The Caucasus Journal of Medical and Psychological Sciences

The life and professional activity of Joseph Fedorovich Zhordaniya

N.V. Melkadze — 2026-05-04

Throughout history, many doctors have become not just doctors, but also symbols of entireeras, changing perceptions of health and disease, as well as the role of a doctor in society.Professor Joseph Fedorovich Zhordania (Jordania), whose 130th birthday was celebrated onMay 15, 2025, was one of them. Based on literature sources and documentary materials, thisarticle explores the milestones of the biography of the Honored Scientist of the RSFSR andthe GSSR, chief obstetrician-gynecologist of the Red Army, leading obstetrician-gynecologist ofthe Soviet Union, a remarkable researcher and experimenter, founder of military gynecology,an experienced teacher, a talented scientist and organizer of the Scientific Research Institute for the Physiology and Pathology of Women of the Ministry of Health of the Georgian SSR,which was the only such institute in the USSR at the time, and only the second one in theworld. During his life, I.F. Zhordania served as head of the Departments of Obstetrics andGynecology at major higher medical institutions in Leningrad, Moscow, Kuybyshev, and Tbilisi.His scientific work was devoted to the physiology of childbirth, the pathology of womenduring pregnancy, eclampsia, surgical care for women with genital wounds, etc. As a doctorand scientist, I.F. Zhordania formulated the concept of “infertile marriage”. During this time,there were many grateful patients, and scientific papers were published. Before the era ofin vitro fertilization, when there was no hope of having children, there was a saving phrase:“I’m going to Zhordania.” In 1958, Professor I.F. Zhordania became the head of the ScientificResearch Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Women of the Ministry of Health of the USSR.Subsequently, the institute was named the Institute of Human Generative Function, and thenthe I.F. Zhordania Research Institute of Human Reproduction. The Department of Sociologyand Demography of Healthcare, established at the Institute’s founding, has been studying thedemographic situation in certain regions of the republic, developing appropriate medical andsocio-demographic recommendations, providing assistance to married couples experiencingchildlessness, identifying puberty disorders, and conducting appropriate wellness activities.The Institute’s plans to provide scientific, methodological, therapeutic and preventive care toorganizations and medical institutions of the Ministry of Health of the USSR corresponded tothese tasks. I.F. Zhordania created a laboratory at the institute to study the issues of artificial lifesupport in human embryos and fetuses outside the maternal body and other laboratories. Theknowledge, experience, and innovations of almost all successful Georgian clinics and doctorsoperating in the field of reproductive health are associated with the Institute Zhordania

THE ROLE OF THE GASTROINTESTIAL MICROBIOTA Helicobacter pylori, AND CLINICAL ALGORITHS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC GASTRITIS IN CHILDREN: FROM PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO PRACTICE

I. V. Sichinava — 2026-05-04

Chronic gastritis in children is a multifactorial disease in which disturbances of the gastric and intestinal microbiocenosis, as well as persistent Helicobacter pylori infection, play a key role in its pathogenesis. This review focuses on the current understanding of the formation of the microbiota in childhood and its bidirectional interaction with the mucosal immune system, which forms the basis for the development of chronic inflammation. Special attention is given to the impact of H. pylor i on the composition and function of the gastric microbiota, as well as the immunopathological mechanisms that lead to gastritis. The article systematizes clinical diagnostic algorithms based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and risk stratification, justifying the choice between non-invasive tests and endoscopy with biopsy. It also discusses in detail modern strategies for eradication therapy, taking into account regional resistance, as well as the potential role of microbiota modulators (probiotics, prebiotics, and megabiotics) as adjuvants to improve the effectiveness and tolerability of treatment. Practical recommendations supported by clinical cases are aimed at developing a personalized, safe, and effective approach to managing children with chronic gastritis in real clinical practice.

Aim. To conduct a systematic review of current evidence on the role of microbiota in pediatric chronic gastritis development, evaluate diagnostic algorithms, and propose optimized treatment regimens incorporating microbial community modulation.

Results. The review demonstrates that H. pylori acts as a potent “engineer” of the gastric microbial ecosystem and can modulate immune responses, contributing to the “allergy-infection” paradox. A stratified diagnostic approach based on clinical symptoms and “alarm signs” minimizes unwarranted invasive procedures. Modern eradication therapy must account for regional antibiotic resistance patterns and include adjuvant probiotics to enhance efficacy and reduce side effects. For asymptomatic infection in children with atopic conditions, a watchful waiting strategy may be considered.

Conclusion. Effective management of chronic gastritis in children requires a holistic perspective integrating microbiota assessment, clinical presentation, and family history. Treatment personalization based on these factors is paramount for achieving successful long-term outcomes.

ON THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ECHINOCOCCOSIS

A. O. Gradinar — 2026-05-04

Diagnosis of echinococcosis is often difficult, given the asymptomatic course of the disease in the early stages of its development. The article presents a review of the main methods for the diagnosis of echinococcosis in various localizations practiced by Soviet and Russian surgeons from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day. This disease still poses a significant threat to human health. For the first time, the methods of verification of echinococcosis have been analyzed as fully as possible from a historical perspective. The author’s periodization of the development of methods for diagnosing echinococcosis is proposed. The first period (c. 1900-1912) is characterized by the beginning of the use of X-rays and the results of laboratory analyses of blood and urine. The second period, from 1912 to 1942, is characterized by the beginning of the use of contrast agents and immunological diagnostic methods in radiography. The third (1942-1972) was marked by improvements of existing approaches and the introduction of ultrasound into clinical practice. The fourth period is characterized by the introduction of modern methods such as CT and MRI, which make it possible to diagnose echinococcosis with high accuracy. Thus, from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day, a large number of general clinical, immunological and instrumental methods for the diagnosis of echinococcosis have appeared. It is concluded that the most accurate diagnosis depends on using a range of different research methods. The leading diagnostic method is ultrasound. The method allows to diagnose echinococcosis at the stage when parasitic cysts are small.

CHEST RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN CHILDREN WITH ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA

Darejan G. Sturua — 2026-05-04

Aspiration pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity in pediatric patients, particularly in high-risk groups such as premature infants and children with neurological disorders, dysphagia, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Impairment of normal protective mechanisms increases the risk of aspiration, while Mendelson’s syndrome represents a severe form of gastric acid–induced lung injury. Radiologically, aspiration pneumonia typically presents with an initial alveolar pattern that may progress to interstitial involvement. Common imaging findings include perihilar infiltrates, consolidation, and atelectasis, most frequently affecting the right lower lobe. In mild cases, radiographic changes may resolve within 24–48 hours, whereas acidic aspiration may result in more significant pulmonary injury. Chest radiography remains the primary diagnostic tool. Early diagnosis and management are essential to prevent complications and chronic lung damage. This study presents pediatric case of aspiration pneumonia and its radiological findings.

A GIFT AS A REWARD FOR DILIGENCE: THE STORY OF PROFESSOR PRAGUE, HIS STUDENTS, AND A BOOK

S. A. Kuznetsov — 2026-05-04

The article reconstructs the biography of Kliment Fomich Prague (1821–1872), a Stavropol educator and enlightener of the mid‑19th century. The study was prompted by a discovery in the rare book department of the Stavropol Regional Scientific Library: a copy of N. Koshansky’s General Rhetoric bearing a donor’s inscription from Prague to his student. Drawing on archival documents, the author traces Prague’s career: a graduate of the Kyiv Theological Academy, professor of literature at the Caucasian Theological Seminary, and later inspector of the Stavropol Provincial Gymnasium. The article highlights his public activities, his connections with contemporaries (notably historian I. D. Popko), his family circumstances, and also provides information about his brother Lev Fomich Prague (editor of the Kuban Military Gazette) and his son Sergey. The study demonstrates how a chance find of a book can restore the thread of time and illuminate little‑known pages of Stavropol’s intellectual history.