The effects of natural clinoptilolite originated from the Transcarpathian region in the Western Ukraine and its composites doped with metal ions were studied toward: (1) cultured pseudo-normal mammalian cell and murine macrophages; (2) neutrophils of blood of healthy human donors; (3) mice immunized with model antigen; (4) mice under air-pouch model for estimation of microvasculature damage; (5) Candida albicans fungi. Silver doping enhanced cytotoxic action of natural clinoptilolite, while zinc doping did not do that. Clinoptilolite-Ag(NH₃)²⁺ was non-toxic for murine macrophages and moderately toxic for human HEК293 cells. Toxicity of clinoptilolite-Ag⁺ composite toward HEК293 cells was comparable with the effect in positive control. Natural clinoptilolite and its silver derivatives enhanced the humoral immune response in mice and the levels of antibodies were comparable with such levels at response to standard adjuvant, which, however, damaged the microvasculature in mice. Furthermore, natural and Ag-enriched clinoptilolite were capable of activating neutrophils with a release of neutrophil extracellular traps. Finally, we showed that both clinoptilolite-Ag(NH₃)²⁺ and clinoptilolite-Ag+ possessed much higher antifungal activity toward Candida albicans compared to such activity of the nonmodified clinoptilolite, while their doping with zinc did not show such enhancement. Thus, the Transcarpathian clinoptilolite possesses low toxicity toward mammalian cells and activates neutrophils in vitro, while silver doping enhanced the cytotoxicity of this material. Silver-doped derivatives demonstrated stimulating action on antibody production and the antifungal effect. Thus, the developed clinoptilolite-based composites are perspective for use as novel natural immuno-stimulators and antifungal agents.

 Keywords Clinoptilolite · Cytotoxicity · Immune-stimulation · Antifungal activity

Introduction and objective. Many studies have indicated numerous nutrition mistakes among school-aged children and adolescents in both urban and rural environments. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional habits of the Polish population, consisting of 7,974 individuals aged 12–17, from rural and urban environments, as well as to identify environmental variations of these habits and to verify the existing information on the incorrect nutrition of school-age children and adolescents.
Materials and method. The research covered a group of 7,974 respondents – school-age adolescents with a similar age structure (12–17 years). The study on subjects from secondary school grades 1 – 3 was conducted in randomly selected schools from 2 random Polish provinces; 5 counties were randomly selected, followed by a choice of 2 communes: one rural and one urban. The research technique was a self-designed survey questionnaire. The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis using the Pearson Chi 2 and V Cramer test.
Results. The research revealed environment-based differences in subjects’ nutrition. Breakfast was consumed daily by a statistically significantly fewer subjects from the rural environment (36.31%) than from the urban areas (51.32%); second breakfast was consumed by an insignificantly smaller proportion of respondents from the urban environment (40.00%) than from the rural one (46.00%); dinner was eaten daily by 86.00% of urban subjects and 82.00% of rural respondents; afternoon tea and supper were eaten rarely by respondents from both environments. The diet of respondents was dominated by anti-health behaviours.
Conclusions. Most of the respondents displayed incorrect nutritional behaviours. Nutritional mistakes occurred among respondents from both rural and urban environments, with the predominance of the rural areas. 

This paper presents a comparative assessment of mortality in Poland and Ukraine, including due to alcohol consumption, by sex, place of residence, and age groups. Mortality from alcohol consumption is and remains one of the health problems of the state’s population. The aim of this study was to establish the difference in mortality, including due to alcohol consumption, in the two neighboring countries. The analysis was conducted in 2008 and 2018 according to statistical institutions in Poland and Ukraine. Data from the codes of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases of the 10th edition: F10, G31.2, G62.1, I42.6, K70, K86.0, and X45 were used to calculate mortality due to alcohol consumption. The share of mortality caused by alcohol consumption in Ukraine in 2008 was 3.52%, and 1.83% in 2018. At the same time, in Poland, there is an increase in this cause of death from 1.72% to 2.36%. Mortality caused by alcohol consumption is the main share of mortality in the section “Mental and behavioral disorders” in both Ukraine, at 73–74%, and Poland, at 82–92%. Changes in the mortality rate in the cities and villages of Ukraine and Poland showed different trends: Poland nated, a significant increase in mortality, while in Ukraine it has halved on average. Overall and alcohol mortality rates in both countries were higher among the male population. The analysis of mortality among people of working age showed that the highest proportion of deaths from alcohol consumption in both countries was among people aged 25–44. Despite the geographical proximity, and similarity of natural and climatic characteristics and population, mortality rates in each country reflect the difference in the medical and demographic situation, and the effectiveness of state social approaches to public health.

ABSTRACT
The aim: To evaluate the dynamics of the interferon and collagen-IV systems in bronchoalveolar lavage in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using the tiotropium bromide medication.
Materials and methods: The study involved 60COPD patients with bronchial obstruction of the II degree before and on days 30 and 60 of therapy using conventional treatment regimens and inhalations of tiotropium bromide a the dose of 18 mcg once a day.The collagen-IV levels in bronchoalveolar fluid were determined by means of enzyme-linked immunoassay using “StatFax 303 Plus” analyzer and “Biotrin Collagen IV EIA” reagents. The level of IFN-γ was identified with the help of enzyme-linked immunoassay using “StatFax 303 Plus” analyzer and “ProKon” reagents (LLC “Protein Contour”, Russia) in bronchoalveolar fluid obtained during fiber-optic bronchoscopy.
Results: When examining GroupI patients on the 30th day we found out that the content of collagen-IV in the bronchoalveolar fluid had decreased by only 10.29% (p <0.05).
Detection of collagen-IV indices in Group II patients on the 30th day of tiotropium bromide use showed the 29.43% (p <0.05) decrease in its content as compared to the initial indices. In Group III patients, the concentration of collagen-IV had a maximum tendency to normalize and made up (24.72 ± 1.15) ng/ml, and decreasedby 2.44 times (p <0.05) as compared to the initial indices. Our examination of 12 patients from the comparison group I on the 60th day of treatment revealed even a slight increase in the content of collagen-IV in the bronchoalveolar fluid, as compared with the data obtained on the 30th day. Theidentified IFN-γ deficiency is indicative for the COPD of the II degree of bronchial obstruction, and its indices were 2.29 times lower than those observed in people from the control group. On day 30, we found out that the content of IFN-γ in Group I patients increased by only 10.29% (p>0.05). Detection of IFN-γ in Group II patients showed 42.27% (p<0,05) increase in its content as compared to the initial indices. The most favorable dynamics of IFN-γ levels in bronchoalveolar contents wasobservedin Group III patients, and at the time of observation itmadeup (1.16 ± 0.08) pg/ml, having 2 times (p<0.05) increasedas comparedtotheinitial indices. However, in contrast to those taking tiotropium bromide, we examined 12 patients from Group I on the 60th day of treatment and found no significant positive dynamics of IFN-γ content in bronchoalveolar fluid as compared to the indices obtained on day 30.
Conclusions: The obtained findings indicate the effect of tiotropium bromide on the reduction of interferon-γ and reduce of collagen-IV levels, which depend on the duration of its use.

УДК 616-0.56.714-071.1+618.32/.33-007+618.39-021.3]:576.312.37

Резюме. Мета дослідження. Дослідити статево-вікові, генеалогічні, цитогенетичні характеристики, хронічні захворювання в подружжя з репродукційними втратами, у яких виявлені різні за спектром хромосомні аномалії в абортусів. Об’єкт і методи. Проведено клінічний огляд, аналіз медичної документації 45 подружніх пар із репродукційними втратами, цитогенетичне дослідження 90 зразків крові та аналіз спектру хромосомних аномалій в ембріонів/плодів.

Результати. У 11,11% пар були повторні втрати, причому частіше на терміні більше 12 тижнів. У 15,56% осіб діагностували TORCH-інфекції. Патологію статевої сфери діагностували у 13,33% жінок. Робертсонівські транслокації виявили у 4,44% пар. У чоловіків і жінок більш старшого віку репродукційні втрати частіше спричинені розвитком ембріонів/плодів із додатковою копією хромосоми 18, 21, а вік подружніх пар, у яких виявлено ембріони/плоди з моносомією Х хромосоми, був найменшим. Підтверджено, що РВ істотно частіше траплялись на терміні більше 12 тижнів при виявленні в ембріонів/плодів трисомії хромосом 21 і 18. Висновки. Встановлено, що спектр деяких ХА в ембріонів/плодів може залежати від віку подружжя і терміну перерваної вагітності. TORCH-інфекції виявлено у кожної сьомої жінки з репродукційними втратами, а в кожної шостої – патологія статевої сфери.

Ключові слова: аномалії хромосом, вік подружжя, ембріони, подружні пари, плоди, репродукційні втрати.

Abstract. The purpose of the study. To investigate the relationship of gender, age, karyotype, chronic diseases of spouses with reproductive losses, caused by different chromosomal abnormalities in abortions/fetuses. Object and methods. Clinical examination and analysis of medical records of 45 couples with reproductive losses were carried out. Karyotyping of 90 blood samples of the patients with reproductive losses and analysis of spectrum of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos/fetuses were performed.

Results. The mean age of the females was 31.22±0.92 years (21-45 years) and the mean age of the males was 33.22±0.91 years (23-48 years). The age of 33.3% (15/45) of women with reproductive losses who have had chromosomal abnormalities in embryos/fetuses were 35 years or older. Eleven percent of the patients had recurrent losses that occured more often over 12 weeks. The mean age of males and females with reproductive losses caused by additional copies of chromosomes 21 and 18 in embryos/fetuses was significantly higher compared to the mean age of males and females who have had in embryos/fetuses monosomy of chromosome X (p=0.014 and p=0.002, respectively for females) and (p=0.01 and p=0.001, respectively for males) was registrated. Reproductive losses were significantly often occured at the term of gestation more than 12 weeks when aneuploidy of chromosomes 21 and 18 were found in embryos/fetuses compared to monosomy of chromosome X was diagnosed at less than 12 weeks (р=0,005 і р=0,028, respectively).

Fetuses with additional copies of chromosomes 21 and 18 were most frequently recorded at pregnancy of more than 12 weeks. Female gender prevailed among the abortions with chromosomal aneuploidy in proportion (2.2:1).In the karyotype of embryos/fetuses most often occured the additional copies of 21, 18 and 16 autosomes. Genital pathology was diagnosed in 13.33% of females with reproductive losses in the anamnesis. TORCH infections were confirmed in 15.56% of the patients. In 4.44% of the couples Robertsonian translocations were detected and in 2.22% of the couples pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 were found.

Conclusions. It has been established that the spectrum of some chromosomal abnormalities in embryos/fetuses may depend with the age of the mother. Reproductive losses caused by the development of embryos/fetuses with additional copies of chromosomes 18 and 21 most often occured in older females and males. The age of females and males who have had embryos/fetuses with monosomy of chromosome X was the lowest (27,63±1,10 years in males and 26,63±1,40 years in females). TORCH infections are found in every seventh woman with reproductive losses, and in almost every sixth have confirmed pathology of the sexual sphere. Karyotyping of couples with reproductive losses makes identify individuals with an increased risk of aneuploidy development in offspring and help to give forthem an adequate genetic care.