Prevalence of childhood asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in the Ternopil region of Ukraine--results of BUPAS study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of allergic diseases and symptoms in children of the Ternopil Region (Ukraine) and to explore their familial and environmental correlates. MATERIAL/METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on parental answers to a respiratory questionnaire based on ISAAC that included 4871 urban and rural children aged 6-14 years. Association of physician-made diagnoses and symptoms with environmental factors was examined by means of multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Increased risk of asthma (1.7%) was associated with urban residence (OR=1.8; p=0.04) and high parental education (OR=1.8; p= 0.02); spastic bronchitis (6.2%) with parental allergy (OR=1.3; p= 0.03); atopic eczema (6.2%) with younger age (OR=1.3; p=0.03), high parental education (OR=1.3; p=0.03), parental allergy (OR=1.4; p=0.02), tobacco smoke at home (OR=0.7; p=0.01) and household density (OR=0.6; p=0.001); diagnosis of unspecified allergic sensitization (11.8%) was related to high parental education (OR=1.2; p=0.03), parental employment (OR=0.8; p=0.02) and pets at home (OR=1.2; p=0.06). Symptoms of chest wheezing (11.5%) were related to tobacco smoke at home (OR=0.8; p=0.06). Attacks of dyspnea (7.3%) were related to parental allergy (OR=1.4; p=0.007), and type of heating (OR=1.7; p=0.04). Hay fever symptoms (5.7%) were related to younger age (OR=1.3; p=0,01) and urban residence (OR=2.0; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Except for asthma the prevalence of allergic diseases and symptoms as well as their correlates in children of Ternopil are similar to other estimates obtained in Eastern Europe. Low prevalence of asthma and relatively frequent occurrence of spastic bronchitis may suggest substantial underdiagnosis of childhood asthma.

[Clinical significance of ultrastructural disorganization of cell membranes in hypotrophy]. / Klinicheskoe znachenie ul'trastrukturnoi dezorganizatsii kletochnykh membran pri gipotrofii.

The authors describe the results of studying lipid peroxidation and ultrastructure of blood cells in children aged 1 month to 2 years, suffering from chronic distress of nutrition of the hypotrophy type. Appreciable disorders of the membranes of blood cells and their organoids were found, related to activation of free radical lipid oxidation in diseased children. The relationship was noted between destructive changes in the ultrastructure of the biological membranes and the disease gravity, duration of the effect of the high content of lipid peroxidation products on cellular and subcellular membranes. The disorganization of the membrane ultrastructure in the body of patients with hypotrophy is an important component in the disease pathogenesis and requires administration of membrane-stabilizing therapy in a complex of treatment measures.

[Composition of the intestinal microflora in children with hypotrophy]. / Sostav kishechnoi mikroflory u detei s gipotrofiei.

The intestinal microflora was investigated in 120 children aged 1 month to 2 years with different forms of hypotrophy. The majority of the children demonstrated an impairment of intestinal biocenosis manifesting by dysbacteriosis of different gravity. The relationship was discovered between the depth of the dysbiotic abnormalities and the underlying etiological factor that promoted the development of the chronic nutrition distress, hypotrophy gravity, the type of feeding, and treatment. The treatment of hypotrophy with bacterial drug inclusion made the children's intestinal microflora return to normal or appreciably improved it. The dysbiotic abnormalities in children with hypotrophy should be regarded as the result of the long-term use of antibacterial therapy (not justified in all the cases) in this patients' group, of inadequate feeding, and a considerable decrease of the body resistance.