Vol 21, No 9 (2014)

Accumulation, migration of heavy metals in the Arctic soils of the western coast of the island West Spitsbergen have been studied. The main ways of heavy metals intake to the soil have been established. The raised concentration of strontium in the Arctic soils of the archipelago is induced by its natural concentration in maternal deposits.

Objective. To give medical and ecological evaluation for the epidemiology of colon cancer (CC) between 2000 and 2010 in Arkhangelsk oblast (AO) by the data of regional population cancer registry (ARCR). Materials and methods. Data on all cases of CC (C18.0-C18.9) in the AO in 2000-2010 were extracted from the database of the ARCR. The incidence and mortality from CС by sex, age, place of residence and tumor location studied. Adjustment for age was performed using WHO 2000 age standard. Data on population number were extracted from Arkhangelskstat. Results. Over the study period, 3267 cases of the CC were registered. Crude and standardized CC incidence increased during the period by 44.3% and 27.44, respectively. Mortality from CC in 2010 was 12.5 per 100 000 population. Epidemiological indicators are higher than in average in Russia, showing the same dynamics. Probability to get CC progressively elevates with age accounting 5.5 and 8.1 vs 190.3 and 142.3 per 100 000 male and female population at age 40-49 vs 70 years and older, respectively. Crude CC incidence in AO is higher in the female population while standardized one was higher among males. This is explained by a much smaller proportion of the males in older age groups and confirms the importance of standardization. The CC incidence rates are lower in rural population comparatively to urban one. Levels and trends of CC incidence among inhabitants of cities with pulp and paper plants were similar to that in other cities of AO. Conclusions. Epidemiological model for CC in both AO and Russia in whole shows progressively increasing incidence and mortality with relatively small gap between them and substantially differs from that in developed countries. Pulp and paper industry does not influence on CC incidence.

The article presents the peculiarities of telemedicine studios (TM) located in Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO). The activities’ analysis of TM studio at Nenets District Hospital was performed for the period of five years. A long-term target program “Development of telemedicine in NAO” contributing to equal rights realization in obtaining skilled and specialized medical care in remote areas of the Okrug has been launched since 2010. Its basis is the concept of sustainable evolution of indigenous peoples inhabiting the North of the Russian Federation. Under this program telemedicine technologies were widely used in the work of the District Hospital. In the analyzed period of time the number of scheduled and emergency TM consultations increased by 2-3 times.

The article presents the results of the study of interhemispheric asymmetry among 28 men and 33 women of the elderly age. Interhemispheric asymmetry was assessed by DC-potential level difference between symmetrical areas of the brain. The DC-potential were recorded, processed and analyzed using a 12-channel hardware and software diagnostic complex “Neuroenergometr -КМ» in the unipolar leads. The resulting distribution characteristics DC-potential were compared with the average standard values for the corresponding age period incorporated into the complex software. It was revealed that interhemispheric interaction among the elderly living in the North was changed in comparison with normative data that is expressed in the individual variability of the hemispheric differences in the group of men and women. Smoothing hemispheric asymmetry was observed among men living in the North in the frontal leads and among women in central ones and hemispheric dominance in the central leads of men. In both groups, there is left-hemisphere dominance in the parietal and frontal leads of women.

International School of Public Health, Northern State Medical University Arkhangelsk, Russia *Department of International Public Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway In this paper we present general principles of correlation analysis and its use in biomedical research. Practical examples of correlation analysis are given. Calculations of Pearson’s and Spearmen’s correlation coefficients are presented using formulas and STATA software. Main assumptions for the use of correlation analysis are discussed as well as general principles of presentation of the results in biomedical publications. The article presents only general information about correlation analysis and does not substitute special statistical literature.