Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

GUT MICROBIOTA AMONG CHILDREN LIVING IN AREAS CONTAMINATED BY RADIATION AND HAVING THE CARDIAC CONNECTIVE TISSUE DYSPLASIA SYNDROME

V. G. Kondrashova, V. Yu. Vdovenko, I. E. Kolpakov, A. S. Popova, L. P. Mishchenko, T. V. Gritsenko, E. I. Stepanova
State Institution “National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of MedicalSciences of Ukraine”, Melnykov str., 53, Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine

Objective. The study examined the gut (colonic) microbiota in children being domiciled in contaminated zones and suffering the cardiac connective tissue dysplasia syndrome (CCTDS).
Materials and methods. The study included 99 children living in contaminated zones. Study subjects were divided into subgroup IA (a comparison subgroup) of 44 children with no signs of CCTDS and subgroup IB of 55 children having the CCTDS. The control group included 24 children aged from 7 to 17 years old. Study groups were of the same gender and age.
Results. In the absence of any specific complaints the abnormal gut microbiota was revealed in children living in contaminated areas with a high incidence of 96.36 % featuring both quantitative and qualitative abnormalities that can be considered a dysadaptation phenomenon of both digestive system and body as a whole. Under the concomitant CCTDS these disorders are more expressive, being characterized by a significant decrease in the number of obligate gut flora and failure of its protective capabilities. Incidence of dysbacteriosis grade III in children having the CCTDS is significantly higher vs. children of the control group and comparison subgroup. Under CCTDS the gut microbiota abnormalities were represented with a severe bowel contamination by E. coli with altered enzymatic properties, various types of opportunistic microorganisms, and a high identification incidence of genus Candida fungi at the background of a significant depression of normal colonic flora. Presence of 3–5-component associations of opportunistic pathogens in the colon was found with high incidence.
Conclusion. According to received results the examination of intestinal bacterial flora is expedient in children living in areas contaminated by radiation. Application of health care arrangements aimed at normalization of gut microbiota is obligate.

Key words: gut microbiota, cardiac connective tissue dysplasia syndrome, children, Chornobyl accident.

Problems of radiation medicine and radiobiology. 2014;19:277-286.