RESULTS OF 2016

President of the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis and the Ukrainian Association of Menopause, Andropause and Bone-Muscular System, director of the Ukrainian Scientific-Medical Center of Osteoporosis Problems, head of Locomotor Apparatus Clinical Physiology and Pathology Department by the State Institution ‘D.F. Chebotaryov Institute of Gerontology’ by the NAMS Ukraine (Kyiv), Honored Scientist and Technician, Prof. V.V. Povoroznyuk, Doctor of Medical Sciences:

Participants of the Bone & Joint Diseases and Age Symposium, March 9-11, 2016, Lviv

Speakers of the Bone & Joint Diseases and Age Symposium, March 9-11, 2016, Lviv M. Mascarenhas (Portugal), V. Sulyma (Ukraine), D. Hans (Switzerland), V. Byezrukov (Ukraine), V. Povoroznyuk (Ukraine), J.-Y. Reginster (Belgium), J. Badurski (Polamd)

- The year which ended was difficult but productive. The most memorable event turned out to be the 2nd Bone & Joint Diseases and Age Symposium held on March 9-11, 2016, in Lviv. It was co-organized by the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis, the Austrian Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the Slovak Society for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases (SOMOK), and supported by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO). To take part in the symposium, J. Kanis, President of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), visited Ukraine for the first time. Prof. J. Kanis (UK) made an exhaustive presentation, followed by J.-Y. Reginster, President of the ESCEO (Belgium), Prof. N. Binkley (USA), Prof. J. Payer (Slovakia), Prof. H. Resch (Austria), Prof. D. Hans (Switzerland), Prof. J. Badurski, E. Czerwinski, J. Konstantinovych (Poland), M. Mascarenhas and A. Barbosa (Portugal), L. Hodynka (Hungary), and other leading international scientists. It was the first medical event of a similar caliber held in Ukraine by the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis. During the symposium, a lot of topical issues were discussed, among them the Ukrainian FRAX version intended to evaluate a 10-year risk of osteoporotic fractures and incorporated by most European and US guidelines on prophylaxis and treatment of osteoporosis.
On March 13-17, 2016, Yaremche witnessed the IX ‘Bone-Muscular Diseases and Age’ International Training School-Workshop attended by Prof. M. Mascarenhas, N. Binkley and others. They shared their experience with the Ukrainian practitioners from various regions. Another Annual Training School-Workshop on diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of bone-muscular diseases was successfully held in Yaremche last August.

The Ukrainian delegation made a glowing impression on the participants of the International IOF-ESCEO congress (April 14-17, 2016 in Malaga, Spain) during which they presented their independent study results.

On April 21-22, 2016, Bukovyna State Medical University along with the Institute of Gerontology and the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis held the ‘Vitamin D and iodine: Influence on the human health and ageing’ international conference with an international participation for the first time in Ukraine.

Speakers of the I ‘Vitamin D deficit: nation-wide problem’ International Forum, December 1, 2016, Kyiv M. Holick (USA), V. Povoroznyuk (Ukraine), P. Pludowski (Poland)

The XVI Mediterranean Rheumatologic Congress, Sept 1-4, 2016, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina V. Povoroznyuk (Ukraine), S. Sokolovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina )

Generally speaking, the growing interest to Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is currently common in Ukraine. The I ‘Vitamin D deficit: nation-wide problem’ International Forum, held on December 1, 2016, in Kyiv, only proved it further. It was attended by the global leaders of Vitamin D research – Professors M. Holick (USA) and P. Pludowski (Poland). The Forum was organized by the Ukrainian EVIDAS (European Vitamin D Association) Chapter headed by V. Povoroznyuk (Ukraine).

Last September the Ukrainian delegation took part in the XVI Mediterranean Rheumatologic Congress of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held in Sarajevo.

In October 2016, the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis participated in organizing the VI National Congress of Gerontologists and Geriatricians of Ukraine. Our section was attended by Prof. H. Resch (Austria), D. Hans (Switzerland), N. Binkley (USA), M. Mascarenhas (Portugal)

International conference of the Ukrainian and Portuguese Associations of Osteoporosis, June 21-22, 2016, Lisbon, Portugal A. Barbosa (Portugal), V. Povoroznyuk (Ukraine), M. Mascarenhas (Portugal)

The Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis is actively co-hosting scientific forums with their international counterparts. On June 21-22, 2016, the first International conference of the Ukrainian and Portuguese Associations of Osteoporosis was held in Lisbon, Portugal. The Ukrainian report on sarcopenia in the Ukrainian women (V. Povoroznyuk, N. Dzerovych) was awarded The Best title at the conference. The Ukrainian delegation also took part in the International Working Session on Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, held at the Portuguese capital.

Another joint project is the Ukrainian-Austrian symposium organized by Austrian Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis (Dec 8-9, 2016, Vienna, Austria). Many years, along with Prof. H. Resch, we’ve been responsible for this symposium attended by the experts of many European countries. An ever-increasing interest to the Ukrainian findings is worthy of note.

Prof. V. Povoroznyuk being awarded by the Slovak Society for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases (SOMOK)

In 2016, the Ukrainian Association of Osteoporosis was awarded by the Slovak Society for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases (SOMOK) for the outstanding contribution into the bone turnover research.

In June 2016, at the annual meeting of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) in Galway, Ireland, I was honored to receive Dr. John P. Bilezikian ISCD Global Leadership Award for distinguished service and leadership in the global promotion of the field of bone densitometry and the ISCD.

Besides, it was the first time that we received a grant by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) thanks to which N.I. Dzerovych had a chance to present our common findings at the international EFF forum in Atlanta, USA.

Another outstanding achievement was publishing ‘Sarcopenia’ monographe by V.V. Povoroznyuk, N. Binkley, N.I. Dzerovych, R.V. Povoroznyuk, one of the first European editions devoted exclusively to sarcopenia.

We’re happy about the success of our students: last year witnessed the defense of several doctoral dissertations (T.V. Orlyk, N.I. Dzerovych,both supervised by Prof. V.V. Povoroznyuk), Candidate’s dissertations (M.O. Garkusha supervised by Prof. V.V. Povoroznyuk; S.P. Krochak supervised by N.V. Grygorieva, Doctor of Medical Science

We’re surely proceeding with our active scientific endeavors. For instance, we received a patent for heterotopic ossification diagnostics in patients with spinal traumas.

Joint epidemiological studies by the Ukrainian Scientific-Medical Center and the Institute of Gerontology NAMS Ukraine supported by the Ukrainian Association of Traumatologists and Orthopedists (STOP study) resulted in creation of the Ukrainian FRAX version. The Ukrainian experts gratefully accepted contributions by the UK leading scientists (J. Kanis, E. McCloskey, H. Johansson).

In order to ensure an effective implementation of this method into the clinical practice, we arranged a number of TV-bridges with regional experts followed by several scientific-practical conferences in December 2016. For this occasion, Prof. J. Kanis made a video-address for the Ukrainian practitioners.

In 2017, I want to wish all the national health care providers another year of fruitful efforts, satisfaction from success, inspiration and optimism, hi-tech diagnostic and treatment methods being developed and implemented at this center, for instance.

In 2016, we’ve finalized several clinical protocols and guidelines on principal cardiovascular disease management, namely acute coronary syndrome, ischemic disease, cardiac rhythm disorder, heart failure. As a result, the national cardiology at each of its levels benefits from the unified European and international principles of health care provision.

Among other memorable events of 2016 I would also mention the XXVII National Congress of Cardiologists attended by over 3, 500 national practitioners from every Ukrainian region as well as the leading international experts. The key outcome is in realization that providing quality healthcare is not enough anymore, we need to improve the scientific products, support those enthusiasts who are trying to implement progressive ideas into the everyday practice.

M.D. Strazhesko Institute is traditionally involved into studies of rheumatic disease. The last year’s principal breakthrough is about developing and implementing modern principles of rheumatoid arthritis management based on the biotherapy. However, adding to the previously described achievement, they perfected the principle of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis management succession irrespective of their age. Compliance of patients who started their therapeutic regimen in their childhood or adolescence used to be an urgent problem before 2016. Together with the international experts, we’ve managed to implement an up-to-date stage-by-stage system of a continuous and adequate treatment which must reduce the incapacitation level due to a severe rheumatoid arthritis condition.

Finally, I’d like to wish health and inspiration as well as faith to all the Ukrainian physicians. The reforms we’re undergoing at the moment will promote a prominent improvement of healthcare system in the future.