Vol 27, No 6 (2020)

Aim: to assess perception of the state of emergency and associated restrictive conditions due to COVID-19 among medical students and university staff in a Kazakhstani setting. Methods. A crass-sectional study. Altogether 228 students and staff of the Pavlodar branch of the Semey Medical University participated in an online survey. The visual analog scales were used to study difficulties related to maintaining self-isolation/social distancing, the intensity of information flow, and the extent of psychological stress. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess affective symptoms. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi-squared- and Fisher exact tests. Mann-Whitney tests were used for numeric data. Sperman's correlation were calculated for associations between self-isolation/social distancing and the perception thereof. Results. In total, 30.3 % of respondents experienced substantial difficulties in maintaining self-isolation/social distancing. Their proportion was higher among those frequently watching, reading or listening to news about COVID-19 (41.7 % vs. 20.0 %, р < 0.001), and getting the infomation from online bloggeres (42.9 % vs. 26.8 %, р = 0.03). The psychological stress was reported by 92.7 % of the respondents. Those who experienced the difficulties with self-isolation/social distancing were more likely to feel excessive stress due to mobility restrictions (30.4 % vs. 6.9 %, p = 0.001), limited interpersonal communication (37.7 % vs. 17.0 %, p < 0.001), distance education (26.1 % vs. 11.3 %, p = 0.006), the suspension/reduction of clinical practice (33.3 % vs. 20.1 %, p = 0.044) than the others. That group with the difficulties had a higher proportion of anxiety (26.1 % vs. 11.9 %, p = 0.008) and depression symptoms (40.6 % vs. 22.0 %, p = 0.004). Positive correlations were observed between the severity of the perceived difficulties and the frequency of watching, reading !г listening to COVID-19 news (г = 0.26 p < 0.001). The difficulties correlated with symptoms of anxiety (г = 0.36, p < 0.001) and depression (г = 0.25, p < 0.001), stress due to mobility restrictions (r = 0.50, p < 0.001), limited interpersonal communication (r = 0.39, p < 0.001), and distance education (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The absolute majority of the respondents experienced psychological stress, severity of which varied in particular conditions of the state of emergency. The difficulties with self-isolation/social distancing were significantly associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

ABO system's immune antibodies are common, but not as persistent as natural anti-A and anti-B antibodies. They are the result of hyper immunization of an iso- or heteroimmune nature and belong to the IgG class. The study of serum for the presence of immune antibodies of the ABO, Rh system is necessary for the diagnosis of hemolytic disease cases of newborns with ABO, Rh-conflict pregnancy. Clinically significant immune antibodies of erythrocyte systems capable to cause in vivo destruction of red blood cells are of great importance in transfusiology and immunohematology. The most common cause of their occurrence is alloimmunization with red blood cell antigens during childbirth. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the immune anti-erythrocyte antibodies in residents of the Republic of Mordovia belonging to the ethnic groups of Moksha and Erzya. Methods. The cross-sectional study involved 294 people from the Moksha and 387 people and Erzya ethnic groups, randomly selected in 7 districts of the Republic of Mordovia. Detection of IgG anti-A, anti-B ABO systems was performed by inactivation of disulfide bonds in IgM molecules using a 5 % unitiol solution and then by direct agglutination method at indoor temperature with standard red blood cells of group O(I), A(II), and B(III). The study of incomplete anti-erythrocyte antibodies of other systems was performed by indirect Coombs' test using gel technology. Results. The study of immune antibodies of the ABO system revealed from 10.61 to 16.00 % of anti-A antibodies and from 2.27 to 6.38 % of anti-B antibodies in both men and women Moksha and Erzya. We studied immune anti-erythrocyte antibodies: anti-D 0.34 % in Moksha and anti-D 0.26% and anti-Kell 0.26 % antibodies in Erzya. The scale of immunogenicity of red blood cell antigens in the studied groups: A>, B>, D> and K>. The alloimmunization index of transfusion-hazardous antigens was calculated as 0.34 for Moksha and 0.52 for Erzya. Conclusions. Physiologically, the immune system in Moksha and Erzya actively reacts with antibody's production and it is sensitive to immunization by the group of antigens.

Natural radiation is the main source of exposure of the population, accounting for about 70 % of the total dose of natural radioactive background. At the same time, radon and its pre-black decay products account for 40 to 90 % of all natural sources. The main danger to public health in residential areas and workplaces is the development of malignant diseases of the respiratory system. The main goal of the radon strategy is to reduce the incidence and mortality from radon-induced lung cancer. It should be taken into account that radon in the air is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. The level of radon volume activity depends on two main factors - the geological and geographical environment and the structural features of buildings. A strategic goal aimed at reducing radon risk is the use of modern technologies to protect buildings from radon at the stage of their construction and re-construction. The current state of the radon problem indicates the need for constant monitoring and implementation of new modern measures to implement the radon strategy. The concept of radon hazard is constantly changing, refined and improved, which contributes to the development and adoption of new recommendations of the International Commission on radiological protection in the field of radiation protection of the population from natural sources of ionizing radiation. Strict implementation of these recommendations will ultimately significantly improve the quality of public health.

The aim is to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and factors associated with OHRQoL among the students of the medical university. Methods. The cross-sectional study included 308 Russian speaking third year students aged 19-25 years from the Faculty of General Medicine, Paediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Dentistry of the Northern State Medical University (NSMU), Arkhangelsk, Russian Arctic. The Oral Health (OH) Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to measure OHRQoL. Information on socio-demographic factors, self-esteem of tooth and gingiva health, OH behaviour, and diet was obtained from the OH Questionnaire for adults (World Health Organization, 2013). Pearson's chi-square test and multivariable Poisson regression with robust estimate of dispersion were used for statistical analysis. Results: 33,8 % and 18,5 % of students had poor dentition and gingiva, respectively. 39,0 % of students consumed sweet pies/buns more than once a week; 39.0 % of students reported on low OHRQoL. The highest mean scores OHIP-14 were found for the dimensions "physical pain" and "psychological discomfort": 1.59 (95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.43-1.75) and 0.84 (95 % CI: 0.70-0.98), respectively. Female sex (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.73, 95 % CI: 1.23-2.45), poor self-esteem of teeth health (PR = 2.32, 95 % CI: 1.77-3.04), and sweet pies/buns consumption more than once a week (PR = 1.39, 95 % CI: 1.07-1.80), were all significantly and independently associated with low OHRQoL. Conclusions: Relatively high prevalence of low OHRQoL was observed in the examined students. Female sex, poor self-esteem of teeth health and frequent consumption of sweet pies/buns were associated with low OHRQoL. To enhance OHRQoL in Russian students, the preventive strategies for dental diseases and diet improvement should be implemented.