Objective. To study the etiology, demographic, clinical and laboratory features, and course of erythema nodosum (EN) among patients in the Rheumatology Service.
Materials and methods. A monocenter retrospective study including 85 patients hospitalized at the 11th City Clinical Hospital in Minsk from 01.09.2013 to 29.02.2024 was conducted. All patients were diagnosed with EN, based on the diagnostic criteria.
Results. The average age of the patients was 39 (29—54) years, the dominant majority were women — 70 (82.4 %). Infection was the leading cause of EN in 42 (49.4 %) of cases. The second most frequent was pulmonary-mediastinal form of sarcoidosis — 21 (24.7 %) of cases. EN was a manifestation of autoimmune and immunoinflammatory rheumatic diseases (IIRD) in 4 patients: autoimmune thyroiditis — 2 cases, Crohn’s disease — 1, nonspecific aortoarteritis — 1. There were 2 cases of pregnancy in the first and second trimester. A significant proportion was EN with unknown etiology — 16 (18.8 %). Acute course was observed in 72 (84.7 %) of patients, recurrent — in 13 (15.3 %). Symmetrical lesions were observed in 58 (68.2 %) of cases, and asymmetric lesions — in 27 (31.8 %). In the majority of patients localization of EN was limited to the shins, and in 35 (41.2 %) it spread to the thighs, feet, hands and even trunk. Some patients had concomitant joint involvement — 55 (64.7 %), more often ankles — 43 (50.6 %). Among the laboratory parameters, a significant number of patients had an increased both the erythrocyte sedimentation rate — 64 (79.0 %), and hs-CRP — 61 (80.3 %). Chest X-ray revealed intrathoracic lymphadenopathy in 14 cases, while chest CT — in 22 cases.
Conclusion. Among patients with erythema nodosum (EN) in the Rheumatology Service, women predominated — 82.4 %, the average age was 39 years. EN was associated with infection in 49.4 % of cases, with pulmonary-mediastinal form of sarcoidosis — in 24.7 %, other autoimmune diseases, IIRD and pregnancy were rare. A significant proportion was EN with unknown etiology — 18.8 %; in case of its relapse, further search for the cause of EN should be continued. In the algorithms of examination of patients with EN among women of childbearing age, the first priority is to exclude pregnancy.

Objective. Analyze the indices of iron and erythropoietin metabolism in babies with early anemia of prematurity depending on the gestational age.
Materials and methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 110 premature newborns with early anemia of prematurity. The babies were divided depending on the gestational age at birth into 3 groups: group 1 — up to 28 weeks of gestation (n = 16); group 2 — with a gestational age of 28—31 weeks (n = 63); group 3 — with a gestational age of 32—37 weeks (n = 31). We were analyzed endogenous erythropoietin, serum lactoferrin, ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptors at the time of anemia manifestation. We were studied the indicators of erythroid growth in peripheral blood at the time of birth and at the time of manifestation of anemia. Statistical calculations were carried out in the R statistical package, version 4.3.
Results. The results of the study indicate the absence of statistically significant trends in the concentration of endogenous erythropoietin, transferrin and soluble transferrin receptors from the gestational age of premature infants at the time of manifestation of early anemia of prematurity. Moreover, the concentration of serum ferritin and lactoferrin in venous blood is higher than longer the gestational age of the baby at birth. At the time of the study, the median values of ferritin levels can be assessed as below the recommended values. 30 % of children in group 1 had an increase in the number of soluble transferrin receptors.
Conclusion. Iron deficiency in premature babies is one of the factors that play a role in the manifestation of early anemia of prematurity. In this case, sideropenia worsens with decreasing gestational a=-ge of infants. At the time of manifestation, anemia of prematurity is not associated with a low concentration of endogenous erythropoietin.

Objective. To determine the frequency of encephalopathy of prematurity (EPP) in prematurely born children with different gestational ages and the rates of primary disability according to the class of nervous diseases at the age of 2 years.
Materials and methods. A retrospective-prospective study included 212 premature babies born between 26 and 37 weeks of gestation. Two groups were formed: group 1 — newborns diagnosed with encephalopathy of prematurity in the neonatal period (n = 75); group 2 — newborns without EPP (n = 137). EPP indicators were compared with neurodevelopmental outcomes at the age of 2 years. The indices of EPP were compared with the outcomes of neurodevelopment at the age of 2 years.
Results. Among all premature infants with EPP in the neonatal period, disability at the age of 2 years was established in 45.3 % (34 cases), which is 12.6 times higher compared to 3.6 % (5 cases) without EPP, Fisher’s (p < 0.001). The presence of EPP in the neonatal period of premature infants increases the likelihood of disability at an early age according to the class of nervous diseases by 22 times (OR = 21.89; 95 % CI (8.04—59.63)) compared to the disability rate in premature infants without EPP (Fisher’s p < 0.001). Among all premature infants with EPP in the neonatal period, limitations of life activity criteria (signs of disability) at the age of 2 years were detected in 52.0 % (39 cases), which is 5 times higher compared to children without EPP in the neonatal period — 9.5 % (13 cases) (Fisher’s p < 0.001).
Conclusion. The presence of EPP in the neonatal period of premature infants increases the likelihood of disability at an early age according to the class of nervous diseases by 22 times (OR = 21.89; 95 % CI (8.04—59.63)) compared to the disability rate in premature infants without EPP (Fisher’s p < 0.001), this fact justifies the mandatory implementation of medical habilitation starting from the neonatal period.

   Keratoconus is a bilateral, progressive, asymmetric, genetically determined, degenerative-dystrophic disease of the cornea, which leads to thinning and a decrease in the local biomechanical strength of the cornea. Changes in the shape of the cornea lead to refractive errors and irregular astigmatism, a pronounced decrease in vision and the impossibility of selecting correction with glasses or soft contact lenses. There is a deterioration in the patient’s quality of life, his social maladjustment and limitation in professional activity.
   Traditionally, the condition has been described as a non-inflammatory disorder; however, inflammatory factors have increasingly been implicated in the etiology of keratoconus. Keratoconus typically develops in the second and third decades of life and progresses into the fourth decade. The condition affects all ethnicities and both sexes. The prevalence and incidence of keratoconus are estimated to be between 0.2 and 4790 per 100,000 persons and 1.5 and 25 cases per 100,000 persons per year, respectively, with the highest rates typically occurring in people aged 20 to 30 years. Risk factors for the development of keratoconus include a family history of keratoconus, eye rubbing, eczema, asthma, and allergies. Detection of keratoconus in its earliest stages remains challenging. Corneal keratotopography and pachymetry performed on a Scheimpflug camera are the main diagnostic tools for detecting keratoconus. However, in the early stages, using a single criterion to diagnose keratoconus is insufficient, and corneal keratotopography is now commonly supplemented by corneal OCT, biomechanical studies, and aberrometry data.
   This article provides a literature review.

   Myocardial infarction in most cases occurs as a result of a violation of the integrity of an atherosclerotic plaque. Plaque rupture leads to the initiation of the blood coagulation cascade, decreased blood flow, followed by vascular occlusion and myocardial necrosis. An increased risk of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction is also associated with the activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). In case of vascular injury, PAI-1 is involved in thrombus stabilization and wound healing processes. It also suppresses the fibrinolysis process, which is regulated by tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase thus blocking the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. Elevated levels or excessive activity of PAI-1 may contribute to an increased risk of thrombotic events. This pattern is due to two main mechanisms: the formation of vulnerable plaques and a decrease in fibrinolysis.
   Objective. To analyze the literature on the clinical significance of PAI-1 in the development of thrombotic occlusions of the coronary arteries.
   Materials and methods. More than 150 scientific publications were studied. 35 literary sources were selected for analysis.
   Results. Clear literary data indicating the link of PAI-1 with cardiovascular diseases as independent factors of atherogenesis and thrombogenesis determine the interest in studying the role of PAI-1 in the development of myocardial infarction. The study of the 4G/5G polymorphism in the promoter region of PAI-1 may be of particular interest for explaining the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STEMI) in young patients.
   Conclusion. The 4G/5G polymorphism in the promoter region of PAI-1 is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. Increased PAI-1 levels in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in young adults, associated with an enhanced inflammatory response, may contribute to the development of an atherothrombotic event. However, whether PAI-1 levels can significantly improve the prediction of cardiovascular risk remains an open question and requires further study.

   The purpose of this publication is a systematic presentation of innovative aspects of the formation of a universal accessible environment for disabled and physically weakened individuals within the framework of the course “Social Medicineˮ for students, postgraduates and teachers of higher educational institutions of the humanities.
   The article considers the common features that unite disabled and physically weakened individuals. The content of a universal accessible environment is disclosed and described, the main principles and methods of optimization in its creation are outlined. Measures to ensure a universal accessible living environment for disabled and physically weakened individuals in the Republic of Belarus are separately presented.
   The article uses materials from the M. E. Tikotsky Media Library of the Department of Service of the Faculties of Journalism and Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Fundamental Library of the Belarusian State University and elements of the educational portal of the Belarusian State University of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences.