MORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LUNGS IN POST-COVID-19 SYNDROME: ANALYSIS OF AUTOPSY MATERIAL.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to reveal the morphological features of the lungs in post-COVID-19 syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The material of the study was autopsy material - fragments of the lung tissue from 96 deceased (59 men and 37 women). During the lifetime, all patients had in anamnesis COVID-19 of varying severity, and after the treatment of this infection, they had various manifestations of respiratory failure until death. The average duration of the post-COVID-19 period was 148.6±9.5 days. Based on the severity of COVID-19 in anamnesis, all cases were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 39 cases with mild COVID-19 in anamnesis. Group 2 included 24 cases with moderate severity of COVID-19 in an-amnesis. Group 3 included 33 cases with severe COVID-19 in anamnesis. Histological, histochemical, morphometric and statistical research methods were used. RESULTS: Results: Morphological features of the lungs in post-COVID-19 syndrome were the presence of pneumosclerosis; focal-diffuse immune cells infiltration; emphysematous and atelectatic changes; degenerative-desquamatic changes in the alveolar epithelium; metaplastic changes of connective tissue; dystrophic calcification; dystrophic, metaplastic and dysplastic changes in the epithelial layer of bronchial tree; hemodynamic disorders. Pneumosclerosis, focal-diffuse immune cells infiltration, alterative changes in the alveolar epithelium, emphysematous and atelectatic changes, hemodynamic disorders increased with an increase the severity of COVID-19. Metaplastic changes of connective tissue, dystrophic calcification, dystrophic, metaplastic and dysplastic changes in epithelial layer of bronchial tree did not depend on the severity of the infection. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The changes identified by the authors help to explain pulmonary manifestations of post-COVID-19 syndrome. They should be the basis for the oncological alertness formation among doctors, the development of rehabilitation and treatment measures for such category of patients.

RHINOSINUSITIS IN PATIENTS IN POST-COVID-19 PERIOD: ETIOLOGY, CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to identify the etiology, clinical and morphological features of rhinosinusitis in patients in post-COVID-19 period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: In the present study, it was carried out the analysis of 11 cases of rhinosinusitis, which developed after COVID-19 infection. The diagnosis of rhi¬nosinusitis was established on the basis of anamnesis, clinical and laboratory examination, specialized instrumental examination (rhinoendoscopy, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, spiral and 3D computed tomography). All patients underwent endoscopic sanitation of the nasal cavity, expansion of the maxillary anastomosis, maxillary sinusotomy, sanitation of the maxillary sinuses and removal of pathologically altered tissues. Microbiological examination of the swab from the nasal cavity was carried out in all patients. Histological and morphometric research methods were used during the morphological study of surgical material. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the means in the groups. RESULTS: Results: The conducted comprehensive study made it possible to identify chronic atrophic rhinosinusitis at the stage of exacerbation caused by associations of bacteria and fungi in patients in post-COVID-19 period. Among bacteria, the authors most often noted Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus pneumonia and Enterococcus faecalis. Among fungi, there were Aspergillus, Candida, Mucor and Coccidioides. Fungal infection was characterized by invasion into the mucous membrane of the nose and paranasal sinuses. In patients in post-COVID-19 period the invasive bacterial-fungal chronic atrophic rhinosinusitis at the stage of exacerbation was predominantly bilateral, characterized by the involvement of several or all paranasal sinuses in the process. Patients with such pathology complained of periodic fever, headaches and malaise; nasal congestion and constant difficulty in nasal breathing; yellowish-greenish-reddish discharge from the nasal cavity, sometimes with a fetid odor; discomfort and pain in the area of paranasal sinuses; immobility of the eyeball, hyposmia or anosmia; reduction or complete loss of vision. Frequent risk factors for the development of invasive bacterial-fungal chronic atrophic rhinosinusitis at the stage of exacerbation in patients in post-COVID-19 period were the information about moderate or severe course of this infection in anamnesis; comorbidities (predominantly diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease and ischemic heart disease). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The study conducted by the authors made it possible to identify the etiological, clinical and morphological features, as well as risk factors of rhinosinusitis in patients in post-COVID-19 period. This information will contribute to a better understanding of such pathology by the doctors and improve the diagnostic and treatment process.

MORPHOLOGICAL JUSTIFICATION OF THE SALIVARY GLAND TISSUE RESECTION BOUNDARIES DURING SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMAS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to substantiate morphologically the resection boundaries of the salivary gland tissue in the surgical treatment of patients with pleomorphic adenoma of different histological variants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study used autopsy, surgical and biopsy material, divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included autopsy material (n=6), represented by tissue fragments of the parotid salivary gland, in which macroscopic and microscopic examination did not reveal any general pathological processes. Group 2 included surgical and biopsy material from 30 patients, represented by pleomorphic adenomas with adjacent tissue of the salivary gland at a distance of 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm. Histological, morphometric and statistical research methods were used. RESULTS: Results: The morphological features of the salivary gland tissue which was adjacent to the pleomorphic adenoma at a distance of 1.0 cm, practically corresponded to thephysiological norm. However, the tissue of the salivary gland, bordering the tumor at a distance of 0.5 cm, was characterized by pronounced changes. These changes were: violation of the ratio of the specific volumes of the parenchyma and stroma; atrophy of the terminal sections and ducts with cystic expansion of some ducts; thickening of the secretion and formation of calculi in the lumen of some ducts; atrophic and alterative changes in the epithelial lining the terminal sections and ducts; sclerosis and lipomatosis, areas with hyalinosis and dystrophic calcification in the stroma; hemodynamic disturbances in the stroma with a decrease in the number of vessels; pronounced focal or diffuse immune infiltration in the stroma in some areas with the lymphoid follicles formation. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: The comprehensive study has confirmed that removal of the tumor with the adjacent tissue of the salivary gland at a distance of 1.0 cm in patients with pleomorphic adenoma of various histological variants is the most justified from the morphological point of view.

EXPRESSION FEATURES OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS TYPE 16 AND ANTI-EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS IN PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA, SURROUNDING AND INTACT SALIVARY GLAND.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to reveal the expression features of MCA to human papilloma virus type 16 and anti-Epstein-Barr virus in the pleomorphic adenoma, surrounding and intact salivary gland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: It was used surgical and biopsy material from 30 patients, represented by pleomorphic adenomas with surrounding to tumor tissue of the salivary gland and intact tissue of the salivary gland (the distance between the tumor and the intact salivary gland - 10 mm). Immunohistochemical study was performed using mouse monoclonal antibody (MCA) to human papilloma virus type 16 (clone CAMVIR-1, «Diagnostic BioSystems¼, USA) and anti-Epstein-Barr virus (LMP, clone CS. 1-4, «Dako¼, Denmark). Visualization was performed, using an EnVisionTM FLEX detection system (Dako, Denmark). Antigen unmasking was carried out in citrate buf f er pH 6.0 at 95°C. Primary antibodies were incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes, secondary antibodies - 20 minutes. Sections were counterstained with Gill hematoxylin. We assessed the immunohistochemical reaction by a semi-quantitative method by counting the percentage of positively stained cells in the fi eld of view of a microscope × 400. Microspecimens were studied and photoarchived on an Olympus BX-41 microscope (Japan). RESULTS: Results: In this study it was detected a positive immunohistochemical reaction with MCA to human papilloma virus type 16 and anti-Epstein-Barr virus, respectively, in 26 (86.7%) and 8 (26.7%) cases. Epithelial, mixed and mesenchymal variants of pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands are characterized, respectively, by the severely expressed, moderately expressed and minimally expressed of MCA to human papilloma virus type 16 and anti-Epstein-Barr virus. The parenchymal component of pleomorphic adenoma is characterized by more marked expression of these markers as compared to the stromal component. The epithelial cells of the salivary glands, surrounding the pleomorphic adenoma, as well as intact salivary glands, express MCA to human papilloma virus type 16 and anti-Epstein-Barr virus. The severity of the expression of these markers in the salivary gland is determined by the histological variant of the tumor (severely expressed in the epithelial variant, moderately expressed in the mixed variant, and minimally expressed in the mesenchymal variant). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The immunohistochemical study has shown that the Epstein-Barr virus and, especially, human papilloma virus type 16 can act as exogenous trigger factors involved in the development of pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands. The revealed immunohistochemical features of MCA expression to human papilloma virus type 16 and anti-Epstein-Barr virus in the salivary gland surrounding the pleomorphic adenoma and in the intact tissue of the salivary gland make it possible to recommend the extracapsular dissection of the tumor with resection of the adjacent intact tissue of the salivary gland at a distance of 10 mm in patients with pleomorphic adenoma.

MALIGNANT TUMORS OF THE APPENDIX: CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CASES FROM THE PRACTICE.

The authors have analyzed medical histories of two patients, treated in health care facilities of Kharkiv region from 2008 to 2020. These patients underwent urgent appendectomy, given the existing clinic of acute appendicitis. Morphological examination of the surgical material allowed us to diagnose adenocarcinoma in one case, and neuroendocrine tumor in combination with endometriosis in the other case. Morphological examination of the surgical material in the first case revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and diffuse neutrophilic infiltration in all layers of the appendix, and in the second case - a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (G3), combined with the signs of phlegmonous-ulcerative appendicitis and loci of endometriosis. In both cases, there were no specific for the oncological process anamnestic and clinical-instrumental data, and these tumors were manifested by the clinic of acute appendicitis. Only morphological examination of the surgical material allowed identifying the pathological process. Clinical and morphological analysis of cases from the practice of malignant tumors of the appendix (neuroendocrine tumor and adenocarcinoma) will be useful and interesting for the medical community and should stimulate cancer vigilance in physicians.

TUMORS AND TUMOR-LIKE LESIONS OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS: MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SURGICAL MATERIAL.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to give a morphological characteristic of tumors and tumor-like lesions of the salivary glands in the course of a comprehensive analysis of the surgical material. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study used surgical material from 67 patients with various pathologies of the salivary glands. The patients were treated at Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 12 (Ukraine, Kiev) from 2014 to 2018. The resulting material was fixed in a 10% solution of neutral formalin (pH 7.4) for 24-48 hours, carried out according to the generally accepted technique and embedded in paraffin. Serial sections 2 µm thick were made from paraffin blocks and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Microspecimens were studied, using Olympus BX-41 microscope (Japan). RESULTS: Results: A comprehensive morphological study of the surgical material of patients with salivary gland pathology undergoing treatment at Kyiv City Clinical Hospital No. 12 (Ukraine, Kiev) for the period from 2014 to 2018 revealed benign tumors and tumor-like lesions of these glands. Pleomorphic adenomas and adenolymphomas represented benign tumors of the salivary glands, while cysts represented tumor-like lesions. Different ratios of parenchymal and stromal components characterized pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands. On this basis, we identified three tumor variants (mesenchymal (15 cases, 50.0 %); mixed or classic (10 cases, 33.3 %); epithelial (5 cases, 16.7 %)). A characteristic microscopic feature of salivary gland adenolymphomas was a pronounced predominance of the parenchyma over the stroma. A well-defined wall, represented by connective tissue fibers and epithelial lining, characterized the cysts of the salivary glands. The connective tissue capsule separating the tumor tissue from the intact tissue of the salivary gland was clearly pronounced in adenolymphomas, and in pleomorphic adenomas it could be clearly expressed, intact, with tumor invasion or absent. In mesenchymal and mixed variants of pleomorphic adenomas, in comparison with the epithelial variant, there was a frequent tumor invasion of the capsule, thinning of the capsule or its absence. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Morphological examination of the surgical material allows us to diagnose tumors (pleomorphic adenomas and adenolymphomas) and non-tumor lesions (cysts) of the salivary glands. This, of course, is of great therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic value. Among the identified pathology of the salivary glands, pleomorphic adenomas cause certain difficulties in morphological diagnosis due to their structural diversity and heterogeneity, sometimes requiring morphometric, immunohistochemical or genetic research.

Clinical and morphological features of the ovarian brenner tumour: current state of the problem.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Ovarian tumours are an actual problem of present-day medicine, being one of the most difficult sections of modern oncology. The majority of ovarian tumours are of epithelial origin. The ovarian Brenner tumour represents a rare epithelial ovarian neoplasm and accounts for 1-2% of all ovarian neoplasms. The aim of the study is to identify clinical and morphological features of ovarian Brenner tumour. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The material was 5 cases of Brenner ovarian tumour, diagnosed in the study of 4 cases of operational material and 1 case of autopsy observation for the period from 2007 to 2019. Histological and immunohistochemical staining methods were used. The microspecimens were examined on an Olympus BX-41 microscope (Japan). RESULTS: Results: Ovarian Brenner tumour is a rather rare pathology, the histogenesis of which is debatable. Morphological examination is the main method for its diagnosing. Ovarian Brenner tumours developed in women of middle and old age (the average age was 51.8 years). Women with a malignant ovarian Brenner tumour were older than women with a benign variant (the average age in women with a malignant variant was 55.8 years, with a benign variant - 49.3 years). Benign ovarian Brenner tumour occurred more frequently compared with a malignant one. Malignant and benign variants of ovarian Brenner tumour were characterized by a one-sided nature of the lesion with frequent involvement in the pathological process of the left ovary. Clinically, in patients with a benign variant of the Brenner tumour in all cases an abdominal pain syndrome was determined, combined in one case with metrorrhagia. A malignant ovarian Brenner tumour was clinically manifested by severe abdominal pain syndrome, combined in one case with complaints of an increase in the size of the abdomen, and in another case with intoxication syndrome and a clinic of small bowel obstruction. In all cases a malignant ovarian Brenner tumour metastasized to the omentum and in one case also to the small intestine wall. Macroscopically the ovarian Brenner tumour had the form of a node, the dimensions of which were significantly larger for the malignant variant compared with a benign, dense or soft consistency, on the cross section of a whitish-gray or brown color with cysts. A damaged ovary with a malignant variant of Brenner tumour significantly increased in size, while with a benign one, its size did not change or increased slightly. In all cases the malignant and benign variants of ovarian Brenner tumour were combined with various reproductive system organs pathologies (mucinous papillary cystadenoma of the ovary, serous ovarian cyst, ovarian endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, cervical nabothian cysts, uterine leiomyoma). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: A study conducted by the authors revealed clinical and morphological features of a rare ovarian tumour - Brenner tumour, which will contribute to a better understanding of this pathology by the doctors of various specialties, and improve the treatment and diagnostic process.

Clinical-morphological features of wilms' tumour: analysis of literature data and a case from practice

Wilms' tumour, or nephroblastoma, is a malignant tumour, originating from nephrogenic germ cells that copy histology of developing kidneys and often contain cells at different stages of their differentiation. The article analyses clinical-morphological features of Wilms' tumour, which is typical for childhood and seldom occurs in adults. The authors suppose that one of the causes of Wilms' tumour development can be maternal complications, which arise during pregnancy, leading to inhibition of glomerulogenesis and tubulogenesis in the offspring kidneys, an increase the number of foci of primitive (immature) tissue, from which this tumour, as it is known, can originate. The described саse from practice of Wilms' tumour is of particular interest because of an untypical age category, when the above pathology was diagnosed, demonstrates necessity of a multidisciplinary approach to its identification and necessitates its inclusion into the differential diagnostic line for the detection of kidneys tumours in adults.

[Morphometrical evaluation of fetuses and newborns kidneys status developing under maternal iron deficiency anemaia conditions].

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Kidneys in fetuses and newborns play an important role in the homeostasis regulation and are the most vulnerable to the action of damaging factors from the mother organism, therefore it is important to timely assess their morphofunctional state. The aim: The purpose of the study was to reveal the morphometrical features of fetuses and newborns kidneys from mothers, whose pregnancy was complicated by iron deficiency anemia of varying degrees of severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The material of the study was the tissue of kidneys of mature fetuses and newborns from mothers with physiological pregnancy (28 cases), as well as from mothers whose pregnancy was complicated by iron deficiency anemia of varying degrees of severity (85 cases). Morphometrical examination was performed during which the nephrogenic zone thickness, the specific volumes of renal corpuscles, tubules and stroma were determined. The absolute number of renal corpuscles, the specific volumes of immature and mature renal corpuscles and tubules were counted. RESULTS: Results: Maternal iron deficiency anemia of mild degree of severity in the offspring kidneys leads to an increase of the nephrogenic zone thickness; does not affect the absolute number of renal corpuscles; in fetuses in the cortical layer does not affect the specific volume of renal corpuscles, in the cortical and medullary layers decreases the specific volume of tubules and increases the specific volume of stroma, while in newborns in the cortical layer does not affect the specific volumes of renal corpuscles and tubules, increases the specific volume of stroma, in the medullary layer reduces the specific volume of tubules and increases the specific volume of stroma; increases the specific volumes of immature renal corpuscles, tubules and reduces the specific volumes of mature renal corpuscles, tubules. Maternal iron deficiency anemia of moderate and severe degree of severity in the offspring kidneys leads to an increase of the nephrogenic zone thickness; reduces the absolute number of renal corpuscles; decreases the specific volume of renal corpuscles in the cortical layer, reduces the specific volume of tubules and increases the specific volume of stroma in the cortical and medullary layers; increases the specific volumes of immature renal corpuscles, tubules and decreases the specific volumes of mature renal corpuscles and tubules. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Quantitative changes of the structural elements in the fetuses and newborns kidneys from mothers with iron deficiency anemia, characterized by a decrease of the parenchymal component with the presence a significant number of immature structures in it and an increase of the stromal component, will lead to kidneys dysfunction in such children.

[Morphological characteristics of kidneys connective tissue of mature fetuses and newborns from mothers, whose pregnancy was complicated by preeclampsia of varying degrees of severity].

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: The kidneys connective tissue condition in the antenatal period affects the formation of tissues and it changes with the development of various general pathological processes in this organ. The aim of the study was to identify the morphological features of kidneys connective tissue of fetuses and newborns from mothers whose pregnancy was complicated by preeclampsia of varying degrees of severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The material of the study was the tissue of kidneys of mature fetuses and newborns from mothers with physiological pregnancy (28 cases), as well as from mothers whose pregnancy was complicated by preeclampsia of varying degrees of severity (78 cases). Immunohistochemical study was performed by an indirect Coons method according to M. Brosman's technique using monoclonal antibodies to collagen type I, III and IV. RESULTS: Results: The kidneys connective tissue of fetuses and newborns developing under the maternal preeclampsia conditions is characterized by the qualitative and quantitative changes that indicate the development of sclerotic processes in this organ, the severity of which increase with the age and with the increase of the maternal preeclampsia severity. Qualitative changes are characterized by an increase of the fibrous component, thickening of the bundles of connective tissue fibers, and a decrease in the distance between them. Quantitative changes are characterized by a pronounced predominance of collagen fibers over elastic fibers, almost total absence in some field of view elastic fibers and the violation of the content of collagen type I, III and IV. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: Maternal preeclampsia underlies the development of qualitative and quantitative changes in kidneys connective tissue of fetuses and newborns, which as a result will lead to disruption of the functions of these organs in such children.