Background. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, but its prevention and early diagnosis remain insufficiently effective. Objective. This research aims to find ways to improve the effectiveness of prevention and screening programs for skin cancer and precancerous conditions, especially among high-risk groups. Materials and methods. The work analyzed data on the incidence and mortality from skin cancer in different countries for the period from 2010 to 2023, and assessed various approaches to the prevention and early detection of skin tumors. The results showed that the most effective are comprehensive preventive programs, including education of the population, regular screening of risk groups, and the use of modern non-invasive diagnostic methods. A risk-based skin cancer screening algorithm has been proposed, which allows for an 18-23% increase in the detection of tumors in the early stages (p < 0.05). Conclusion. It is concluded that a differentiated approach to the prevention and early diagnosis of skin cancer is necessary, taking into account individual risk.
The official statistic data on Q fever cases in Russia do not reflect the real spread of this infection. One of the reasons for Q fever significant underdiagnosis is the difficulty of its clinical diagnosis due to the pronounced polymorphism of the disease manifestations and the absence of pathognomonic symptoms.The study objective was to determine the level of seroprevalence of the population to the Coxiella burnetii in the Republic of Tatarstan.Materials and methods. ELISA was used to detect IgG antibodies to Q fever pathogen in blood sera sampled from volunteers (480 samples). The volunteers whose serum samples proved to be IgG–positive were offered a questionnaire intended to reveal the risk factors for contamination with the Q fever causative agent, and their blood was re-sampled after 5-6 months in order to determine the duration of IgG antibodies persistence.Results. IgG antibodies to C. burnetii were revealed in 7.7% of the surveyed volunteers. The re-examination of seropositive persons revealed the corresponding antibodies in 82% of them. Based on the results of the questionnaire survey it was concluded that the majority of the respondents were involved in pet care or farm animals keeping, and 80% of the respondents had suffered febrile illness during past two years. The highest seroprevalence was detected in humans over 40, while more often in women than in men.Conclusion. The results obtained indicate the existence of active foci of Q fever on the territory of the Tatarstan Republic, where residents come into contact with C. burnetii. It is likely that ELISA is a useful assay for detecting IgG antibodies over rather long period of time after contamination with the causative agent of Q fever. The revealed irregularity of the territorial distribution of infected residents argues for the advisability of further research in order to identify the infection sources, first of all, in areas with high seroprevalence. The detected rather high C. burnetii seroprevalence in the population of the Republic of Tatarstan in the absence of reported Q fever incidence bear witness to significant underdiagnosis of the infection, and hence justifies the needs of effective preventive measures development taking into account the local conditions.
Introduction . HIV in the Far Eastern Federal district is found in concentrated epidemic, however, the situation is tense. Scientific advances in diagnosis and treatment allowed people living with HIV (PLWH) have a chance to live a full life. However, PLWH discrimination and stigmatization as well as self-perceived risk of acquiring HIV persists among medical staff and in society. The purpose of the study : to evaluate level of awareness concerning HIV-infection, self-perceived infection risk and stigmatization of patients living with HIV among medical staff of healthcare institutions of the Far Eastern Federal district. Materials and methods . Analysis of data obtained in an anonymous survey of 1953 medical workers from 7 constituent entities of the Far Eastern Federal district was performed to implement the goals and aims of the research. Method of continuous random sampling and a structured questionnaire were used in the survey. Sociological method and method of comparative analysis were used in the study. Results. Analysis of obtained data indicates a satisfactory level of knowledge on the issue and presence of stigmatizing behavior towards HIV-infected patients. The attitude towards HIV-infected people is mostly friendly but myths about HIV-infection transmission routs were revealed that may lead to discrimination of people living with HIV. A negative reaction towards birth of children by HIV-infected women was detected. Stigmatizing behavior was higher in mid-level medical personnel compared to physicians by 4.4 times. Appearance of perceived risk of being infected due to professional duties was associated with higher work experience. Conclusion . Studying the level of healthcare institutions personnel awareness on HIV-infection can be a sort of indicator of perceived infection risk and stigmatization of HIV-infected patients. Results of the research can help to define needed measures for improving competence level of medical workers in order to form a professional environment excluding perceived risk of being infected due to professional duties and increasing tolerance towards patients living with HIV and affection the quality of medical care.
Introduction: HIV infection remains one of the major public health problems worldwide. Since the high genetic diversity of HIV and the formation of resistance to antiretroviral drugs have a negative impact on achieving the goal of eradicating the infection, it is important to monitor circulating HIV-1 variants on different territories on a regular basis. Objective: To conduct an epidemiological and molecular genetics analysis of HIV-1 variants circulating in the Magadan Region, including the analysis of drug resistance mutations. Materials and methods: HIV infection rates were analyzed based on data provided by the Center for AIDS Control and Prevention in the Magadan Region and information from the Federal State Statistics Service for 2019–2024. Molecular genetics testing was performed for 39 blood plasma samples using Sanger sequencing of fragments of the pol gene encoding the protease and part of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Results: HIV-1 sub-subtype A6 prevailed in the examined group (87.2 %). We detected two imported cases of subtype B infection (5.1 %) and the recombinant of CRF63_02A6 in three cases (7.7 %). Mutations associated with the development of antiretroviral drug resistance were found in 1 of 14 untreated patients (7.1 %) and in 8 of 25 patients (32.0 %) undergoing therapy. Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of widespread introduction of modern molecular genetics methods (sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and bioinformatic techniques) into the HIV surveillance system in certain territories of the Russian Federation.
Background. Breast milk is the best way to feed children in the first year of life, since it performs not only a nutritional function. Hormones, biologically active substances, immune complexes, and living cells of mother's milk have a beneficial effect on the child's body, ensuring the normal course of metabolic processes, maintaining resistance to infections and other adverse external factors. Breast milk helps populate the child's gastrointestinal tract with beneficial microorganisms and prevents the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Despite the fact that mother's milk is the preferred way to feed children, this option is not always completely or partially possible, and in this case, children require the introduction of milk formulas as an additional or main diet. Artificial milk formulas, due to understandable production reasons, cannot completely imitate mother's milk. The structure of proteins and the spectrum of oligosaccharides in cow's and goat's milk have slightly different characteristics than similar molecules of breast milk. The original characteristics of vegetable fats, which are used to produce milk formulas, also pose a problem. Some of these technological and biological problems can be solved today, and manufacturers of infant formulas are trying to adapt their composition and functions to breast milk as best as possible.Conclusion. The article discusses such adaptation methods as the use of goat milk and β-palmitate for the production of formulas intended for artificial feeding. In particular, the effect of β-palmitate on the state of the intestinal microflora, and also, indirectly, on immunity, is considered.
