CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION AND ITS EARLY DIAGNOSIS IN RESIDENTS OF THE TRANSCARPATHIAN REGION.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To identify clinical and epidemiological features of meningococcal infection on the initial day of a patient's medical consultation, as well as the efficacy of laboratory examinations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of 76 patients' histories diagnosed with meningococcal disease was carried out. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Patients in the Transcarpathian region mainly develop an atypical form of meningococcal disease. Only half of all patients diagnosed with meningococcemia had a classical hemorrhagic rash. Generalized forms of meningococcal disease may proceed with normal or subfebrile temperature and without severe leukocytosis. We doubt the use of bacteriological methods of laboratory diagnosis due to their low effectiveness. The most sensitive method of laboratory diagnosis is a microscopic examination of blood smear, and cerebrospinal fluid.

INFLUENCE OF PROBIOTICS ON THE MESOTHELIN LEVEL IN WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH INFERTILITY IN COMPLEX PREPARATION FOR ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To study the determination of Mesothelin level in women with endometriosis associated with infertility and estimate influence of probiotic on endometriosis according of Mesothelin level in complex preparation before assisted reproductive technologies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 40 infertile women who underwent assisted reproductive technologies while also using the probiotic "Femina Probiz." We divided the participants into two groups. The control group comprised 11 women who had tubal infertility due to a previous inflammatory condition but were otherwise found to be in good health through comprehensive clinical and laboratory assessments. These women, aged between 21 and 42 with an average age of 29.75 years, did not use the probiotic "Femina Probiz." The main group consisted of 29 women diagnosed with external genital endometriosis who were undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. Women in the main group received the probiotic "Femina Probiz" from Unic Biotech Ltd, India. They took one tablet twice a day for one month as part of their overall treatment before undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. We measured the Mesothelin levels before and after this preparation phase. This study was conducted at Bukovinian State Medical University and Centre of Reproductive Medicine. It's worth noting that the primary infertility incidence was significantly higher in the main group of patients. RESULTS: Results: In the main group, we observed that the Mesothelin level was 0.73±0.01, which was significantly higher than the post-preparation level (0.59±0.01). In contrast, the control group had a Mesothelin level of 0.49±0.01. Interestingly, we noted that the Mesothelin level in patients increased approximately twofold before preparation compared to those who had undergone preparation. This suggests that the use of the probiotic led to a sharp reduction in the elevated Mesothelin levels. Consequently, the significant decrease in Mesothelin levels after using the probiotic indicates its effectiveness and potential utility in the preparation phase of assisted reproductive technologies programs. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The elevated Mesothelin levels indicate a strong association between the pathogenesis of endometriosis and inflammation, as well as damage to the peritoneum. The incorporation of a probiotic as part of a comprehensive preparation regimen prior to assisted reproductive technologies notably enhances the overall health of patients and leads to a reduction in Mesothelin levels. Based on our findings, we highly recommend the inclusion of this probiotic preparation in clinical practice.

A NEW APPROACH TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES PREPARATION IN WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATED INFERTILITY USING PROBIOTICS.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To examine the expression Nlrp3-inflammasome in the blood of women with endometriosis-associated infertility using assisted reproductive technologies with included probiotic and estimate a new approach with included probiotic for preparation to assisted reproductive technologies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: For the purpose of the research we examined 30 infertile women. Control group consisted of 10 women with tubal infertility due to an inflammatory process in the anamnesis, in whom, as a result of a complex clinical and laboratory examination, no other diseases were detected and in terms of their health they could be equated with practically healthy women (age from 21 to 42 years, the average age was 29.75 years) and who did not take probiotic. The main group consists from 20 women with external genital endometriosis were included in assisted reproductive technologies. Patients from main group took probiotic produced by Unic Biotech Ltd, India. 1 tablet twice a day with 10×109 Lactobacillus during 1 month in complex preparation (treatment) before assisted reproductive technologies. The indices of Nlrp3 - Inflammasome determined before and after preparation. The study was performer in Bukovinian State Medical University and Centre of Reproductive Medicine. To analyze the expression of the NLPP3-inflammasome gene and determine the relative normalized expression of NLPP3 mRNA, we used the polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription in real time (RT-PCR). The object for molecular genetic studies by the RT-PCR method was the fraction of mononuclear cells isolated from the whole blood of patients with endometriosis. The value of p (authenticity difference) was determined by Student's table-Fischer. Differences between contrasting averages were considered significant at p <0.05. RESULTS: Results: Analized the results of our research stated that in main group expression of Nlrp-3 inflammasome was 24,43, which is significantly higher than after preparation (0,70 accordingly). In control group expression of Nlrp3-inflammasome was 0,54. Expression of Nlrp-3 inflammasome increased in patients before preparation more than 34 times compare with patients after preparation accordingly. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: consequently, after using probiotic, the increased level of Nlrp3-inflammasome sharply decreases, indicating the effectiveness and the possibility of use in the programme for assisted reproductive technologies preparation.

Therapeutic Effectiveness of Interferon-α2b against COVID-19 with Community-Acquired Pneumonia: The Ukrainian Experience.

Despite several targeted antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 currently being available, the application of type I interferons (IFNs) still deserves attention as an alternative antiviral strategy. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of IFN-α in hospitalized patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia. The prospective cohort study included 130 adult patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A dose of 80,000 IU of IFN-α2b was administered daily intranasally for 10 days. Adding IFN-α2b to standard therapy reduces the length of the hospital stay by 3 days (p < 0.001). The level of CT-diagnosed lung injuries was reduced from 35% to 15% (p = 0.011) and CT injuries decreased from 50% to 15% (p = 0.017) by discharge. In the group of patients receiving IFN-α2b, the SpO2 index before and after treatment increased from 94 (92-96, Q1-Q3) to 96 (96-98, Q1-Q3) (p < 0.001), while the percentage of patients with normal saturation increased (from 33.9% to 74.6%, p < 0.05), but the level of SpO2 decreased in the low (from 52.5% to 16.9%) and very low (from 13.6% to 8.5%) categories. The addition of IFN-α2b to standard therapy has a positive effect on the course of severe COVID-19.

Probiotics and NLRP3 mRNA inflammasome levels in women with endometriosis-related infertility undergoing assisted reproductive technologies.

This research was conducted at Bukovinian State Medical University and the Centre of Reproductive Medicine and included a total of 30 infertile women. The control group consisted of 10 women with tubal infertility resulting from a prior history of inflammation, who, following a comprehensive clinical and laboratory assessment, exhibited no other underlying health conditions and could be regarded as essentially healthy individuals. Participants in the control group ranged from 21 to 42 years, with an average age of 29.75 years. The control group did not receive the probiotic Femina Probiz. The main group, on the other hand, included 20 women diagnosed with external genital endometriosis who were undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. These patients were administered the probiotic Femina Probiz manufactured by Unic Biotech Ltd in India. They were instructed to take one tablet containing 10×10^9 Lactobacillus organisms twice daily for one month as part of their preparatory treatment before proceeding with assisted reproductive technologies. The levels of NLRP3 inflammasome were measured before and after this preparatory phase. The incidence of primary infertility was significantly higher in patients belonging to the main group.

Melatonin decreases and cytokines increase in women with placental insufficiency.

Purpose: To investigate the levels of melatonin, proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in pregnant women with placental insufficiency (PI).Materials and Methods: The PI was manifested as the intrauterine growth restriction syndrome of fetus (IUGR) in the third pregnancy trimester. The control group consisted of 20 women with uncomplicated pregnancy in the same term. The blood concentrations of melatonin, proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrotizing factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1-ß (IL-1-ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), were studied.Results: The concentration of melatonin was found to decrease significantly if pregnancy was complicated by intrauterine fetal growth retardation (study group -126.87 ± 14.87 pg/ml, control group -231.25 ± 21.56 pg/ml, p < .001). The levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the study group were significantly higher as compared with the control group (TNF-α: study group -10.05 ± 1.35 pg/ml, control group -5.60 ± 1.50 pg/ml, p < .05; IL-1-ß: study group -14.67 ± 2.13 pg/ml, control group -3.96 ± 0.92 pg/ml, p < .001; IL-6: study group -6.91 ± 0.99 pg/ml, control group -2.69 ± 0.99 pg/ml, p < .05). The same is true about anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4: study group -5.97 ± 0.50 pg/ml, control group -3.74 ± 0.62 pg/ml, p < .05; IL-10: study group -11.40 ± 1.50 pg/ml, control group -4.70 ± 3.20 pg/ml, p < .001). A moderate negative correlation between melatonin and IL-1-ß in the group with PI (r = -0.3776, p = .0097), a closed negative correlation between the same indexes in the control group (r = -0.6785, p = .001), and a moderate negative correlation between melatonin and TNF-α (r = -0.4908, p = .02) were found.Conclusions: The blood level of melatonin significantly decreases in case of placental insufficiency, manifested as intrauterine fetal growth restriction. Strengthening of the proinflammatory immunity shown as the increasing of the levels of TNF-α, IL-1-ß, and IL-6 levels is also present in case of IUGR. Increase of the serum concentration of the anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-10, in our opinion, can be explained by activation of compensatory mechanisms, which decrease the risk of premature labor.

Expression and Significance of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinas-9 in Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic benign hormone-dependent condition when the endometrial tissue, identical with the endometrium by its morphological and functional properties, grows outside the borders of the uterine mucous membrane. Recent studies have pointed to the possible role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We suggested a hypothesis that increased expression of MMPs activity in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis might correlate with the presence of endometriotic lesions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in the ectopic endometrium of women with visible endometriotic lesions and eutopic endometrium in patients with no signs of endometriosis. The study was conducted on 43 patients. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 31 patients with peritoneal/ovarian endometriosis who had undergone laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. Group 2 consisted of 12 patients with leiomyoma, endometrial polyps or relatively healthy patients who had undergone hysterectomy or polypectomy and endometrial curettage. This study showed statistically higher expression of MMP-2 (1.7783 ± 0.22 immunohistochemistry (IHC) optical density score compared to the control group - 1.41± 0.34, p = 0.0017) and MMP-9 (1.352 ± 0.067 versus 1.85 ± 0.26 in the control group, p = 0.001) in ectopic and eutopic endometrium samples from patients with endometriosis compared to samples taken from patients without endometriosis. A strong correlation between expression of the above-mentioned MMPs (r=0.74 for MMP-2 and r=0.88 for MMP-9) in ectopic and eutopic endometrium might be of promising diagnostic value.

Transcription regulatory factor expression in T-helper cell differentiation pathway in eutopic endometrial tissue samples of women with endometriosis associated with infertility.

Endometriosis is a disease of epidemiological gravity of unknown primary reason. A complex of constitutional factors including the immune system has been considered as its background. The aim of the study was to identify Th1 and Th2 cells as well as the T-regulatory subset in the endometrium of women with endometriosis associated with infertility upon transcription factors expression. Expression of T-bet, GATA3, and Foxp3 genes was examined using a method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the eutopic endometrial samples of 20 women with endometriosis associated with infertility and 20 women with infertility of tubal origin. An increase in mRNA expression for T-bet and GATA3 with prevailing mRNA level for T-bet and a decrease in Foxp3 expression were observed. In conclusion, the revealed changes in expression of transcription factors may indicate the imbalance between T-helper cells of the Th1 and Th2 type and elimination of regulatory function of T-cells, which can be one of the causes of endometriosis predisposing to the development of infertility associated with this disease.