The high prevalence of smoking and consumption of energy drinks among students is a significant medical and social problem. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these harmful habits on the quality of life of students of the Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University, and to assess their awareness of the risks associated with such bad habits. We invited 442 second- and third-year students from the medical, pediatric, and dental faculties to complete O.I. Gubina's Quality of Life Assessment questionnaire. Energy drink drinking was found to be more prevalent than smoking; male participants practiced these habits significantly more often than female. Electronic cigarettes were the most common form of nicotine consumption. We established significant correlations of smoking with respiratory symptoms (the closest — with cough, r = 0.489; p < 0.05), and consumption of energy drinks — with tachycardia (r = 0.864; p < 0.05), sleep disorders (r = 0.251; p < 0.05), and headache (r = 0.217; p < 0.05). The quality of life was significantly lower in the groups of students with harmful habits, and the median values were minimal when the said habits were combined, especially on the "Health" and "Spirituality and Healthy Lifestyle" scales. Despite the awareness of harm, a significant part of students do not intend to give up harmful habits. The results of the study emphasize the need to develop prevention programs aimed at risk groups, primarily young men and people with combined addiction.
VIEWS 686
Infectious skin diseases significantly reduce the quality of life in people over the age of 60 and can be considered age-related due to involutive skin changes and aging of the body. Older people with a difference in the clinical picture of the disease from the classical manifestations are more susceptible to individual dermatoses. The elderly are most at risk of contracting scabies. The aim of the work is to analyze the awareness of people over the age of 60 about infectious skin diseases and their prevention measures. A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire in 2023−2025. The number of respondents over the age of 60 was 41 respondents, and all respondents were retirees in terms of social status. The study was conducted on the basis of Pirogov University and the Federal Medical Research Center of the FMBA of Russia, where, in case of hospitalization, patients were examined by a dermatovenerologist, and laboratory diagnostics were performed if infectious dermatoses were suspected. Some of the respondents did not demonstrate adherence to the principles of a healthy lifestyle: alcohol consumption is the highest among the risk factors for developing chronic noncommunicable diseases (75.0% for men and 40.0% for women). Respondents also note a high level of stress in daily life, 87.8%. The Internet is a source of information about a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of skin diseases for 34.1% of respondents. Among the surveyed respondents, there is a group of 20.0% who are insufficiently informed about "healthy skin" issues. Educating various groups of the population, increasing the level of medical literacy and medical activity can become a reserve for reducing the incidence rate and maintaining the incidence rate within controlled values.
VIEWS 396
Environmental conditions and strenuous cognitive workload necessitate optimization of nutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a predominantly plant-based product in improvement of the vitamin and mineral status of people engaged in intellectual labor. The formula for the product was developed after assessment of the said status and working conditions of the participants. The treatment group (n = 30) has been supplementing its diet with the product for 21 days, while the control group (n = 30) has not. The blood plasma levels of vitamins (B9 and B12, and 25(OH)D) and minerals (K, Na, ionized and total Ca, Fe, Mg, and P) were determined. By degree of strain, the considered occupations were classified as harmful strenuous work (class 3.2).  Initially, the level of vitamin B9 in each group was in the "low−normal" zone. Through the experiment, in the treatment group it increased by 3.2−3.8%, while in the control group the said level dropped by 3.7−3.9%; the level of vitamin B12  increased by 36.7−46.7% and decreased in 23.3−36.7%, respectively, and that of 25(OH)D increased by 3.0% (p = 0.02) and decreased by 3.3% (p = 0.03). The level of ionized calcium in the treatment group increased by 7.0% (p = 0.001) and decreased by 50.0−53.3% in the control group. Iron levels increased by 3.1% in 80% of the treatment group participants (p = 0.04), and sodium levels increased by 0.9% (p = 0.04), which was 46.7−60.0% higher than the baseline values; in the control group, sodium levels dropped by 23.3−26.7%. No significant changes were recorded for the levels of K, total Ca, P, Mg, but at the level of individual indicators we observed multidirectional changes.  Thus, the use of the multicomponent plant-based product demonstrates the promise of this approach for preventing vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
VIEWS 549
Systematic and purposeful campaigns designed to promote a healthy lifestyle among the youth are a strategic task for the healthcare system and the state in general. This study aimed to explore the hygienic features of the lifestyle of medical students. It involved 109 students of medical faculties aged 18-26 years, who participated in an anonymous online survey created in Yandex Forms in accordance with MR (methodical recommendations) 2.1.10.0033-11. We calculated the relative values and their confidence intervals, and the significance of the differences was assessed using the chi-square test (χ2) at p < 0.05. It was found that active smoking remains a significant behavioral risk among medical students, particularly males (27.3%). The majority of medical students do not engage in adequate levels of physical activity (64.2%) and do not get sufficient sleep at night (77.9%). As for the patterns of behavior in the context of medical assistance, those rather common among medical students are categorized as irresponsible: many visit a doctor only in case of serious symptoms of the disease (54.1%), undergo medical checkups in an untimely fashion (31.5%), do not follow doctor's instructions and stop course treatments early (37.6%), practice self-medication (85.3%), resort to traditional medicine (55.1%). Every fifth respondent did not follow the rules of hand washing, and 17.4% did not take daily care of their body. Unsafe forms of sexual behavior are typical for every fifth medical student. Thus, prevention and correction of the identified lifestyle risk factors hold significant potential for preserving the health of medical students.
VIEWS 383
The persistently high rate of infectious diseases requires constant monitoring, in-depth analysis of age-related characteristics of the disease spread and dynamics, and also necessitates improving the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population, specifically, children, adolescents, and their parents. The study aimed to to study epidemiological trends and identify the most vulnerable age groups among the pediatric population in the context of the incidence of key infections, such as acute intestinal infections (AIIs), enterovirus infection, viral hepatitis A, measles, whooping cough and enterobiasis. A retrospective epidemiological analysis of official statistical data over a seven-year period (2018−2024) was carried out covering the pediatric population of the Western Administrative Okrug (ZAO) of Moscow. Age differences in the structure of infectious morbidity have been determined. In children under one year, viral AIIs (rotavirus, norovirus) and airborne infections prevailed. A similar trend for viral AIIs is reported in children aged 1−2 years. High prevalence of enterobiasis is reported for children aged 3−6 years (attending preschool educational institutions), and a significant increase in the incidence of enterovirus infection and airborne infections is reported in all age groups, especially in school students and adolescents. As for the viral hepatitis A incidence, the situation remains stable throughout the assessed period in all age groups. High incidence of key infections among children persisting in all age groups demonstrates an urgent need for the development and implementation of the targeted and adapted hygiene education programs for pediatric population and parents.
VIEWS 636
Novokuznetsk and Kemerovo, major industrial centers in Kuzbass, participate in the "Clean Air" federal project. Since 2018 and 2023, respectively, they have been implementing Comprehensive Action Plans devised to decrease contaminating emissions and thus improve the quality of the air and the quality of life of the population. The Plans are part of the "Ecology" national project. This study aimed to hygienically assess the quality of atmospheric air as part of the implementation of the "Clean Air" federal project, which involves improving the air monitoring system in the industrial centers of Kuzbass. Hazard identification and assessment of exposure levels were performed using the methodology provided in MR (methodological recommendations) 2.1.6.0157-19. In Novokuznetsk, air pollutant emissions decreased by 18.1%, while in Kemerovo they increased by 12.4%. The atmospheric pollution index was rated as "extremely high" and "high", respectively. As part of the study, we evaluated the spatial relationship between stationary and route air quality monitoring stations, identified emission impact zones for major industrial complexes, assessed the rationality of observation point locations, and implemented the necessary adjustments. Improving air quality monitoring will make it possible to obtain adequate and timely information on air quality and develop measures to improve the living environment and public health.
VIEWS 682