Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Aug 2020
Dynamics of COVID-19 outbreak in Poland: an epidemiological analysis of the first two months of the epidemic.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) is an infectious disease caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. ⋯ Our data showed higher notification rate for COVID‑19 among women than men, but men were more likely to die from COVID‑19. The notification rate for COVID-19 in Poland among women aged 45 to 54 years was 2‑fold higher than among men.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Aug 2020
Ability of the immune system to fight viruses highlighted by cytometry and TCR clonotype assessments: lessons taken prior to COVID-19 virus pandemic outbreak.
The intriguing aspects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) are the high rate of spread and rapid progression of pneumonitis. Confronted with thousands of deaths daily worldwide, we have to quickly build the rationale behind the treatment, taking advantage of past analogues. When a new virus strikes, T‑cell receptor γδ cells are in the first line of defense, activated by stress molecules and recognizing some epitopes in a process that is major histocompatibility complex-independent but still specific, eg, cytomegalovirus, as well as participating in the regulatory mechanism-both characteristics are useful in fighting SARS‑CoV‑2. ⋯ The investigational use of convalescent plasma, providing antibodies taken from patients who have recovered, was shown to be effective, likely through exerting idiotype‑associated negative control of antibody production. Similarly, the use of mesenchymal stem cells may assist the body regulatory mechanisms, considering the anti‑inflammatory potential of these cells. The use of these 2 immunotherapeutic tools is understandable based on basic immunology and this knowledge may direct the efforts of the medical community aimed at combating the virus.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Aug 2020
Multicenter StudyUsefulness of combined endobronchial and endoscopic ultrasound-guided needle aspiration in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis: a prospective multicenter trial.
Needle biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes is an accepted method for the diagnostic workup of sarcoidosis, but the optimal endosonography‑guided approach is yet to be determined. ⋯ Out of 77 screened patients, 54 signed written consent and 50 were enrolled for the final analysis. The overall sensitivity of EBUS‑TBNA, EUS‑b‑FNA, and CUS‑b‑NA was 76.6%, 70.2%, and 91.7%, respectively. There were no differences between EBUS‑TBNA and EUS‑b‑FNA (P = 0.52) but CUS‑b‑NA had a higher diagnostic yield (P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively). Adding the CB method to smear technique (P = 0.008) and biopsy of the subcarinal lymph nodes increased the diagnostic yield (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The diagnostic yield of CUS‑b‑NA is higher than that of endosonographic techniques alone in the diagnostic workup of stage I and II sarcoidosis. The preparation of cytological material including CB and the choice of the subcarinal lymph node station for the biopsy increase the diagnostic efficacy.