Vol 32, No 7 (2025)

Human activities in industrialized economies lead to soil contamination with highly neurotoxic heavy metals accumulating in body tissues. Given the urgent environmental issue of heavy metal accumulation in soil and their toxicity to humans, the aim of the study was to analyse the available scientific data on their neurotoxicity. To achieve this aim, evidence-based papers from the relevant open databases over the past five years have been reviewed. According to scientific evidence, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury are considered the most common neurotoxic metals that pollute the soil. The heavy metal toxicity to nervous tissue has various mechanisms, such as the impairment of the cell cycle and metabolism and blood-brain barrier disruption. This leads to structural degeneration of the central nervous system. Cadmium, lead, mercury, and chromium can affect the development and functions of the nervous system, resulting in neurotoxicity that can be fatal in cases of acute poisoning. Screening, identification of populations with the increased risk of metal poisoning, and primary prevention in environmentally unfavourable areas are the appropriate actions to solve the problem of heavy metal contamination of the soil and their adverse effect on the body.

BACKGROUND: Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (ICD-10, Chapter 19) continue to occupy a significant place in the structure of morbidity, temporary disability, permanent disability, and mortality among Internal Affairs officers. This necessitates an analysis of their trends and the development of predictive models under conditions of changing service-related workload.

AIM: The work aimed to assess the trends and forecast health indicators related to the consequences of external causes among officers of the Internal Affairs bodies.

METHODS: A retrospective time-series analysis was performed for primary morbidity, loss of work capacity, mortality, and primary disability caused by external causes (ICD-10, Chapter 19) among Internal Affairs officers from 2008 to 2024. Forecasts for 2025–2028 were generated using the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, supplemented with a binary exogenous factor reflecting participation in combat operations. The validity of differences between models with and without the external factor was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS: The predictive models demonstrated a significant influence of the exogenous factor reflecting participation in combat operations on key medical-statistical indicators. Accounting for the external factor led to increased forecasted values for primary morbidity (by an average of 2.1‰), cases of loss of work capacity (by 3.8‰), and days of temporary disability (more than 270 per 1000 officers annually; p < 0.001). Conversely, mortality and primary disability indicators were lower in the model with the exogenous factor, which may reflect organizational features of medical assistance and evacuation under increased risk. The observed differences between models were statistically significant for all parameters except disability (ANOVA, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The inclusion of an exogenous predictor reflecting participation of Internal Affairs officers in combat operations improved the accuracy of forecasting key medical-demographic indicators related to external causes. The results highlight the necessity of systematic implementation of medical evacuation mechanisms, staged rehabilitation, and functional monitoring of affected officers to reduce disability-related losses and prolong professional longevity.

BACKGROUND: Endotoxicosis is a multifactorial pathophysiological process that can significantly affect the mother–placenta–fetus system during gestation. Alcohol consumption is a potential aggravating factor for maternal health, associated with biochemical disturbances both in the mother and the fetus, and may increase the risk of endotoxicosis.

AIM: The work aimed to assess endogenous intoxication in women at different stages of pregnancy by measuring the concentration of middle molecules in venous blood and its association with serum phosphatidylethanol (PEth) levels.

METHODS: Endogenous intoxication was evaluated by middle molecules levels in pregnant women (n=163). In accordance with PEth 16:0/18:1 concentrations, groups of women were identified according to alcohol consumption levels: group 1 with PEth ≤8 ng/mL (non-drinkers, control); group 2 with 8–45 ng/mL (drinking less than one dose); group 3 with ≥45 ng/mL (drinking more than one dose). Measurements were performed at 6–12, 18–22, 28–32, and 38–40 weeks of gestation. Plasma samples were used for analysis. Middle molecules were determined at λ=238, 254, 260, and 280 nm, followed by calculation of distribution coefficients (238/260, 238/280, 280/254).

RESULTS: Compared with controls, significant reductions in middle molecules levels (λ=238 nm) were observed in alcohol-consuming women at 28–32 weeks in both group 2 (p=0.013) and group 3 (p=0.003). Before delivery, middle molecules levels were lower in group 3 compared with controls (p=0.004). A significant decrease in middle molecules levels (λ=280 nm) was detected in group 3 compared with group 2 (p=0.017). In alcohol-consuming women, regardless of PEth 16:0/18:1 levels, significantly lower values of the peptide–nucleotide distribution coefficient 238/260 (p=0.007 and p <0.001 in groups 2 and 3, respectively) and aromaticity coefficient 238/280 (p=0.002 and p <0.001 in groups 2 and 3, respectively) were observed compared with controls at 28–32 weeks. Before delivery, decreases in these coefficients were noted only in group 2 (p=0.006 for 238/260; p=0.015 for 238/280). The 280/254 distribution coefficient was higher in alcohol-consuming women at 28–32 weeks compared with controls (p=0.003 and p=0.014 in groups 2 and 3, respectively).

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate reduced levels of specific fractions of middle-molecular toxins reflecting both anabolic and catabolic pools in alcohol-consuming women, which may be associated with serious metabolic disturbances in the mother–placenta–fetus system. Distribution coefficients proved to be sensitive markers for monitoring endogenous intoxication in pregnant women, suggesting a predominance of catabolic processes with accumulation of catabolic products and a possible increased risk of preterm delivery, regardless of alcohol dose.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a known risk factor for adverse cognitive outcomes. The age at which it begins to affect cognitive function remains unclear.

AIM: The work aimed to investigate the impact of elevated blood pressure on cognitive function in middle-aged adults by assessing the auditory P300 event-related potential.

METHODS: This study included residents of Arkhangelsk aged 45–59 years with hypertension (n = 102) and without hypertension (n = 100). Three age periods were defined: 45–49, 50–54, and 55–59 years. Each age period was divided into two groups: group 1 (control)—individuals without hypertension; group 2—individuals with hypertension of the corresponding age. P300 and N2 components were recorded using a Neuron-Spectrum-4/VPM electroencephalography system (Neurosoft, Russia) with an auditory oddball paradigm. Blood pressure was measured with an OMRON Healthcare automatic tonometer.

RESULTS: In the 45–49-year age range, individuals with hypertension of median duration 5 years showed no differences in N2 or P300 latency or in P300 amplitude compared with the control group. In the 50–54-year age range, individuals with hypertension of median duration 8 years showed reduced P300 amplitude in the right parietal (P4) region compared with corresponding controls. In the 55–59-year age range, individuals with hypertension of median duration 9.7 years showed reduced P300 amplitude in parietal (P3, P4), central (C3, C4), and frontal (F3, F4) regions, along with prolonged N2 latency in the left parietal (P3), left anterior temporal (F7), and right frontal (F4) regions.

CONCLUSION: Middle-aged individuals with hypertension demonstrated a decline in attentional resources beginning at 50–54 years, and by 55–59 years this was accompanied by both reduced attentional resources and slowed speed of auditory stimulus discrimination and recognition.