Lung Ultrasound as a First-Line Test in the Evaluation of Post-COVID-19 Pulmonary Sequelae

Background: Interstitial lung sequelae are increasingly being reported in survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia. An early detection of these lesions may help prevent the development of irreversible lung fibrosis. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has shown high diagnostic accuracy in interstitial lung disease (ILD) and could likely be used as a first-line test for post-COVID-19 lung sequelae.Methods: Single-center observational prospective study. Follow-up assessments of consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia were conducted 2–5 months after the hospitalization. All patients underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and LUS. Radiological alterations in HRCT were quantified using the Warrick score. The LUS score was obtained by evaluating the presence of pathological B-lines in 12 thoracic areas (range, 0–12). The correlation between the LUS and Warrick scores was analyzed.Results: Three hundred and fifty-two patients who recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia were recruited between July and September 2020. At follow-up, dyspnea was the most frequent symptom (69.3%). FVC and DLCO alterations were present in 79 (22.4%) and 234 (66.5%) patients, respectively. HRCT showed relevant interstitial lung sequelae (RILS) in 154 (43.8%) patients (Warrick score ≥ 7). The LUS score was strongly correlated with the HRCT Warrick score (r = 0.77) and showed a moderate inverse correlation with DLCO (r = −0.55). The ROC curve analysis revealed that a LUS score ≥ 3 indicated an excellent ability to discriminate patients with RILS (sensitivity, 94.2%; specificity, 81.8%; negative predictive value, 94.7%).Conclusions: LUS could be implemented as a first-line procedure in the evaluation of Post-COVID-19 interstitial lung sequelae. A normal LUS examination rules out the presence of these sequelae in COVID-19 survivors, avoiding the need for additional diagnostic tests such as HRCT.

Correlates of neutralizing/SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding antibody response with adverse effects and immune kinetics in BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals

While mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are exceedingly effective in preventing symptomatic infection, their immune response features remain to be clarified. In the present prospective study, 225 healthy individuals in Japan, who received two BNT162b2 doses, were enrolled. Correlates of BNT162b2-elicited SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing activity (50% neutralization titer: NT50; assessed using infectious virions) with various determinants were examined and the potency of sera against variants of concerns was determined. Significant rise in NT50s was seen in sera on day 28 post-1st dose. A moderate inverse correlation was seen between NT50s and ages, but no correlation seen between NT50s and adverse effects. NT50s and SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding-IgG levels on day 28 post-1st dose and pain scores following the 2nd dose were greater in women than in men. The average half-life of NT50s was ~ 68 days, and 23.6% (49 out of 208 individuals) failed to show detectable neutralizing activity on day 150. While sera from elite-responders (NT50s > 1,500: the top 4% among the participants) potently to moderately blocked all variants of concerns examined, some sera with low NT50s failed to block the B.1.351-beta strain. Since BNT162b2-elicited immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is short, an additional vaccine or other protective measures are needed.

Correlates of Neutralizing/SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding Antibody Response with Adverse Effects and Immune Kinetics in BNT162b2-Vaccinated Individuals

While mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are exceedingly effective in preventing symptomatic infection, their immune response features remain to be clarified. In the present prospective study, 225 healthy individuals in Japan, who received two BNT162b2 doses, were enrolled. Correlates of BNT162b2-elicited SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing activity (50% neutralization titer: NT50; assessed using infectious virions) with various determinants were examined and the potency of serums against variants of concerns was determined. Significant rise in NT50s was seen in serums on day 28 post-1st dose. A moderate inverse correlation was seen between NT50s and ages, but no correlation seen between NT50s and adverse effects. NT50s and SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding-IgG levels on day 28 post-1st dose and pain scores following the 2nd shot were greater in women than in men. The average half-life of NT50s was ~ 68 days and the estimated average time length till the total disappearance of neutralizing activity was ~ 198 days. While serums from elite-responders (NT50s > 1,500-fold: the top 4% among the participants) potently to moderately blocked all variants of concerns examined, some serums with low NT50s failed to block the B.1.351-beta strain. Since BNT162b2-elicited immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is short, an additional vaccine or other protective measures are needed.

Burnout and Coping Perceptions of Volleyball Players Throughout an Annual Sport Season

Burnout is a psychological syndrome of reaction to chronic stress that occurs in athletes who feel exhausted by a sport activity that was previously pleasurable and enjoyable. One technique to prevent and control the syndrome is through coping, which is the ability to deal with stressful situations. In contrast to traditional cross-sectional approaches, this study aimed to investigate burnout and coping strategy characteristics over time and to analyze the relationship between burnout dimensions and coping strategies. Fifty-four high-level volleyball athletes (twenty-eight men and twenty-six women, age M = 25.57, SD = 4.72, range 18-35) completed paper-and-pencil measures of burnout and coping four times throughout a sport season. The Friedman test presented a significant increase in the reduced sense of athletic accomplishment (X2 = 20.58; p < 0.01) and sport devaluation (X2 = 19.83; p < 0.01) perceptions during the season. However, no coping differences were observed through the longitudinal analysis. Burnout dimensions showed a moderate inverse correlation to confidence/motivation at all measurement points during the season. Overall, the findings suggest that burnout perceptions increase as the season progresses, highlighting the relevance for the periodization of burnout prevention and control

The influence of oral antimicrobial peptide content on the quantitative microflora composition in periodontal pockets among residents of a large industrial region

The aim was to study the influence of periodontal pocket microecology state on the local nonspecific resistance in steelworkers with generalized periodontitis. Materials and methods. In total, 178 patients were examined. The study group consisted of 126 patients with generalized periodontitis of initial (n = 8), I (n = 32), II (n = 68) and III (n = 18) degree of severity, chronic course, exposed to work-related hazardous agents. The comparison group consisted of 32 patients with periodontitis of initial (n = 5), I (n = 10), II (n = 11) and III (n = 6) degree of severity without exposure to harmful conditions of steel industry. The control group included 20 otherwise healthy individuals. Detection of the main five periodontopathogenic microorganisms in the crevicular fluid was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction method. The levels of lactoferrin and cathelicidin LL-37 were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis were less common, than other opportunistic bacteria in both study groups with initial severity of generalized periodontitis. With the disease development, there was a tendency to increase the number of positive samples for all microorganisms. A correlation was found between the microorganism presence in the sample and the severity of periodontal disease. In the patients of clinical groups, the concentration of cathelicidin LL-37 in the oral fluid was reduced. In the study group, a moderate inverse correlation between cathelicidin and Porphyromonas gingivalis as well as a weak inverse correlation between cathelicidin and Prevotella intermedia were revealed. Lactoferrin was correlated directly and moderately with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia but weakly - with Treponema denticola. In the comparison group, there were a statistically significant moderate inverse correlation between cathelicidin and Porphyromonas gingivalis as well a direct correlation between lactoferrin and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Correlations between the concentrations of cathelicidin and lactoferrin in the oral fluid and other periodontopathogens were revealed to be weak. Conclusions. The studies have shown significant disruptions of the oral cavity microecology in the patients exposed to harmful effects of steel industry. The correlation between the concentration of antimicrobial peptides and periodontal pathogens in the periodontal pockets has been found.

Microcirculatory alterations in patients with oropharyngeal cancer after radiation therapy: A possible correlation with mucositis?

Background: Patients affected by several forms of malignant neoplasms receive chemotherapy (CT) or radiation therapy (RT). These treatments can cause many side effects, such as oral mucositis (OM). Mucositis is the most frequently occurring early side effect of conservative treatment of patients with malignant tumors in the head and neck, and it is registered in more than 60% of cases. It occurs due to the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs on the cells of the mucous membrane, which causes their death, and to a greater extent, due to the effect of ionizing radiation on the endothelium of the blood vessels and the basal cells of the mucous membrane the submucosa. Objectives: To assess the correlation between the indicators of hemomicrocirculation of the oral mucosa and the intensity of the clinical manifestations of oral mucositis. Results: It was found that, in all the subgroups, the severity index of mucositis National Cancer Institute (NCI) clearly correlated with the indicators of the flow of microcirculation through the study area at point A (r = -0.85, -0.99 and -0.77). At point A, blood perfusion in the study of hemomicrocirculation in all the subgroups 18–44 g in Ia, 45–59 g and 60–74 g in Ic was the opposite of the value of the severity of mucositis. A strong negative correlation was found between the severity of mucositis and the perfusion index at point B in subgroup Ia : (r = -0.99) along with, a moderate inverse correlation in subgroups Ib (r = -0.69) and Ic (r = -0.36). At point B, a strong inverse correlation was found in subgroups Ib and Ic (r = -0.72 and -0.65, respectively), and a moderate inverse correlation was found in subgroup Ia — NCI where r = -0.32. Conclusions: There is a negative correlation between the indicators of hemomicrocirculation of the oral mucosa and the severity of oral mucositis. It was found that the higher the lesions of the microvasculature, the lower the intensity of mucositis. These data have important prognostic value and make it possible to recommend the determination of hemomicrocirculation as a screening test.

The erosion of ambiguity tolerance and sustainment of perfectionism in undergraduate Medical training: A study of clerkship training effects.

Background : Medicine is a field that is simultaneously factual and ambiguous. While studies have examined medical trainees’ tolerance of ambiguity (TOA), the extent to which TOA is affected by clinical experiences and its association with other psychological factors such as perfectionism is unknown. Methods: This was a single cohort study:174 Students in the first (pre) and last (post) 12 weeks of their 3 rd year comprising of 6 core rotations were invited to participate in an online anonymous survey. The survey included demographic information along with published and validated TOA and perfectionism scales. Tolerance of Ambiguity in Medical Students and Doctors (TAMSAD) and The Big Three perfectionism scale-short form (BTPS-SF) were used to assess TOA and perfectionism respectively. Pre-Post mean comparisons and correlations were used to detect the effect of clerkship on TOA, perfectionism and their relationship. Results: 51 students responded to pre-survey, 62 responded to post-survey. Clerkship was associated with a decrease TOA (p<0.00) with pre-TOA scores at m=59.57 and post TOA at m=43.8. There was a moderate inverse correlation between TOA and perfectionism before clerkship (r=0.32) that increased slightly after clerkship (r=0.39). Clerkship was not significantly associated with levels of perfectionism (P>0.05). Those preferring primary care specialties had significantly lower rigid and total perfectionism scores in pre clerkship than those choosing other specialties, this difference was not found post clerkship. Conclusion: Clerkship does appear to influence student’s tolerance of ambiguity. However, perfectionism remained unchanged. Further work needs to be done exploring tailoring educational interventions to extremes of TOA and perfectionism.

The effect of potato seed material initial infection by common scab on the degree of silver scab development on tubers during storage

It is determined that over a long storage period there is a moderate inverse correlation (correlation coefficient amount to -0,63) between tubers infection by silver scab and their coating by common scab ulcers. The revealed pattern may indicate the antagonistic nature of the relationship between the disease agents.

Validation of Novel Metrics from the Accommodative Dynamic Profile

Objective and subjective methods of assessing time taken for accommodative change (ToAC) include accommodative dynamics (AD) and accommodative facility (AF). This study investigates the validity of novel metrics derived from the AD-profile and explores their relationship with AF. AD were assessed using a modified open-field autorefractor in 43 healthy adults. Non-linear regression curves were fitted to the data to derive: latency-of-accommodation (nLoA) and -disaccomodation (nLoD), Time-for-accommodation (ToA) and -disaccommodation (ToD), and objective-ToAC (oToAC). Latencies were also calculated through visual inspection of the AD data as in previous studies (pLoA and pLoD). AF was used to assess subjective-ToAC. Statistical analysis explored the relationships between the AD-metrics and AF. Subjects were assessed on three visits to examine intra- and inter-observer repeatability. nLoA and nLoD were greater than pLoA (p = 0.001) and pLoD (p = 0.004) respectively. nLoA and nLoD also demonstrated greater intra- and inter-observer repeatability than pLoA and pLoD. AF demonstrated a moderate, inverse correlation with ToA (p = 0.02), ToD (p = 0.007), and oToAC (p = 0.007). ToD was the single best accommodative predictor of AF (p = 0.011). The novel method for deriving latency was more repeatable, but not interchangeable with the techniques used in previous studies. ToD was the most repeatable metric with the greatest association with AF.

Sensory dysfunction and quality of life after great auricular nerve sacrifice during parotidectomy: our experience

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the impact on patients' quality of life of great auricular nerve sacrifice during parotidectomy.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted of 191 consecutive patients who underwent parotidectomy with great auricular nerve sacrifice between 2006 and 2011. Residual sensory dysfunction and its impact on quality of life was analysed using an eight-item quality of life survey.Results:In all, 139 out of 191 patients (72.8 per cent) experienced one or more abnormal sensations in the ear or neck region after surgery. There was a moderate inverse correlation between the number of abnormal sensations and time elapsed since surgery. Moreover, the degree of discomfort correlated significantly with the frequency of symptom occurrence (p< 0.001), duration of the abnormal sensation (p< 0.001) and size of the affected area (p< 0.001).Conclusion:Sacrifice of the great auricular nerve has only a small impact on patient quality of life; their daily activities are not significantly affected.