IL-17 and IL-38 gene polymorphisms in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Background: Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune condition commonly linked with Graves' disease (GD), characterized by orbital tissue inflammation and fibrosis. It is hypothesized that gene polymorphisms may influence production of the IL-17 and IL-38 cytokines, thereby impacting TAO development and progression. This study focused on investigating the gene polymorphisms of IL-17 (rs9463772 C/T in IL17F) and IL-38 (rs3811058 C/T, rs7570267 A/G in IL1F10) in patients with GD.

Assessment of the levels of interleukin-17 and interleukin-38 in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy patients.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to analyse the levels of IL-17 and IL-38 in the samples of unstimulated tears, orbital adipose tissues, and sera of patients diagnosed with active forms of TAO. The correlation of the levels of IL-17 and IL-38 with clinical activity score (CAS) was scrutinized.

Methods: A study was conducted at the Kazakhstan Scientific Research Institute of Eye Diseases (Almaty city, Kazakhstan).

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Cryoablation Versus Radiofrequency Ablation Treatments for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of 2 strategies for catheter treatment of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation in the long-term period, using cardiac implantable loop recorders. The research is a prospective, randomized, controlled study designed to compare the results of modern catheter technologies in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. The study included 127 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation in the last 6 months before inclusion in the study, for whom at least 2 antiarrhythmic drugs of class I to III were not effective.

Prediction Mortality Rate Due to the Road-Traffic Accidents in Kazakhstan.

Background: As a result of the road traffic accidents 1.25 mln. of working-age people die each year on the roads.

Road traffic accidents in Kazakhstan.

Background: The article provides the analysis of death rates in road traffic accidents in Kazakhstan from 2004 to 2010 and explores the use of sanitary aviation.

Methods: Data of fatalities caused by road traffic accidents were collected and analysed. Descriptive and analytical methods of epidemiology and biomedical statistics were applied.

Effects of L-selectin stimulation of the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 on NK cells of healthy donors and tumor patients.

We studied the effects of fucoidan (L-selectin ligand) on the expression and SDF-1-induced internalization of CXCR4 receptor on human NK cells of healthy donors and tumor patients. Fucoidan stimulated the expression of surface CXCR4 due to mobilization of the intracellular pool. The effect of fucoidan on CXCR4 expression in cancer patients was low.

[Procedure for calculating the volume of the osseous orbit from the data of computed tomography].

The paper describes a simplified calculation procedure for the volume of the osseous orbit. The use of correction factors allowed the authors to show the appropriateness of calculation of the volume of the osseous orbit from 4-6 fragments instead of 45-55 ones, as had been accepted. The presented volume characteristics of the orbit may be used in the differential diagnosis of false and true exophthalmos and in the planning of orbital operations.

Challenges for injury prevention among the elderly in Kazakhstan.

Injury prevention is one of the most important issues facing governmental public health programs today. Injuries lead to premature mortality and disability of the population, decrease quality of life, and damage community property. Data demonstrate that 54.

[Procedure for calculating the volume of the orbital fat to be removed at decompressive surgery in patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy].

The paper gives data of computed tomography in 100 patients (148 orbits) with edematous exophthalmos (lipogenic and mixed types). There is a relationship of the higher degree of exophthalmos to the increased orbital soft tissue contents. A procedure is described for the individual calculation of the amount of removed orbital fat during compressive operations, which considers both the individual features of the anatomic structure and existing exophthalmos.

[Lipogenic type of edematous exophthalmos: clinical picture, treatment].

The authors describe the clinical picture and course of the lipogenic type of edematous exophthalmos. Internal orbital decompression is proposed to use as an alternative technique in the treatment of the lipogenic type of edematous exophthalmos.

[Computed tomographic anatomy of the orbit in the view of a clinician].

The paper deals with the examination of computed tomograms of 72 patients (90 orbits), including 29 males (36 orbits) and 43 females (54 orbits), who had no any orbital pathology. The patients' age ranged from 34 to 65 years. Data on the volume of the bony orbit and its soft tissue contents are given.

[Computed tomographic signs of extraocular muscle changes in endocrine ophthalmopathy].

The paper presents the results of a computed tomographic study of extraocular muscles (EOM) in 75 patients (131 orbits) without orbital pathology and different forms of endocrine ophthalmopathology. It also gives data on changes in EOM density and structure. The outline of the muscles has been studied at different stages of edematous exophthalmos and endocrine myopathy.

[Internal orbital decompression in uncompensated edematous exophthalmos].

The efficiency of internal orbital decompression was evaluated in uncompensated edematous exophthalmos (EE). Twenty-two patients aged 17-65 years who had EE (30 orbits) were followed up. EE in a subcompensation and decompensation stage occurred in 12 (17 orbits) and 10 (13 orbits) patients, respectively.

[Congenital pathology of the eye as a main cause of impaired vision in children].

Congenital diseases of the eyes is the most frequent cause of vision reduction in children and one of the major causes of invalidity for poor sight. The aim of the present study was analysis of the causes of congenital ocular diseases in children in Kazakhstan. Results of prophylactic examinations at some rural districts of the republic evidence that refraction abnormalities rank first in the structure of congenital ocular diseases, oculomotor system abnormalities second, and defects of the eyelids and lacrimal tract, third.

[Vertical strabismus and methods for its treatment].

The paper analyses results after treatment of 80 children with vertical squint, of them 8 patients had vertical squint alone and the rest--association of vertical and horizontal squint. Most of the children had divergent vertical deviation. For correction of vertical squint, myoplastic operations were used.

[Surgical treatment of congenital myopia in children].

Ophthalmological data and results of surgical treatment in 81 children with congenital myopia are analysed. The methods used were simple, accessible for children ophthalmological practice: scleroplasty after Pivovarov-Pristavko (group I), modified chondroplasty (group II), simplified scleroplasty with revascularization of the Tenon's capsule after Beliaev (group III). Analysis of immediate results of operation has shown that any method of scleroplasty leads to increase of visual acuity, reduction of refraction and shortening of the anteroposterior axis of the eye.