Immune profile of children with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Long Covid)

There is increasing reporting by patients organization and researchers of long covid (or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 - PASC), characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, chest pain, cognitive and sleeping disturbances, arthralgia and decline in quality of life. Immune system dysregulation with a hyperinflammatory state, direct viral toxicity, endothelial damage and microvascular injury have been proposed as pathologenic mechanisms. Recently, cohorts of children with PASC have been reported in Italy, Sweden and Russia. However, immunological studies of children with PASC have never been performed. In this study, we documented significant immunologic differences between children that completely recovered from acute infection and those with PASC, providing the first objective laboratory sign of the existence of PASC in children.

Efek minuman cokelat (Theobroma cacao L.) terhadap peningkatan jumlah eritrosit dan kadar hemoglobin tikus putih anemia

Background : Anemia is a condition when the body do not have enough healthy red blood cells. Laboratory sign of anemia is decreases of erythrocytes and haemoglobin (Hb) level. Anemia can be caused by deficiency of nutritional intake.Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the number of erythrocytes and Hb levels of anemia rats which were intervened with chocolate drinks.Methods : The design of this study was an experiment with a pretest-posttest control group design. The samples in this research were 21 male wistar rats. Rats were induced by NaNO2 25mg/gBB for 18 days, then followed by an intervention of chocolate drink 4.3ml / day for 14 days. The results will be tested using one way ANOVA test and paired T-Test.Results : The results of this study showed that there were significant differences in the number of erythrocytes and Hb levels between groups before the intervention (p = 0.00) and (p = 0.011), so also after the intervention there is significant differences in the number of erythrocytes and Hb levels between groups (p = 0.00) and (p = 0.01).Paired T-Test results showed that there were significant differences in the number of erythrocytes and Hb levels before and after the study in the intervention group given chocolate drink (p = 0.00) and (p = 0.02).Conclusion : Chocolate drinks have an effect on increasing the number of erythrocytes and Hb levels in anemia rats.

Infectious mononucleosis in children: clinical and laboratory characteristics depending on the disease etiology and phase of infection

Objective. To assess the association between clinical and laboratory characteristics of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and disease etiology and phase of infection. Patients and methods. This prospective observational study was conducted at Z.A.Bashlyaeva Children's City Clinical Hospital, Moscow Healthcare Department and included 107 children with IM. Laboratory testing was performed at the Department of Virological Diagnostics, National Medical Research Center for Hematology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Results. IM is a polyetiologic disease. So far, researchers have failed to find a significant correlation between clinical manifestations of IM and its etiology and phase of infection. Patients with IM caused by primary monoinfection with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) are at high risk of developing chronic EBV infection. Neutrophilia is a typical laboratory sign of IM during the acute phase of it. Conclusion. The improvement of IM diagnosis with a detailed evaluation of clinical and laboratory criteria, as well as risk assessment of unfavorable outcome are currently impossible without the identification of both disease etiology and phase of infection. Key words: human herpes virus VI, Epstein–Barr virus, children, infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus

Pseudohypertrophic myopathy in a child with hypothyroidism (Kocher—Debre—Semelaigne syndrome)

The Kocher-Debre-Semelaigne syndrome (KDSS) is a rare disease that clinically manifests as hypothyroidism and muscle pseudohypertrophy of the trunk and extremities. KDSS occurs mainly in countries where there is no screening for congenital hypothyroidism; however, this syndrome can develop when there is acquired hypothyroidism. In this syndrome, muscle hypertrophy is false (pseudohypertrophy); it is not accompanied by an increase in muscle strength but, on the contrary, leads to a decrease in muscle strength and the development of muscle hypotension. Increased levels of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are the characteristic laboratory sign of myopathy in this syndrome. The signs of hypothyroidism and muscle pseudohypertrophy are reduced by levothyroxine therapy. Indicators of the final height in the case of delayed treatment may remain poor. The clinical signs characteristic of the disease, especially in the presence of a nonspecific clinical picture of hypothyroidism, enable an early diagnosis and timely treatment, which emphasizes the importance of doctors’ awareness of this syndrome.

Indicators of Moderate and Severe Preeclampsia in Correlation with Maternal IL10

AIM: The purpose of the actual study was to evaluate the relationship between the formation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10 and several indicators of moderate and severe preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examination of the indicators of preeclampsia and maternal IL10 levels was conducted in 50 women with pregnancies complicated by varying degrees of preeclampsia in the third trimester of gestation as well as in 50 normotensive patients, hospitalized at the University Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. The levels of IL10 were determined with a commercial test developed by Orgenium Laboratories (Finland), using reagents from AviBion ELISA research kits. Patients with preeclampsia were categorized into moderate and severe preeclampsia group according to the degree of preeclampsia. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictive value of different parameters for the occurrence of severe preeclampsia. Odds ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated in order to quantify independent associations.RESULTS: The regression analysis detected systolic blood pressure (160 mmHg or higher), diastolic blood pressure (100 mmHg or higher), persistent proteinuria in pregnancy, serum LDH concentration (450 U/L or higher) and reduced serum concentrations of IL10 as significant predictors of severe preeclampsia in pregnant women after adjusting for age. CONCLUSION: The findings of significantly lower serum IL10 concentrations in patients with severe preeclampsia in comparison with respective concentrations in patients with moderate preeclampsia can be considered as major pathognomonic laboratory sign of severe preeclampsia.

Evaluation of a card test for procalcitonin in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis

Background: Peritonitis is an important complication in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Procalcitonin (PCT) has recently been identified as an inflammation marker and recommended as a new potential marker in CAPD peritonitis. We aimed to study a card test for PCT and compare the results with the conventional markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and white blood cell (WBC) count. Patients and methods: A total of 40 CAPD patients; 20 patients with an episode of peritonitis and 20 patients without any clinical or laboratory sign of infection were included in the study. PCT, CRP, ESR, WBC and dialysate cell count were performed at the beginning of the clinical signs of peritonitis. Results: CRP and ESR had the highest sensitivities (100% for both) but lower specificities (55 and 10%; respectively) and PCT had the highest specificity with a relatively low sensitivity (100 and 70%) according to the calculated results. Conclusions: The card test for PCT seems to be suitable for the adjunctional use in CAPD peritonitis, with its shorter turn-around time, appropriateness for near-patient testing and high specificity.