Introduction: New challenges of technological development and political turbulence in the world predetermine the increasing importance of science and its achievements for strengthening the sovereignty of the Russian statehood, ensuring national security and economic development, and improving the welfare of the population.

Objective: To examine the development of the Russian peer-reviewed journal Public Health and Life Environment and its milestones, to identify the role of the title as a mass medium for presentation of results of scientific research in the field of preventive medicine, and to determine its perspectives based on the analysis of scientometric indicators.

Materials and methods: The article presents the process of formation and development of the journal Public Health and Life Environment from 1993 to 2023 examined using a descriptive method, methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, as well as elements of content analysis and quantitative methods.

It outlines the role of the journal in popularizing achievements in the field of healthcare management and preventive medicine over this period. It sets out the work done, consisting of a complex of interrelated activities aimed at increasing the quality of the content, improving the performance of the editorial board, strengthening communication and recognition of the journal in the academic community. The paper also defines trends of the development based on the analysis of scientometric indicators of 60 issues of the journal published in 2018–2022 and substantiates strategic steps of the editorial policy, i.e. acceptance of the title for Scopus.

Results: Over the past thirty years, the periodical has grown from a newsletter to a scientific and practical journal and has successfully established itself as a scientific peer-reviewed publication that complies with the requirements of the Higher Attestation Commission. By means of thematic profiling and a series of organizational activities, the journal has proven itself as an authoritative scientific publication popularizing current achievements in the field of public health, sociology of medicine, hygiene, epidemiology, and occupational health, and was included in several science abstract and citation databases, including Scopus.

Conclusion: In order to further optimize scientific communication, meet the requirements set forth for the titles included in bibliometric databases of scientific citation, and improve the efficiency of the publisher and the editorial board, it is essential to update bibliometric indicators of the journal and expand the geography of authors and affiliated institutions, which will predetermine its future scientific growth and comprehensive development.

Introduction: In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, information about risk factors of the infection is of utmost importance. The objective of our study was to analyze the prevalence of behavioral and social risk factors for COVID-19.

Materials and methods: In October–November 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 1,123 residents of Kazakhstan aged 18 to 69 years. We used a standardized customized STEPS questionnaire that included socio-demographic data, behavioral data, and questions related to COVID-19. The significance of differences in data characterizing qualitative features was determined using 2×2 contingency tables based on the value of Pearson’s χ2 correlation coefficient.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 44 years; 29 % of them were men and 71 % were women. Among those who had experienced COVID-19, there were more young and middle-aged people (p < 0.05), people with higher education (55.6 %) (p < 0.05), people having 1 to 3 family members (p < 0.05), and those not engaged in moderate physical activity. We found no statistical relationship between smoking and the novel coronavirus disease (p > 0.05). Those who recovered had higher titers of IgM and IgG antibodies. There was a considerable difference in disease incidence between the vaccinated and unvaccinated (p < 0.05) with an odds ratio of 1.661 (95 % CI: 1.275; 2.164).

Conclusions: Our findings can serve as a guide for COVID-19 awareness campaigns aimed at the coronavirus disease prevention conducted by health authorities and mass media. They can also serve as the basis for in-depth studies of the contribution of various factors to the risk of the disease.

Summary

Introduction: Diseases of the respiratory system make a significant contribution to the incidence of the Russian population. Consideration of regional differences in the distribution of respiratory diseases promotes a better understanding of the true extent of this problem. The Primorsky and Kamchatka Regions require stabilization of the demographic situation, which is affected, inter alia, by respiratory diseases.

Objective: To study spatial differences and risk factors for diseases of the respiratory system in the Primorsky and Kamchatka Regions.

Materials and methods: The assessment was conducted for 2010–2020 based on official statistics on respiratory disease rates in adults and children. To study spatial differences, the epidemiological risk value was estimated for intraregional territories at the first stage of work. The second stage included identification of risk factors for the spread of respiratory diseases using methods of correlation and information entropy analysis.

Results: The territories of the regions differing in the level of epidemiological risk (high, increased, moderate and low) were determined. In the Primorsky Region, a high risk of respiratory diseases for adults and children was identified on 9 and 15 territories, respectively, while in the Kamchatka Region, the numbers were found to be much lower (5 and 8). At the regional level, environmental and territorial factors had the greatest impact on respiratory disease rates in the Primorsky Region while healthcare, weather and climate factors were found to be of major importance in Kamchatka.

Conclusion: The results of the assessment of long-term respiratory disease rates in the Kamchatka and Primorsky Regions show that the local situation remains difficult and tense. It is of concern since the main part of the population resides within the territories of high and elevated risk. As a rule, these are northern, distant districts both in Kamchatka and Primorye. The risk factors analyzed have regional differences.

Summary

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide. Incidence rates are continuously growing globally. In the Russian Federation, women with breast cancer make up the largest proportion of all cancer cases.

Objective: To analyze breast cancer statistics in the Voronezh Region for 2015–2019.

Materials and methods: We used data of the Statistical Reporting Form No. 7, Information about Malignant Neoplasms, for 2015–2019 and the statistical bulletin on Age and Sex Distribution of the Population of the Voronezh Region. Women living in the Voronezh Region and first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015–2019 were included in the analysis. Statistical parameters were calculated using the Microsoft Office Excel 2016 software; the p-value of 0.05 or lower was considered statistically   significant.

Results: Breast cancer rates in the Voronezh Region in 2015–2019 had a moderate upward trend: incidence rates rose from 85.91 in 2015 to 93.89 in 2019 while prevalence rates grew from 904.5 to 1,001.1 per 100,000 female population. The mortality from breast cancer, however, demonstrated a pronounced downward trend dropping from 37.69 to 24.23 per 100,000 female population over the same period. The risk of breast cancer in women rose significantly with age (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and the highest incidence rates were registered in the age group of 60 to 74 years. Most incident cases were diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. Yet, the proportion of new cases with stage I breast cancer grew statistically from 21.9 to 30.2 % (p < 0.0001) in 2015–2019. The accounting information reliability index for the malignancy decreased from 0.4 to 0.2.

Conclusions: Breast cancer incidence and prevalence rates among the female population of the Voronezh Region showed a moderate upward trend in 2015–2019. A pronounced trend towards a decrease in mortality rates, a significant increase in the number of incident cases diagnosed with stage I of the neoplasm, and a decrease in the accounting reliability index reflect qualitative changes in the system of cancer care and improvements in cancer registration in the region.

Summary

Introduction: Nowadays, biosafety of medical personnel and visitors of the Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination (BFME) is of special importance. One of the most significant issues in terms of infection prevention and control is the design solution for premises of the BFME and departments of anatomic pathology. Up-to-date forensic medical examination institutions shall combine functionality, good technical equipment, and engineering design, all ensuring human comfort and safety.

Objective: To evaluate sanitary and hygienic measures, especially organizational and design solutions for BFME buildings ensuring occupational safety and health of the personnel and proper infection control, based on the analysis of scientific publications and valid regulatory documents.

Materials and methods: We have reviewed recent Russian and English-language scientific papers on current approaches to infection prevention and control in bureaus of forensic medical examination published in 2018–2022. They were selected using a logical search on such platforms as eLIBRARY.ru, PubMed, CyberLeninka, and Google Scholar. The criteria for inclusion of publications in the review were a non-zero Hirsch index (h-index) or the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) and the presence of the following phrases in the title, abstract, and/or keywords: autopsy biosafety, infection of medical staff, infection prevention and control, design of forensic medical examination premises, and occupational safety in forensic medical services. Of 143 sources selected, 47 articles contained a proven risk assessment of biosafety of medical personnel and description of preventive measures and were thus found eligible for inclusion in the review.

Results: We established problems in the design of construction or reconstruction of BFME premises in terms of creating a safe working environment. We have noted that the workflow, functionality of the premises, and the level of sanitary measures aimed at prevention of infection in staff and visitors is often disregarded. The procedure of instrument sterilization is not regulated by documents of the Russian Federation. Organization of forensic activities in areas remote from large cities and in towns of 25,000 residents or less remains challenging. It is essential to revise and supplement current regulations to ensure biosafety of forensic medical services.

Conclusion: The article describes the shortcomings of design solutions that must be taken into account in construction and/or reconstruction of BFME premises. The design of such buildings in terms of infection control shall be specified in regulatory documents.

Background: Despite extensive knowledge in nutritional sciences, micronutrient deficiencies and an excessive nutrient intake causing overweight and obesity remain a critical challenge.

Objective: To develop proposals for improving the food basket of the population of the Rostov Region in view of the regional specifics.

Materials and methods: In spring–summer 2022, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey involving 2,168 workingage residents (962 men and 1,206 women aged 18–65 years) on 55 territories of the Rostov Region. Actual nutrition was assessed based on the reported 24-hour food intake data. Information about the availability of dietary supplements and fortified foods in the retail network was retrieved from the reports prepared by the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Rostov Region.

Results: Our findings showed monotony and imbalance of the regular diet of the regional population.

Conclusions: We have revealed noncompliance with the principles of healthy eating in the study population and developed recommendations for improving eating habits in various social groups.

Introduction: Transport-related air pollution (vehicle exhaust emissions) and the consumption of poor-quality drinking water can play a key role in the activation of oxidative stress in the population of the northern region.

Purpose: To study the effectiveness of taking dihydroquercetin to improve the adaptive reserves of antioxidant protection in the adult population of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

Materials and methods: Using test kits, we measured the content of lipid peroxidation products (lipid hydroperoxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and antioxidant defense of the body (total antioxidant activity and thiol status) in blood serum of 156 young adults residing in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug before and after metabolic correction using Baikal dihydroquercetin, an antioxidant herbal preparation, at a dose of 60 mg/day for 30 days. The oxidative stress index was calculated by the formula: lipid hydroperoxides × 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances / total antioxidant activity × thiol status.

Results: We established increased lipid peroxidation, i.e. higher levels of lipid hydroperoxides and 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, in heavy-duty vehicle drivers occupationally exposed to car exhaust pollutants and urban residents consuming poor-quality tap water with a high content of iron and manganese ions, the excess of which in the form of inorganic compounds can demonstrate prooxidant properties before correction with dihydroquercetin. We also noted a decrease in the parameters of the antioxidant defense of the body (total antioxidant activity and thiol status) below the reference values. The oxidative stress index was 5.4 and 4.9 times higher than the upper limit of adequate values in the group of drivers and residents of the cities of Nyagan and Nefteyugansk, respectively. After taking dihydroquercetin at a dose of 60 mg/day for 30 days, all indicators of oxidative metabolism in both study groups returned to normal. A significant decrease in the level of thiabarbituric acid reactive substances was found in both groups, respectively: p¹  = 0.011 and p²  = 0.002, in combination with a statistically significant increase in the total antioxidant activity (p¹  = 0.015 and p²  = 0.019) against the background of the most pronounced decrease in the oxidative stress index: p¹ = 0.019 and p² = 0.001, however, not reaching the level of physiologically adequate values.

Conclusion: Positive changes in redox metabolism observed following a 30-day correction with the antioxidant drug dihydroquercetin give evidence of the restoration of adaptive resources of the human organism and an increase in its resistance to adverse environmental factors.

Background: By the end of university, the proportion of medical students with chronic diseases usually increases while physical activity and fitness decrease.

Objective: To assess physical development of final-year medical university students and clinical residents.

Materials and methods: We have assessed physical health of 16 final-year medical students and 14 first-year medical residents (20.0 % and 25.0 % of the sample population in 2019–2022, respectively). We measured body height, weight, chest circumference, leading hand force, lung capacity, hemodynamic parameters at rest, after exercise and recovery, and the mean dynamic pressure in all study participants. We also estimated Quetelet, Pignet, and Robinson indices and those of force, vitality, endurance, and functional changes. In addition, we assessed living conditions, nutrition, and daily energy expenditures of the young people.

Results: We established that, under conditions of an organized team, a regulated mode of learning and a high calorie intake, two students (12.5 %) were overweight while the number of overweight residents was six (42.9 %), which was probably related to changes in the lifestyle, nutrition, and daily routine. Estimation of the body mass index showed that 10 (62.5 %) students and 11 (78.6 %) residents were overweight and obese. A more positive body build index among the residents was attributed to a higher number of overweight subjects and confirmed by strength and vital indices and chest circumference measurements. We revealed more considerable preclinical shifts in the health status of the residents in terms of the functional state of the cardiovascular system (diastolic blood pressure at rest and after exercise, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure after exercise, mean dynamic pressure after a period of rest, endurance coefficient, Robinson index) and the index of functional changes.

Conclusions: Changes in the synergistic factors of learning and lifestyle of medical residents at the beginning of their professional career cause more significant preclinical alterations in the body compared with students, which necessitates raising their awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

Introduction: One of the key elements of the infectious disease surveillance system is microbiological monitoring of contamination of environmental objects and healthcare personnel hands. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, virology testing of swabs from hospital objects and personal protective equipment of workers of infectious disease hospitals for patients with COVID-19 has acquired special importance. According to the current regulatory documents, however, greater priority in microbiological monitoring is given to determination and identification of bacterial pathogens, thus necessitating the development and implementation of an advanced technique of a simultaneous assessment of viral and bacterial contamination.

Objective: To compare different environmental surface sampling techniques used to assess viral and bacterial contamination. Materials and methods: Samples for environmental swab testing were collected in accordance with the “Scheme for sampling environmental swabs for simultaneous assessment of viral and bacterial contamination” patented by the authors (Industrial Design Patent No. 132971 of September 5, 2022). We applied bacteriological, molecular genetic, and statistical methods in the study.

Results: Overall, 343 wipe samples were tested, of which 68 were atypical (two 38-swab portions, 11.1 % each, contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA and opportunistic microorganisms). Among the opportunistic microorganisms, 42 bacterial strains were identified, including 16 strains of Enterococcus faecalis (38.1 %), 9 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.4 %), 7 strains of Escherichia coli (16.7 %), 3 strains of Enterococcus faecium (7.1 %), 3 strains of Staphylococcus aureus (7.1 %), 2 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.9 %), and 2 strains of Pantoea agglomerans (4.9 %). Eleven variants of viral and bacterial associations were identified. The comparison of environmental swabbing performed by the technique under study with that performed by the standard method, based on test results, indicated a significant 11.1 and 12.3-fold difference in the proportion of non-standard findings for SARS-CoV-2 and opportunistic microorganisms, respectively.

Conclusions: The study results prove that our technique of environmental swabbing meets all modern requirements and facilitates an objective assessment of the level of viral and bacterial contamination of the study objects. This approach can be used for laboratory testing within state and industrial control at institutions of various specialties (healthcare, food industry, childcare facilities, etc.).