Rationale and Objectives: Ethanol acts directly on the α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7). Adolescent-binge alcohol exposure (ABAE) produces deleterious consequences during adulthood, and data indicate that the α7 receptor regulates these damaging events. Administration of an α7 Negative Allosteric Modulator (NAM) or the cholinesterase inhibitor galantamine can prophylactically prevent adult consequences of ABAE. The goals of the experiments were to determine the effects of co-administration of ethanol and a α7 agonist in the mesolimbic dopamine system and to determine if administration of an α7 NAM or positive allosteric modulator (PAM) modulates the enhancement of adult alcohol drinking produced by ABAE.Methods: In adult rats, ethanol and the α7 agonist AR-R17779 (AR) were microinjected into the posterior ventral tegmental area (VTA), and dopamine levels were measured in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). In adolescence, rats were treated with the α7 NAM SB-277011-A (SB) or PNU-120596 (PAM) 2 h before administration of EtOH (ABAE). Ethanol consumption (acquisition, maintenance, and relapse) during adulthood was characterized.Results: Ethanol and AR co-administered into the posterior VTA stimulated dopamine release in the AcbSh in a synergistic manner. The increase in alcohol consumption during the acquisition and relapse drinking during adulthood following ABAE was prevented by administration of SB, or enhanced by administration of PNU, prior to EtOH exposure during adolescence.Discussion: Ethanol acts on the α7 receptor, and the α7 receptor regulates the critical effects of ethanol in the brain. The data replicate the findings that cholinergic agents (α7 NAMs) can act prophylactically to reduce the alterations in adult alcohol consumption following ABAE.

(1) Background: Rotavirus and norovirus infections are the primary viral causes of childhood diarrhea. In Ukraine, the diarrhea-linked infant mortality rate is low, but the number of children infected is quite high. This study examined the rates of rotavirus and norovirus infections throughout Ukraine. (2) Methods: Fecal samples for children admitted to hospitals in six Ukrainian cities (Kyiv, Lviv, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Uman) were tested for the presence of rotavirus and norovirus. (3) Results: The overall rate of hospitalized children suffering from diarrhea with confirmed presence of rotavirus or norovirus in fecal samples was significant (20.67% and 27.94%, respectively). Samples obtained from children from Lviv had significantly higher rates of the viruses, and Kyiv and Uman had significantly lower rotavirus or norovirus detection levels than expected. (4) Conclusion: Childhood diarrhea impacts Ukraine significantly. The economic and societal effects of the failure to address this public health issue are indicated by the hospitalization rate of children with preventable illnesses. The geographical disparities in Ukraine for child hospitalizations caused by rotavirus and norovirus infections could result from environmental (sanitary factors or water purity issues) or social factors. Further research is needed to completely characterize infant viral infections in Ukraine.

At the beginning of 2020, one of the most significant health problems for humanity is the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we identify features and develop simple epidemic model of COVID-19 on the basis of available epidemiological data and existing trends worldwide. Modeling of COVID-19 epidemic process was based on a classic model. A key parameter of the model, i.e. transmission parameter of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was determined numerically with the use of available epidemiological daily reports of COVID-19 from 17 April to 23 May 2020. Numerical determination of transmission parameter of SARS-CoV-2 according to the absolute number of COVID-19 cases in Ukraine, Indonesia and worldwide data showed its global tendency to decrease over time. Approximation of the obtained numerical values of the transmission parameter of SARS-CoV-2 was carried out using the exponential function. The results of prognostic modeling showed that by the end of summer 2020, above 30 thousand COVID-19 cases are expected in Ukraine, 100 thousand COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, and 12 million COVID-19 cases worldwide. Thus, predicting the possible consequences of the implementation of various health care control programs COVID-19 involves a comprehensive study of the epidemic process of the disease as a whole and for certain periods of time with the subsequent construction of an adequate prediction model.

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The aim: To analyze, summarize and substantiate modern approaches to the formation of the professional competencies of pharmacists on issues of medicine quality assurance in Ukraine. Materials and methods: In this study, we performed systematic review, systematic and comparative analysis, content analysis, generalization, document analysis, logical and graphical modeling to address those issues. Conclusions: We showed that the curriculum and program of the «Basic foundations of the functioning of quality systems in pharmacy institutions» thematic improvement cycle for pharmacists have been substantiated and developed. The content of the program provides an opportunity to prepare pharmacists for independent work in the field of implementation and support of effective quality systems in pharmacy institutions and hospital pharmacy services. In the context of substantiation of modern approaches to the preparation of pharmacists in the field of medicines quality assurance, the experience and advantages of such modern forms of training of pharmacists as the use of training bases and blended learning have been studied. The modern approaches to the formation of the professional competencies of pharmacists on issues of medicine quality assurance in Ukraine have been analyzed, summarize and substantiated.

Introduction: Several studies has shown that rotaviruses play a leading role in the structure of acute intestinal infections (AII) of viral etiology in children. In the National vaccination calendar of Ukraine, vaccination against rotavirus infection (RVI) is classified as recommended, with the expected goal of reducing the number of severe RVI cases among under five-year-old children. Nevertheless, despite the positive epidemiological and clinical effects of vaccination against RVI, it remains unclear how appropriate the introduction of rotavirus vaccines is in terms of potential costs and benefits, as well as determining the optimal level of subsidy required to cover part of the costs of voluntary vaccination of the population. The aim: Study of optimal subsidy level of rotavirus vaccine in Ukraine using epidemiological and pharmacoeconomic modeling. Materials and methods: The retrospective epidemiological data of the monthly RVI incidence in Ukraine as well as the population number from 2010 to 2016 formed the information basis for determining the transmission parameter of the viral agent. The scenario of RVI epidemic process as an acute intestinal infection from the point of view of mathematical epidemiology is best described by developed mathematical model. Cost-benefit of rotavirus vaccination was studied with the use of developed pharmacoeconomic criteria. Results and conclusions: Prediction of possible implications of RVI vaccination and finding optimal level of vaccine supply involves a comprehensive study of the epidemic process peculiarities of this infection with development of an adequate epidemiological model. We have proposed a model of RVI epidemiological process in Ukraine, determining its main parameters with the use of available retrospective data of anual number of RVI cases for the period from 2010 to 2016. The developed model was used as an analytical tool for analyzing influence of different levels of vaccine supply on vaccination cost-benefit. The results of research showed that the use of epidemiological modeling in pharmacoeconomic analysis of rotavirus vaccination made it possible to determine analytically optimal level of vaccination subsidy level.

Prostate cancer is one of the most serious health problems encountered by the manhood of different countries of the world. Prostate cancer is a hormone-dependent tumor – growth and proliferation of both normal and cancer cells significantly depend on level of androgens. The analogues of gonadotropin-releasing hormone have been widely applied in prostate cancer therapy for more than 15 years. In Ukraine goserelin (1 month, 1 M; 3 months, 3 M) currently occupies the major part of market among the analogues of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. The alternative to goserelin is triptorelin (1 month, 1 M; 1 months, 3 M; 6 months, 6 M) – another well-studied and widely applied analogue of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which is used for medical castration in cases of prostate cancer. Taking this into consideration, conducting the analysis of triptorelin and goserelin application is relevant. The purpose of the work was to conduct cost minimization and budget impact analysis using triptorelin 6 M and goserelin 3 M in hormonal therapy of prostate cancer in Ukrainian patients. The research was based on treatment cost of one patient during one year under condition of equivalent efficacy and safety of goserelin and triptorelin. The pharmacoeconomic analysis was conducted according to the «cost minimization» method. For calculation of direct costs when applying goserelin and triptorelin a pharmacoeconomic decision tree model was used, according to which the costs are computed with an allowance for possibilities and expenditures on side effects. The results of pharmacoeconomic modeling showed a tendency for a yearly cost cut in the amount of 2 887.69 UAH per patient when using triptorelin in model cohort which consisted of 1 000 patients. Besides, it allows 137 additional patients per thousand of them to be treated with triptorelin. As the result of modeling the influence on budget it was estimated that the amount of cost saving on buying triptorelin would average at 4,6 million UAH per every year for five years of its implementation. Hormone therapy with application of the analogues of gonadotropin-releasing hormone is one of the major treatment methods of patients with prostate cancer. A pharmacoeconomic analysis of triptorelin application in comparison with goserelin for treating patients with prostate cancer in Ukraine was conducted. The results of pharmacoeconomic modeling showed that a significant cost cut is expected when using triptorelin. It will allow additional patients, who need hormone therapy, to be treated.