Publications by authors named "Vladimir Hodzhev"

: Bulgaria had the highest mortality rate of COVID-19 in Europe and the second highest in the world based on statistical data. This study aimed to determine the mortality predictors in 306 adult patients with COVID-19 infection, treated at the COVID-19 Ward of St. George University Hospital in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in the period of August 2021-April 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • Probiotics have shown promise in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), but clear guidelines were lacking, leading to a trial evaluating a specific probiotic mix called Sinquanon in adults on antibiotics.
  • The study involved over 550 participants in a double-blind trial comparing the effects of the probiotic mix versus a placebo, with findings showing a significant reduction in AAD incidence (9.2% for probiotics vs 25.3% for placebo).
  • Results indicated not only fewer cases of AAD but also improved gastrointestinal quality of life, with no major adverse effects noted between the two groups, suggesting that Sinquanon can effectively help those on antibiotics.
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Severe and critical forms of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Numerous research studies have been conducted around the world to investigate various variables (demographic, clinical, laboratory, etc.) in an attempt to understand the relationships between them and the course and outcome of patients with COVID-19 infection and pneumonia.

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Asthma is a major non-communicable disease. It affects both children and adults, but is the most common chronic condition among the former. While inhaled controller drugs stabilize the disease in most asthma patients, there are a certain number of people who suffer from severe asthma, which requires treatment escalation.

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Exercise-induced desaturation is common in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It provides additional information about physical capacity and disease evolution, and it is an important predictor of mortality.

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Background: The beneficial effects of application of a fixed dose beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and formoterol fumarate (F) for the treatment of severe chronic obstructive disease (COPD) has been amply proven in well controlled clinical trials. Whether this also holds for real-world conditions and in such a heterogeneous patient population as is encountered in Bulgaria remained to be investigated.

Methods: In an observational, non-interventional study, 441 Bulgarian patients with severe COPD who were enrolled at 36 sites across the country received extrafine BDP/FF-combination therapy using the NEXThaler® DPI or the Foster® pMDI over a period of 16 weeks.

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Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a common worldwide disease in adults over 50 years of age. The clinical diagnosis at the beginning of the disease is very difficult, even impossible, without typical symptoms and image changes. Mathematical models for searching risk factors include analysing medical history data, comorbidities, biochemical and instrumental results.

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