COVID-19 in Patients with Diabetes: Clinical Course, Metabolic Status, Inflammation, and Coagulation Disorder.

The aim of the investigation was to study the clinical course of COVID-19 in the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and elucidate possible mechanisms of their mutual aggravation. Materials and Methods: The study included 64 patients with COVID-19; of them, 32 were with DM (main group) and 32 were DM-free (control group). The groups were formed according to the "case-control" principle. During hospitalization, the dynamics of clinical, glycemic, and coagulation parameters, markers of systemic inflammation, as well as kidney and liver functions were monitored and compared. Results: Among patients with DM, the course of viral pneumonia was more severe, as evidenced by a 2.2-fold higher number of people with extensive (>50%) lung damage (p=0.05), an increased risk of death according to the CURB-65 algorithm (1.3-fold, p=0.043), and a longer duration of insufficient blood oxygen saturation (p=0.0004). With the combination of COVID-19 and DM, hyperglycemia is persistent, without pronounced variability (MAGE - 1.5±0.6 mmol/L), the levels of C-reactive protein (p=0.028), creatinine (p=0.035), and fibrinogen (p=0.013) are higher, manifestations of hypercoagulability persist longer, including slower normalization of antithrombin III (p=0.012), fibrinogen (p=0.037), and D-dimer (p=0.035). Conclusion: The course of COVID-19 in patients with DM is associated with a high severity and extension of pneumonia, persistent decrease in oxygen supply, high hyperglycemia, accelerated renal dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and hypercoagulability.

[HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: WORKING CONDITIONS, LOYALTY AND EMOTIONAL STATE].

The spread of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) required dramatic changes in the healthcare system, the work of medical workers under extreme stress and an increased threat of infection. In order to formulate general recommendations for preventive work with employees in emergency conditions, a study was carried out of the current nature of work, the emotional state of medical workers and staff loyalty. In a multidisciplinary hospital in Moscow (City Clinical Hospital N 52) in the fall of 2020, a survey of hospital employees (595 people) was carried out according to the author's questionnaire with the additional use of the methodology for measuring the burnout syndrome index (MBI) and loyalty index (eNPS). A number of changes in the nature of work of medical workers were revealed, which had a significant impact on their emotional state, such as changes in the usual functionality, place and mode of work. Despite the negative aspects of working conditions, during the pandemic, the employee loyalty index remained quite high (eNPS = 24), doctors were the most loyal, and junior and middle staff were the least loyal. The assessment of the organizational aspects of the work as a whole was also quite high. The close connection between psychoemotional factors and the loyalty of the organization's employees was confirmed. The study made it possible to offer general recommendations for the development of preventive algorithms for working with employees in case of emergency.

Gender Characteristics of the Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) in Middle-Aged Adults.

The aim of the study is to assess the gender-related specifics of the COVID-19 course in patients under 55 years of age. Materials and Methods: This pilot single-center continuous retrospective non-randomized study was carried out in the repurposed infectious diseases hospital of the Privolzhsky Research Medical University (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). The study inclusion criterion was the age of patients (up to 55 years) and confirmed coronavirus infection. In the groups based on gender differences (25 men, average age 44.0±7.8 years and 32 women, average age 41.9±9.1 years), we monitored complications of COVID-19 such as the transfer of patients to the ICU and the volume of lung damage (determined with CT scans). Results: The course of COVID-19 in male patients younger than 55 was aggravated by concomitant diseases (γ=0.36; p=0.043), among which IHD (γ=1.00; p=0.003) and liver disease (γ=0.58; p=0.007) dominated. Frequency analysis confirmed the high prevalence of coronary artery disease in men (p=0.044). Significant differences between the gender-related groups were noted in the volume of lung lesions: at admission (p=0.050), during hospital treatment (p=0.019), and at discharge (p=0.044). Using the logistic regression method, a relationship was found between the transfer of male patients to ICU and the Krebs index [y= -2.033 + 1.154 male gender + 1.539 Krebs index (χ2=5.68; p=0.059)] and comorbidity [y= -2.836 + 1.081 male gender + 2.052 comorbidity (χ2=7.03; p=0.030)]. The influence of the Krebs index and the male gender on the excess volume of lung lesions was shown [y= -1.962 + 0.575 male gender + 1.915 Krebs index (χ2=7.78; p=0.021)]. Conclusion: In individuals under the age of 55 diagnosed with COVID-19, gender is of significant importance: in men, there is a more pronounced lesion of the lung parenchyma and a more significant change in laboratory parameters. Risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19 in men are coronary artery disease and hepatobiliary disorder. Calculating the Krebs index can be used to assess the risk of disease progression.

[The evaluation of adaptive possibilities of organism under therapy of diabetes mellitus type I and II.]

The article presents results of the study of electrophoretic agility of erythrocytes, their pro-oxidant characteristics and intra-cellular concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in patients with diabetes mellitus type I and II under implementation of therapy. The sampling included 46 patients with diabetes mellitus type I and II. The control group consisted of 22 healthy volunteers. 20 patients with diabetes mellitus type i received insulin protaphan and insulin actrapid, 26 patients with diabetes mellitus type II received preparations of sulfanylurea, biguanides, incretins. The analysis of blood was applied before and after course of treatment. The electrophoretic agility of erythrocytes was analyzed, including concentration of malonic dialdehyde in them, content of 2,3-DPG and ATP. In case of diabetes mellitus type I and II, the study established increasing of content of malonic dialdehyde, decreasing of electrophoretic agility of erythrocytes, concentration of ATP and 2,3-DPG in erythrocytes concerning physiological standard, mostly expressed in patients with diabetes mellitus type I. The therapy decreased concentration of malonic dialdehyde and increased electrophoretic agility of erythrocytes, content of ATP and 2,3-DPG as compared with indices before treatment. In patients with diabetes mellitus type II during treatment reduction of electrophoretic agility of erythrocytes and 2,3-DPG up to physiological standard was observed. The positive effect of the given clinical strategies during treatment of diabetes mellitus type I and II is conditioned by decreasing of stress reaction and activation of adaptation processes that is manifested at the level of micro-circulation by amelioration of oxygen-transport function of blood at the expense of increasing of electrophoretic agility of erythrocytes, level of 2,3-DPG and decreasing of destructive processes of membranes of erythrocytes.