The aim of the study was to define cardiac biomarkers in patients with isolated and combined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF), to assess their level and diagnostic value in order to optimize the tactics of managing these patients. Materials and Methods. The study included 184 patients aged 38-85 years who were divided into 3 comparison groups: group 1 (n=68) was composed of patients with I-III stage COPD (GOLD, 2017); group 2 (n=64) patients with I-III functional class CHF; group 3 (n=52) patients with a combined course of COPD and CHF. Specific cardiac biomarkers were evaluated in 80 patients (in group 1 in 26, in group 2 in 27, and in group 3 in 27 patients). Patients' blood serum obtained by centrifuging was used for cardiac biomarker investigations. Results. NT-proBNP (F=0.59; p=0.0490) was found to be the most sensitive biomarker for determining the severity degree of the heart damage in the combined course of COPD and CHF. ST2 biomarker reliably reflects the severity of the isolated CHF (F=0.76; p=0.0285), while in the combined course of COPD and CHF, the value of this marker decreases (F=0.76; p=0.4718). A direct correlation has been established between the level of cardiac biomarker NT-proBNP and CHF functional class both in the isolated and combined course of COPD and CHF. In patients highly adherent to therapy, statistically significant reduction in the values of ST2 (F=3.22; p=0.0453) and NT-proBNP (F=12.20; p=0.0000) is observed which enables the physicians to control patient adherence to the administered therapy. The levels of biomarkers have been established at which a high risk of COPD progressing to one step or higher and/or CHF to one functional class and higher is noted in comorbid COPD and CHF course. Conclusion. The obtained data about the diagnostic value of cardiac biomarkers in comorbid course of COPD and CHF is reasonable to use for therapy optimization in order to improve the quality of patient's life and decrease the risk of unfavorable outcomes.

Radioactive 131Iwas injected in single doses 9.25, 37, and 92.5 kBq to prepubertal (30-day-old) male rats. Iodine incorporation in doses 37 and 92.5 kBq resulted in some functional changes in the reproductive system of mature rats: blood testosterone level increased, its hypothalamic aromatization intensified, and biologically active LH level in the blood dropped. Incorporation of 9.25 kBq of 131-I had no effect on male reproductive system. A possibility of direct injury to rat testicles by 131I incorporation is suggested.

As a result of the Chernobyl accident, a significant part of Ukraine was contaminated with radionuclides. According to UNSCEAR, the activity of material released into the environment from the destroyed active zone of the reactor was about 50 MKi, among which the share of radionuclides of iodine, cesium and tellurium was 10-20%. Despite the fact that the prompt implementation of iodine prophylaxis made it possible to reduce the dose load on the thyroid gland, nevertheless, a significant part of the child and adult population received radiation doses of the thyroid gland, which pose a serious danger in the development of possible long-term oncological consequences. Based on dose calculations according to the most conservative model of single dose of radioactive iodine, the number of children living in the 8 most affected areas of Ukraine affected by iodine radionuclides and exposed to doses in excess of 200 cGy is estimated to be 12,000 or more, in the dose range up to 200 cGy - 79 500, up to 30 cGy - 38 000. Available information on thyroid doses in Ukraines population, on the one hand, and information on the carcinogenic effects of this organs radiation, accumulated to date in the world, on the other hand, indicate the need for carefully planned epidemiological studies aimed at assessing the risk of this pathology in victims. At the same time, the effectiveness of such studies, and, consequently, the development of preventive measures to reduce the effects of radiation in the future, will largely depend on taking into account the characteristics of the epidemiological study of the role of the radiation factor in the development of thyroid cancer. In connection with the foregoing, the aim of this work was to generalize the information accumulated to date in the world, reflecting deficiencies in the study of the epidemiology of radiation-induced thyroid cancer, as well as confirming the need for further development and improvement of these studies.

Синдром біологічно неактивного гормона росту (СБНГР), вперше описаний у 1978 році лікарем-педіатром A. Kowarski [1], характеризується наявністю низькорослості на тлі нормального викиду гормона росту (ГР) при проведенні стимуляційних тестів і низькими показниками інсуліноподібного фактора росту 1 (ІФР-1). У 1996 році була підтверджена генетична природа цього захворювання (гетерозиготні мутації гена гормона росту) Y. Takahashі та співавт. [2], а з 1999 року СБНГР розглядається як уроджена генетична патологія, пов'язана з дефіцитом гормона росту (KІGS Aetіology Classіfіcasіon Lіst) [3]. Останнім часом з'явилися публікації відносно фенотипових особливостей у дітей із СБНГР [4].