Some clinical and epidemiological features of influenza-associated pneumonia depending on the etiological agent.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To analyze the epidemiological data and clinical course of pneumonia as a complication of influenza in the Poltava region, depending on the etiological agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: We have analysed the data of the official reporting documentation provided by the State Institution "Poltava Regional Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine" and the chart of patients with a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of influenza who were in inpatient treatment at the Poltava Regional Clinical Infectious Hospital (PRCIH) in 2016-2018 years. In more detail, we examined 95 patients with pneumonia, which complicated the course of the flu. There were 43 (45.26%) female patients, - 52 (54.74%) male patients, aged 18 to 80 years. RESULTS: Results: Studies have shown that despite a decrease in the incidence of influenza in recent years, the incidence of pneumonia, which complicated the course of the flu, remained consistently high (19.7% - 20.8%) with bacteriological isolation of S.pneumoniae (22.11%), S.aureus (13.68%), Haemophilus influenza (4.21%) and E.coli (3.16%). Severe course of pneumonia with bloody sputum, evident shortness of breath, bilateral lung damage, and need for oxygen support were significantly more frequently reported in patients with isolated S.pneumoniae and S.aureus. However, the severe course of the disease with the formation of abscesses in the lungs was observed only in the group S.aureus despite the relatively young age of such patients and significantly fewer risk factors for severe influenza and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The study showed a consistently high incidence of pneumonia, which complicated the flu and caused by S.pneumoniae, S.aureus, Haemophilus influenza and E.coli. Pneumonia caused by S.pneumoniae and S.aureus, were characterizedthe most severe course; however, a severe course with the formation of abscesses in the lung tissue was observed only in the group of S.aureus.

Schizophrenia and disruption of circadian rhythms: An overview of genetic, metabolic and clinical signs.

A molecular clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus, which is entrained by the dark-light cycle and controls the sleep-wake cycle, regulates circadian rhythms. The risk of developing mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, has long been linked to sleep abnormalities. Additionally, a common aspect of mental disorders is sleep disturbance, which has a direct impact on the intensity of the symptoms and the quality of life of the patient. This relationship can be explained by gene alterations such as CLOCK in schizophrenia which are also important components of the physiological circadian rhythm. The function of dopamine and adenosine in circadian rhythm should also be noted, as these hypotheses are considered to be the most popular theories explaining schizophrenia pathogenesis. Therefore, determining the presence of a causal link between the two can be key to identifying new potential targets in schizophrenia therapy, which can open new avenues for clinical research as well as psychiatric care. We review circadian disruption in schizophrenia at the genetic, metabolic, and clinical levels. We summarize data about clock and clock-controlled genes' alterations, neurotransmitter systems' impairments, and association with chronotype in schizophrenia patients. Our findings demonstrate that in schizophrenia either homeostatic or circadian processes of sleep regulation are disturbed. Also, we found an insufficient number of studies aimed at studying the relationship between known biological phenomena of circadian disorders and clinical signs of schizophrenia.