ANATOMIC AND TOPOGRAPHIC CHANGES OF ANTERIOR SEGMENT STRUCTURES IN EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME PATIENTS WITH MYOPIA.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Determination of anatomical and topographical relationships of the eyeball anterior segment structures to assess possible glaucoma development risk factors in SED patients with myopic refraction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Patients, aged from 10 to 34, have been examined since 2009. All the patients have undergone required medic and genetic examination as well as generally accepted ophthalmological one. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) has been performed using the VuMax II apparatus (Sonomed, USA) with a sensor frequency of 50 MHz. RESULTS: Results: Biomicroscopy found no symptoms such as pigment dispersion on the iris stroma, in the chamber anterior angle, iris transillumination and "Krukenberg's Spindle", which are characteristic for the ultrasound picture in pigment dispersion syndrome. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: 1. Clinical and functional study with the eyeballs mandatory ultrasound biomicroscopy have revealed functional space limitations for the structures of the iridociliary zone in patients with myopic type of eye structure in SED. 2. Detected congenital changes in the anterior segment structures (iridociliary cystic formations and residual mesodermal tissue) can lead to the emergence of intraocular blocks. 3. The research has identified conducive anatomical and topographic changes, which are likely to induce pigment dispersion syndrome or lead to the development of pigmentary glaucoma. 4. In our opinion, the UBM role in the early diagnosing and monitoring patients with SED syndrome is quite significant in terms of assessing the stability or dynamics of the changes received and possible complications. Ultrasound biomicroscopic scanning should be added to the list of necessary early diagnostic examinations to determine the markers and features of structures in SED.

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CHORIONIC TROPHOBLAST AND DECIDUAL CELLS OF FETAL MEMBRANES IN CASE OF ANTE-INTRANATAL FETAL DEATH.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To identify immunohistochemical and morphometric features of chorionic trophoblast cells and fetal membranes derived decidual cells, which were obtained from stillbirths associated with pre-eclampsia, iron deficiency anemia, and acute chorioamnionitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study included 58 fetal membranes of fetuses, who died in the ante-intranatal period. The membranes were divided into 6 obstetric history-based groups: premature (n = 8) and full-term (n = 8) stillbirths complicated by preeclampsia; premature (n = 8) and full-term ( n = 8) stillbirths complicated by iron deficiency anemia, premature (n = 10) and full-term (n = 16) stillbirths complicated by chorioamnionitis. A control group consisted of 8 membranes obtained from physiological pregnancies followed by the birth of a live full-term baby. Samples (rupture site) were probed with cytokeratin to identify the fetal trophoblast layer of the chorion and with vimentin for further identification of the decidual cells. The thickness of the trophoblastic layer, expression levels of cytokeratin and vimentin were determined. RESULTS: Results: A decrease of the cytokeratin expression by the chorionic trophoblasts and a thinning of the chorionic trophoblast cell layer due to an increasing gestational age were shown in case of the mentioned pathological conditions. In comparison with the control group, the level of vimentin expression by decidual cells was increased in case of full-term pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia, decreased in pregnancies complicated by chorioamnionitis, and remained unchanged in case of accompanying anemia. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The changes in the studied immunohistochemical parameters are more pronounced in case of chorioamnionitis, which indicates more severe morphological and functional changes.

THE MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF THE PARENCHYMAL AND STROMAL LIVER COMPONENTS OF HEALTHY NEWBORNS FROM HEALTHY MOTHERS WITH A PHYSIOLOGICAL COURSE OF PREGNANCY.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To determine the morphometric parameters of the parenchymal and stromal liver components of healthy newborns. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: The morphometric investigation included 45 liver tissue biopsies of healthy newborns. All morphometric parameters of the parenchymal and stromal liver components were calculated using the Avtandilov microscopic morphometric grid. It was inserted into the microscope ocular tube with a total × 200 microscope magnification. The number of points that were found on the corresponding types of parenchymal and stromal liver components was calculated. In every case, it was selected 10 random microscopic areas and then all data were obtained, calculated and presented as percentages. RESULTS: Results: Morphometric parameters of hepatocytes: mononuclear hepatocytes - 93.5±7.1 %, two-nuclear hepatocytes - 6.5±1.2 %, BMHC (bi-/mononuclear hepatocytes coefficient) - 0.06±0.01, hepatocytes with fat vacuoles - 0.5±0.2 %. Parenchymal and stromal liver components: parenchyma - 74.2±4.3 %, stroma (including blood vessels and bile ducts) - 25.8±2.6 %, SPI (stroma/parenchyma index) - 0.34±0.01. Morphometric parameters of all of the liver components: hepatocytes - 74.2±4.3 %, portal tracts - 3.1±0.6 %, central veins - 9.3±1.4 %, sinusoids - 10.5±1.3 %, bile ducts - 2.9±0.2 %. Expression level parameters: fibronectin - 17.3±2.5 %, collagen type I - 9.7±1.9 %, collagen type III - 10.1±0.9 %, collagen type IV - 5.9±0.2 %. Parameters of liver fibrosis biomarkers: APRI (index) - 0.19±0.01, а FIB-4 (index) - 0.022±0.001. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The morphometric parameters of the parenchymal and stromal liver components of healthy newborns can be used as a control group in the study of any pathological conditions of the liver of newborns.