Extrapulmonary Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2: A Report of 3 Cases and a Literature Review.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine. It is mostly known to affect the pulmonary system, leading to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, but there is a growing body of evidence of extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 disease. CASE REPORT This article presents 3 cases of various extrapulmonary symptoms of COVID-19 disease and a literature review of similar clinical cases. Two patients had a medical history of living-donor kidney transplantation, and 1 patient was a kidney donor. We present symptoms, diagnostic processes, laboratory and imaging results, and treatment approach. Patient 1 was 29-year-old woman with new-onset diabetes mellitus due to SARS-CoV-2, which required temporary insulin treatment. Patient 2 was a 34-year-old man with fever, chronic fatigue, back pain, and abdominal pain. Imagining showed acalculous cholecystitis, epiploic appendagitis of the right colic flexure, and inflammation of pericardial fat pad in the left cardiophrenic angle. Coagulopathy due to COVID-19 was the most probable cause of the described processes. Therapeutic doses of low-molecular-weight heparin were administered. Patient 3 was a 68-year-old male kidney donor who had painless, nodular, reddening lesions on both shins, accompanied by itching on both shins and recurrent fever. The diagnosis of erythema nodosum during COVID-19 was made. After treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin, significant decreases of symptoms were observed. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that SARS-CoV-2 infection can have a varied course and can involve other systems and organs. Physicians should be aware of possible extrapulmonary symptoms associated with infection with this virus. Correct diagnosis is a prerequisite for proper treatment and prevention of unexpected complications.

Evaluation of knowledge in the field of proper skin care and exacerbating factors in patients with psoriasis.

Introduction: Psoriasis is one of the most common dermatological diseases. It is characterized by a chronic course with periods of exacerbations and remissions. The recurrent nature of the disease and the influence of environmental factors on its course require the patients not only to be treated but also to have knowledge of prophylaxis and proper skin care. Aim: Obtaining information on the level of knowledge of patients suffering from psoriasis in the field of triggering factors and proper skin care. Material and methods: A total of 130 patients with psoriasis participated in the study. The research tool was the author's questionnaire addressed to patients. Results: Research has shown that the main source of knowledge for people with psoriasis was the Internet (85%). Only 17% obtained information about the disease from medical personnel. The respondents were aware of the negative impact of only some environmental factors, such as: injuries (63%), stimulants (77%), stress (95%), and infections (69%). Most subjects attributed the therapeutic effect to brine baths (74%). Usually the patients were aware of the oiling (85%) and moisturizing (33%) effects of emollients on psoriatic lesions. Only 46% of the respondents obtained a positive test result. Demographic variables correlated with the level of knowledge. Conclusions: The knowledge of psoriasis patients about exacerbating factors and proper skin care is insufficient.

The fear of COVID-19 scale: Its structure and measurement invariance across 48 countries.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been a source of fear around the world. We asked whether the measurement of this fear is trustworthy and comparable across countries. In particular, we explored the measurement invariance and cross-cultural replicability of the widely used Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), testing community samples from 48 countries (N = 14,558). The findings indicate that the FCV-19S has a somewhat problematic structure, yet the one-factor solution is replicable across cultural contexts and could be used in studies that compare people who vary on gender and educational level. The validity of the scale is supported by a consistent pattern of positive correlations with perceived stress and general anxiety. However, given the unclear structure of the FCV-19S, we recommend using latent factor scores, instead of raw scores, especially in cross-cultural comparisons. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Cutaneous nocardiosis in a liver transplant recipient - case report.

Solid organ transplant recipients are specific group due to taken immunosuppressive agents. This can result in side effects including infections caused by rare opportunistic pathogens. A CASE REPORT: A 64-year old woman after orthotopic liver transplantation due to primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis was admitted to hospital because of several infections. A painful lesion on left lower leg was noticed 3 months after surgery, while the patient was hospitalized with pneumonia. The Doppler ultrasound showed no signs of deep vein thrombosis. In the course of next month, the inflammatory infiltration has increased and the patient was readmitted to the hospital. After another ultrasound and MRI, which revealed solid-cystic character of the lesion, erythema nodosum was suspected. However, no pathogens were detected in blood and tissue cultures. After empiric antibiotic therapy regression of the lesion were observed. Recurrence of inflammation of the skin, the subcutaneous tissue and the knee joint resulted in readmission to the hospital after 3 months. Empiric antimicrobial therapy was administrated again and the dose of immunosuppressive agent was reduced. Since there was no bacterial growth in another routine culture of blood and synovial fluid, samples were cultured for opportunistic bacteria - Nocardia spp, Cryptococcus spp, Nontuberculous mycobacteria. Nocardia abscessus has grown after few weeks. Ceftriaxone, then trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (3x960 mg for 6 months) was administered according to antibiogram. Treatment resulted in regression of the lesion, pain alleviation and simultaneous liver function tests elevation. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous and subcutaneous nocardiosis is a rare infection. Solid organ transplant recipients are at risk of nocardiosis so it should be considered in differential diagnosis, especially when infections are hard to treat.

Interrupted orthodontic force results in less root resorption than continuous force in human premolars as measured by microcomputed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Root resorption is an undesirable but very frequently occurring sequel of orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to compare root resorption caused by either continuous (CF) or interrupted (IF) orthodontic force. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on human subjects on 30 first upper and lower premolars scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons. During four weeks before extraction 12 teeth were subjected to either CF or IF. The force was generated by a segmental titanium-molybdenum alloy cantilever spring that was activated in buccal direction. Initially a force of 60 CentiNewton was used in both CF and IF groups, the force in the former, however, was reactivated every week for 4 weeks. There was no reactivation of force in the IF group after initial application. A morphometric analysis of root resorption was performed by microcomputed tomography and the extent of tooth movement was measured on stone casts. Furthermore, a Tartarate-Resistant Acidic Phosphatase activity (TRAP), the marker enzyme of osteoclasts and cementoclasts, was determined by histochemical method. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference in measured parameters between treatment and control tooth groups. RESULTS: The number of resorption craters was significantly higher and their average volume almost twice as large in the CF compared to the IF group (p < 0.05). However, the distance of tooth displacement was similar for both groups. Cementoclasts were detected with the TRAP technique on the surface of two teeth only; both were subjected to continuous force. CONCLUSIONS: The use of IF leads to less destruction of root structure as opposed to continuous force while the same tooth movement was achieved.

The application of X-ray microtomography for the assessement of root resorption caused by the orthodontic treatment of premolars.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate potential application of micro-computed tomography in the morphometric analysis of the root resorption in extracted human first premolars subjected to the orthodontic force. In one patient treated in the orthodontic clinic two mandibular first premolars subjected to orthodontic force for 4 weeks and one control tooth were selected for micro-computed tomographic analysis. The hardware device used in this study was a desktop X-ray microfocus CT scanner (SkyScan 1072). The morphology of root's surfaces was assessed by TView and Computer Tomography Analyzer (CTAn) softwares (SkyScan, bvba) which allowed analysis of all microscans, identification of root resorption craters and measurement of their length, width and volume. Microscans showed in details the surface morphology of the investigated teeth. The analysis of microscans allowed to detect 3 root resorption cavities in each of the orthodontically moved tooth and only one resorption crater in the control tooth. The volumes of the resorption craters in orthodontically-treated teeth were much larger than in a control tooth. Micro-computed tomography is a reproducible technique for the three-dimensional non-invasive assessment of root's morphology ex vivo. TView and CTan softwares are useful in accurate morphometric measurements of root's resorption.

Adrenomedullin promotes lung angiogenesis, alveolar development, and repair.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and emphysema are significant global health problems at the extreme stages of life. Both are characterized by alveolar simplification and abnormal distal airspace enlargement due to arrested development or loss of alveoli, respectively. Both lack effective treatments. Mechanisms that inhibit distal lung growth are poorly understood. Adrenomedullin (AM), a recently discovered potent vasodilator, promotes angiogenesis and has protective effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory system. Its role in the developing lung is unknown. We hypothesized that AM promotes lung angiogenesis and alveolar development. Accordingly, we report that lung mRNA expression of AM increases during normal alveolar development. In vivo, intranasal administration of the AM antagonist, AM22-52 decreases lung capillary density (12.4 +/- 1.5 versus 18 +/- 1.5 in control animals; P < 0.05) and impairs alveolar development (mean linear intercept, 52.3 +/- 1.5 versus 43.8 +/- 1.8 [P < 0.05] and septal counts 62.0 +/- 2.7 versus 90.4 +/- 3.5 [P < 0.05]) in neonatal rats, resulting in larger and fewer alveoli, reminiscent of BPD. This was associated with decreased lung endothelial nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor-A mRNA expression. In experimental oxygen-induced BPD, a model of arrested lung vascular and alveolar growth, AM attenuates arrested lung angiogenesis (vessel density, 6.9 +/- 1.1 versus 16.2 +/- 1.3, P < 0.05) and alveolar development (mean linear intercept, 51.9 +/- 3.2 versus 44.4 +/- 0.7, septal counts 47.6 +/- 3.4 versus 67.7 +/- 4.0, P < 0.05), an effect in part mediated by inhibition of apoptosis. AM also prevents pulmonary hypertension in this model, as assessed by decreased right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary artery medial wall thickness. Our findings suggest a role for AM during normal alveolar development. AM may have therapeutic potential in diseases associated with alveolar injury.

Salivary gland calculi - contemporary methods of imaging.

Sialolithiasis is the most common disorder of major salivary glands. The main site of salivary stones' formation is submandibular gland, followed by parotid and sublingual gland. The aim of this article was to present current diagnostic imaging modalities carried out in patients suspected with salivary stones on the basis of own material and review of literature.Current diagnostic imaging tools used in the imaging of salivary stones were described and illustrated in this paper. These are: conventional radiography, sialography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance sialography and sialoendoscopy.Digital subtraction sialography and ultrasonography are the methods of choice in the imaging of salivary gland calculi. Although sialography is a very old diagnostic method, still it is the best diagnostic tool in the imaging of subtle anatomy of salivary gland duct system. Digital subtraction sialography can show the exact location of salivary stone and enables imaging of salivary ducts' pathology (e.g. stenoses), which is especially important when sialoendoscopy is planned. Sialography is also used as the treatment method, i.e. interventional sialography. Nonenhanced computed tomography is recommended when multiple and tiny salivary stones are suspected. Magnetic resonance imaging is the evolving alternative diagnostic method. In this diagnostic modality there is no need for salivary ducts' cannulation and administration of contrast material. Thus magnetic resonance sialography can also be carried out in the acute sialoadenitis. In the future, sialoendoscopy may become one of the main diagnostic and treatment procedures for salivary duct disorders, especially in salivary stone cases.

Uprighting partially impacted permanent second molars.

Impaction of the lower second molar is not a common problem, but it is very challenging for both orthodontist and oral surgeon. Treatment options depend on the degree of tooth inclination, the position of the third molars, and the desired type of movement, which may be surgical and/or orthodontic in nature. A good treatment alternative is surgical uncovering with orthodontically-assisted eruption. A case of successful uprighting using a 0.017 x 0.025-inch titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA) tip-back cantilever is presented. Different aspects of uprighting impacted second molars are discussed in light of the literature. The iatrogenic character of lower second molar impaction is emphasized.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene therapy increases survival, promotes lung angiogenesis, and prevents alveolar damage in hyperoxia-induced lung injury: evidence that angiogenesis participates in alveolarization.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and pulmonary emphysema, both significant global health problems, are characterized by a loss of alveoli. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a trophic factor required for endothelial cell survival and is abundantly expressed in the lung. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report that VEGF blockade decreases lung VEGF and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) expression in newborn rats and impairs alveolar development, leading to alveolar simplification and loss of lung capillaries, mimicking BPD. In hyperoxia-induced BPD in newborn rats, air space enlargement and loss of lung capillaries are associated with decreased lung VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression. Postnatal intratracheal adenovirus-mediated VEGF gene therapy improves survival, promotes lung capillary formation, and preserves alveolar development in this model of irreversible lung injury. Combined VEGF and angiopoietin-1 gene transfer matures the new vasculature, reducing the vascular leakage seen in VEGF-induced capillaries. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of the vasculature in what is traditionally thought of as an airway disease and open new therapeutic avenues for lung diseases characterized by irreversible loss of alveoli through the modulation of angiogenic growth factors.