Background. Suppurative septic postpartum complications occupy a leading position in the structure of causes of maternal mortality. Information about the characteristics of pathogenic microflora in various forms of complications and analysis of its resistance to antibacterial drugs determine the choice of rational therapy for this pathology.

Objectives — to characterize the isolated pathogenic microflora in obstetric patients with suppurative septic postpartum complications.

Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 2 of the Omsk State Medical University and the Department of Gynecology of the Omsk Regional Clinical Hospital. The study included 123 cesarean section patients treated from January 2013 to December 2022 who were divided into three groups: Group A — uncomplicated course of postpartum endometritis, n = 55; Group B — complicated forms of postpartum endometritis, n = 48: B1 — local complications (suture failure following cesarean section; parametritis) n = 29; B2 — pelvic peritonitis, n = 19; Group C — septic complications following critical obstetric conditions, n = 20. The pathogenic microflora of uterine and abdominal cavities was examined; the extent of contamination with a pathogen and sensitivity to antibacterial drugs were determined. The isolated microorganisms were identified using a MicroTax bacteriological analyzer (Austria), Vitek2 Compact (France) and routine methods; a disk diffusion method was employed to determine the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibacterial drugs. Calculations were performed using licensed Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and Statistica 10 programs (StatSoft Inc., USA). Nonparametric nominal data were compared using Pearson’s chi-squared test with p-value determination.

Results. The pathogenic microflora was dominated by S. epidermidis, E. faecalis, E. coli, and E. faecium. In 2018–2022, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the isolation rate of S. epidermidis (p = 0.016), E. faecalis (p < 0.001), and E. faecium (p = 0.05). The highest resistance was exhibited by bacteria to the following antibiotics: S. epidermidis — cephalosporins (30.16%); E. faecalis — fluoroquinolones (33.33%); E. coli — cephalosporins (65.91%) and β-lactamase-resistant penicillins (40.91%); E. faecium — aminopenicillins (64.10%) and fluoroquinolones (50.0%); А. baumannii — fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, carbapenems (100%), and aminoglycosides (84.2%). A contamination assessment revealed a high titer of isolated microorganisms in 60.53% of cases. We found a statistically significantly higher isolation rate of S. еpidermidis (p < 0.001), E. faecium (p = 0.01), and A. baumannii (p = 0.02) in the setting of pelvic peritonitis as compared to uncomplicated endometritis. In the case of suppurative septic complications due to critical obstetric conditions, the isolation rate was higher for S. еpidermidis (p <0.001), E. coli (p = 0.04), E. faecium (p = 0.005), A. baumannii (р<0.001), and K. рneumoniae (p = 0.04).

Conclusion. The antibiotic resistance of pathogenic microorganisms calls for the development of new organ system support technologies and the use of methods capable of sorbing microorganisms and their toxins in the area of inflammation.

Background. An increase in a quantity of children with acute renal insufficiency associated with infectious diseases, including COVID-19 is a growing problem in nephrology. Such insufficiency is often expressed in pyelonephritis. Due to a lack of specific signs or obvious clinical symptoms and their correct interpretation, acute renal insufficiency against the background of COVID-19 is first identified in the period of steady worsening of the kidney functioning. An accurate non-invasive diagnostic test is yet to be fully developed, therefore, determination of the mechanisms of complications is considered to be challenging and can contribute to the formation of irreversible renal injury.

Objective — to determine and evaluate characteristics of the renal status in children with acute pyelonephritis against the background of COVID-19.

Methods. A retrospective observational cohort clinical study of 65 children with acute pyelonephritis was carried out. The study also included a control group of 20 healthy children, who were observed during routine health checkup. The patients were observed at the Nephrology Unit, Samarkand Regional Pediatric Multidisciplinary Medical Center, Uzbekistan. Laboratory examination was carried out on the basis of Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, Samarkand Regional Pediatric Multidisciplinary Medical Center, Uzbekistan, and Laboratory of Innova Clinic, Uzbekistan. The study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2022 and involved participants with the history of COVID-19 before treatment. Thus, two cohorts were formed: group 1 comprised 30 children with acute pyelonephritis and without a history of COVID-19; group 2 consisted of 35 patients with acute pyelonephritis against the background of COVID-19. In order to evaluate the renal status, examination of the glomeruli, proximal and distal tubules was carried out. The study included investigation of “urinary syndrome” indicators — leukocyturia of neutrophil origin, microhematuria, proteinuria, and bacteriuria. The obtained laboratory data were analyzed using variance and given in SI System — the International System of Units. The calculations were carried out using StatPlus 7 (AnalystSoft Inc., USA).

Results. Renal function is decreased in an acute period due to reduced functionality of concentration and distal tubule, which were more significantly affected in group 2. Inflammatory changes in the renal tissue due to the toxic effects of coronavirus infection underlie the abnormalities detected. The history of COVID-19 is reckoned from the date of admission and ranges from 3 weeks to 2 months. Renal insufficiency in children with COVID-19 history is manifested irrespective of their clinical polymorphism, due to impairment of its tubular structures (reabsorption, acidogenesis and ammoniogenesis, osmotic concentration) and glomerular filtration. A statistically significant reduction in acidogenesis (p = 0.001) was recorded in patients with acute COVID-associated pyelonephritis.

Conclusion. Children with COVID-19 respiratory symptoms require monitoring their renal functions for early diagnosis and treatment. Long-term monitoring of patients with isolated urinary syndrome in the acute period is needed to detect the underlying renal disease.

Background. The significant prevalence of chronic generalized periodontitis, the severity of its course, the increase in the number of complicated forms and short-term remissions cause a constant search for new methods and means of its treatment. When choosing the most effective methods of therapy, specialists mostly prefer a complex effect on the main pathogenetic links of the disease, while often losing sight of the body's own defenses, especially in terms of pharmacotherapeutic support and immunity strengthening. This study presents the results of a study of the clinical efficacy of the treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis by means of the developed therapy complex, including the use of immunomodulatory and osteotropic drugs.

Objective — to study clinical efficacy of the developed complex immunomodulatory and osteotropic treatment for chronic generalized periodontitis.

Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted in 154 patients aged 20 to 75 with periodontitis of varying severity. Conventional examination of patients was carried out in specialized dental clinics DentoProma (Krasnodar) and Dentalife (Stavropol) based at the Dentistry Department, Stavropol State Medical University (Russia). The study period was 24 months. The patients were divided into a main group of 118 participants and a control group of 36 participants. The comprehensive treatment plan, prescribed to all patients, included proper oral hygiene education, individual and professional dental hygiene, topical anti-inflammatory agents, Vector therapy, open flap debridement, flap surgery, relevant splinting prosthetics (if necessary). The authors developed a comprehensive therapy, which included administration of the immunomodulatory agent Hepon (Immapharma Company, Russia), glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate sodium. All patients of the main and control groups were additionally ranked into subgroups depending on the severity of diagnosed periodontitis: slight (subgroup 1), moderate (subgroup 2) and severe (subgroup 3). The major focus of the study was to establish efficacy of the developed therapy which was defined by the degree of resolution of the inflammatory process and increase in the period of remission. Reflecting the presence and degree of inflammation, dental plaque index and oral hygiene status were considered to be the target indicators. Analysis and statistical processing of the obtained data were carried out using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, USA).

Results. The analysis of the data revealed that the immediate clinical results of the developed complex therapy both in the main group and in the control group were approximately identical. According to the follow-up data obtained one month after the treatment, additional prescription of complex osteotropic treatment to the patients with chronic generalized periodontitis contributed to rapid resolution of infection in the gingival tissues and provided stable treatment results.

Conclusion. Introduction of the complex clinical and hygienic treatment promoted resolution of the inflammatory process in the gingival tissues of all patients who received immunomodulatory and osteotropic therapy.

Background. Intra-abdominal hypertension complicates the course of secondary diffuse peritonitis in at least 60–70% of cases. Abdominal decompression is an essential component in the complex of therapeutic measures in patients with secondary diffuse peritonitis. However, no clear criteria for choosing the method and timing of abdominal decompression have been developed so far. The effectiveness of its use in various forms of peritonitis remains controversial.

Objectives — to study the dynamics of intra-abdominal pressure in the early postoperative period when using various methods of abdominal decompression in patients with secondary diffuse peritonitis.

Methods. The work was performed on the basis of an observational clinical study under the auspices of Regional Clinical Emergency Hospital over a period from January 2021 to December 2022. The authors studied intra-abdominal pressure in 74 patients with secondary diffuse peritonitis in the early postoperative period. In 39 (52.7%) patients (group 1), decompression was carried out in the form of prolonged nasogastric intubation. 15 (20.3%) patients (group 2) underwent nasointestinal intubation. Group 3 was represented by 10 patients (13.5%) which were affected by open abdomen technology and vacuum assisted closure (VAC). Group 4 included patients with vacuum-assisted laparostoma who underwent nasointestinal intubation. The severity of peritonitis was assessed using WSES cIAIs Score and Mannheim Peritonitis Index. The dynamics of intra-abdominal pressure was determined through the urinary catheter using the Uno Meter Abdo Pressure® Kit (Unomedical, Russia) before surgery and within 5 days of the postoperative period. Statistical analysis was based on non-parametric Wilcoxon test for comparing the values of the same group at different periods of observation. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare absolute values in different groups.

Results. Nasogastric tube did not provide an acceptable reduction in intra-abdominal pressure, especially in patients with severe forms of peritonitis. Prolonged nasointestinal intubation contributed to a steady decrease in intra-abdominal pressure throughout the postoperative period, while simultaneous intubation resulted in an increase in intra-abdominal hypertension after a decline in values one day after surgery. The best results of intra-abdominal pressure dynamics were observed in case of vacuum-assisted laparostomy and its combination with nasointestinal intubation. Throughout the postoperative period, the intra-abdominal pressure did not exceed 15–17 mmHg. This method can be used only in treatment of the most severe forms of peritonitis, with indications for sanitation relaparotomy and in case of threatened abdominal compression syndrome.

Conclusion. The data obtained enable the process of choosing surgical tactics and method of abdominal decompression to be optimized with respect to the severity of peritonitis and intra-abdominal hypertension.

Background. In various situations healthy people may experience breathlessness caused by high altitude, breath-holding, anxiety or panic driven by stressful events, and, very often by physical activity. However, variability in perception of dyspnea in healthy individuals is yet to be explored. The present study analyzes the variability of dyspnea perception in healthy people in the context of additional respiratory resistance.

Objective — to assess the variability in perception of dyspnea in healthy individuals against a step-up increase in additional respiratory resistance, and to evaluate the relationship between dyspnea perception and physical activity levels.

Methods. A cross-sectional observational exploratory study involved healthy individuals aged 19–25. The study was conducted at the Department of Pathophysiology, Ryazan State Medical University named after acad. I.P. Pavlov (Russia), in the period from November 2018 to June 2019. A total number of individuals under study comprised 42. Study participants were subjected to additional respiratory resistance, when dyspnea perception was estimated using a modified Borg scale. Then all participants were divided into three groups according to the tertiles in their perception: slight perception (Borg score < 2; n = 13), moderate perception (Borg score 2–5; n = 19) and high perception (Borg score > 5, n = 13). The study involved determination of body mass index, maximal airway pressure, pulmonary function, physical activity by means of IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and 6MWT (6 Minute Walking Test). Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 17.0 (USA).

Results. The study included 42 healthy individuals. The level of dyspnea perception was determined as slight (low), moderate (medium) and high in 13, 19 and 10 participants, respectively. Perceived level of breathlessness did not significantly correlate with age, gender, body mass index, physical activity, maximum airway pressure or pulmonary function test results.

Conclusion. Perceived dyspnea caused by a step-up increase in additional respiratory resistance varied significantly. The perception of dyspnea was determined as slight in 31% of participants, moderate in 45% and high in 24%. The authors did not reveal a correlation between dyspnea perception and physical activity level (via IPAQ or 6 Minute Walking Test).

Background. Transcranial electrical stimulation is a promising method for correction of malnutrition-induced hyperlipidemia, in the absence of indications for drug hypolipidemic therapy in young and middle-aged patients with low and moderate cardiovascular risk. Objectives — to study the effect of transcranial electrical stimulation on lipid metabolism in a high-fructose/high-fat (HFHF) diet in rats.

Methods. An experimental randomized trial was performed to study the effect of transcranial electrical stimulation on lipid metabolism in a high-calorie diet enriched with fructose and saturated animal fat in rats. The experiments involved 180 outbred male rats and were carried out on the basis of the vivarium of Kuban State Medical University. The animals were divided into three groups: group 1 (control group, n = 60) — followed a standard diet; group 2 (comparison group, n = 60) — followed a HFHF diet; group 3 (experimental group, n = 60) — underwent transcranial electrical stimulation against the background of a HFHF diet. According to the target reference point of the study, the groups were divided into three equal subgroups of 20 rats each: subgroup A — day 30, subgroup B — day 60, and subgroup C — day 90 (biomaterial sampling and euthanasia were carried out on those days). In the obtained blood samples, the following lipid metabolism parameters were evaluated: total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherogenic index. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2021 (Microsoft, USA), GraphPadPrism 9 (GraphPad Software, USA) and Statistica 13.3 (StatSoft, USA).

Results. On the 30th day of the study, it was noted that in group 3, the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 14.9% lower and the atherogenic index was 30.8% lower (p < 0.05) than in group 2, while total cholesterol concentration, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). On the 60th day of the study, in group 3, when compared to group 2, the concentration of total cholesterol was 18.7% lower, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 42.9% lower, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 16.7% higher, and the atherogenic index was 56.3% lower (p < 0.05), while triglycerides had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). On the 90th day of the study, in group 3, when compared to group 2, the concentration of total cholesterol was 29.2% lower, the concentration of triglycerides was 36.0% lower, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 42.8% lower, and the atherogenic index was 57.0% lower (p < 0.05), while the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05).

Conclusion. High-fructose/high-fat diet leads to a progressive increase in the serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, as well as to a moderate decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a growth in the atherogenic index. Transcranial electrical stimulation has a moderate lipid-lowering effect, manifested in the form of a decrease in the serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and atherogenic index, while the effect on the concentration of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is insignificant.

Background. Hemodynamic parameters are interrelated with both the threshold of salt sensitivity and the type of initial autonomic tone. Available data on such relationships are insufficient. Objective — to identify the hemodynamic parameters and features in students with different thresholds of salt sensitivity and types of autonomic tone.

Methods. The study enrolled 174 second-year students of Kirov State Medical University, aged 18–23, who gave consent to the survey. The study was conducted over a period of four months and included two stages. At the first stage, all participants were evaluated for the threshold of salt sensitivity. According to the results, two groups were formed: group A — students with a normal threshold of salt sensitivity (n = 127); group B — students with a high threshold of salt sensitivity (n = 39). In the formed groups, a comparative analysis of hemodynamic parameters was carried out. At the second stage of the study, after assessing the initial autonomic tone, three groups were identified: group 1 (n = 40) — students with equilibrium of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems (normotension); group 2 (n = 104) — students with dominating parasympathetic regulation of the heart rhythm (vagotonia); group 3 (n = 22) — students with dominating sympathetic regulation of the heart rhythm (sympathicotonia). Hemodynamic parameters were also studied in these groups. Statistical data processing was carried out using Statistica Advanced 10 for Windows RU. The differences between the comparison groups were assessed using parametric Student’s t-test and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test.

Results. A high threshold of salt sensitivity was revealed in 23% of students. When comparing hemodynamic parameters in the groups, it was found that students with high thresholds of salt sensitivity had significantly higher values of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and average hemodynamic pressure than students with a low threshold. Differences in hemodynamics in students may be caused by differences in the original autonomic tone. Thus, students with vagotonia, if compared to those with normotension, have significantly lower values of heart rate, cardiac minute output, double product, and circulatory efficiency ratio, but a higher value of the peripheral vascular resistance. Students with sympathicotonia have statistically higher heart rate, cardiac minute output, and double product values.

Conclusion. The assessment of hemodynamic parameters in healthy young people in relation to the threshold of salt sensitivity and the initial autonomic tone enables the risk factors for the development of hypertension to be assessed, prehypertension (high normal blood pressure) to be identified, and preventive programs aimed at reducing the number of diseases of the cardiovascular system to be developed.

Background. Patients with hemophilia are protected from thrombosis by a deficiency of one of coagulation factors, therefore thrombotic complications are rare in them. Currently, few descriptions of spontaneous venous thrombosis in adult hemophiliacs can be found in the literature. Even fewer data of thromboembolic complications are reported in pediatric practice. At present, no clear recommendations are given for the management of thrombotic complications in children with hemophilia, which requires further study of this issue to develop prevention and treatment regimens, including otogenic sinus thrombosis in this category of patients.

Case description. A 7-year-old boy was transferred from the Somatic Hospital to the Intensive Care Unit of Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Tyumen (Russia) with an Otorhinolaryngology Unit. He was diagnosed with non-perforative form of acute right-sided suppurative otitis media, acute right-sided mastoiditis, thrombosis of the right sigmoid sinus. The anamnesis shows that the child is diagnosed with hemophilia A, of moderate severity (factor VIII level — 5%), for which he has been receiving factor VIII replacement therapy for the last year. Upon admission, a general blood test revealed no abnormalities, with a slight increase in acute-phase parameters: C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, signs of hypocoagulation. Due to negative dynamics, the child underwent anthromastoidotomy against the background of intensive replacement therapy. Surgery revealed the presence of granulation tissue with hemorrhagic thrombi in the antrum and aditus. In the postoperative period, replacement therapy was accompanied with antibacterial and anticoagulant therapy.

Conclusion. The management of patients with otogenic sinus thrombosis against the background of hereditary factor VIII deficiency is a difficult task. On the one hand, it requires surgical intervention and anticoagulant therapy in order to prevent further thrombosis, on the other hand — intensive replacement therapy in order to reduce the risks of hemorrhagic complications. The described case demonstrates the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with otogenic thrombosis of lateral sinus against the background of hemophilia A. The approach is to minimize the risks of intraoperative complications and insure a favorable outcome.