Novel coronavirus infection and pregnancy: features of the course of gestation and the possibility of predicting the progression of COVID-19 severity in pregnant women

The authors analyzed the literature data on the possibility of timely diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 progression and development of life-threatening complications during gestation. Pregnant women are at high risk for a severe course of the disease, which is inherent in the prerequisites of gestational adaptation mechanisms. This review presents various aspects of COVID-19 and pregnancy, ranging from the etiopathogenesis and clinical features of the course of the disease in pregnant women to highly informative laboratory methods for predicting the severity of COVID-19. The studies presented demonstrate the scientific and practical interest in developing and implementing pathogenetically valid markers to stratify pregnant women at risk for COVID-19 progression and adverse gestational, perinatal, and somatic outcomes. The current knowledge and practice are insufficient for their large-scale application to effectively address the challenges of timely diagnosis of COVID-19 severity and the prognosis of life-threatening complications, prolonged course of disease, or postconceptional syndrome, which is essential to maintain quality of life, fully develop the biological system of mother and newborn, and preserve reproductive potential. © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

General short-term load forecasting based on multi-task temporal convolutional network in COVID-19

The spread of the global COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in significant shifts in electricity consumption compared to regular days. It is unknown if standard single-task, single-indicator load forecasting algorithms can accurately reflect COVID-19 load patterns. Power practitioners urgently want a simple, efficient, and accurate solution for anticipating reliable load. In this paper, we first propose a unique collaborative TCN-LSTM-MTL short-term load forecasting model based on mobility data, temporal convolutional networks, and multi-task learning. The addition of the parameter sharing layers and the structure with residual convolution improves the data input diversity of the forecasting model and enables the model to obtain a wider time series receptive field. Then, to demonstrate the usefulness of the mobility optimized TCN-LSTM-MTL, tests were conducted in three levels and twelve base regions using 19 different benchmark models. It is capable of controlling predicting mistakes to within 1 % in the majority of tasks. Finally, to rigorously explain the model, the Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) visual model interpretation technology based on game theory is introduced. It examines the TCN-LSTM-MTL model's internal mechanism at various time periods and establishes the validity of the mobility indicators as well as the asynchronous relationship between indicator significance and real contribution.

Peripheral Blood Cellular Immunity Parameters in Covid-19

This article carried material about the results of the investigation of peripheral blood cellular immunity parameters in the COVID-19 patients with <= 30% lung damage hospitalizated in 2020 year. When infected with SARS-CoV-2 on the background of severe lymphopenia and neutrophilia were revealed the multidirectional changing in a cellular immunity parameters, the severity and dynamics of which can be determined by the initial type of immune system response.

SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF INHALATION METHOD FOR ADMINISTRATION OF SMALL EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES DERIVED FROM MULTIPOTENT MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELLS OF HUMAN UMBILICAL CORD IN SARS-COV-2 ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA.

The coronavirus infection (COVID-19), an acute viral disease with predominant affection of the upper respiratory tract, is a challenge for modern medicine. Considering the fact that in the patho-genesis of coronavirus pneumonia there is violation of the im-mune response (hyper-response, cytokine storm) the drugs that locally regulate it may be promising in the pneumonia treatment. Biological activity of exosomes is widely investigated in the world. Small extracellular vesicles of mesenchymal cells have the following effects: anti-apoptotic, proliferation stimulation, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory. Objective(s): to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the method of inhalation administration of small extracellular vesicles in bilateral pneumonia caused by a new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection. To study these effects an interventional, prospective, random-ized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study has been conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of inhaled small extracellular vesicles administration to the patients with bilateral pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2. Altogether 36 patients with confirmed new coronavirus infection COVID-19, complicated by bilateral pneumonia of moderate severity (12 patients each in study groups 1 and 2, depending on the type of given small extracellular vesicles, and the control group) participated in the study. Small extracellular vesicles were inhaled twice a day in the dose of 2-10x1010 particles. The efficacy and safety of the method were assessed judging by the patients' general state, as-sessment of the disease severity, general and biochemical blood tests, coagulogram, saturation, CT scan of the lungs before and after 10 days of treatment. The observation period was 30 days after hospitalization. During the study the safety of the method was proved, all the patients recovered. Reliable differences of the blood CRP index, which normalized by day 10 of treatment in groups 1 and 2, but remained elevated in the control group. No significant differences were found in other assessed parameters. Copyright © 2022, Human Stem Cell Institute. All rights reserved.

Novel coronavirus infection and pregnancy: features of the course of gestation and the possibility of predicting the progression of COVID-19 severity in pregnant women

The authors analyzed the literature data on the possibility of timely diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 progression and development of life-threatening complications during gestation. Pregnant women are at high risk for a severe course of the disease, which is inherent in the prerequisites of gestational adaptation mechanisms. This review presents various aspects of COVID-19 and pregnancy, ranging from the etiopathogenesis and clinical features of the course of the disease in pregnant women to highly informative laboratory methods for predicting the severity of COVID-19. The studies presented demonstrate the scientific and practical interest in developing and implementing pathogenetically valid markers to stratify pregnant women at risk for COVID-19 progression and adverse gestational, perinatal, and somatic outcomes. The current knowledge and practice are insufficient for their large-scale application to effectively address the challenges of timely diagnosis of COVID-19 severity and the prognosis of life-threatening complications, prolonged course of disease, or postconceptional syndrome, which is essential to maintain quality of life, fully develop the biological system of mother and newborn, and preserve reproductive potential. © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Clinical and Anamnestic Characteristics, Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy and Long-term Outcomes in Multimorbid Patients after COVID-19

Aim. To study the clinical and anamnestic characteristics, pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and long-term outcomes in post-COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular multimorbidity (CVMM), enrolled in the prospective hospital registry. Material and methods. In patients with confirmed COVID-19 included in the TARGET-VIP registry, the CVMM criterion was the presence of two or more CVDs: arterial hypertension (AH), coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic heart failure (CHF), atrial fibrillation (AF). There were 163 patients in the CVMM group and 382 - in the group without CVD. The information was obtained initially from hospital history sheet, and afterwards - from a telephone survey of patients after 30-60 days, 6 and 12 months, from electronic databases. The follow-up period was 13.0 +/- 1.5 months.Results. The age of post-COVID patients with CVMM was 73.7 +/- 9.6 years, without CVD - 49.4 +/- 12.4 years (p<0.001), the proportion of men was 53.9% and 58.4% (p=0.34). In the group with CVMM the majority of patients had AH (92.3-93.3%), CHD (90.4-91.4%), and minority - CHF (42.7-46.0%) and AF (42.9-43.4%). The combination of 3-4 CVDs prevailed (58.9-60.3%). The proportion of cases of chronic non-cardiac pathologies was higher in the CVMM group (80.9%) compared to the group without CVD (36.7%;p<0.001). The frequency of proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy during the follow-up period decreased from 56.8% to 51.3% (p for trend = 0.18). The frequency of anticoagulant therapy in AF decreased significantly: from 89.1% at the discharge from the hospital to 56.4% after 30-60 days (p=0.001), 57.1% and 53.6% after 6 and 12 months of monitoring (p for a trend <0.001). There were no other significant changes in the frequency of other kinds of the proper cardiovascular pharmacotherapy (p>0.05). There were higher rate of all-cause mortality among patients with CMMM (12.9% vs 2.9%, p<0.001) as well as rates of hospitalization (34.7% and 9.9%, p<0.001) and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) - 2.5% vs 0.5% (p=0.048). The proportion of new cases of CVD in the groups with CVMM and without CVD was 5.5% and 3.7% (p=0.33). The incidence of acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI)/influenza was higher in the group without CVD - 28.3% vs 19.0% (p=0.02). The proportion of cases of recurrent COVID-19 in groups with CVMM and without CVD was 3.7 % and 1.8% (p=0.19).Conclusion. Post COVID-19 patients with CVMM were older and had the bigger number of chronic non-cardiac diseases than patients without CVD. The quality of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in patients with CVMM was insufficient at the discharge from the hospital with following non-significant decrease during 12 months of follow-up. The frequency of anticoagulant therapy in AF decreased by 1.6 times after 30-60 days and by 1.7 times during the year of follow-up. The proportion of new cases of CVD was 5.5% and 3.7% with no significant differences between compared groups. The rate of all-cause mortality, hospitalizations and non-fatal MI was significantly higher in patients with CVMM, but the frequency of ARVI/influenza was significantly higher in patients without CVD. Recurrent COVID-19 was registered in 3.7% and 1.8% of cases, there were no significant differences be-tween compared groups.

The Influence of Herpes Family Viruses on the Course of Novel Coronavirus Infection

We have analyzed the impact of herpes virus infection on the course of a new coronavirus infection (NCVI). Infection of the examined contingent with herpes family viruses reached 95.3-100%. An association of NCVI with herpes simplex viruses 1, 2 types (HSV 1, 2 types) was found, but no correlation was found between the positivity coefficient (CP) of HSV 1, type 2 and the severity of NCVI. This can be explained by the fact that the sampling was carried out in the remote period after the transferred NKVI. Considering that both herpes viruses and the SARS-CoV-2 virus cause multiple organ damage and can aggravate each other, the study of co-infection seems to be very relevant.

Excess Mortality in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) during the Covid-19 Pandemic (2020-2021)

Excess mortality is defined as an increase in all-cause mortality over expected mortality (historical baseline for previous years). In the context of COVID-19, excess mortality may reflect the overall impact of the pandemic on mortality, including not only the number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19, but also deaths from COVID-19 when they were not correctly diagnosed and reported, and deaths from other diseases due to pandemic-related causes. The purpose of the study: to assess the indicators of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). For the analysis, data from the Federal State Statistics Service for 2015-2022 were used. For 2 years of the spread of a new coronavirus infection in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), 19556 people died. 7.8% of deaths in 2020 and 21.5% in 2021 were related to COVID-19. The number of all deaths was 22% and 44% respectively higher than the expected number of deaths. The proportion of excess deaths in 2020 was 19% of all deaths, in 2021 - 31%. Of the excess deaths, 42% and 69%, respectively, were related to COVID-19. The excess mortality rate reached 333 per 100,000 population in 2021. The high correlation coefficients (0.94-0.95) between COVID-19-related deaths and additional deaths suggest that excess deaths during the period 2020-2021 will largely be due to the spread of COVID-19. The decline in mortality underreporting in 2021 against the background of an increase in excess mortality reflects improved diagnosis and correct identification of the causes of death. Research into the causes of excess mortality is needed to assess the impact of the pandemic and other factors on various aspects of mortality in the population.

New Coronavirus Infection Covid-19 and Women's Reproductive Health. Facts and Assumptions

The review presents data on the possible ways in which the SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 virus affects the female reproductive system and the already recorded negative consequences. Recommendations on pregnancy planning and the specifics of using hormonal contraceptive methods, as well as approaches to specific prevention of a new coronavirus infection from the standpoint of safety and preserving the reproductive health of women during the COVID-19 pandemic are outlined.

Investigation on the Control of COVID-19 in Wuhan: Number of Infections Outside Hospitals and the Reproduction Number.

COVID-19 is erupting globally, and Wuhan successfully controlled it within a month. Infections arose from infectious persons outside hospitals. After data revision, data-based and model-based analyses were implemented, and the conclusions are as follows. The incubation period of most infected people may be 6-7 days. The number of infectious persons outside hospitals in Wuhan on January 20, 2020 was about 10000 and reached more than 20000 on the day of Lockdown; it exceeded 72000 on February 4. Both data-based and model-based analyses gave out the evolution of the reproduction number, which was over 2.5 in early January, went down to 1.62 in late January and 1.20 in early February, with a sudden drop to less than 0.5 due to the strict Stay-at-home management after February 11. Strategies of Stay-at-home, Safe-protective measures, and Ark hospitals were the main contributions to control COVID-19 in Wuhan. In Wuhan, 2 inflection points of COVID-19, exactly correspond to February 5 and February 15, the 2 days when Ark hospitals were introduced, and the complete implementation of Stay-at-home. Based on the expression of the reproduction number, group immunity is also discussed. It shows that only when the group immunization rate is over 75% can COVID-19 be under control; group immunity would be full infection and the total deaths will be 220000 for a city as big as Wuhan. Sensitivity analysis suggests that 30% of people staying at home in combination with better behavior changes, such as social-distancing and frequent handwashing, can effectively contain COVID-19. However, only when this proportion is over 60% can the controlled effect and efficiency like Wuhan be obtained.

The Clinical Case: Covid-19 in a Child with Chronic Kidney Disease

Since the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, most researchers have noted a low proportion of sick children in general pediatric cohort compared to adults, who had a mild disease course and rare complications. The most frequent clinical manifestations of the disease are respiratory and, some less frequently diarrheal syndromes. The disease has predominantly mild or asymptomatic course. The risk of adverse outcomes in children, similar to adults, clearly correlate with the presence of background chronic pathology. The need for respiratory support prevails in children with a severe premorbid burden. Here, a clinical case of ongoing novel coronavirus infection in adolescent patient comorbid with chronic kidney pathology is described. In adolescence, the patient was diagnosed with mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (IgA-nephropathy), and further registered at the dispensary receiving a combination therapy with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and disaggregation drugs. The epidemiological history contained no established contacts with infectious patients. The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in the patient are represented by catarrhal and diarrheal syndromes, transient renal dysfunction in the acute period of the disease. The onset of coronavirus infection was clinically characterized by symptoms of damaged gastrointestinal tract and was considered as acute gastroenteritis of infectious etiology. Empirically prescribed antibacterial therapy in combination with antiplatelet agents and symptomatic drugs had no effect. The diagnosis of the novel coronavirus infection was verified only on day 4 of hospitalization, clinical and laboratory signs of lung damage emerged. The inflammatory process developed in the patient lungs was secondary to the main pathology. The severity of the patient's condition was determined by the presence of respiratory and renal insufficiency. Lung damage with minimal severity complaints and clinical data had a bimodal pattern and required respiratory support. A comprehensive approach to treatment, including respiratory, antiviral, enterosorption, anticoagulation, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, symptomatic therapy with change in antibacterial drugs allowed to achieve positive dynamics. On day 12 of the illness, the patient required no respiratory support. The presence of symptoms of gastrointestinal tract damage in COVID-19 necessitates the mandatory inclusion of PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 into diagnostic protocol in patients with diarrheal syndrome to perform etiological disease interpretation.