Introduction: Availability of food products for every citizen is the main indicator of food security of the country as a whole.

Objective: To characterize actual nutrition of the rural population of the Russian Arctic.

Materials and methods: The research was based on data of a sociological survey conducted in the summer of 2024 by estimating the frequency of food consumption in the Leshukonsky, Mezensky, Pinezhsky, and Primorsky municipal districts of the Arkhangelsk Region located in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. The sample was probabilistic and stratified by municipal districts; the respondents were selected by sex and age to match the structure of the local population in each district. The final sample size was 404 respondents with the total population of 58,841 people as of January 1, 2024.

Results: We established that the population over 50 years of age prevailed in the surveyed settlements. Their daily diet primarily included bakery and dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruits, and, less often, animal meat and fish. Comparison of the diets between age groups showed that young people contributed the most to the consumption rates of meat, poultry, and dairy products, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Bakery products and confectionery were the main sources of carbohydrates (86.6 % and 44.8 %, respectively), while fresh fruits and vegetables were those of dietary fiber (62.6 %). The daily diet of the rural population contained almost no canned or junk foods.

Conclusions: The results show that actual nutrition of the population of rural Arctic areas of the Arkhangelsk Region does not comply with the standards for a healthy diet. At the same time, the study lacks food consumption details, which does not allow us to judge about protein, fat and carbohydrate intake of rural residents. This necessitates further studies of the actual diet of the rural population of the Russian Arctic, which is important for developing measures promoting healthy eating in the local population, ensuring food security and strategic development of the region, especially in its remote and hard-to-reach areas.

Summary Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted daily life, including lifestyle and dietary habits. This study investigates these changes to understand their effects on health behavior patterns.

Objective: To examine the alterations in smoking habits, physical activity, sleep patterns, dietary behaviors, and supplement use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 400 participants to assess their lifestyle and dietary habits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 IBM, with statistical significance determined through chi-square tests, McNemar tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results: The study found a decrease in heavy smoking from 11 % to 9.8 % and a significant rise in sedentary behavior from 44.3 % to 55.5 % (p < 0.001). Sleep patterns shifted, with a reduction in inadequate sleep and increased excessive sleep. Dietary changes included a rise in supplement use from 25.3 % to 41.8 % (p < 0.001) and increased appetite, leading to weight gain (48.3 %). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet showed variability, with some aspects being less adhered to during the pandemic.

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in lifestyle and dietary habits, including increased sedentary behavior, altered sleep patterns, and shifts in dietary practices. Public health interventions should focus on promoting physical activity, balanced nutrition, and appropriate supplement use. Future research should explore the long-term impacts of these changes and potential strategies for mitigating negative health outcomes.

Introduction: Respiratory allergies in children can be induced by metal allergens, a long-term low-dose inhalation exposure to which can trigger hypersensitivity reactions.

Objective: To assess immunological and genetic risks of developing allergic rhinitis in children exposed to low airborne chromium concentrations.

Materials and methods: We tested blood samples of 147 schoolchildren experiencing chronic exposure to airborne chromium at the average annual maximum permissible level for blood chromium levels, the immune state (total IgE, specific IgE, CD8+, CD25+, CD95+, IL-1b, and IL-18), polymorphism of the candidate genes PPARA G/C rs4253778 and SULT1A1 Arg213His rs9282861. The sample was divided into two groups: the observation group including 61 children with allergic rhinitis (J30.3) in the medical history and the reference group of 86 hay fever-free controls.

Results: We established that the children suffering from allergic rhinitis had 1.2 times higher blood chromium levels, 3.4 times higher total IgE sensitization, 1.2 times higher chromium-specific IgE sensitization, elevated expression of the activation clusters of CD25+ lymphocytes (R2 = 0.58 at p < 0.01) and IL-18 but reduced expression of CD8+ and CD95+ lymphocyte clusters (R2 = 0.51 at p < 0.01) compared to the controls. We also found alleles and genotypes posing the risk of health impairments associated with polymorphisms of the candidate genes in the observation group (RR = 1.2–1.8), namely the C allele of the PPARA gene (OR = 2.51; CI: 1.28–4.94); the A allele (OR = 1.90; CI: 1.19–3.03), and AA genotype (OR = 2.47; CI: 1.16–5.24) of the SULT1A1 gene.

Conclusions: We established that the low-dose exposure to airborne chromium compounds at the average annual MPL accounts for excessive chromium concentrations in biological fluids and imbalance of the immunological profile against single nuclear polymorphisms of the detox gene SULT1A1 Arg213His rs9282861 (the А allele) and antioxidant gene PPARA G/C rs4253778 (the allele С) and poses risks (RR = 1.2–1.8) of allergic rhinitis for the exposed children. We suggest that chromium-specific IgE, levels of expression of CD8+, CD25+, CD95+ lymphocyte clusters, IL-18, polymorphisms of the candidate detox SULT1A1 and antioxidant PPARA genetic variations should be used for early diagnosis and subsequent prevention of hay fever in children upon low-dose exposure to airborne chromium compounds.

Introduction: Creating a healthy lifestyle in student youth is a key factor in adaptation to increased psycho-emotional and physical stress during the learning process that is even more challenging for foreign students.

Objective: To survey the lifestyle, diet, and health status of the first and sixth-year foreign medical students studying at the Derzhavin Tambov State University.

Materials and methods: We conducted a sociomedical survey of 105 first-year and 122 sixth-year foreign students using paper questionnaires specially adapted for the study to establish the main health status parameters. The average age of respondents was 23.6 ± 2.3 years. The respondents’ home countries are located in Africa (Egypt, Gabon, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, Morocco) and Asia (India, Palestine, Malaysia).

Results: We observed an increase in obesity prevalence with age. Overweight was noted in 17.1 % of the first-year and 23.0 % of the sixth-year students; 7.4 % of the senior students were obese (p < 0.01). The respondents’ self-rated and objective health deteriorated by the final year at university. Having more than four episodes of a respiratory disease per year over the previous two years was reported by 28.6 % of the freshmen but already 50.8 % of the seniors (p < 0.01). The main complaints of all the respondents were fatigue, drowsiness, and inattention. Satisfaction with the diet subjectively increased by the sixth year. Both freshmen and seniors reported a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet while eating at home was reported by 82.9 % and 73.8 % of them, respectively. We noted a slight increase in the proportion of students with digestive problems by the sixth year (20.0 % in freshmen, 95 % CI: 17.0–23.0 against 24.6 % in senior students; 95 % CI: 21.4–27.8). Moderate and high levels of physical activity were reported by 60.0 % of first and 73.0 % of sixth-year students (p = 0.004). Smoking and alcohol consumption behavior became more prevalent by the final year.

Conclusion: Despite the accumulation of some health problems, both first and sixth-year foreign students generally maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Background: Soil, water, and plants that grow in the highlands have a very low iodine content in nature. People living in these areas can suffer from iodine deficiency; in children under 5 years of age, the latter can induce mental and growth disorders.

Objective: To assess correlations between characteristics of children and their mothers and mental development of children under two years of age living in iodine-deficient areas.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in rural areas of Magelang Regency involving 46 respondents to find the association between eight independent variables (knowledge, education, occupation and parenting style of the mother, sex, wasting, underweight, and stunting of children) and children’ mental development as a dependent variable using logistic regression.

Results: Bivariate analysis showed that mother’s knowledge, as well as the child’s male sex and stunting correlated with mental development of children under the age of two (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that stunting had a significant effect on child developmental disorders.

Conclusion: Stunted children under two years of age living in iodine-deficient areas are 11.588 times more likely to experience developmental delays than those without stunting.

Introduction: Over 1,500 establishments provide education to children with disabilities in the Russian Federation. According to sanitary legislation, learning of students with special educational needs can be both inclusive and special, i.e. provided in mainstream schools or separate classrooms, groups, and education facilities, respectively. Yet, priority models and forms of education for disabled children are still a matter of debate.

Objective: To assess the compliance of the learning process with functional capabilities of schoolchildren with special educational needs in the context of the models of special and inclusive education.

Materials and methods: The study was based on examining mental performance and emotional state of elementary school students with disabilities.

Results and discussion: We established better and steady mental performance of disabled students taught in a special school department, which was largely attributed to health-preserving practices feasible to implement in this particular setting. Inclusive education, on the opposite, induced shifts in mental performance reflecting obvious and pronounced fatigue that increased significantly during the school week (from 58.0 ± 12.5 to 70.0 ± 14.5, р < 0.05). Indicators of the emotional state were relatively stable over the course of learning and did not differ significantly between the children receiving special and inclusive education.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the importance of applying various models of teaching students with special educational needs taking into account hygienic optimization of weaknesses of the conditions and organization of the educational process, socialization and social adaptation of disabled students, all contributing to variability and parental opportunity to choose the most suitable model for the child.

Introduction: Health of crew members of maritime vessels is largely determined by factors of the ship environment causing stress and tension of adaptive systems, disruption of regulatory functions, and the development of dysfunctional manifestations, all leading to health and workability deterioration in seafarers.

Objectives: To study working conditions and catering and to conduct psychological surveys of crew members of marine cargo ships in order to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace wellness program.

Materials and methods: The study involved 342 male crew members of transport refrigerated vessels of the Far Eastern Federal District. Hygienic assessment of working conditions and occupational risks was carried out in accordance with Russian Guidelines R 2.2.2006–05 and R 2.2.3969–23. Actual nutrition was evaluated using the frequency method and the 24-hour playback technique. Psychodiagnostic assessment of the mental (emotional) state of sailors was performed using common techniques.

Results: We established class 2 working conditions and related moderate workplace risks for the command staff and class 3 harmful working conditions for the deck department and engine room crews posing high (intolerable) occupational risks. The diet of the crew members was found to be imbalanced. We developed a 14-day healthy and balanced meal plan and proposed calculations of the required food products and cooking techniques in compliance with the recipes. We established dysfunctional conditions in sailors, including fatigue and sleep disorders (74.3 ± 3.12 %), a tendency towards anxiety-depressive disorders (15.6 ± 0.61 %), low energy potential and activity, poor resistance to stress, negative emotional experiences, and emotional blunting and compiled personal recommendations for regulating the emotional state and enhancing the level of stress tolerance.

Conclusions: A set of health promotion measures representing a corporate wellness program for crew members of refrigerated transport vessels in the Far Eastern Federal District has been substantiated, developed, and proposed for practical application.

Introduction: The solution to the problem of assessing current nitrate pollution and the associated human health risks has not lost its relevance due to frequent detection of high concentrations of nitrates in drinking water and food.

Objective: To assess health risks of nitrate pollution of drinking water and food products for the population of the Voronezh Region.

Materials and methods: We used data on quality indicators of centralized domestic drinking water supply systems and levels of contaminants in food raw materials collected within public health surveillance for the period of 2012 to 2024 in 34 administrative territories of the Voronezh Region. The main indicator was the hazard quotient (HQ), which characterizes non-carcinogenic risk.

Results: Health risk assessment of nitrate pollution of drinking water and food products for the population of the Voronezh Region showed that the intake of nitrates from food posed greater risks of adverse human health effects than that from drinking water, since risk indicators and the number of territories with poor food quality and safety were higher. Children were found to be at higher risk of exposure to nitrate pollution from among the population groups under consideration (children, adolescents, and adults): a dangerous level of risk posed by nitrate exposure from dietary sources was established in 32 of 34 administrative territories (HQ ranging from 3.18 to 6.24); in 4 districts, HQ of 1.10 to 2.24 indicated a possible adverse health effect of nitrates in drinking water.

Conclusions: Nitrates are typical pollutants for the territories of the Voronezh Region, which necessitates in-depth studies of the sources and causes of their entry into various environments to mitigate nitrate exposure of the population. Preventive measures are recommended, including proposals for improving monitoring and informing the public.

Introduction: Vaccination is a critical public health practice carried out in all countries and saving two to three million lives annually. However, according to the World Health Organization, a significant increase in vaccine refusal rates is becoming a global problem. Adherence to active immunization varies significantly between countries and study periods. Previous surveys conducted in the Russian Federation did not allow assessment of the situation with vaccine hesitancy and refusal in the country as a whole or identification of regional specifics.

Objective: To assess the proportion of vaccine refusals among all reasons for non-vaccination in the population of the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective continuous cross-sectional study using data on the number of people who did not get vaccinated within the framework of the National Vaccination Schedule (NVS) due to vaccine refusal as of August–September 2022; information was obtained from all regions of the Russian Federation at the request of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor).

Results: We established the regions where refusal to vaccinate was almost the only reason for non-vaccination of children and adults. At the same time, in about 20–25 % of the regions, the proportion of children not vaccinated in accordance with the NVS due to parental refusal of childhood vaccines was less than 60 %. In 35–40 % of the Russian regions, vaccine refusal in adults accounted for less than 50 % of all causes for non-vaccination. Most parents refused to vaccinate children against hepatitis B, as well as against pneumococcal infection, diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.

Conclusions: The reasons for non-vaccination are region-specific. A systematic analysis of the causes for vaccine refusal is necessary at the level of each health facility and regional health authorities in order to reveal the main obstacle to vaccination and plan targeted measures to reduce its impact on the quality of active immunization.