Recent studies suggested the potential role of mast cells (MCs) in the pathology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the precise description of the MCs’ activation and the engagement of their proteases is still missing. The objective of this study was to further reveal the importance of MCs and their proteases (chymase, tryptase, and carboxypeptidase A3 (CPA3)) in the development of lung damage in patients with COVID-19. This study included 55 patients who died from COVID-19 and 30 controls who died from external causes. A histological analysis of the lung parenchyma was carried out to assess the protease profiles and degranulation activity of MCs. In addition, we have analyzed the general blood test, coagulogram, and C-reactive protein. The content of tryptase-positive MCs (Try-MCs) in the lungs of patients with COVID-19 was higher than in controls, but their degranulation activity was lower. The indicators of chymase-positive MCs (Chy-MCs) were significantly lower than in the controls, while the content of CPA3-positive MCs (CPA3-MCs) and their degranulation activity were higher in patients with COVID-19. In addition, we have demonstrated the existence of correlations (positive/negative) between the content of Try-MCs, Chy-MCs, and CPA3-MCs at different states of their degranulation and presence (co-adjacent/single) and the levels of various immune cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes) and other important markers (blood hemoglobin, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), international normalized ratio (INR), and fibrinogen). Thus, the identified patterns suggest the numerous and diverse mechanisms of the participation of MCs and their proteases in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and their impact on the inflammatory process and coagulation status. At the same time, the issue requires further study in larger cohorts of patients, which will open up the possibility of using drugs acting on this link of pathogenesis to treat lung damage in patients with COVID-19.

Саркопеническое ожирение сочетает в себе признаки саркопении и ожирения. Представляется целесообразным дифференцировать фенотипы висцерального и подкожного ожирения в контексте саркопении. В качестве основных методов диагностики саркопенического ожирения большинство авторов отдают предпочтение двухэнергетической рентгеновской абсорбциометрии или биоэлектрическому импедансному анализу с определением процентного соотношения массы жира и безжировой массы. Результаты исследований подчеркивают возможную роль провоспалительных цитокинов, секретируемых метаболически активными адипоцитами, в механизме развития и прогрессирования саркопенического ожирения, а также дисбаланса цитокинов и миокинов. Фенотип висцерального саркопенического ожирения ассоциируется с воспалением, неблагоприятным метаболическим профилем, в то время как у больных с избыточным накоплением подкожного жира отмечается более низкая смертность — так называемый «парадокс ожирения». В обзоре также приводятся данные о клинических последствиях и ассоциациях саркопенического ожирения с общей смертностью, исходом онкологических, сердечно-сосудистых заболеваний, сахарного диабета.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important public health problem. According to various studies, the prevalence of obesity in patients with COPD is as high as 50%. Aim. To evaluate pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine profile, lung diseases biomarkers levels and adipokines levels in patients with COPD and obesity. Materials and methods. The study included 88 patients with COPD (GOLD 24, group D). Patients were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 44 patients with COPD and normal body weight: 35 men and 9 women. The second group 44 patients with obesity and COPD: 34 men and 10 women. The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were determined interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor  (TNF-), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), as well as the concentration of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), surfactant protein D, elastase, leptin, adiponectin, 1-antitrypsin, receptors of tumor necrosis factor 1 and 2 (TNF-R1, TNF-R2). Results. In patients with COPD and obesity, compared with patients with COPD and normal body weight, the levels of CRP, interferon-, TNF-, TNF-R1, TNF-R2 were significantly higher. At the same time, the levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 did not differ significantly. The level of leptin in patients with COPD and obesity was significantly higher than in patients with COPD and normal body weight. Conclusion. In patients with COPD and obesity, in contrast to patients with COPD with normal body weight, the severity of systemic inflammation is significantly higher. However, further research is needed in this area.

Background and objectives: Obesity and anxiety and/or depression are common comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For doctors treating COPD, cough has a certain importance as a symptom. The purpose of this study was to figure out how obesity and anxiety/depression may influence the subjective assessment of cough. Materials and Methods: 110 patients with COPD participated in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, one including obese patients, and the other including patients with normal body weight. All patients filled out the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) questionnaire, evaluated the severity of their cough by using visual analogue scale (VAS) on the 1st and 10th day of treatment, and underwent a 12 h cough monitoring with a special cough monitoring device both on the 1st and the 10th day of treatment. Results: The severity of anxiety according to the HADS in patients with COPD and normal body weight was significantly higher than in patients with COPD and obesity, corresponding to 9.25 ± 1.37 and 8.20 ± 1.18 points, respectively (p = 0.0063). The patients with normal body weight and obesity, but without anxiety and depression, subjectively noted an improvement in their well-being on the 10th day of treatment (p = 0.0022, p = 0.0021, respectively). In subgroups with normal body weight and obesity with anxiety and/or depression, the mean values for VAS on day 10 did not change significantly (p = 0.1917, p = 0.1921, respectively). Also, patients from the subgroup with normal body weight and anxiety/depression had a significantly higher assessment of their cough on day 10 than obese patients with anxiety/depression (p = 0.0411). The VAS values correlated positively with the actual amount of cough (r = 0.42, p = 0.0122 and r = 0.44, p = 0.0054, respectively) in patients without anxiety and/or depression, while in patients with anxiety and/or depression, there was an inverse correlation between VAS values and cough (r = −0.38, p = 0.0034 and r = −0.40, p = 0.0231). Conclusions: It is important to diagnose and treat anxiety and depression in patients with COPD for a better prognosis and higher efficacy of medical treatments. While treating such patients, it is preferable to use a cough monitoring device for objective assessments, since the patients may exaggerate or underestimate their symptoms.

Community-acquired pneumonia remains a most widespread acute infectious disease of socio-economic significance all over the world. Up to 30% of the patients present with anemia responsible for the unfavourable prognosis and elevated mortality. Not infrequently, anemia is not diagnosed during the hospital stay und therefore remains uncorrected. Severe anemia results in enhanced hypercapnia and slowed maturation of red blood cells in the bone marrow which facilitates the development of ischemic syndrome. Hepcidin, a mediator of inflammation and iron-regulatory hormone, plays an important role in the clinical course of community-acquired pneumonia. Hepsidin production increases during inflammation; it suppresses erythtropoiesis and depletes the iron depot leading to so-called anemia of inflammation. Hypoxia and anemia activate erythtropoiesis, and the released erythropoietin inhibits hepsidin production. During pneumonia resolution, hepsidin promotes recovery from anemia by activating iron absorption. The current literature contains few data on the use of hepcidin as a diagnostic marker of anemia. The necessity of treating anemia in patients with pneumonia under hospital conditions is a matter of discussion. Direct involvement of hepcidin in iron metabolism creates a prerequisite for the treatment of anemia. Medicamental suppression of its activity by stimulating erythtropoiesis can facilitate normalization of iron metabolism and restoration of hemoglobin level.

This article discusses the epidemiology of chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CHF and COPD are characterized by high prevalence and high mortality, especially when they are combined. The article analyzes the general mechanisms of formation of these diseases: the relationship of COPD with cardiovascular diseases is explained by common risk factors, including smoking, physical inactivity, improper feeding and genetic predisposition. The leading role in the pathogenesis of pathologies is played by the activation and maintenance of systemic inflammation. Article presents the features of the clinical picture and the direction of the diagnostics in case of suspected combined pathology, the possibilities of modern laboratory and instrumental research methods. Diagnostics of comorbidity of CHF and COPD may be difficult, given the above common risk factors, some common pathogenesis mechanisms and similar clinical symptoms. However the caution regarding the comorbidity of the studied conditions, as well as a thorough clinical examination and the appointment of the necessary additional research methods, can reduce the number of diagnostic mistakes and improve the prognosis in such patients.