One of the unresolved issues in experimental neuromorphology is searching for a solution for myelinated nerve fibers clustering on set of morphometric parameters. Therefore, in this article, a new approach for cluster analysis of myelinated fibers is proposed based on their morpho-functional features. The proposed clustering approach was developed in R software environment and uses model-based clustering, which is performed in few steps with increasing number of morphometric parameters on each next step. Applying the proposed clustering solution shown high similarity of identified groups' morphometric parameters with respective physiological types of myelinated A-fibers. This fact, in addition to the algorithm implementation simplicity, facilitates its use on identifying clusters of myelinated fibers that represent different myelinated fibers subpopulation in experimental neuromorphological research with high level of reliability.

Objective: To demonstrate the capabilities of cluster analysis in receiving scientific innovation results in morphological studies of cells of the bladder urothelium.Materials and methods.10 Wistar rats were used. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; electron microscope studies were  conducted; morphometry was performed in ImageJ and statistics – in studio-R using nonparametric methods and multivariate statistics.Results. A brief description of the main stages of cluster analysis shows way to determine the most important features of uroteliocytes and to reveal their heterogeneity, algorithms of Euclidean metrics and methods of clustering were described, the features of the application of the analysis in morphological studies were presented, an example of using these methods in searching for new results was presented, the models of morphological substantiation of clustering results were showed. Conclusion: 1) cluster analysis provides a scientific novelty in studies of transitional epithelium of the bladder; 2) it is used in case of heterogeneity of cellular composition of urothelium that is detected with a help of coefficient of variation; 3) the most significant features of uroteliocytes are their cell area and their nuclei area; 4) new results on the number of clusters were obtained by method of Ward, and new data on their indicators – by k-means; 5) Euclidean metric is the best to use; 6) to assess the adequacy of the results pairwise comparisons between multiple clusters were carried out according to their indicators; 7) results are presented in dimentional projection and they characterize cellular composition of the urothelium as structural system and detect systemic effects.

The article represents our own experience in organization of the educational process in the discipline of «Human Anatomy» in the format of distance online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The main stages of this form of education formation in the world and in Ukraine are briefl y represented. The causes of a number of challenges that arise in the implementation of online training are identifi ed and analyzed. The arisen problems are suggested to be solved by using presentations with color anatomical fi gures. The article describes the method of making presentations for both education and control using Power Point in detail. To assess students’ knowledge, it is also recommended to use electronic versions of test tasks of two levels: color fi gures, in which anatomical structures are marked with numbers, and situational clinical problems in the form of tasks «Step-1». Emphasis is placed on the peculiarities of the organization of distant online pass of fi nal module controls. There were off ered some simple but eff ective ways of elimination of students’ academic dishonesty.

No abstract

Measurement of consumed water and daily diuresis proved the pathomorphological manifestations of streptozotocin-induced -induced cystopathy in the experiment on rats according to the results of biochemical studies of blood and urine. It is argued that the desquamation of cells in the transitional epithelium, its atrophy, stratification violation, and baring of the basal membrane are caused by a large volume of urine, which excessively stretches the urinary bladder, destroying the intercellular contacts of the urothelial layer. It is proved that primary hyperglycemia leads to widening of the lumen of the arterioles and moderate thickening of the basal membrane of the micro-hemovessels, and high chronic hyperglycemia – directly triggers the whole cascade of pathomorphological changes: on the 42nd day of the experiment it causes vasoconstriction of the arterioles, and at the later terms – the secondary expansion of the arterioles and venules of the microcirculatory bed of UB (urinary bladder); is the cause of dystrophic changes of endothelial cells, further thickening and lamellar transformation of the basal membrane and plasma permeation of the perivascular connective tissue; causes the appearance of dark involutional myocytes with few organelles and sarcoplasm sequestration. Hydropic dystrophy of smooth myocytes has been found to be associated with the hydration of blood plasma as a result of excessive polydipsia in diabetic animals, and vacuole dystrophy of urothelial cells, enlargement of their size and interstitial edema – with low specific urinary density due to the multiple fast increase of diuresis. It has been established that prolonged high glucosuria and decreased diuresis lead to a decrease in urothelial cell size, compaction of their cytoplasm and ultrastructural readjustment. The increase of the content of glycosylated hemoglobin during the experiment justified the appearance and increase of the sludge-syndrome.

The results of designing the original metabolic cage for urine collection from small laboratory animals consisting of a case, a cylindrical animal chamber with the floor, a funnel, a urine collection vessel and two graded drinking bottles that can be placed at a different height depending on animal age are presented. The case was made of laminated particle board; a cylindrical animal chamber was made of polyethylene terephthalate; a circular floor of the animal chamber was made of stainless steel wire cloth mesh. As a funnel for urine collection, a ribbed glass funnel SIMAX (Czech Republic) was used. To prevent rat feces from entering the urine collection vessel, there were installed two stainless steel wire mesh filter discs, namely a larger disc located on the internal ribbed surface of the funnel and a smaller disc located close to the hole of the funnel tube. To support the urine collection vessel, a metal vessel stand with a deepening was made. Between the vessel and the funnel, there was placed a fine stainless steel metal cylinder preventing urine evaporation. In addition to low cost, the proposed design of the metabolic cage provides high levels of performance as confirmed by its high ability to allow urine to flow freely, as well as to collect urine, significantly smaller volume of urine evaporated, improved housing conditions for animals and allows us to collect the amount of urine more fully reflecting animal diuresis.

Traumatic peripheral nerve injury (PNI) significantly impacts patients' quality of life, and its treatment necessitates a multidisciplinary approach. Additionally, different non-traumatic factors such as environmental toxicants and endocrine disorders can significantly affect the regenerative capacity of damaged nerves.The aim of this study was to assess the morphological changes in the recovery of the damaged peripheral nerve, considering the impact of environmental heavy metal intoxication (mercury) and hypothyroidism, including their treatment.The study involved a total of 90 white rats divided into three groups, each group further subdivided into subgroups (a and b). All rats underwent surgical cutting of the sciatic nerve. Subgroup Ia underwent sciatic nerve injury alone, while subgroups IIa and IIIa were additionally subjected to experimental mercurialism and hypothyroidism, respectively. Subgroups Ib, IIb, and IIIb received treatments with Cerebrolysin, Thiotriazoline, and L-Thyroxine+Miacalcic, respectively, in addition to the traumatic nerve injury and experimental influences. The damaged nerves were then examined using both light and electron microscopy assessments.The findings of the study suggest that there are general patterns of de -and regeneration of the damaged peripheral nerve in the context of nootropic administration, experimental mercury intoxication, hypothyroidism, and their correction. In all groups, degeneration was observed, but a noteworthy delay in degenerative processes was observed specifically in cases involving delayed surgical nerve connection, mercurialism, and hypothyroidism, possibly due to the inhibition of Schwann cells. This led to a delayed regeneration process. However, the regeneration of the damaged nerve was significantly accelerated when the experimental pathological condition was corrected.

No abstract