SLEEP QUALITY OF SCHOOLCHILDREN - RESIDENTS OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED AREAS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. / ЯКІСТЬ СНУ У ШКОЛЯРІВ ­ МЕШКАНЦІВ РАДІОАКТИВНО ЗАБРУДНЕНИХ ТЕРИТОРІЙ ПІД ЧАС ПАНДЕМІЇ COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the sleep characteristics of middle school children during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of sleep characteristics of children - residents of radioactively contaminated areas of Zhytomyr and Rivne regions, who underwent a routine examination in June-July 2020, after their stay from March to June 2020 in conditions of home isolation due to quarantine restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety six students of comprehensive public schools, aged 10-16, took part in the study. Sleep characteristics were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-U indicator), translated into Ukrainian. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: During the period of the introduction of restrictive measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain disturbances of sleep characteristics were observed, the imprint of which was a moderately increased total PSQI-U indicator, which was (3.89 ± 3.20) points. It was established that 19.79 % of children had insufficient total sleep time, and 2.08 % had significant sleep deprivation. The quality of their sleep was described as «rather bad¼ by 32.29 %, and as «very bad¼ by 4.17 %; 35.42 % of children complained about sleep disturbances, 67.71 % of children had signs of daytime dysfunction, 18.75 % had symptoms of insomnia. In the logistic regression model, quite significant prognostic factors of insomnia were: female gender (OR = 2.487; 95 % CI: 1.407-4.397); subjective determination of the negative impact of the pandemic on health, regardless of whether the respondent had COVID-19 or not (OR = 1.166; 95 % CI: 1.112-1.222), as well as living in the city (OR = 1.183; 95 % CI: 1.065-315). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of restrictive quarantine measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a violation of the daily routine of schoolchildren, which modified the characteristics of sleep. In almost a third of the examined children, the duration and quality of night sleep was insufficient for the physiological restoration of the body's reserves. A late choice of the start of sleep and violations of his hygiene had a critical impact on these indicators.

IDENTIFICATION OF MONOAMINOXIDASE-A GENE PROMOTER POLYMORPHISM (MAOA-UVNTR) AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN UKRAINIAN CHILDREN. / IDENTYFIKATsIIa POLIMORFIZMU PROMOTORA GENA MONOAMINOKSYDAZY-A (MAOA-UVNTR) TA IOGO ZV'IaZOK Z AGRESYVNOIu POVEDINKOIu V UKRAÏNS'KYKh DITEI.

Aggressive disorders have moderate heritability; therefore, identification of genetic influences is important. TheX-linked MAOA gene encoding the MAOA enzyme has a functional polymorphism of 30 bp repeats. in the promoter region (MAOA-uVNTR), which affects aggression. Stressful life events and family misfortune are also known correlates of behavior disorder in children. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the interactive effect of monoamine oxidase-A gene promoter polymorphism (MAOA-uVNTR) and environmental factors on the development of aggressive behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping of the MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism was performed in 144 boys and girls aged from 10 to 16 years, genotypes were grouped by a high and low transcriptional activity. For the general assessment of the psycho-emotional sphere of children, the projective method «non-existent animal¼ was used, the indicators and forms of aggression were determined according to the method of A. Bass and A. Darky. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: It was found the predominant allelic variants of the MAOA gene with 3 (S) and 4 (L) tandem repeats. The presence of close relationships between the dependent variable «aggressive behavior¼ and the predictor variables: «family disadvantage index¼ and «MAOA-uVNTR genotype¼ was established. It has been proven that the presence of the highly active allele (L) in the genotype reduces the chances of developing general aggression, delinquent behavior, physical aggression, open aggression, negativism, and externalization. CONCLUSIONS: The MAOA genotype of the high-activity allele (L) moderated the impact of stressful life events, and the low-activity allele S was associated with increased aggression in girls and boys who experienced severe stress.

PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE AND TYPOLOGICAL PERSONALITY FEATURES OF CHILDREN RESIDENTS OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES IN THE REMOTE PERIOD OF CHORNOBYL СATASTROPHE. / PSYKhOLOGIChNYI STAN TA TYPOLOGIChNI RYSY OSOBYSTOSTI DITEI ­ MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORII U VIDDALENYI PERIOD ChORNOBYL'S'KOÏ KATASTROFY.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psycho-emotional state of children-residents of radioactively contaminated territoriesand to characterize the typological features of their personality in the remote period of the Chornobyl catastrophe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Psycho-emotional status and typological personality traits were determined in 96 childrenaged 12 to 17 years, who resided in radioactively contaminated territories with a soil contamination density of 137Csabove 185 kBq/m-2, and were admitted for examination and treatment in the pediatric departments of the NRCRMclinic. Psycho-emotional state of children was determined using the test «non-existent animal¼, which was assessedin points on symptom complexes: anxiety, aggression and neuro-mental exhaustion. The questionnaire of A. Bassand A. Darkey was used to discriminate various aspects of the aggression symptom complex. In all children, the content of incorporated 137Cs was determined using a whole body counter. RESULTS: The results of the evaluation of the psycho-emotional state of children - residents of radioactively contaminated territories in the remote period of the Chornobyl catastrophe according to the test «non-existent animal¼showed, that the state of anxiety was registered in all 96 children (100 %); state of aggression - in 60 children(62.5 %); exhaustion - in 57 children (59.37 %). Depending on the prevalence of the one or another symptom complexes, or their combination, 5 groups of observations were formed and the personality traits of children characteristic for each group were determined. In the largest group I with the predominance of anxiety symptom complex(45,83 % of the total sample) were noted: stable tendency to perceive many life-threatening situations and environment, pessimistic assessment of one's own life perspective, constant high level of anxiety. Girls were in majorityin this group. For group II, which showed a combination of high rates of two symptom complexes - anxiety andaggression (18.75 % of the total sample), the characteristic personality traits were a constant high level of emotional tension, a tendency to perceive the environment with distrust and a sense of guilt that arouses. In group IIIof children (14.58 % of the total sample), the symptom complex of aggression with feelings of alienation, isolationand hostile attitude towards the environment prevailed. Group IV of children (16.67 % of the total sample), with thecombination of signs of exhaustion and anxiety, had poor ability to concentrate, memory and attention deficit disorders, decreased learning ability, constant fatigue and irritability, apathy, inactivity, and inertia. Group V (only 4.17 %of the total sample) was characterized by low (less than 2 points) indices of all three symptom complexes. Girls weremuch more prone to anxiety, boys were more aggressive, sometimes accompanied by anxiety. Symptom complex ofexhaustion was determined with the same frequency in both boys and girls. CONCLUSION: Assessment of psycho-emotional sphere of children - residents of radioactively contaminated territories in the remote period of the Chornobyl catastrophe according to the «non-existent animal¼ test revealed in of100 % of children the presence of anxiety signs, in the vast majority - the state of aggression and exhaustion. Therewere no probable associations between the content of incorporated 137Cs (in the range from 111 to 7024 Bq) and thepeculiarities of the psycho-emotional state of children.

APPLICATION OF ART THERAPY FOR CORRECTION OF PERSONAL DISORDERS OF PSYCHOEMOTIONAL STATE OF CHILDREN - INHABITANTS OF RADIATION POLLUTED TERRITORIES AND CHILDREN DISPLACED FROM THE ARMED CONFLICT ON THE SOUTHERN EAST OF UKRAINE. / ZASTOSUVANNIa ART-TERAPIÏ DLIa KOREKTsIÏ PORUShEN' PSYKhOEMOTsIY̆NOGO STANU DITEY̆-MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIY̆ TA DITEY̆, PEREMIShchENYKh IZ ZONY ZBROY̆NOGO KONFLIKTU NA PIVDENNOMU SKhODI UKRAÏNY.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the psycho-emotional state of children - residents of radioactively contaminated territories and children displaced from the zone of armed conflict in the south-east of Ukraine, and evaluate the effectiveness of art therapy application to correct its disturbances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The psycho-emotional state was determined in 113 children, of which 57 children from radioactively contaminated territories with 137Cs content in the body from 269 Bq to 7024 Bq (group I) and 56 chil- dren displaced from the zone of military conflict in the Southeast of Ukraine (group II). The age of children ranged from 10 to 17 years. The children were hospitalized to the childrens' clinics of the NRCRM because of functional dis- orders and chronic somatic pathology. The psycho-emotional state of children was evaluated using the «non-exis- tent animal¼ test. It was analyzed for three symptoms - anxiety, aggressiveness and neuropsychiatric exhaustion and was evaluated by scoring points. Correction of the psychoemotional condition was carried out by the method of art therapy in the form of a serial drawing. Psychological testing was performed twice: at admission to the hospital and after the end of the art therapy. RESULTS: The results of the primary examination of the psycho-emotional state of children by the «non-existent ani- mal¼ test showed that in children - residents of radioactively contaminated territories the state of anxiety was reg- istered in all 57 children (100 %), the state of aggression - in 38 children (66.7%); exhaustion - in 37 children (64.9 %). In children who have been displaced from the zone of armed conflict in the south-east of Ukraine, the state of anxiety was also registered in all 56 children (100 %), the status of aggression was determined in 53 chil- dren (94.6 %), and the state of exhaustion - in 44 children (78.6 %). It was established that in children displaced from the combat zone in the Southeast of Ukraine, the quantitative indices of anxiety and aggression states were sig- nificantly higher than in children living in radioactively contaminated territories (p < 0.001), whereas nor by frequen- cy, nor by the degree of severity of exhaustion state they did not clearly differ (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis with the definition of Spearman's criterion did not reveal likely association between the content of 137Cs in the body of children - residents of radioactively contaminated territories and the peculiarities of their psycho-emotional state. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the art therapy method in the form of a serial drawing for children - residents of radioac- tively contaminated territories and children moved from the combat zone in the south-east of Ukraine, led to a sig- nificant positive effect, which was characterized by a decrease in the manifestations of symptoms of anxiety and aggressiveness. The state of exhaustion was less well corrected and its indices only had a tendency to improve. Thus, the method of art therapy in the form of a serial drawing is characterized by efficiency, simplicity of execution, low cost, it can be widely used in children's teams to correct disorders of the psycho-emotional state.

Gut microbiota among children living in areas contaminated by radiation and having the cardiac connective tissue dysplasia syndrome. / Mikrobiocenoz kyshechnyka u ditej-meshkanciv radioaktyvno zabrudnenyh terytorij iz syndromom dyplazii' spoluchnoi' tkanyny sercja.

Objective. The study examined the gut (colonic) microbiota in children being domiciled in contaminated zones and suffering the cardiac connective tissue dysplasia syndrome (CCTDS). Materials and methods. The study included 99 children living in contaminated zones. Study subjects were divided into subgroup IA (a comparison subgroup) of 44 children with no signs of CCTDS and subgroup IB of 55 children having the CCTDS. The control group included 24 children aged from 7 to 17 years old. Study groups were of the same gender and age. Results. In the absence of any specific complaints the abnormal gut microbiota was revealed in children living in contaminated areas with a high incidence of 96.36 % featuring both quantitative and qualitative abnormalities that can be considered a dysadaptation phenomenon of both digestive system and body as a whole. Under the concomitant CCTDS these disorders are more expressive, being characterized by a significant decrease in the number of obligate gut flora and failure of its protective capabilities. Incidence of dysbacteriosis grade III in children having the CCTDS is significantly higher vs. children of the control group and comparison subgroup. Under CCTDS the gut microbiota abnormalities were represented with a severe bowel contamination by E. coli with altered enzymatic properties, various types of opportunistic microorganisms, and a high identification incidence of genus Candida fungi at the background of a significant depression of normal colonic flora. Presence of 3-5-component associations of opportunistic pathogens in the colon was found with high incidence. Conclusion. According to received results the examination of intestinal bacterial flora is expedient in children living in areas contaminated by radiation. Application of health care arrangements aimed at normalization of gut microbiota is obligate.

Balance of autonomic nervous system in children having signs of endothelial dysfunction, that were born and are domiciled in contaminated territories. / Vegetatyvnyj gomeostaz u ditej z oznakamy endotelial''noi' dysfunkcii', jaki narodylysja ta postijno prozhyvajut'' na radioaktyvno zabrudnenyh terytorijah.

UNLABELLED: Objective. The study examined the features of functional state of the autonomic nervous system in children having endothelial dysfunction and permanently residing in contaminated areas. Materials and methods. Clinical and instrumental examination of 101 children aged 7-18 years that were born and are domiciled in contaminated territories, including 37 persons with signs of endothelial dysfunction (subgroup IA) and 64 ones with no signs of endothelial dysfunction (IB subgroup) was conducted. The control group being comparable to the subgroups IA and IB by age, gender and clinical examination results included 37 children neither been domiciled in contaminated areas nor were belonging to the contingent of Chornobyl accident survivors. There were 20 apparently healthy children also examined. Results. Due to peculiarities of physiological pathways providing adaptive responses the children having signs of endothelial dysfunction are characterized by a more pronounced dysregulation of autonomous nervous system both in a resting state and under a functional load simulation, and also by a high strain of adaptation pathways. The lack of autonomous support of cardiovascular system is caused by inadequate adaptive responses of both central regulatory bodies (hypothalamus, vasomotor center) and peripheral receptors. Mainly the failure of segmental autonomous (parasympathetic) structures was revealed. The mode of their response to stress in this case corresponds to that in healthy individuals but at a lower functional level. There is a reduced aerobic capacity of the organism by the Robinson index, contributing to low adaptive range to non-specific stress in children being domiciled on contaminated territories including children having the endothelial dysfunction. Conclusions. Endothelial dysfunction was associated with more pronounced manifestations of autonomic dysregulation and reduced aerobic capacity of the organism being the risk factors of development of a range of somatic diseases requiring the development of prevention measures in children permanently residing in contaminated areas. KEYWORDS: autonomous nervous system balance, endothelial dysfunction, children, Chornobyl accident.

[Endothelium dependent vascular reactivity and autonomic homeostasis in children living in radiation-contaminated areas].

In order to study the mechanisms of development of pathological changes in children living in contaminated areas and chronically exposed to radionuclides as a result of exposure through the food chain, studied the vegetative homeostasis and thermographic study endothelium-dependent vascular reactions with occlusive tests. Showed signs of dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system dysfunction, the secretory activity of the endothelium and increased secretion of substances endothelial origin.

[Use of some biochemical and physico-chemical indices for the evaluation of lung function in healthy school-age children]. / Ispol'zovanie nekotorykh biokhimicheskikh i fiziko-khimicheskikh pokazatelei dlia otsenki funktsii legkikh u zdorovykh detei shkol'nogo vozrasta.

The biochemical and physicochemical characteristics of nonrespiratory pulmonary functions were determined in 255 children of school age according to the condensate of exhaled air. As compared to the younger children, those belonging to the senior age groups manifested an increase of specific respiratory moisture loss. As compared to winter, specific respiratory moisture loss in summer was found to be decreased; the condensate of exhaled air was discovered to have a higher content of total protein, elevated concentration of surface active substances in the lung surfactant, and to show a certain tendency towards reduction of the intensity of the processes of free radical oxidation. No sex-associated differences were established between the characteristics under study.

[Effects of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident on the child's body]. / Effekty vozdeistviia posledstvii Chernobyl'skoi avarii na detskii organizm.

Overall 1580 children from the regions with unsafe radiation situation were examined comprehensively at different times after the accident. The data obtained were correlated to the results of examining 610 children of the control group. The basic group children manifested a higher incidence of diverse alterations on the part of many organs and systems, which was accompanied by an increase of free radical processes signs of destabilization of cellular membranes, activation of blood cell metabolism, suppression of the T cell component of immunity in the presence of vegetovascular dysfunction. A tendency was noted toward normalization of these alterations seen over time after the accident. No clear-cut dose-effect dependence was found.

[Determination of the free radical processes in condensates of exhaled air in children with recurrent bronchitis]. / Otsenka svobodnoradikal'nykh protsessov v kondensatakh vydykhaemogo vozdukha u detei s retsidiviruiushchim bronkhitom.

Free-radical processes were assessed in exhaled air condensates of healthy children and of those suffering from recurrent bronchitis during remission and at the onset of exacerbation. 3 percent hydrogen peroxide-induced chemiluminescence technique was employed with the results recorded by chemiluminometer, manufactured in this country. The data evidence an increase of the total induced chemiluminescence in the patients during exacerbation vs. that in healthy children; such measurements may become a valuable test in the diagnosis of chronic and recurrent pulmonary disease in children.

[The health status of workers in the manufacture of monomethylaniline semifinished products]. / Sostoianie zdorov'ia rabochikh proizvodstva poluprodukta monometilanilina.

Results of clinico-functional examination in workers engaged in production of monomethylaniline semifinished products revealed a more frequent morbidity of the internal organs, moderate methemoglobinemia, functional changes of the cardio-vascular system, disorders of the pulmonary ventilation function, metabolic processes. These data should be considered in therapeutic-prophylactic measures.