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.
Respiratory pathology in the recent years remains an urgent problem in clinical pediatrics. The aim of the research was to improve primary prophylactic measures associated with the development and progression of recurrent bronchial obstruction syndrome in young children, who had suffered respiratory disorders in neonatal period. Algorithm of primary prophylactic measures implied adequate balanced nutrition, sanation of living conditions, restriction of contact with infectious agents, sanation of chronic foci of infection, systematic training and general fitness.
The investigation included 160 young children (1 day – 3 years of age). The basic group (n=80) involved children, who had experienced respiratory disorders in neonatal period and received appropriate respiratory therapy (artificial ventilation and / or spontaneous breathing with continuous positive airway pressure and supply of free oxygen), control group – children, who did not have respiratory disorders and respiratory therapy (n=80).
Conducted investigation throughout 12-month monitoring enabled to record the development of recurrent bronchial obstruction syndrome in 43 children (respectively, 30 – 37.50% patients of the basic group versus 13 – 16.25% of control group; p<0.05). However, the results, which would confirm the efficacy of suggested primary rehabilitation measures (р>0.05), could not be obtained.
Conclusions: comparative analysis within groups did not show a reliable difference in the development of recurrent bronchial obstruction syndrome in children (р>0.05), which can be explained by partial following of doctor’s recommendations. There is the need in further study of the issue involving more patients for a longer period of monitoring.
The article provides a brief description of the heroic work of Ukrainian physicians- volunteers, including allergists, during Russia' s brutal war against Ukraine. Examples of the evacuation of Ukrainian residents, including patients with bronchial asthma, respiratory allergies, COVID-19 and other diseases that worsened under the influence of stress, are given. It briefly described the destroyed hospitals throughout the territory of Ukraine. In such a critical situation, Ukrainian doctors continue to provide assistance to patients, improve their scientific level, each in his place does everything to Victory. The light will defeat the darkness!