Clinical Anatomical Characteristics of Patients with Rhino-Orbit-Cerebral Mucormycosis.

Background. Postponed coronavirus infection (COVID-19), accompanied by an immunosuppressive state and associated with the risk of secondary diseases such as mucormycosis. Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for both severe COVID-19 and mucormycosis. Aims - our aim was to experience the diagnosis and treatment of rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients. Materials. A single-center, observational, non-randomized, cohort comparative study was conducted. We assessed the clinical features, risk factors, diagnosis and outcomes of mucormycosis among recovered COVID-19 patients with hospitalisation in the otorhinolaryngology department of the Samara State Medical University Clinics, Samara, from September-December 2021. CT examinations were performed on Revolution EVO CT scanner (GE, Russia) and MRI on Aera MR scanner 1.5 T (Siemens, Germany). Materials for microbiological and histopathological examination were taken from all examined patients intraoperatively. Results. The experience of diagnosing and treating rhinoorbitocerebral mucormycosis in patients after a new coronavirus infection was analyzed, the influence of the complex use of radiation diagnostic methods, histopathological and microbiological methods on the development and effectiveness of mucormycosis treatment was determined. Conclusions. The effectiveness of disease management directly depends on the early initiation of etiotropic treatment, while the role of complex radiological diagnostics, histopathological and microbiological methods is important for early confirmation of the fungal etiology of the disease.Copyright © 2022 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.

Newborns from women infected with COVID-19: somatic and metabolic status.

To date, there are limited data regarding manifestations of new coronavirus infection in infants born of SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers, so the aim of this study is to investigate somatic and metabolic status of newborn infants born to mothers diagnosed with COVID-19. The investigation was carried out on the bases of Laboratory Diagnostic Department of Samara Regional Clinical Hospital named after V.D. Seredavin and the Department of Fundamental and Clinical Biochemistry with Laboratory Diagnostics of Samara State Medical University. Under observation were 85 newborns, including 35 born of healthy mothers and 50 born of COVID-19 mothers.The somatic status of all newborns was assessed using the Apgar scale at the 1st and 5th minutes after birth. Also all newborns had general and biochemical blood tests and newborns from mothers with COVID-19 were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in oral and nasopharyngeal swabs. Thus, the study of somatic status revealed that of 50 neonates from women infected with COVID-19, only 18% were practically healthy, the rest had signs of prematurity, hypotrophy, perinatal CNS damage, diabetic fetopathy, pulmonary atelectasis, delayed intrauterine development, asphyxia. The metabolic state is characterised by decreased haemoglobin and platelets, increased concentration of total protein, including C-reactive protein, high transaminase activity, decreased sodium and chloride content. These parameters of general and biochemical blood tests can be considered as indicators for the evaluation of the condition of newborns from mothers with COVID-19.

The Toxic Influence of Excess Free Iron on Red Blood Cells in the Biophysical Experiment: An In Vitro Study.

Iron is needed for life-essential processes, but free iron overload causes dangerous clinical consequences. The study of the role of red blood cells (RBCs) in the influence of excess free iron in the blood on the pathological consequences in an organism is relevant. Here, in a direct biophysical experiment in vitro, we studied the action of free iron overload on the packed red blood cell (pRBC) characteristics. In experiments, we incubated pRBCs with the ferrous sulfate solution (Fe2+). Wе used free iron in a wide range of concentrations. High Fe2+ concentrations made us possible to establish the pattern of the toxic effect of excess iron on pRBCs during a reduced incubation time in a biophysical experiment in vitro. It was found that excess free iron causes changes in pRBC morphology, the appearance of bridges between cells, and the formation of clots, increasing the membrane stiffness and methemoglobin concentration. We created a kinetic model of changes in the hemoglobin derivatives. The complex of simultaneous distortions of pRBCs established in our experiments can be taken into account when studying the mechanism of the toxic influence of excess free iron in the blood on pathological changes in an organism.

Surface Ozone Concentration in Russia in the Second Half of 2020

We present information on ozone concentration in the surface air layer in the second half of 2020. Data were obtained at 13 stations located in different regions of Russia. We estimated the excess over hygienic standards of the Russian Federation, both in the second half of the year and throughout 2020. It is shown that the daily average maximum permissible concentration of ozone is regularly exceeded at all stations. There are cases of exceeding the one-time maximum permissible concentration.