[Clinic and functional features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after virus-induced acute exacerbations.]

AIM: To establish symptoms, lung function and to evaluate subsequent exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during a year after virus-induced COPD exacerbations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients hospitalized with viral (n=60), bacterial (n=60) and viral-bacterial (n=60) COPD exacerbations were enrolled to single-center prospective observational study. COPD was diagnosed according spirography criteria. Viral infection was established in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or sputum by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for RNA of influenza A and B virus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms, lung function, COPD exacerbations were assessed. Patients were investigated at the hospitalization onset and then 4 and 52 weeks following the discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: After 52 weeks in viral and viral-bacterial COPD exacerbations groups the rate of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) decline were maximal - 71 (68; 73) ml/year and 69 (67; 72) ml/year versus 59 (55; 62) ml/year after bacterial exacerbations. Low levels of diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco/Va) - 52.5% (45.1%; 55.8%), 50.2% (44.9%; 56.0%) and 75.3% (72.2%; 80.1%) respectively, of 6-minute walk distance; p<0.001 in relation to bacterial exacerbations. In Cox proportional hazards regression analyses viral and viral-bacterial exacerbations were associated with increased risk of subsequent COPD exacerbations by 2.4 times independent of exacerbations rate before index event and FEV1. In linear regression models the relationships between airflow limitation and respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus and influenza virus infection, between low DLco/Va and rhinovirus, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSION: COPD after virus-induced exacerbations were characterized by progression of airflow limitation, low DLco/Va, low 6-minute walking test distance, subsequent COPD exacerbations risk.

Transport Digitalization

The rapid development of digital technologies, accelerated by COVID-19 effects tends to undermine the established business models and existing sectors of the economy, including the transport sector. Artificial intelligence, robotics technology, the Internet of Things, big data drastically transform all types of transport and logistics operations. Moreover, in addition to digitalization, this sector turned out to be influenced by a wave of public concern over the ecological state of the planet. A powerful impetus was given by a recent climate change conference in Glasgow, following the results of which the governments of many countries undertook a commitment to ensure a net zero carbon footprint over the coming decades. Thousands of companies have declared their allegiance to ESG principles and readiness to work for a green economy. The prospects for the development of the industry are also influenced by changes in consumer behavior. New generation—digital natives, are ready to give up private cars, using instead car sharing service, switch to bicycles and kick scooters and buy environmentally friendly electric cars. However, in the beginning of 2022 the world has met new challenges and risks brought by the new geopolitical situation after the start of the war of Russia in Ukraine. The event resulted in the immediate disruption of many logistic channels, the consequences of which are beyond prediction at the moment. Even after the military activities cease it may take significant time to restore the disrupted connections. The study is based on the use of qualitative comparative analysis that identifies the impact of digitalization on the subsectors of the transport industry. The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of the main digital transformation tools, as well as other impact factors (decarbonization, changes in behavioral stereotypes, COVID-19, etc.) on the development of transport: road, rail, sea and air transport. The transport industry is viewed through the lens of "Mobility as a Service” (MaaS). The research is focused on revolutionary changes in the development of the industry, which will result in structural changes in value added chains, shifts in the geography of the deployment of production facilities, the further spread of electronic document flow and payments, the growth in the use of electric cars and autonomous vehicles, robotization of warehouses and port infrastructure, the introduction of the Internet of Things in traffic control. The result of the study was the conclusion that the digitalization process in transport will develop, having an impact on other sectors of the economy. It was determined that these processes are irreversible, and companies engaged in transport operations and those working in related fields must adapt to changes: develop their own business models or adapt to existing ones. At the same time, the industry is only in the early stages of digitalization, the rate of changes and their consequences are not yet determined. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Transport Digitalization

The rapid development of digital technologies, accelerated by COVID-19 effects tends to undermine the established business models and existing sectors of the economy, including the transport sector. Artificial intelligence, robotics technology, the Internet of Things, big data drastically transform all types of transport and logistics operations. Moreover, in addition to digitalization, this sector turned out to be influenced by a wave of public concern over the ecological state of the planet. A powerful impetus was given by a recent climate change conference in Glasgow, following the results of which the governments of many countries undertook a commitment to ensure a net zero carbon footprint over the coming decades. Thousands of companies have declared their allegiance to ESG principles and readiness to work for a green economy. The prospects for the development of the industry are also influenced by changes in consumer behavior. New generation—digital natives, are ready to give up private cars, using instead car sharing service, switch to bicycles and kick scooters and buy environmentally friendly electric cars. However, in the beginning of 2022 the world has met new challenges and risks brought by the new geopolitical situation after the start of the war of Russia in Ukraine. The event resulted in the immediate disruption of many logistic channels, the consequences of which are beyond prediction at the moment. Even after the military activities cease it may take significant time to restore the disrupted connections. The study is based on the use of qualitative comparative analysis that identifies the impact of digitalization on the subsectors of the transport industry. The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of the main digital transformation tools, as well as other impact factors (decarbonization, changes in behavioral stereotypes, COVID-19, etc.) on the development of transport: road, rail, sea and air transport. The transport industry is viewed through the lens of “Mobility as a Service” (MaaS). The research is focused on revolutionary changes in the development of the industry, which will result in structural changes in value added chains, shifts in the geography of the deployment of production facilities, the further spread of electronic document flow and payments, the growth in the use of electric cars and autonomous vehicles, robotization of warehouses and port infrastructure, the introduction of the Internet of Things in traffic control. The result of the study was the conclusion that the digitalization process in transport will develop, having an impact on other sectors of the economy. It was determined that these processes are irreversible, and companies engaged in transport operations and those working in related fields must adapt to changes: develop their own business models or adapt to existing ones. At the same time, the industry is only in the early stages of digitalization, the rate of changes and their consequences are not yet determined. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Clinical and molecular features of virus-­induced acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. Inflammation in viral-induced acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not studied enough. The aim was to establish molecular pattern of inflammation in viral-induced acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in comparison with bacterial AECOPD and to reveal associations with AECOPD phenotype and subsequent COPD progression. Materials and methods. Subjects hospitalized with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) of which 60 were viral, 60 were bacterial and 60 were viral-bacterial were recruited to single center prospective (52 weeks) cohort study. Control group – 30 healthy people. COPD were diagnosed previously during stable phase of the disease according to spirographic criteria. Viral AECOPD were confirmed by detection of RNA of influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reac-tion (RT-PCR). Bacterial AECOPD were confirmed by sputum/BALF neutrophilia or elevated blood procalcitonin levels or by detect-ing bacteria by standard culture method. Plasma concentrations of cytokines, fibrotic markers, enzymes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, plasma fibrinogen – by Clauss method. Complex lung function investigation, Doppler-echocardiography, subsequent AECOPD assessment were done. Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square test were used to compare groups, Cox regression and linear regression – to explore relationships. Results. Viral AECOPD were characterized by highest plasma concentrations of Eosinophilic cationic protein (62,3 (52,4;71,0) ng/ml)), interleukin-5 (IL-5) (11,3 (8,4;15,9) pg/ml), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) (10,4 (6,2;14,9) pg/ml), transforming growth fac-tor-β1 (TGF-β1) (922,4 (875,7;953,8) pg/ml), hyaluronic acid (185,4 (172,8;196,3) ng/ml), amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) (249,2 (225,1;263,7) ng/ml), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) (235,2 (208,6;254,9) pg/ml). Levels of IL-5 during AE COPD was the predictor of FEV1, bronchodilation coefficient, subsequent exacerbations at remote period, fibrin-ogen was associated with FEV1, PIIINP and FGF-2 with DLco, PaO2, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), exacerbations, MMP-1 – with mPAP. Conclusions. In virus-induced AECOPD inflammation pattern differed from those in bacterial one and associated with AECOPD phenotype and COPD phenotype at the stable phase. © 2022, Remedium Group Ltd. All rights reserved.