence of necessary laboratory equipment. Main ways of improving of quality of Y. enterocolitica infections and differential diagnostics were of Y. pseudotuberculosis defined.

[Clinical significance of intracellular cytokines in patients with yersiniosis].

AIM: To evaluate clinical value of intracellular content of interferon-gamma (If-g), IL-2 and IL-4 in different forms of yersiniosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number of If-g, IL-2 and IL-4 producing cells was estimated in 35 patients with generalized (n = 21, group 1) and secondary-focal (n = 14, group 2) forms of yersiniosis. RESULTS: The control over the number of If-g, IL-2 and IL-4 producing cells in the blood enables valid prognosis of the course and outcome of yersiniosis. CONCLUSION: Pathological processes developing in acute yersiniosis are based on interleukin-dependent immunopathology.

[Development of immunopathology in patients with yersinia infection].

AIM: To evaluate clinical significance of changes in IL-6 concentration and neopterin in peripheral blood of patients for prognosis of the course and outcome of yersinia infection (YI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical examination and laboratory tests, 1-5-year follow-up were conducted in 68 patients with a cyclic, recurrent and lingering course of the disease. IL-6 and neopterin concentrations were measured in the course of the disease. RESULTS: Dynamic control over IL-6 concentrations in the blood of patients with yersinia infection provides information predicting the disease course and prognosis. Blood concentrations of neopterin are of help in prognostication of long-term outcomes of acute infection. CONCLUSION: Pathological syndromes forming in acute stage of yersinia infection are related to interleukin-dependent immunopathology.

[Can the isolation of nontoxigenic strains of Corynebacterium serve as a basis for establishing a diagnosis of diphtheria?]. / Mozhet li vydelenie netoksigennykh shtammov korinebakterii sluzhit' osnovaniem dlia postanovki diagnoza difterii?

It is suggested that isolation of nontoxigenic strains of diphtheria corynebacteria is a bacteriological proof of the diagnosis. Underestimation of the epidemiological situation, presence of nontoxigenic corynebacteria in a patient with angina may result in fatal errors.

[The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of diphtheria in adults]. / Kliniko-épidemiologicheskie osobennosti difterii u vzroslykh.

Of 262 patients referred with suspicion of diphtheria the diagnosis was confirmed in 145 (55.3%). Clinico-epidemiological data indicate that the severity of diphtheria course, the tendency of increase of its incidence at the UkrSSR territory and in the USSR emphasize that early diagnosis and adequate treatment are of prime importance. To achieve this not only epidemiologists and infectionists but also cardiologists, otolaryngologists and general practitioners should actively participate in management of these patients. The authors pay special attention to carriers of pathogenic strains of diphtheria corynebacteria because their growth in these conditions may be a marker of epidemiological hazard.