Abstract

Pathogenetic mechanisms of diabetic retinopathy are associated with the toxic effects of hyperglycemia and subsequent activation of stress-sensitive systems. The purpose was to determine the features of immune dysfunction in patients with diabetic retinopathy against the background of metabolic syndrome. Clinical and laboratory examinations of 130 patients with diabetic retinopathy have been carried out (70 insulin-dependent patients – group 1 and 60 insulin-independent patients – group 2). In determining the surveyed individuals’ contents of the lymphocyte populations and subpopulations, the monoclonal antibodies were used to CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +, CD19 +, CD23 +, CD25 +, CD56 + in the reaction of indirect immunofluorescence with fluorescein-isothiocyanate labeled antibodies and indices were calculated – the ratio of the lymphocyte populations and subpopulations. The population and subpopulation composition of blood lymphocytes were studied, and the ratio of cellular factors of immunity in patients with diabetic retinopathy was calculated. The immune status of patients with diabetic retinopathy is characterized by more pronounced changes in insulin-dependent patients’ cellular immunity – the activation of nonspecific killer immunity, suppressor potential and humoral immunity than in insulin-independent patients. The results allow the pathogenetic correction of diabetic retinopathy with the immune imbalance.

ABSTRACT
Introduction and aim. Information concerning lactoferrin and interleukin-8 (IL-8) local levels in breast milk are not numerous and requires further research. The aim of this study was to determine the content of lactoferrin and interleukin-8 in the breast milk of patients with lactational mastitis, and to identify new potential markers for assessing the activity of the inflammatory process in the mammary gland. Material and methods. This study analyzed the breast milk of 30 women with lactostasis (group I), 37 women with lactational mastitis (group II) and 30 healthy lactating women (age 26±5 years old). The milk content of lactoferrin and interleukin-8 (IL-8) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. The average value of lactoferrin in breast milk of healthy women was 4.78±0.47 mg/mL, exceeding levels in group I 1.8 times (p<0.05). The level of lactoferrin in group II exceeds the control values 3.1 times (p<0.05). The content of IL-8 in breast milk of women in group I was 7.3 times higher than the control (3.63±0.12 pg/mL, p<0.05). In lactational mastitis, the concentration of IL-8 in breast milk exceeded the group I 13.9 times (p<0.05) and was 1.9 times higher than group I (p<0.05). Conclusion. The analysis has revealed an increase of lactoferrin and IL-8 in breast milk of the test groups, which indicates the activation of non-specific protection.

The presented article shows the importance of using such additional clinical markers of the development of pathological and critical conditions as non-specific adaptive reactions, which are integral indicators of the imbalance of all homeostatic systems of the body. The purpose of the study was to establish the types of non-specific adaptive reactions, to take into account changes in the ratio of cellular parameters of peripheral blood, and to use them to improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The results of examinations in three research groups (79 patients) were analyzed: Group I - 28 patients with STEMI and normal body weight, Group II - 24 patients with STEMI and excess body weight, and Group III - 27 patients with STEMI and obesity of the I-III degrees. The diagnosis (acute coronary syndrome) of ACS was made based on a complex clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination. Blood was taken for the study when patients were admitted to the department. The total number of leukocytes and the leukocyte blood formula were determined by standardized methods; the type of non-specific adaptation reaction - according to the method of L.H. Harkavi; the ratio of the absolute content of neutrophils to the absolute content of lymphocytes (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, NLR), and the ratio of the absolute content of neutrophils to the absolute content of platelets (neutrophil to platelet ratio, NPR) was determined. The course of ACS occurs against the background of several non-specific adaptation reactions, where the stress reaction was dominant (42.8% - group I, 50% - group II, and 51.9% - group III), indicating the disease's severity. The highest level of NLR (p<0.05) was found in group III, relative to the NLR indicator in group I and group II, and the highest level of NPR was found in group III precisely in case of a stress reaction, which indicates an unfavourable prognosis for patients of this group. Determining the type of nonspecific adaptation reaction can serve as an additional indicator of the severity of the patient and allows us to assess the effectiveness of therapy in patients with STEMI. The indicators of NLR and NPR were useful and powerful indicators of adverse consequences during the hospitalization of patients with ACS. The type of adaptive response and the indicators of NLR and NPR are determined based on clinical blood analysis indicators, and they are economical biomarkers for predicting the severity of inflammation.

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.