Marine Medicine
Peer-review quarterly medical journal
Editor-in-Chief
- Igor G. Mosyagin, MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), ProfessorPublisher
- Baltic Medical Educational Center
WEB: https://bmoc-spb.ru/
About
Marine Medicine is a peer-reviewed scholar journal designed as a platform for the discussion of various issues of maintaining and strengthening the health of sailors and marine industry specialists as well as studying the influence of maritime climate on the health of the population of various coastal regions of the world. Reviews, original articles, case reports, and letters prepared in Russian or English language are accepted for publication in the Marine Medicine journal. The submitted materials must be of scientific merit, novelty, and integrity.
The intended readership of the journal comprises the Russian and international scientific and academic experts, organizations of biomedical and marine areas, shipbuilding and shipbuilding enterprises, health authorities in coastal regions, and manufacturers of medical devises and drugs.
The aim of the publication is to inform the target audience about promising scientific (organizational, clinical, physiological and hygienic, treatment and preventive, sanitary and anti-epidemic, environmental, medical and biological, medical and social, medical and psychological, pharmacological, psychophysiological, engineering and psychological and ergonomic) developments in the field of life support, efficiency, reliability, maintenance of professional health and expansion of the professional aptitude of ship specialists and other subjects of maritime activities, as well as the population of coastal regions.
Indexing: Scientific Electronic Library; Exaly; Lens; OpenAlex; Scilit; Semantic scholar.
Publication Frequency
The journal is published quarterly with 4 regular issues annually.
Open Access Policy
The journal is available online free of charge under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. This allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works for non-commercial purposes, if the original work is properly cited.
Announcements More Announcements...
Новости: Resolution of the round table in Pevek. Medical response in the Russian Arctic - today and tomorrow.Posted: 26.02.2025
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Новости: Medical response in the Russian Arctic - today and tomorrow. The results of the round table in Pevek.Posted: 18.02.2025
1 - National Association "Institute of Individual Healthcare", Tomsk 2 - St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg |
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Current Issue
Vol 10, No 4 (2024)
- Year: 2024
- Published: 07.12.2024
- Articles: 14
- URL: https://seamed.bmoc-spb.ru/jour/issue/view/49
Full Issue
Review
Clinical and paraclinical aspects of chronic endometritis
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. The prevalence of chronic endometritis (CE) is quite high, making it an important problem of modern gynecology. Most often, CE has erased symptoms or does not manifest itself in any way, which causes untimely diagnosis of the disease and the development of various complications: menstrual and sexual dysfunction, infertility and failure to conceive.
OBJECTIVE. Analyze the data of the world literature on the issue of approaches to CE diagnosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. There has been search and analysis of literature sources in international and Russia databases of scientific literature Google Scholar, PubMed, eLIBRARY, CyberLeninka, Scopus; search depth – 8 years. Keywords-queries: chronic endometritis, extragenital pathology, infertility, pelvic ultrasound, hysteroscope with biopsy, endometrial microbiota, RNA sequencing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 29 publications from the last 5-7 years were analyzed.
RESULTS. It is determined that CE more often proceeds without clinical manifestation of the infection and without classical diagnostic signs. Features of CE clinical manifestations depend on many factors, mainly traumatic agent (including the type of pathogen), concomitant genital and extragenital diseases. Laboratory and instrumental methods have a significant role in the diagnosis of the disease.
DISCUSSION. Given that CE is a disease that can be difficult to diagnose and understand, doubtful cases require collegial management with the involvement of related specialists. In this case, the results of Dopper examination can be used also for the selection of therapy. Chronic nonspecific endometritis also requires the exclusion of etiology factors of nonbiologic nature that may be involved in the development of the disease.
CONCLUSION. Despite a wide range of clinical, laboratory and instrumental methods, making the diagnosis of CE can cause significant difficulties.
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Tuberculosis in Russia in Historical Aspect
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. Tuberculosis (TB) is one of major socially significant infectious disease, which continues to be relevant up to date both in Russia and around the world.
OBJECTIVE. Carry out scientific and historical analysis of epidemiological trends and fight against TB in Russia since the beginning of the XX until the present day.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. The search databases Medline, eLibrary, PubMed, https://link.springer.com, ConsultantPlus were used with the keywords-queries: tuberculosis, history, World War I, World War II, perestroika. 6 out of 41 publications, offered on search sites, were chosen, 25 – from 117 archive materials, a total of 158 sources were viewed. The analysis covered 121-year period from 1902 to 2023, with the historical periodization of epidemiological trends in TB prevalence in Russia.
RESULTS. For more than a century Russia has made considerable progress in the fight against TB: its incidence and mortality from 733,0 and 276,8 per 100,000 population in 1913 had decreased up to 29,6 and 3,5 detected cases by 2023 respectively. In 2021 WHO removed Russia from the list of countries with a high global burden of TB. Nevertheless, there is still a very high prevalence of tuberculosis with multi-drug resistance (MDR-TB) and a combination of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (TB/HIV), which proportion among newly diagnosed pulmonary TB in 2023 was 32,8 % and 24,7 % respectively. There is still another problem of high uneven TB spread in various regions of Russia, despite the unity of principles and approaches to its eradication as an epidemic. The lowest incidence of TB in 2023 was recorded in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug – 7,2 cases per 100,000 population, the highest incidence is in the Republic of Tuva and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug – 158,6 and 112,2 cases respectively, with the national average 29,6.
DISCUSSION. Unlike other authors’ publications on the epidemiology of TB in historical aspect, the study has a rigorous periodization of the epidemic process in close connection with historical events, happening in Russia and the world, covering more than a century-long period. Another characteristic of the study is providing annual figures on TB for 1902–1903 and 1955–2023, where historical information is derived from original archival reporting documents of the pre-revolutionary period and the period of Soviet power.
CONCLUSION. Russia, having undergone tremendous social and economic upheavals with excessively high rates on TB at the beginning of the last century, has managed to overcome mass disease spread to date. Nowadays, it is necessary to stop a rise in the incidence of MDR-TB and combined TB/HIV. Scrupulous study of risk factors for TB in regions with high rates is also essential, with subsequent development and implementation of differentiated regional anti-tuberculosis target programs.
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Original articles
Impact of spermatogenesis parameters on effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology programs: single-center retrospective study
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. Spermogram parameters such as sperm concentration, motility and morphology are used to evaluate the intensity of spermatogenesis, as well as some stages of the embryological stage of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs: fertilization and embryo fragmentation. However, the prognostic value of the standard spermiologic study for ART outcomes remains controversial.
OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the effect of sperm concentration, motility and morphology on the onset of clinical pregnancy, incidence of unintended pregnancy and live birth in patients who have undergone ART procedures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. A single-center retrospective study involved 557 couples treated by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Depending on the results of spermograms, 4 groups were formed: patients with normozoospermia (n = 139), asthenozoospermia (n = 126), teratozoospermia (n = 149) and oligo-, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n = 143). Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression were used to assess outcomes.
RESULTS. Clinical pregnancy rate in in the group with normozoospermia was 37,4 %, which is significantly higher than in the group with asthenozoospermia (23,0 %), teratozoospermia (24,2 %) and comorbidity (21,7 %) (p = 0,010). Live birth rate was highest in the group with normozoospermia – 32,4 %, compared to 15,9 % with asthenozoospermia and 16,8 % with comorbidity (p = 0,003). Logistic regression analysis has showed that increasing sperm motility raises probability of live birth 1,010 times (p = 0,033). However, the model has explained only 1,3% of variance in outcomes, indicating its low predictive power.
DISCUSSION. The study results show that pathozoospermia is associated with reduced likelihood of pregnancy and live birth in ART programs, which is consistent with other studies. However, the association of spermogram parameters with the effectiveness of ART is not confirmed in all studies, indicating that additional factors, such as sperm DNA fragmentation, need to be taken into account. In addition, differences in outcomes may be related to equipment and approaches to ART procedures.
CONCLUSION. Simple spermogram parameters, such as sperm concentration, motility and morphology, can predict the outcome of ART, including the rate of clinical pregnancy and live birth, However, their prognostic value remains limited, requiring further research to develop more accurate prediction models.
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Dynamics of mental health indicators of military personnel serving on conscription in Navy and Land forces of Russian Ministry of Defense (2003-2021): Retrospective study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To compare the dynamics of mental health indicators of military personnel serving under conscription in the Navy and Army of the Russian Ministry of Defense in order to optimize psychoprophylactic measures in troops.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. We studied the indicators of mental morbidity presented in the database of medical reports on the form 3/MED for 19 years (2003-2021). The medical and statistical indicators were correlated with the groups of mental disorders of chapter V “Mental and Behavioral Disorders” adopted in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10). The mental morbidity of conscripted military personnel was calculated per 10,000 people (×10-4). Due to the nonparametric distribution of signs, medians with upper and lower quartiles were presented (Me [Q25; Q75]).
RESULTS. Military personnel serving under conscription in the Navy, as compared to the Army, have statistically significantly higher levels of general and primary morbidity with mental disorders, hospitalization, days of labor loss, and dismissal rate, while the share of record-keeping types of morbidity was only 2-3% of the structure, and dismissal rate was 55%. In the Navy and Ground Forces, the 1st-2nd ranks of the military epidemiological assessment of mental disorders were made up of the indicators of neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (F40-F48 according to ICD-10) and disorders of adult personality and behaviour (F60-F69). For example, in the Navy, statistically significantly higher levels of reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders (F43) and neurotic disorders have been revealed (F40–F42, F44, F46–F48). The 3rd rank of significance in the Navy was formed by data of behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence (F90-F98), in the Army – organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders (F01–F09).
DISCUSSION. Genetic, psychophysiological, social and other factors were a frequent cause of mental disorders in conscripts, such as personality and behavioral disorders in adulthood, and the conditions of military service were the conditions of their manifestation. During the period of educational and professional activity in the Navy, servicepersons have significant disorders of mental adaptation, which necessitates the need for targeted psychoprophylactic measures at various stages of military service.
CONCLUSION. The conducted studies have shown that a significant part of mental disorders in conscripts are caused by the weakness of “barrier functions” of military commissariats due to underestimation of the state of mental health of conscripts by military medical commissions. At the same time, the main measures of psychoprophylactic work in troops should begin during the period of training of servicemen in military training centers.
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State of cell morphofunctional systems under action of seafaring labour factors: experimental study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. Carry out morphological analysis of the tissues in the parenchymal organs after single x-ray exposure and in different intensity of decompressive venous gas embolism at the light-optical level.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study was carried out on experimental models: mice (acute radiation sickness, simulated by single x-ray exposure with the lethal absorbed dose of 7,8 Gy) and guinea pigs (acute decompression sickness (DS) and recurrent decompressive venous gas embolism of different intensity). Organ fragments of the experimental animals were recorded at different periods after removing from the experiment and processed using transmission electron microscopy to make and analyze semifine sections. There was comparative morphological analysis of semifine section of the liver, renal cortex and respiratory lung field.
RESULTS. There have been revealed reactive changes in various cell differons of the main parenchymal organs: lungs, liver and kidney, most sensitive to such adverse effects as radiation exposure and different levels of decompressive venous gas embolism, specific to professional activity of the crew of surface vessels and submarines. Reactive tissue changes at the cellular level are the initial link in the formation of pathological processes. The analysis if semifine organ sections of mice and guinea pigs has revealed non-specific reactive changes: vacuolization of parenchyma cell cytoplasm, erythrocyte stasis in microvasculature vessels and the formation of specific lesions – gas bubbles in acute DS. Reactive changes, observed in severe exposure, are also detected in cells and at lower loads of the studied factors. Their nature remains, but intensity of morphological manifestations reduces.
DISCUSSION. Studies of morphological changes in structural and functional units of the organ in acute conditions and accumulation of “residual changes” in cells, causing a chronic disease, are necessary for the evidence-based correction of seafarers’ working environment in sub-extreme and extreme conditions of service.
CONCLUSION. Morphological studies with the use of light-optical microscopy reveal initial reactive changes in tissues and cells of experimental animals, subjected to adverse factors, characteristic to professional activity of marine specialists. This contributes to identify factors of seafaring labour, having the most adverse effect on the body, and allows to improve the prevention system, creating conditions for increasing professional longevity of fleet specialists.
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Seasonal characteristics of shock-producing injuries in road accidents on territory of coastal region in Russian arctic zone: descriptive study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. Determine seasonal characteristics of shock-producing trauma in road traffic injuries in the coastal region of the Arctic zone of the Arkhangelsk region.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. According to the criteria of the retrospective description of case series, there was analysis of medical record forms in patients with shock-producing injuries during the summer and winter periods of the year as a result of road traffic accidents (RTA).
RESULTS. Road traffic accidents with severe mechanical injuries, accompanied by shock, are more likely to occur in winter, mainly on federal highways. Men in the younger able-bodied category (up to 40) get injuries in the vast majority of cases. Concomitant injuries, mainly accompanied by shock of II degree, prevail among shock-producing trauma. The percentage of women increases among the injured in the summer period and there is a rise in the number of shock-producing injuries on local roads.
DISCUSSION. A significant increase in the risk of RTA and severe shock-producing injuries in winter are likely due to particular road conditions: a short period of natural light, frequent blizzards, strong winds, poor visibility and the ice formation on the road. It can be assumed that an increase in road accidents with severe medical consequences on local roads in summer is due to the fact that people actively leave for green and suburban areas of residential places, summer cottages and outdoor recreation at this time of year, and it means a rise in traffic density on roads, including local ones.
CONCLUSION. For the specification of organizational and therapeutic-tactical issues at the stages of treating shock-producing injuries in road accidents, it is important to pay attention to epidemiological features in specific regions of Russia, especially at the pre-hospital stage of emergency medical care. For instance, the vast majority of severe shock-producing injuries occurred in the Arctic zone of the Arkhangelsk region in winter. This region is characterized by adverse weather and climate conditions and, consequently, ambulances should be equipped with innovative devices and products for local heating of the injured, as well as autonomous heating system for infusion therapy solutions.
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Main results and directions for imptoving seafarers’ medical care in system of Federal medical biological agency of Russian Federation: retrospective study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. Determine the main results and directions for improving the system of seafarers’ medical care, optimize the organizational and staff structure of institutions of the Russia’s Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) to ensure an optimal interaction in the process of implementing tasks, faced by this organization.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. There was a systematic analysis of organizational work principles of organizations for the period 2014–2021, providing medical care to seafarers and included in the structure of the Russia’s FMBA, and data on the morbidity of seafarers and divers for 2023 were obtained and systematized. The work analysis on medical assistance of persons, employed in vessels, was performed as of June 1st, 2024 and on the results of activities of 35 health centres, 70 physicians on shipboard, 14 doctors of diving medicine in the structure of the Russian’s FMBA.
RESULTS. For efficient medical assistance of seafarers, coordination of interaction between the specialized department of the Russia’s FMBA and subordinated institutions of the Agency, the head centre of seafarers’ healthcare has been established. The data has been systematized on overall morbidity of seafarers and divers, as well as on newly diagnosed diseases for 2023.
DISCUSSION. Improvement of healthcare management for persons, employed on vessels in the system of Russia’s FMBA, as well as information and analytical healthcare provision for seafarers will be continued. The specified activity is essential for systematizing full information on seafarers, its analysis and the creation of new directions in service development, which corresponds to the requirements of the new Maritime Doctrine of the Russian Federation.
CONCLUSION. As a result of this work the main action lines are identified for improving scientific approaches to the organization and development of marine and diving medicine in the Russian Federation.
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Problem of iron deficiency in young blood donors and its components: original research
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. The problem of iron deficiency (ID) among donors is relevant and directly affects the provision of hemocomponents for the blood service. Being at risk for developing iron deficiency, donors are screened before donation, including the study of their hemoglobin level. Moreover, there is no information on the state of iron stores, with the depletion of which iron deficiency anemia develops. In turn, anemia is a contraindication to donation and, consequently, causes medical exemption to donation.
OBJECTIVE. To evaluate change in parameters of iron metabolism and the risk of developing iron deficiency in blood donors and its components in the age group of 18 to 25 years.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study applied morphological, biochemical and statistical research methods. To achieve this objective, there was a comprehensive analysis of hemogram results and biochemical analysis of blood serum, reflecting iron metabolism in 50 young blood donors and its components, including the assessment of the risk for early iron deficiency development.
RESULTS. The article presents data of own studies regarding iron metabolism in blood donors and its components in the age group of 18 to 25 years. There is a fairly high percentage of developing iron deficiency for persons, belonging to risk groups. The study has shown a decrease in the ferritin level below reference values in 45,8 % of young male donors and 76,9 % – in female donors, which indicates the presence of iron deficiency. Such a high incidence of ID in donors of the age group up to 25 years raises the question about the need for developing the prevention of iron deficiency.
DISCUSSION. Own examination of young donors’ blood and its components and analysis of literature data have determined quite a high percentage of developing iron deficiency in groups at risk, including young donors, that demonstrates the feasibility of applying new approaches to the current standards of donor’s laboratory examination at the level of the blood transfusion department with the prospect of further increase in the volume of donor’s laboratory examinations before donation.
CONCLUSION. A significant part of examined young donors had signs of iron deficiency and was at risk of developing anemia. With increased donor experience the incidence of iron deficiency rises, making it necessary to develop the system of preventing and correcting iron metabolism disorders in order to preserve the donor contingent’s health.
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Assessment of microcirculation parameters, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, endothelial functional state in operators of deep-sea technical means: clinical controlled non-randomized study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. By changing microcirculation parameters (MCC), fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), the assessment of endothelial functional state in operators of deep-sea technical means (DTM), to evaluate effect of professional work factors on these parameters in isolation and to relate these changes to smoking and the previous novel coronavirus infection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. The studied parameters were recorded in four time points: before simulating isolation conditions, during isolation on the 10th and 20th day, on the 7th day after leaving the research complex in the hospital. The total isolation period – 21 days. The subjects were divided into 4 groups: without a history of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), who had suffered COVID-19, smokers and non-smokers.
RESULTS. There were the obtained data on changes in MCC parameters as well as regulatory mechanisms of the microvascular channel. Adaptation mechanisms of MCC were determined in the examined contingent.
DISCUSSION. The study confirms the fact that when operators of DTM are placed in the same stressful working environment, mechanisms of the microvascular channel adaptation in smokers and persons, who have suffered COVID-19, are much weaker than in healthy non-smokers due to their endothelial dysfunction. In the conditions of monotonous hard work in a confined space the vascular endothelium is an important adaptation regulator.
CONCLUSION. Operators’ prolonged stay in special conditions of DTM causes the development of endothelial dysfunction. Smoking and the history of COVID-19 represent independent factors of a significant reduction in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation growth, the adaptive capacity of the microvasculature regardless of working conditions. One of MCC adaptation mechanisms in hypodynamy conditions with prolonged stay in the confined space of DTM is enhancing the role of the active endothelial component (Ae) in the microvasculature regulation.
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Comparative analysis of cognitive functions and learning success in military cadets with vitamin D level in body: experimental sutyd
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. Determine vitamin D status and its effect on cognitive functions and learning success in the fourth-year cadets.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. A pilot survey of 108 cadets (average age – 20 ± 1,4 years), studying in a military higher education institute of St. Petersburg, was conducted. Vitamin D body supply, the level of cognitive function development and success of learning activities were investigated. Vitamin D content was determined on a “Mindray” apparatus by enzyme immunoassay method. To assess the level of the development of cognitive functions, we have used tests aimed at diagnosing spatial figurative and verbal-logical thinking, memory and attention. The average grade for the year was considered as a criterion of success in learning activities.
RESULTS. When evaluating the level of vitamin D content, 31 (28,7 %) cadets experienced severe deficiency, 40 (37 %) – moderate deficiency, 21 (19,4 %) – mild deficiency and 16 (14,8 %) had its optimal level. No differences were found in the results of performing tests aimed at diagnosing thinking, memory and attention in cadets with deficient and optimal levels of vitamin D (p > 0,05). There has been direct correlation between learning success and vitamin D content in the body (p < 0,01).
DISCUSSION. The hypothesis about the effect of vitamin D concentration on level characteristics of thinking, memory and attention at a young age has not been confirmed. The results obtained are echoed in other studies aimed at investigating the effect of vitamin D supplementation on cognitive function in young healthy adults.
CONCLUSION. The study results have shown that low vitamin D status in young adults does not significantly affect the level characteristics of thinking, memory and attention. Vitamin D deficiency in young adults (on the example of military cadets) is a predictor of lower efficiency of cognitive functioning in the process of learning activity performance.
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Suicidal behavior of servicemen: retrospective study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To study features of suicidal behavior in servicemen.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. There was an analysis of 390 cases of complex postmortem forensic psychological and psychiatric examinations and the results of 162 servicemen’s examinations in the psychiatric department, who had made suicidal attempts. In addition, the analysis of five-year reporting records of servicemen’s suicidal behavior was conducted.
RESULTS. Among the reasons for suicides among conscripted servicemen, military-professional problems (burden of military service, fear of responsibility for misconduct, non-statutory relations, difficulties in adapting against the background of service loads) are the most significant, and for contract servicemen of all categories – family and domestic problems (family troubles, love troubles, material and domestic difficulties). Among servicemen who committed suicide, self-hanging and suicide with the use of firearms were the most frequent ways of parting with life for all categories of servicemen. Conscripted servicemen more often committed suicide attempts by self-cutting, while contract privates and sergeants committed suicide by self-poisoning. No clear predominance of any method of suicide attempts was observed among officers and warrant officers.
DOSCUSSION. The lower number of suicides in the Armed Forces is related to the professional-psychological selection and medical-psychological support of servicemen. The majority of suicidal acts were committed by persons without obvious mental disorders. The complex of factors contributing to the realization of suicidal thoughts in practically healthy people lies mainly in the field of psychology and social sphere. However, the study of suicide’s conflict situations, personality traits and emotional sphere hasn’t allowed us to convincingly explain the mechanism of suicides in practically healthy servicemen yet.
CONCLUSION. The tendency to change the proportion of completed suicides towards contract servicemen, serving as privates and sergeants poses new challenges for the improvement of preventive measures in the armed forces. The improvement of the system of preventing suicidal behavior in servicemen should be directed to greater emphasis on medical and psychological support and psychological and pedagogical work with servicemen.
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Search for relationships between functional near-infrared spectroscopy indices and electroencephalography indices: experimental study
Abstract
INTRODUCTION. Originally developed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology for clinical monitoring of cortical tissue oxygenation has not been widely used in research practice. The combination of functional near-infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography (EEG) provides a unique opportunity for multimodal visualization of human brain function on several spatial and time scales.
OBJECTIVE. Determine correlation between standardized fNIRS indices and EEG parameters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study involved 100 clinically healthy men and women aged 18-25 of the Caucasian race, native residents of the Republic of Crimea, Volgograd and Arkhangelsk regions. Each subject underwent fNIRS- and EEG-testing consecutively. Statistical data analysis was performed by the Pearson correlation coefficient
RESULTS. At the stage of taking background rates with eyes open and the ones with eyes closed before photostimulation, multiple direct strong correlations of EEG electrical potential with the index of oxygenated (HbO) and inverse strong correlations with the index of deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin were revealed. At the stage of photostimulation with the frequency of 5Hz, an inverse correlation was observed with respect to the stages of taking background rates and the ones with eyes closed before the start of photosimulation. Many inverse strong correlations of EEG electric potential with HbO index and direct strong correlations with HbR index were detected. The stage of photostimulation with a frequency of 10 Hz was characterized by the minimum number of correlations of the analyzed parameters. At the stage of photostimulation with a frequency of 15 Hz, strong inverse correlations of EEG electric potential with HbO and direct strong correlations with HbR were revealed.
DISCUSSION. The oxygen content in the blood vessels of the brain at rest directly correlates wirh the amplitude of its electrical activity. Given that a state of rest on the EEG is characterized by the dominance of relatively high amplitude and low-frequency alpha activity, this kind of correlation is quite logical. It can be assumed that the brain transition into the state of quiet wakefulness and the mode of waiting for stimulation, which is accompanied by a slowing down of the general rhythm on the EEG and an increase in its absolute amplitude, is associated with a general decrease in the activity of neuronal ensembles, which is expressed in a decrease in the level of metabolism and oxygen consumption by tissues. In this case, a large proportion of hemoglobin remains in the oxygenated form, and the proportion of HbR is relatively small. Photostimulation at frequencies of 5, 10 and 15 Hz leads to changes in the pattern of correlations between fNIRS and EEG indices. This applies to both the number and the nature of statistically significant correlations detected. The least number of correlations was observed during stimulation at 10 Hz, while the general revealed pattern held true: HbO concentration correlated directly with EEG amplitude, and HbR concentration – inversely. In terms of functioning of the brain rhythmogenic structures, photostimulation at a frequency of 10 Hz is the most neutral as it coincides with the adult’s dominant resting rate (alpha rhythm with a frequency of 10 ± 1 Hz). Thus, in can be assumed that the imposition of an external rhythm with a frequency close to the natural frequencies of rhythmogenic structures leads to a decrease in the rigidity of correlations between the electrical activities of the bran and its oxygen supply.
CONCLUSION. The obtained results confirm the prospect of further research on correlations between fNIRS and EEG indices, providing the possibility of multimodal visualization of brain functions under experimental conditions and clinical practice.
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Dynamics and forecast of primary morbidity rates of mental disorders among internal affairs officers of Russian Federation: Retrospective cohort study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the dynamics and forecast the levels of primary morbidity of mental disorders among employees of internal affairs bodies (IAB) of the Russian Federation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. There was the analysis of primary morbidity (PM) of mental disorders (MD) (V class of ICD-10 “Mental disorders and behavioral disorders”) of IAB officers with special ranks of police and internal service, presented in the database formed by reports for 16 years from 2008 to 2023, according to the data of statistical accounting forms in the form “7 PSI”. MD was calculated per 1,000 employees or in ppm (‰). The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model was used to forecast the trends of MD for the period from 2025 to 2027, taking into account external factors, such as the performance of operational and service tasks in the conditions of combat operations that began in 2022. An analysis of variance was used to determine the significant differences between the predicted parameters of MD, without and with the exogenous factor taken into account, and with its consideration.
RESULTS. The average annual level of primary morbidity of mental disorders amounted to 3.74 ‰, the share of the entire structure of MD - 0.7 %, PM of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in 19 classes of diseases according to ICD-10 was 545.67 ‰. The level of mental disorders among employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in 2008 was 6.36 ‰, in 2023 - 3.01 ‰, i.e. a 2.1-fold decrease was recorded. The total projected level of PM by Publishing house “Academy of Natural Sciences” among employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs should increase when taking into account the exogenous factor from 4.32-4.46 to 5.34-5.42 ‰, and this change is statistically significant (F = 43.1; p = 0.002). The predicted increase in PM of substance-induced MD (F10-F19) would be from 0.01-0.02 to 0.04-0.05 ‰ (F = 40.5; p = 0.003). The prognosis of PM by neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform MD (F40-F48) shows a significant (F = 56.24; p = 0.001) increase when considering exogenous factor - from 3.88-3.95 to 4.81-4.92‰.
DISCUSSION. Execution of service and combat tasks in emergency conditions of professional activity significantly increases the risk of forming mental disorders among IAB officers. The greatest increase in morbidity in 2025-2027 is forecasted in F10-F19 (mental disorders associated with substance use) and F40-F48 (neurotic disorders) disease groups.
CONCLUSION. It is advisable to consider the possibility of improving psychoprophylactic measures aimed at increasing stress resistance and forming attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle among IAB officers. It is important to improve approaches to annual preventive examinations of personnel with early diagnosis of atypical and borderline forms of mental disorders in order to prevent their development and chronicization, which will contribute to the improvement of personal and professional reliability in emergency situations during the performance of operational and combat tasks in special conditions.
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Perspectives on use of functional foods to improve quality of life of military submarine sailors: Pilot Controlled Study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the prospects of using functional foods to improve the quality of life of military submarine sailors in a long voyage.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. In an exploratory mixed randomized cohort controlled experimental longitudinal pilot study conducted in May-September 2023, the effect of functional foods in the form of instant beverages based on wild plants and berries on the quality of life of military sailors during a long underwater voyage was investigated. The results of the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Russian version of the EQ-5L-3D questionnaire were used as an indicator of effectiveness. Two nuclear submarine crews participated in the study. In each crew, 30 people were selected for the main and control groups.
REESULTS. The dynamics of the quality of life indicators showed a statistically significant decrease in both groups at the end of the trips, which took place in a normal mode in the conditions of the White and Kara Seas. In the group that took the functional food product, at the end of the voyage statistically significantly higher was the score of satisfaction with support from friends, but lower was the score of satisfaction with living conditions compared to the control group. The decrease in the index of the visual analog scale of the European Quality of Life Questionnaire during the voyage in the experimental group that took the functional food product was three times slower compared to the control group. These data were confirmed by regression analysis, which established a statistically significant positive effect of functional food intake in conditions of prolonged underwater navigation on the index of the visual analog scale of the EQ-5L-3D questionnaire.
DISCUSSION. The results of the study, despite the increase in the comfort of working conditions on modern submarine projects, still indicate a decrease in vital signs, accumulation of fatigue, as well as the emergence of various negative changes in the mental sphere of military sailors. At the same time, the use of various methods of maintaining working capacity and endurance, including through proper nutrition of submarine sailors, can increase the efficiency of highly qualified military specialists. One of the directions in solving this problem can be a change in the concept of food provision of servicemen. At the same time, an important element in the modern concept of food provision for servicemen should be functional foods that have therapeutic and preventive effects and can purposefully manage physiological processes in the human body depending on the nature and conditions of the work performed.
CONCLUSION. The results obtained in this study indicate that the use of functional foods has a significant positive potential to improve the quality of life of military submarine sailors in the conditions of a long voyage.
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