Gonorrhea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection spreading worldwide and a serious public health problem. How�ever, further data are required to improve the management of gonorrhea. Our aim was to review the features of gonococcal infection and characterize the challenges of its management. A retrospective descriptive study of the medical records of 136 adult patients with gonorrhea that visited Ternopil Regional Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic (Ukraine) in 2013-2018 was performed. The male-to-female ratio was 6.6:1. Homosexually-acquired gonorrhoea was 3.7%. Also, most patients acquired gonorrhea in Ukraine (98.4%). The mean infectious period lasted 2-16 days, including the incubation period of 1-9 days and the period from the onset of symptoms to the first visit of the clinic of 1-7 days. The probability of N. gonorrhoeae transmission within the frame of the epidemiologic sexual chain was 1:2.4. Concurrent T. vaginalis (39.7%) and C. trachomatis (2.2%) were detected. HIV and syphilis screening rates were 1.6% and 0.7%, respectively. The examining rate of sexual partners was 11%, testing extragenital specimens - 0.7%, screening coverage for HIV - 46.3%, compliance with follow-up visits - 41.9%. Part of patients (16.2%) received monotherapy with clarithromycin, doxycycline, benzylpenicillin, azithromycin, or ofloxacin. The management of N. gonorrhoeae infections was compromised by a low rate of examining sexual partners, females and testing extragenital specimens, screening for HIV, compliance to follow-up visits, access to nucleic acid amplification tests, and receiving questionable or even obsolete antimicrobial treatment. Therefore, more accurate and comprehensive management of gonorrhea is urgently needed in Ukraine.

Therefore, a significant problem of our time is the substantiation of the scientific approach to the construction of an innovative educational environment with the use of STEM technologies in the teaching of physics and technical disciplines. Research hypothesis: introduction of a scientifically based onto-oriented information system of teaching physics and technical disciplines using the requirements of STEM education will help ensure the quality of the educational process of higher education institutions of technical orientation and stimulate the development of STEM skills in applicants. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the principles of an onto-oriented information system for teaching physics and technical disciplines using STEM-environment and its approbation in the process of training specialists in the speciality 272 «Aviation Transport». The object of research is the process of modelling the onto-oriented information system of teaching physics and technical disciplines using the requirements of STEM education. The subject of the research is to improve the process of professional training of specialists in technical specialities based on integrative and interdisciplinarity. The authors have identified and substantiated the onto-oriented information system of teaching physics and technical disciplines using STEM-environment in institutions of higher education of technical profile; it is established that the implementation of the proposed onto-oriented information system of teaching physics and technical disciplines with the use of STEM-technologies.

Background:The growth of the world population and the need to increase food production led to the widespread use of food additives. One of such additives is carrageenan. Potentially negative health effects of carrageenans prompt us to question safety of their widespread use. Aims and Objectives: In this study, we defined the effect of carrageenan (E407) consumption on the main markers of endogenous intoxication in rats. Materials and Methods: Experimental studies were conducted on 72 non-linear, female, white rats weighing 150-180 g. The experimental animals had free access to 0.5% carrageenan solution in drinking water. Control group of animals received pure water. Syndrome of endogenous intoxication was evaluated using measurements of low, medium, and high molecular weight substances in blood plasma, red blood cell suspension, and urine. Results: Our results indicate shift of the markers of intoxication syndrome toward mainly catabolic substances. The results obtained after 1 week of the experiment correspond with phase of partial compensation, characterized by increased concentrations of low and middle molecular weight substances in red blood cells and plasma. After 2 weeks and up to 1 month of the experiment, the predominantly catabolic markers of endogenous intoxication continue to increase in erythrocytes and plasma, indicating a shift to the phase of partial decompensation to systems and organs of detoxification. Conclusion: The consumption of carrageenan with drinking water in concentration of 0.5% was associated with the development of excessive levels of low and middle molecular weight substances with reduced ability of kidneys to excrete toxic products.

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Мета дослідження – вивчення добового профілю артеріального тиску (АТ) та виявлення його взаємозвʼязків із компонентами метаболічного синдрому (МС) у пацієнток в постменопаузальному періоді. Матеріали та методи. Обстежено 60 жінок у період постменопаузи. Всіх обстежуваних цієї когорти розподілено на дві групи – з наявністю МС та без нього. У дослідження включено також 30 пацієнток фертильного віку без ознак менопаузи. Проводили визначення антропометричних даних, добове моніторування АТ (ДМАТ) за допомогою кардіомонітора «Кардіотехніка-4000 АД», біохімічного аналізу крові з вивченням ліпідограми та рівня глюкози. Результати дослідження та їх обговорення. Аналіз отриманих даних показав, що у пацієнток у постменопаузальному періоді існує взаємозв’язок показників ДМАТ з андроїдним типом перерозподілу жирової тканини, гіпертригліцеридемією та гіперглікемією, що спричиняє негативний вплив на показники АТ і прогноз артеріальної гіпертензії в контексті розвитку ймовірних ускладнень та приєднання ішемічної хвороби серця. Висновок. У пацієнток у постменопаузальному періоді з МС при ДМАТ реєструються вищі денні, нічні та середньодобові показники як САТ, так і ДАТ, порівняно з хворими без МС; у них виявлено вищі показники навантаження тиском для САТ і ДАТ. У фертильному віці для жінок характерний сприятливіший перебіг артеріальної гіпертензії (АГ).