Oleh S. Fitkalo

Bio: Oleh S. Fitkalo is an academic researcher from Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mental health & Biopsychosocial model. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 2 publications receiving 2 citations.

Toward a cohesive clinical interpretation of mental disorders in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An expert opinion

Abstract: As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, the observed increase in mental health issues requires more and more clinical attention. Mental disorders have become a major cause for disturbances in social adjustment, primarily due to disorders that fall into three clusters: Prolonged fatigue (asthenia) with cognitive impairment;anxiety disorders with sleep disorders;and depression. The last two are also found in individuals who have not contracted SARSCoV- 2;they are seen as a result of their exposure to the stress of the pandemic. Therefore, to successfully manage the consequences of the pandemic, it is necessary to develop a cohesive clinical interpretation of mental disorders related to COVID-19 infection. Our proposed model would encompass all the above manifestations as follows: A) for the general population - by the triad of 'nosogenic reactions' with excessive (hyper-), normal (normo-) or ignoring (hyponosognostic) psychological responses to stress related to the semantics and individual signifi cance of the SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (nosos);b) for long COVID - by the biopsychosocial model as a typical combination of neurotoxic asthenia with cognitive impairment (Bonhoeff er's neurobiological factor) that exacerbates 'nosogenic' anxiety and sleep disorders (psychological factor) and thus provokes a depressive response (as a social maladaptive factor). © Oleksandr Filts, Oleh Fitkalo, Oksana Lyzak, Oleh Berezyuk, Olha Myshakivska, Lyudmyla Samsonova, Alfred Pritz, 2021.

Clinical features of toxic jaw bone osteomyelitis in drug addicts.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE The aim: The aim of our research is to study the features of toxic osteomyelitis in drug addicts, their diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, aimed at strengthening motivation for the suspension of the use of psychoactive substances and the elimination of the pathological process in the lower jaw PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: The features of toxic osteomyelitis, complicated by abuse, have been studied on 46 patients in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery of Lviv regional clinical hospital during 2013-2019 Psychoactive substances, used by the patients, varied from homemade drugs "Screw" taken by 32 men (695%), synthetic drug amphetamine consumed by 10 men (21,7%) to Subutex used by 4 patients (8,7%) for their pleasure All the patients underwent comprehensive examination, which included clinical, laboratory, radiological, pathohistological studies Almost all patients - 41 ( 891% ) underwent sequestrectomy RESULTS Results: Clinical picture progressed quite rapidly in the form of diffuse destructive-necrotic osteomyelitis of the mandible, which was characterized by a severe, atypical course of the pathological process with permanent inclusion of other additional areas of the lesion of the mandible The X-ray at this stage showed an increase in destructive processes in the bone CONCLUSION Conclusions: Appropriate surgical tactics and pathogenetic therapy are of great importance for toxic osteomyelitis in drug addicts Due to the treatment, despite the total destruction of the mandible, it was possible to stop the destructive bone processes and to preserve life for such patients

A case series of uncommon causes of maxillary osteomyelitis: Understanding the pathology and recognizing the risks.

Abstract: Maxillary osteomyelitis is a rare event. With emergence of bisphosphonates, the incidence of jaw osteomyelitis has increased. We report five uncommon cases, with a comprehensive review of etiology and pathology. The correlation between osteonecrosis and osteomyelitis is discussed.

Opportunities for Science Growth amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: Dear reader, The 21st year of the 21st century will go down in history as the boundary that divided the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and post-pandemic world. It is the efforts of medical academic institutions and the dedicated medical professionals all around the world that have demonstrated a high readiness to overcome the modern challenges of the pandemic that has engulfed all the humanity. The world has received a new vector in the development of science to understand the strategy to combat the "plague" of the 21st century. First, it is the creation of specific prevention of COVID-19 at a record pace: on January 10, 2020, the information on the sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 virus (also known as 2019-nCoV) was received, and on December 11, 2020, vaccination against COVID-19 started among healthcare professionals in the United States. Currently, more than 2 billion people worldwide have been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 [1]. No deaths have been reported in the UK for 25 days (as of June 3, 2021), nevertheless changes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome and the emergence of new virus strains continue, and reports from high-incidence regions such as India are still alarming. The pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which as of today has infected more than 171 million and killed more than 3.5 million people globally, has been a major test for newer vaccines that differ from the previous ones. The organization and conduct of clinical research are becoming more important than ever. The article by Andriy Cherkas is dedicated to this topic [2]. Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson-Johnson vaccines developed and tested in clinical trials were made possible following the results of fundamental research by Katalin Kariko and Drew Weisman, which began almost 30 years ago [2] and ushered in the fifth era of vaccination [3, 4].

Ultrastructural reorganization of the constituent components of the rat periodontium under conditions of chronic opioid exposure

Abstract: Opioid addiction has acquired the characteristics of an epidemic in recent years and is a serious problem in modern medicine. In users of narcotic substances, a significant prevalence of diseases of the oral cavity and periodontal tissues is noted in comparison with the general population. The aim of the work was to investigate the ultrastructural organization of the periodontal tissues of rats at the end of the fourteenth week of the experimental opioid effect. The animals were administered intramuscularly, daily, once, the opioid analgesic nalbuphine (pharmacotherapeutic group: analgesics, opioids, morphinan derivatives) in increasing doses for 14 weeks: 1-2 weeks – 0.212 mg/kg, 3-4 weeks – 0.225 mg/kg, 5-6 weeks – 0.252 mg/kg, 7-8 weeks – 0.260 mg/kg, 9-10 weeks – 0.283 mg/kg; 11-12 – 0.300 mg/kg, 13-14 weeks – 0.450 mg/kg. At the end of the fourteenth week of opioid exposure, ultrastructural changes in the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the gums, periodontium, and hemomicrovessels with the development of decompensation and pronounced dystrophic-destructive changes were established. With the long-term effect of an opioid analgesic, signs of karyorrhexis, segregation of nucleoli, spongiosis, apoptosis, violation of the integrity of intercellular contacts, as well as vacuole-like formations, which were a manifestation of focal necrosis of epitheliocytes, were revealed. The development of necrotic changes was caused by significant damage and destruction of organelles, as well as fragmentation or lysis of bundles of tonofilaments. The intercellular spaces were mostly expanded and uneven, which was caused by edematous phenomena. Fragmentation and destruction of periodontal collagen fibers, destructive changes in fibrocytes and fibroblasts were found in the periodontium. The translucency of the amorphous component of the intercellular substance of the connective tissue was determined. The ultrastructural reorganization of the cellular components of the periodontium was caused by vascular disorders of a systemic nature, which were manifested by the phenomena of dilatation, hemoptysis, sludge phenomenon, dystrophic changes in the endotheliocytes of hemocapillaries and venules, and the progression of sclerotic changes, which significantly disturbed the trophism of the periodontal tissues of rats.

Mental health of healthcare workers during covid-19 pandemic in ukraine

Abstract: Introduction. Health care professionals experience severe occupational and psycho-emotional stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, which put them at high risk of mental disorders. The aim of the study was to examine the mental health of healthcare workers who provided treatment and support to patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods. A set of standardized psycho-diagnostic scales to assess the symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), insomnia (ISI) and the impact of traumatic events on psycho-emotional state (IES-R) was used for an online survey of healthcare professionals from all regions of Ukraine during 04/04/2021 to 05/29/2021. A comparative study was conducted comparing two groups of specialists who provided (n = 441) or who did not support (n = 40) patients with COVID-19 on socio-demographic characteristics and indicators of psycho-diagnostic scales. Results. In total 500 staff were invited to take part in this survey. A signifi cant number of health workers in both groups experienced symptoms of mental disorders, indicating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health. However, in the group of medical professionals who provided care to patients with COVID-19, there were more pronounced symptoms of depression (p = 0.010), anxiety (p = 0.010), sleep disturbances (p = 0.018) compared with the group of specialists who did not provide direct care to COVID-19 patients. Statistically signifi cant diff erences were also obtained on the IES-R scale: subscales “avoidance” (p = 0.048), “intrusion” (p = 0.021), “hyperarousal” (p = 0.035). Conclusions. Healthcare professionals who care forCOVID-19 patients have a signifi cantly increased risk of mental health problems and require particular attention and the development of special programs of psychological support and psychiatric care

The study of chemosensory dysfunction in patients after covid-19

Abstract: Introduction. Olfactory disorders are observed in infectious and non-infectious diseases, but caused a new wave of attention as one of the fi rst and often the only symptoms of COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic. Aim. To evaluate the prevalence, degree, duration of olfactory and taste disorders in patients with COVID-19, their relationship with the severity of the disease and the impact on the quality of life. Materials and methods. 699 patients after COVID-19 were interviewed using the electronic questionnaire, which was developed based on the available data and our observations about the most common symptoms in COVID-19 patients. The questionnaire consisted of 35 main questions on the topic of the study organized in 3 sections. Response forms were closed, semi-closed or open. Two questions on screening for mood disorders were taken from the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Patients were asked to rate their sense of smell and taste on a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Results. In most cases, olfactory and taste impairment occurred immediately after the appearance of other symptoms reaching a peak on 3-5th days of illness and did not improve after clinical recovery. Patients experienced varying degrees of hypo-, par- and cacosmia, subsequently even changing their food and behavioral habits (such as reducing or quitting smoking). Conclusions. The recovery of smell and taste had a clear direct correlation. More than half of the patients needed an in-depth assessment of their mental health most likely due to the combination of factors, including the impairment of smell and taste.