Physical development in adolescence is one of the key aspects of the modern society’s well-being. Assessment of physical development in children and adolescents represents an essential component of the pediatric population health status estimation being a clear indicator of the impact of lifestyle, environment, and learningmprocess on the child’s body. The study was aimed to assess the dynamic changes of physical development indicators in the high school-age children in the Samara Region over a decade. The paper deals with the anthropometric data of physical development acquired in 2013 and 2023. A total of 476 children aged 14–16 years were examined (256 boys, 220 girls). Physical development assessment performed in the group of high school-age boys revealed significant changes. Boys of all ages examined in 2023 lagged behind their peers examined in 2013 in the number of individuals with harmonious physical development. Furthermore, a significantly greater number of children with disharmonious physical development due to excess body weight were revealed in 2023. The results yielded by assessing physical development in girls are slightly different: the today’s 14-year-old schoolgirls lag behind girls examined in 2013 in the size of population with harmonious physical development. The body height comparative analysis results have shown that the today’s schoolchildren do not lag behind their peers examined in 2013 in all gender-age groups (p > 0.05). A significant increase in the schoolchildrens’ body weight relative to 2013 is likely to result from the quarantine measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which made children stay at home for longer and reduced their physical activity.
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The issue of weather sensitivity and meteotropic reactions in various population groups depending on the age, place of residence, professional features, and health status is relevant and inadequately covered in scientific literature. The study was aimed to assess weather sensitivity and meteotropic reactions in medical university students of various age groups. Polling of 243 students aged 17–18 and 23–24 years was performed using a tailored questionnaire consisting of 16 questions allowing one to detect weather sensitivity and meteotropic reactions in the respondents. Analysis of the data acquired showed that 53.7% of female and 16.7% of male first-year students had weather sensitivity (р < 0.001). Furthermore, 47.0% of surveyed first-year students and 67.0% of 5–6th-year students complained of various intermittent meteotropic reactions. In first-year students, meteotropic reactions were most often manifested in the decreased performance (76.6%), headache (74.6%), fatigue (70.2%). The weather-sensitive 5–6th-year students more often complained of the bouts of headaches (72.9%), decreased performance (66.7%), sleep disorders (31.2%), and muscle pain (49.6%). Meteotropic reactions occurred in 47.0–67.0% of the surveyed students of various age groups. Thus, when weather sensitivity is detected in students during the medical check-up, further prevention of the meteotropic reaction exacerbations should be tailored based on the medical weather forecasting.
VIEWS 61
The issues of damage to health related to the spread of nicotine product consumption are global. At the initiative of the Department of Healthcare Management, Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University, the organizational model of medical measures to overcome nicotine dependence involving formation of the smoking cessation groups among young adults, management and enlightment of the participants on the issues related to damage from nicotine dependence and free provision of the medicines facilitating smoking cessation was implemented. The study was aimed to assess the organizational model effectiveness based on the nicotine cessation rates of young adults. The model participants (42 individuals) were divided into three groups and provided free medicines: tablets containing cytisine in group 1, nicotine sprays in group 2, nicotine patches in group 3. The experiment was conducted for 30 days, during which three follow-up questionnaire surveys were performed. In the experiment, 31.7% of subjects stopped smoking completely, while the total positive effect bringing together those, who ceased smoking, and those, who reduced smoking, was 66.7%. Furthermore, the tablets containing cytisine turned out to be the most effective option. Thus, the study results obtained within the framework of the proposed organizational model can be considered useful in terms of further practical use. It can be recommended to include the model in the target program involving provision of medicines for treatment of nicotine dependence at the expense of the regional budget and attracted funds of enterprises and organizations.
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Preserving the health of student youth is one of the state's priority tasks. The relevance of the issue results from the students’ health deterioration. The study was aimed to assess physical development in students of the medical higher educational instutution considering their lifestyle. We performed comparative assessment of physical development in 940 first-year students of the Pacific State Medical University. The source of information was primary medical documentation (form No. 025-CZ/u). Polling was used to assess the students’ lifestyle. The CHAID algorithm for decision trees was used in 2021 to estimate the effects of lifestyle on the indicators of physical development in students. It was found that the students’ body length decreased over 20 years. The chest circumference of students increased (p = 0.001). The right and left hand grip strength decreased (p < 0.001). A significant increase in the vital capacity was reported in males only (p = 0.007). We revealed the increase in the number of students with disharmonious physical development (by 9.4% in males and 15.3% in females) due to overweight, along with reduction of body weight by 12.5% in males. The risk factors of disharmonious physical development with the highest impact factor in males were as follows: the lack of vegetables in the diet and the use of social media and computer games during free time. In females, the risk factors were as follows: daily consumption of cereals, pasta, and bread and living apart from parents. The findings make it possible to estimate the risk factors of disharmonious physical development and determine the priority directions for the development of preventive measures for preservation of students’ health.
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Anthropogenic impact on the biosphere has become one of the major factors dictating the conditions of our existence on the Earth. The study was aimed to perform comparative analysis of the rate of cytogenetic alterations, indicators of proliferation and destruction of the nucleus in the vaginal epithelium reflecting the reproductive health status of pregnant women aged 26–33 years living in conditions of radioactive, chemical and combined contamination of the territories of Bryansk Region. Cytogenetic status of 80 pregnant women divided into four groups, 20 individuals per group, was assessed using the micronucleus test. The rate of cytogenetic alterations, indicators of proliferation and destruction of the nucleus in the vaginal epithelium of pregnant women living in the environmentally disadvantaged territories was 1.9–4.9 times higher (p < 0.001) compared to that in women living in the environmentally safe (control) districts. The combined effects of radioactive and chemical contamination resulted in the significantly higher rate (increase from 12.8 to 81.4%) of cells with micronuclei, nuclear protrusions, binucleated cells, as well as cells with karyopyknosis and karyolysis compared to the effect of only one pollution factor. The findings are likely to show synergy of the effects of radiation and chemical factors on the cytogenetic status of pregnant women.
VIEWS 62
In modern society, smoking is one of the most common harmful habits. The issue of smoking among medical students and the ways to address it are particularly relevant. The study was aimed to identify the priority factors contributing to smoking as the main harmful habit. We performed a cross-sectional study of 254 students using the tailored questionnaire, D. Horn test, and Fagerstrom test. The data obtained were processed and analyzed using the mathematical statistics methods. The findings have shown that 68.4% of students are smokers. The majority of students report negative health effects of smoking: 45% of students complain of cough, 38% complain of mucus, 52% complain of the decrease in physical endurance. Furthermore, low motivation for smoking cessation has been revealed in the majority of respondents. Vaping turned out to be the smoking type most popular among students, and the majority of respondents believe that it is harmless. The identified predominant types of smoking behavior (“support”, “craving”) suggest emotional stress. The correlation between the students’ anxious emotional state and the frequency of smoking has been found (r = 0.79). Learning problems and emotional stress are the priority factors contributing to smoking as the main harmful habit of students. Thus, the issue of smoking should be considered both in medical-biological and socio-psychological aspects. It is important to shape health-saving behavior in students through hygienic training and education.
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