Since the end of 2019, the whole world has been struggling with the pandemic of the new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Available evidence suggests that pain is a common symptom during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). According to the World Health Organization, many patients suffer from muscle pain (myalgia) and/or joint pain (arthralgia), sore throat and headache. The exact mechanisms of headache and myalgia during viral infection are still unknown. Moreover, many patients with respiratory failure get admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for ventilatory support. Pain in ICU patients can be associated with viral disease itself (myalgia, arthralgia, peripheral neuropathies), may be caused by continuous pain and discomfort associated with ICU treatment, intermittent procedural pain and chronic pain present before admission to the ICU. Undertreatment of pain, especially when sedation and neuromuscular blocking agents are used, prone positioning during mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may trigger delirium and cause peripheral neuropathies. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge regarding challenges associated with pain assessment and management in COVID-19 patients. A structured prospective evaluation should be undertaken to analyze the probability, severity, sources and adequate treatment of pain in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Postoperative cognitive disorders after cardiac surgery may manifest as postoperative delirium (POD) or later as postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). The incidence of POD after cardiac surgery ranges from 16% to 73%. In contrast to POD, POCD is usually diagnosed after the discharge from hospital, with an incidence of 30 to 70% of cases, very often noticed only by close relative or friends, decreasing after six (20–30%) and twelve (15–25%) months after surgery. Perioperative cognitive disorders are associated with adverse short- and long-term effects, including increased morbidity and mortality. Due to the complexity of delirium pathomechanisms and the difficulties in the diagnosis, researchers have not yet found a clear answer to the question of which patient will be at a higher risk of developing delirium. The risk for POD and POCD in older patients with numerous comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, and previous ischemic stroke is relatively high, and the predisposing cognitive profile for both conditions is important. The aim of this narrative review was to identify and describe biomarkers used in the diagnosis of delirium after cardiac surgery by presenting a search through studies regarding this subject, which have been published during the last ten years. The authors discussed brain-derived biomarkers, inflammation-related biomarkers, neurotransmitter-based biomarkers, and others. Work based on inflammation-related biomarkers, which are characterized by the low cost of implementation and the effectiveness of delirium diagnosis, seems to be the closest to the goal of discovering an inexpensive and effective marker. Currently, the use of a panel of tests, and not a single biomarker, brings us closer to the discovery of a test, or rather a set of tests ideal for the diagnosis of delirium after cardiac surgery.

Campylobacter jejuni is a major food-borne pathogen, causing gastroenteritis worldwide. Chickens are considered to be one of the most common sources of human C. jejuni infection in developed countries. Campylobacter CjaD/Pal protein (annotated as Cj0113 in C. jejuni strain NCTC11168) is a highly immunogenic, membrane-located antigen, conserved among different strains, with the potential to provide broad protection against C. jejuni colonization. The present study examines the immunogenicity and the general efficacy of avirulent S. enterica sv. Typhimurium ∆crp ∆cya expressing C. jejuni CjaD as a chicken vaccine against Campylobacter colonization. The high copy number plasmid pYA3341 Asd + was used as a cloning vector. Here, 1-and 14-day old chickens were orally immunized with a delivery vector strain, expressing C. jejuni CjaD. Two weeks later, they were challenged with a wild-type C. jejuni strain isolated from chicken carcasses. This schedule of immunization induced significant levels of serum-specific IgG as well as mucosal intestinal sIgA as measured by ELISA tests using Campylobacter membrane proteins as a coating antigen. Nevertheless, protection experiments did not result in significant reduction of colonization of vaccinated birds relative to nonvaccinated birds.

Background: Graves' disease is responsible for 60-80% causes of hyperthyreosis. An important role in the pathogenesis is played by anti-TSHR immunoglobulins (TRAb), that stimulate TSH receptors leading to excessive hormone synthesis and release by the gland. The aim of the study: This study was designed to summarise the current state of knowledge on the diagnosis, pathogenesis and methods of treatment used for Graves' disease. Materials and methods: We reviewed the literature available in the PubMed database using the following keywords: "Graves' disease", "Graves' pathogenesis", "Graves' diagnosis", "Graves' treatment”. Results: Graves' disease develops as a result of as well genetic as environmental factors. The diagnosis is based on physical examination, and laboratory & imaging studies. Several therapeutic options are currently used. Pharmacotherapy with thyreostatics is used either as a stand-alone method or as a preparation for a radical treatment - radioactive iodine ablation and thyroidectomy, which is the surgical removal of the gland. The treatment form is recommended to be selected individually depending on each patient, indications and co-morbidities. Developing research into the etiology of the disease is an opportunity to develop newer and efficient methods of causal treatment.  Summary: Graves' disease is an autoimmune thyroid disorder with a multiple factor etiology. A variety of therapeutic approaches are currently used: treatment with antithyrodid drugs, radioactive iodine ablation and the surgical resection of the thyroid gland. A more detailed understanding of the mechanisms causing the development of the disease offers prospects for the creation of innovative and more efficient therapeutic modalities.