616.61-053.2:575:576.5

The prevalence of dysmetabolic nephropathies in children is increasing from year to year, representing a significant problem in the overall structure of kidney diseases in pediatric age. Despite numerous studies dedicated to the issue of dysmetabolic nephropathies in children, the role of epigenetic factors in the pathogenesis of dysmetabolic nephropathy with calcium oxalate crystalluria remains insufficiently explored.
Aim — to identify the leading epigenetic factors in the pathogenesis of dysmetabolic nephropathy with calcium oxalate crystalluria in children. Materials and methods. The data from the medical histories and outpatient records of 173 children were studied. Each child was additionally
examined by narrow specialists of different profiles. Three groups were formed from the examined children: Group I — children with a complicated course of dysmetabolic nephropathy and a history of inflammatory processes in the urinary system (52 children), Group II — children with dysmetabolic nephropathy with persistent crystalluria (56 children) and the Control group, which included 65 healthy children.
Results. The most significant prenatal epigenetic factors are the threat of early miscarriage, gestosis of the first and second halves of pregnancy, maternal anemia during pregnancy, parental alcohol and tobacco use, mother's work on computer during pregnancy, presence of maternal
chronic diseases, parental exposure to industrial dust and noise, and heavy physical work of mother leading to fetal hypoxia.
Conclusion. The most significant postnatal epigenetic factors influencing children's susceptibility to a more severe course of dysmetabolic
nephropathy included low birth weight, early artificial feeding, frequent acute respiratory infections, atopic diathesis, and physiological jaundice
in the first year of life, as well as the presence of concomitant diseases such as chronic tonsillitis, dental caries, frequent acute respiratory infections, chronic gastritis, atopy, and chronic cholecystitis later in life. The study was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of these institutions. The informed consent of the children's parents was obtained for the research. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors. 

УДК 616.517-02: 616.72-002]-078.73-079.44

Psoriasis is a life-long chronic autoimmune disease characterized by thick scaly skin lesions and often associated with severe arthritis. At the present stage, psoriasis is considered to be a systemic disease that affects not only skin but also joints of patients and is accompanied by possible development of typical comorbid states (cardiovascular pathology, chronic inflammatory intestinal canal diseases, and metabolic syndrome).
Objective — to improve the diagnosis of arthropathic psoriasis (AP) taking into account some of the most important indicators of the immune-endocrine system and features of the disease course to specify their role in the pathogenesis of the disease and to develop the system of integrated therapy.
Materials and methods. A total of 178 AP patients have been systematically examined that had varying severity of process development, generalization and intensity of skin and osseous-articular apparatus damage, the presence of associated pathology. Additional instrumental studies, determination of biochemical, serological parameters and an assessment of stress-induced immune-endocrine system have been conducted in AP patients. The content of trigger cytokines (IL-1, IL-8, IL-17, IL-22) in blood serum, stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol), cellular and humoral immunity condition (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD22+, IgM and IgG levels) have been studied.
Results and discussion. The clinical course and characteristic features of AP instrumental tests are extremely versatile. Regardless of the disease duration period, we have detected in blood serum of AP patients probable decrease in parameters of cellular immunity (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+-fraction of T-lymphocytes, CD22+-fraction of B-lymphocytes) and compensatory increase in CD16+ of T-cells, decrease in parameters of cytokines (IL-1, IL-8, IL- 17, IL-22), stress hormones (cortisol, immunoglobulins IgM, IgG, and CIC), which indicates tension of their stress-induced mechanisms even despite occasional clinical stabilization of skin and articular process. We have offered and tested regiments to treat AP patients, which involve differential application within the integrated therapy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (etoricoxib 30—60 mg 1 time daily/diclofenac 75 mg daily), diseasemodifying medications (sulfasalazine ЕН from 500 mg to 2 g daily/methotrexate 7.5—10 mg/week), lyophilised dialysate of leukocytes.
Conclusions. The analysis of specific features of the AP clinical course and data of integrated studies allows identifying the probability of manifestation or persistence of the pathological psoriatic articular process. The improvement of AP patients diagnostics taking into account some of the most important indicators of the immune-endocrine system and specifics of the disease course contributed to the improved therapy and mended quality of life of patients.

A capability for effective tissue reparation is a living requirement for all multicellular organisms. Bone exits as a precisely orchestrated balance of bioactivities of bone forming osteoblasts and bone resorbing osteoclasts. The main feature of osteoblasts is their capability to produce massive
extracellular matrix enriched with calcium phosphate minerals. Hydroxyapatite and its composites represent the most common form of bone mineral providing mechanical strength and significant osteoinductive properties. Herein, hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite functionalized composite scaffolds based on electrospun polycaprolactone have been successfully fabricated. Physicochemical properties, biocompatibility and osteoinductivity of generated matrices have been validated. Both the hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite containing polycaprolactone composite scaffolds demonstrated good biocompatibility towards mesenchymal stem cells. Moreover, the presence of both hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite nanoparticles increased scaffolds’ wettability. Furthermore, incorporation of fluorapatite nanoparticles enhanced the ability of the composite scaffolds to interact and support
the mesenchymal stem cells attachment to their surfaces as compared to hydroxyapatite enriched composite scaffolds. The study of osteoinductive properties showed the capacity of fluorapatite and hydroxyapatite containing composite scaffolds to potentiate the stimulation of early stages of
mesenchymal stem cells’ osteoblast differentiation. Therefore, polycaprolactone based composite scaffolds functionalized with fluorapatite nanoparticles generates a promising platform for future bone tissue engineering applications.

In accordance to Rome IV Criteria irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is classified into four subtypes: IBS with predominant constipation (IBS-C), IBS with predominant diarrhea (IBS-D), with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M) or IBS, unsubtyped. Some authors distinguish a post-infectious subtype of IBS, in which an acute episode of infectious gastroenteritis is a trigger of the disorder. In all the other cases, mostly psycho-emotional stress is the trigger factor, with this variant being defined as stress-associated subtype of IBS.  

Aim: to study the peculiarities of the formation and course of IBS in children, depending on the trigger factor. A total of 54 patients aged 6-12 years with a verified diagnosis of IBS according to Rome criteria IV have been examined. The trigger factor of the onset of IBS was established by the interrogation of patients and their parents. The levels of trait anxiety and somatization were assessed by Children's Form of the Manifest Anxiety Scale (CMAS) questionnaire and Somatoform Symptom Screening (SOMS) test respectively. The Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene val158met polymorphism was estimated by the polymerase chain reaction. Enzyme immunoassay Ridascreen Calprotectin (R-Biopharm AG, Germany) was used for the quantitative determination of calprotectin in stool samples.

Results. We have diagnosed post-infectious subtype of IBS in 30 children. In this group we have found significantly higher concentration of fecal calprotectin (60.0 (35.6; 129.0) vs 31.2 (21.1; 58.7 mkg/g of feces)), which is consistent with pathogenesis of this subtype of IBS. On the contrary, we have discovered that psycho-emotional stress was the trigger factor of the onset of IBS in 22 patients (stress-associated subtype of IBS). Children with stress-associated IBS had higher levels of trait anxiety (25.1±5.7 vs. 18.7±6.4) and somatization (11.1 ± 4.0 vs. 8.6 ± 3.1) in comparison to patients with post-infectious subtype of the disorder. Furthermore, the analysis of the COMT gene polymorphism revealed, that almost the half patients (48%) with stress-associated IBS had 472 AA (Met/Met) genotype. Met/Met carriers have genetically determined low enzymatic activity of COMT, which may lead to decreased elimination of catecholamines and is associated with chronic stress. In contrast, only 31% of children with post-infectious subtype of IBS were found to have 472 AA (Met/Met) genotype.

Conclusions. Our study suggests that not only predominant bowel habit, but also trigger factor in the development of IBS determine the heterogeneity of the disorder. This approach may be used for classification of IBS in children, as it dictates treatment strategy.