Ekologiya cheloveka (Human Ecology)

In recent years, epidemiological studies have increasingly recognized the significance of heavy metals as an important pathogenetic factor in many gastrointestinal diseases, particularly those associated with in gut microbiota functions. The toxicity of heavy metals towards essential intestinal microflora goes beyond causing dysbiotic disorders; it can also exacerbate intestinal infections, alter metabolic processes, and influence the development of antibiotic resistance. Since the negative effects of heavy metals are environmental in nature, there is a need to systematize the etiological role between the effects of heavy metals on the microbiome and possible nosological conditions for a more accurate approach to treatment and further research. Given the environmental origins of the abovementioned effects, there is a need to systematize the impact of heavy metals on the microbiome and their role in disease development to improve approaches to treatment and further research.

We aimed to analyze the latest scientific evidence on the associations between heavy metals exposure and the intestinal microbiome and its role in the development of gastrointestinal disorders. For this scoping review we used PubMed and eLIBRARY.ru databases. We searched for keywords: «gut microbiota», «intestinal infections» (disorders), «antibiotic resistance» «heavy metals» in both Russian and English. Based on the research reviewed in this study, we can infer that heavy metals act as exogenous toxicants contributing to the development of dysbiotic, metabolic and trophic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. They also influence the progression of infections and the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Further studies should focus on exploring the toxicity of heavy metals in relation to specific populations of intestinal flora and associations with metal and antibiotic resistance. It is important to consider the therapeutic potential of microbiome modulation in the management of gastrointestinal diseases.

BACKGROUND: Stress is an integral part of life in both humans and animals. Up to 70% of the Russian population have reported a certain degree of stress associated with approximately 80% of diseases. This heavy burden of stress explains a significant body of research on the issue of stress and its associations with health indicators.

AIM: To study the effects of rotating electric fields on blood metabolic parameters in experimental animals with different levels of resistance to stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 54 non-inbred white male rats comprised the sample. We measured serum levels of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids, glucose, C-reactive protein, total sialic acids and the activity of hepatospecific enzymes, such as aspartate transferase, alanine transferase, and alkaline phosphatase at the 10^th and the 20^th day of exposure to a man-made rotating electric field and in the non-exposed control group. By the level of resistance to stress all rats were divided into stress-resistant, stress-unresistant and ambivalent groups using the "open field" method.

RESULTS: On the 10^th day of exposure, the levels of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids, glucose, C-reactive protein, total sialic acids increased in all three groups of animals. The activity of aspartate transferase, alanine transferase, and alkaline phosphatase also increased in all rats. On the 20^th day, the studied parameters remained elevated compared to the control group. The most pronounced changes were observed in the group of stress-unresistant individuals.

CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate significant effects of rotating electric fields on blood metabolic indicators in rats. The degree of change depends on individual level of stress resistance.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of carbon dioxide in gym air can diminish the benefits of physical activity and pose health risks for children..

AIM: to access carbon dioxide concentration in the air of school gyms during physical education classes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 612 measurements were taken to estimate the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air. These measurements were conducted in two separate gymnasiums: in Gym 1, designated for primary classes with an area of 77 m2, and Gym 2, used by middle and high school students with an area of 293 m2. Measurements were taken at 12 different points, both around the perimeter and in the central part of each gym. The height when measuremenmts were taken ranged from 0 to 230 cm. To assess the carbon dioxide concentration in the gym air, the background level was calculated based on GOST 30494-2011 standards (761.5 ppm). Student’s t-tests for independent samples were used to compare the data. Additionally, a regression analysis was utilized to estimate the spatial distribution of carbon dioxide within the gymnasiums.

RESULTS: In Gym 1, the initial concentrations ranged from 845 to 1267 ppm, slightly exceeding the expected throughput. Throughout the training session, the carbon dioxide content increased by 1.6 to 2.3 times. By the end of the session, the carbon dioxide content reached 1934 to 1948 ppm at an estimated respiration level of 1.0 to 1.9 m. In Gym 2, the carbon dioxide content increased by 1.1 to 1.2 times by the end of the class. At a height of 0.0 to 1.7 m, the concentration of carbon dioxide was measured at 1016 to 1023 ppm.

CONCLUSION: After 20 minutes of training at the expected intensity, carbon dioxide levels in the air exceed not only the background level of 761.5 ppm, but also the permissible level of 1000 ppm. This study highlights the importance of daily monitoring of carbon dioxide levels in school gymnasiums during training sessions and sporting events. Such monitoring is crucial for ensuring the health and safety of students and athletes.

BACKGROUND: The Northern and Arctic territories are known for their harsh natural and climatic conditions. It is important to prioritize the health of the population in these regions, as people are the primary resource for the Russian Federation’s long-term plans for the development of the Arctic. One unique aspect of immune regulation in the relatively healthy residents of the Arctic region is a decrease in adaptive immunity activity, particularly in the humoral link (HLA-DR⁺, IgE), alongside heightened cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CD8⁺). The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all districts of the Arkhangelsk region, further highlighting the importance of health in these remote areas. In addition to common regional pathologies such as upper respiratory tract diseases, inflammatory gastrointestinal pathologies are also prevalent in the Arctic region.

AIM: To study cellular immune response in 50–60 years old men with a history of gastrointestinal diseases(erosive gastritis), who have survived the COVID-19 in the Arctic region.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: An immunological examination was conducted on 26 men aged 50–60 from Arkhangelsk, who had a history of chronic erosive gastritis in long-term remission and had experienced mild cases of COVID-19. The examination included the determination of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and their phenotypes (CD5⁺, CD8⁺, CD10⁺, CD95⁺).

RESULTS: In men 6–11 months after COVID-19 infection, the adaptive immune response was marked by a deficiency of CD3⁺ T-cells in 88.5% of cases, elevated concentrations of CD10⁺ cells in 23.1%, increased levels of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils (by 15.4%, 34.6%, 30.8%, respectively), eleveted CD8⁺ cell-mediated cytotoxicity (65.4%), and an increase in CD95⁺ cells in 38.5% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS: The cellular immune response observed in the study is characterized by a 65.4% increase in cytotoxicity (CD8⁺), a significant deficiency of T-lymphocytes (CD3⁺) in 88.5% of cases, and a low level of phagocytic protection in 38.5% of individuals. These findings indicate a poor prognosis for the recurrence of chronic diseases.