Vol 29, No 6 (2022)

BACKGROUND: Extensive measures to reduce lead concentrations in the biosphere are implemented in many countries, therefore, the world community predicts a decrease in the quantitative content of lead in the environment. The concentration of lead in human hair is considered as an indicator of environmental pollution, therefore, systematized information on this indicator in the subjects of the Russian Federation is necessary to assess the effectiveness of environmental measures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. We performed a systematic search and qualitative synthesis of scientific literature on hair concentrations of lead across Russia between 2011 and 2021. PubMed and eLIBRARY.RU were the main sources of scientific information in English and Russian, respectively. Initial search returned 1748 matches. Thirty-seven papers remained for qualitative synthesis after screening and eligibility analysis.

RESULTS: During the study period, the results of studies on 27 subjects of the Russian Federation were published, which is one third of all subjects of the federation. No heterogeneity was observed in sample preparation while methods of laboratory analysis varied between the settings and included inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry and inversion voltammetry. The sample sizes ranged from 5 to 5908 individuals. The average lead concentrations varied between 0.01 and 6.54 mg/kg. The greatest concentrations of lead were reported in the Orenburg (6.54 mg/kg) and Chita Regions (4.35 mg/kg).

CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of all subjects of the Russian Federation for the period 2011–2021 are not covered by the study, so there are no data on the concentration of lead in the hair of the population of these regions. Further data collection should be performed using representative and sufficient sample samples while presentation of the results should contain detailed information on methods of data collection and analysis to ensure reproducibility and comparability of the findings.

BACKGROUND: Environmental pollution is increasingly becoming a problem and will continue to be a serious risk for human health. Therefore, it is important to monitor the element status of the population.

AIM: To determine the elements in residents’ hairs of Simferopol city, Republic of Crimea.

MATERIAL ANS METHODS: Twenty-eight elements were determined using the instrumental neutron activation method. The mercury content was estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry in 80 hair samples of healthy 17–20-year-old Simferopol residents (34 males and 46 females). The concentration coefficients were calculated, and the geochemical rows were plotted based on comparison with the published data from other regions..

RESULTS: The median values of the hair element content were found to be within the reference ranges for 25 out of 29 chemical elements. Excess Br and Ba were found in most residents, which could be due to the geochemical conditions. Significant sex differences in the content of Na, Ca, and Sb could be associated with differences in diet, lifestyle, and other gender-associated factors. Comparison of the geochemical elemental rows for Simferopol residents with other territories of Crimea and Krasnodar suggests a greater intake of Co, Na, Fe, and As in urban residents (Crimea) compared to Krasnodar, and in comparison with other territories of a peninsula — Hg, Ag, and Zn.

CONCLUSION: Although most of the elements were within reference ranges in Simferopol residents, the anthropogenic load has increased recently, along with our previously established physiological effects of toxic metals, demonstrating the need for further biomonitoring studies.

BACKGROUND: Menopause is a risk factor for oxidative stress. Previous study results indicate the lipid peroxidation ethnospecificity, suggesting differences in the metabolism of different ethnic groups of women, associated with the oxidation of not only lipids but proteins and DNA.

AIM: To determine advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and DNA oxidative modification levels in the blood of Russian and Buryat peri- and postmenopausal women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 86 women of two ethnic groups — Russians (n=52) and Buryats (n=34) — aged 45 to 60 years with peri- and postmenopausal status, which participated as volunteers. The basis for the exclusion in this study was the use of hormone replacement therapy, antioxidant drugs, diseases of endocrine origin, exacerbation of chronic diseases, premature early menopause, and surgical menopause. The concentration of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (ng/ml) and AGEs (ng/ml) was determined in blood serum by enzyme immunoassay. The content of AOPP (nmol/l) was determined in blood plasma using the photometric method.

RESULTS: An increase of AOPP levels in postmenopause as compared to perimenopause was found in women of both ethnic groups (36.90 [27.09; 42.72] and 19.80 [17.03; 23.78] in the Russian ethnic group (p <0.001) and 31.16 [29.45; 33.99] and 26.30 [23.44; 30.91] in the Buryat ethnic group (p=0.020). Regardless of the menopausal phase, the AGEs levels in Buryat women were higher than the Russian ethnic group: (5015.0 [4584.49; 5486.96] and 3685.87 [3376.11; 4318.0] in perimenopause (p=0.002) and 4970 [4710; 5660] and 4274.59 [3440.67; 4813.05] in postmenopause (p=0.040)) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (1.58 [0.66; 4.36] and 0.82 [0.42; 1.09] in perimenopause (p=0.032) and 1.52 [1.06; 4.21] and 0.85 [0.49; 1.34] in postmenopause (p=0.018)). Differences in the AOPP level were revealed only in the perimenopause toward a higher level in Buryat women.

CONCLUSION: Protein oxidation depends on the menopausal phase and is more pronounced in postmenopausal women. The carbonyl stress parameters and DNA destruction levels are higher in Buryat women than Russian ethnic group.

BACKGROUND: Firefighters' performance of their occupational duties is associated with significant psycho-emotional stress, as well as the complex influence of harmful and dangerous factors that are a source of risk to their health and life. One of the most important modern tasks of vocational training of employees in the EMERCOM of Russia is the problem of assessing psychophysiological reserves. Currently, traditional methods of psychological and psychophysiological testing do not allow a full assessment of psychophysiological reserves because the degree of adaptation to extreme loads is determined by hereditary traits.

AIM: To study the features of cognitive mental processes and neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system in firefighters that depend on the polymorphisms of the regulators genes of the monoamine system of the brain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Methodologically, 453 people were examined, of which 234 were the main group (firefighters), and 219 were the control group. Assessment was conducted using the following methods: "Correction test with Landolt rings", "Münsterberg test", "Schulte tables", "Reaction to a moving object", "Simple visual-motor reaction", and KR-3-85 test batteries. Genotyping was performed using five candidate genes of 5-HTTLPR or 5HTT, 5HT2A, COMT, DRD1, and DRD2/ANKK1.

RESULTS: The results of indicators of attention, neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system, and cognitive mental processes, depending on the nature of the occupational tasks performed and employment duration, indicates the strain of the functional systems of the body during long-term work (more than five years) in the main study group (firefighters). Firefighters carrying 5HTT L/L, 5HT2A C/C, COMT Val/Val, and DRD2/ANKK1 Glu/Glu genotypes have significantly higher rates than those of 5HTT S/S, 5HT2A Т/Т genotypes, COMT Met/Met, and DRD2/ANKK1 Lis/Lis, and at the same time lower indicators compared to individuals with similar genotypes from the control group.

CONCLUSION: The data obtained indicate the feasibility of practical application of studies of the 5HTT, 5HT2A, and DRD2/ANKK1 genes. Changes in the level of attention and neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system depending on the polymorphic variants of the DRD1 gene were not observed. The indicators of cognitive mental processes in the control and main groups differed depending on the polymorphic variants of the COMT gene.