The aim: The aim of the work was to determine the leading epidemiological, diagnostical features, disturbance of spirometric indices, changes in the immune system in servicemen with COPD, who take part in Joint Forces Operation (JFO). Materials and methods: 89 male patients were examined, who sought medical help for COPD, group B. They were divided into two groups. 1 group (42 patients) − with COPD, who took part in the JFO not more than 6 month, the 2 group consisted of 47 patients with COPD, who took part in the JFO during the period more than 6 month. Results: The patients in the group 2 had veraciously more points of cough and sputum expectoration in daily amount of 30 and more ml. The type of sputum in 53.2% patients was predominantly mucus-pus. There were also more percentage of patients with feeling short of breath and the high point, achieved at CAT. There were significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, LV mass index between two groups. Conclusions: It was found that servicemen who took part in JFO for more than 6 months had a more severe course of COPD with a higher score in the CAT and probably lower obstructive ventilatory indices, in a probably higher percentage of cases there were detected such a concomitant pathology as AH stage II and GERD. They had Th17 immune response predomination with significant elevation of IL-17, TGF-β, IL-6 concentrations in serum and high concentration of soluble adhesion molecules. KEY WORDS: Obstructive ventilatory defects, immune, external respiration function, fuel combustion products

Introduction: Multiple data available indicate high prevalence of comorbid abnormalities in gouty arthritis patients, namely, high incidence of arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, atherosclerosis of carotid arteries, vascular dementia. For instance, hypertension is found in 36-41% gout patients, and combined with metabolic syndrome it may reach 80%. The aim: Studying features of clinical course, lipid profile and immune status in patients with combined hypertension and gout. Materials and methods: The study involved examination of 137 male patients with stage II hypertension, average age 56.9±3.4. All patients underwent echocardiography with estimation of the left ventricular mass index to verify hypertension stage, blood chemistry test with estimation of uric acid level, as well as lipid profile and immune status. Results: We have found significant disorders in the lipid profile of blood serum in patients with combined hypertension and gout. Positively higher percentage of activated T-cells was found in patients with combined hypertension and gout, both with early (CD3+CD25+) and late (CD3+HLA-DR+) activation marker, as well as those expressing FAS receptor, and ready to enter into apoptosis. Conclusion: We have identified abnormalities in adhesion and cooperation of immune competent cells, resulting in more intense activation of the same, effector functions and migration to the area of inflammation in the vessel wall.

Background. The objective was to study the peculiarities of cellular and humoral immunity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group B and C, GOLD 2–3, who have signs of metabolic syndrome (MS) and Herpesviridae infection. Materials and methods. Forty-two patients with B and C groups of COPD, GOLD 2–3, associated with MS were examined. Eighteen individuals had COPD combined with MS, and Herpesviridae infection. The average age of patients was 51.3 ± 4.2 years. The comparison group included 24 people with COPD and MS without signs of Herpesviridae infection. All patients underwent determination of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and cytome­galovirus (CMV) antigens in the blood and saliva, titer of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies to HSV type 1 and CMV, a comprehensive immunological examination with a study of cellular and humoral immunity indexes, cytokine status. Results. The study of the activity of herpes viruses in the blood of patients of the main group did not reveal active replication of HSV type 1 and CMV; in the saliva of 15 individuals (83.3 %), an active replication of HSV type 1 was detected, and in 12 people (66.7%) — of CMV. All patients in the main group had a severe course of Herpesviridae infection with an exacerbation rate of more than 6 times a year. The immunological status of patients of the main group showed immunodeficiency mainly of T-cell immune system and NK-cells, a significant increase in the relative number of T- and B-lymphocytes with early and late markers of activation on the background of autoimmune manifestations and inflammatory changes in peripheral blood. Conclusions. The presence of chronic persistent infection of HSV type 1 and CMV causes a severe course of COPD associated with MS, induces the development of infectious exacerbations of COPD and more significant manifestations of systemic inflammation in atherosclerosis as a morphological substrate of MS.