Mediastinal Emphysema as a Specific Complication of COVID-19 (Case Report)

During the care of patients with novel coronavirus infection at the Lomonosov MSU Medical Research and Education Center from April 21 to June 13, 2020, we observed cases of spontaneous mediastinal emphysema (spontaneous pneumomediastinum) as a manifestation or a probable complication of COVID-19.The aim of the paper. To provide clinical case descriptions and approaches to the management of patients with spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 associated pneumonia, as they are not addressed in the current clinical guidelines, and therefore are worthy of special attention.Among 224 patients with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, five cases of pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax were identified. Of these, in two cases the pneumomediastinum developed during noninvasive lung ventilation (NLV) (one case) and invasive lung ventilation (one case). In three cases, spontaneous mediastinal emphysema was not associated with lung ventilation. By the time of publication, one case of pneumomediastinum was completed, and four patients remained hospitalized. All five patients were males aged from 52 to 84 years.This paper presents in depth the description of two cases of mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema in patients with COVID-19

The organisation of physiotherapy for people with multiple sclerosis across Europe : a multicentre questionnaire survey

Background: Understanding the organisational set-up of physiotherapy services across different countries is increasingly important as clinicians around the world use evidence to improve their practice. This also has to be taken into consideration when multi-centre international clinical trials are conducted. This survey aimed to systematically describe organisational aspects of physiotherapy services for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) across Europe. Methods: Representatives from 72 rehabilitation facilities within 23 European countries completed an online web-based questionnaire survey between 2013 and 2014. Countries were categorised according to four European regions (defined by United Nations Statistics). Similarities and differences between regions were examined. Results: Most participating centres specialized in rehabilitation (82 %) and neurology (60 %), with only 38 % specialising in MS. Of these, the Western based Specialist MS centres were predominately based on outpatient services (median MS inpatient ratio 0.14), whilst the Eastern based European services were mostly inpatient in nature (median MS inpatient ratio 0.5). In almost all participating countries, medical doctors - specialists in neurology (60 %) and in rehabilitation (64 %) - were responsible for referral to/prescription of physiotherapy. The most frequent reason for referral to/prescription of physiotherapy was the worsening of symptoms (78 % of centres). Physiotherapists were the most common members of the rehabilitation team; comprising 49 % of the team in Eastern countries compared to approximately 30 % in the rest of Europe. Teamwork was commonly adopted; 86 % of centres based in Western countries utilised the interdisciplinary model, whilst the multidisciplinary model was utilised in Eastern based countries (p = 0.046). Conclusion: This survey is the first to provide data about organisational aspects of physiotherapy for people with MS across Europe. Overall, care in key organisational aspects of service provision is broadly similar across regions, although some variations, for example the models of teamwork utilised, are apparent. Organisational framework specifics should be considered anytime a multi-centre study is conducted and results from such studies are applied

Cognitive and emotional disturbances in adult patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1

Background. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a hereditary slowly progressive multisystem disease with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, caused by the expansion of trinucleotide (CTG)n repeats in the 3’ untranslated region of the DMPK gene. Among the clinical manifestations of DM1, an important place is occupied by symptoms of damage to the central nervous system, in particular cognitive and emotional disorders.Aim. To evaluate the type of cognitive and emotional impairments in patients with different forms of DM1 and their impact on quality of life.Materials and methods. 60 patients with genetically confirmed DM1 were examined (average age 37.0 ± 12.4 years; 36 (60.0 %) of them were men). All patients underwent neuropsychological testing using the Montreal Cognitive RatingScale, Mini‑Mental State Examination, Addenbrooke’s III, Wechsler tests, pathfinding, symbolic and numeric modalities, Luria’s 10 Words, Frontal Dysfunction Battery; assessment of emotional disturbances using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale and the Apathy Scale; quality of life assessment –  36‑Item Short‑Form Medical Outcomes Study. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 53 patients to assess the severity of white matter lesions and gray matter atrophy.Results. The study included 8 (13.3 %) patients with congenital, 19 (31.7 %) – childhood, 33 (55 %) – adult forms of MD1. The group of patients with the congenital form had the most severe cognitive deficits, especially in tests of executive functions and visuospatial perception. Cognitive impairment was also characteristic of the adult form, but to a lesser extent. Compared to controls, patients with DM1 were significantly more likely to exhibit apathy (p = 0.002) rather than anxiety and depression. In DM1, damage to both the white and gray matter of the brain was established, and a connection between damage to the gray matter and depression (r = 0.296) and apathy (r = –0.291) was revealed. The quality of life is largely influenced by emotional disorders (anxiety, r = –0.577; depression, r = –0.650; apathy, r = –0.545).Conclusion. In patients with DM1, a typical pattern of cognitive impairment has not been identified; different domains of cognitive functions are affected. The greatest cognitive deficit is typical for the group of patients with the congenital form. A connection between damage to the gray matter of the brain and emotional disorders has been revealed.The presence of the latter reduces the quality of life of patients with DM1