Мета. Визначення рівня нікотинової залежності у споживачів новітніх тютюнових виробів.
Матеріал і методи. Опитано 817 осіб молодого віку (від 18 до 45 років), які проживають у Львівській області. Із поміж них було виокремлено дві фокус-групи: 96 респондентів, які вказали, що використовують для куріння електронні сигарети з нікотином (ЕСН) та 93 респонденти, які вказали, що використовують тютюнові вироби для електричного нагрівання (ТВЕНи). Для опитування було використано методи структурно-логічного аналізу, системного підходу та аналізу, обчислення середніх та відносних величин, кореляційний аналіз.
Результати й обговорення. Серединний бал нікотинової залежності для курців ТВЕН (4,00(2,00; 6,00) бали) є вищим (р>0,05), аніж серед курців класичних сигарет (3,00 (1,00; 6,00) бали) та курців ЕСН (3,00 (1,00; 5,00) бали). Серед курців класичних сигарет та курців ЕСН серединний бал нікотинової залежності є вищим у чоловіків, натомість у курців ТВЕН він є однаковим як для чоловіків, так і для жінок. Близько  чверті опитаних курців ТВЕНів (23,66+/- 4,41%) мають високий рівень нікотинової залежності. Серед чоловіків-курців найбільша частка осіб з високим рівнем нікотинової залежності спостерігається у групі курців ТВЕНів - понад третину (36,36+/- 7,25%) чоловіків даної групи. Найбільше жінок з високим рівнем нікотинової залежності спостерігається серед курців ЕСН, а саме чверть опитаних респондентів даної групи (25,93+/-5,96%)
Висновки. Отримані результати дослідження будуть використані при опрацюванні моделі попередження поширеності новітніх методів споживання тютюну серед населення молодого віку
Abstract
Aim.
Determining the level of nicotine addiction in consumers of the latest tobacco products.
Materials and Methods. We have surveyed 817 young people (from 18 to 45 years of age) living in Lviv region. Among them, two focus groups were distinguished: 96 respondents who indicated that they use electronic cigarettes with nicotine (ECN) for smoking and 93 respondents who indicated that they use tobacco products for electric heating (TPEHs). The Fagerstr?m test for determining nicotine addiction was used for the survey. The study uses the methods of structural-logical analysis, system approach and analysis, calculation of average and relative values, correlation analysis.
Results and Discussion. The average score of nicotine addiction for TPEH smokers (4.00 (2.00; 6.00) points) is higher (p>0.05) than for classic cigarette smokers (3.00 (1.00; 6.00) points) and ECN smokers (3.00 (1.00; 5.00)
points). Regarding classic cigarette smokers and ECN smokers, the median nicotine addiction score is higher in men, whereas in TPEH smokers it is the same for both men and women. About a quarter of the surveyed TPEH smokers (23.66± 4.41%) have a high level of nicotine addiction. Regarding male smokers, the largest share of individuals with a high level of nicotine addiction is observed in the group of TPEH smokers - more than a third (36.36±7.25%) of men in this group. The greatest number of women with a high level of nicotine dependence is observed among smokers of ECN, namely a quarter of the surveyed respondents of this group (25.93±5.96%).
Conclusions.
The findings of the study will be used in the development of a model for preventing the spread of the latest methods of tobacco consumption among the young population.

The aim: To determine the diagnostic value of serum levels of ST2 in patients with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its correlation with NT-proBNP levels. Materials and methods: NT-proBNP and ST2 concentration in serum of patients was measured on admission to the hospital and on the 10th day of the treatment using NT-proBNP ELISA (Biomedica, Slovakia) and Presage ST2 assay (Critical Diagnostics, USA), respectively. Results: Statistically significant direct correlations (p<0.05). The simultaneous increase of ST2 and NT-proBNP serum levels above their threshold in patients with ACSelST (sensitivity – 92.5 %, specificity – 74.2 %, AUC – 0.893, р<0.05) indicated a significant risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the inpatient period, e.g. acute heart failure, acute LV aneurysm, recurrent AMI, as well as rhythm and conductivity disturbances. Conclusions: The data suggest that both ST2 and NT-proBNP may prove useful in predicting unfavorable prognosis during the inpatient care of AMI, as the simultaneous increase of these biomarkers above their threshold values indicates a significant risk of CV complications.

The influence of obesity (with and without passive smoking) on the formation of pathomorphological changes in the lungs was studied in 4 groups of sexually mature male rats: the control group (CL), the group with isolated alimentary obesity (O), the group exposed to isolated exposure to tobacco smoke (S), the group with combined dietary obesity and exposure to tobacco smoke (OS) after 4 months of the experiment. The morphological changes found in the CL group were insignificant. In group S, the presence of changes characteristic of chronic bronchitis and focal emphysema was established. Pathomorphological changes typical for the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were found in group O: chronic bronchitis, initial manifestations of bronchiectasis formation, pulmonary emphysema, focal pneumosclerosis, and initial manifestations of pulmonary hypertension. In the OS group, the changes were not qualitatively different from those in the O group. It was found that the changes characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease developed in rats with simulated obesity, regardless of whether the smoking model was used. Key words: experimental obesity, smoking, rats, pathomorphological changes in the lungs

 Our results on the action of mitomycin C in the treatment of urethral stricture indicate an additional effect on the regulatory system of the cell, in particular, disruption of the arginase / NO-synthase system of blood lymphocytes, leading to an imbalance of lymphocyte regulatory systems and NO regulatory function. Decreased H 2O2-induced iNOS activity by mitomycin C suggests that these antibiotics may prevent NO overproduction in blood lymphocytes. Nitric oxide, which is produced in excess in pathological conditions of the body, has a pronounced cytotoxic effect due to the formation of peroxynitrite – a product of the interaction of NO and superoxidanion-radical, capable of destroying almost all components of the cell. It is likely that one of the mechanisms of action of mitomycin C is a decrease in hyperproduction of NO. 

 Development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after radical nephrectomy remains an  extremely pressing contemporary issue. Postoperative changes of the ultrasound resistance index (RI) in the contralateral kidney not affected by the tumor after surgical treatment of RCC, as well as correlations between changes in IR and in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) remain far from being comprehensively investigated. The RI changes in the parenchyma of the intact (unaffected by the tumor) kidney before and after surgical treatment for RCC, and establishing correlations between RI changes and creatinine-dependent GFR remain unexplored issues.