Non-infectious Diseases Research Articles

Fluorescent bead-based multiplex assays improve serological disease diagnostics and have potential of identifying sensitive immune biomarkers for maintaining health and performance.

Fluorescent bead-based multiplex assays (multiplex assays) for serological detection of antibodies in patient samples have been used in veterinary diagnostics for a little over a decade. These quantitative assays offer several advantages compared to classical serological assays, like a lower limit of detection, less background, and a broader linear quantification range, all of which improve test accuracy. The simultaneous multiplex analysis of a patient's serological response to several specific antigens also improves the diagnostic result interpretation. This influences treatment and management decisions and often allows for a quantitative follow-up as treatment response evaluation. In this review article, we discuss examples of 3 diagnostic multiplex assays for antibody detection in veterinary patients: the Lyme Multiplex assay, the Canine Brucella Multiplex assay, and the Equine Herpesvirus Type-1 Risk Evaluation assay. In addition, multiplex assays for immune response markers, like soluble cytokines, chemokines, or other inflammatory proteins, have recently become available. Currently, these assays are mainly used as clinical research tools to broadly evaluate immune activation and/or inflammation during a variety of infectious and noninfectious diseases. Quantitative cytokine and inflammatory marker multiplex assays have the potential to identify sensitive immune biomarkers for maintaining health and performance in veterinary animals.

Application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing based on protective bronchoalveolar lavage in nonresponding pneumonia.

This study aims to explore the application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of protective bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the differential diagnosis and pathogenetic identification of nonresponding pneumonia. This study analyzed patient symptoms, auxiliary examinations including pathogen detection, and treatment response to identify the reasons for the lack of response to initial treatment and the pathogenetic diagnosis of pulmonary infections. The diagnostic efficacy of pathogen culture and mNGS was statistically analyzed and compared based on the clinical diagnosis criteria. (1) The two most common reasons for the ineffectiveness of initial treatment in nonresponding pneumonia cases are that (i) the initial treatment did not cover the pathogenic bacteria in pulmonary infection cases and that (ii) non-infectious pulmonary diseases were responsible. The most common pathogens in pulmonary infection cases of nonresponding pneumonia are Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), Pneumocystis jirovecii, Aspergillus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (2) In pulmonary infectious cases, mNGS demonstrated a higher detection sensitivity for pathogenic bacteria than pathogen cultures. mNGS combined with protective bronchoalveolar lavage has good clinical application value in the accurate diagnosis of pathogens and identification of non-infectious diseases.IMPORTANCEThe combination of mNGS and the protective BAL technique demonstrates significant utility in accurately diagnosing pathogens and identifying non-infectious diseases. Misdiagnosis of non-infectious lung diseases as infectious lung diseases is a common factor contributing to the lack of response to initial treatment in nonresponding pneumonia patients. The most common pathogens in pulmonary infection cases of nonresponding pneumonia are MTB, Pneumocystis jirovecii, Aspergillus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Systematic Review on Feline Internal Medicine Articles of Indonesian Veterinary Journals

This systematic review assesses the diversity of research approaches and methodologies in feline internal medicine articles published by Indonesian veterinary journals between 2012 and 2024. Content analysis was conducted on 20 veterinary journals from veterinary schools across Indonesia, with 17 journals (85%) featuring a total of 123 articles on feline internal medicine. A notable increase in articles was observed from 2017, peaking in 2023 with 35 articles (28.46%). Quantitative methods were the most commonly used in 48 articles (39.02%), followed by mixed methods in 44 articles (35.77%) and qualitative approaches in 31 articles (25.20%). Case reports were the predominant research design, found in 65 articles (52.85%), followed by cross-sectional studies (21.14%) and surveys (14.63%). Other designs included RCTs, laboratory studies, case-control, reviews, and cohort studies. Data collection techniques primarily involved testing (82.11%), with additional methods like document analysis, observation, and testing combined with interviews. Descriptive analysis was employed in 106 articles (86.18%), followed by Chi-square (5.69%) and t-test (2.44%). Infectious diseases were the focus of 67 articles (54.47%), while 44 articles (35.77%) addressed non-infectious diseases, and 12 articles (9.76%) covered other topics. The findings indicate a growing interest and methodological diversity in feline internal medicine research within Indonesia.

Transmission of the human respiratory microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes in healthy populations

BackgroundThe human microbiome is transmissible between individuals, including pathogens and commensals with metabolic and immune-modulating effects, which could influence susceptibility, severity, and outcomes of both infection and non-infection diseases. However, limited studies of respiratory microbiome transmission within populations have been conducted. Herein, we performed species- and strain-level metagenomic analyses on oropharyngeal (OP) swabs from 1046 healthy urban dwellers across 13 districts, including 111 households with at least two cohabitants, to elucidate the transmission dynamics of the respiratory microbiome within households and communities.ResultsWe found that geographic districts accounted for the greatest variation in the OP microbiome, with unrelated individuals from the same district showing greater microbiome similarity and higher strain-sharing rates than those from different districts. Cohabitants, especially spouses and siblings, exhibited similar microbial abundances and shared more strains, with 16.7% (IQR 0.0–33.3%) of strains shared among cohabitants, compared to 0.0% (IQR 0.0–11.1%) in non-cohabiting pairs (p < 0.05). Both respiratory commensals and opportunistic pathogens were shared among cohabitants. In contrast, no evidence of vertical transmission was detected between mother–offspring pairs. Additionally, the OP microbiome contained diverse antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with 15.0% linked to mobile genetic elements (MGEs) or plasmids; the flanking sequences of these ARGs were more conserved across species than those of non-MGE-associated ARGs, suggesting horizontal transfer of ARGs among respiratory microorganisms.ConclusionsIn summary, we characterized the transmissible nature of the OP microbiome and the risk of ARG dissemination among respiratory microorganisms. These findings underscore the role of respiratory microbes and ARGs exchange in shaping the microbiome of healthy populations and emphasize their relevance to public health strategies for respiratory health management.4cQW6ZzqCyCYGmEdL1A8oiVideo

Characterizations of lung cancer microbiome and exploration of potential microbial risk factors for lung cancer

Recent studies have indicated that the lung microbiome may contribute to the development and progression of lung cancer, although the precise mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. This study sought to delineate the microbial composition within lung cancer tissues and identify potential microbial risk factors. Tissue samples were collected from patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary opacities, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing was employed to analyze these samples. Tissue samples were collected from 130 patients with pulmonary opacities, categorized into lung cancer (50 cases), pulmonary infection (53 cases), and non-infectious pulmonary diseases (27 cases). The non-infectious group served as the primary control. The diversity of the lung microbiome in lung cancer tissues was found to be comparable to that observed in non-infectious benign pulmonary conditions. Specific phyla and genera exhibited increased abundance in lung cancer tissues. Additionally, correlations were established between certain microorganisms and clinical characteristics associated with lung cancer. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age and Shewanella were independent risk factors for lung cancer development. This study suggests that the composition of the lung microbiome differs significantly between individuals with lung cancer and those with benign pulmonary conditions, with certain microbes such as Shewanella potentially serving as risk factors for lung cancer progression.

Skin Disease in Elderly: A Cross-sectional Survey in a Tertiary Care Center of Bangladesh

Background: Aging is a natural physiological process that affects various organs, including the skin. The elderly population in Bangladesh is rapidly increasing, necessitating an understanding of the common skin diseases affecting this demographic. The aim was to investigate the frequency, patterns, and associated factors of skin diseases among elderly patients attending a tertiary care center in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted during January 2024 to April-2024, at the department of Dermatology &amp; Venereology in Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 233 elderly patients aged 60 years and above were enrolled using consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire capturing demographics, clinical presentations, and comorbidities, followed by clinical examinations. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version-23.0. Results: The mean age of the study patients was 65.64±5.54 years, with a nearly balanced gender distribution (48.92% male, 51.07% female). Common clinical presentations included itching (84.12%), redness (14.16%), and blistering (3%). Plaques (51.07%) and papules (46.35%) were the most frequent primary lesions, while scaling (53.21%) and erosion (36.05%) were common secondary lesions. Non-infectious skin diseases were more prevalent (58.79%) than infectious diseases (41.2%), with dermatitis (37.76%) and fungal infections (21.03%) being the most frequent conditions. A significant association was observed between educational level and infectious skin diseases with the study patients (p=0.001), with fungal infections more common among no formally educated patients. Similarly, diabetic-non- diabetic cases showed a significant association with infectious-non-infectious skin diseases (p=0.001). Conclusion: Skin diseases in elderly population can present with diverse clinical picture where dermatitis and fungal skin infections are more common. Patient’s educational status and comorbidities may play a role in acquiring particular illnesses. Bangladesh J Medicine 2025; 36(2): 130-135

Monitoring of Vaccination Adherence among Healthcare Workers in the Russian Federation

Relevance. Vaccination is one of the main tools of public health that helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases and maintain the health of the nation. Healthcare workers play a crucial role in vaccination matters. The confidence of healthcare workers in the necessity, effectiveness, and safety of vaccination largely determines its acceptance by the population and ultimately the success of the vaccination campaign as a whole.Aim. To study the level of vaccination adherence among healthcare workers in the Russian Federation.Materials and methods. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted, consisting of three stages implemented according to a unified design. The first stage of information gathering (using anonymous electronic questionnaire) was carried in 2019, followed by the second stage in 2021, and the third one in 2023. Participants for the study were recruited using the database of National Association of Specialists for the Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections (NASCI), further sampling was formed using the snowball method. In total, over three periods, 146.244 (31.330 in 2019, 85.218 in 2021 and 29.696 in 2023) questionnaires from medical professionals of various specialties (doctors and mid-level medical staff) were analyzed. Responses were received from representatives of 79 out of 85 regions of the Russian Federation in 2019 and 2021, and from 66 out of 89 regions in 2023. For analysis and presentation of the obtained data, standard methods of descriptive statistics were used (test for normality, calculation of averages and 95% confidence intervals for quantitative variables, calculation of proportions, 95% confidence interval for qualitative variables). Statistical associations between two non-normally distributed quantitative variables were evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficient, the statistical significance of differences in groups of qualitative variables was evaluated using the Pearson’s chi-square test at p&lt;0.05 IBM SPSS Statistics v. 22.Results. 73.8% ± 0.5% of medical workers in the Russian Federation have a positive attitude towards vaccination, 19.3% ± 0.3% are neutral, 6.9% ± 0.3% are negative in 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic (2021), there was a significant decrease in vaccination adherence – during this period, the share of medical workers who have a negative attitude towards vaccination increased from 1.8% ± 0.2% to 18.0% ± 0.3%. The adherence of mid-level medical staff (nurses) is significantly lower than that of doctors 61.9% ± 0.3% and 79.9% ± 0.3%, respectively). The highest level of adherence is observed among pediatricians 93.4% ± 0.4%, epidemiologists 92.5% ± 1.3%, allergists-immunologists 86.1% ± 2.9%, infectious disease specialists 84.6% ± 2.2%, therapists 83.3% ± 0.5%, pulmonologists 81.8% ± 4.5%. The level of commitment among health-care workers directly involved in vaccination are 22.8% ± 12.2% higher than those who do not participate (χ2 = 3918.3, p &lt; 0.001). The vast majority of medical workers (94.4% ± 0.2%) recommend vaccination to their friends and relatives, most this applies to vaccinations against measles, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, and to a lesser extent – against infections against which vaccination is not included in the National Immunization Schedule. The majority of medical workers (72.0% ± 0.5%) are interested in receiving additional information on the vaccination.Conclusions. Awareness-raising, along with providing accessible, effective and safe vaccines, plays a key role in improving healthcare workers’ adherence to vaccination, reducing both infectious and non-infectious diseases among the population.

Effectiveness of Oral Prophylactic Antibiotics for Diagnostic Bronchoscopy: A Nationwide Database Study.

Rationale: Although guidelines generally omit routine antibiotic prophylaxis for diagnostic bronchoscopy, this recommendation is based primarily on studies with relatively small sample sizes conducted at single institutions. Moreover, the applicability of recent technical and procedural advances to these guidelines remains uncertain. Objectives: To evaluate whether oral prophylactic antibiotic administration for diagnostic bronchoscopy reduces postbronchoscopy infections among noninfectious diseases in the current setting. Methods: Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a national inpatient database in Japan, we identified patients who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy with or without oral prophylactic antibiotics between April 2020 and March 2022. We used propensity score-stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting and instrumental variable analyses to compare postbronchoscopy infections between the groups. Stratified analyses were also conducted on the basis of patient profiles and antibiotic types. Results: A total of 68,660 eligible patients were divided into prophylaxis (n = 10,426) and no-prophylaxis (n = 58,234) groups. Post-bronchoscopy infections were observed in 612 patients (0.89%). The stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis showed that the prophylactic group was significantly associated with a decrease in postbronchoscopy infections (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.80). The instrumental variable analysis showed similar results (odds ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.74). Oral antibiotic prophylaxis was associated with reduction in postbronchoscopy infection in patients who were older than 70 years, underwent bronchoscopy for malignancy, underwent biopsy or bronchoalveolar lavage, or received aminopenicillin or fluoroquinolone for prophylaxis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a potential role for prophylactic antibiotics in reducing postbronchoscopy infections among noninfectious patients. Although prophylactic antibiotics may help prevent these infections, their use should be carefully considered in relation to individual patient profiles and the specific antibiotics being administered.

Low-frequency ultrasound alleviates pulmonary inflammation induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice by inhibiting the TNFR1/NF-κB pathway.

Low-frequency ultrasound alleviates pulmonary inflammation induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice by inhibiting the TNFR1/NF-κB pathway.

The complete genome sequence of quail coronavirus identified in disease surveillance on quail farms in South Korea.

The complete genome sequence of quail coronavirus identified in disease surveillance on quail farms in South Korea.

Measuring the impact of hospitalization for infectious diseases on the quality of life of older patients in four European countries: the AEQUI longitudinal matched cohort study (2020-2023).

Measuring the impact of hospitalization for infectious diseases on the quality of life of older patients in four European countries: the AEQUI longitudinal matched cohort study (2020-2023).

Burden of noninfectious ocular inflammatory disease in US ophthalmology practice

Burden of noninfectious ocular inflammatory disease in US ophthalmology practice

Physician Burden and Time Delays in Initiating Immunomodulatory Therapy for Non-infectious Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Diseases

Physician Burden and Time Delays in Initiating Immunomodulatory Therapy for Non-infectious Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Diseases

Synthesis, anti-allergic rhinitis evaluation and mechanism investigation of novel 1,2,4-triazole-enamides as CB1 R antagonist.

Synthesis, anti-allergic rhinitis evaluation and mechanism investigation of novel 1,2,4-triazole-enamides as CB1 R antagonist.

TLR4 Targeting: A Promising Therapeutic Approach Across Multiple Human Diseases.

TLR4 stands at the forefront of innate immune responses, recognizing various pathogen- associated molecular patterns and endogenous ligands, thus serving as a pivotal mediator in the immune system's defense against infections and tissue damage. Beyond its canonical role in infection, emerging evidence highlights TLR4's involvement in numerous non-infectious human diseases, ranging from metabolic disorders to neurodegenerative conditions and cancer. Targeting TLR4 signaling pathways presents a promising therapeutic approach with broad applicability across these diverse pathological states. In metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, dysregulated TLR4 activation contributes to chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance, driving disease progression. In cardiovascular diseases, TLR4 signaling promotes vascular inflammation and atherogenesis, implicating its potential as a therapeutic target to mitigate cardiovascular risk. Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, exhibit aberrant TLR4 activation linked to neuroinflammation and neuronal damage, suggesting TLR4 modulation as a strategy to attenuate neurodegeneration. Additionally, in cancer, TLR4 signaling within the tumor microenvironment promotes tumor progression, metastasis, and immune evasion, underscoring its relevance as a target for anticancer therapy. Advances in understanding TLR4 signaling cascades and their contributions to disease pathogenesis have spurred the development of various pharmacological agents targeting TLR4. These agents range from small molecule inhibitors to monoclonal antibodies, with some undergoing preclinical and clinical evaluations. Furthermore, strategies involving TLR4 modulation through dietary interventions and microbiota manipulation offer additional avenues for therapeutic exploration. Hence, targeting TLR4 holds significant promise as a therapeutic strategy across a spectrum of human diseases, offering the potential to modulate inflammation, restore immune homeostasis, and impede disease progression.

Distribution characteristics of aerosol microorganisms in bronchoscopy room and the risk assessment of nosocomial infection.

A large number of aerosols containing pathogenic microorganisms can be produced during bronchoscopy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the risk of nosocomial infection by pathogenic microorganisms after bronchoscopy. The distribution characteristics of aerosol microorganisms were detected before and after bronchoscopy, and then compared with the distribution characteristics of the patients' respiratory pathogens. A total of 152 patients underwent bronchoscopy in the bronchoscopy room from May 06, 2024 to June 30, 2024. Airborne microorganisms were collected in the bronchoscopy room before and after the bronchoscopy, then cultured, counted and identified, to analyze the species, numbers and changes of microorganisms. At the same time, the data of respiratory pathogens and nosocomial infection of all patients were collected to evaluate the correlation between air microorganisms and respiratory pathogens, and the risk of nosocomial infection. (1) The concentration of air microorganisms after bronchoscopy was 89.60 ± 63.52 CFU/m3, significantly higher than 43.80 ± 26.70 CFU/m3 before bronchoscopy (p < 0.001). The increase in air microorganism concentration was in accordance with the total number of patients and the number of patients with respiratory infectious diseases on the same day (p < 0.001). After bronchoscopy for patients with infectious diseases, the concentration was significantly higher than that for patients with non-infectious diseases (p < 0.05). (2) The bacteria accounted for 75.34, 70.35% of the total aerosol microorganisms, fungi 22.17, 26.80% before and after bronchoscopy. The bacteria mainly included Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria faunalis, Staphylococcus capitis, etc. The fungi mainly included Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces albicans, Penicillium spp., etc. (3) The increase in air microorganisms after bronchoscopy was consistent with the distribution of pathogens causing respiratory infections in patients (p < 0.001). The increased pathogens were mainly composed of common respiratory pathogens, but it did not increase the risk of nosocomial respiratory infections in patients (p = 0.735). Bronchoscopy can increase the concentration of aerosol microorganisms. The increased microorganisms are related to the respiratory pathogens of patients, which are mainly the common pathogens of pulmonary infection. This, however, does not increase the risk of nosocomial respiratory infection.

Cumulative incidence of ketosis in fresh lactating cows: a case study in the United Arab Emirates

Non-infectious diseases such as ketosis could present a major threat to the development of the dairy subsector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A retrospective study (2019 to 2022) was conducted on 7511 fresh lactating cows to estimate the monthly cumulative incidences of subclinical ketosis (SCK) and clinical ketosis (CK) at one dairy farm in the UAE as a case study. Clinical examination for signs of ketosis and measuring the blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration were used for defining the ketosis status of the study cows. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and binary logistic regression analyses were used for data analysis. The mean monthly cumulative incidence of SCK over four years was 11.16% (95% CI: 10.45, 11.89) while that of CK was 0.53% (95% CI: 0.38, 0.72). The mean monthly cumulative incidences of both SCK was associated (p < 0.0001) with year, season and parity. Besides, the mean monthly cumulative incidence of CK was associated year (p < 0.01) with season. Thus, the mean monthly cumulative incidence of CK was low at the study farm while that of SCK was moderate. Therefore, control and preventive measures of ketosis were recommended to reduce the incidence of SCK at the study farm.

STING: a multifaced player in cellular homeostasis.

The stimulator of interferon gene (STING) is an important innate immune mediator of the cytoplasmic DNA sensing pathway. As a mediator known for its role in the immune response to infections, STING is also surprisingly at the center of a variety of non-infectious human diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have shown that STING has many signaling activities, including type I interferon (IFN-I) and other IFN-independent activities, many of which are poorly understood. STING also has the unique property of being continuous transported from the ER to the Golgi then to the lysosome. Mutations of STING or trafficking cofactors are associated with human diseases affecting multiple immune and non-immune organs. Here, we review recent advances in STING trafficking and signaling mechanisms based in part on studies of STING-associated monogenic inborn error diseases.

Brain biopsy and metagenomic sequencing enhance aetiological diagnosis of encephalitis.

Identifying the aetiology of CNS diseases, regardless of their infectious or non-infectious nature, is often intricate. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a powerful tool for sensitive and unbiased screening of tissue or body fluid specimens. This study aimed to investigate the underlying aetiology of patients with suspected infectious CNS diseases. Between April 2013 and October 2021, we collected brain tissue samples from 33 patients diagnosed with encephalitis or encephalitis-like CNS diseases, obtained via biopsy or autopsy, and underwent metagenomic NGS (mNGS) in conjunction with pathological evaluations. Moreover, we employed PCR-based assays and pathogen-specific immunostaining to corroborate the presence of pathogens within the tissue samples. Among the 33 patients, mNGS elucidated pathogen-specific genomic sequences in 7 cases (21.2%), including halobacteria (archaea), Balamuthia mandrillaris, Epstein-Barr virus, Toxoplasma gondii and herpes simplex virus. Additionally, brain tissue mNGS ruled out known pathogens, identifying 14 cases (42.4%) of non-infectious CNS diseases, which included neoplastic, autoimmune/inflammatory and amyloid angiopathy conditions. The adjustment of therapeutic strategies based on these findings led to improvements in clinical symptoms, imaging outcomes and patient prognosis. Brain biopsy serves as both a direct pathological research target and a valuable source of samples for unbiased high-throughput sequencing. Our study illustrates the reliability of mNGS on brain tissue, which significantly improves the diagnostic rate for suspected encephalitis or encephalitis-like diseases of unknown aetiology. These findings underscore the importance of mNGS in guiding more precise and effective therapeutic interventions for patients in clinical practice.

Neutrophil elastase as a promising biomarker of low-grade inflammation in chronic non-communicable diseases

The pathogenesis of many chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is associated with chronic low-grade (low-intensity) inflammation. One of the most important mechanisms in the development of inflammation is the activation of the proteolysis system, which regulates biological processes through post-translational modification of proteins. A clinically significant proteolytic enzyme is neutrophil elastase (NE), which belongs to the GASPIDs (Granule-Associated Serine Peptidases of Immune Defense). In inflammation, NE exerts its catalytic activity and damaging potential, acting on a wide range of structural and regulatory proteins, thus participating in the pathogenesis of several NCDs. The most commonly used scientific and clinical laboratory methods for assessing NE, both circulating and complexed with an inhibitor, are reviewed. Objective. To analyze Russian and foreign publications on the relationship between neutrophil elastase and chronic non-communicable diseases and the prospects for using neutrophil elastase as a biomarker of low-grade inflammation in these diseases. Materials and methods. The literature search was performed in the eLibrary.ru and PubMed databases using the keywords neutrophil elastase, biomarkers, biomarker analysis methods, and chronic non-communicable diseases. Results. The biochemical structure is analyzed, and the main functions and mechanisms of NE-mediated inflammation regulation in NCDs are presented. The test methods for NE activity and level and the possibilities and conditions for their use in scientific and clinical laboratory practice are discussed. Conclusion. The role of neutrophil elastase in the pathogenesis of several chronic non-infectious diseases and significant change of its level/activity in the blood serum of patients compared to those of control groups support using this enzyme as a promising biomarker predicting the risk of these diseases and their complications.