Introduction: In children with asthma, endothelial dysfunction signs are observed, and their extent depends on the severity of the disease. These changes are also present in remission. High level of soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) expression causes active adhesion of inflammatory cells and can indicate direct endothelium participation in development and supporting of chronic inflammation. Bronchial asthma (BA) is characterised by airways chronic inflammation. A special role in this inflammatory process formation is played by development of endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate endothelial state in children with clinically stable and exacerbated asthma. Material and methods: 91 children with persistent asthma were examined. Among them there were 40 patients with mild persistent (group I), 34 subjects with moderate persistent (group II) and 17 individuals with severe persistent (group III) asthma. 20 healthy children were selected as controls. The serum levels of sVCAM-1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ultrasound assessment of endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD%) has been made. Ultrasonography has been used for investigation of the intima-media thickness (I-M) complex. Data analysis was performed with the Statsoft Statistica Version 8 (Tulsa, OK). Results: The serum levels of sVCAM-1 were significantly increased in the patients with asthma exacerbation (p < 0.001) and remission (p < 0.001), compared with the controls. The index of FMD% was significantly diminished in the patients of I, II, III group with exacerbation (p < 0.001) and stayed lower in the subjects with asthma in remission (p < 0.001), compared with the controls. The thickness of I-M complex was significantly increased in the patients of I, II, III group, compared with the controls (p < 0.001). The endothelium parameter levels: sVCAM-1 (H = 56.11, p = 0.0001), FMD% (H = 43.20, p = 0.0000), the thickness of I-M complex (H = 49.37, p = 0.0000) depend on the severity of the disease. Correlations between the endothelium and pulmonary function parameters were proved (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Endothelial dysfunction in children with asthma was determined. Dependence of severity of the disease on functional state of the vascular endothelium was proved.

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the current usage of micromobility vehicles by the population in the world and Ukraine. It is appeared to be that these vehicles are a quite widespread mean of travelling for short distances. This way of travelling became even more actual during the restrictions on the trips by public transport caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Micromobility vehicles are the real alternative to trips by foot or transport because they allow users to travel safely, independently and in the fresh air as well as control the social distance and decrease the contacts compared to public transport. Also, the paper presents the questionnaire developed by the authors, and the results of the intermediate survey which allowed determining the type of micromobility vehicle (e-bike, e-scooter, electric unicycle, bicycle, etc.), age of the respondents, travel speed, and the distance which the respondents are ready to cover. During the survey, it was determined that most people choose e-scooters while e-bikes are not so widely used. The maximal travelling speed appeared to be equal to 50 km/h, and the maximal trip length – 5 km. The recorded trip lengths allowed defining the trip length distribution for all cities under study and, particularly, for the city of Kharkiv. The trip length distribution appeared to be normal that was confirmed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Chi-square test at the significance level of 5%. Also, the survey results show that there exists a demand for trips by micromobility vehicles, and it is necessary to research this demand and take it into account during transport modelling. The overall authors’ goal is the estimation of the demand for the trips by micromobility vehicles which will allow researchers to take these trips into account when developing or correcting transport models. Therefore, it will support the development of the city infrastructure taking into account the needs of the users of micromobility vehicles. In future, it will improve traffic safety for all road users. Generally, the paper is devoted to the actual issues related to the level of service and safety of road users under the conditions of the growing demand for the use of the means of micromobility.

Чемчикаленко Р.А. к.е.н., доцент, доцент кафедри фінансів і кредиту Харківський інститут фінансів Київського національного торговельноекономічного університету Сергієнко К.А. студент Харківський інститут фінансів Київського національного торговельноекономічного університету

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