За статистикою, вірусом SARS-CoV-2 було чи залишається заражено мільйони людей у всьому світі, що викликає в них ураження дихальної, серцево-судинної, видільної систем. Відомо, що вітаміни D та C проявляють імуностимулюючу дію, яка забезпечує захист організму від впливу інфекцій. Низка досліджень показали, що дефіцит вказаних вітамінів підвищує ризик і важкість перебігу захворювання. Це привернуло увагу до впливу вітамінів на людей, заражених вірусом SARS-CoV-2. На сьогодні виявлено участь вітаміну D у виробленні захисних пептидів: β-дефензинів та кателіцидинів, модуляції діяльності ренін-ангіотензин-альдостеронової системи. β-дефензини відповідають за перфорацію капсиду ві- русу, а кателіцидини сприяють розширенню судинних стінок, що збільшує надходження макрофагів та їх активацію. Вітамін С пригнічує активність
цитокінового шторму, що виникає внаслідок гіперзапалення уражених ділянок організму, а також знижує рівень IL-6 і інгібує in vivo вивільнення
IL-6 в ендотелії, індуковане ендотеліном-1 (ET-1). У наведеній статті ми розглядаємо поточні дослідження щодо ролі вітамінів D та C у підтримці
імунітету на різних рівнях, зокрема при загальних респіраторних інфекціях з акцентом на COVID-19. Ці рівні включають одужання та вироблення
антитіл до збудника, профілактику інфекції, полегшення її перебігу, допоміжну терапію, наслідки хвороби. Незважаючи на те, що дослідження
впливу кальциферолу та аскорбінової кислоти на перебіг коронавірусу ще тривають, отримані результати вказують на потенційну доцільність їх застосування під час лікування COVID-19.
Ключові слова: COVID-19, вітамін D, вітамін С, β-дефензин, кателіцидини, цитокіновий шторм, окисний стрес

According to statistics, millions of people around the world have been infected with or are currently infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes respiratory, cardiovascular, and urinary tract damage. It is known that vitamins D and C have immune-boosting properties that help protect the body against infection. Various studies have shown that a deficiency in these vitamins increases the risk and severity of the disease. This has drawn attention to the impact of vitamins on people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vitamin D has been found to play a role in the pro- duction of protective peptides: β-defensins and cathelicidins, and modulates the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. β-defensins are responsible for perforating the virus capsid, while cathelicidins promote the dilation of blood vessel walls, which increases the influx of macrophages and their activation. Vitamin C, on the other hand, inhibits the activity of the cytokine storm that occurs as a result of hyperinflammation in affected areas of the body and also reduces the level of IL-6 and inhibits in vivo release of IL-6 in endothelium induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1). In this article, we review current research on the role of vitamins D and C in supporting immunity at various levels, particularly in the context of respiratory infections, with a focus on COVID-19. These levels include recovery and antibody production against the pathogen, infection prevention, easing of disease progression, supportive therapy, and the consequences of the disease. Although studies on the impact of calciferol and ascorbic acid on coronavirus progression are still ongoing, the results obtained indicate the potential usefulness of their use in the treatment of COVID-19.
Key words: COVID-19, vitamin D, vitamin С, β-defensin, cathelicidins, cytokine storm, oxidative stress.

The aim: The purpose of this literature review is to shed light on the development of biochemical knowledge in the Lviv region and on prominent figures in the development of biochemistry during the Second World War.
Materials and methods: Review of literature published before 2020. We searched the literature using the search terms ‘biochemists’, ‘ Lviv National Medical University’, ‘second World War’.
Conclusions: The development of biological research in Lviv can be divided into two historical stages: 1) from the beginning of the founding of Lviv University in 1661 to the First World War; 2) between the First and Second World Wars and after the Second World War. Biochemical research was initiated at the Medical Faculty of Lviv University. In 1939, the Lviv State Medical Institute was established on the basis of the Medical Faculty of the University, where a powerful department of biochemistry functioned, which was headed by a worldclass biochemist – Jakub Parnas. 

The differences in vascular risk factors’ and stroke burden across Europe are notable, however there is limited understanding of the influence of socioeconomic environment on the quality of secondary prevention and outcome after acute ischemic stroke.

Patients and methods: In this observational multicenter cohort study, we analyzed baseline characteristics, reperfusion treatment, outcome and secondary prevention in patients with acute ischemic stroke from three tertiary-care teaching hospitals with similar service population size in different socioeconomic environments: Bern/CH/n=293 (high-income), Gdansk/PL/n=140 (high-income), and Lutsk/UA/n=188 (lower-middle-income).

Results: We analyzed 621 patients (43.2% women, median age=71.4years), admitted between 07 and 12/2019. Significant differences were observed in median BMI (CH=26/PL=27.7/UA=27.8), stroke severity [(median NIHSS CH=4(0-40)/PL=11(0-33)/UA=7(1-30)], initial neuroimaging (CT:CH=21.6%/PL=50.7%/UA=71.3%), conservative treatment (CH=34.1%/PL=38.6%/UA=95.2%) (each p<0.001), in arterial hypertension (CH=63.8%/PL=72.6%/UA=87.2%), atrial fibrillation (CH=28.3%/PL=41.4%/UA=39.4%), hyperlipidemia (CH=84.9%/PL=76.4%/UA=17%) (each p<0.001) and active smoking (CH=32.2%/PL=27.3%/UA=10.2%) (p<0.007). Three-months favorable outcome (mRS=0–2) was seen in CH=63.1%/PL=50%/UA=59% (unadjusted-p=0.01/adjusted-p CH-PL/CH-UA=0.601/0.981), excellent outcome (mRS=0–1) in CH=48.5%/PL=32.1%/UA=27% (unadjusted-p<0.001/adjusted-p CH-PL/CHUA=0.201/0.08 and adjusted-OR CH-UA=2.09). Three-months mortality was similar between groups (CH=17.2%/ PL=15.7%/UA=4.8%) (unadjusted-p=0.71/adjusted-p CH-PL/CH-UA=0.087/0.24). Three-months recurrent stroke/TIA occurred in CH=3.1%/PL=10.7%/UA=3.1%, adjusted-p/OR CH-PL=0.04/0.32). Three-months follow-up medication intake rates were the same for antihypertensives. Statin/OAC intake was lowest in UA=67.1%/25.5% (CH=87.3%/39.2%/ unadjusted-p<0.001/adjusted-p CH-UA=0.02/0.012/adjusted-OR CH-UA=2.33/2.18). Oral intake of antidiabetics was lowest in CH=10.8% (PL=15.7%/UA=16.1%/unadjusted-p=0.245/adjusted-p CH-PL/CH-UA=0.061/0.002/adjustedOR CH-UA=0.25). Smoking rates decreased in all groups during follow-up.

Acute respiratory failure due to pneumonia is a significant cause of death in children 6-18 years old.; Objective - to find out whether diaphragm dysfunction might lead to unsuccessful weaning from MV in children 6-18 years old.; We provided prospective observational cohort study and included 104 patients, who were splitting in the study and the control groups and 2 age subgroups. To consider diaphragm function, we check amplitude of its movement and diaphragm thickening fraction (Dtf).; The primary outcome was the incidence of successful weaning from MV. The secondary outcomes were changes in diaphragm function parameters.; Dtf for right hemidiaphragm was significantly lower in the study group 1st subgroup on day 1 and day 5, and significantly higher on day 14 (p<0.05), while for left hemidiaphragm it was significantly higher on day 1 and lower on day 5 compared with the control group (p<0.05). In 2nd subgroup Dtf was significantly higher for both sides in the study group on day 1 compared with the control group (p<0.05). ; Amplitude of diaphragm movement was significantly decreased in 1st subgroup of the study group on day 1 and day 5 and increased on day 14 compared with the control group (p<0.05).; The incidence of successful weaning from MV in the study group was significantly lower compared with the control group.; Diaphragm dysfunction might alter weaning from MV in children 6-18 years old.