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Background. The pandemic of COVID-19 raised safety concerns for healthcare workers while non-medical personnel were left unattended. Comparing the levels of seroprevalence to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccination in different employee groups will allows us to assess the risk of infection and develop a strategy to minimize the spread of infections in medical institutions in future.The aim. To identify the level of seroprevalence to SARS-CoV-2 for seven groups of medical center workers. Methods. The seroprevalence to SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed in 361 employees of the ophthalmology center in mid-2021. Data on the level of specific IgM and IgG antibodies were compared with questionnaire, including occupation data.Results. Depending on occupation, workers were divided into seven groups. The average seroprevalence rate for all employees was 82.3 %, and the percentage of vaccinated employees was 27.4 %. The lowest level of seroprevalence was found in the group of maintenance staff (55.0 %) which is significantly lower (p ˂ 0.05) than in the groups of doctors (84.4 %), nurses (85.6 %), administrative stuff (82.6 %) and cafeteria stuff (77.7 %). The seroprevalence rate for cleaning staff was 84.6 % and for pharmacy workers it was 80 %. The highest vaccination coverage was among doctors – 50.0 %, the lowest was among cafeteria and kitchen staff – 7.4 %.Discussion. We believe the high seroprevalence is associated with asymptomatic spread of SARS-CoV-2.Conclusions. High seroprevalence was among doctors and nurses, pharmacy workers, canteen workers, cleaners, as well as administration workers. Anti-epidemic measures for these groups will reduce the spread of infectious diseases and help retain staff during the seasonal increase in incidence.

The article presents a literature review of the modern concept of anatomical and physiological structure and functioning of the cornea. The strict morphological structure and corneal tissue homeostasis ensure its transparency. Studying the mechanisms that regulate the constancy of the corneal tissue internal environment allows us to get closer to understanding the prospects forregenerative therapy for the corneal stroma pathology. The article discusses in detail the role and functional potential of corneal stromal cells, which are capable of reverse cytologic differentiation, which primarily ensures the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and corneal transparency. The functional activity of corneal cells can change for a number of reasons, which may be exogenous, iatrogenic (trauma, infection, etc.) or endogenous. Endogenous causes include: cell autoregulation pathologies (for example, enzyme defects); defects in transport systems leading to tissue hypoxia; disorders of the neuro-humoral regulation of trophism. The physical reason forthe violation of the corneal transparency is an increase in the light scattering. The article presents five main causes of increased light scattering in the opaque cornea, and also provides an overview of the main substances – components and products of cellular synthesis of corneal stromal cells: cytokines and growth factors (complex of the signal molecule and the SDF1/CXCR4 receptor, insulin-like growth factor 1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, erythropoietin, neurotrophic factors, etc.). Thus, corneal opacity can be caused by a single pathogenic mechanism or be the result of a complex effect of several factors. The main processes of tissue homeostasis regulation are aimed at maintaining the unique morphological structure of the cornea.

The aim: to conduct a clinical and diagnostic evaluation of the effectiveness of the administration of a complex of drugs in the region of hemolymphocirculation in optical neuropathy in patients with edematous form of endocrine ophthalmopathy.Materials and methods. The results of diagnosis and treatment of 31 patients (61 eyes) with optical neuropathy on the background of edematous exophthalmos in endocrine ophthalmopathy were analyzed. To identify hidden forms of optical neuropathy, such studies were prescribed as computer microperimetry on a confocal infrared ophthalmoscope, a complex of electroretinographic studies: registration of maximum ERG, oscillatory potentials. Latent forms of optical neuropathy were detected in 22 cases. In 9 cases, there were obvious forms of optical neuropathy. All patients underwent a 10-day course of intensive complex treatment, consisting of injections into the region of hemolymphocirculation (projection of the pterygoid fossa) No. 6–8 (No. 3–4 on each side) with an interval of 24 hours of a drug mixture, the formulation of which included Lidocaine 20 mg, Dexazone 4 mg, Hemase 3000 UNITS, Dalargin 1 mg.Results. In all patients, there was a pronounced positive dynamics in the form of a significant (from 0.6 to 1.0) increase in visual acuity, a decrease in exophthalmos from (2.0 to 3.0 mm), an increase in color and contrast sensitivity.Conclusions. Due to the violation of venous and lymphatic outflow due to thickening of extraocular muscles and retrobulbar fiber, injections into the hemolymphocirculation region (projection of the pterygoid fossa) of drugs with a wide range of decongestant and metabolic effects are justified, effective and safe.

The endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) imbalance and the polymorphism of these genes may be the predisposition for diabetic retinopathy (DR) development and progression.The aim: to analyze VEGF (rs699947 and rs3025039) and eNOS (rs2070744) genes polymorphism and their combinations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) with and without initial non-proliferative DR.Materials and methods. The study included 200 patients with type 2 diabetes (155 women and 45 men, age – 43–70 years): 111 people without and 89 people with DR. The polymorphism of the regulatory regions of VEGF (rs699947 and rs3025039) and eNOS (rs2070744) genes was studied using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and TaqMan Real-Time PCR by. Statistical processing was carried out using the software packages Statistica 10.0, SPSS Statistics 23 and the package of original programs for volumetric processing of bioinformation.Results. The VEGF-2578 heterozygosity and two complex genotypes – VEGF-2578CA:VEGF+936CC and NOS3-786CT:VEGF-2578CA:VEGF+936CC – signifi cantly decreased in patients with DR. The predisposition to early DR development to minor genotype of eNOS gene in the NOS3-786CC:VEGF+936CT complex and signifi cantly decreased the homozygous wild-type eNOS genotype in DM2 patients with ophthalmopathology were shown. NOS3-86TT:VEGF2578AA genotype signifi cantly decreased in group with retinopathy developing and the glycated hemoglobin high level.Conclusion. Along with the clinical risk factors for the development of DR in DM2, the genetic polymorphism of the regulatory regions of the genes analyzed by us has a signifi cant weight. When analyzing potential genetic markers, it is important to consider possible joint epistatic/hypostatic effects. The complex analysis of polymorphic gene can help early prognosis of the DR development.

Background. A common cause of visual impairment in patients with non-infectious uveitis is macular edema, developing in 38–84 % of cases. Plasma enriched with platelets is widely used in various branches of medicine, the effectiveness of its use in the treatment of non-infectious uveitis, accompanied by macular edema, has not been sufficiently investigated. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich plasma in the complex treatment of non-infectious uveitis accompanied by macular edema.Material and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the academician S.N. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution in the period from 2016 to 2018, which included 123 people (176 eyes) from 18 to 50 years with non-infectious uveitis, accompanied by macular edema: 46 men, 77 women. Patients were divided into 2 groups. The main group consisted of patients receiving autologous platelet-rich plasma and anti-inflammatory treatment; the comparison group consisted of patients receiving anti-inflammatory treatment. The results of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, biomicroophthalmoscopy, optical coherence tomography of the macular zone, microperimetry, ultrasound examination on the side of the affected eye were evaluated. Statistical processing of the data was carried out in the program Statistica 10.Results. Maintenance of autologous platelet-rich plasma contributes to a statistically significant improvement in visual acuity on the 10th day of treatment by 64.2 %, a decrease in the thickness of the retina in fovea by 36.3 % and an increase in retinal photosensitivity by 34.6 % compared to the group of patients receiving only anti-inflammatory treatment. Conclusions. The use of autologous platelet-rich plasma in the complex treatment of non-infectious uveitis allows to accelerate the natural mechanisms of tissue regeneration, contributing to the reduction of macular edema, and improve visual performance.