Atherosclerosis originating from childhood:Specific features

Atherosclerosis is extremely widespread.Traditionally,it is considered a disease of older people,who most often experience problems with the heart and blood vessels.While much attention from the scientific community has been paid to studying the association between aging and atherosclerosis,as well as its consequences,there is evidence that atherosclerosis occurs at an early age.Atherosclerosis may form both during intrauterine development and in childhood.Nutrition plays an important role in childhood atherosclerosis,along with previous infectious diseases and excess weight of both the child and the mother.In the present review,we examined the development of atherosclerosis and the prerequisites in childhood.

Significance of dormant forms of Helicobacter pylori in ulcerogenesis

Nearly half of the global population are carriers of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori),a Gram-negative bacterium that persists in the healthy human stomach. H. pylori can be a pathogen and causes development of peptic ulcer disease in a certain state of the macroorganism. It is well established that H. pylori infection is the main cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease(PUD). Decontamination of the gastric mucosa with various antibiotics leads to H. pylori elimination and longer remission in this disease. However,the reasons for repeated detection of H. pylori in recurrent PUD after its successful eradication remain unclear. The reason for the redetection of H. pylori in recurrent PUD can be either reinfection or ineffective anti-Helicobacter therapy. The administration of antibacterial drugs can lead not only to the emergence of resistant strains of microorganisms,but also contribute to the conversion of H. pylori into the resting(dormant) state. The dormant forms of H. pylori have been shown to play a potential role in the development of relapses of PUD. The paper discusses morphological H. pylori forms,such as S-shaped,C-shaped,U-shaped,and coccoid ones. The authors proposes the classification of H. pylori according to its morphological forms and viability.

Rhabdomyolysis after the Intake of Illicit Drugs as a Cause of Acute Renal Failure

Background: Rhabdomyolysis (RM) is striate muscle-cell damage with the release of intracellular substances to the circulation—myoglobin, muscular enzymes, potassium, etc., with or without the development of acute renal injury. RM due to the intake of illicit and controlled substances, including cocaine, amphetamine and its derivates, cannabis, and alcohol abuse is a common cause of acute renal failure in adolescents and adults. Aim: to alert clinicians to the need of early diagnosis and treatment of RM due to the intake of controlled substances and energy drinks. Case Presentation: We describe a 20-year-old male patient with acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis after the intake of controlled substances, energy drinks, physical efforts and dehydration. The renal biopsy revealed acute tubular injury. After rehydration, alkalization, temporary dialysis treatment, intravenous corticosteroids and symptomatic treatment the patient restored renal function. Conclusion: RM can be a severe life-threatening complication of the intake of controlled substances combined with strenuous physical activity, energy drinks and dehydration. The described case represents a typical scenario of RM developing secondary to controlled substance abuse in combination with alcohol and strenuous physical activity. The prompt diagnosis and the timely initiation of supportive (rehydration and alkalization) and corticosteroid therapy and the early dialysis lead to fast resolution of renal failure. The clinicians should keep in mind illicit drugs, alcohol and energy drinks and physical efforts as possible triggers of RM and acute kidney injury, especially in young people.