MINE-BLAST TRAUMA AS A FACTOR IN THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF VASCULAR DISEASES OF THE BRAIN.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the state of bulbar conjunctival vessels, rheological properties of blood, catecholamines (adrenaline, norepinephrine), lipid metabolism, alkaline proteins of blood serum in patients with consequences of mild combat traumatic brain injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 76 individuals aged 28 to 41 years were examined. The duration of the injury lasted from 2 to 4 years. The control group consisted of 28 individuals aged 45 to 49 years with primary cerebral atherosclerosis and manifestations of cerebral circulation disorders. The state of the bulbar conjunctiva vessels and blood circulation was studied using a slit lamp SHCHL-2B at 40-fold magnification. Rheological parameters, lipid metabolism, serum alkaline proteins, total catecholamines were studied according to generally accepted methods. RESULTS: Results: Changes in the vessels of the bulbar conjunctiva (stage II-III) were detected in 76% of the subjects, indicating the formation of cerebral vascular pathology, and in 87% of patients with initial cerebral atherosclerosis. The analysis of lipid metabolism showed significantly (p<0.05) increased data on all studied parameters (cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, ß-lipoprotein, atherogenic index), both in patients with aftereffects of mild combat traumatic brain injury and in patients with initial cerebral atherosclerosis. An increase in alkaline proteins indices we detected in 62% of patients with aftereffects of mild combat cerebral trauma and in 55% of patients with initial cerebral atherosclerosis. At the same time, there was an increase in total catecholamines in the erythrocytes of patients with combat head injury. An increase in fibrinogen was noted in both groups, but in the group with initial cerebral atherosclerosis it was more pronounced. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Combat traumatic brain injury contributes to the early formation of cerebral atherosclerosis and cerebral circulation disorders in this category of patients. The examination methods we have studied should be included in the survey plan for these patients. They are important not only for diagnosis, but also for improving treatment and preventing vascular disasters.

PECULIARITIES OF THE GUT MICROBIOTA IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE COMPARING TO HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Analyze the gut microbiome state in patients with migraine (M) and healthy individuals, to assess possible correlations between the detected changes in patients with migraine and the frequency, intensity of headaches, psycho-emotional state of the patients, and their quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 100 objects were enrolled, divided into 2 groups: main - patients with M and control - healthy volunteers. Investigation of the intestinal microbiome was performed by chromato-mass spectrometry. For M patients the following scales were used: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), Back Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: Results: In main group increased amount of Alcaligenes spp (p = 0.0061), Clostridium coccoides (p = 0.0021), Clostridium propionicum (p = 0.0287), Eggerthella lenta (p = 0.0138), Pseudonocardia spp (p = 0.0210), Rhodococcus spp (p = 0.0164), Candida spp (p = 0.0079), Micromycetes spp (campesterol) (p = 0.0011) were found. Patients with M had a raised amount of Herpes simplex (p = 0.0305) and endotoxin level (p = 0.0459). Differences in gut microorganisms in both groups were significant. In patients with M negative correlations were observed between Alcaligenes spp ammount and BDI score (r = -0.6226, p =0.007), VAS score (r = -0.489, p = 0.046), headache frequency (r = -0.487, p = 0.046); between the levels of Clostridium coccoides and MIDAS score (r =-0.51, p = 0.035), BDI score (r = -0.54, p = 0.025) and positive correlation between Eggerthella lenta level and VAS score (r =0.4830, p=0.049). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Correlations between changes of gut microbiome and M are promising for further research.

COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS DEPENDING ON THE DIFFERENT RISK FACTORS PRESENCE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To clarify the influence of different risk factors on cognitive impairment (CI) in general and in separate domains and their association with MRI findings in patients with relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (SPMS and PPMS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: One hundred and thirty-seven participants with MS (102 females and 35 males) aged from 22 to 69 years were enrolled into this study. All patients completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and undergone MRI. RESULTS: Results: According to MS phenotypes all participants were divided into two groups: patients with RRMS (n= 106) and with progressive phenotypes (n= 31). A significant positive correlation was present between MoCA and BDI scores in all participants (p= 0,0015). Presence of anxiety did not demonstrate any valid influence on cognitive performance, although severe anxiety was significantly more often found in subjects with progressive phenotypes in presence of brain atrophy (p= 0,0028). Patients with higher education had no CI more frequently compare to those without it (p= 0,0019), whereas, participants smoking cigarettes had higher prevalence of severe CI than non-smokers (p= 0,0061). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Among cognitive domains memory, visual-spatial and executive functions, abstract thinking were impaired the most in MS patients, though abstract thinking was more often affected in progressive forms. The results demonstrated that physical disability, depression and smoking negatively impacted cognitive performance, meanwhile presence of higher education demonstrated a favorable influence on cognition in MS patients.

VASCULAR RISK FACTORS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN THE PATIENTS WITH CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To assess the severity of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) depending on the number of vascular risk factors (VRF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study consisted of five hundred and eighty patients with CVD (247 females and 333 males) aged from 45 to 89 years (mean age: 64,1±8,9 years). The patients were divided into 6 groups (I, II, III, IV, V, VI) depending on the number of VRF. The examination consisted of a standard clinical evaluation, neurological examination, the application of neuropsychological tests (the MMSE; the PALT/The Paired Associates Learning Test; clock drawing test), laboratory tests, MRI of brain. RESULTS: Results: According to ANOVA, the greater the number of VRF the patients had, the lower was their total MMSE score corresponding to more pronounced cognitive decline (F=2,97, p=0,012). A significant negative correlation between patients' age and their MMSE score was detected regardless of their VRF count. The patients of the V and VI groups had substantially lower parameters of immediate, delayed memory and clock drawing test score comparing to the patients of the I group. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The presence of 4 and more VRF was related to more pronounced CI in the patients with CVD. Decline of different aspects of memory, attention, spatial orientation, abstract thinking, planning, concentration, executive and visuospatial skills in groups of patients with 4,5 and 6 vascular risk factors was established. Age was substantially associated with cognitive decline in all the group of patients.

FEATURES OF CEREBROVASCULAR REACTIVITY IN PATIENTS OF YOUNG AGE WITH MIGRAINE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to Doppler sonography study of cerebrovascular reactivity in young patients with migraine and comparison of autoregulation patterns between groups of migraine patients with aura and migraine without aura. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: We conducted the clinical Doppler examination of 124 young patients (18-45 years old), including 55 men and 69 women in the conditions of the clinical base of the Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education in 2017-2019. The criteria for involvement of patients in the study were: migraine without aura (group 1-63 patients), migraine with aura (group 2-61 patients) The control group consisted of 45 patients of the corresponding gender and age. The indicators of CVR were studied using the ultrasound device. RESULTS: Results: A hyperreactive response to tests with CO2 and photoreactivity were more pronounced in the patients with migraine without aura. The patients with migraine with aura showed hyperreactivity in the test with O2, which was an indicator of the tendency to hyperconstriction. The hyperreactivity in the functional nitroglycerin test and the carotid compression test shows the state of the myogenic mechanism of changes in vascular tone. Insignificant hyperreactivity to orthostatic load detected in both groups shows the interest of the neurogenic regulatory link. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: 1. The most important hemodynamic patterns in the patients with migraine are excessive perfusion with migraine without aura and difficult perfusion with migraine with aura. 2. For the patients with migraine without aura, a characteristic criterion for autoregulation is the pattern of hyperreactivity hypercapnic load and photostimulation. 3. The most important difference in the autoregulatory response in the patients with migraine with aura compared with migraine without aura is the hyperresponse to hyperventilation load, compression carotid and nitroglycerin tests.

Age related characteristics of cognitive changes in patients with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: According to World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts, by 2050 the number of people suffering from dementia will constitute about 150 millions in the world. Nowadays, Alzheimer's disease plays the leading role in dementia emergence; it is the cause of age related dementia in 60% of cases. The aim: This study aimed to assess the age related cognitive changes in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 503 patients aged 45 to 89 years with chronic cerebral ischemia were included into the study. All the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 - without MetS (n = 198), group 2 - with MetS (n = 305). Patients of both groups were divided into 3 age subgroups: 1st - 45-59, 2nd - 60-74, 3rd - 75-89 years old.The MetS was defined according to the criteria of the American Heart Association, the World Heart Federation, the International Atherosclerosis Society, and the International Association for the Study of Obesity. To evaluate patients' cognitive functions wide range of neuropsychological tests were used. RESULTS: Results: Patients of both groups had significant age related cognitive deficit. MetS patients of all age subgroups with mild cognitive impairment syndrome revealed a significant decline of immediate and delayed memory on the verbal stimuli (especially in patients of elderly and senior age groups), the rate of sensorimotor reactions, mental capacity, and the active attention amount in comparison to the patients without MetS. MetS patients with dementia of the middle age had significantly lower parameters of immediate and delayed memory on the verbal stimuli, the rate of sensorimotor reactions, mental capacity, and the active attention amount in comparison to the patients without MetS but with dementia. CONCLUSION: Conclusions:The presence of MetS was associated with more pronounced cognitive decline in the patients, concerning different aspects of memory, attention and executive functions.