Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of systemic application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for induction of immunosuppression in liver transplantation.

Materials and methods. A prospective randomized study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of systemic administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for immunosuppression induction in liver transplantation. The study included 30 patients: 15 received MSC therapy, 15 received standard immunosuppressive therapy. Systemic administration of MSCs was performed twice: intraoperatively and on the 4th day after transplantation at a dose of 2×10⁶ cells/kg.

Results. MSCs application contributed to faster normalization of biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, bilirubin), reduced incidence of acute rejection (20 % vs 33.3 %), decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-10 in the graft, and maintained effective immunosuppression at lower tacrolimus concentrations (3.1 ng/ml vs 4.7 ng/ml). Immunophenotyping confirmed the immunomodulatory effect of MSCs through stimulation of regulatory lymphocyte populations and suppression of effector components of the immune response. Clinically, this resulted in reduced length of stay in the intensive care unit and overall hospitalization duration.

Conclusion. The results demonstrate the safety and efficacy of MSCs as a component of induction immunosuppressive therapy in liver transplantation.

Objective. Assess the content and effectiveness of the implementation of target-oriented planning documents that are aimed at overcoming tuberculosis in the Republic of Belarus.

Materials and methods. The study was based on strategic planning documents (state programs and subprograms for 2000— 2025) aimed at the solving the problem of tuberculosis in the Republic of Belarus, reports on the implementation of programs (subprograms), and data from state decentralized and departmental statistical reporting. The used methods were analytical and statistical ones.

Results. The analysis showed that at the state level in 2000—2025 years in the Republic of Belarus, target-oriented strategies (five state programs and subprograms) aimed at overcoming tuberculosis were implemented. The country implements international approaches to solving the problem, ensures interdepartmental cooperation and targeted funding of programs. The indicator for assessing the indicator of task 3.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals on tuberculosis and the target indicators of state programs are monitored and implemented. The implementation of state programs has significantly affected the improvement of the epidemiological situation on tuberculosis.

Conclusion. Effective work to overcome tuberculosis, as a socially significant disease, is possible through the implementation of program-targeted strategies at the state level.

Objective. To study risk factors for the development and progression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to develop practical recommendations for the timely detection of severe forms of the disease.

Material and methods. A data analysis of 7022 preterm infants (gestational age less than 33 weeks, birth weight less than 2000 g) was performed, including univariate and multivariate assessment of the influence of perinatal factors. Based on the obtained data, a risk scoring scale (Neo-ROP-8) adapted for clinical use was created.

Results. It was established that key risk factors are sepsis (OR = 22.5), prolonged oxygen therapy (more than 28 days, OR = 12.3), intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 6.9), and blood transfusion (OR = 5.7). Gestational age and birth weight have a protective effect: each additional week of gestation reduces the risk of ROP by 28 %, and each 100 g increase in birth weight reduces it by 15 %. The Neo-ROP-8 scale with a threshold of 7 points or more allows for the detection of 85 % of ROP cases with 90 % accuracy. Infants with severe retinal immaturity (vessels in zone 1) have a 97.5 % risk of progression to terminal stages.

Conclusion. Risk factors for the development and progression of ROP coincide. The use of the Neo-ROP-8 scale in combination with the assessment of retinal maturity allows for the optimization of screening timing without loss of diagnostic quality. 

Objective. To study the patterns of changes in prooxidant-antioxidant imbalance in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) at different stages of the disease.

Materials and methods. The study included 100 patients with POAG and 30 relatively healthy individuals. Patients with POAG were divided into three groups depending on the stage of the disease. The assessment of lipid peroxidation (LPO) indicators and antioxidant defense (AOD) parameters in venous blood was performed using spectrofluorometry and spectrophotometry according to standardized methods.

Results. A clear tendency towards an increase in LPO processes and disruption of the AOD with an increase in the stage of POAG was revealed. The content of dienic conjugates in plasma and erythrocytes increased from 46.4 % (p < 0.001) at stage I to 164.0 % (p < 0.001) at stages III—IV, and from 12.8 % (p = 0.011) at stage I to 55.1 % (p < 0.001) at stages III—IV, respectively, compared to control group. An increase in malondialdehyde level was observed as POAG progressed, with the greatest rise in plasma at stages III—IV, amounting to 51.9 % (p < 0.001) compared to controls. The lowest levels of α-tocopherol, retinol, and ceruloplasmin were recorded at stages III—IV, showing reductions of 13.8 % (p = 0.006), 23.5 % (p = 0.023), and 47.5 % (p < 0.001), respectively, compared to healthy individuals. The most significant decrease in reduced glutathione level was noted at stage II, with a reduction of 33.4 % (p = 0.004). Сatalase activity increased from stage I to stages III—IV by 65.5—81.2 % (p < 0.001).

Conclusion. The study revealed the presence of a prooxidant-antioxidant imbalance in POAG, the degree of which increases with increasing severity of the disease. The obtained results confirm the need for stage-oriented approaches to antioxidant therapy.

Health and well-being in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is one of 17 global goals aimed at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. This paper presents the Republic of Belarus's progress toward achieving the first six targets of Goal 3. Using international and domestic data on monitoring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal indicators, it demonstrates clear positive trends for most of them. At the same time, there are areas in which progress should be accelerated: this primarily concerns target 3.4: “by 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being”.

Today, there are many clinical laboratory tests that assess the condition of a patient diagnosed with COVID-19, but none of them is specific for this disease, however, science does not stand still.

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants initiates a search for sensitive and specific diagnostic markers for COVID-19 infection. The optimal indicator will be one that helps assess the severity of the disease and predicts the progression of the pathology.

For this publication, an analysis of literary sources and our own data was conducted in order to determine a list of biomarkers for monitoring the condition of a patient with COVID-19.

The article presents current literature data on the prevalence and clinical manifestations of a rare pathology — cryptococcosis infection of the central nervous system — meningitis. The article presents a case history of a patient in whom cryptococci and mycobacterium tuberculosis were found in the cerebrospinal fluid at a late stage of HIV infection. The difficulties of differential diagnosis and treatment of this disease are noted.

Objective. To demonstrate the difficulties of timely diagnosis and treatment of tubo-ovarian abscesses in the postpartum period using a clinical example.

Materials and methods. An analysis of the primary medical documentation was carried out on the basis of the 1st City Clinical Hospital in Minsk, the patient was examined and followed up in the clinic departments, as well as an analysis of clinical recommendations for this nosology.

Results. The presented clinical case of tubo-ovarian abscesses in childbirth with erased clinical symptoms demonstrates the extreme complexity of timely diagnosis of this pathology in practic.

Conclusion. Tubo-ovarian abscesses in pregnancy and in the postpartum period — an extremely rare and difficult to diagnose condition with a high probability can cause severe complications in the postpartum period, which must be known and remembered by the obstetrician-gynecologist.