Georgian medical news最新文献

{"title":"IMPACT OF STEM CELL THERAPY ADDED TO GUIDELINE-DIRECTED MEDICAL THERAPY ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC CARDIOMYOPATHY.","authors":"B Kemelbekov, A Amanzholkyzy, S Saparbayev, M Askarov, E Stankevicius","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite substantial advances in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), many patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) continue to experience persistent symptoms and impaired quality of life. Regenerative cell therapy has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment; however, its clinical effectiveness remains under active investigation.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the association between adjunctive autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear stem cell therapy and quality of life in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy receiving contemporary guideline-directed medical therapy.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This prospective non-randomized controlled study included 54 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%). Twenty-seven patients underwent autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear stem cell transplantation in addition to optimized GDMT, while 27 patients received optimized GDMT alone. Quality of life was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) at baseline and after 12 months. Within-group comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and between-group comparisons using the Mann-Whitney U test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After 12 months, patients receiving adjunctive stem cell therapy demonstrated significantly greater improvement in overall MLHFQ score than patients treated with optimized GDMT alone. Significant improvements were also observed across several MLHFQ domains, particularly those related to physical functioning, mobility, daytime fatigue, daily activities, sexual activity, and memory and concentration. These benefits were observed in patients receiving optimized contemporary GDMT, including widespread use of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Adjunctive autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear stem cell therapy was associated with greater improvement in quality of life than optimized guideline-directed medical therapy alone in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and HFrEF. These findings suggest that regenerative cell therapy may provide additional patient-reported benefits when added to contemporary pharmacological treatment. However, because of the prospective non-randomized design, relatively small sample size, and single-center setting, the results should be interpreted with appropriate caution and require confirmation in larger multicenter randomized controlled trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"43-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EVIDENCE-BASED PHARMACOTHERAPY FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS COMORBID WITH PTSD: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.","authors":"L Bashkirova, I Romanova, V Yatsynovych, O Zlobin, A Lanskoi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pharmacological interventions for anxiety outcomes in adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including confirmed comorbid anxiety disorders and clinically significant anxiety symptoms.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched for randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies published from 2000 to 2025. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane tools, and certainty of evidence with GRADE.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-two studies involving 2,708 participants were included. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) reduced anxiety symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.62 to -0.30; moderate certainty) and PTSD symptoms (SMD -0.43; 95% CI -0.58 to -0.28; moderate certainty). However, applicability to formally diagnosed comorbid anxiety disorders was limited by inconsistent diagnostic reporting. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) reduced anxiety symptoms (SMD -0.38; 95% CI -0.55 to -0.21; low certainty), whereas evidence for PTSD outcomes was less certain. Atypical antipsychotics showed possible benefit but increased discontinuation due to adverse events (RR 2.14; 95% CI 1.43 to 3.21).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>SSRIs provide moderate-certainty evidence for reducing anxiety outcomes in PTSD populations. Evidence for confirmed comorbid anxiety disorders remains limited. SNRIs and atypical antipsychotics have lower-certainty evidence, and atypical antipsychotics are associated with greater adverse-event discontinuation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"152-163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SELF-RATED HEALTH IN THE POPULATION OF MEDICAL WORKERS IN GEORGIA.","authors":"N Nadiradze, Z Ckhaidze","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Self-rated health status may be considered a good predictor of morbidity and mortality and is useful for understanding the sociodemographic, environmental, and clinical conditions associated with self-rated health.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of the study is to analyze self-rated health status in the population of medical workers in Georgia and its relationship with socio-economic characteristics, lifestyle, clinical status, and work-related characteristics.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The study included 471 participants aged 18 to 83 years (48+15), including 351 women and 120 men. All participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that included socio-economic characteristics, lifestyle, clinical status, and job characteristics. Health was assessed by respondents as poor, average, good, or very good. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 23 software package.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>More than half of the study participants rated their health as average, 34% as good, and only a small proportion as very good and poor, namely 6% and 5%, respectively. The odds ratio of good or very good self-rated health increase with Physician - p=0.0320, OR=1.65 (95%CI:1.04-2.60); Therapist - p=0.0250, OR=1.94 (95%CI:1.09-3.46); Underweight - p=0.0190, OR=1.69 (95%CI:1.09-2.60) and decrease with Age - p<0.0001, OR=0.97 (95%CI:0.96-0.99); Professional burnout - p<0.0001, OR=0.33 (95%CI:0.18-0.58); Other workplace stress - p=0.0060, OR=0.48 (95%CI:0.28-0.81); Alcohol - p=0.0080, OR=0.20 (95%CI:0.06-0.66); Physical inactivity - p=0.0390, OR=0.63 (95%CI:0.40-0.98); Oncological Diseases - p=0.0230, OR=0.08 (95%CI:0.01-0.70); Fast food - p=0.0070, OR=0.55 (95%CI:0.35-0.85).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Self-rated health among medical workers in Georgia is associated with psychosocial as well as behavioral and clinical factors-professional burnout, work stress, mental health problems, insomnia, overweight and physical inactivity, unhealthy eating behaviors, and self-medication. The relative odds of good and very good self-rated health increase with underweight status and the professional factors of being a physician and a therapist, and decrease with age, professional burnout, workplace stress, alcohol consumption, fast food, physical inactivity, and oncological diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"175-180"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COMBINED BOTULINUM TOXIN THERAPY AND PERCUTANEOUS TIBIAL NERVE STIMULATION IN THE REHABILITATION OF WOMEN WITH URGENCY URINARY INCONTINENCE ASSOCIATED WITH DIABETES MELLITUS.","authors":"S Makhmatkulov, M Ibragimova, A Khasanov, Z Mavlyanova, F Khalimova, M Ismail","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a combined rehabilitation program consisting of intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin type A followed by a course of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in women with urgency urinary incontinence associated with diabetes mellitus.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This prospective, non-randomized comparative clinical study included 135 women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Of these, 105 women had urgency urinary incontinence persisting despite standard conservative therapy and entered the treatment comparison, and 30 women with diabetes mellitus but without urgency urinary incontinence or overactive bladder symptoms served as a non-incontinent reference (control) group. Assignment of the 105 symptomatic women to treatment was made prospectively on the basis of predefined clinical eligibility for third-line therapy and documented patient preference; no randomization procedure was used. The main group (n=50) received intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin type A with hemagglutinin complex at a total dose of 300 U followed by 12 weekly PTNS sessions. The comparison group (n=55) received standard conservative therapy. The reference group received no study intervention and was used only for general clinical and nosological characterization; it was not included in any efficacy or safety comparison. The primary endpoint was the change in the number of daily urgency urinary incontinence episodes after 12 weeks.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After 12 weeks, the frequency of urgency urinary incontinence episodes decreased from 5.8±1.4 to 1.4±0.8 episodes per day in the main group and from 5.7±1.3 to 3.9±1.2 episodes per day in the comparison group. The between-group difference in final values was -2.5 episodes per day (95% CI: -2.9 to -2.1; p<0.001). The main group also demonstrated a more pronounced decrease in ICIQ-SF score, OAB-q Symptom Bother score and NGF/Cr level, an increase in effective voided volume, and improvement in pelvic floor ENMG parameters. Transient urinary retention was recorded in 3 patients (6.0%) in the main group and was reversible.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A combined program including intravesical botulinum toxin therapy and PTNS provides a statistically and clinically significant reduction in symptoms of urgency urinary incontinence in women with diabetes mellitus and has an acceptable safety profile. Dynamic monitoring of postvoid residual urine is necessary to reduce the risk of complications after botulinum toxin therapy. Because treatment was not allocated at random, these findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in randomized controlled trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"433-444"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PSOAS MUSCLE ABSCESS FOLLOWING CESAREAN SECTION: A CASE REPORT.","authors":"S Shala, F Derguti","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Psoas muscle abscess is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition and is exceptionally uncommon after cesarean section. Its nonspecific clinical presentation may delay diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 37-year-old multiparous woman (gravida 4, para 2, with two previous spontaneous abortions) at 34 weeks of gestation underwent emergency repeat cesarean section for pathological cardiotocography, uterine hypertonia, threatened fetal asphyxia, and previous cesarean section. The pregnancy was complicated by pregnancy-induced hypertension. The cesarean section was uncomplicated, and no perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was administered. On postoperative day 9, she developed fever, lower abdominal pain, right hip pain, and impaired ambulation. Partial wound dehiscence was noted and the wound swab grew Escherichia coli. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a large complex right-sided intra-abdominal collection measuring approximately 12×10 cm with a hydroaeric level and peripheral enhancement, suspicious for abscess. Because of clinical deterioration and the size and complexity of the collection, relaparotomy and surgical drainage were performed. Urine culture also grew Escherichia coli, whereas blood cultures were sterile. Culture of the abscess material was not performed. Antimicrobial treatment consisted of cefazolin for 7 days, gentamicin for 5 days, followed by vancomycin, imipenem, and metronidazole for an additional 5 days. The patient improved clinically, inflammatory markers decreased, and subsequent ultrasound demonstrated resolution of the collection.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Psoas abscess should be considered in patients with persistent postpartum fever, particularly when accompanied by hip pain or impaired ambulation. Early imaging and appropriate source control are important for favorable maternal outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"320-322"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149107971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"NAIL PLATE DAMAGE INDEX IN DERMATOSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF PATIENTS WITH ONYCHOMYCOSIS.","authors":"G Chekhovska, N Pustova, O Syzon, I Chaplyk-Chyzho, M Dashko, I Vozniak, S Volbyn, N Ivaniushko-Nazarko, O Zhemela, V Gargin","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The lack of uniform criteria for assessing the degree of damage to the nail plates of patients with onychomycosis does not allow for an objective assessment of the effectiveness of therapy and a comparative assessment of the results of treatment using different methods. In modern medicine, the use of instrumental methods of diagnosis and treatment is becoming more widespread. In particular, one of the options for obtaining information about the state of lesions is nail plate damage index (NPDI). However, the correspondence of the macroscopic appearance to the actual condition remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of our study was to determine the objectivity of nail plate damage index by comparing it with the degree of contamination with fungal structures.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>Patients with onychomycosis were examinated with nail plate damage index (NPDI), Scoring Clinical Index of Onychomycosis (SCIO), and Onychomycosis Severity Index (OSI). To assess the degree of fungal contamination, scraping microscopy was performed. After assessing the degree of damage using NPDI, SCIO, OSI compared their results with the data of microscopic examination.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>When comparing the data of microscopic examination and external examination, it was found that, as a rule, with microscopic damage to 25% of the area, macroscopically observed change in nail color is observed, white or yellow spots/stripes appear (often near the free edge or on the sides), while the thickness of the nail is almost not disturbed. With damage from 25% to 50% of the area, the nail becomes dull, noticeably thickens, deforms and begins to crumble. Subungual hyperkeratosis (accumulation of horny masses) often occurs. With damage to more than 50% of the area, changes reach the matrix (nail growth zone). The nail plate collapses, exfoliates from the bed (onycholysis) or becomes thin and softened.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Definition of nail plate damage indexatonychomycosis is an informative indicator with a high correlation with the area of contamination (r=0.81) and can be recommended for both diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment process.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"253-258"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"FORMATION AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF FUNCTIONAL INTERHEMISPHERIC BRAIN ASYMMETRY IN CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.","authors":"T Azatyan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study of the dynamics of interhemispheric relations during adaptation to changing environmental conditions, as well as during brain lesions or functional disorders in the activity of any structures, has revealed a predominant increase in the activation of the right hemisphere. Studies by different authors also show that many pathological brain states are characterized by a deviation of the functional brain asymmetry profile from that recorded in a normally functioning CNS. In our research we tried to trace the peculiarities of the formation of individual asymmetry profile under the influence of sensory deprivation in children with hearing pathology.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"57-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IMPACT OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION ON VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY LEVELS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.","authors":"R Waleed, A Fadlalla, J Abdullah, M Ismail, M Saeed, A Hashim, A Eltom","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vitamin B12 deficiency, commonly attributed to malabsorption, presents significant clinical consequences including hematological and neurological manifestations. Helicobacter pylori infection, a prevalent global pathogen, has been implicated in gastric pathology that may compromise vitamin B12 absorption through various mechanisms including gastric atrophy and impaired intrinsic factor production. This study aimed to evaluate the association between H. pylori infection and vitamin B12 deficiency.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective study was conducted at Thumbay Hospital, Ajman, UAE, involving 110 patients who underwent testing for both H. pylori (via urea breath test) and vitamin B12 levels using consecutive sampling of eligible patients tested during the study period. Patients with positive H. pylori results comprised the case group (n=60), while those with negative results served as controls (n=50). H. pylori positivity was defined by the assay's manufacturer cut-off (delta-over-baseline ≥2.4‰), and vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as a serum concentration below 200 pg/mL per the assay reference interval. Exclusion criteria included diseases other than H. pylori affecting vitamin B12 levels and ongoing vitamin B12 therapy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, employing Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A statistically significant difference was observed in mean vitamin B12 levels between H. pylori-infected patients (115.25±26.48 pg/mL) and non-infected patients (253.05±78.31 pg/mL; p<0.001). No significant gender-based differences were found within the infected group (p=0.9). A significant negative correlation was identified between vitamin B12 levels and urea breath test results (r=-0.56, p=0.004).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings support the hypothesis that H. pylori infection is associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, highlighting the importance of screening and monitoring vitamin B12 levels in infected individuals. Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted to establish causality and evaluate the impact of H. pylori eradication on vitamin B12 status.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"310-315"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ACEBROPHYLLINE REPROGRAMS INFLAMMATORY AND REDOX SIGNALLING IN EXPERIMENTAL ULCERATIVE COLITIS: A DOSE-DEPENDENT STUDY.","authors":"O Salman, A Al-Zubaidy","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by dysregulated immune responses and oxidative stress, characterised by excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and defective redox homeostasis that leads to mucosal damage. Few therapeutic strategies are therefore able to simultaneously modulate these unified pathways.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study investigated the prophylactic dose-dependent immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects of acebrophylline in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Male albino mice were treated with 3% DSS in drinking water for 10 days to induce experimental colitis. Animals were divided randomly into control, DSS, sulfasalazine reference, acebrophylline (5 mg/kg), and acebrophylline (10 mg/kg) groups. Sulfasalazine was included as a reference standard to provide pharmacological context for the effect of acebrophylline. Disease severity was assessed with the clinical disease activity index (DAI), macroscopic parameters, and histopathological analysis. Colonic inflammation levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) and oxidative stress markers (MDA, MPO, SOD, and GSH) were determined using ELISA-based assays.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>DSS exposure led to severe colitis features such as high DAI scores and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress parameters, as well as pronounced histopathological damage. In a dose-dependent manner, these changes were significantly reduced by acebrophylline treatment. A higher (10 mg/kg) dose showed more effective inhibition towards TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and stronger restoration of IL-10. In addition, acebrophylline decreased MDA and MPO levels, indicating the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and neutrophil infiltration, respectively, as well as restored antioxidant defence via an increase in SOD activity and GSH levels. These findings were confirmed by histopathology, revealing enhanced mucosal architecture and less inflammatory infiltration, evident mainly at the high dose.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Acebrophylline has a strong protective effect on DSS-induced colitis with dose-dependent reprogramming of inflammatory and redox signalling. The latter findings indicate that it may fulfil the criteria of a standalone therapeutic candidate by targeting several important pathogenic mechanisms in ulcerative colitis.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"190-199"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN BIRTH WEIGHT AND PRENATAL CARE UTILIZATION IN ECUADOR, 2024.","authors":"K Calderón, J Pilco, C Cabezas, K Cuello","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Low birth weight is defined as a weight of less than 2,500 grams. It is one of the leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality; furthermore, in the long term, it contributes to the development of severe malnutrition, neurological disorders, respiratory complications, and immune deficiencies, as well as to increased costs for the national healthcare system. This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. The data are drawn from the \"Live Births 2024\" administrative registry database, managed by Ecuador's National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2024. A majority of mothers (91.7%) identified as mestizo, followed by indigenous (6.1%), Afro-Ecuadorian (1.2%), and Montubio (1.0%). The lowest average birth weight was in the Indigenous population (3063.2 g) and the highest in the Afro-Ecuadorian population (3095.8 g). Furthermore, a modest positive statistical association was observed between the number of prenatal visits and birth weight (7.30 g per additional visit), which should be interpreted with caution given the cross-sectional design. The overall prevalence of low birth weight was 8.7%, ranging from 8.2% among Montubio to 10.1% among Afro-Ecuadorian newborns; after adjustment for sociodemographic covariates, indigenous ethnicity remained associated with higher odds of low birth weight relative to the mestizo reference group (adjusted OR 1.13), and Montubio ethnicity was associated with a significant reduction in mean birth weight only after accounting for geographic region. These findings highlight the importance of analyzing the various risk factors associated with low birth weight, including sociodemographic characteristics and prenatal care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12610,"journal":{"name":"Georgian medical news","volume":" 376-377","pages":"389-394"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}