[New clinical guidelines for COPD - a paradigm shift: A review].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is now one of the most common noncommunicable diseases and the main causes of morbidity, disability and mortality in the world. In recent years, new approaches to epidemiology, diagnosis, classification (categorization), evaluation of phenotypes, as well as characterization and assessment of the severity of сhronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations have emerged. Modern approaches to starting and subsequent drug therapy have changed significantly. This is largely due to the results of recently conducted major clinical trials, demonstrated high efficacy of triple fixed combinations, including inhaled glucocorticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists and long-acting anticholinergic drugs. The use of non-medication methods (smoking cessation, physical activity and respiratory rehabilitation) and modern approaches to the treatment of respiratory failure and antibiotic therapy remain important. In terms of their significance, all these updates have a significant impact on real clinical practice and can be considered as a novel paradigm of the approaches to the diagnosis and management of this disease.

[Respiratory disorders of post-COVID-19 syndrome].

AIM: Assess the functional state of trespiratory system and effectiveness of therapeutic tactics for broncho-obstructive syndrome (BOS) in patients in the post-COVID period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-center cohort prospective study included 10 456 and 89 patients, respectively. A comprehensive assessment of the respiratory system included clinical, laboratory and functional data, spirometry, body plethysmography, and a study of diffusive capacity of the lungs (DLCO). Therapy consisted of budesonide suspension or fixed combination beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol (EMD BDP/FORM). RESULTS: The frequency of BOS in the cohort was 72% (7497 patients). In 13% (n=974) of cases, bronchial asthma was diagnosed for the first time, in 4.4% (n=328) - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Risk factors for the development and decrease in DLCO in the post-COVID period were identified. In the group of complex instrumental examination of lung function, the absence of violations of spirometric data and indicators determined by body plethysmography was determined. CONCLUSION: Risk factors for BOS in post-COVID period are atopy, a history of frequent acute respiratory infections, smoking, blood eosinophilia, moderate and severe forms of COVID-19. The advantage of a fixed combination of EMD BDP/FORM in MART mode compared with nebulized suspension budesonide + solution of salbutamol in treatment of BOS was shown. Risk factors for DLCO disorders were established: severe COVID-19, hospitalization in the intensive care unit, the need for additional oxygen therapy.

[Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a combination drug containing ambroxol, guaifenesin, and levosalbutamol versus a fixed-dose combination of bromhexine/guaifenesin/salbutamol in the treatment of productive cough in adult patients with acute bronchitis].

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination drug containing ambroxol, guaifenesin, and levosalbutamol, oral solution, versus Ascoril Expectorant, syrup (combination of bromhexine, guaifenesin, and salbutamol) in the treatment of productive cough in adult patients with acute bronchitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This open-label, randomized, phase III study included patients with acute bronchitis who had a productive cough with difficulty in sputum expectoration. 244 patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio and received 10 mL of the study drug or reference drug 3 times daily for 2 weeks. After 7 and 14 days of treatment, the physician evaluated patient's subjective complaints and the efficacy of therapy. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with high and very high efficacy. RESULTS: The primary endpoint was reached by 70 (0.5738) patients in the study drug group and 54 (0.4426) in the reference drug group (p=0.04). The intergroup difference was 0.1311 [95% confidence interval: 0.0057; 0.2566]. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval was above zero, which confirms the superiority of therapy with the study drug over therapy with Ascoril Expectorant. The proportion of patients with a 1-point total score reduction and with complete resolution of all symptoms according to the Modified Cough Relief and Sputum Expectoration Questionnaire after 7 and 14 days was numerically higher in the study drug group versus the reference drug group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of a new combination drug containing ambroxol, guaifenesin, and levosalbutamol in the treatment of productive cough in adult patients with acute bronchitis is superior to the efficacy of Ascoril Expectorant. The safety profiles of the study drug and the reference drug were comparable.

[Problems and opportunities to improve diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Russia: resolution of advisory board].

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remain major problems of medicine, and still there is need to improve the level and quality of diagnosis of these diseases. Primary care physicians (general practitioners, therapists) should be involved widely and actively in this process. To simplify the diagnosis, special questionnaires have been developed, they can be used in a real clinical practice. Only this approach will bring statistical data closer to the true prevalence of these diseases and improve quality of their treatment.

[The concept of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease clinical control as a decision - making tool in real clinical practice for optimizing of basic pharmacotherapy].

The main goals of COPD therapy are to achieve clinical stability with minimal clinical manifestations and low risk of relapse. The proposed COPD control concept by analogy with asthma has not been quite well characterized yet. COPD control is defined as "the long - term maintenance of a clinical situation with a low impact of symptoms on the patient's life and absence of exacerbations." The situation of clinical control in COPD is considered desirable and potentially achievable for most patients with COPD. Pharmacotherapeutic options for COPD are constantly expanding. The control concept may be useful when the decision on treatment of COPD is made for dynamic adjustment of the therapy volume.

[Severe bronchial asthma patient care organization in various regions of the Russian Federation. From endotypes and phenotypes of bronchial asthma to personalized choice of therapy].

The meeting of the Expert board was held in Moscow on June 24, 2019, at which the following issues were considered: the applicability of a new terminology characterizing asthma endotypes and phenotypes in real clinical practice, the effect of phenotypes and biomarkers in patients with bronchial asthma on the choice of biological drug, as well as the optimal clinical profiles of patients for whom dupilumab is most effective, taking into account the data of the III phase clinical trials, regional features of medical care and changes in updated international clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. The Expert board included members of leading Russian scientific and educational medical institutions: S.N. Avdeev, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, prof., MD; O.A. Volkova, Ph.D.; I.V. Demko, prof., MD; G.L. Ignatova, prof., MD; I.V. Leshchenko, prof., MD; Kanukova N.A.; Kudelya L.M., prof., MD; V.A. Nevzorova, prof., MD; N.G. Nedashkovskaya; O.P. Ukhanova, prof., MD; L.V. Shulzhenko, prof., MD; R.S. Fassakhov, prof., MD.

[Choice of basic therapy for asthma in real clinical practice].

According to the Global Initiative for Asthma, the treatment of asthma should be mainly based on its control that encompasses symptom control and exacerbation risk reduction. Control-based treatment contributes to decreases in the frequency of exacerbations, the incidence of drug side effects, the needs of asthmatic patients for emergency care, and the number of their visits to a doctor and hospitalizations, resulting in a reduction of direct health care costs of asthma. Drugs for the basic therapy of asthma are chosen on the basis of evidence for their efficacy and safety and the view of availability and cost of treatment. In case of poor asthma control it is important to reveal its causes and to change basic therapy according to the individual needs of the patient. A major role in the achievement of asthma control is assigned to a combination of inhaled glucocorticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting ß2-agonists. Combined medications are prescribed to asthma patients in accordance with the daily ICS dose required to achieve asthma control.

[Exocrine function of the pancreas in rats with experimental obesity].

The influence of neonatal administration of hyperosmolar sodium chloride and sodium glutamate on the exocrine function of the pancreas in rats has been investigated. It was observed the development of acute pancreatitis under experimental obesity. The cross-section area of acini reduced by 12%, the cross-section area of acinocytes nuclei increased by 10%, the length between the lobes of the gland has grown by 48%. The level of amylase was increased by 43%, the levels of pancreatic amylase and lipase were increased by 68% and 24%, respectively.

[Community-acquired pneumonia: from national recommendations to regional standards].

UNLABELLED: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major challenge facing health service. The aim of this work was to estimate the effectiveness of introduction of Sverdlovsk region territorial CAP standards into clinical practice in 2002-2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis included 523 case histories of the patients who diedfrom CAP and 127 one who recovered after treatment (groups 1 and 2 respectively). The primary end-point was general and intrahospital mortality rate, secondary end-points the day of admission to the intensive therapy unit (ITI) and the onset of starting antibiotic therapy (ABT), conformity of ABT to the regional standard. Independent and patient/hospital-dependent risk factors of unfavourable outcome of CAP were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: In 2002-2011 mortality rate among the able-bodied population and hospitalized patients with CAP decreased by 46 and 15.4% respectively (overall 30.7%). Chronic alcoholism, poor social status (to 53.9 +/- 2.4%), late application for medical aid (77% of the patients applied later than 3 days after the onset of CAP) were risk factors of unfavourable outcome. The time of CAP onset in groups 1 an d 2 was 5.7 +/- 10.3 and 2.2 +/- 4.5 hr respectively (OR: 5.31 [95% CI 2.32 = 12.16] p < 0.01). ABT conformed with the regional standards in 7.4 and 92.1% of the cases in groups I and 2. CONCLUSION: Strict compliance with national guidelines and regional programs ensures success of diagnostics and treatment of CAR

[Effect of basic therapy on clinical symptoms, quality of life and systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The study included 38 men with moderately severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (mean age 60.6 ± 10.2 yr) and 42 ones with severe COPD (mean age 61.2 ± 7.2 yr). They were treated with tiotropium bromide, formoterol and beclomethasone dipropionate for 24 weeks (stage 1), TB alone for 12 weeks (stage 2) and TB+formoterol (long-acting bronchodilators, LABD) for another 12 weeks. Each stage was followed by evaluation of COPD symptoms using the St-George's Hospital questionnaire, daily requirements for short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA), heart rate (HR), forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV-1) before and after SABA test, hemoglobin saturation with oxygen in arterial blood during pulse oxymetry before and after 6 min walking test, blood surfactant protein D level (SP-D). The control group was comprised of 34 healthy men (mean age 62.3 ± 5.8 yr). Patients with moderately severe COPD experienced worsening of clinical symptoms (p < 0.001), required more SABA (p < 0.001), had increased HR (p = 0.01) and SP-D levels (p = 0.01) whereas FEV-1 (p = 0.05) decreased during stage 2 as compared with stage 1. Positive dynamics of all these variables except COPD symptoms and HR was observed at stage 3. Alteration in the extent of basal therapy in patients with stage III COPD did not result in dynamics of clinical and laboratory characteristics. The data obtained suggest the necessity of combined therapy with LABD or triple basal therapy of moderately severe COPD and the possibility of therapy with one or two LABD having different sites of action in the patients with clinically stable stage II COPD.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Do we use all possibilities of outpatient therapy?].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are evaluated from a history of the disease, its clinical symptoms, and laboratory tests. The most common causes of a COPD exacerbation are upper respiratory tract and tracheobronchial infections. The exacerbation severity usually corresponds to the magnitude of clinical manifestations of COPD during its stable course. Successful treatment in patients with a COPD exacerbation is determined by its timely diagnosis. When treating patients with a mild or moderate exacerbation of Stages I-II COPD in an outpatient setting, it is advisable to use ascoril having broncholytic, mucolytic, and mucokinetic properties along with antibiotics and glucocorticosteroids, if clinically indicated.

[The influence of long-term monosodium glutamate feeding on the structure of rats pancreas].

The influence of prolonged administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on pancreas in rats was studied. It was established that 30-days feeding by MSG in the doses 15 to 30 mg/kg (equivalent to 1 and 2 g/person) leads to necrotic, necrobiotic and degenerative changes in exocrine and endocrine cells, leukocytic and lymphoid infiltration, perivascular and interstitial fibrosis, edema and discirculatory disorders. Introduction of sodium glutamate increases the cross-sectional area of nuclei ofexocrine and endocrine cells, indicating intensification of synthetic processes in the cells of the pancreas and reduces the cross-sectional area of exocrine pancreatic cells, which is a sign of stimulation of secretory processes in exocrine cells. The changes described are characteristic of the acute pancreatitis. It is concluded that the maximum daily dose of food supplements containing glutamic acid and its salts should be reviewed because of their adverse effects on the pancreas. It is concluded that the maximum dose of MSG should be reconsidered taking into account its influence on the pancreas.

[Clinical features and delayed aftereffects of Legionellosis pneumonia during an epidemic outbreak].

The aim of this work was to study specific clinical features of legionellosis pneumonia during an epidemic outbreak of the disease in Sverdlovsk region and to assess its delayed effects. 202 patients applied for the treatment to the central hospital of the town of Verkhnyaya Pyshma in July-August 2007 Legionella pneumophila was identified in 61 adults aged 51.3-59.3 (mean 55.3) years. The following analyses were performed at admittance and discharge as well as 1 year after treatment: complete blood count, urinalysis, AST, ALT and sugar levels, breast X-ray and ECG. Patients with mild disease were given azithromycin per os (500 mg for 7days, n = 10) or levofloxacin (500 mg for 10 days, n = 5). Those with the severe form of the disease were treated with azithromycin (500 mg for 3 days, v/v, n = 17) or levofloxacin (750 mg for 2-3 days v/v and for 12 days per os, n = 29). The results were analysed using the STATA 5.0 software package (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA). Difference were considered significant at p < 0.05. It was shown that the outbreak resulted from the use of hot water from the public water supply system contaminated with L. pneumophila. The incubation period of infection was 4.48-6.01 (mean 5.3) days. Duration of hospitalization varied from 9.6-12.9 (mean 11.3) days. Most common clinical symptoms: general uneasiness, headache, non-productive cough, and fever lasting 3.8-6.6 (mean 5.2 days). Intrahospital lethality 6.6%. It is concluded that therapy with azithromycin and levofloxacin give good clinical effect leaving no systemic lesions in patients with legionellosis pneumonia.

[Organization of medical care of patients with pneumonia caused by Legionella during outbreak in Sverdlovsk region].

Data on organization of medical care during outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in July-August, 2007 in town Verkhnyaya Pyshma in Sverdlovsk region are presented. Special feature of this outbreak was spreading of infection in boundaries of the town with total population of 70,600 people. Results of organizational work of health authorities in order to provide timely and adequate medical care for patients with Legionnaires' disease on both outpatient and inpatient levels of care, conduction of preventive measures in foci of infection, coordination of interaction between different medical organizations and services are summarized in the article.

[Epidemiological situation on tularemia in the regions of Stavropol Territory affected by flood]. / Epidemiologicheskaia situatsiia po tuliaremii v raionakh Stavropol'skogo Kraia, podvergshikhsia navodneniiu.

The data obtained in the analysis of the epidemiological situation in tularemia in the zone of inundation in the Stavropol Territory in 2002 are presented. The current systematic epidemiological surveillance, as well as the data of urgent epizootological and epidemiological survey in the zone of inundation permitted the objective prognostication of the situation in tularemia and formed the basis for the rational planning and realization of prophylactic measures.

[Pharmacoeconomic aspects in the treatment of chronic obstructive bronchitis]. / Voprosy makroékonomiki pri lechenii khronicheskogo obstruktivnogo bronkhita.

AIM: Analysis of pharmacological cost-efficiency at various stages of medical care for patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cost of COB patients treatment, including that of hospital stay, ambulance call, outpatient treatment, cost of medicines. RESULTS: In direct medical expenditures, the cost of hospital stay is the highest. Most of this money (80%) is spent on management of severe exacerbation of COB in critical care units. CONCLUSION: It would be valid to set up specialized outpatient service for follow-up and treatment of COB patients.

[Effect of educational programs on the quality of life of patients with bronchial asthma]. / Vliianie obuchaiushchikh programm na kachestvo zhizni bol'nykh bronkhial'noi astmoi.

The investigation included 310 patients with bronchial asthma who were observed in the Center of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (Ekaterinburg) during 4 years (1997-2000). Three patient groups were educated according to the complex program developed by the authors: group 1--in asthma-school, asthma-club, with the use of cognitive game and asthma-phone; group 2--with the help of printed educational materials; group 3--with the use of mass media. Patients' life quality was determined by the adapted questionnaire SF-36 and evaluated in 2 years of participation in the corresponding programs. Education of BA patients according to the prolonged complex program had more expressed positive effect on life quality than education based on popular literature and mass media. Significant differences by criteria connected with physical activity and psycho-emotional sphere were revealed. Life quality of the patients at the age of 15-34 and educated according to the authors' program was significantly higher by all criteria than life quality of those who educated using popular literature and mass media. The influence of these two educational forms on BA patients' life quality appeared to b quite similar.