Vol 30, No 2 (2023)

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the mental health and overall well-being of people worldwide. Vaccination is a crucial component in preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, despite the high risks associated with COVID-19, there is widespread disapproval and hostility towards vaccination and restrictive measures aimed at stopping the infection process. The spread of misinformation about vaccines, which has a long history as far back as the 18th and 19th centuries, increases distrust of immunization. This distrust is based on different beliefs about the origins of health and disease accepted in society. Vaccine skepticism is considered a global threat to public health and the achievement of population immunity against infections. Therefore, collection of data on attitudes towards vaccination within the largest possible number of social subgroups is warranted.

AIM: To perform a systematic search and qualitative synthesis of scientific information on COVID-19 vaccination readiness among Russian-speaking residents in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan as well as associated factors.

METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to examine scientific articles published in Russian from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2022, that reported on the attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination among Russian-speaking residents of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. In total, there were more than 12,000 respondents in the selected papers that described the factors influencing the preparedness for COVID-19 immunization. The proportions of respondents who agreed, disagreed, and doubted the implementation of vaccination were recorded and used to calculate median values without taking into account the weights of each individual study.

RESULTS: Compared to many other countries, the Russian-speaking residents in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan has demonstrated a reluctance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, with 30% expressing unwillingness and only 47% indicating readiness for vaccination.

CONCLUSION: The use of theoretical models for describing health-related behavior is warranted to improve the quality and information content of Russian biomedical and socio-psychological research. This approach can aid in the development of effective interventions and preventive strategies for vaccine-preventable diseases.

INTRODUCTION: To fully realize the intellectual potential of high school students with enhanced abilities, it is crucial to create conditions that promote and preserve their physical and mental health.

METHODS: To scientifically support the system of assisting students with enhanced mental abilities in the face of risk factors within the educational environment, a one-stage study was conducted at a multidisciplinary lyceum for gifted adolescents. The study focused on identifying risk factors associated with the organization and intensity of the educational process and daily routine of students in grades 9–11. To further support the use of biofeedback in the school medical system, students were taught the diaphragmatic breathing technique. The effectiveness of this technique was evaluated through a comparative analysis of the functional state of the central nervous- and cardiovascular systems, as well as the psycho-emotional status of students before and after two weeks of functional biofeedback training.

RESULTS: We found that students were at risk for health problems due to poorly organized educational activities, high intensity of studies and neglect of health-promoting habits such as adequate sleep and walking. However, it has also been found that academic demands can enhance mental performance, albeit at the cost of increased stress on the body's regulatory systems. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a support system for students that addresses these concerns. One promising intervention is diaphragmatic breathing training, which has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve mental performance and adaptability in students.

CONCLUSION: Our findings have enabled the scientific substantiation and development of a comprehensive system to support students with enhanced abilities throughout their educational path. This system involves assessment of the psychophysiological state of students, identifying those at risk and those in good health, and organizing a range of corrective, health-promoting, and health-protecting measures. These measures are designed to enhance compensatory capabilities and psychophysiological reserves, as well as to strengthen students' health during the learning process.

BACKGROUND: According to the classic works of H. Selye, a variety of factors can impact humans and trigger a complex bodily response known as a stress reaction. This can lead to an imbalance in the body's regulatory physiological systems.

AIM: To investigate the effects of a technogenic rotating electric field (REF) on the levels of carbohydrate-containing liver biopolymers in experimental animals.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 54 rats were used in the experiment. The levels of sialic acids, mucoproteins, fucose, and α-L-fucosidase were measured in the liver homogenate before the study, on the 10^th and 20^th day of the experiment. To ensure accurate results, the rats were first diagnosed using the open field method to determine their stress resistance levels. Based on the results, the rats were then divided into three groups: stress-resistant, stress-unstable, and ambivalent.

RESULTS: By the 10^th day of REF exposure, an increase in all the studied parameters in the liver homogenate in rats was observed indicating catabolic processes. Sialic acids concentration in stress-resistant, unstable and ambivalent rats increased by 14% (p=0.024), 29% (p=0.020) and 26% (p=0.021), respectively. Corresponding elevations of fucose concentration were 24% (p=0.019), 27% (p=0.019), 31% (p=0.019) while the activity of α-L-fucosidase increased by 55% (p=0.024), in 63% (p=0.024) and 55% (p=0.011) in the abovementioned categories of rates. Mucoproteins concentrations increased by 58% (p=0.011) in stress-resistant, 76% (p=0.011) in stress-unstable and 65% (p=0.021) in stress-ambivalent rats. By the 20^th day of the experiment, decomposition of carbohydrate-containing biopolymers slowed in all groups. When compared with the 10^th day 10, sialic acids concentration decreased in stress resistant, unstable and ambivalent rats by 12% (p=0.041), 17% (p=0.021) and 20% (p=0.011), respectively. Corresponding decrease in of mucoproteins was 26% (p=0.011), 33% (p=0.024), and 32% (p=0.024). Fucose concentration increased by 34% (p=0.024) in stress-resistant, by 22% (p=0.024) in stress-unstable and by 28% (p=0.010) in stress-ambivalent rats. Correspondingly, α-L-fucosidase activity increased by 15% (p=0.021), 46% (p=0.02) and 31% (p=0.011).

CONCLUSION: The study's findings indicate that technogenic REF can alter the levels of carbohydrate-containing biopolymers in animal livers, leading to the activation of catabolic processes. The group of stress-unstable individuals exhibited the most significant catabolic processes. Our results may have implications for occupations exposures to REF.

The creation of a socially comfortable urban environment is crucial for reducing health risks among the population. Numerous foreign studies have shown that urban infrastructure such as buildings, transportation, street design, public spaces, and access to resources such as healthy food, recreational areas, and places for physical activity have a significant contribution to the health of urban residents.

In Russia, the evidence on this topic is still scarce. Therefore, it is important to introduce the research methodology of the first Russian study on the associations between urban environment and population lifestyle. The aim of this article is to describe the rationale for the study, the study design, and the methodology of a comprehensive assessment of the municipal infrastructure that affects the health of the population. Additionally, the article will analyze the association between infrastructure and lifestyle to create a unified preventive environment at the municipal level. This will lead to the development of a comprehensive intersectoral health promotion program that takes into account the risk factors for the health of the population in a specific municipality.