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Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the causes of chronic fatigue with a decrease in the quality of life, impaired cognitive function and poor labor productivity. Obesity as a condition of chronic low-intensity inflammation is one of the factors that increases the risk of anemia and impairs the quality of life in the general population. We drew attention to the high global prevalence of anemia among pregnant women of reproductive age in the world and the prevalence of high body mass index among women compared to men in most countries. The objective of the work was to determine the impact of obesity on clinical features and quality of life of women with ІDA. We analyzed the main markers of ІDA and hematologic indices in women with obesity (n = 30) compared with the control group (n = 10), where there were women with ІDA but without obesity. It was found that there was no statistical difference between these parameters, but nevertheless, the serum ferritin level in obese women was (4.70 ± 2.68) ng/ml compared to (3.50 ± 2.93) ng/ml and had a significant positive correlation with body mass index. The analysis of the questionnaires revealed that obesity is still a significant factor in women with ІDA and obesity, which determines the decrease in quality of life mainly in the physical aspect in the absence of significant influence on the psychosocial components of health.

Background. Macrophages are of great importance in the development of obesity and psoriasis. Signaling via PPAR-γ in certain macrophage populations is associated with M2-like features and anti-inflammatory profile. In this research, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory action of pioglitazone by the immunohistochemical study of M1 and M2 macrophages in psoriasis-affected skin in obese patients. Methods. We used immunohistochemistry to characterize CD68+ and CD163+ macrophages and pathomorphological description of skin biopsy, obtained from 6 obese psoriatic patients before and after treatment with 15, 30, and 45 mg pioglitazone, once a day during 6 months. Two patients with conventional therapy and without pioglitazone served as control. Results. Generally, CD163+ cell quantities in psoriasis-affected skin significantly dominated over CD68+ before and after all treatment regiments. Among patients who received pioglitazone, some of them clearly responded to treatment from lowest to highest doses by decreasing CD68+ cells. In the group with 30 mg pioglitazone regiment, we detected a significant reduction of CD68+ cells in dermal infiltrates: CI 95% (16–32) before versus CI 95% (2–7) after treatment. Pioglitazone dose escalation led to certain normalization of skin morphology. Conclusion. The immunohistochemical study allows us to show the anti-inflammatory effect of pioglitazone in psoriatic obese patients, which can be mediated by reducing the number of СD68+ macrophages, but not СD163+ macrophages, in the affected dermis.

The aim of the research is to establish an association between Arg753Gln polymorphism of TLR-2 gene, Leu412Phe of TLR-3 gene, Asp299Gly of TLR-4 gene and susceptibility to inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract and the complicated forms of АRI development. Materials and methods . 98 healthy subjects distributed according to the genotype of TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-4 were enrolled in the study of association between Arg753Gln polymorphism of TLR-2, Leu412Phe of TLR-3 and Asp299Gly of TLR-4 genes and inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. The polymorphic site of TLR-2 Arg753Gln, TLR-3 Leu412Phe and TLR-4 Asp299Gly genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction using oligonucleotide primers. The relative risk of the disease and complications development was estimated using the odds ratio with 95 % confidence interval. The statistical significance of differences in qualitative characteristics was evaluated using Fischer's exact test. Results. It has been revealed that individuals with polymorphic TLR-2, TLR-3 and TLR-4 genes have an increased susceptibility to АRI with frequent episodes during the year that are complicated by lower respiratory tract inflammation as well as chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. It has been shown that the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia development in АRIs is higher in subjects with polymorphic genotypes of TLR-2, TLR-3 and TLR-4 as compared to the carriers of normal alleles distribution: 2.9 times with Leu/Phe genotype of TLR-3, 20.0 times with Phe/Phe of TLR-3 and 12.8 times with combinations of polymorphic genotypes of TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-4. Conclusions. The results of the study indicate that the presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms TLR-2 Arg753Gln, TLR-3 Leu412Phe and TLR-4 Asp299Gly is the marker of high susceptibility to respiratory diseases. Individuals with polymorphic status of TLR-2, TLR-3 and TLR-4 genotypes have an increased susceptibility to inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract with АRI frequency of 4 or more episodes during the year.

In patients with CHD and AH associated with MS the TG level is higher and HDL cholesterol is lower in the group with high insulin resistance (HOMA-index 7.52 ± 0.74), as compared to the group with low insulin resistance (НОМА-index 1,92 ± 0.31). More severe manifestations of CHD, namely, exertional angina pectoris and heart failure, have been found in individuals with high IR. Treatment with 30 mg pioglitazone once daily during 3 months leads to reduction of IR level by 2 times, more significant lowering of TG level and increase of HDL cholesterol in patients with high IR. Thus, it has been confirmed that the leading factors of global cardiovascular risk is closely related to IR. It is proposed to consider the issue regarding the prophylactic use of PG in individuals with high IR to reduce IR.

Aim. To investigate the clinical effectiveness of pioglitazone in the combination treatment of patients with asthma concurrent with coronary heart disease (CHD). Subjects and methods. Fifty patients aged 40-75 years with asthma concurrent with CHD were examined. External respiratory function (ERF), electrocardiograms, blood pressure (BP), and anthropometric measurements were assessed in all the patients. Blood and urine laboratory values and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations were estimated; endothelial function was determined measuring endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation (EDVD and EIVD). The patients were randomized into a comparison group receiving only standard therapy and a study group taking pioglitazone as part of combination therapy for 3 months. Results. At the randomization stage prior to pioglitazone combination therapy, the patient groups did not statistically significantly differ in basic clinical and anamnestic data. Three-month standard therapy resulted in stabilization of ERF and endothelial function. During the treatment, there were increases in the frequency of asthma symptoms and the duration of angina attacks, however, there was a decline in hs-CRP levels (p

The effects of fullerene C60 (FC60) on the level of free radical and destruction processes were studied in rats with experimental adjuvant arthritis (AA). It was shown the protective effect of FC60 during AA. The effect was accompanied by an increase of the antioxidant enzymes activity, superoxide dismutase in the liver (15.96 ± 0.38 μmol/kg x s) and in the kidneys (5.36 ± 0.27 μmol/kg x s) and catalase in the kidneys (9.56 ± 0.78 μmol/kg x s) and in the heart (2.26 ± 0.41 μmol/kg x s) in comparison to control group (43.83± 5.69%; 54.55 ± 6.18%; 11.68 ± 0.52 μmol/kg x s; 3.43 ± 0.47 μmol/kg x s; 4.77 ± 0.5 μmol/kg x s; 0.98 ± 0.12 μmol/kg x s accordingly). It was shown a protective effect of FC60 during AA directed on the depression of the destructive processes in connective tissue that was expressed through the reduction of the total collagenolitic activity level in cartilage (10.05 ± 0.06 μmol/g/min) and bone (11.21 ± 0.04 μmol/g/min) tissues, free hydroxyproline contents (1.54 ± 0.04 μg/ml) and alkaline phasphatase activity (1.24 ± 0,14 μmol/l x sec) in comparison to control group (11.91 ± 0.49 μmol/g/min; 13.19 ± 0.15 μmol/g/min; 2.25 ± 0.07 μg/ ml; 2.19 ± 0.24 μmol/l x sec accordingly). Taken together, these results accentuate the perspective of future investigations of action FC60 during rheumatoid arthritis as a feasible therapeutic agent.

The problem of diagnosing scars of the head and neck begins important in modern society. This is due to the high incidence of different types of scar tissue, their ineffective treatment, and possible recurrences. One of the causes of pathological scars is the disruption of the collagen gene polymorphism that encodes it. However, data on the value of the polymorphic variant of the collagen type I gene in the formation of pathological conditions of the skin are rather limited. Today according to literature there are disparate data on the differential diagnosis of pathological scars, all of them are not systematized and need the optimization. Object and methods. To study the polymorphism of the COL1A2 gene (rs42524), 60 patients were examined. All patients have got cicatricial tissue localized in different areas of the head and neck and were treated at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery of Poltava State Clinical Hospital. Additional examination of scar tissue was performed by analyzing digital images in Adobe Photoshop CC using a color system RGB. Results and Discussion. We have studied the differences in the external state of scar tissue, depending on the genotype in a group of patients with pathological scars in different topographoanatomical areas of the head and neck. The scar tissues were evaluated using features such as scar consistency, color, sensitivity, and scar area, without considering the scar tissue type by the author’s standardized system for the external evaluation of cicatricial tissue. Patients with pathological scars in different topographic and anatomical regions of the head and neck, which are carriers of the allele C (genotypes GC and CC), have more pronounced signs of low-grade chronic inflammation of the skin. The obtained data about association of the polymorphism gene COL1A2 (rs42524) with signs of low-grade chronic inflammation of the skin in patients with pathological scars in different areas of the head and neck, probably indicate a possible effect of single-nucleus replacement on the physiological functions of collagen, namely the collagen specific collaboration with different molecules and cells. Using the RGB system, it was established that using the RGB color systems in Adobe Photoshop makes it possible to differentiate the types of pathological scars of the head and neck depending on the intensity of color spectrum. It was noted the relationship between the presence of the polymorphic variant of the COL1A2 gene (rs42524) in the genotype and data of RGB examination among patients with scars in different areas of the head and neck that were separated in previous studies, by the types of scars in 4 groups according to the type of scar. At present, there is no optimized method of differential diagnosis of different types of scars of the head and neck, which is why there is a necessity to develop an informative and economically feasible method of diagnosis. Conclusions. It is possible to determine precisely the type of scar and, depending on the type, to choose the optimal method of surgery or conservative therapy by using the RGB system and determining the type of scar, taking into account the effect gene polymorphism of collagen 1 alpha-2 (COL1A2) (rs42524) on cicatricial tissue formation.

The silent information regulator (SIR) genes code for a highly conserved family of proteins from bacteria to mammals – sirtuins. Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases with diverse physiological functions relating to cell survival, inflammation, energy metabolism, cancer. They are a part of complicated biological response system that influences many other regulator molecules and pathways. Sirtuins respond in an epigenetic manner to a variety of environmental factors, such as: dietary, lifestyle, toxins, etc. The data on the importance of vitamin B3 in supporting the sirtuin enzyme activity and a role of nicotinamide in inhibiting this activity are summarized. This mode of regulation may be exploited to manipulate the sirtuins activity in the context of various pathological conditions.

The triple-negative subgroup of breast cancer (TNBC) (estrogen, progesterone-, and HER2-receptor negatives) often affects young women and usually has a worse prognosis as compared to other types of BC. Recently, a complex role of the immune system in the growth, elimination and metastasis became an object of increased attention, promising to provide clinical prognostic markers of progression, as well as targets for the treatment of a wide range of tumors, including TNBC. In BC in general and in TNBC in particular, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are mainly associated with a worse prognosis, but their composition, apparently, varies between individual cases of TNBC. Thus, the research of TAM in TNBC is relevant, and therefore the aim of this study was to examine the quantitative parameters and features of localization of CD68+ and CD163+M2-like TAMs, which infiltrate TNBC in the primary focus without metastases and in paired samples with metastases in the lymph nodes, as well as the pathomorphological characteristics of this type of BC to determine their contribution to metastasis. Biopsy samples and clinical data were obtained from patients undergoing treatment at Poltava Regional Clinical Dispensary. The study was approved by the Ethics Commission of Ukrainian Medical Stomatological Academy. Materials of the study were intraoperative tumor tissues and ipsilateral lymph nodes in radically removed mammary glands without neoadjuvant treatment. Immunohistochemical (IHC) characteristics of the removed tumors (HER2, ER, PR, Ki67) were used to distinguish the TNBC group. According to the meta-analysis, the use of CD68 as a biomarker for TAM for IHC evaluation has its priorities, as compared with the individual definition of CD163 or CD206. We analyzed two subgroups of TNBC, balanced by the N0/1 status, 3 samples in each, and 3 samples of metastases in the lymph nodes, respectively. The average age of patients was 64 years, from 52 to 76. Primary-metastatic BC was observed in all patients in the 2nd, N1 group. Morphological and IHC findings were obtained according to the criteria for determining the molecular and biological subtype. IHC studies for determining TAM and M2-like macrophages were performed using the streptavidin-peroxidase method. The evaluation of immunohistochemical coloring was performed by counting CD68+TAM and CD163+M2-like TAMs under the light microscope (Biolam, LOMO, Russia: lens ?40, eyepiece ?7) in 7-10 fields of view of the intensive ICH-reaction of each section, calculating the arithmetic mean, within the tumor nests and tumor stroma. The count included immunopositive cells with macrophage morphology. Microphotographs were obtained using the Leica DM500 microscope, Leica, Germany (lens ? 4, 40). The statistical analysis was carried out using the GraphPad Prism 5 software, using nonparametric, parametric and simulation methods. The study is organized as a descriptive pathomorphological comparison between the two groups: N0 and N1, triple-negative BC, comparison of quantitative characteristics of CD68+ and CD163+M2-like fraction of TAM, as well as for verification of possible correlation relations between the quantitative characteristics of macrophages in the primary tumor and in the corresponding metastasis in the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. Increased level of infiltration of the primary focus of TNBC with CD68+TAM and CD163+M2-like macrophages is reliably associated with metastasis. It is assumed that the M1-like subpopulation of TAM most closely contacts with tumor nests in TNBC, which may be a prerequisite for the spread of the tumor, or metastasis. Primary premetastatic effects of TNBC may be related to the increase of not only M2, but also M1 macrophages. In metastatic lymph nodes, the amount of CD68+TAM was significantly lower than that of primary TNBC, whereas the quantitative indices of CD163+M2 correlated. Along with the localization and co-localization of CD68+ and CD163+M2-like TAMs, the results conform with the generally accepted paradigm that M1 TAM has an anti-tumoral but lower potential and M2 the protumoral one, but this is shown for metastases in the regional lymph nodes in primary-metastatic TNBC. Precise quantitative TAM indices for the use in clinical practice have not been developed, although their pathogenetic significance and quantitative variations are reliable according to metastasis and other clinical data of TNBC.

The analysis of new data concerning the development of pathology due to the community of evolutionary new pathological factors was done. Author provides the comparison of well-known and new definition for "metabolic syndrome" and diagnostic criteria of this pathology. The conception for permanent activation of nuclear factor kbeta as possible typic pathological process was discussed. Suppose that NF-kbeta is the possible key molecule in the initiation and formation of "vicious circle"--insulinresistance--inflammation--atherosclerosis.