Aim. To evaluate the temporal changes in circulating cytokines rallying systemic inflammatory response after a blast injury.Material and Methods. Experiments were performed on 60 male Wistar rats (50 rats with blast-related soft tissue injury of the thigh and 10 intact rats). Blast injury was modeled under general anaesthesia using grater firecrackers stuffed with a pyrotechnic mixture. After 3, 7, 14 and 28 days post injury, we carried out a gross examination of the wound and its drainage, measured wound area, assessed local oedema severity, and evaluated serum potassium, myoglobin TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10.Results. Three to seven days post injury, therewas abundant serous and purulent exudate and pronounced local edema without considerable changes in the wound area. Serum myoglobin and potassium were raised 2.2-2.6-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively (p < 0.05); in addition, we documented the elevation of a major pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Fourteen days post injury, wound area reduced by 24%, (p < 0.05) along with the decreased wound drainage and local edema of the injured area. Although the levels of serum myoglobin and pro-inflammatory cytokines (in particularIL-6) lowered, they were still significantly higher as compared with the intact rats. Twenty eight days post injury, fibrosis has been completed, epithelialization occurred and only a small scab remained on the wound surface. Yet, serum IL-1β still was 1.3-fold higher than in the intact animals (p < 0.05), albeit IL-6 and TNF-α returned to the reference values. The concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 reached its maximum values relative to the control (3.9-fold, p < 0.05) to the 14th day post injury that was followed by a considerable reduction (though not reaching the reference values) by the period of scar formation.Conclusion. Blast injury in rats is accompanied by a dysregulated balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines throughout all regeneration phases.

The obstruction of nasal breathing due to vasomotor rhinitis is quite a common cause of visits to the ENT doctor. Today, it is believed that therapeutic measures should begin with the identification of possible causes that result in the formation of nasal hyperreactivity, and the treatment of the underlying disease. Medical treatment of vasomotor rhinitis can begin with the prescription of topical corticosteroids and antihistamines. The long-term observations have shown that the use of decongestants and topical steroids in the preoperative period reduces reactive phenomena in the nasal cavity after surgical treatment. To objectify the empirical observations, the authors have examined 20 patients after surgical intervention for vasomotor rhinitis in the scope of submucosal vasotomy. In the postoperative period, the patients were recommended regiminal and restrictive measures, and prescribed antihistamines and local irrigation therapy with warm saline. The authors assessed the transport function of the nasal cavity mucous membrane by the study of mucociliary transport rate in the test with coal dust and the respiratory function of the nasal cavity by the volumetric flow rate using anterior active rhinomanometry. The study revealed that the use of decongestants and topical steroids in the preoperative period reduces the reactive events in the postoperative period and shortens the patient’s rehabilitation period.

Assessment of viral load levels in various biological samples taken from the respiratory tract can be an indicator of an ongoing process of active viral replication and may be used to monitor severe respiratory viral infections. The study of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 viral load and immunological laboratory parameters is an important step in the search for clinical markers of COVID-19.The aim of this research was to quantify viral load in patients with COVID-19 and to identify the relation-ship between viral load and changes in the parameters of the cellular component of the immune system.A laboratory examination was carried out on 74 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, they were divided into 3 groups based on the severity of the disease: mild, moderate, severe. Total viral load in clinical samples was determined by the number of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies per 100 copies of the reference RNaseP gene.     A comprehensive assessment of the cellular component of the immune system was performed using flow cytometry and direct monoclonal antibodies, and the IL-6, and C-reactive protein concentrations were determined.We revealed a relationship between the development of serious clinical conditions in the patients with COVID-19, and the levels of viral load. High levels of viral RNA in biological samples correlate with main indicators of the T cell component of the immune system associated with disease severity. In a subgroup of patients with an extremely high viral load, strong positive correlations were found between the relative numbers of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+), activated T lymphocytes (CD3+HLA-DR+), as well as absolute and relative numbers of activated B lymphocytes and NK cells (CD3-CD25+).Laboratory monitoring of the cellular component of the immune system, along with the assessment of viral loads, should improve  early assessment of clinical condition in the patients with COVID-19. Changes   in expression levels of activation markers on immune cells can be potentially viewed as indicators of recovery during COVID-19.

No abstract