Resilience of Primary Health Care in Ukraine: Challenges of the Pandemic and War.

This commentary examines the resilience of primary health care in Ukraine amidst the ongoing war, drawing a few reflections relevant for other fragile and conflict-affected situations. Using personal observations and various published and unpublished reports, this article outlines five reflections on the strengths, challenges, and necessary adaptations of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Ukraine. It underscores the concerted efforts of the government to maintain public financing of PHC, thereby averting system collapse. The research also highlights the role of strategic adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic in fostering resilience during the war, including the widespread use of digital communication and skills training. The commentary emphasizes the role of managerial and financial autonomy in facilitating quick and efficient organizational response to crisis. It also recognizes emerging challenges, including better access to PHC services among the internally displaced persons, shifting patient profiles and service needs, and challenges related to reliance on local government financing. Finally, the authors advocate for a coordinated approach in humanitarian response, recovery efforts, and development programs to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of PHC in Ukraine.

The amino acid and carbohydrate composition of the herb and roots of Smallanthus sonchifolius.

The free and protein-bound amino acid composition of the herb and roots of Smallanthus sonchifolius was analyzed by HPLC method. Fourteen free and fifteen protein-bound amino acids were determined in yacon herb, and three free and fourteen protein-bound amino acids in the roots. Among the free amino acids, proline (0.44 µg/mg) and aspartic acid (0.12 µg/mg) were dominant in the herb and proline (0.28 µg/mg) in the roots. Among the protein-bound amino acids, aspartic acid (18.58 µg/mg), glutamic acid (16.33 µg/mg) and proline (14.52 µg/mg) prevailed in the herb, and proline (3.14 μg/mg) in the roots. Fructose, sucrose and arabinose were identified in free form in the herb of S. sonchifolius applying gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The polysaccharide complex was obtained from yacon herb, its yield was 5.13 ± 0.09%. Fructose (3.11 µg/mg) was the only monosaccharide identified in the hydrolysate of the obtained complex.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry study of the root and herb of Smallanthus sonchifolius.

Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) is a new prospective plant cultivated in Europe as a natural sugarcane substitute. It is used for diabetes and for the prevention of obesity. The study of carboxylic acids in the roots and herb of S. sonchifolius was carried out for the first time by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As a result of the study, 12 components were found in the roots of S. sonchifolius, 9 of which were carboxylic acids. The S. sonchifolius herb contained 41 components, 18 of which were carboxylic acids. The dominant compounds in the roots were: undecanoic acid, methyl ester - 546.04 mg/kg; 1-benzazirene-1-carboxylic acid, 2,2,5a-trimethyl-1a-[3-oxo-1-butenyl] perhydro-, methyl ester - 360.63 mg/kg; 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester - 119.21 mg/kg. In the herb of the yacon dominant is cyclohexanol, 1-ethynyl - 28.67 mg/kg. Key words: Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) carbo- xylic acids GC-MS.

Effect of some redox mediators on FAD fluorescence of glucose oxidase from Penicillium adametzii LF F-2044.1.

Glucose oxidase (GOx) of Penicillium adametzii LF F-2044.1 recovered by ultrafiltration, was characterized by spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric methods. It was shown that spectra of GOx from P. adametzii are typical for flavoproteins. Optimal buffer composition was chosen. It was determined that the GOx is the most efficiently interacting with substrate (glucose) in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 with kkat/KM=15,217±550M(-1)s(-1). P. adametzii GOx fluorescence in the presence of different redox mediators (9,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, 1,4-benzoquinone, methylene blue, ferrocene, ferrocenecarboxylic acid, α-methylferrocenemethanol, ferrocenecarboxaldehyde) was evaluated. Maximal differences in fluorescence emission intensity were observed in the presence of ferrocene and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone.