Background. The correct echocardiographic (Echo) determination of left atrial (LA) dilatation is a criterion for diagnosing heart failure with the preserved ejection fraction.

Objective. The aim is to detect probable reasons for underestimating the LA area by Echo in hypertension patients.

Design and methods. In the prospective study, the LA area was measured echocardiographically in 89 ambulatory patients (P-wave duration in standard lead II was > 0.1 mm in 57 patients and ≤ 0.1 mm in 32 patients) from the apical four- and two-chamber views with and without focusing on the LA, and from the subcostal four-chamber view.

Results. A strong positive correlation was detected between ECG P-wave duration and the Echo LA area (r = 0.74). The LA areas were revealed to be different in patients with P-wave duration over 0.1 mm from the apical fourchamber view with optimization of displaying the LA (22.33 ± 0.68 and 19.02 ± 0.56 cm², respectively). The maximum LA area was detected from the subcostal fourchamber view (24.41 ± 0.78).

Conclusion. Thus, using the correspondence between the LA area and Pwave duration in standard lead II, optimization of displaying the LA, and additionally measuring the LA dimensions from the subcostal view, sonologists can avoid underestimating LA dimensions.

One of the main concepts explaining the development of Alzheimer’s disease is currently the amyloid theory. It was reliably established that the accumulation of the pathological protein amyloid β provokes the launch of a number of pathochemical reactions that ultimately lead to the development of synaptic dysfunction and the formation of cognitive disorders. The protein amyloid β is also synthesized in the brain of people who do not suffer from neurodegenerative pathology. Normally, it is actively removed from the brain. However, the exact mechanisms for maintaining its clearance are not established. The recently discovered glymphatic system claims to be such a component. The present review provides a comprehensive analysis of suggestions that the development of glymphatic system dysfunction contributes to the accumulation of amyloid β and the development of the clinical picture of Alzheimer›s disease.

Background. Many patients with neurological disorders have an increased risk of infection and the severe course of COVID-19. Studies on positive predictors of seizure outcomes with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease remain limited.

The objective is to study predictors for positive health outcomes after COVID infection in patients with epilepsy based on analysis of clinical observations.

Design and Methods. Study design - the work is a part of a prospective observational study of seizure dynamics after COVID infection in patients with epilepsy.

Results. The presented clinical observation demonstrates a positive health outcome after COVID infection in a young patient with the genetic generalized epilepsy with sustained clinical and electroencephalographic seizure remission on the next generation AED monotherapy (brivaracetam).

Conclusion. Predictors for positive health outcome after the 2019 novel coronavirus disease in patients with epilepsy include a young age, absence of somatic comorbidities, seizure remission, modern drug use with no interaction among AEDs and antibiotics and antivirals for the coronavirus disease treatment. Despite the encouraging data on the favourable course of epilepsy in cases of developing COVID-19, further research is needed to continue.

The article is devoted to the historical aspects of the emergence and development of methods of radiology diagnostics in perinatology — a science that studies the perinatal period and is at the junction of two disciplines: obstetrics and pediatrics. The official recognition of perinatal medicine as an independent direction took place in economically developed countries in 1976 (8 years after the first Congress on Perinatology), when the European Scientific Society of Perinatology was created. One of the most important tasks of perinatology is to assess the condition of the fetus and extrafetal structures, which include the placenta, umbilical cord, fetal membranes. As part of the development of perinatology, new areas of medical science have arisen and continue to actively develop, including radiology diagnostics in perinatology. Currently, during pregnancy, from radiology diagnostic methods, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are safe and informative. The emergence and development of classical X-ray diagnostics is considered separately in the article. Attention is drawn to the current state of the methods of radiology diagnostics when used in perinatology, the order of appointment, indications and contraindications, advantages and disadvantages. The study of the history of the development of radiology imaging in perinatology makes it possible to trace the dynamics of the development of this industry, to analyze the stages of the formation of instrumental research methods during pregnancy. Thanks to the constant development of technology, a large amount of accumulated experience in radiology imaging during pregnancy, the creation of international communities for diagnostics in perinatology and the formation of interdisciplinary approaches for the management of pregnancy, it has become possible to quickly, safely and non-invasively receive information about the condition of a pregnant woman and a fetus.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is widely used in different areas. For example, in laboratory diagnostics, PCR is used to detect bacterial and viral pathogens, in the diagnosis of hereditary diseases, and to identify paternity and many other. There are three types of PCR — qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative. The method is based on the ability of DNA polymerase to double the existing DNA strand, thus resulting in multiplication the number of copies of the region of interest. Necessary components of the reaction are DNA or RNA molecules, serving as a template for the of new molecules; polymerase — an enzyme synthesizes new DNA strands; short oligonucleotides – primers that are required for the enzyme work and are specific to the fragment of interest. Currently, there are not many primer designing tools that are easy-to-use and free. One of these tools is the Primer-BLAST online resource, which is integrated with the NCBI database. It is user-friendly and easyto-use effective tool that is integrated with GenBank and RefSeq, and always is up-to-dated. However, even for this tool, there are no detailed instructions for the primers designing. This work is an update for a previously published tutorial and provides a step-by-step guide to find target DNA regions, primers designing, and performing primer quality control. The paper is largely based on the personal experience of the authors and is intended for researchers working with PCR.