Introduction The most grievous complication of the COVID-19 is the acute respiratory distress syndrome. A specific, rescue treatment for rapidly deteriorating patients should emerge to improve respiratory function and help patients to survive the most challenging period. Drugs used in targeted therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) appears to be suitable for this task and this article describes their potential for treatment of severe cases of COVID-19. Methods The authors reviewed the following databases for randomized controlled trials, reviews and meta-analyses published up to July 2020: Pubmed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Database and ClinicalKey. The authors included every study contributory to the assessment of the potential of drugs used in targeted PAH therapy in treatment of COVID-19. Results Endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, riociguat and prostacyclin have proven ani-inflammatory effect and reduce pulmonary artery blood pressure, lung oedema and remodelling. Bosentan shows antiviral properties and sildenafil, as well as epoprostenol, inhibits apoptosis of lung epithelial cells. Among patients with lung lesions the decrease of pulmonary blood pressure can lead to increase of ventilation/perfusion mismatch and decrease of blood oxygenation. Conclusions Among all assessed drugs bosentan, sildenafil and epoprostenol appear to be most promising and a combination of these drugs should be considered due to synergism. The targeted PAH therapy in treatment of COVID-19 associated ARDS could be a useful tool saving lives of patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, its introduction should be investigated and monitored very carefully as it can lead to transient deterioration of patient condition.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Poland is from March 2020 to May 2022. During this time, dental personnel were identified as one of the groups with the highest risk of the virus, resulting in a sanitary regime in dental offices. Numerous restrictions and precautions began to generate additional costs, and patient fear avoided visits. Many offices stopped working during the pandemic period. The aim of this study was to examine the impact that the SARS-CoV-2 virus epidemic had on the level of dental care and on changing oral health habits in Poland. The study, which included 312 individuals, showed a significant increase in endodontic visits and extractions and a decrease in conservative treatments and hygienization performed. Despite the withdrawal of the epidemic state in Poland, the intensity of follow-up visits has still not returned to those prior to March 20, 2020, and the fear of the virus has exacerbated the lingering anxiety of many patients to see a dentist. 

Ze wzrostem liczby diagnoz zaburzeń psychicznych łączy się wzrost zapotrzebowania na leki psychotropowe, których częstym działaniem niepożądanym jest kserostomia, definiowana jako uczucie suchości w jamie ustnej i prowadząca m.in. do próchnicy i stanów zapalnych błon śluzowych. Największą zdolnością do wywoływania tych działań niepożądanych cechują się leki przeciwpsychotyczne i trójcykliczne leki przeciwdepresyjne, ale nie są od nich wolne także SSRI, antydepresanty atypowe                   i anksjolityki takie jak benzodiazepiny. W leczeniu kserostomii ważna jest profilaktyka kandydozy i próchnicy: odpowiednia dieta, prawidłowe zabiegi higienizacyjne oraz regularne kontrole stomatologiczne. Inne metody to farmakoterapia i stosowanie substytutów śliny. Istnieje korelacja pomiędzy zaburzeniami psychicznymi a wyższą liczbą ubytków próchnicowych, niższą jakością higieny jamy ustnej i większą częstością występowania chorób periodontologicznych.