Vol 31, No 7 (2020)

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) - is a disease associated with degranulation of mast cells and appearing of weals and/or angioedema during more than 6 weeks without specific trigger. Medical and social significance of CSU is connected with its wide distribution mostly among able-bodied population, significant life quality impairment and high treatment costs. Immune and pathogenetical mechanisms of CSU development can vary significantly among patients. Actual task of the modern medicine is a search for new clinical and laboratory markers of CSU which can help to determine better treatment approach, changes in disease activity and to predict treatment response.

ABC transporters and mainly P-glycoprotein play critical physiological and protective roles in during reproductive processes. The P-glycoprotein, encoded by the ABCB1 gene, is suggested to protect the developing embryo from drugs which are substrates of P-glycoprotein and other xenobiotic exposures. It is increasingly recognized that the activity of these transporters is affected by genetic polymorphisms. The article looks into the recent studies exploring the association between P-glycoprotein polymorphisms and the risk of fetal birth defects associated with medication use during pregnancy.

Hemorrhagic endobronchial symptoms were studied using the materials of 16,582 (100.0%) primary bronchoscopic biopsies from patients with nonspecific nontumor lung diseases. Hemorrhagic changes in the tracheobronchial tree mucosa, which were designated as hemorrhagic endobronchial syndrome, were detected in 793 (4.8%) patients. The studies revealed the following variants of hemorrhagic endobronchial syndrome: multiple petechial hemorrhages, hemorrhages from limited mucosal ruptures, and a hemorrhagic component of bronchial secretion. A combination of the hemorrhagic component of bronchial secretion and one or two other signs was found in a number of cases. A flow chart was proposed to assess the hemorrhagic component of bronchial secretion, by identifying its three grades. In most cases, the hemorrhagic endobronchial syndrome was clinically equivalent to hemoptysis or moderate pulmonary hemorrhage. No association was found between one or other variant of hemorrhagic endobronchial syndrome and specific nosological entities.

The paper considers the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ARVT) on the course and outcome of suppurative lung and pleural diseases (SLPD) in HIV-infected patients. It defines the nature of lung and pleura lesions and determines CD4 lymphocyte counts and viral load depending on the use of ARVT. There are data on surgical interventions and outcomes of SLPD.

A follow-up was conducted in 55 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), 8 of whom had a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. The course of the disease was com-pensated in all these patients; a control group consisted of 10 women. The data of comprehen-sive clinical and morphological (using different scanning microscopy options) studies and their comparison confirm the need to correct the placental status in the presence of maternal DM1 in all cases.

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of a new comprehensive osteosarcopenia treatment program using the biologically active additive Osteomed Forte (OF) containing calcium and vitamins D3 and B6 from its effect on skeletal muscle strength and volume, coordination abilities, motor activity, and social activity levels in older age group patients with osteosarcopenia. Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 78 men and postmenopausal women aged 50 to 80 years who had a high risk of fractures, as well as decreased muscle strength, as evidenced by tension dynamometry. Before beginning the rehabilitation cycle, the patients were randomized into 2 groups: 1) 39 patients were prescribed OF for 12 months (a study group); 2) 39 patients who did not receive additional therapy for osteoporosis (a control group). The patients of both groups underwent an examination including bone densitometry, tension dynamometry on a Back-Check device (Dr. Wolff, Germany), functional tests evaluating conditioning and coordination motor abilities, as well as quality of life (QOL) assessment using the QUALEFFO-41 questionnaire. Results. A prospective follow-up study showed that at 12 months the study group had higher back extensor and flexor strength levels (p<0.05). The control group patients exhibited negative changes in the strength of the lateral trunk flexors (p<0.05); following one year, the strength of the flexors and right lateral flexors was significantly lower than that in the study group patients (p < 0.05). Within 12 months, in both groups the functional tests revealed no changes in their mean values, except for worse results of the one-leg standing with the eyes open test in the control group (p < 0.05). Analyzing the changes in QOL indicators after 12 months, the scores for «Pain», «Daily activity», «Mobility», «General health», «Mental status» and «General indicator» were significantly lower (better QOL) in the study group than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion. The investigation results showed that the complex dietary supplement OF containing calcium citrate, vitamin D3, and HDBA organic complex with vitamin Be prevents decreases in muscle strength, balance function, and QOL in patients who have osteosarcopenia and a high risk of fractures.

Objective: to evaluate the status of an osteograft after mastoidoplasty according to temporal bone histological examination and computed tomography (CT). Subjects and methods. Ninety-six patients diagnosed with chronic epitympanic antral suppurative otitis media were operated on. Coarse bone meal was used in 51 (53%) cases; finely dispersed meal was employed in 45 (47%) cases. CT of the temporal bones and histological examination of the graft were performed in the patients at 12 months after surgery. Results. Analysis of temporal bone CT data showed that the implanted bone graft was less dense than the cortical plate of the mastoid process. Nineteen implanted bone graft samples were histologically examined at 12 months after surgery. Mature bone beams of correct structure were detected in 9 (47.4%) samples. Young bone tissue elements as osteoid and uneven young osteogenic tissue growths were prevalent in 10 (52.6%) cases where finely dispersed bone meal had been used. Conclusion. Temporal bone CT allows evaluation of the status of the implanted bone material in the long-term postoperative period. The histological examination at one year after surgery indicated that when coarse bone meal versus finely dispersed one was used, the bone material underwent all stages of integration mainly through osseointegration.

Knee osteoarthritis accounts for almost half of large joint diseases. The progression of the disease over 10 years leads to disability of patients even at working age; whereas the prevention and treatment of the disease require huge health care costs. The risk factors for knee osteoarthritis attract the attention of many investigators.