Glutathione antioxidant system status of men with erectile dysfunction due to combat trauma

UDC: 612.015.11:616.69-008.1:616-001

Abstract

Introduction. Most military personnel survive serious injuries, but many are left to live with long-term sexual and reproductive disorders. The injuries often result in psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, which negatively affect behavioral health and sexual function. There is emerging evidence linking erectile dysfunction (ED) to oxidative stress. Overall, combat trauma is characterized by a broad response of the body to harmful effects involving all body systems, leading to significant changes in the pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted on peripheral blood lymphocytes and serum of men with ED due to combat trauma (shrapnel and bullet wounds) and healthy men (control group). Both the study and control groups were divided into two age groups (young and middle age groups). Antioxidant activity was studied by measuring glutathione peroxidase (GP), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GsT).

Results. A comparison of the groups using the Kruskal–Wallis method revealed a significant decrease in the GPx and GR activity in blood lymphocytes and serum in men with ED due to combat trauma compared with healthy men of corresponding age groups. It was shown that GPx activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients of the young age group was 1.64-fold lower, and in patients of the middle age group 1.70-fold lower than in the control group (P <0.001). Similar changes were observed in blood serum. GR activity in blood lymphocytes in patients of the young and middle age groups was 1.42-fold lower than in healthy men (P <0.001). In blood serum, GR activity in patients of the young age group was 1.70-fold (P <0.001) and in patients of the middle age group 1.56-fold lower than in healthy men (P <0.001). GsT activity in blood lymphocytes in both age groups increases by 1.2-fold, however these changes were not significant (P >0.05).

Conclusion. Erectile dysfunction caused by combat trauma is accompanied by a significant decrease in the activities of antioxidant defense enzymes – glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. There is no difference between age groups of patients with erectile dysfunction due to combat trauma. However, the activity of glutathione S-transferase practically does not change, although there is a tendency for its increase.

Вступ. Більшість військових виживають після важких поранень, однак багато з них залишаються жити з тривалими сексуальними та статевими розладами. Унаслідок поранень часто виникають психологічні травми і посттравматичний стресовий розлад, що негативно впливають на поведінкове здоров’я та сексуальну функцію. З’являються дані про зв’язок між еректильною дисфункцією (ЕД) і розвитоком оксидативного стресу. Загалом, бойова травма призводить до загальної реакції організму на шкідливий вплив із залученням усіх систем організму, що значно змінює показники прооксидантно-антиоксидантного балансу. Матеріали та методи. Дослідження проводили на лімфоцитах периферичної крові та сироватці крові чоловіків з ЕД унаслідок бойової травми та здорових чоловіків (контрольна група). Основна та контрольна групи були поділені на дві вікові групи (молодша та середня вікові групи). Антиоксидантну активність досліджували за визначенням активності глутатіонпероксидази (GPx), глутатіонредуктази (GR) та глутатіон S-трансферази (GsT). Результати. Порівняння груп за допомогою непараметричного критерію Крускала–Волліса виявило достовірне зниження активності GPx і GR у лімфоцитах крові та сироватці крові між чоловіками з ЕД внаслідок бойової травми та здоровими чоловіками відповідної вікової групи. Виявлено, що активність GPx у лімфоцитах периферичної крові пацієнтів молодшої вікової групи була в 1,64 раза нижчою, а у пацієнтів середньої вікової групи в 1,70 раза нижчою, ніж у контрольній групі чоловіків (Р <0,001). Схожі зміни спостерігали і в сироватці крові. Активність GR у лімфоцитах крові у пацієнтів молодшої та середньої вікових груп була в 1,42 раза нижчою, ніж у здорових чоловіків (Р <0,001). У сироватці крові активність GR у пацієнтів молодшої вікової групи була в 1,70 раза (Р <0,001), а у пацієнтів середньої вікової групи в 1,56 раза нижчою, ніж у здорових чоловіків (Р <0,001). Активність GsT у лімфоцитах крові в обох вікових групах підвищується в 1,2 раза, однак ці зміни не є достовірними (Р >0,05). Висновки. Еректильна дисфункція, спричинена бойовою травмою, супроводжується значним зниженням активності ферментів антиоксидантного захисту – глутатіонпероксидази та глутатіонредуктази. Різниці між віковими групами пацієнтів з еректильною дисфункцією внаслідок бойової травми не виявлено. Активність глутатіон S-трансферази практично не змінюється, хоча є тенденція до її підвищення.

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METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF CARDIAC SPATIAL TRANSFORMATIONS DURING ONTO-GENETIC DEVELOPMENT

UDC: 611.12:611.013:611.061.1

ABSTRACT. Embryonic heart morphogenesis is a complex and dynamic process, and its mechanisms remain incompletely understood. A wide range of methods are used to study spatial transformations of the heart and its chambers, including histological methods, scanning electron microscopy, optical scanning microscopy, microcomputed tomography, and com-binations thereof. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Numerous computer models of the heart have been created, based on the analysis of well-known embryonic collections. These models have provided a thorough morpho-metric study of embryonic organ transformations from Carnegie stages 11 to 23 (until the end of the 8th week of gestation). However, only a few similar studies exist in the early fetal period—from the 9th to the 15th week. It should be noted that this period of intrauterine development is extremely important for the final formation of the morphological profile of many cardiac defects. Furthermore, the early fetal heart is characterized by the greatest lack of information regarding the quanti-tative parameters of the numerous developing structures in various cardiac chambers. Thus, many details of cardiac mor-phogenesis are only now being elucidated, in part due to the complex geometric transformations of the chamber cavities and wall structures. These details contribute to a better understanding of the architecture of the embryonic heart and allow for the quantitative assessment of a wide range of chamber geometric parameters and heart wall structures. They also offer a new tool for studying normal cardiogenesis and the development of congenital heart defects. This makes it crucial to use modern tools for 3D modeling of the developing heart based on visual information obtained using classical light and electron microscopy.

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Psychosomatic aspects of development and methods of prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases of the periodontium in students of the Faculty of Dental of the Danylo Galitsky Lviv National Medical University

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Efficacy of regular prophylaxis with a plasmaderived von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate with a 1:1 activity ratio in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding in girls/women with von Willebrand disease

Heavy menstrual bleeding is the dominant symptom in girls/women with von Willebrand disease (VWD), affecting »80 to  90%. Female patients with VWD are typically diagnosed later than males, despite the disproportionate impact of heavy menstrual bleeding.
 Although heavy menstrual bleeding has a substantial impact on patients, it is commonly undertreated in part because of the potential multifacto rial causes in young girls/women, imprecise definition, and exclusion of this bleeding type as an indication for prophylaxis in previous studies. The WIL-31 study showed that prophylaxis with wilate (a plasma-derived von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrate with a 1:1 activity ratio) is highly
 efficacious in reducing bleeding rates in adults and children with VWD of all types. The impact of wilate prophylaxis on heavy menstrual bleeding was evaluated as an exploratory endpoint since it was not included as part of the primary endpoint.

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Students’ Attitudes Toward Wheelchair Users in Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia: A Cross‑Sectional Study During Wartime and Social Change

Abstract

Background

Wheelchair users face significant daily challenges, many of which are the result of physical, social, and attitudinal barriers in society rather than their impairment alone. Public attitudes toward this group are shaped by personal experience, awareness, and the availability of accessible infrastructure. In Ukraine, the number of people with disabilities has increased due to the ongoing war, highlighting the relevance of student perspectives in this context.

Objective

To compare the attitudes of students from Ukraine and the Visegrad Group (V4) countries—Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia—toward wheelchair users.

Materials and Methods

In 2024, a total of 997 students from Poland, 1222 from the Czech Republic, 918 from Slovakia, and 986 from Ukraine participated in a survey using the standardized Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities (MAS). Sampling was non-random and based on convenience, which limits the representativeness of the findings.

Results

Cognitive and behavioral components of attitudes were generally stable and comparable across all four groups. However, significant differences were observed in the emotional subscale, with Ukrainian students demonstrating more positive attitudes. The median total MAS score was lower (indicating more favorable attitudes) for Ukrainian students (60) compared to Poland, Slovakia (68), and the Czech Republic (71).

Conclusions

Ukrainian students reported more positive emotional attitudes toward wheelchair users compared to peers from Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. These results highlight the influence of social context on attitudes toward people with disabilities.

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