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This commentary examines the resilience of primary health care in Ukraine amidst the ongoing war, drawing a few reflections relevant for other fragile and conflict-affected situations. Using personal observations and various published and unpublished reports, this article outlines five reflections on the strengths, challenges, and necessary adaptations of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Ukraine. It underscores the concerted efforts of the government to maintain public financing of PHC, thereby averting system collapse. The research also highlights the role of strategic adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic in fostering resilience during the war, including the widespread use of digital communication and skills training. The commentary emphasizes the role of managerial and financial autonomy in facilitating quick and efficient organizational response to crisis. It also recognizes emerging challenges, including better access to PHC services among the internally displaced persons, shifting patient profiles and service needs, and challenges related to reliance on local government financing. Finally, the authors advocate for a coordinated approach in humanitarian response, recovery efforts, and development programs to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of PHC in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The conflict in Ukraine during the past year has resulted in increased deaths and injuries to soldiers and civilians from military weapons and large and small caliber firearms. Unlike clinicians in some Western countries, until recently, clinicians working in Ukraine hospitals had little experience managing patients with gunshot wounds. Case Report: A 16-year-old boy was admitted as an emergency following a gunshot wound to the back of the neck from a Makarov pistol. The gun was reported to have been fired at a distance of more than 15 cm. Imaging showed the 9-mm bullet hit the cervical spine, causing nerve root involvement at C4 to C7, traveled upwards, and lodged in the left posterior maxilla. On examination, the patient had facial asymmetry and paralysis of the left shoulder, arm, hand, and wrist and was in pain and shock. Intubation and emergency surgery were performed, with the removal of a 9×18-mm bullet shell from the pterygopalatine fossa, deep to the infratemporal fossa, and posterior to the maxilla. The patient underwent postoperative physical therapy and continues to improve his physical function. Conclusions: This report has shown the importance of immediate evaluation of gunshot wounds so that surgery can be planned and performed rapidly, with a view to postoperative recovery and active physical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to generate many complex traumatic injuries and provides unique challenges to anaesthesiologists who provide medical care at various levels of medical evacuation. We report the successful use of an ultrasound‐guided continuous erector spinae plane (ESP) block in a patient with severe posterolateral chest trauma. The acute perioperative outcome of the patient was improved with the ESP block, the main benefits being excellent analgesia and minimal postoperative morphine requirements without influencing the risk of bleeding and coagulopathy. We conclude that continuous ESP block can be utilized to provide excellent analgesia following massive thoracic trauma. It's ease of placement under ultrasound guidance and low risk of complications makes this technique particularly useful in war medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is established that the aqueous solutions of N, S-containing mineral fertilizers cause intense corrosion damages to 20 and St3 steels, which affects the service lives of structural elements of the equipment used for general and special purposes. The corrosion rate of steel becomes 6.9–11.3 times higher as compared with tap water. It was discovered that, as the sulfur content in the composition of fertilizers increases to 5.32–5.34% and the nitrogen content decreases, the corrosion fracture of steel becomes less intense. It is proposed to improve the corrosion protection of steel structures and equipment in the media of N, S-containing mineral fertilizers by applying the RS-ChDTU environmentally friendly inhibitor made on the basis of the products of processing of vegetable raw materials in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]