Vol 26, No 5 (2019)

Aims: To identify regional and seasonal patterns of climate at the continental part of the Far East and to study associations between climate discomfort and population health. Methods: Correlation coefficients between climatic indices in January and July and all-cause-, cardiovascular- and respiratory mortality and morbidity were calculated. Results: The overall morbidity was similar to the national average. It was slightly lower for circulatory diseases, but higher for respiratory diseases. In some regions the latter was significantly higher than the national average. Circulatory- and respiratory morbidity was almost twice as high in Chukotka (Far North East) than in the Jewish Autonomous Region (South Far East). At the same time, the low all-cause mortality in Chukotka needs further research. Conclusions: Common and specific patterns of spatial and seasonal variations and their associations with morbidity were observed in the continental part of the Russian Far East. Wet Kata Cooling Power index by Hill seems to be the best indicator of thermal discomfort. Significant correlations between health indicators and thermal discomfort expressed by bioclimatic indices are in line with other studies suggesting links between population health in the Russian Far East and climate. Low all-cause mortality in Chukotka requires further research.

Aims: to assess the quality of drinking water using microbiological indicators and to assess epidemic risks of water-born infections in urban settings of the Arkhangelsk region. Methods: Secondary data on standard sanitary and hygienic assessments of the quality of centralized drinking water supply in Arkhangelsk, Severodvinsk, Novodvinsk, Kotlas and Koryazhma for 2006-2016 were used. Assessment of the microbial risk of water-born infections was performed. Results: All towns except Severodvinsk had moderate risk of water-born infections through centralized drinking water supply system. Arkhangelsk had 56 points while Kotlas, Novodvinsk and Koryazhma had 37, 30 and 19 points, respectively. Severodvinsk had low risk of water-born infections (5 points). Proportions of samples with abnormal concentrations of general and thermotolerant coliform bacteria in Arkhangelsk, Kotlas, Novodvinsk after water treatment varied between 16 % and 27 % while in Korazhma the corresponding proportions varied between 21 % and 53 % Irregular water supply have contributed with 18 % and 14 % in Arkhangelsk and Kotlas, respectively. Conclusions: The presence of general and thermotolerant coliform bacteria in drinking water detected immediately after water treatment and in water supply network are the main contributors to the epidemic risk of water-born infections in towns of the Arkhangelsk region. Irregularity of water supply was additional factor linked to microbial contamination in Arkhangelsk and Kotlas.

Aim: To study associations between selected factors and levels of immune defense among medical personnel. Methods. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the individual contribution of the selected socio-demographic and occupational factors on the levels of immune defense in medical professionals using SPSS software. Results. We identified the following factors contributing to the studied outcome: department where a person works, category of healthcare worker, gender and age. All these factors were significantly associated with the outcomes in binary logistic regression models. Conclusions. The factors that we identified as significant predictors in our models should be used in development of health-protecting strategies directed towards healthcare personnel in clinical settings.

Aim: To perform a complex analysis of the adaptive capabilities of the jejunal mucosa morphoenzymological parameters under conditions of chronic exposure to electromagnetic impulses. Methods: In an experiment performed on white laboratory male rats aged 4 months we studied changes in the mitotic activity of the jejunum mucosa crypts epithelial cells after 5, 7 and 10 months of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) of electrical discharges with a density of induced currents of 0.37; 0.7; 0.8; 2.7 kA/m2 and the impulse frequency of 50, 100 and 500 per week. Histoenzymological reactions were carried out on cryostat sections. Quantitative cytological evaluation was performed in the epithelium of 20 longitudinal villi from each animal's micropreparation (х400). Paired t-tests were used for analyses of continuous variables. Results. So-called "amplitude-frequency windows" were established, showing no shifts in relation to the indicators of control and indicating possible manifestations of tolerance and/or adaptation of the studied indicators to individual parameters and EMF. For undifferentiated epitheliocytes of the jejunum mucosa, the "window effect" was recorded with EMF with 0.8 kA/m2 and a frequency of 50 and 500 at 7 and 10 month exposure, respectively. At the same time, the highest level of adaptive reactions was recorded 5 months after the exposure to IEM regardless of density of induced currents with a frequency of 50 and 100 impulses per week. Conclusions. Our analysis made it possible to establish morphofunctional associations between the cellular populations of the epithelio-connective tissue complex of the intestinal system of the body, referring to them as a single system that takes part in the regulation of tissue homeostasis, and also reflects the actual levels of manifestation of reactive, dystrophic processes and adaptive capabilities, depending on the effect of the parameters of the electromagnetic factor.

Introduction. Environmental factors and their seasonal fluctuations have been shown to influence human health. Birth is one of the most critical periods of human development. Newborns are very sensitive to environmental factors. Our aim was to study associations between selected environmental factors and the first- and the fifth minute Apgar scores in Barnaul, Altay region. Method. Data on Apgar scores for all infants born in Maternity home N 2 in Barnaul in 1998 and 2014 were analyzed. Barometric pressure, the pressure gradient, Wolf number, 10.7 cm Solar flux, geomagnetic AP-index were used as independent variables. Associations were assessed using linear regression models. Regression coefficients, coefficient of determination (R2) and significance levels (P) were calculated. Results. We found positive associations between Apgar scores and AP geomagnetic index and indicators of solar activity. At the same time no associations between barometric pressure and newborns' Apgar scores were observed. Conclusions. Our findings are congruent with the evidence on the associations between Solar activity and human health indices. However, the effects were rather weak suggesting more important role of the endogenic factors influencing late stages of pregnancy.

The aim of the study was to determine the stages of treatment and rehabilitation for combatants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) having borderline mental disorders (CPD). Methods. Data from 653 case histories of combatants who attended the center for psychophysiological diagnostics of the medical and sanitary department of MIA in the Kirov region were obtained. Follow-up information on mental health four years after the execution of operational and service tasks under special conditions was analysed in two groups. The first group consisted of 338 mentally healthy combatants who received no medical or psychological support. The second group consisted of 315 individuals with CPD and who received treatment. Means and confidence intervals were calculated for continuous variables. Critical level of statistical significance was 0.05. Results. The proposed system with a multi-professional approach to the rehabilitation of combatants in the context of a departmental, general health care institution allows the optimal level of restoring of social functioning in a peaceful environment. Conclusion. We propose to establish special units for mental health in regional health facilities of the MIA health system with the introduction of multiprofessional therapy and medical rehabilitation of combatants with CPD followed by social rehabilitation with participation of educational and veteran organizations of MIA.