Medicine and Biotechnology

Introduction. In recent years, there has been a growing interest among researchers in conditions associated with hypereosinophilia and the therapeutic potential of genetically engineered biological agents. Hypereosinophilic syndrome remains an insufficiently studied issue encompassing a spectrum of disorders characterized by persistent eosinophilia and eosinophilic involvement of internal organs. The aim of this study is to systematize scientific literature data on novel diagnostic and treatment approaches for hypereosinophilic syndrome.
Materials and methods. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on research publications selected based on the keywords “hypereosinophilia”, “hypereosinophilic syndrome”, “molecular-genetic studies”, “idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome” and “monoclonal antibody” from a cohort of full-text articles available in the electronic scientific databases eLibrary, PubMed, and Scopus between 2005 and 2024.
Results. The hypereosinophilic syndrome is a rare condition, with a limited number of scientific observations available in the literature, primarily consisting of analyses of individual clinical cases. Data on the prevalence of hypereosinophilic syndrome in the pediatric population are extremely scarce. The causes of the syndrome are variable, and the clinical presentation is polymorphic, complicating the diagnostic process. Molecular-genetic research, including the detection of tyrosine kinase gene mutation types, contributes to solving this issue. First-line treatment involves glucocorticosteroids. It has been shown that genetically engineered biological agents are more effective in the treatment of primary hypereosinophilic syndrome, with their pathogenetically justified use associated with therapeutic progress.
Discussion and conclusion. The hypereosinophilic syndrome is more commonly observed in young and middle-aged patients. Diagnostic criteria include persistent hypereosinophilia with organ damage or dysfunction, as well as the exclusion of other myeloid neoplasms. The use of genetically engineered biologic agents enables overcoming refractoriness, reducing the need for glucocorticosteroids, and preventing the development of drug-related complications.

Introduction. Actinomycosis is an opportunistic infection characterized by the absence of specific clinical manifestations. The challenges associated with its diagnosis contribute to the lack of official epidemiological data on its incidence. The aim of this study is to analyze current knowledge on etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and contemporary approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal actinomycosis.
Materials and methods. A comprehensive analysis of 25 domestic and international scholarly publications, published between 2000 and 2020 and accessible via electronic databases such as eLibrary, CyberLeninka, PubMed, and Google Scholar, has been conducted. The literature search was performed using the following key terms: “actinomycosis”, “abdominal infections”, “etiology of actinomycosis”, “clinical manifestations of actinomycosis”, and “bacteriological study”.
Results. Available evidence indicates that abdominal actinomycosis is a severe bacterial infection characterized by the absence of specific clinical manifestations and frequently mimicking colorectal carcinoma. Immunodeficiency represents a major predisposing factor. When the colon is affected, the pathological process predominantly localizes to the ileocecal region. Bacteriological and histological examinations remain the cornerstone of diagnosis, while magnetic resonance imaging, colonoscopy, and abdominal ultrasound serve as valuable adjunctive diagnostic modalities. The disease is curable; however, complete recovery often necessitates a combination of antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention.
Discussion and conclusion. Practicing physicians should remain cognizant of the diagnostic challenges and insidious nature of abdominal actinomycosis, necessitating further investigation of the condition and advancements in microbiological and molecular-genetic diagnostic techniques. In complex clinical cases, the selection and application of additional investigative methods are determined by the localization of the pathological process.

Introduction. Gastric cancer maintains a significant position among malignant neoplasms in terms of incidence rates and cancer-specific mortality, with a higher prevalence in geriatric patients. In recent years, there has been a notable trend of increasing oncological morbidity in younger individuals. The aim of the study is to identify the epidemiological and pathophysiological characteristics of gastric cancer in young patients.

Materials and methods. Thematic search of scientific papers was carried out by keywords “early-onset gastric cancer”, “young cancer patients”, “gastric cancer incidence”, “cancer-specific mortality”, “cancer patient survival”, and “risk factors for tumor progression” in a cohort of full-text publications presented in the scientific electronic libraries eLibrary, PubMed, Scopus in 2015–2024.

Results. The distribution of gastric cancer patients by age revealed that the highest proportion of cases among both the diagnosed and deceased was found in patients under 50 years of age in African countries, while the lowest was observed in European countries. Malignant gastric tumors in younger individuals typically lack clinical symptoms, especially in cases of diffuse-type cancer. This may not be due to the involvement of other organs but rather the appearance of clinical signs upon primary dissemination, leading to the development of complications. Risk factors for gastric cancer include dietary disturbances, addictions, diseases of the esophagogastroduodenal zone and the hepatopancreatobiliary system, genetic mutations, microbial contamination, and hormonal imbalances. A notable association is observed between the high frequency of diffuse gastric cancer and estrogen receptor expression in young women, particularly those with an unfavorable prognosis. The combination of tumor progression with the exacerbation of dysbiosis in the gastroduodenal zone, as well as a high frequency of lymphogenic metastasis, is also highlighted. In young patients, locally advanced and primarily disseminated neoplastic processes are dominant, as well as diffuse gastric involvement with a high degree of malignancy.

Discussion and conclusion. A promising avenue for research involves refining the pathogenic mechanisms of gastric carcinogenesis, particularly in relation to the study of estrogen-dependent proliferation of gastric epithelial cells, the variability of immune and mediator signaling induction in the context of gastric pathomicrobiome, and the potential for genuine reversals associated with lifestyle changes.

Introduction. The cardiorespiratory system plays a crucial role in sustaining vital physiological functions, regulating muscle mass, and influencing other anthropometric parameters. The growing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has intensified interest in investigating the impact of various factors on an individual’s anthropometric status. The aim of the study is to analyze the functional parameters of the cardiorespiratory system in individuals with different body mass index categories.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the National Research Mordovia State University and involved students aged 18 to 20 years. Physical development was assessed using height and weight measurements, based on which the body mass index was calculated. Additionally, muscle strength, blood pressure, and respiratory function were evaluated through breath-holding tests. Following data analysis, conclusions were drawn regarding the proportionality and harmony of physical development.

Results. It was found that body type and physical development are associated with the state of the cardiorespiratory system: individuals with underweight and overweight exhibit disharmonious physical development and deviations in physiological parameters, whereas those with a normal body mass index demonstrate harmonious development and normal functional indicators.

Discussion and conclusion. The identified associative relationships between body mass index and the functional parameters of the cardiorespiratory system highlight the importance of considering anthropometric data when assessing an individual’s health status.

Introduction. Despite its relatively low prevalence in the pediatric population (less than 1%), childhood schizophrenia remains a significant issue in psychiatry worldwide due to the lack of a unified approach to its nosological classification and the underdevelopment of criteria for early diagnosis. Identifying neuropsychological impairments at an early age could help form potential risk groups for childhood schizophrenia, increasing awareness of specific patient populations and enabling timely diagnosis. The aim of the study is to investigate the course and clinical manifestations of the psychopathological process, the role of neuropsychological indicators, as well as saccades and antisaccades as potential markers of attention deficits in childhood schizophrenia.

Materials and methods. The article presents a clinical case of a 14-year-old patient, B., diagnosed with childhood-type schizophrenia, comorbid with ocular neurological disorders. The investigation employed clinical, psychometric, and psychopathological methods, as well as laboratory and instrumental techniques, and consultations with specialists. The evaluation was conducted using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and the degree of social maladaptation was assessed with the Everyday Social Functioning Scale. The presence of saccades and antisaccades was recorded using diagnostic equipment, the “Videonystagmograph”.

Results. The examination of a 14-year-old patient with childhood-onset schizophrenia revealed persistent, irreversible, and pronounced impairments in mental functions, necessitating social protection measures and the establishment of a “child with disabilities” status until the age of 18. The presence of second-degree limitations in self-care, learning, communication, orientation, and behavioral control provides grounds for developing an individualized rehabilitation and habilitation program. The study of spontaneous vestibular reactions, the presence of spontaneous nystagmus, saccades, and antisaccades in this patient during positional testing revealed multiple square-wave horizontal, medium-amplitude, jerky eye movements (saccades), which may serve as markers of attention deficits in childhood schizophrenia.

Discussion and conclusion. In the analysis of this clinical case, a connection between the psychopathological process and the complicated course of pregnancy and childbirth is evident. Early stages of the disease revealed autistic disorders. Diagnostic challenges were associated with the absence of productive symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia. A persistent, pronounced obsessive-phobic syndrome and attention disorders developed concurrently with the appearance of square-wave horizontal, medium-amplitude, jerky saccades. A comprehensive approach to evaluating the anamnesis and the results of additional diagnostic methods enabled the timely diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia. Therefore, the diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia should be comprehensive, combining clinical, psychometric, neuropsychological, and psychopathological methods.