Vol 31, No 7 (2024)

AIM: To analyze the trends and structure of Russian scientific research on the application of respiratory gas mixtures in extreme medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted in the Russian Science Citation Index, identifying 788 Russian publications from 2006 to 2023 on the application of respiratory gas mixtures in extreme medicine. A total of 513 (65.1%) articles from peer-reviewed journals, 118 (15.0%) conference materials, 108 (13.7%) patents for inventions and utility models, and 45 (5.7%) dissertation abstracts were selected. Publications were categorized into the sections of a developed classification system. Diseases for which respiratory gas mixtures were used in treatment and rehabilitation were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). The evolution of research directions was assessed using time series analysis and a second-order polynomial trend calculation across technical, biological, physiological, medical, and psychological sciences, as well as for different gas mixtures.

RESULTS: General aspects of respiratory gas mixtures were discussed in 1.5% of studies, technical issues in 8.7%, biological aspects in 13.7%, physiological aspects in 33.7%, medical applications in 40.2%, and psychological aspects in 2.2%. An increasing trend in publications across these domains was observed. Among the analyzed studies, xenon was included in 47.3% of gas mixtures, helium in 19.4%, increased and decreased oxygen content in 11.5% and 9.7%, respectively, and other gases in 12.1%. A growing trend in the use of xenon and helium in respiratory gas mixtures was identified. In 53.2% of technical science studies, devices for generating pharmaceutical substances from respiratory gas mixtures were examined. In 34.9% of biological studies, biomarkers of respiratory gas mixture exposure in animal models were analyzed. In 55.5% of physiological studies, the effects of respiratory gas mixtures on optimizing functional state and performance in extreme professions were examined, including athletes (44.3%), seafarers (29.1%), pilots (5.5%), and firefighters and rescue workers (21.1%). In medical research, 78.3% of studies focused on evaluating treatment effectiveness.

CONCLUSION: Overall, a positive effect has been observed from the use of inert gases in respiratory gas mixtures for improving the functional state of patients with specific conditions and increasing stress resistance in professionals working in extreme conditions. At the same time, further research is needed to study the effects of various respiratory gas mixtures on the bodies of animals and humans, the extraction of inert gases from the environment, and lowering their cost of production.

BACKGROUND: The negative impact of environmental factors affects human health, leading to an increase in disease rates associated with unfavorable living conditions. Assessing environmental quality remains highly relevant, as each major industrial center has its own regional characteristics.

AIM: To compare the cationic and anionic composition and types of saliva microcrystallization in residents of major industrial centers, using Omsk and Krasnoyarsk as examples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using saliva samples from residents of Omsk (n = 82) and Krasnoyarsk (n = 86), aged 18–22 years. All samples were analyzed for ammonium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, chlorides, sulfates, fluorides, and phosphates using capillary electrophoresis, and the types of saliva microcrystallization were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric methods, including the Mann–Whitney test for two-group comparisons and the Kruskal–Wallis test for comparisons involving three or more groups.

RESULTS: Significant regional differences were observed for all parameters except sulfate concentration in saliva. Residents of Krasnoyarsk had higher levels of ammonium, potassium, calcium, and all anions in their saliva compared to those from Omsk, whereas sodium and magnesium concentrations were higher in Omsk residents. In all parameters except calcium, increased concentrations were observed in male subgroups, regardless of region. No differences in saliva microcrystallization patterns were identified between the two cities.

CONCLUSION: The element concentrations in saliva differ between residents of Omsk and Krasnoyarsk. When planning studies using saliva as a biological substrate, it is essential to consider regional factors that influence its composition, which are determined by varying geochemical and industrial factors. Therefore, it is necessary to refine the normal reference values for saliva parameters specific to each city.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the prevalence of unhealthy habits in a person’s living environment on the individual likelihood of smoking and alcohol consumption in Russia remains understudied.

AIM: To analyze the associations of smoking and alcohol consumption with the prevalence of unhealthy habits in residential areas and personal social circles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022–2023 in six Russian regions, involving students in secondary and higher educational institutions. The study included 2015 men and women aged 25 years and younger. All variables were obtained through a survey method. Associations were assessed using logistic and ordinal regression analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS: Living in an area with low levels of visible alcohol consumption was associated with a lower individual likelihood of smoking (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.48–0.93), alcohol consumption (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43–0.76), and with lower cigarette consumption and alcohol intake volumes. An increase in the number of smokers in a person’s close social circle was associated with smoking (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.61–1.88), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.30–1.48), higher cigarette consumption, and greater alcohol intake. A higher number of alcohol consumers in one’s immediate social environment was also associated with smoking (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06–1.22), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.05–1.22), and greater alcohol intake.

CONCLUSION: The frequency of unhealthy habits within close social circles and the level of visible alcohol consumption in residential areas are associated with the individual likelihood and volume of smoking and alcohol consumption among Russian students.