THE ROLE OF HEREDITARY PREDISPOSITION (POLYMORPHIC MARKERS OF GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE, CATALASE, ENDOTHELIAL NITROGEN OXIDE SYNTHASE GENES) AND SOME ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRONCHO-OBSTRUCTIVE PATHOLOGY IN CHILDREN LIVING IN RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED AREAS. / РОЛЬ СПАДКОВОЇ СХИЛЬНОСТІ (ПОЛІМОРФНИХ МАРКЕРІВ ГЕНІВ ГЛУТАТІОН-S-ТРАНСФЕРАЗ, КАТАЛАЗИ, ЕНДОТЕЛІАЛЬНОЇ СИНТАЗИ ОКСИДУ АЗОТУ) ТА ДЕЯКИХ НЕСПРИЯТЛИВИХ ЧИННИКІВ ДОВКІЛЛЯ У ВИНИКНЕННІ БРОНХООБСТРУКТИВНОЇ ПАТОЛОГІЇ У ДІТЕЙ, МЕШКАНЦІВ РАДІОАКТИВНО ЗАБРУДНЕНИХ ТЕРИТОРІЙ.

OBJECTIVE: summarizing the results of many years of research by the authors on the influence of gene polymorphisms encoding xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes (GSTТ1, GSTM1, GSTР1), antioxidant protection (С^262Т of the catalase gene), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (4a/4b VNTR polymorphism of the eNOS gene), and some environmental factors on the occurrence of broncho-obstructive disorders and the development of bronchial asthma in children, residents of radioactively contaminated areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The examined school-aged children were residents of radioactively RCA who had no clinical signs of respiratory pathology. Deletion polymorphism of catalase gene (CAT C^262T), polymorphism of glutathione-S-transferase gene (GSTТ1, GSTM1, GSTР1) and the polymorphism in the 4th intron (4a/4b) of the eNOS gene were studied in the molecular genetics laboratory of the State Institution «Reference Center for Molecular Diagnostics of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine¼. Molecular genetic studies were performed by polymerase chain reaction. The study of the ventilation lung capacity was carried out by the method of computer spirometry based on the data of the «flow-volume¼ loop analysis. A pharmacological inhalation test with a bronchodilator drug which affects the ß2-adrenergic receptors of the lungs was used to detect early changes in the ventilatory lung capacity - bronchial hyperreactivity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: One of the leading mechanisms, due to which the implementation of hereditary predisposition to bronchial asthma in children living in radioactively contaminated areas is the polymorphism of certain genes of glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, endothelial nitric oxide synthase. With such polymorphic variants of the GST genes, isoforms of enzymes with reduced activity are produced, which limits their ability to effectively neutralize free radicals, which are formed in excess when free radical oxidation processes are activated due to the constant intake of radionuclides with a long half-life into the body of children. Unfavorable factors that increase the risk of developing broncho-obstructive disorders and the likelihood of their implementation in the form of bronchial asthma in children, residents of radioactively contaminated areas, have been identified. It has been established that among them the leading role is played by hereditary predisposition to this disease. On the part of the child, such negative factors were unfavorable conditions of intrauterine development, the presence of signs of exudative-catarrhal diathesis, manifestations of allergies and frequent respiratory diseases from the first months of life.

CATALASE CRS-262T GENE POLYMORPHISM AND CHANGES IN VENTILATION LUNG CAPACITY IN CHILDREN-RESIDENTS OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES. / POLIMORFIZM SRS-262T GENA KATALAZY I ZMINY VENTYLIaTsIINOÏ SPROMOZhNOSTI LEGENIV U DITEI - MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORII.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the association of catalase С-262Т gene polymorphism with the presence of bronchial hyper-reactivity in children living in radioactively contaminated territories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were examined school-age children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories (RCT), who did not have clinical signs of respiratory pathology. Catalase (CAT) С-262Т gene deletion polymorphism was studied in the molecular genetic laboratory of the State Institution «Reference Center for Molecular Diagnostic of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine¼. Determination of the polymorphic variant by the catalase С-262Т gene was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using specific oligonucleotide primers, followed by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The CAT С-262Т gene polymorphism in children living in RCT was compared with that in the reference group of practically healthy individuals. Ventilation lung capacity was performed by computer spirometry according to the analysis of the loop «the flow-volume¼. A pharmacological inhalation test with a bronchodilator that acts on ß2-adrenergic receptors of the lungs was used to detect early changes in the ventilatory capacity of the lungs - bronchial hyperreactivity. RESULTS: Comparative analysis showed that in the presence of bronchial hyperreactivity in children living in RCT, the CT genotype was more common than in children without bronchial hyperreactivity, and the frequency of the CC genotype was correspondingly reduced. There was a trend towards a decrease in the frequency of the TT genotype. An analysis of the frequency distribution of allelic variants of the CAT С-262Т gene polymorphism in children living in the RCT revealed a tendency to increase in the frequency of the T-allele and according to the decrease in the frequency of C-allele in the presence of bronchial hyperreactivity.Сonclusions. Thus, among children living in RCT, CT-homozygotes of CAT С-262Т gene polymorphism had bronchial hyperreactivity probably more often than CC-heterozygotes. In the presence of bronchial hyperreactivity, there was a trend towards an increase in the frequency of the T-allele and, accordingly, a decrease in the frequency of the C-allele.

ROLE OF GENETIC PREDISPOSITION, GENE POLYMORPHISM OF GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE (GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1) AND SOME ADVERSE FACTORS IN DEVELOPMENT OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN CHILDREN - RESIDENTS OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED AREAS. / ROL' SPADKOVOÏ SKhYL'NOSTI, POLIMORFIZMU GENIV GLUTATION/S/TRANSFERAZ (GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1) TA DEIaKYKh NESPRYIaTLYVYKh ChYNNYKIV U ROZVYTKU BRONKhIAL'NOÏ ASTMY U DITEI ­ MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORII.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the influence of hereditary predisposition, polymorphism of GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 genes andenvironmental factors on the development of bronchial asthma in children - residents of radioactively contaminat-ed areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: School-age children-residents of radioactively contaminated areas with bronchial asthma,and those without clinical signs of respiratory pathology were examined. Genetic, medical, biological and social riskfactors were determined based on the study of anamnestic data and medical records. Ventilation lung capacity wasassessed by the method of computer spirometry. Molecular genetic studies were carried out using polymerase chainreaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for further analysis. RESULTS: Molecular genetic studies of the distribution of genotypes and frequencies of polymorphic variants of thegenes GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 were performed in children living under long-term intake of 137Cs by food chains. It wasfound that in children with BA the tendency to frequency of the deletion variant of the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes incomparison with children without bronchial and pulmonary pathology was increased. The study of distributing theGSTP1 A313G gene polymorphic variants revealed in children with BA a significant increase in the frequency of AG-genotype, compared with the data of reference group. Adverse factors that increase the risk of developing bron-choobstructive disorders and the probability of their implementation in the form of bronchial asthma in children -residents of RCA have been identified. It is established that among them the leading role is played by hereditarypredisposition to this disease. On the part of the child, such negative factors were unfavorable conditions of fetaldevelopment, the presence of signs of exudative-catarrhal diathesis, manifestations of allergies and frequent respi-ratory diseases from the first months of life. It was found that the risk of developing BA was significantly increasedin children with the GSTT1 and GSTM1 gene deletion genotypes; an increased risk of developing BA in children witha combination of the GSTP1 A313G gene polymorphism with deletion polymorphism of the GSTT1 or GSTM1 gene wasdetermined. Сonclusion. Оne of the leading mechanisms, due to which there is a realization of hereditary predisposition tobronchial asthma in children living under constant intake of radionuclides with a long half-life, is the polymorphismof certain glutathione-S-transferase genes, namely, GSTT1, GSTM1 and A313G gene deletion polymorphism and GSTP1gene polymorphism.

MOLECULAR GENETIC ASPECTS OF BRONCHIAL HYPERREACTIVITY IN CHILDREN - RESIDENTS OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED AREAS. / MOLEKULIaRNO-GENETYChNI ASPEKTY BRONKhIAL'NOÏ GIPERREAKTYVNOSTI U DITEI-MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORII.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the relationship between polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase gene family andbronchial hyperreactivity in children living in radioactively contaminated areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: School age children-residents of radioactively contaminated areas (RCA), without clinicalsigns of respiratory pathology were examined. Molecular genetic studies were carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for further analysis. The GSTT1, GSTM1 gene deletion polymorphism was investigated using multiplex PCR. PCR and PCR-RFLP analyses were performed in the studyof the GSTP1 gene A313G polymorphism. The ventilation lung capacity was examined by the pneumotachographicmethod according to the analysis of «the flow-volume¼ loop. The pharmacologic inhalation test with bronchodilator drug, affecting the ß2-adrenergic lung receptors was used to detect the early changes in the ventilation lungcapacity - the bronchial hyperreactivity (latent and nonlatent bronchospasm). RESULTS: Molecular genetic studies showed that the GSTM1 gene deletion genotype and the GSTP1 gene A313G polymorphism were found significantly more often in the subgroup of children with bronchial hyperreactivity living inRCA than in children without bronchial hyperreactivity and children of the control group. The frequency of GSTT1deletion polymorphism did not have a statistically significant difference in all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The GSTM1 gene deletion polymorphism and the GSTP1 gene A313G genotype may be a risk factor fordeveloping bronchial hyperreactivity in children living under adverse environmental conditions, including radioactively contaminated areas.

STATE OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH PATHOLOGY OF DIGESTIVE ORGANS, WHO LIVE AT RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE. / STAN KOGNITYVNYKh FUNKTsIY̆ U DITEY̆ Z PATOLOGIIeIu ORGANIV TRAVLENNIa, IaKI PROZhYVAIuT' NA RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIIaKh UKRAÏNY.

OBJECTIVE: to study the state of cognitive functions in children who were born and permanently live at radioactive contaminated territories (RCT) with pathology of the upper digestive tract, using pathopsychological testing; to increase the effectiveness of treatment and prophylactic measures aimed at preserving and restoring the health of RCT residents. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized blind controlled clinical trial was conducted. There were examined, a total of 90 persons aged 6 to 17 years (35 boys and 55 girls) who were divided into two groups: the control group (I) included 30 persons of the conventional «clean¼ territories, and the main group (II) - 60 patients with patho- logy of the digestive organs who were born and live at the RCT. The study program included: the collection of anam- nesis, complaints; clinical and instrumental examinations. The following tests were applied by us: «What things are hidden in the drawings¼, Toulouse-Pieron, Raven, and Luria testing. For detecting the anxiety level, and the subjec- tive signs of autonomic dysfunctions were used the Spilberg-Hanin self-diagnosis and the Wein questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: It was shown that in children aged 6-11 years, according to the results of the Toulouse-Pieron test, speed of cognitive information-processing was significantly decreased by 7.17 conventional units, while on the back- ground of the etiopathogenetic treatment of the digestive tract - by 10.24 conventional units relative to the va- lues of the control group. The long-term memory was statistically significantly decreased in the examined children of senior school age (from 12 to 17 years). A significant increase in reactive anxiety and a reverse correlation between the personal anxiety (PA) and speed of cognitive information-processing (r = -0.331) were recorded in patients aged 6-11 years. In older patients, PA was increased.Сonclusions. The obtained results indicate that the state of cognitive functions was characterized by a decrease in speed of cognitive information-processing, long-term memory and a high level of anxiety in children aged from 6 to 17 years residents of RСT with pathology of digestive organs, according to the used testing.

FUNCTION OF EXTERNAL RESPIRATION AND MARKERS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN CHILDREN-RESIDENTS OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES. / FUNKTsIIa ZOVNIShN'OGO DYKhANNIa I MARKERY OKSYDATYVNOGO STRESU U DITEY̆ ­ MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIY̆.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the influence of processes of lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant protection on the function of external respiration in children-residents of radioactive contaminated territories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were examined children of school age, inhabitants of radioactive contaminated ter- ritories (RCT) without respiratory and pulmonary pathology, and patients with bronchial asthma (BA). Examination of the ventilation lung function was performed by the method of pneumotachography according to the analysis of the «flow-volume¼ loop. End products of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reacting with thiobarbituric acid (malondialde- hyde), enzymes-antioxidants - catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase were studied to determine the signs of oxidative stress. RESULTS: Examinations of ventilation lung function in children-residents of RCT without respiratory and pulmonary pathology showed no significant deviations of its parameters beyond the limits of physiological fluctuations; a decrease in bronchial patency at different levels of the bronchial tree was established in children with BA. An increased incidence of bronchial hyperreactivity was noted in both the patients with BA and those who did not have bronchopulmonary pathology. The absence of an increase in the content of LPO products (malondialdehyde) in blood serum of children-residents of RCT with increased activity of catalase and group of glutathione enzymes indi- cates the sufficiency of compensatory possibilities of antioxidant protection. CONCLUSIONS: Studies of correlation between the function of external respiration and markers of oxidative stress determined that the indices of bronchial patency directly correlate with the activity of enzymes-antioxidants of the glutathione group and inversely - with the content of the LPO products in children-residents of RCT. The frequency of bronchospasm inversely correlated with the activity of glutathione group antioxidants. There are inverse correla- tion of 137Cs content in the body with the activity of glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase.

ELECTROLYTE CONTENT IN SALIVA OF CHILDREN WITH DEVIATION IN VEGETATIVE STATUS RESIDING AT RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES OF UKRAINE AFTER APPLICATION OF INTERMITTENT NORMOBARIC HYPOXIA. / VMIST ELEKTROLITIV U SLYNI DITEI Z VIDKhYLENNIaMY V VEGETATYVNOMU STATUSI, IaKI PROZhYVAIuT' NA RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIIaKh UKRAÏNY PISLIa ZASTOSUVANNIa PERERYVChASTOÏ NORMOBARYChNOÏ GIPOKSIÏ.

Objective was to determine the content of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) elec-trolytes in non-stimulated mixed saliva of children, with disorders of autonomous nervous system (ANS), who wereborn and are permanently residing at radioactive contaminated territories after application of intermittent normo-baric hypoxia (INH) of sanogenic level.Patientes and methods. The children (41 boys and 62 girls) aged 6-17 years were examined. All they were dividedinto three groups: the control group consisted of 30 persons (group I); the comparison group - 30 person (groupII); the main group - 43 patients (group III). The collection of anamnesis, patient complaints, clinical and labora-tory examinations were included into the studied program. The content of electrolytes in oral fluids was determinedby the atomic absorption method. 10 seances of INH with a hypoxic component of 12 % oxygen in nitrogen wereused by us.Results. It was shown that the content of electrolytes in non-stimulated mixed saliva had a multidirectional signi-ficance in different age groups after INH: in examined children of primary school age (6-11 years), the Na+ concen-tration was significantly increased by 0.8 mmol/l, K+ concentration was decreased by 3 mmol/l, Ca2+ concentrationwas decreased by 1.07 mmol/l and in children of senior school age (12-17 years) - Na+, and Ca2+ concentrations weredecreased by 2 mmol/l and 0.17 mmol/l, respectively.Сonclusions. The obtained results allow to recommend the INH seances for addition to basic treatment of childrenwith disorders of autonomous nervous system, who were born and are permanently residing at radioactive contam-inated territories of Ukraine.

FEATURES OF NITRIC OXIDE METABOLISM AND RISK OF DEVELOPING ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH e-NOS GENE 4a/4b POLYMORPHISM UNDER LONG-TERM ENTERING 137Cs TO BODY. / OSOBLYVOSTI METABOLIZMU OKSYDU AZOTU TA RYZYK ROZVYTKU ENDOTELIAL'NOÏ DYSFUNKTsIÏ U DITEI Z 4a/4b POLIMORFIZMOM GENA eNOS PRY TRYVALOMU NADKhODZhENNI 137Cs DO ORGANIZMU.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the features of the nitrogen oxide metabolism and risk of developing endothelial dysfunc-tion in children with e-NOS 4a/4b gene polymorphism, who live under prolonged enter 137Cs to the body. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were examined 117 children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories and50 children of control group. The level of stable metabolites was defined in blood serum (NO2- and NO3-). The ther-mographic method was used to register the endothelium dependent reaction of the vascular bed to changes in theblood supply. The ventilation capacity of the lungs was evaluated using this method of pneumotachography.Polymorphism in intron 4 of the gene e-NOS was studied by the method of polymerase chain reaction. The contentof 137Cs in the body of children was determined using a human radiation counter Skrynner M-3. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories with genotype 4a/4b com-paring to children who had genotype 4b/4b, the decrease in the nitric content of in the blood serum, the increase inthe thermographic index of the recovery period of blood circulation to the baseline level after occlusion test werenoted, that is indicative of the decreased NO-synthase active of vascular endothelium in the carriers of the minorallele a in the 4th intron of gene eNOS (genotype 4a/4b), and is a risk factor for development of endothelial dysfunc-tion. It was proved a decrease in the index of lung tissue elasticity and stretchability - FVC / NFVC of the lungs com-paring to children with genotype 4b/4b, there was a reduction of integral index of respiratory tract permeability -FEV1/NFEV1. The inverse correlation dependence between the presence of allele a in the genotype and the values ofFVC/NFVC of the lungs (r = -0.259; p <0.05) and FEV1/NFEV1 (r = -0.2267; p <0.05) was found. Signs of bron-chospasm were found in the carriers of the allele a in 1.5 times more often than in children-carriers of homozy-gotes from allele b.

Experience of correcting endothelial dysfunction in children-residents of radioactively contaminated areas by nitric oxide potential donator citrulline. / DOSVID KOREKTsIÏ ENDOTELIAL'NOÏ DYSFUNKTsIÏ U DITEY̆, MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIY̆, ZA DOPOMOGOIu POTENTsIY̆NOGO DONATORA OKSYDU AZOTU ­ TsYTRULINU.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the effectiveness of citrulline use for correcting endothelial dysfunction in children resi dents of radioactively contaminated areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of children residents of radioactively contaminated areas with the presence of clinical and paraclinical signs of endothelial dysfunction was selected to assess the effectiveness of correcting endothelial dysfunction by the usage of NO potential donator - citrulline according to the data of selective screen ing. There were determined the biochemical parameters of the content of NO stable metabolites, L arginine, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes in the blood serum; the indices of cellular and humoral immunity; the instrumen tal indices of vascular endothelium dependent reaction on occlusion test, the lung ventilation capacity, the bioelec tric activity of the myocardium, the autonomic regulation of the cardiovascular system.Examined children were received a course of citrulline malate. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: An increased content of serum L arginine, nitrite, and amounts of NO metabolites was established in children with endothelial dysfunction who were received a course of citrulline malate. Bronchospasm elimination was noted in the significant part of examined patients after the drug use. Decreased recovery period and increased period of hypercompensation for thermographic circulation index in the test with post occlusion reac tive hyperemia were detected by an evaluation of indicators for vascular endothelium dependent vasodilatation using thermographic method indicating an increased endothelial vasomotor capacity. There was tendency to improve the processes of autonomic regulation of the heart rhythm and repolarization of the heart muscle. The antioxidant effect of used citrulline malate course was determined as: decreased content of serum LPO end products that react with thiobarbituric acid under elevated activity of antioxidant - catalase. An increase in the percentage of T lymphocyte, normalization of their subpopulation composition was noted in dynamics of citrulline malate application.

Correction of endothelial dysfunction in children residents of radioactively contaminated areas by nitric oxide donator. / KOREKTsIIa ENDOTELIAL'NOÏ DYSFUNKTsIÏ U DITEY̆ MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIY̆ ZA DOPOMOGOIu DONATORA OKSYDU AZOTU.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the effectiveness of NO L arginine donator for correcting endothelial dysfunction in chil dren residents of radioactively contaminated areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of children residents of radioactively contaminated areas with the presence of clinical and paraclinical signs of endothelial dysfunction was selected to assess the effectiveness of correcting endothelial dysfunction by NO L arginine donator according to selective screening. Biochemical parameters for the content of stable NO metabolites, serum L arginine; instrumental parameters of endothelium dependent vascular reaction on occlusion test, the ventilation capacity of the lungs were determined. A course of NO BetarhinТ dona tor, which active substance is L arginine, was received by examined children. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A group of children residents of radioactively contaminated areas with the presence of clinical and paraclinical signs of endothelial dysfunction was selected according to selective screening. The pro nounced positive therapeutic effect, good tolerability, absence of side effects were observed in children with endothelial dysfunction, who were received a course of NO L arginine donator. It has been established that L argi nine use contributed to increasing the content of serum arginine, nitrite, nitrate, and amounts of NO metabolites in children with endothelial dysfunction. Bronchospasm elimination was noted after L arginine use in the significant part of examined patients. An increase in the diameter of the brachial artery and its space in the test with post occlusion reactive hyperemia after the use of L arginine course was revealed by an evaluation of indicators for endothelium dependent vasodilatation of the large vessels using ultrasound method visualizing the brachial artery lumen. This indicates an increase in endothelial vasomotor capacity.

Efficiency of endothelial dysfunctioncorrection in children residents of radioactively contaminated areas using the method of intermittent normobaric hypoxi therapy. / EFEKTYVNIST' KOREKTsIÏ ENDOTELIAL'NOÏ DYSFUNKTsIÏ U DITEY̆ MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIY̆ ZA DOPOMOGOIu METODU PERERYVChASTOÏ NORMOBARYChNOÏ GIPOKSYTERAPIÏ.

Objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of intermittent normobaric hypoxi therapy as the means that can posi tively influence on the different links in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction in children residents of radioactively contaminated areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disorders of personal and emotional sphere, symptoms of asthenic vegetative and neurot ic character, the signs of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, abdominal and dyspeptic syndromes are attrib uted to the clinical signs of endothelial dysfunction. There were determined the biochemical parameters of the con tent of stable metabolites of NO, L arginine, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes in the blood serum; the indices of cellular and humoral immunity; the instrumental indices of vascular endothelium dependent reaction to occlu sion test, ventilating ability of the lungs, the bioelectric activity of the myocardium. Intermittent normobaric hypoxi therapy (INHT) was performed using the individual device of mountain air of the «Borei¼ type produced by State Research Medical Engineering Center «NORT¼ NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The clinical examination showed that the administration of additional intermittent nor mobaric hypoxi therapy to the basic treatment of 44 children with endothelial dysfunction who live in the radioac tively contaminated areas, promoted to reduce the frequency of complaints and intensity of clinical manifestations in the mentioned symptom complex. An increase of serum L arginine in the absence of significant changes in the content of NO stable metabolites was revealed in the most examined children residents of radioactively contami nated areas by studying NO system after using the course of intermittent normobaric hypoxi therapy. Positive changes in vascular endothelium dependent reaction to occlusion test, indicating the reduction length of the recovery period for thermographic circulation index after occlusive test, were determined. The decrease in the inten sity of lipid peroxidation processes - a reduction of serum LPO end products content that react with thiobarbituric acid - was observed. The bronchospasm elimination was revealed in a large number of children with the study of the lung ventilation capacity. There were trends to reduce the imbalance of different chain of the heart rhythm man agement. The immunomodulatory effect was detected as: the increase in the functional activity of neutrophils, the normalization of humoral immunity link indices. Intermittent normobaric hypoxi therapy is an effective tool that can positively affect the condition of nitric oxide system and endothelium dependent functions of the organs and systems in children residents of radioactively contaminated areas.

Changes in stable metabolites of nitric oxide in children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories. / Zminy stabil''nyh metabolitiv oksydu azotu u ditejmeshkanciv radioaktyvno zabrudnenyh terytorij.

Objective. An evaluation of the changes in nitric oxide system by the level of its stable metabolites in the blood serum and their comparison with content of 137Сs in the body of children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories. Materials and methods. The children of school age, the residents of radioactively contaminated territories were examined. The levels of nitrogen compounds (NO2- and NO3-) were determined by the standard method using Grissreagent. 137Сs content was determined in the children body by whole-radioactive body counter. Results. Studies of nitric oxide metabolite content in the blood serum revealed the decrease in nitrite level under an absence of the significant changes in nitrate content and sum of NO metabolites in the children-residents of radioactively contaminated territories. An increase in 137Cs content in the body was accompanied by a decrease of nitrite level in the blood serum of a significant part of children.

Peculiarities of gastrointestinal disease concomitant to heart connective tissue dysplasia in children born from persons exposed to ionizing radiation in childhood after the ChNPP accident. / Osoblyvosti patologii' shlunkovo-kyshkovogo traktu u ditej iz syndromom dysplazii' spoluchnoi' tkanyny sercja, jaki narodylysja vid bat''kiv, oprominenyh v dytjachomu vici v rezul''tati avarii' na ChAES.

Study objective. The study examined the peculiarities of upper gastrointestinal tract diseases in children suffering from a syndrome of heart connective tissue dysplasia (HCTDS) born from persons exposed to ionizing radiation in a childhood after the ChNPP accident. Materials and methods. The study included 120 children suffering from HCTDS (group I) and 75 persons having no signs of the syndrome (Group II). Diagnosis of HCTDS was obtained from echocardiography in Band M-modes and Doppler echocardiography. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed using a flexible endoscope "OLYMPUS" model GIF-P3. Abdominal diagnostic ultrasound was used to assay the structure of abdominal parenchymal viscera. Results. Upper gastrointestinal tract diseases (UGITD) manifest earlier in children suffering the HCTDS (beginning from a preschool age). Along with age the systemic pattern of organ and system injury becomes evident i.e. there were 6.8 clinical/nosological entities per one child in Group I and 4.9 in Group II. Clinical presentation of chronic UGITD diseases in children suffering concomitant HCTDS were characterized by more frequent exacerbation after the psychoemotional and physical strain, more frequent intestinal motor dysfunction, nervous system disorders (80 %), and chronic infections (62.2 %). Endoscopic pattern of chronic UGITD with concomitant HCTDS featured a combination of mucosal inflammation (a range of various forms of esophagitis, erythematous and hypertrophic gastroduodenopathy) with abnormal gastrointestinal motor function i.e. gastroesophageal and duodenogastric reflux (73.34 %). Destructive lesions at most of duodenal zone were found in 20 %. Conclusions. UGITD namely chronic gastroduodenitis with typically concomitant involvement of several parts of digestive tract are most prevalent within all digestive system diseases in remote period upon the Chornobyl disaster in children born from persons exposed to ionizing radiation in a childhood. Presentation of UGITD occurs earlier in children suffering HCTDS with evident systemic pattern of organ and system injury along with an age. Refluxes of various nature and localization are the leading factors for UGITD onset in children suffering HCTDS. Thus a range of multidirectional tools of reflux disease prophylaxis is required for inclusion to the disease management.

Functional state of the respiratory and immune system in children-residents of the radioactive contaminated territories.

More then 25 years after the Chernobyl accident, a higher prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity, reduced lung function, and increased levels of free radicals in exhaled breath condensates (EBC) were observed in children residing in radioactive contaminated territories. Comparing children with different residential radiation background, this study investigated fatty acids of EBC using gas liquid chromatography, counts of B-lymphocyte antigen CD19 in T-cell (CD3) and phagocytotic activity of neutrophils in blood samples. Regarding EBC, we demonstrate that lipid peroxidation was activated, antioxidant properties of pulmonary surfactant were decreased, were detected metabolic disorders of essential fatty acids at the stage of bioregulators-eicosanoids formation. Regarding the immune function of blood cells, we found a decrease of the proportions of CD3+ 19- and CD3- 19+ lymphocyte subpopulations and an unbalance of their numbers. Also the phagocytotic activity of neutrophils was reduced in higher exposed children. Children living in the radioactive contaminated territories have more alterations of surfactant properties and immune activities, which may contribute to an increased risk of respiratory problems. This research was supported by grants from the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (UKB1-2929-KV-08).