UDC 616.12-008.331.1

Abstract. Background. The prevalence of obesity in children has a trend of constant growth. A third of the pediatric population suffers from excess body weight and obesity, which are associated with such pathological conditions as hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome (MS) and early cardiovascular dysfunction. Waist circumference (WC) measurement is a simple noninvasive screening tool to identify children with abdominal obesity, MS, and increased cardiovascular risk. The purpose of the study was to develop age- and gender-specific WC percentiles for Ukrainian children aged 10–17 years and to determine possible WC cut-offs for detecting abdominal obesity. Materials and methods. 1566 children aged 10–17 were examined, 759 boys and 807 girls. According to the WHO protocol, WC was measured using a flexible centimeter tape in a standing position midway between the lower rib and the upper front edge of the ilium. The threshold point for detecting abdominal obesity was WC ≥ 90th percentile of the distribution according to age and sex (IDF Consensus, 2007). Results. Age and gender percentiles of WC and cut-off at the level of the 90th percentile in Ukrainian children and adolescents are presented. The importance of gender assessment of WC lies in the reliable difference of indicators in children aged 10–12 and 15–17 years and growth of parameters with age in both boys and girls. The need for age assessment of WC is due to increasing the 90th percentile indicators in girls aged 10–17 from 76 to 90.5 cm and in boys from 75.9 to 94 cm. The data obtained can serve as a source for screening and identifying children with abdominal obesity, increased metabolic risk and a better understanding of current trends in childhood obesity. It has been suggested that new WC reference values should be added to clinical examinations to help pediatricians and family physicians reduce cardiovascular risk in children. Conclusions. In the diagnosis of MS in children, it is recommended to use the proposed specific percentiles of WC for sex and age, the values of which ≥ 90th percentile of the distribution should be utilized for detection of abdominal obesity and further diagnosis of MS. Measuring and evaluating WC in routine pediatric examinations is important.

УДК: 616.697-008.8-06:616.72-002-092:612.015.11]-07

Background. Male infertility is one of the most serious medical and social problems. Idiopathic infertility accounts for about 30 % of cases of infertile men. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a decreased fertility potential. The aim of the present work was to determine the lipid peroxidation level and the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in seminal plasma and blood plasma of infertile men with idiopathic infertility and concomitant autoimmune joint pathology (rheumatoid arthritis).
Materials and Methods. 45 infertile men aged 22–48 were examined. They were divided into 2 groups: first group – 23 somatically healthy patients with idiopathic infertility; second group – 22 infertile men with rheumatoid arthritis. The control group consisted of 27 males with normal semen profile according to the WHO criteria and confirmed parenthood. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and activity of antioxidant enzymes were measured in the blood and seminal plasma.
Results. When analyzing the seminal fluid, we found that the TBARS content was 4-fold greater in infertile men with autoimmune pathology compared to fertile men (p <0.001), whereas, in patients with idiopathic infertility its level was within the normal range. The activation of lipid peroxidation in infertile men with idiopathic infertility and in combination with rheumatoid arthritis was accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in the activity of enzymes of glutathione antioxidant system. It should be noted that more pronounced disorders of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activity were found in seminal plasma compared to blood plasma.
Conclusions. (1) An increased lipid peroxidation was observed in seminal and blood plasma of infertile men in combination with rheumatoid arthritis compared to normospermic men, whereas no differences were observed between men with idiopathic infertility and fertile men; (2) An impaired antioxidant status was observed in seminal and blood plasma of both men with idiopathic infertility and infertile men in combination with rheumatoid arthritis compared to normospermic men; (3) infertile men in combination with rheumatoid arthritis showed a significantly higher lipid peroxidation levels compared to men with idiopathic infertility, whereas no differences were observed in GPx and GR activity between groups.

An increase in the hypogalactia frequency diagnosis in breastfeeding mothers is one of the world-spread medical and social problems and is especially high in women with risk factors of lactation disorders. Early estimation of risk factors creates opportunities for physicians to diagnose the lactation problem that mothers face and solve it.