The address to the authors focuses on the necessity of obtaining patient informed consent for publication of their personal data, and also provides a model of informed consent for publication of patients' pictures in the manuscripts submitted to academic medical journals.

The article is devoted to the history of the Union of pediatricians of Russia. The study results of the works, charters of Petersburg and Moscow Society of Pediatricians founded in the XIX century, reports and resolutions of the first and the only pre-revolutionary congress and the next two congresses of pediatricians held in the 20s of the twentieth century are presented. The article shows the purposeful activity of prominent Russian pediatricians oriented on the creation of a professional organization aimed to develop pediatrics, reduce child mortality and improve children's health.

Rhetoric studies can play a positive role in the formation of verbal and cogitative activity and communicative competence of the future pediatrician. The latest scientific researches evidenced that the success of a doctor's practice is related not only to his highly professional medical knowledge, but also to his ability to talk, persuade, and communicate. Rhetoric is the theory and practice of the effective verbal expression of a thought in terms of a public monologue and dialogue; Medical (private) rhetoric is aimed at the development of general and professional verbal, cogitative, and communicative abilities of the future doctor. Methodically competent combination of disciplines «Medical Rhetoric» and «Psychology and Pedagogy» into a single module can enhance educational outcomes in teaching students.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, immune/antigen-mediated esophageal inflammatory disease characterized by a pronounced eosinophilic infiltration of its mucous membrane. The occurrence of eosinophilia and damage of the esophageal mucous membrane is caused by exposure to food and aeroallergens, by genetic predisposition, and by activation of immune responses mediated by T-helper 2. In pediatric, eosinophilic esophagitis is most common in preschool and school-aged children with a burdened allergic history. Clinically, eosinophilic esophagitis is manifested by epigastric pain, symptoms similar to gastroesophageal reflux disease, and dysphagia. Diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis is based on clinical symptoms, characteristic endoscopic and morphological changes in the esophageal mucous membrane. The article presents algorithms for examination, dynamic observation and treatment of children with eosinophilic esophagitis, developed by The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), describes the recommendations for biopsy of the esophageal mucous membrane when eosinophilic esophagitis is suspected. Treatment of children with eosinophilic esophagitis is based on the following approaches: trial treatment by proton pump inhibitors for 2 months, diet correction and, if ineffective, the use of topical corticosteroids.

The article presents data on the prevalence of obesity in children in the modern world, addresses the issues of etiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of the disease. The tendency towards an increase in the number of pathological cases of overweight has become one of the major problems in pediatrics. Unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity are the main determinants of the increase of obesity. However, the complexity of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease requires the development of evidence-based, comprehensive measures for prevention and treatment of the disease with the assistance of not only medical science, but also of society and the family. Further research is needed to effectively prevent and treat obesity in childhood.

At the beginning of 2016, the World Health Organization announced the spread of Zika virus to be a global threat. Serious concerns about the little-known up to the present time Zika fever are caused by the growth of neurological complications of this disease. There is no strong evidence yet, but more and more often this infection is associated with congenital skull and brain malformations, development of Guillain-Barre syndrome. The article presents the basic information on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of viral Zika fever, and modern possibilities of its prevention.

Background: Determination and monitoring of the quality of life of adolescents are needed to examine the social conditions of their life.

Objective: Our aim was to study the relation between reading books and the number of read books with the quality of life of adolescents. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional cohort study where examined the quality of life of children aged 13–18 years attending secondary educational institutions of Izhevsk city and Udmurtia rural districts. Using PedsQL questionnaire, we analyzed the physical, emotional and social component of the quality of life of adolescents, school functioning and overall assessment score of the quality of life. The attitude to reading was determined by the results of the answers to questions about the love of reading (yes/no) and the number of read books.

Results: The study included 2,947 high school students, in which 2,473 (83.9%) adolescents indicated their attitude toward reading. It has been shown that students who enjoy reading (42.2%) have a lower assessment score of the quality of life on the scale of «emotional functioning» (66 ± 17) and higher — on the scale of «school functioning» (69 ± 15) than their peers not liking to read (68 ± 16 and 66 ± 15, respectively; p < 0.001). The number of read books was associated with the quality of life assessment on the scale of «physical functioning» and «school functioning» as well as with the assessment of the social component of quality of life for girls.

Conclusion: The studied factors («reading books» and «the number of read books») are related to the quality of life of adolescents that may be taken into account in the preparation of educational programs.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an important issue, significance of which is determined by the incidence increase, chronic, relapsing course of the disease, and poor treatment efficacy.

Objective: Our aim was to study clinical efficacy of enterosorbent based on pectin, inulin and fennel extract in combined AD treatment in children.

Methods: «Case-control» prospective study included children from 3 to 11 years admitted to hospital with moderate AD.

Results: 20 patients included in the study took enterosorbent in addition to the basic therapy, 20 patients had only basic therapy. Compared groups were matched by sex, age, and AD severity by SCORAD scale. Cutaneous AD manifestations in the main group were arrested average over the period of 3.4 ± 1.2 days, in the control group — of 4.7 ± 1.5 days (p < 0.001), skin itch — of 4.0 ± 0.9 and 6.8 ± 1.4 days (p < 0.001), skin dryness — of 9.8 ± 1.1 and 12.3 ± 1.6 days, respectively (р < 0.001).

Conclusion: Adding enterosorbent containing pectin, inulin and fennel extract to the basic therapy of moderate AD makes it easier to arrest the clinical manifestations of an acute allergic process.

Background: Premature infants have a high risk of bacterial infections facilitated by the immaturity of their immune system.

Objective: Our aim was to study the expression of Fc-gamma receptors of neutrophils and the possibility of its modulation in preterm infants (with a low, LBW, very low, VLBW and extremely low, ELBW, birth weight) with bacterial infection.

Methods: We examined cord blood samples, as well as peripheral venous blood samples of newborns taken at 28–30th day of life. The flow cytofluorometry method was used to determine the level of surface expression of Fc-gamma receptors by neutrophils (CD64, CD32, CD16), phagocytic activity and oxygen burst of granulocytes stimulated with fluorescently labelled Escherichia coli. Results: We examined blood samples of 10 full-term infants, 20 preterm infants with LBW, 18 preterm infants with VLBW and ELBW. CD64 expression in preterm infants at birth was higher than in full-term children and made 6.0 (5.3; 9.8), 7.1 (5.1; 11.5), and 4.27 (2.4; 5.8) MFI respectively (p = 0.013). CD16 expression in preterm infants, in contrast, was lower: 99.7 (71.3; 126.0) and 80.9 (58.7; 114.8), and 125.3 (95.5; 144.1) MFI respectively (p = 0.021). By the end of the 1st month of life, CD16 expression of peripheral blood neutrophils in preterm infants increased to 126.6 (110.1; 129.0) MFI in children with LBW and to 118.5 (99.5; 132.2) MFI — in children with VLBW/ELBW. CD32 expression in compared groups did not differ. A correlation between the intensity of the oxygen burst of neutrophils and gestational age was established (r = 0.67; p <0.001). Neutrophil culture of preterm infants in the presence of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) results in a 2.4–5-fold increase in CD16, CD32 expression and enhancement of oxygen burst.

Conclusion: Preterm infants are characterized by deregulated expression of Fc-gamma receptors and functional impairment of neutrophils. G-CSF modulates the expression of CD16 and CD32 on the surface of neutrophils and enhances the oxygen burst in them.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic multifactorial skin disease that is common enough in childhood. The article presents the current data on epidemiology and dynamics of incidence of pathological symptoms, pathogenesis basics, and key factors of the disease development, shows the current classification of the disease. The authors consider in detail the key principles of the diagnosis and peculiarities of a clinical aspect depending on age. Algorithms of a therapeutic approach, as well as basics of an individual hypoallergenic diet are proposed. General recommendations and possible prognosis for pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis are given.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in children has unpredictable and severe course. There is currently no standard therapy for the treatment of the disease. The article presents the results of a retrospective study of rituximab efficiency in 16 children with SLE aged 5 to 16 years who were hospitalized. Rituximab was administered to patients with a severe life-threatening course of the disease when the hormone-cytostatic therapy was ineffective or the reduction of the daily dose of corticosteroids was impossible. The administered drug dose was 375 mg/m2 weekly during 4 weeks. The therapy with rituximab is noted with a clinically significant decrease in the values of laboratory parameters of the disease activity, SLEDAI, ECLAM disease activity indices, SLICC/ACR impairment index, as well as a daily dose of corticosteroids. 1 case of pneumonia and 2 cases of death associated with generalized mycotic infection are reported.

The article presents a detailed clinical and molecular and cytogenetic analysis of the unique case of a rare chromosomal abnormality (duplication of 14q11.2-q21.1 and deletion of 21q11.2-q21.3). This chromosomal abnormality is a result of segregation (2:2) of a balanced chromosomal translocation in the father being the carrier. Clinical manifestations in the sick child include delay in physical, psychomotor and speech development, epilepsy, skeletal abnormalities, cleft palate, and multiple development microanomalies. The chromosomal microarray analysis was applied for a precise cytogenetic diagnosis.

The article presents clinical observation of the patient at the age of 7 years suffering from severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis with uveitis refractory to standard antirheumatic therapy. The case complexity was determined by multiple joint damages, presence of bilateral uveitis, and hyperimmunoglobulinemia at the disease onset. The successful use of abatacept is described: remission from both the articular syndrome and uveitis, a 100% improvement by ACRpedi criteria are reached. The selection of a biological preparation was determined by a polyarticular joint disease, by the presence of active recurrent uveitis, as well as by immune status compromise for TB infection. A gradual increase in abatacept efficacy and remission maintenance for a long time period are demonstrated.

This article describes two cases of hair balls in girls between aged 2.5 and 12 years. The reason for this quite rare disease may be trichotillomania (compulsive desire to pull out own hair) and trichophagia (compulsive or impulsive desire to pull out, and then to swallow own or someone's hair) typical for Rapunzel syndrome. Initially, the children were enrolled in the Oncology Centre in view of suspected abdominal tumour. After detection of foreign bodies in the stomach, they were transferred to the Department of Clean Surgery. The following surgeries were performed: median laparotomy, gastrotomy on the front wall of the stomach, bezoar removal. Hair balls were dense felt-like conglomerates with a strong offensive odour. Bezoar dimensions of the younger girl were 855, the elder one — 20108 cm. Postoperative period was uneventful. The children were discharged in a satisfactory condition to be followed up by a surgeon, paediatrician, and psychiatrist in their community.