The species small-fruited strawberry tree, Arbutus andrachne L., has scarcely been studied chemotaxonomically [i]. We have investigated the triterpenoid composition of the fruit of this plant growing in the Crimea. To isolate the total triterpenoids, evaporated ethanolic extracts were diluted with water until they precipitated completely (yield 2.5% on the weight of the dry fruit). Treatment of the deposit with petroleum ether permitted the separation of the triterpene alcohols and sterols (25%) from the triterpene acids (75%), which are practically insoluble in petroleum ether and remained in the precipitate.

By fractional crystallization of the combined triterpene acids that we obtained previously [i], we have isolated a triterpene acid (I) with mp 282~285°C, which coincided in its chromatographic behavior with ursolic acid. The melting point of ursolic acid is 285-287°C ~ [2]. Identification was also performed by comparing the IR spectra of the triterpene acid (I) isolated and of a sample of ursolic acid both in the solid state and in solvents [3,4]. The followingderivatives of the ursollc acid isolated were obtained: the methyl ester with mp 160°C (according to the literature, 167-168°C), the acetatewith mp 286-288°C (according to the literature, 286-289°C), and the methyl ester of the acetate with mp 246°C (according to the literature, 247°C) [2].

Introduction. Infants learn the world while playing through the taste of objects. If the parents neglect it, the object in the mouth can be swallowed. Foreign bodies in the esophagus are easily diagnosed, as a rule, since immediately after getting stuck they are manifested by salivation, choking, difficulty in passing food. If a foreign body passed into the esophagus being unnoticed, in 20% various complications develop, such as esophagitis, stenosis, organ perforation, esophageal-tracheobronchial fistula, mediastinitis, aortoesophageal fistula, cervical spondylitis.Material and methods. The article presents a clinical case of the long time presence of a large foreign body in the esophagus of an infant which was simulating respiratory disorders. The child was admitted to a surgical hospital with suspected congenital tracheoesophageal fistula because when swallowing liquid food he did not manifested any complaints typical for foreign bodies in the esophagus: pain in the neck and sternum with irradiation to the interscapular region, difficulty or inability to swallow, urge to vomit, hypersalivation. Mom and doctors were inclined to find other reasons for cough and wheezing which were intensified when the child was eating. The authors discuss features of extraesophageal manifestations of a foreign body in the esophagus as well as diagnostic and therapeutic tactics in such cases.Conclusion. Even small children can swallow large foreign bodies. While taking anamnesis, especially in children of the first year of life, a doctor should think not only about the syndrome of bronchial obstruction, but also about possible presence of a foreign body in the esophagus if wheezing and coughing attacks appear during meal. Diagnostic algorithm should include X-ray and endoscopic examinations which are effective and minimally invasive and which allow to remove a foreign body, even if it is in the esophagus for a long time.

Considerable attention is currently being paid to the diagnosis and treatment of gastric malformations complicated by its obstruction. This can be attributed to stable incidence of these disorders among other congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract and no clear understanding of the causes and mechanisms underlying the development of this pathology. Gastrointestinal duplications are rare congenital malformations that differ significantly in their appearance, location, size, and clinical manifestations. Their incidence is 1 case per 4,500 autopsies. Duplications can be cystic and diverticular (tubular) and can be located in any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the root of the tongue to the anal canal. The small intestine is affected most frequently, while duplications of the rectum, duodenum, and esophagus are exceedingly rare. In this article, we report two cases of gastrointestinal duplications in children treated using surgery. Key words: neonate, obstruction, developmental malformations, gastric duplication, esophageal duplication, case report

Introduction. Cryptorchidism is a common disease in pediatric urological and andrological practice since the issues of tactical approaches and its optimal treatment remain extremely relevant. Cryptorchidism makes a significant contribution to the structure of male infertility.Objective. To conduct a retrospective analysis of treatment results in children and adolescents with cryptorchidism.Materials & methods. This study summarises the treatment results of 8308 patients with cryptorchidism aged from 6 months to 17 years who underwent inpatient treatment in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan.Results. It was revealed that from 2015 to 2019, patients were admitted for surgical treatment evenly over the years. The ratio of right-sided / left-sided / bilateral cryptorchidism was 4.6 : 4.4 : 1 The inguinal form prevailed more than 6 times over the abdominal location. At the same time, 26.1% of the patients underwent surgery at the optimal time, and 9.8% were older than 10 years. More often, children are operated from an open inguinal access (95.0%), much less often — laparoscopically and percutaneously. Stage-by-stage treatment was carried out in 6.0% of patients.Conclusion. Thus, the approach presented in the study in the surgical treatment of cryptorchidism provided good treatment results. The number of disease relapses was 1.9% (mainly among children over 7 years old). Most surgeons are very reserved about primary orchidectomies (only 3.8% were performed).