Post-COVID syndrome: pulmonary complications

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people worlwide and caused a pandemic that is still ongoing. The virus can cause a disease named as COVID-19, which is composed of multi systemic manifestations with a pulmonary system predominance. As the time passes, we are dealing more and more with a wide variety of effects and complications of the disease in survivors as far as with concerns about the clinical outcome and the timeline of symptoms in different patients. Since the lungs are the most involved organs and the post-COVID prolonged and persistent effects are mainly related to the pulmonary system, it is crucial to define and predict the outcome and to determine the individuals that can progress to fibrosis and loss of function of lungs. This review summarizes the current literature regarding the pulmonary complications in post-COVID syndrome and the management of these conditions.     

Measurement of family impact of skin disease: further validation of the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI)

Aim To adapt the Impact on Family scale (IOF), originally developed for families of children with chronic illnesses, for use in families of adult patients and to examine the convergent validity of the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI) by comparing it with the adapted version of the IOF scale. Methods Adult family members of patients with different skin diseases attending the out‐patients clinic of a secondary referral centre completed the FDLQI and the adapted version of the IOF scale, whereas patients completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results A total of 50 patients and 50 family members/partners participated in the study. The mean scores for the three instruments were as follows: FDLQI = 6.0 (SD = 6.4, median = 4); IOF scale = 27.9 (SD = 8.2, median = 29); DLQI = 5.4 (SD = 5.6, median = 3). There was no difference between male and female participants in the mean scores of any of the three instruments. The FDLQI demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91). Factor analysis revealed the presence of one factor structure underlying the items of the FDLQI, which explained 55.8% of the total variance. The IOF scale also showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.89). The results of factor analysis revealed one dominant factor and three weaker factors, which together explained 72% of the total variance. The convergent validity of the FDLQI was demonstrated by a highly significant positive correlation between the mean FDLQI and the IOF scale scores (r_s = 0.61, P < 0.0001). All the items of the FDLQI also had significant correlations with the mean total IOF scale scores (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of this study have demonstrated that with minor modifications IOF scale, which was originally developed for families of children suffering from chronic illnesses, can also be used in families of adult dermatology patients. The study has also provided further evidence of the validity of the newly developed FDLQI.     

THE ‘VASOVAGAL EFFECT’ OF NITRATES: AN UNDER-RECOGNISED COMPLICATION OF NITRATE USE

SUMMARY Nitrates are useful drugs in cardiovascular medicine. They have a presumed vasovagal effect, which is a rare but often under-recognised complication that is partly caused by central inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system. However, no consistent variable associated with the presumed vasovagal effects following nitrate administration can be identified, and there are only limited reports of the phenomenon in the literature. In fact, the true prevalence of such a complication is unknown, because no data from observational studies exist, although it would seem likely to be a rare event. A greater awareness and recognition of this unusual effect of nitrate use is necessary in view of the increasing use of nitrates. Fortunately, recovery is generally the rule with supportive management.     

Morphological types of the glandular epithelium nuclei from benign and malignant mammary gland diseases

The morphometric parameters of the nuclear-nucleolar apparatus of benign and malignant mammary cells were investigated by computer-aided morphometry of cytological specimen stained by a 50% silver nitrate solution. On the basis of a static analysis of measurement results a computer soft was created to classify the nuclei. The soft, with respect to an analysis of the discriminative functions and to a variety of formally logical limitations, subdivides the nuclei into 6 morphotypes with variations "a" and "b", which correspond to certain clinical and morphological variants of breast diseases. From the practical viewpoint, the subdivision of nuclei into the 3rd and 4th morphotypes is most interesting because it can provide the clinical cytology expert with extra information for the differential diagnostics of proliferative and malignant transformations in the mammary glands as well as for the definition of dysplasia stages and for the determination of tumor-cell malignancy degree.     

Effects of endothelin-1 on DNA synthesis and NADPH diaphorase activity in epithelial and smooth muscle cells of the tracheobronchial system in newborn albino rats after repeated treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester

Newborn rats received intraperitoneal injections of endothelin-1 in a daily dose of 5×10^-8 mol/kg 30 min after administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (9.3×10^-5 mol/kg intraperitoneally) from the 2nd to 6th day of life. NADPH diaphorase activity in epithelial and smooth muscle cells of the tracheobronchial system increased 24 h after the last treatment. In this period DNA synthesis underwent opposite changes, which included the inhibition of epithelial cell proliferation and stimulation of smooth muscle cell division. Intensification of free radical oxidation in the lung tissue was accompanied by inactivation of the antioxidant system.