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Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have remarkable immunomodulatory properties, low immunogenicity, and paracrine properties as well as the ability to differentiate into multiple cell lines. These properties make them potential candidates for clinical applications in the treatment of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and lung diseases, which may be occupational diseases. Preclinical studies using experimental animal models have demonstrated regenerative properties of MSCs in diseases such as silicosis and occupational asthma. Currently, treatment of the novel disease COVID-19 could be enhanced by using MSC therapies. This disease affects many professional groups with great intensity and its consequences might be considered as an occupational disease. It is a significant public health problem and a therapeutic challenge. Despite the development of vaccines against COVID-19, there is growing concern about the emergence of new mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in addition to the known alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variants. There is still no effective COVID-19 treatment and the existing ones only play a supporting role. MSCs offer treatment possibilities as an alternative or complementary therapy. The clinical trials to date using MSCs in patients with COVID-19 give hope for the safe and effective use of this stem cell population. Med Pr. 2021;72(6):693–700

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COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus Sars-CoV-2. The most common symptoms are fever, cough and high temperature, which can lead to complications ranging from the widely documented pneumonia to less obvious ones such as intestinal dysfunction. In recent years, there has been a great deal of research into the impact of the gut microbiota on the course of many diseases, including COVID-19. Microbiota play an important role in maintaining general health and immune function. The connection between the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system can be both direct, where the oral microbiome colonises the respiratory tract, and indirect, involving the passage of microbiota from the gut into the bloodstream. Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection varies and depends on sanitation standards, immunity, as well as the presence of other medical conditions. There are also reports indicating a positive role for the microbiota in reducing the body's susceptibility to viral infection. Microbiota supports the regulation of the immune response, influences receptor expression, limits viral entry into host cells, and exerts an inhibitory effect on the development of inflammation, which is a risk factor for Covid-19 complications, which can manifest as so-called post covid with respiratory, circulatory and nervous system symptoms. The composition of the microbiota and its changes due to diseases and therapies used correlate with susceptibility to viral infections. Studies show that disruption of the tightness of the intestinal barrier affects the course of many diseases, including the respiratory system. Intestinal microbiota disorders leading to dysbiosis have a negative impact on the prognosis of patients with acute respiratory failure due to viral infections. The aim of this paper is to review PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases of recent studies on the effects of probiotics in the treatment and support of COVID-19. The review presented here discusses the potential for probiotics as agents used in the prevention and support of therapy of viral infection. The principles of quality assurance and safety of the probiotic product are also included.

Background The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), was originally detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In this meta-analysis and literature review, we compared and summarized the clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and electromyography (EMG) findings and outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and its variants. Methods We conducted a literature review in February 2023 searching for terms “Guillain-Barre Syndrome and COVID-19", “SARS neurology”, “COVID-19 complications”. We used PubMed and Google Scholar databases inquiring case reports or series of cases published between April 1, 2020, and September 14, 2023. Results Of the 52 GBS cases 61,5% (n=32) were male and 39,5% (n=20) were female. The mean age was 57 years old. A total of 75% (n=33) patients presented acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) variant, 6,8% (n=3) presented acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) variant, 15,9% (n=7) presented acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) variant. A total of 85,7% (n=42) of patients were diagnosed with albuminocytological dissociation. During the hospitalization, a total of 30,8% (n=16) required mechanical ventilation. A total of 61,5% (n=32) of patients were treated with a 5-day regimen of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in dose 0.4 g/kg/day. There were 46,1% (n=24) complete recoveries from GBS, 32,7% (n=17) partial recoveries and 9,6% (n=5) of patients did not respond to treatment. A total of 11,5% (n=6) of patients died. Conclusion It is crucial to follow patients with COVID-19 and GBS over time to estimate properly the efficacy of treatment and evaluate the real percentage of recovery and complications.

SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to severe multiple organ failure. The immune system is stimulated by activating the inflammatory mechanism and by releasing inflammatory cytokines. COVID-19 is able to penetrate the central nervous system, inducing neuritis and neurodegeneration. In our study, we analyzed the latest available articles. We focused on the subject of COVID-19 infection and consequences of neuroinflammation. For this study, we searched the literature available in Pubmed and Google Scholar databases using keywords. There is evidence of a common background of COVID-19 complications and neurological diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. This type of complication is more frequently observed in serious cases of COVID-19, with a more intense immune response, with higher levels of CRP, ferritin and D-dimers. Organic changes in conjunction with environmental stress caused by the experience of severe illness, fear of becoming ill and social limitations, lead to neuropsychiatric pathologies, including major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress. The neuropsychiatric implications of COVID-19 represent a severe clinical problem that deserves special attention in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. There is a need to monitor the neuropsychiatric consequences of COVID-19, in order to completely understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This knowledge is necessary to be able to confront the public health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism. Long-term high blood glucose levels can lead to a variety of serious complications and organ failure. Diabetic patients are particularly at risk of the severe course of COVID-19. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between diabetes and COVID-19. The literature available in the PubMed database was used to carry out a systematic review of the literature. The meta-analyzes from 2021 and 2022 were used for the analysis, with the inclusion of the phrases "DIABETES" and "COVID-19" in the title. A brief description of the state of knowledge: Diabetes does not increase the incidence of COVID-19, but the risk of severe disease is higher in patients with diabetes compared to the non-diabetic population. This is especially true of patients with uncontrolled glycaemia. SARS-CoV-2 disrupts the carbohydrate metabolism, can damage pancreatic beta cells and, in this mechanism, induce diabetes or cause the progression of pre-existing diabetes. There is an increased incidence of COVID-19 complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in patients with diabetes. Conclusions: Diabetic patients are at a higher risk of the severe course and rapid progression of COVID-19. Important in COVID-19 therapy is glycemic control and monitoring the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin, CRP and D-dimers. The modification of the current treatment may be necessary. In patients who have undergone COVID-19, attention should be paid to the possibility of induction of diabetes or dysregulation of carbohydrate metabolism in patients suffering from diabetes previously.

Wprowadzenie i cel pracy: Mechanizm w jaki wirus sars-cov-2 atakuje narządy i powoduje ich długotrwałe powikłania nie jest do końca poznany. Wielu pacjentów, którzy przebyli COVID-19 coraz częściej skarży się na różne dolegliwości, a część z nich przyjmowana jest do szpitali trybie pilnym. Celem pracy jest przybliżenie najczęściej występujących komplikacji po infekcji sars-cov-2 w wybranych układach i narządach, a także ich następstw. Materiał i metoda: W lutym 2022 roku przeszukano bazy danych Medline (PubMed) oraz Google Scholar przy użyciu słów kluczowych: after COVID-19 complications, long-term sequelae of covid-19, mortality after covid-19, post-covid, long covid . Zostały wybrane prace w językach angielskim, francuskim i niemieckim opublikowane w latach 2020-2022. Opis stanu wiedzy: Zgromadzone statystyki pokazują, że COVID-19 bardzo często pozostawia zmiany zwłóknieniowe w płucach oraz niespecyficzne objawy takie jak duszność, utrzymujący się ból głowy czy utrata smaku i węchu. Często obserwuje się symptomy niewydolności prawej komory serca i zawały serca różnej etiologii, a aktywowany zakażeniem śródbłonek naczyń może prowadzić do zaburzeń zakrzepowych w płucach, mózgu i w obwodowym układzie naczyniowym. Podczas pandemii zanotowano także wzrost ilości przypadków ostrego uszkodzenia nerek. Podsumowanie: Dotychczasowe doniesienia pozwalają stwierdzić, że proces chorobowy związany z covid-19 nie kończy się w momencie ustąpienia głównych objawów. W organizmie zmiany zapalne mogą toczyć się jeszcze długi czas i prowadzić do nieodwracalnych powikłań, niekiedy katastrofalnych w skutkach. Słowa klucz: after covid complications; long-term sequelae of covid-19; mortality after covid-19; post-covid; long covid