Clinical and laboratory characteristics of COVID-19 in pregnant women.

This article discusses the distinct characteristics of COVID-19 in pregnant women and investigates potential early predictors of disease severity in this specific patient population. The study included 116 pregnant women with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in different trimesters of pregnancy. In addition to clinical features, we evaluated general clinical research methods, biochemical parameters (procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, D-dimer), and the leukocyte index of endogenous intoxication and lymphocytic index to identify potential early predictors of disease severity. All pregnant women were divided into two study groups: Group I - pregnant women with mild course, and Group II - pregnant women with moderate and severe course of COVID-19. Most pregnant women (72.4%) experienced a non-severe course characterized by catarrhal symptoms and moderate intoxication. However, pulmonary manifestations and pregnancy-related complications were detected in pregnant women from Group 2. The levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in both study groups were significantly increased compared to the control group. In pregnant women with moderate and severe COVID-19, indicators of endogenous intoxication were significantly pronounced. Establishing associations between leukocyte indices and biomarkers, such as procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, enables the utilization of routine complete blood counts as a primary screening tool for predicting the severity of COVID-19 in pregnant women.

Effect of probiotics on the intestinal microbiota of patients with giardiasis and ascariasis.

Recently, many cases of mixed invasion by Giardia and ascarids have been registered. Gastrointestinal lesions in patients are often accompanied by dysbiotic changes. The aim was to study the effect of probiotics containing Saccharomyces bouvardias CNCM I-745 in the complex therapy of patients with giardiasis, ascariasis, and mixed invasion. 90 patients with giardiasis, ascariasis and mixed invasion were divided into 3 groups, depending on the type of invasion. Each group was divided into two subgroups, depending on the treatment (basic treatment and treatment with probiotics). When studying the state of the intestinal microbiota, the following changes were detected in all patients before treatment. The content of Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp. and the total content of E. coli was reduced. At the same time, there was an increase in the content of Peptostreptococcus spp., Bacteroides spp., E. coli with low enzymatic properties, hemolytic E. coli, opportunistic Enterobacteriaceae spp., Candida spp. and Staphylococcus spp. Under the influence of treatment, the subgroup with probiotics addition to the basic treatment, was more effective for all types of invasions. The use of probiotics containing Saccharomyces bouvardias CNCM I-745 in the complex therapy of patients with mixed invasion of giardiasis and ascariasis increased treatment efficiency following a significant improvement in intestinal microbiota.