COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIAL PERMEABILITY OF A PERSONAL PROTECTIVE RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AT DIFFERENT DURATIONS OF ITS CONTINUOUS OPERATION.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To establish the level of antibacterial protection of the studied personal protective respiratory equipment set and its main components and compare antibacterial resistance of the personal protective respiratory equipment set in the presence and absence of filtering components. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The proposed methodology for assessing biological protection parameters is based on testing the permeability of personal respiratory protection equipment for bacteria by the method of serial dilutions. Also additional culturing of separate components of the protective set on a separate media is carried out. The experiment was also repeated in the absence of filtering elements and when they were replaced by gauze masks. RESULTS: Results: The use of a fully equipped pneumatic helmet counteracted the penetration of the bacterial aerosol, which was manifested in the absence of growth on the media. The results obtained with the full configuration, as well as the indicators of the spread of bacteria when removing the filter elements and replacing them with gauze masks, showed that the device creates sufficient positive air pressure inside. The latter becomes a restraining factor that does not allow microorganisms to penetrate through the lower circuit. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Increasing the duration of continuous operation of the conceptual model up to 24 hours, increasing the bacterial load on the filters do not lead to a deterioration in the properties of antibacterial protection. Bacterial aerosol did not penetrate into the inner space of pneumatic helmet.

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF ASSESSMENT OF MITRAL INSUFFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION WITH REDUCED LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to analyze patients with acute myocardial infarction with reduced ejection fraction in order to determine risk factors for mitral insufficiency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study included 149 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Among the patients, there were 113 males (75.8%) and 36 females (24.2%). The age of the patients ranged from 43 to 86 years. Echocardiography was performed using a Phillips Epiq 7 machine. Patients were examined three times: upon admission to the hospital, after revascularization, and six months after discharge. Patients received transthoracic echocardiography, which was used to determine the presence and degree of mitral regurgitation. RESULTS: Results: According to the results of the study, it was found that the presence of concomitant somatic pathology worsens the course of an acute myocardial infarction, in turn increasing the likelihood of valvular pathology. An increase in left ventricular volume indicators, such as end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, end-diastolic index, and the index of contractile function (ejection fraction) contributes to the development of mitral valve insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The presence of mitral regurgitation in patients with acute myocardial infarction and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction worsens the course of the disease and negatively affects the prognosis.

Selenium: An Antioxidant with a Critical Role in Anti-Aging.

Aging is characterized by an imbalance between damage inflicted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidative defenses of the organism. As a significant nutritional factor, the trace element selenium (Se) may remodel gradual and spontaneous physiological changes caused by oxidative stress, potentially leading to disease prevention and healthy aging. Se is involved in improving antioxidant defense, immune functions, and metabolic homeostasis. An inadequate Se status may reduce human life expectancy by accelerating the aging process or increasing vulnerability to various disorders, including immunity dysfunction, and cancer risk. This review highlights the available studies on the effective role of Se in aging mechanisms and shows the potential clinical implications related to its consumption. The main sources of organic Se and the advantages of its nanoformulations were also discussed.

Use of Micrococcus luteus to assess the quality of protection of respiratory organs using the pneumatic helmet with positive airflow.

In order to effectively protect from dangerous infectious agents, as well as coronavirus, the scientists of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil national medical university (Ukraine) developed a unique prototype of a mobile respiratory protection system with positive airflow - pneumatic helmet. AIM: To evaluate the bacterial permeability of the proposed concept model of the pneumohelmet in full and partial configuration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With a generating device (compressor inhaler) an aerosol is created from bacterial suspension, which is directed to the inlet of the personal protective respiratory equipment. The outlet is directed at a Petri dish with meat-peptone broth. Evaluation of bacterial contamination is performed by calculating the colony-forming units by multiplying the indicator by the degree of dilution. The study is repeated with a partial configuration of the pneumatic helmet - the presence of only external, only internal filter or not using any filter components. RESULTS: The growth of Micrococcus luteus colonies on the placed nutrient medium when using the proposed conceptual model of the pneumatic helmet in full configuration was not obtained. Removal of the inner filter did not lead to a violation of the effectiveness of antibacterial protection, as bacteria were detected only on the outer side of filter No.2. The use of a conceptual model without filters made it possible to detect colonies of Micrococcus luteus on the medium and components of the device with the calculation of colony forming units in 3- and 4-fold dilutions. During 24 hours of operation, the bacterial load on the surface of the external filter increased significantly. However, no signs of malfunction of the pneumatic helmet were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The given results confirm the ability of the pneumatic helmet to counteract the penetration of bacteria from the environment during 6, 12, 24 hours of continuous operation. The protection was preserved even with partial configuration, which indicates the presence of a margin of reliability of this system.

Observation of serious adverse cardiovascular events over 3 years in patients with advanced atherosclerosis: is there a gender difference?

Dyslipidemia has been widely acknowledged as one of the major predisposing factors for the development and progression of atherosclerosis. While advanced atherosclerosis confirmed to influence the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), it has not yet been established, whether this impact is gender-dependent. AIM: The aim of study was to investigate possible gender-related effect of dyslipidemia and generalized atherosclerosis on the long-term outcomes in patients with ACS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 247 patients (88 women and 159 men) with ACS were included. Sample was divided into two groups, according to gender. Patients' lipid and comorbidity profiles were assessed. Cumulative major adverse coronary events (MACE) were estimated throughout 3-year follow-up period. RESULTS: Women were older and had more comorbidities. Cumulative 3-year MACE rates were higher in women than in men (33% vs. 23%, p=0.06). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis abnormal lipid profiles were more significantly associated with higher MACE in females (HR=1.5, 95% CI [1-2,28], p<0.00001), compared with males (HR=1.0, 95% CI [0.5-2.08], p=0.4), as well as prior MI: (HR=3.8, 95% CI [1.4- 10.5], p<0.00001) vs. (HR=1.9, 95% [0.8-4.2], p=0.009) and concomitant peripheral artery disease (PAD): (HR=5.2, 95% CI [1.5-18.2], p<0.00001) vs. (HR=2.2, 95% CI [0.73-6.6], p=0.02) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our study dyslipidemia, concomitant PAD and history of MI were independent predictors of higher MACE more significantly in females with ACS than in males. Thus, it can be assumed that female patients require an increased medical attention with strict serum lipid control.

Gender Differences in Treatment Delays, Management and Mortality among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of existing gender differences in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), with respect to treatment delays, invasive management of ACS, and short and long-term mortality in patients with ACS. METHODS: We defined 37 observational studies (OSs) and 21 randomized trials (RCTs) that best corresponded to our interests. OSs and RCTs were analyzed separately. RESULTS: Women with ACS more often experienced delays in treatment compared to men (OR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.12-1.82) in RCTs. Female patients were less often treated invasively: RCTs (OR 0.87; 95% CI, 0.83-0.9), OSs: (OR 0.66; 95% CI, 0.63-0.68). Women had higher crude in-hospital mortality (OR 1.56; 95% CI, 1.53-1.59) and 30-day mortality (OR 1.71; 95% CI, 1.22-2.4) in OSs and (OR 2.74; 95% CI, 2.48-3.02) in RCTs. After adjustment for multiple covariates, gender difference was attenuated: in-hospital mortality (OR 1.19; 95% CI, 1.17-1.2), 30-day mortality (OR 1.18; 95% CI, 1.12-1.24) in OSs. Unadjusted long-term mortality in women was higher than in men (OR 1.41; 95% CI, 1.31-1.52) in RCTs and (OR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3-1.5) in OSs. CONCLUSION: Women with ACS experience a delay in time to treatment more often than men. They are also less likely to be treated invasively. Females have shown worse crude short-and long-term all-cause mortality compared to males. However, after adjustment for multiple covariates, a less significant gender difference has been observed. Considering the difference between crude and adjusted mortality, we deem it reasonable to conduct further investigations on gender-related influence of particular risk factors on the outcomes of ACS.

Clinical efficacy of therapeutic keratoplasty using corneal xenografts in patients with corneal ulcers.

Objective. to assess the clinical efficacy of keratoplasty using a corneal xenograft in patients with corneal ulcers of various etiologies. Methods. A total of 46 patients (49 eyes) with complicated corneal ulcers (perforated or with impending perforation) have been operated. Freeze-dried corneal xenografts have been used for keratoplasty. Results. Our results showed that postoperative period after xenogeneic keratoplasty in patients with corneal ulcers was uneventful and the transplant underwent gradual resorption. In all patients with non-infected corneal erosions, ulcers healed completely and corneal fistulas were fully closed. The implanted corneal xenograft undergoes complete resorption between 2 to 3 months. Conclusions. Given the shortages of donor material, the demonstrated efficacy of using corneal xenografts in patients with complicated corneal ulcers requiring therapeutic keratoplasty allows recommending corneal xenografts for wide use to relieve inflammation and to preserve the eye.

Line Immunoblot Assay for Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever and Findings in Patient Sera from Australia, Ukraine and the USA.

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia termed relapsing fever Borreliae (RFB). TBRF shares symptoms with Lyme disease (LD) caused by related Lyme disease Borreliae (LDB). TBRF and LD are transmitted by ticks and occur in overlapping localities worldwide. Serological detection of antibodies used for laboratory confirmation of LD is not established for TBRF. A line immunoblot assay using recombinant proteins from different RFB species, termed TBRF IB, was developed and its diagnostic utility investigated. The TBRF IBs were able to differentiate between antibodies to RFB and LDB and had estimated sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 70.5%, 99.5%, 97.3%, and 93.4%, respectively, based on results with reference sera from patients known to be positive and negative for TBRF. The use of TBRF IBs and analogous immunoblots for LD to test sera of patients from Australia, Ukraine, and the USA with LD symptoms revealed infection with TBRF alone, LD alone, and both TBRF and LD. Diagnosis by clinical criteria alone can, therefore, underestimate the incidence of TBRF. TBRF IBs will be useful for laboratory confirmation of TBRF and understanding its epidemiology worldwide.