Although the host defense mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection are still poorly described, they are of central importance in shaping the course of the disease and the possible outcome. Metabolomic profiling may complement the lacking knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Objectives This study aimed to define patterns of liver injury after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection using multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) in a variable patient population with differing severities of COVID‐19. Methods Ninety patients were enrolled into the study: 56 had SARS‐CoV‐2 3–9 months prior to enrolment; 34 served as a clinically healthy control group. All patients underwent an mpUS evaluation of the liver (elastography, dispersion and attenuation imaging). Seventy‐six patients had abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) and noncontrast enhanced thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans performed at the same day. All patients were screened for biochemical markers of liver injury. Results Liver elasticity, viscosity, and steatosis values were significantly altered in patients after COVID‐19, with particularly higher fibrosis scores compared to the control group ( P < .001). Increased biochemical markers of liver injury correlated with changes in mpUS ( P < .05), but not with findings on CT or MR findings. Seventeen of 34 hospitalized patients had a moderate or severe course of the disease course with more pronounced changes in mpUS. Increased body mass index was found to influence liver injury and correlated with more severe forms of COVID‐19 ( P < .001). Conclusions COVID‐19 can cause liver injury observable using mpUS. More severe forms of COVID‐19 and patient obesity are related to increased values of liver damage observed. In comparison to MRI and CT, mpUS appears to be more sensitive to involvement of liver parenchyma. Further research is warranted to establish this promising method for evaluating post‐COVID‐19 liver involvement in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Background Studies on a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) show the elevation of liver enzymes and liver fibrosis index (FIB-4) independently on pre-existing liver diseases. It points to increased liver fibrogenesis during acute COVID-19 with possible long-term consequences. This study aimed to assess liver fibrosis in COVID-19 patients by serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and FIB-4. Methods The study included the acute COVID-19 group (66 patients, 50% females, mean age 58.3 ± 14.6), the post-COVID group (58 patients in 3–6 months after the recovery, 47% females, mean age 41.2 ± 13.4), and a control group (17 people, 47% females, mean age 42.8 ± 11.0). Ultrasound elastography was performed in the post-COVID and control groups. Results Sixty-five percent of the acute COVID-19 group had increased FIB-4 (> 1.45), and 38% of patients had FIB-4 ≥ 3.25. After matching by demographics, 52% of acute COVID-19 and 5% of the post-COVID group had FIB-4 > 1.45, and 29% and 2% of patients had FIB-4 ≥ 3.25, respectively. Increased serum HA (≥ 75 ng/ml) was observed in 54% of the acute COVID-19 and 15% of the post-COVID group. In the acute COVID-19 group, HA positively correlated with FIB-4, AST, ALT, LDH, IL-6, and ferritin and negatively with blood oxygen saturation. In the post-COVID group, HA did not correlate with FIB-4, but it was positively associated with higher liver stiffness and ALT. Conclusion More than half of acute COVID-19 patients had increased serum HA and FIB-4 related to liver function tests, inflammatory markers, and blood oxygen saturation. It provides evidence for the induction of liver fibrosis by multiple factors during acute COVID-19. Findings also indicate possible liver fibrosis in about 5% of the post-COVID group.

This study represents the comparison of the morphology variation in different planes of female and male pelvis. Anthropological literature represents two different views of the pelvic morphology variation. On the one hand, the variation is considered lower in females than in males. On the other hand, some empirical findings demonstrated no differences in the pelvic morphology variation between sexes. Moreover, some measures of female pelvis demonstrate higher coefficients of variation. Taking into account that previous findings were based on linear measures, it seems important to analyze pelvic proportions and the variation of the inlet, middle, and outlet planes.The study was based on the retrospective pelvimetry of threedimensional computer tomography of 176 live males and 212 females. Anterioposterior diameters and transverse diameters were measured in four planes, and their ratios were calculated in order to evaluate proportions and variances. The Levene's test for the equality of variances was used to evaluate the observed variation in male and female pelvis morphology.The results confirmed well established sexual dimorphism in the pelvic linear measures -the anteroposterior diameters of the midplane and the outlet. In addition, this study identified higher variation in the transverse diameter of the inlet in females. The proportions demonstrated no differences in variation in all the planes but the midplane including bispinous diameter (F=11.34; p<.01). It seems important that the female pelvis cavity demonstrated lower variance than the male pelvis cavity in the midplane including bispinous. This finding supports the view of selective pressure on the female pelvis and its intensity in the midplane.

The pelvis and the spine form a system balancing human skeleton. Within this system, the pelvis adapts to age-related changes in the spine. Previous studies were predominantly focused on changes of pelvic parameters in the sagittal plane. The aim of this study was to reveal age-related changes of lesser pelvic dimensions at different levels of the pelvic cavity in the sagittal and coronal planes and to explore sexual dimorphism in age-related tendencies. The computed tomography pelvimetry was performed on the three-dimensional workstation. The research sample included 211 females aged 18 to 84 years and 181 males aged 18 to 82 years, who underwent an examination at the Riga East University Hospital, Clinical Center “Gailezers,” Latvia. Three pelvic angles and transverse and sagittal diameters of the lesser pelvis were measured at four levels: the inlet, two axial planes in the mid-cavity, and the outlet. The results demonstrated that more pronounced age-related changes occurred in the inlet and the outlet of the lesser pelvis. The mid-cavity was less changing. The transverse diameter between acetabular centers and the sagittal diameter at the level of ischial spines were independent of age. In general, the common age-related trends were observed for pelvic parameters in females and males. A single exception was the proportion of diameters at the level of ischial spines, which decreased in males only. For parameters associated with pelvic floor diseases, age-related changes occurred in the direction of pathology.