Objective. To compare the clinical efficacy of in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs in patients with functional ovarian cysts (FOC) depending on the treatment strategy (transvaginal aspiration of cysts or use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists). Patients and methods. This prospective randomized study included 99 reproductive-aged women. The study group (n = 66) comprised patients with anovulatory infertility and FOC. Two subgroups were also identified: group IA (n = 28) – patients who underwent pre-treatment with a GnRH antagonist; group IB (n = 38) – patients who underwent transvaginal cyst aspiration. After treatment, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was administered according to a fixed GnRH antagonist protocol. In the comparison group, a standard IVF program was performed. Results. If the cyst diameter is >4 cm, transvaginal aspiration is preferred; for smaller diameters, the use of GnRH antagonists is preferred. This mechanism is probably mediated by increased fluid pressure on the wall of the cyst >4 cm, which leads to thinning, up to complete exfoliation of the granulosa layer and hence loss of sensitivity to the effect of GnRH antagonist. Conclusion. The main clinical criterion for choosing the optimal treatment strategy for FOC in assisted reproductive technology programs is the diameter of the ovarian cyst.

Purpose: to assess the reaction of multipolar retinal neurons to light irradiation depending on the intensity and duration of exposure. Material and methods. Outbred sexually mature white rats (n = 50, 100 eyes) weighing 180–200 g were exposed to continuous round-the-clock light (200, 3,500 lux; 1, 2, 7, 14, 30 days). The control group consisted of 25 non-irradiated animals (50 eyes). Using semifine sections, colored with toluidine blue, we counted the number of neurons in the ganglionic layer with karyopyknosis, focal and total chromatolysis. In the optic nerve, the percentage of degeneratively altered axons and the number of nerve fibers with deformation of the myelin sheath were calculated. Ultrastructural changes in neurons were studied using a JEM-100 CX-II electron microscope. Results. In the first days of the experiment (1, 2 days), reactive and destructive changes in organelles are observed in the perikaryons of multipolar retinal neurons. The granular endoplasmic reticulum becomes fragmented, loses part of its ribosomes, and vacuoles of varied sizes are formed from its cisterns. With an increase in the duration of exposure (7–30 days), degradation processes are increasing, all the more so after high-intensity (3,500 lux) light irradiation. The photodamage causes changes in all components of the optic nerve and is characterized by a destruction of organelles, a decrease in the number of elements of the cytoskeleton in the axon, and myelin sheath splitting. Conclusion. Changes in multipolar neurons of the retina after photodamage are primarily related to the content and distribution of the chromatophilic substance and depend on the intensity and duration of illumination.

In this paper, we aimed to: 1) discuss the approaches for increasing the effectiveness of organ-preserving surgical treatment of uterine fibroids; 2) analyse pre-operative preparation options for the formation of a restitutive scar during myomectomy. The article addresses the epidemiology of uterine fibroids in women, particularly in the reproductive age, and discussed the role of inflammation, disrupted nutrition, and proteolysis in the development of myomatous nodules. We also consider the terminology, classification, primary clinical symptoms of uterine fibroids, and discuss the causes of uterine scar incompetence. Various growth factors and collagen types have a differential impact on myometrial and on the formation of a restitutive scar. Finally, we talk about the histological and immunohistochemical methods in the diagnosis of uterine scar incompetence.

The morphofunctional features of the ovaries were evaluated in rats with functional ovarian cysts model treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist. Administration of the antagonist significantly ( p =0.009) reduced the number of cysts and the growth of follicles in the ovaries. The obtained results attest to a possibility of successful treatment of functional ovarian cysts with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist.

Secondary corneal dystrophy is a group of diseases characterized by an inflammatory–dystrophic process in the cornea of the eye. This pathology is accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome and leads to an irreversible decrease in vision, up to complete blindness. To date, many aspects of pathomorphological changes of the cornea in secondary dystrophies remain insufficiently studied due to the impossibility of conducting an intravital study of the cornea tissue. The article presents a case of morphological analysis of a tissue fragment of a pathologically altered cornea in secondary posttraumatic corneal dystrophy. Destructive changes in corneal tissue revealed during light microscopy indicate the presence of signs of fibrinoid swelling in the shell stroma with gross disorganization of the base substance and neovascularization. The study made it possible to correlate the data of pathomorphological changes and the clinical picture, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen method of treatment of this pathology (intrastromal injection of a suspension of autologous mononuclear leukocytes of blood into the stroma of the damaged cornea).

We studied the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), androgen receptor (AR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) in the ovaries under the conditions of the modeling and subsequent treatment of functional ovarian cysts with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (ant-GnRH). The intensity of IGF-1, LHR, and AR expression in the generative elements of rat ovaries changed under conditions of functional ovarian cysts simulation, as well as during treatment with ant-GnRH. In both experimental groups, the expression levels of the studied markers in preantral follicles and epithelial lining of cysts were found to be related to the number of growing follicles and cysts. A divergence of LHR and AR expression indices and a more pronounced decrease in the number of cystic cavities were observed in the group receiving ant-GnRH. These changes demonstrate a positive effect of ant-GnRH on intra-ovarian regulatory factors and a therapeutic effect in functional ovarian cysts.

Introduction. Oxidative stress is a non-specific pathogenetic link in inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa, which has a destructive effect on its structure and function. In this regard, natural antioxidants such as (p-tyrosol) are of great interest to researchers. The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of p-tyrosol on the morphofunctional changes in the microcirculatory during experimental stomatitis. Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out on 72 Wistar rats with experimental stomatitis. The animals were divided into four groups, each including 18 subjects: the control (intact rats; group 1 with the burn and no treatment (group 2), with the burn and subsequent administration of p-tyrosol (group 3), and with the burn and subsequent administration of Lidocaine + Chamomile flower extract (group 4). Results. The animals of group 3 had the smallest values of the altered vessels, the precapillary diffusion index and the Kernogan index on days 3, 7, and 12. On the contrary, the numerical density of the unchanged arterioles, venules, and capillaries was the greatest. VEGF expression was detected in group 3 on days 7 and 12, and in group 4, on day 12, thus indicating a more intense angiogenesis. Conclusion. On the background of p-tyrosol administration, there is an increased blood supply in the treated area due to the following factors: a growing density of unchanged microvessels, the germination of the ves-sels in the treated area, and induced angiogenesis.

Objectives. To assess the influences of prenatal alcoholization on the formation of various structural components of the brain in human embryos. Materials and methods. The study examined 26 specimens of embryonic material at 8–11 weeks of intrauterine development. Specimens were divided into four subgroups depending on developmental period (Control 1 at 8–9 weeks of development and Control 2 at 10–11 weeks of development) and maternal medical history (presence or absence of a diagnosis of “alcoholism stages I–II” in the medical history). Morphometry was run on Nissl-stained semithin sections. Diameters and areas of each individual tissue element (neuroblasts, glioblasts, vessels of the micricirculatory bed (MCB)) were determined, along with specific areas (the ratio of the total area of the structure under study to the area of the entire section); mean numbers of these structures per unit area of sections were also calculated. Morphometric analysis was run in AxioVision 4.8 (Carl Zeiss, Germany) and statistical analysis of differences between study cohorts used the Mann–Whitney test (differences taken as significant at p < 0.05). Results: As compared with the intact groups, the alcohol groups showed insufficient increases in the area of MCB vessels, combined with compensatory increases in the numbers of vessels per unit area on sections (48.5 and 83.3 μm2, respectively, p < 0.05). Comparison of glioblast sizes in the control and alcohol subgroups at different stages of development (average area 21.3 and 32.1 μm2; 12.9 and 13.3 μm2, respectively) revealed a delay in the increase in size of cellular structures in alcoholized groups at the initial stages, while comparison of data at later periods revealed no significant difference, though there was an increase in the specific number of cells in subgroup A2 (p < 0.05). Neuroblasts also showed a decrease in cell size with increasing development time in both the control and the alcohol subgroups. However, cell size in group A2 was greater than that in group C2, while the number of these cells was smaller (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Alcohol led to changes in the sizes and numbers of neuroblasts, glioblasts, and MCB vessels and, as a consequence, to disproportionality in the development of all brain tissue. Changes progressed with increasing development time.

Aim. To study the response of retinal glial cells to constant irradiation of various intensity and to develop a mathematical model allowing to evaluate the dynamics of damage to radial glial cells and predict their photodamage depending on the duration and intensity of irradiation. Materials and methods. Outbred sexually mature white rats ( n = 50) weighing 180–200 g were exposed to constant round-the-clock light (200, 3,500 lux, days 1, 2, 7, 14, 30). The control group consisted of 25 non-irradiated animals. Using semi-thin sections stained with toluidine blue, we counted the number of pycnomorphic cells in the radial glial cells. Ultrastructural changes in the glial cells were studied using the JEM-100 CX-II electron microscope. Results. The study showed that after photodamage, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes were mainly characterized by mitochondrial swelling and expansion of endoplasmic reticulum cisterns. Microglial cells at the late stage of the experiment (day 30) were localized in the inner layers of the retina; their density depended on the intensity of irradiation. The earliest (days 1, 2) changes in the radial glial cells were noted in the subretinal space and were manifested by proliferation of scleral processes and phagocytosis of dead sensorineural cell fragments. The intensification of destructive changes in the radial glial cells led to disturbances in neuron – glia interactions in the retina and a decrease in regeneration of retinal neurons (day 7–14). The developed mathematical model allowed to assess the dynamics of damage to the radial glial cells in the retina and to predict photodamage depending on the duration and intensity of irradiation. Conclusion. Glial responses in the retina after photodamage depend on the intensity and duration of light exposure. As the duration of irradiation increases, degenerative changes in glial cells intensify and are more pronounced after high (3,500 lux) irradiation intensity.

The aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of clinical and anamnestic data in women of reproductive age after ovarian cyst surgery and with occult premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) to predict a poor ovarian response to stimulation. Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective study of medical records of women (aged 18–40 years) with infertility at the Assisted Reproductive Technology Center of Siberian State Medical University from 2017 to 2020. The main group consisted of 84 patients who underwent ovarian cyst surgery. The comparison group consisted of 33 patients with biochemical signs of POI (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) 10–12 mMU / ml) who did not undergo ovarian cyst surgery. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), FSH, estradiol, the antral follicle count (AFC), and the ovarian response to stimulation were compared. Results. A correlation was established between AFC and a poor ovarian response both in the main group ( r = –0.7; p = 0.004) and in the comparison group ( r = –0.620; p = 0.000) in women under 35 years of age. A correlation was found between the concentration of estradiol and a poor ovarian response in the comparison group in women over 35 years of age ( r = –0.707; p = 0.001). A moderate negative correlation between AMH and a poor ovarian response was revealed only in the main group of women under the age of 35 years ( r = –0.589; p = 0.021). A moderate negative correlation between AMH and a poor ovarian response was revealed in the comparison group in women under the age of 35 years ( r = –0.648; p = 0.000), a weak negative correlation was found for women at the age of 35 years ( r = –0.500; p = 0.004). In both groups, the level of FSH did not determine the ovarian response to stimulation. Conclusion. The determination of AFC and AMH is more significant in predicting a poor ovarian response in women after ovarian surgery and in women with occult signs of POI under the age of 35 years, compared with FSH. In the group of women over 35 years with occult signs of POI, the concentration of estradiol may matter in predicting a poor ovarian response, which requires further research.

We studied the effect of induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the effectiveness of the infarct-limiting effect of remote ischemic postconditioning (RP) in Wistar rats. The involvement of leptin and corticosterone in the formation of arterial hypertension (AH) and in reduction of the effectiveness of RP in MetS was also studied. MetS was induced by high-carbohydrate high-fat diet with replacement of drinking water with 20% fructose solution for 90 days. MetS simulation led to obesity, AH, impaired lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, hyperleptinemia, and moderate stress. All animals were subjected to 45-min coronary occlusion and 120-min reperfusion. In the RP groups, tourniquets were applied on the hind limbs in the area of the hip joint immediately after the end of ischemia (3 cycles consisting of 5-min ischemia and 5-min reperfusion). A direct correlation was found between the severity of AH in rats with MetS and the levels of corticosterone and leptin. In rats with MetS, the effectiveness of RP decreased: a direct correlation between the infarct size and serum content of leptin was revealed in rats with MetS+RP. Corticosterone seems to be one of the factors of AH development in rats with MetS.

This review deals with the current state of affairs in the diagnosis of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions. Transformation of classifications of cervical pathologies is considered. The role of cytological (liquid-based and conventional cytology), molecular biological (Digene Hybrid Capture test), immunohistochemical (p16INK4α, Ki-67), and histologic methods in the diagnosis of cervical lesions is discussed. Particular attention is paid to the diagnosis of human papillomavirus infection. Performance indicators of screening programs based on primary determination of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in comparison with common cytological methods are presented. Tropism of HPV to various parts of the cervix, which predisposes to the formation of deep multifocal lesions, as well as the influence of the physical status of HPV on the treatment strategy and risks of relapse are considered.

— According to the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) international organization about 50 million people in the world suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, there are no effective methods for preventing or slowing the progression of AD. Inhibition of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is discussed below as an alternative way to prevent the development of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of a recently synthesized selective JNK3 inhibitor, 11 H -indeno[1,2- b ]quinoxalin-11-one oxime sodium salt (IQ-1S), to suppress neurodegenerative processes in OXYS rats at an early stage of development of AD at the ages of 4.5 to 6 months. Treatment with IQ-1S (50 mg/kg intragastrically) led to the suppression of the development of neurodegenerative processes in the cerebral cortex of OXYS rats: an increase in the proportion of unchanged neurons, a decrease in the proportion of neurons with signs of destruction and irreversible damage, and a normalization of the glioneuronal index, which was facilitated by a decrease in the severity of hyperviscosity syndrome blood in OXYS rats. The use of the IQ-1S JNK3 inhibitor may be a promising strategy for the prevention of early neurodegenerative disorders and, possibly, the treatment of AD.

Infertility is one of the most concerning issues in contemporary medicine. Infertility occurs in more than 40% of patients with benign ovarian tumors, and most of tumor-like lesions are represented by functional ovarian cysts. To date, there are different opinions about the impact of functional ovarian cysts on the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology programs. This review is devoted to the peculiarities of managing in vitro fertilization programs in the presence of functional ovarian cysts. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of functional ovarian cysts in patients with infertility are presented. The pathogenetic mechanisms of functional ovarian cyst formation and their influence on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology programs are considered. Particular attention is paid to various approaches to their treatment prior to an in vitro fertilization, as well as to their impact on program outcomes. Key words: functional ovarian cysts, treatment, assisted reproductive technologies, in vitro fertilization, ovulation stimulation

In order to verify the assumption that changes in the content of osmiophilic bodies (OB) in pinealo-cytes in rats are a morphological marker not only of shifts in secretory activity and calcification of the pineal gland res.ponding to round the clock lighting, but also reflect violations of pineal biorhythm, by methods of light and transmission electron microscopy, microrentgenospectral analysis in an experiment on rats, exposed to 48-hour exposure to bright light, the numerical density of single and grouped OB, their chemical composition was estimated. It is concluded that the grouped OB with the material of disposed mitochondria and calcifications are a residual manifestation of desynchronosis. Their con-tent increases at an earlier time after exposure than the total content of various types of OB.

Remote postconditioning of the heart (RPost) – performed several periods of short-term ischemia-reperfusion of an remote organ after a long period of ischemia immediately before the resumption or in the early reperfusion, which leads to a reduction in the size at the subsequently formed infarction – represents a great therapeutic potential for clinical practice. The mechanism of remote postconditioning includes a trigger that can be played by adenosine, opioids, cannabinoids, bradykinin, CGRP, and substance P. Protein kinase C, PI3 kinase, Akt kinase, and JAK play an important role in the signaling mechanism of remote postconditioning. Experimental studies found that genetically determined or diet-induced metabolic changes reduce the effectiveness of cardioprotection in RPost. As possible mechanisms of cardioprotection inefficiency, we can suggest a decrease in the release of humoral factors, dysfunction of the receptor and signaling link of RPost, the effect of metabolic disorders on the functioning of KATP channel, mPTP, and on the state of mitochondrial respiration. However, these assumptions need experimental substantiation. The results of clinical studies show both the antinecrotizing and infarct-limiting effect of RPost in AMI and cardiac surgery, and the lack of its effectiveness. The role of metabolic disorders in the absence of the effectiveness of RPost in patients requires substantiation.

The liver is a complex metabolic organ that, through the regulation of energy metabolism, maintains the homeostasis of the whole organism. Aim : To establish the morphological changes in hepatocytes and the expression of endothelial vascular factor in a high-carbohydrate high-fat diet (HCHFD) depending on age. Material and Methods . A histological study of the liver was carried out in four groups of male Wistar rats: 1 st group – 5-month-old animals on a standard diet; 2 nd group – 5-month-old animals on HCHFD for 90 days (from 2 months of age); 3 rd group – 18-month-old animals on a standard diet; 4 th group – 18-month-old animals on HCHFD for 90 days (from 15 months of age). Using morphometric methods, the specific volumes (%) of unchanged and binuclear hepatocytes, sinusoidal capillaries, inflammatory infiltrates, and foci of fibrosis in the liver were determined. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in endothelial cells and hepatocytes was evaluated by immunohistochemical method. The concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides was determined by the enzymatic colorimetric method in the blood serum and in the liver. Results . A morphological study revealed a significant expansion of sinusoidal capillaries in groups 2 and 4. A statistically significant increase in the specific volume of hepatocytes with vacuolar inclusions, binuclear hepatocytes, fibrous foci and small inflammatory infiltrates was detected in the 4 th group. VEGF expression increased in hepatocytes of groups 2 and 4. Biochemical study found an increase in the concentration of triglycerides in the rats’ liver of the 4 th group. Thus, HCHFD, despite the pronounced signs of regeneration, increased age-related changes in the liver of old rats.

The increase in cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders associated with longevity actualizes the study of the effect of high-calorie diets on heart aging. Aim : the experimental study of the effect of a high-carbohydrate hig -fat diet on the myocardium in young and old age. Material and Methods . A morphological study of the myocardium was carried out in four groups of male Wistar rats: group 1 - 150-day-old animals were kept on a standard diet; 2nd - 150 days, kept at a high-carbohydrate high-fat diet (HCHFD) for 90 days (from 60 days of age); 3rd - 540 days old, kept on a standard diet; 4th - 540 days old, kept at HCHFD for 90 days (from 450 days of age). ELISA method in blood serum was used to determine the concentration of fibronectin, transforming growth factor beta-1, connective tissue growth factor. Results . In groups 2-4, leukostasis, focal lympho-monocytic infiltration of the myocardial stroma, an increase in the number of myocardial cells with karyopyknosis and edema of the perinuclear zone of the sarcoplasm, contracture disorders, and an increase in the specific volume of the connective tissue of the stroma were detected. The defeat of myocardial cells and fibrosis were most pronounced in group 4. HCHFD increased the concentration of fibronectin in animals in both age groups with predominance in group 4, caused a tendency to increase the content of transforming growth factor beta-1, connective tissue growth factor in blood serum. Thus, HCHFD accelerates and enhances age-related changes in the white rat myocardium.

Background. There are different opinions about the effect of functional ovarian cysts on the duration of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, the dose of gonadotropins, the number and quality of collected oocytes and produced embryos, and the frequency of pregnancy. Aim. To analyze in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs in women with anovulatory infertility and ovarian retention. Materials and methods. A prospective study included 71 women aged 18–44 years. The main group (I) included patients ( n = 38) with anovulatory infertility and functional ovarian cysts (FOC) diagnosed by ultrasound before enrollment in the IFV program. Patients of this group underwent ultrasound-guided transvaginal puncture of ovarian cyst followed by cytology. The comparison group (II) ( n = 33) encompassed patients with anovulatory infertility without FOC, who went through the IVF program. The control group (III) included apparently healthy individuals ( n = 15). The study algorithm included collection of clinical and anamnestic data of the patients, data of laboratory and instrumental studies, parameters of a stimulated IVF cycle, characteristics of oogenesis and early embryogenesis, and assessment of IVF program effectiveness. Conclusion. It was established that in FOC and anovulatory infertility, the number of collected oocytes was smaller; however, the number of the best quality embryos and the frequency of pregnancy did not differ.