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Despite numerous studies conducted by various research teams, predicting long-term outcomes (known as Post-COVID-19 Syndrome, PCS) that may result from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains challenging. PCS affects over a million people, primarily those with comorbid conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to undertake research aimed at developing a predictive model for early diagnosis of PCS, which in turn would enable faster preventive actions. The aim of this study was to assess the value of measuring and attempt a quantitative evaluation using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) tests of three non-serum proteins, whose presence in the blood during COVID-19 was associated with severe disease progression: neutrophil elastase (NE), calcium-binding protein S100B, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). The concentrations of these proteins were measured in blood serum samples collected before the COVID-19 pandemic from (1) patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM); (2) advanced stage diabetic nephropathy (NfT2DM); (3) a healthy group; and in blood serum samples collected two years after recovering from COVID-19 from patients with (4) T2DM and (5) NfT2DM. It was found that elevated levels of NE and NSE were significantly more common (p < 0.05) in patients with NfT2DM after recovering from COVID-19 compared to the other groups, while elevated levels of S100B were significantly more frequently observed in patients with T2DM after recovering from COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Demonstrating differences in the prevalence of NE, NSE, and S100B in individuals who recovered from COVID-19 with T2DM and NfT2DM makes these proteins important components of the developing predictive model for early detection of PCS. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the significance of NE, NSE, and S100B in PCS in the context of T2DM and NfT2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: A comprehensive evaluation, including symptoms, medical history, C‐peptide levels, and anti‐GAD antibodies, is essential for distinguishing between diabetes' types, particularly in cases of diagnostic uncertainty. While obesity is often associated with T2DM, BMI should be viewed as a factor rather than a criterion for the exclusion of diabetes type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) infected with SARS-CoV-2 indicate a higher risk of severe COVID-19 course, which is defined as the need for hospitalization in the intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation, or death. However, simple tools to stratify the risk in patients with COPD suffering from COVID-19 are lacking. The current study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the C2HEST score in patients with COPD. A retrospective analysis of medical records from 2184 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at the University Hospital in Wroclaw from February 2020 to June 2021, which was previously used in earlier studies, assessed outcomes such as mortality during hospitalization, all-cause mortality at 3 and 6 months, non-fatal discharge, as well as adverse clinical incidents. This re-analysis specifically examines the outcomes using a COPD split. In the COPD group, 42 deaths were recorded, including 18 in-hospital deaths. In-hospital mortality rates at 3 and 6 months did not significantly differ among C2HEST strata, nor did their impact on subsequent treatment. However, a notable association between the C2HEST score and prognosis was observed in the non-COPD cohort comprising 2109 patients. The C2HEST score's predictive ability is notably lower in COPD patients compared to non-COPD subjects, with COPD itself indicating a high mortality risk. However, C2HEST effectively identifies patients at high risk of cardiac complications during COVID-19, especially in non-COPD cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present two cases of patients treated at the Angiology, Arterial Hypertension and Diabetology Clinic of the Wroclaw Medical University (UMW) due to vascular malformations, where LIC (localized intravascular coagulation), DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) and KMS (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) occurred. The first case involves a 14-year-old boy admitted with a diagnosis of vascular malformation of the lower limb established at the age of 3. The patient was admitted for the initiation of Sirolimus therapy. The second patient is a 33-year-old man diagnosed with a malformation of the left lower limb involving the pelvis, abdominal cavity, and chest, currently admitted due to coagulation disorders, complicated by life-threatening Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS). The phenomenon occurred after a limb injury. Vascular malformations are congenital vascular anomalies resulting from a disruption in the vasculogenesis process. (1) They are congenital changes that enlarge as the child develops and do not undergo spontaneous involution. They can be classified based on the type of vessels involved (capillary, arterial, venous, lymphatic, mixed) and the nature of the vascular flow (lowflow and high-flow). The clinical presentation of vascular malformations is highly diverse, and despite being congenital, they can remain asymptomatic for a long time, complicating the diagnostic process. (1,3) The presence of malformations carries the risk of health-threatening complications. One such complication is Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and consumptive coagulopathy in the presence of a rapidly enlarging vascular tumor. (4,5) Another threat is a coagulopathy limited to the vascular anomaly (LIC). It is characterized by elevated D-dimers and fibrin degradation products, low levels of fibrinogen, FV, FVIII, FXIII, and antithrombin, and sometimes mild to moderate thrombocytopenia. (6,7) Early implementation of anticoagulant therapy allows for the avoidance of health-threatening conditions and the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC). (8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the molecular mechanisms of action of antidiabetic drugs, they are considered to be effective in the treatment of both COVID-19 and the post-COVID-19 syndromes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of administering insulin and metformin on the mortality of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with symptomatic COVID-19 with the use of logistic regression models. The association between death and insulin and metformin was weak and could not be included in the multivariate model. However, the interaction of both drugs with other factors, including remdesivir and low-molecular-weight heparin (metformin), age and hsCRP (insulin), modulated the odds of death. These interactions hint at multifaceted (anti-/pro-) associations of both insulin and metformin with the odds of death, depending on the patient's characteristics. In the multivariate model, RDW-SD, adjusted with low-molecular-weight heparin treatment, age, sex and K+, was associated with mortality among patients with COVID-19 and T2DM. With a 15% increase in RDW-SD, the risk of death increased by 87.7%. This preliminary study provides the foundations for developing further, more personalized models to assess the risk of death in T2DM patients, as well as for identifying patients at an increased risk of death due to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the case report of a 43-year-old male, professional sport user, complaining of pain in his right lower extremity. We have discussed the symptoms, diagnostics with its differentiation, treatment methods and their efficacy. The diagnosis of cystic adventitial disease was made on the basis of diagnostic imaging such as Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical procedure is the treatment of choice, to which the patient was qualified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced age is known to be a predictor with COVID-19 severity. Understanding of other disease progression factors may shorten the time from patient admission to applied treatment. The Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO index) was assumed to additionally anticipate clinical results of patients hospitalized with a proven infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Methods: The medical records of 2183 hospitalized patients were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into four risk-of-death categories: low risk, medium risk, high-risk, and extreme risk depending on their VACO index calculation. Results: Significant differences in the mortality at the hospital after three months of discharge and six months after discharge were noticed. For the patients in the extreme-risk group, mortality reached 37.42%, 62.81%, and 78.44% for in-hospital, three months of discharge, and six months of discharge, respectively. The mortality marked as high risk reached 20.38%, 37.19%, and 58.77%. Moreover, the secondary outcomes analysis acknowledged that patients classified as extreme risk were more likely to suffer from cardiogenic shock, myocardial infarction, myocardial injury, stroke, pneumonia, acute kidney injury, and acute liver dysfunction. Patients at moderate risk were more often admitted to ICU when compared to other patients. Conclusions: The usage of the VACO index, combined with an appropriate well-defined medical interview and past medical history, tends to be a helpful instrument in order to predict short-term mortality and disease progression based on previous medical records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Partial splenic endovascular embolization (PSEE) could be an option for patients with thrombocytopaenia (TCP). We selected a group of 22 patients diagnosed with refractory TCP to undergo PSEE, and we followed them for detailed analysis. Material and methods: Twenty-two patients aged 27-75 years (mean 46.5 ± 3.5 years) underwent PSEE, and 5 participants underwent a second PSEE due to the lack of effectiveness after the first procedure. A total of 27 PSEEs were performed. A semi-quantitative scale was used to assess the severity of the post-embolization syndrome. The percentage of spleen parenchyma excluded from circulation was 30-70%. We used the mixture of Histoacryl N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue and Lipiodol in 10 cases, spirals in 10 cases, and polyvinyl alcohol in 7 cases, for the embolization. Results: The mean value of platelet count (PLT) before procedure increased from 22.0 ± 15.0 to 87.7 ± 67.9 (p < 0.05) in a mean period of 194 days. In 2 cases severe post-embolization syndrome was observed. Closure less than 50% of the spleen circulation was associated with poorly expressed post-embolization symptoms. Serious complications occurred in 1 patient (3.5%). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.8, p < 0.05) was found between C-reactive protein (CRP) and the severity of post-embolization syndrome. Increased symptoms of post-embolization syndrome were also associated with a significant increase in hospitalization time – 27.0 vs. 7.2 days (r = 0.66, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Partial endovascular embolization of the spleen (PSEE) may be a valuable therapeutic option for patients with refractory TCP. PSEE is a safe method with a low complication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothenar hammer syndrome is a rare cause of ischemic fingers observed mainly in young men smoking cigarettes and it is associated with repeated trauma of the ulnar artery in the area of the hypothenar eminence of the dominant-hand arm, resulting in a deficit of blood supply with the occurrence of hand symptoms typical for chronic and sometimes critical ischemia. Artery injury in this location is most often the result of multiple repetitions of the same activity being mostly the result of occupational exposure. We present a case of a 27-year-old car mechanic admitted to the hospital with symptoms of critical ischemia of the fingers III, IV, and V of the right hand, which resolved after conservative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The flow of blood in the arterial and venous vessels of various organs is holds according to the difference of the value of systolic and diastolic pressures and is dependent from many factors connected with the control of the change of the vessel diameter. Arteriosclerosis can make difficult the access of the blood in the essential way to organs laid distally. Available diagnostic methods can increase in the essential way to the quicker intervention in the inhibition of the morbid process. The valuation of usability of method of thermography to rating of haemodynamics changes of blood flow in lower limbs at persons with ischaemia in II period according to Fontaine'a is the aim of study. Material and methods. Fifty persons was qualified to surveys in II period of the ischaemia of lower limbs, waiting on the endovascular intervention and 49 persons without the affirmed arteriosclerosis of lower limbs, with diseases coexisting characteristic for this aged group. The measurement of the temperature of lower limbs, was made with termographic camera Trotec IR 060. Results. The assessment of the temperature of lower limbs at persons with their ischaemia showed significant differences in average values in the comparison with healthy persons (35,4 vs. 36,5°C). The time of duration of the disease moreover was factor determining the evaluation of the changes of the value of the temperature - they diminished together with outflow of time of duration of the disease from 35,8 on 35,1°C in the studied group. Conclusions. Conducted studies let certify, that morbid process in the character of the ischaemia of lower limbs found reflection in the average values of the temperature on the skin surface of limbs in studied groups carrying out 1.1°C ± 0.7. The results of the examination with the thermographic camera confirmed dependence between the time of duration of the disease and the changes of the temperature of lower limbs. The registration of the range of the flow blood in the arteries of lower limbs made using the thermal photography can provide many interesting information to the valuation of the changes of the circulation in the indicated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Even though coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered an independent risk factor of an unfavorable outcome of SARS-CoV-2-infection, the clinical course of COVID-19 in subjects with CAD is heterogeneous, ranging from clinically asymptomatic to fatal cases. Since the individual C 2 HEST components are similar to the COVID-19 risk factors, we evaluated its predictive value in CAD subjects., Materials and Methods: In total, 2183 patients hospitalized due to confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled onto this study consecutively. Based on past medical history, subjects were assigned to one of two of the study arms ( CAD vs. non-CAD ) and allocated to different risk strata, based on the C 2 HEST score., Results: The CAD cohort included 228 subjects, while the non-CAD cohort consisted of 1956 patients. In-hospital , 3-month and 6-month mortality was highest in the high-risk C 2 HEST stratum in the CAD cohort, reaching 43.06%, 56.25% and 65.89%, respectively, whereas in the non-CAD cohort in the high-risk stratum, it reached: 26.92%, 50.77% and 64.55%. Significant differences in mortality between the C 2 HEST stratum in the CAD arm were observed in post hoc analysis only for medium- vs. high-risk strata. The C 2 HEST score in the CAD cohort could predict hypovolemic shock, pneumonia and acute heart failure during hospitalization, whereas in the non-CAD cohort, it could predict cardiovascular events (myocardial injury, acute heart failure, myocardial infract, carcinogenic shock), pneumonia, acute liver dysfunction and renal injury as well as bleedings., Conclusions: The C 2 HEST score is a simple, easy-to-apply tool which might be useful in risk stratification, preferably in non-CAD subjects admitted to hospital due to COVID-19.

Unlabelled: A number of epidemiological studies conducted over the last decade indicate a relationship between specific pathogen infections and the development of atherosclerosis, although no pathogenetic pathways connecting these two have been determined. Recent reports support the role of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in atherogenesis. The HSPs are also believed to be a link between the infection and the development of atherosclerotic lesions. THE AIMS OF STUDY: Immunohistochemical evaluation of carotid artery segments to show the relationship between the presence of heat shock proteins and the serum levels of anti-hsp60 antibodies. An attempt to demonstrate a relationship between an expression of chronic C. pneumoniae and CMV antigens., Material and Methods: The study included 41 patients qualified for carotid artery endarterectomy and 18 healthy volunteers of corresponding age. Levels of anti- hsp60, anti-C. pneumoniae IgA and IgG, anti-CMV IgG antibodies as well as hsCRP were determined., Results: The mean serum levels of anti-hsp60 antibodies were higher in patients with advanced atherosclerosis as compared to healthy volunteers (55.3 ± 64.1 vs 32.8 ± 29.8; p < 0.05). There was a strong correlation between anti-hsp60 antibodies and the expression of hsp60 in carotid arterial wall, as confirmed by immunohistochemical evaluation. The study group showed statistically significant higher levels of hsCRP. Furthermore, statistically significant higher serum levels of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA as well as anti-CMV IgG antibodies were found in the study group as compared to controls. No correlation was shown between the markers of chronic infection induced by the tested pathogens and serum levels of anti-HSP and hsCRP., Conclusions: Higher protein expression in vascular walls is closely correlated with the level of anti-hsp60. At the same time, no significant relationship between anti-hsp60 antibodies and serological markers of infection was observed, which may only indicate an indirect role of infection in the assessment of breaking the immunological tolerance against autologous HSPs.

In composed process of atherogenesis take part different classes of lipoproteins. Atherogenic are low density lipoproteins (LDL), especially their modified, like oxidized, particles. Different role have high density lipoproteins (HDL): those molecules could protect arterial wall. This effect depends eg. on the presence paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) in HDL molecules. PON 1 is the enzyme with hydrolase activity. PON 1 protects lipoproteins against oxidative stress and makes possible to metabolize lipid peroxides. Several polymorphisms of the gene PON 1 have been identified. The most important for enzyme activity seem to be two polymorphisms: in the position 55 (L55M) and in the position 192 (R192Q). For instance the genotype PON 1 55 MM is connected with low enzyme serum level. Gene polymorphisms of PON could be one of the possibilities genetic conditioning of atherosclerosis.

The activation of the immunologic system plays an immportant role in the initiation of atherogenesis, as shown in numerous studies. However the role of infectious agents in this process still remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of heat shock protein as a link between infection and peripheral arterial disease. 31 patients suffering from lower limb ischemia were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I - patients with peripheral arterial disease, group II patients with diabetic macroangiopathy. The control group consisted of 11 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were taken from each participant in order to determine serum concentrations of anti Chlamydia pneumoniae, CMV and HSP 60/65 antibodies. Statistic analysis showed anti-C. pneumoniae IgG (p< 0.025) and anti-CMV IgG (p<0.0157) antibodies were significantly more frequent in both study groups in comparison with healthy controls. Antibodie levels were also found significantly higher than in controls. Mean concentration of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG in the study group was 69.67574 vs. 18.59722 [AU/ml] in the control group (p<0.01). Analogical anti CMV IgG levels in the study group were 337.6516 vs 121.3778 [AU/ml] in controls (p<0.025). Similar changes in antibody concentration were noticed for the C. pneumoniae IgA index. 0.835258 vs. 0.176333 (p< 0.005). Antibodies against HSP 60/65 were present in significantly higher titre (p<0.005). No significant differences in antibody levels were detected beteween groups I and II. The positive correlation between anti-C. pneumoniae Ig A (r=0.3910; p<0.03) and anti HSP 60/65 antibodies titre, as well as anti-C. pneumoniae Ig G (r= 0.7151; p<0.00009) and anti HSP 60/65 speaks for the heat shock protein involvement in atherosclerotic plaque development.

Involvement of infection agents in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis was described in several studies, particularly in patients with acute coronary syndrome or ischemic stroke. However, in very few studies an association of serological markers of chronic infection with peripheral occlusive artery disease was analysed. The prevalence and concentration of immunoglobulin G and A to Chlamydia pneumoniae and immunoglobulin G to CMV were measured in sera of 31 participants suffering from peripheral occlusive artery disease. Significant difference in the prevalance of immunoglobulin G to C. pneumoniae and CMV between study and control groups was documented. There was no such association in reference to immunoglobulin A to C. pneumoniae index. Serum concentration of all measured antibodies were significantly higher in the study group than in control.

There is an increasing number of evidence of correlation between bacterial infection and atherosclerosis. Heat shock proteins as a possible factor connecting an inflammation reaction inducted by infection and development of the early atherosclerotic lesions is postulated.