Vol 30, No 3 (2019)

The paper analyzes an update on the etiology, mechanisms, and symptoms of the common clinical and laboratory syndrome associated with a reduction in blood potassium level to <3.5 mmol/l. The etiological and pathogenetic classification of hypokalemia has been developed, which reflects a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions accompanied by this dangerous homeostatic disorder. The author details the basic mechanisms of hypokalemia, shows difficulties in clinical and laboratory diagnosis, and specifies ways, means, and methods to overcome the diagnostic difficulties. A scheme/algorithm is proposed to diagnose the main varieties of hypokalemia. Safe approaches to its elimination are discussed.

Matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 were investigated in patients with connective tissue dysplasia and osteochondrosis. The significance of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in the diagnosis of osteochondrosis was defined in young patients with connective tissue dysplasia.

Atopic dermatitis (AtD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, the basis for the pathogenesis of which is an incompetent skin barrier with an immune system imbalance. The skin forms mechanical and immune barriers that protect the body from aggressive environmental factors. Innate immunity imbalance leads to skin infection with opportunistic bacteria that maintain the local inflammatory process. Dry skin is now considered as an auxiliary criterion for AtD. Some experts are ready to include this factor for the progression of AtD in a set of its main criteria. The paper considers the experience with the new cream, the main component of which is the ectoin molecule at a concentration of 7%. There has been recently a noticeable increase in the number of works dealing with different therapeutic and prophylactic properties of ectoines, which are useful in medicine and cosmetology. Ectoin used as part of the agent to relieve inflammatory reactions in allergies and AtD has a certain positive effect. Skin hydration control along with anti-inflammatory therapy can contribute to reducing the risk of more severe forms of the disease, by maintaining the achieved remission of AtD.

This paper describes the clinical case of a 39-year-old woman who had longterm polycy-themia vera and developed thrombosis of various localization without other clinical manifestations and complete blood count changes, which were characteristic of this disease. This pathological condition was suspected only when there were significantly elevated levels of hematocrit, plate-lets, and leukocytes, and supported by additional tests (detection of V617 mutation in the Jak2 gene and low erythropoietin levels).

The authors have analyzed quality of life in patients with asthma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and their concurrence. They have revealed a reduction in both physical and mental health components in patients having 2 diseases versus those with one disease, which correlates with external respiratory dysfunction and waist and hip circumferences.

The paper considers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentations, and diagnoses of Pagets disease of the bone. It describes a case of late diagnosis of the disease and the characteristics of its therapy using zolendronic acid in a young woman.

The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was studied during a follow up of the staff of a large industrial enterprise.

The authors carried out a retrospective analysis of the features of the course of community-acquired pneumonia and its treatment of patients with this condition at the round-the-clock hospitals of the Shpakovsky District, Stavropol Territory, over 2010-2017.

The paper considers the etiology, classification, and differential diagnosis of chronic neutropenia. It also discusses the drugs prescribed by practicing therapists to treat various somatic diseases as the cause of drug (hapten)-induced agranulocytosis. The authors also give an algorithm for the diagnosis of acquired neutropenia and a protocol for the treatment of febrile neutropenia in non-cancer patients.