EFFECT OF IRON ON BONE TISSUE METABOLISM AND THYROID FUNCTION IN CHILDREN LIVING ON RADIOLOGICALLY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES SINCE THE ChNPP ACCIDENT. / ВПЛИВ ЗАЛІЗА НА ПРОЦЕСИ МЕТАБОЛІЗМУ В КІСТКОВІЙ ТКАНИНІ ТА ФУНКЦІЮ ЩИТОПОДІБНОЇ ЗАЛОЗИ УДІТЕЙ, ЯКІ ЖИВУТЬ НА РАДІОАКТИВНО ЗАБРУДНЕНИХ ТЕРИТОРІЯХ ПІСЛЯ АВАРІЇ НА ЧАЕС.

OBJECTIVE: identification of clinical and metabolic characteristics of osteogenesis and factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) in children living in radioactively contaminated territories (RCT) after the ChNPP accident for the use of therapeutic and preventive measures aiming to reduce the incidence of disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children aged 4 to 18 years old (n = 539) were involved in the study within 4 age groups, namely under 7 years old, 7-10 years old, 10-14 years old, older than 14 years old. Studied parameters in children with a reduced BMD (85-65 relative units and under 65 relative units) were estimated vs. the normative BMD (100-85 relative units) cases. Diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis in children was established according to the BMD T-index. Family history of the relatives of children was studied. Body weight at birth, fractures of the long bones, complaints of osalgia, jaw anomalies, dental caries, presence of obesity, and hypermobility syndrome (HMS) were assessed. Peripheral blood biochemical tests were performed featuring the serum total protein, alkaline phosphatase (APh), calcium, vitamin D, creatinine, serum iron (SI), ferritin, cortisol, pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and free thyroxine (FT4) assay. BMD was measured and radiation doses in children were reconstructed. RESULTS: BMD depended on the age of children. A direct correlation was established between the cholelithiasis and urolithiasis incidence (р < 0.01), cancer and endocrine diseases (р < 0.05) in the relatives of children that had BMD under 65 relative units. Dental caries developed more often (р < 0.05), while obesity was less frequent (р < 0.05) in the subjects with BMD < 65 relative units. A direct correlation was established between the level of serum creatinine and BMD (р < 0.01), and there was an inverse correlation between the serum APh level and BMD (р < 0.001).Every third child had a vitamin D deficiency. Fractures of long bones and increased content of SI and TSH were characteristic for the children having got osteopenia (BMD within 85-65 relative units), while besides a predisposition to bone fractures the higher levels of SI, APh, cortisol both with calcium deficiency were found in children with osteoporosis (BMD < 65 relative units) compared to the general group with a similar BMD. An increased incidence of HMS was characteristic too. Radiation doses in children with osteopenia were higher than in those with osteoporosis: (1.17 ± 0.09) mSv and (0.92 ± 0.06) mSv respectively (р < 0.05). No correlation was found between the radiation doses and clinical signs, blood biochemistry or BMD. CONCLUSIONS: Study of the functional mechanisms of bone structures in children, depending on their metabolism, had made it possible to reveal the factors that affect bone formation in children living in RCT after the ChNPP accident, and to form the population groups for the timely application of therapeutic and preventive measures aiming to reduce the incidence of disorders of musculoskeletal system.

THYROID DISEASE IN THE LATE OBSERVATION PERIOD UPON CHEMO AND RADIOTHERAPY IN CHILDREN/SURVIVORS OF ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA. / KhVOROBY ShchYTOPODIBNOÏ ZALOZY PISLIa KhIMIO TA PROMENEVOÏ TERAPIÏ U DITEI, IaKI PERENESLY GOSTRU LIMFOBLASTNU LEIKEMIIu, U VIDDALENOMU PERIODI SPOSTEREZhENNIa.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the thyroid disease in the late observation period in children who had received chemo- andradiotherapy for the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) taking into account gender, age period and disease sub-type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The incidence and nature of thyroid disease (hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and thyroid can-cer) were studied in children-survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) being in remission from 6 to 25 years.The distribution of patients by leukemia subtypes was as follows: «common¼ - 67.4 %, pre-B - 23.9 %, pro-B andT-cell - 4.3 %. Children had been receiving chemo- and radiotherapy according to the protocol. Regarding the ageof patients at the time of ALL diagnosis the prepubertal, pubertal and postpubertal periods were taken into account.The endocrine diseases in family history, body weight at birth, serum content of free thyroxine, pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone, cortisol, iron, ferritin and thyroperoxidase antibodies were evaluated and assayed. RESULTS: Thyroid disease in children was emerging in the first 2-3 years after the ALL treatment with an incidenceof 22.8 % (hypothyroidism - 14.1 %, autoimmune thyroiditis - 7.6 %, papillary cancer - 1.1 %). Seven children inthis group had received radiotherapy (12-18 Gy doses) on the central nervous system (CNS). No correlation wasfound between the radiation exposure event itself, radiation dose to the CNS and thyroid disease in the long-termfollow-up period. Thyroid cancer had developed in a child 11 years upon chemo- and radiotherapy. Hypothyroidismwas more often diagnosed in the patients of prepubertal age (rs = 0.49). There were endocrine diseases in thefamily history in about a half of children, being significantly higher than in the general sample (р < 0.05). The bodyweight at birth of a child who had later developed hypothyroidism was less than in children having got thyroiditis(rs = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Disorders in endocrine regulation and of thyroid in particular can affect the prognosis of blood can-cer course in the long-term follow-up in children, especially in prepubertal age, which requires systematic supervi-sion by hematologist and endocrinologist.

Cortisol level as risk factor for malignant hematologic pathology in children exposed to ionizing radiation after Chornobyl accident. / STAN ERYTROÏDNOÏ, GRANULOTsYTARNOÏ TA TROMBOTsYTARNOÏ LANOK GEMOPOEZU NA ETAPAKh KhIMIOTERAPIÏ U DITEY̆ Z GOSTRYMY LIMFOBLASTNYMY LEY̆KEMIIaMY, IaKI ZAZNALY VPLYVU IONIZUIuChOGO VYPROMINIuVANNIa VNASLIDOK AVARIÏ NA ChAES.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of serum cortisol level in the initial period of acute leukemia in children, who exposed to ion izing radiation and other factors of Chornobyl accident, depending on their age and prognosis of disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 283 children residents of Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Chernihiv regions. There were 90 acute leukemia patients(AL) (ALL - 56, AML - 34), and 193 people of comparison group with anemia, leukemoid reactions and lymphadenopathy. We analyzed the type of comorbid somatic pathology, diseases in the genealogy, hematological parameters, cortisol levels in blood serum and irradiation doses in all children. In patients with AL expected median survival was calculated. RESULTS: In 28.9 % of AL children the initial cortisol content was below 200 nmol/l, in 7.8 % - higher than 500 nmol/l (in the comparison group 10.4 % and 17.1 % respectively). Among AL patients with cortisol levels below 200 nmol/l were significantly less amount of persons with chronic bacterial infections and persistent viral infections (CMV, EBV) and in the genealogy of these children allergic reactions, endocrine pathology diagnosed more often compared with patients, whose hormone levels was higher than 200 nmol/l (p < 0.05). Distribution of children from control group by gradations of cortisol, age groups, defined somatic pathology and diseases in genealogy had no difference. It is shown, that lower initial blood serum cortisol level in ALL children correlates to a greater probability of relapse (Rs = -0,67). In patients with AML a direct correlation between cortisol level and median survival was detected (Rs = 0,79). Children radiation doses were ranging from 0.08 mSv to 14.9 mSv, and there were slightly higher among residents of Zhytomyr region (8.4 ± 1.2 mSv) compared to other regions. However, these doses did not affect blood serum cortisol levels in children and the course of AL. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest the need for correction and individualization of corticosteroid doses for optimization of AL patients treatment. Children, who have lower than normative serum cortisol levels are at increased risk of hema tologic pathology and they need for hematologic monitoring.

Myastenia and small doses of ionizing radiation: experience of successful use of rituximab for treatment of an irradiated with myasthenia gravis. / MIASTENIIa I MALI DOZY IONIZUIuChOÏ RADIATsIÏ: DOSVID USPIShNOGO ZASTOSUVANNIa RYTUKSYMABU DLIa LIKUVANNIa OPROMINENOGO Z MYASTHENIA GRAVIS.

A clinical case of the rituximab («Rituksim¼, «Mabthera¼) use to treat a man affected by the Chornobyl NPP acci dent with malignant resistant form of myasthenia gravis in conjunction with chronic mixed infection by Toxoplasma, Epstein Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus is described. In the dynamics of two year's observa tion the clinical efficacy of monoclonal antibodies was shown as the main symptoms stabilization and reducing doses of glucocorticoid and anticholinergic therapy. The positive effect was marked in the nearest and remote peri ods. Taking to account the efficacy, safety and good tolerability of rituximab, it is advisable to recommend treat ment for people exposed to ionizing radiation and developing myasthenia associated with chronic mixed infection by Toxoplasma, Epstein Barr, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus.

State of erythroid, granulocyte and platelet branches of hematopoiesis on stages of chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who were exposed to ionizing radiation after the Chornobyl NPP accident. / STAN ERYTROÏDNOÏ, GRANULOTsYTARNOÏ I TROMBOTsYTARNOÏ LANOK GEMOPOEZU NA ETAPAKh KhIMIOTERAPIÏ U DITEY̆ Z GOSTRYMY LIMFOBLASTNYMY LEY̆KEMIIaMY, IaKI ZAZNALY VPLYVU IONIZUIuChOGO VYPROMINIuVANNIa VNASLIDOK AVARIÏ NA ChAES.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of proliferation and differentiation processes of progenitor cells in bone marrow by the com position of elements of erythroid, granulocyte and platelet branches of hematopoiesis on the treatment stages in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who were exposed to radiation from the Chornobyl NPP accident. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 46 children with ALL were studied, who lived in Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Chernihiv regions. Studies were conducted before the start of chemotherapy (ChT), on the 33 day of ChT (phase I), and after the com pletion of ChT (phase II). Exposure doses of patients, hemogram and myelogram parameters both with indices of mat uration of progenitor cells were evaluated. Signs of dysplasia of hematopoietic branch elements were revewed. RESULTS: The 46 patients were studied. They have had the B ALL, namely pro B ALL (n=5), «common type¼ (n=36), pre B ALL (n=3), and T ALL in 2 other cases. In a debut of ALL the bone marrow was represented by lymphoblasts. Along with ChT conduction the bone marrow hematopoiesis recovered by such types, as erythroid, granulocyte, gran ulocyte whith monocytes, and uniform, when the cells number of all branches was within a normal quantity. At the phase ІІ of ChT the number of patients with hematopoiesis recovery by erythroid type decreased and number of chil dren with activation of granulocyte branch of hematopoiesis increased. In children with pro B ALL the number of erythroid elements was higher than normative at both ChT phases. A direct correlation was established between the number of myelokaryocytes (Mkc) and megakaryocytes (Mgkc) in both phase І and phase ІІ of treatment (Rs = +0.72; Rs = +0.56, respectively). There was no correlation between the radiation dose in patients (3.73 ± 0.12 mSv) and studied parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Types of bone marrow recovery were established in ALL patients after the ChT indicating to the differ ent kinetic pathways of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Evaluation of reasons of prevalence of some hematopoietic branches will allow to reveal their role in leukemogenesis and to correct the treatment programs.