Endoparasitoses of the Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) on the northern Black Sea coast of Ukraine

One of the main tasks of ecological parasitology at the present stage is to determine patterns of spread of invasive diseases of poultry in the environment through a thorough epidemiological examination, as well as to determine the main directions and factors of spread of parasites in Ukraine. Some pigeon health problems can affect their populations, but parasitic infections play an important role. Our research found that 83.3% of Eurasian collared doves examined (Streptopelia decaocto) were affected by endoparasites. The commonest helminths were Raillietina spp. with the average invasion intensity of 4.9 ± 1.3 specimens/ind., Baruscapillaria spp. and Ascaridia columbae with an invasion intensity of 4.6 ± 1.5 and 3.7 ± 2.1 specimens/ind., respectively. The commonest cestodes were Raillietina spp. with the extent of invasion of 52.2% and Davainea proglottina – 6.7%. The Amoebotaenia cuneata cestodes were recorded in 3 (3.3%) doves, and Echinolepis carioca – only in 2 (2.2%) doves. Six doves (6.7%) were infected with the nematode Ascaridia columbae and 5 (5.6%) – Baruscapillaria spp. Eimerian oocysts were found in 9 (10%) collared doves, and Trichomonas gallinae was recorded in 15 (16.7%) birds. According to the results of helminthological autopsy and identification of the isolated pathogens, 8 varieties of mixinvasions were identified. In association with the Rayetins, there were the protozoa Eimeria spp. and Trichomonas gallinae and the nematode Ascaridia columbae. Two-component invasions were registered in 78.6% of doves, three-component infestations in 14.3% and four-component infestations in 7.1% of birds. Mixed infection with Raillietina spp. + Ascaridia columbae was found in the small intestine of Streptopelia decaocto, which was also pathomorphologically observed to have catarrhal-hemorrhagic enteritis, which was accompanied by the formation of a large number of spotted hemorrhages on the mucous membrane, and in the places of attachment of cestodes - necrotic-caseous areas. Temperature and other weather conditions such as humidity, precipitation, etc. of the northern Black Sea coast affect the population size of intermediate host cestodes. Continuous monitoring of invasive diseases of pigeons of different species will help to take the necessary preventive measures against endoparasitoses of birds

Parasites of domestic and wild pigeons in the south of Ukraine

Pigeons are closely related to human life and are both a source of food and object for hobbies and sports. Parasitic diseases of birds are the main reason for their growth retardation, reduced productivity and viability. The article presents the results of studying the prevalence of trichomonosis, cestodes and nematodes among the population of wild and domestic pigeons in the south of Ukraine. According to the results of the conducted researches it is established that in the south of Ukraine endoparasitoses of domestic and wild pigeons are quite widespread, and all species of this bird are carriers of Trichomonas gallinae. At the same time, the highest rate of Trichomonas infection was recorded in Columba palambus and C. livia domestica, and the overall infestation of males is higher by 4.4% compared to females. It was determined that domestic pigeons C. livia domestica were infested with trichomonosis (27.5%) and nematodes (Ascaridia columbae, 57.1%), C. palambus – trichomonosis (32.1%) and cestodes (Raillietina spp., 82.4%), Streptopelia turtur – cestodes (Raillietina spp., 12.5%) and S. decaocto – cestodes (Raillietina spp., 71.4%) and nematodes (Heterakis gallinarum, A. columbae – 33.3% and 44.4% respectively). The overall rate of infestation of pigeons with cestodes was 28.4% and the incidence in males was higher by 3.9% compared to females. It was found that the most common species among pigeon cestodes is Raillietina spp. In addition, 22.9% of pigeons are carriers of nematodes (H. gallinarum, A. columbae and Capillaria spp.). Continuous monitoring of pigeon parasites is necessary because they, in most cases, come into contact with other species of poultry and are a source of general invasion. In terms of further research, it would be promising to study the prevalence of helminthic infestation among wild migratory birds

Efficacy of sildenafil therapy in children with pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease

Mother and Child’s Institute, Department of Cardiology, Republic of MoldovaPurpose: pulmonary hypertension (PH) resulting from congenital heart disease (CHD) remains one of the most difficult childhood illness to treat. Sildenafil, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-5, is known as an effective and promising pulmonary vasodilator, with minors and insignifi cant reverse effects. Methods: we have evaluated the efficacy and the tolerability of sildenafil in chidren with advanced PH secondary CHD with shunts (simple (14 pts), mixed (35 pts) and complex (28 pts). In this monocentric, double-blind, placebocontrolled study we randomly assigned 77 pts with advanced PH (35 with repaired shunts, 31-palliative procedure and 11 inoperable pts) to placebo or Sildenafil orally, with the dose of 1-2 mg/kg/day each 8h for 6-12 months. The Sildenafil group consisted of 38 pts (mean age 19,9±5,3 months: 16 boys/22 girls) and the placebo group – 39 pts (mean age 21,7±7,8 months: 22 boys/17 girls). The study protocol included: functional class (FC) NYHA/Ross; O2 saturation; 6-min walk test; transthoracic echocardiogram (mean PAP, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), myocardial performance index (MPI or Tei index), right cardiac catheterisation, measuring pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). In addition a special questionnaire of evidence of adverse reactions was available. Results: at the patients treated with Sildenafil was observed an improvement of FC NYHA/Ross from 3,16±0,1 to 2,15±0,1 (p<0,001); O2 sat (+3,1±0,5%) comparing with placebo (+0,6±0,3%), (p<0,001); an effort tolerance estimated by 6-minute walk test (+152,5±17,4 m at 6 months and +184,3±21,2m at 12 months of treatment), (p<0,001); the decreasing of mean PAP, with 22,0±2,22 at 6 months and with 19,03±2,3 mmHg at 12 months (p<0,001) and PVRI had decreased with 2,45±0,19 UW·m2 (p<0,001); the improvement of the systolic function, TAPSE from 16,55±0,34 to 20,7±0,64 mm/m2 (p<0,001) and global function of RV (Tei index) with 0,15±0,01(-31%) to initial (p<0,001). In placebo group the respective signs slightly changed and only PVR diminished from 6,4±0,1 to 5,7±0,3 UW/m2 (p<0,05). There was no death in the sildenafil-treated cases, contrary to 5 in the placebo group. Conclusions: Sildenafil is efficient in treating PH secondary to congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts, but even more effective in corrected surgical shunts. Sildenafil improves FC, tolerability at effort, O2 sat, systolic and global function of RV, diminishing PAPm and PVRI comparing with placebo. This remedy has good tolerability, with minors and insignifi cant adverse reactions and favourable impact on the quality of life

Storage and display curricula of the department using diagram’s view for web application “IST Syllabi”

Curricula and syllabus – are the main parts of each educational process in every institute, university, school etc., as so there are a lot of materials, research exist for creating methods of clarification curricula and best representation of syllabi for each person related to educational process or who will be involved in the future. Syllabi defines the mainstream and provides all necessary information for each discipline and for curricula. In educational process very important to have fast mechanism to search syllabus for each discipline, but not only. As syllabuses are strongly connected to curricula, we need a curricula management system to be implemented as well. Among all semesters, specialty, courses, forms and other data provide for curricula mechanism to monitor not only schedule, but department program needs to be developed. The main task of educational units is not only to facilitate the work of the teaching staff, timely provision of students with the necessary information on training, as well as improving the interaction of departments and institutes with each other, but to clarify educational process as well. You can cope with this task by creating a resource that will contain updated, relevant data on curricula in various disciplines studied at the departments. With this service, all students, teachers, and others have the opportunity to learn all the current and past curricula of each stream and semester. An important task is to navigate and correctly represent syllabus information and it better to be done as WIKI-document – wellstructured, referenced and quick navigation inside of text. Current material provides a mechanism to demonstrate curriculum diagram for some department for each year of education. Based on modern technology mechanism was implemented in Faculty of Informatics and Computer Science of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” department of Information Systems and Technologies WEB-site and added quick search, using main attributes to monitor necessary syllabi as well. The system includes partially syllabus and curricula management system elements. For using WIKI-document view markdown structured document was used to generate each syllabus for provided system

Topological structures of adiabatic phase for multi-level quantum systems

The topological properties of adiabatic gauge fields for multi-level (three-level in particular) quantum systems are studied in detail. Similar to the result that the adiabatic gauge field for SU(2) systems (e.g. two-level quantum system or angular momentum systems, etc) have a monopole structure, the curvature two-forms of the adiabatic holonomies for SU(3) three-level and SU(3) eight-level quantum systems are shown to have monopole-like (for all levels) or instanton-like (for the degenerate levels) structures.Comment: 15 pages, no figures. Accepted by J.Phys.

The experience of launching a psychological hotline across 21 countries to support Ukrainians in wartime

The current work and further steps of the psychological hotline launched by the National Psychological Association of Ukraine (NPA) are discussed along with a call for action to mental health professionals worldwide. Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes the training and support of the NPA’s hotline staff as well as reflections on the hotline’s work from June 2022 to April 2023. Findings – With broad international support, the NPA’s psychological hotline currently operates in 21 countries providing psychological assistance and referrals to other service providers within Ukraine and abroad. We propose further steps of its work, including international collaboration. Originality/value – Providing citizens of Ukraine with broad public access to evidence-based remote psychological support through NPA’s hotlines is a high priority considering the war’s negative impact on mental health diverse and the limited capacity of the state mental health system. Keywords: crisis interventions, psychological hotline, psychological first aid, Russian invasion, Russian-Ukrainian war, war-related traum