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We studied the three-dimensional structure and patterns of distribution of the lingual papillae of healthy rats (the norm) and their changes in the process of development of diabetes mellitus І type. The research was conducted on 65 laboratory rats of the Weestar line. The research investigated the mucus shell and the microcirculatory network of the tongue. The distribution and three-dimensional structure of the papillae of the tongue were studied using a scanning electron microscope. It was found that there are 5 morphological subspecies of filiform papillae on the dorsal surface of body of the tongue: true filifom, flattened, thin and giant conical and brush-like. Isolated fungiform papillaе are unevenly distributed between filiform papillaе. The dorso-lateral edge of the dorsal lingual surface is covered by foliate papillae. The unique oval papilla vallate is located in the back-end of the middle line of the root of the tongue. The far back of the root of the tongue lacks papillae, is flattened and covered by squamous formations. The distribution and types of lingual papillae is similar in rats to other rodents. In the process of development of diabetic glossitis a reduction in the height of different types of papillae of the tongue was observed, and an increase in the amount of keratinized mass, which plays a role in the fixation of microflora on the surface of the mucus shell, which as a result may lead to development of inflammatory process in the tongues of rats with experimental diabetes mellitus. The stages of morphological and morphometric changes in the mucus shell and microcirculatory network of the tongues of rats with diabetes mellitus were investigated, the characteristic signs of these changes were marked. On the basis of morpho-functional changes of the tongues of rats with experimental streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus, two stages of development of pathomorphological changes were distinguished: 1) reactive changes (2–4th week) and 2) destructive processes (6–8th week). At the end of the first stage there was a reduction in height of the filiform papillae and width of mushroom-like papillae in the mucus shell of the tongue, an increase in its keratinization, a considerable reduction in the number of cells in the deeper layers of the epithelium of the tongue and the adsorption capacity of superficial epіtheliocites diminished, a significant reduction in the diameter of path clearance of all departments of the microcirculatory network is traced here. At the end of the secondary stage, there was a reduction in the sizes of all papillae of the back of the tongue, in all links of the microcirculatory network there was a development of diabetic microangiopathy which is characterized: by narrowing of the arterial and exchange links on a background expansion of capacity link. The question of influencing the pathological process in the vessels of the microcirculatory network on the state of the mucus shell of the tongue in animals with experimental streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus is discussed.

Today’s conditions have forced us to change our views regarding the distance learning especially in Medical schools. During the pandemic, due to quarantine we are trying hard to extract all the benefits of this method of study, so that the students can continue their education without a gap year. Furthermore, even the students have an amazing opportunity to explore this method and gain the necessary knowledge and skills alike. Foreign students can relate more with the number of problems pertaining to pandemic in contrast to our (Ukrainian) students. There were several factors that they had to consider, the immense stress of being away from their families not only caused problems for them emotionally but it was also a hard task to evaluate the flight dates since the length of the quarantine period is dubious. The most positive factor during this harsh time was undoubtedly the support from their teachers. The situation during the summer holidays was stable and a vast majority of students were able to visit their families and at the same time return for the academic year. As most of the academic year of 2020-2021 was online, the foreign students were able to study from their corresponding home countries. There is a combined use of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University’s site platform and Microsoft Teams to ensure a full-fledged educational process at IFNMU pertaining to the period of distance learning. Teachers and students were quick to familiarize themselves with the basics of this program, online classes were conducted strictly according to the schedule, the guidelines and instructions provided and in accordance with the calendar thematic plan. The classrooms were held in compliance with all the norms, almost completely resembling the offline classes. The use of multimedia presentations during the practical lesson was a positive experience for us. Thanks to which high quality visualizations, namely demonstration of macro- and micro preparations, short informative videos, in-depth analysis of thematic clinical cases, were possible. This allows students to acquire the necessary practical skills needed to study and interpret the identified pathological process. In turn the teacher can also quickly and effectively analyze the promptness and knowledge of the student, enabling them to differentiate if the student learned only superficially or prepared with a deep understanding of the topic. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to look at the comprehensive side of e-learning technologies and look at it from a different perspective. Not only that we have numerous opportunities to elicit variety of innovative digital developments whose application and implementation will expand opportunities and improve the provision of educational services not only for students but also teachers. Conclusions: In certain situations (in this case the pandemic) distance learning is essential even in Medical Universities. Foreign students quickly acclimated to the online form of education which enabled them to stay with their families during the pandemic and stay as safe as possible, while avoiding learning gaps. Higher educational institutions should always be ready to cope up with changes and to tackle the unforeseen situations, keeping up with the technical progress plus support the development of innovative technologies. In future it is vital to use the positive features of distance learning and include them in the classical system of education.

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One of the complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) is diabetic myopathy, which is diagnosed in 88% of patients. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to establish the age characteristics of histo-ultrastructural changes in the masticatory muscle of 2-month (immature) and 6-month (mature) rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (STD). It was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 7 mg/100 g body weight in 2-month animals, and 6 mg/100 g body weight in 6-month-old rats. It was found that on the 70th day of STD there was a muscle sequestration and focal aseptic inflammatory cell infiltrates in the masticatory muscle of 2-month-old rats, while in 6-month-old animals the fibrosis and focal lysis of individual muscle fibers (MF), sometimes their necrosis and partial replacement by connective tissue were noticed. Sonography revealed in 6-month-old rats partial necrosis of MF, karyorexis, subsarcolemic edema, fibrosis and lysis of myofibrils, destruction of mitochondria; 2-month animals had intracellular regenerative processes: formation of young mitochondria, appearance of numerous granules of glycogen in the sarcoplasm between myofibrils. Such changes occur against the background of the diabetic microangiopathy. Adult animals had a massive destruction of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and it leads to a decrease in the area of axon sprouting by 67% and is accompanied by partial destruction of neuromuscular synapses. In 2-month-old rats, there was also a decrease in the area of NMJs by 54%, while in some NMJs the reinnervation processes were noted due to collaterals from neighboring nerve fibers. Thus, diabetic myopathy is diagnosed in the masticatory muscle of SDM rats of different ages, which results from the development of diabetic microangiopathy and peripheral neuropathy. In adult animals, it leads to atrophy and partial sclerosis of MF of the masticatory muscle, and in immature animals, compensatory-restorative processes are observed in the NMJs and MF.