The medical profession is dedicated to caring for the health of patients, however, it is of paramount importance to prioritise their health. Medical laboratory technicians are emerging as one of the most high-risk professional groups. The aim of this study is to assess the professional competence regarding the standards for the prevention of blood-borne infections and the formed professional behaviour. Methods: An anonymous internal surveillance was conducted on certain aspects of the behaviour of medical laboratory technicians associated with the provision of infection prevention in medical care. Results: Among the studied, all 68 people were women, and the average number of work experience years is 20.13 ± 7.732 years.PPE is removed and disposed of according to the protocol by 61.8% (n=42), but 38.2% (n=26) do not follow the protocol. After completion of work, hands are washed with soap and water and disinfected by 51.5% (n=35), but 48.5% (n=35) do not. Surfaces are cleaned and disinfected by 58.8% (n=40), but 41.2% (n=40) make mistakes or omissions in cleaning and disinfection. Conclusion: The introduction of regular inspections, observations, and feedback can significantly increase compliance with standards for the prevention of HAI infections. Compliance with safety measures by senior laboratory technicians, etc., has an impact on the behaviour of other team members.

Introduction: The normal physiological course of monthly menstruation is an important component of female health prevention and promotion in the childbearing age. Acupuncture, moxibustion and auriculotherapy are promising non-pharmaceutical alternative for dysmenorrhea management. Purpose: to study and evaluate the capability of Chinese treatment methods - acupuncture, moxibustion and auriculotherapy suitable for pain syndrome management among patients with dysmenorrhea. Material and Methods: Material: 44 women with primary dysmenorrhea, mean age of 26 years, divided into two groups. Complementary medicine methods were applied in the "Outpatient clinic for unconventional methods for favourable effect upon the individual health" - Sofia, and at the University Center for Eastern Medicine, Medical University "Prof. Dr Paraskev Stoyanov", within the two-year research period. Methods: document and content analysis; clinical, sociological and statistical methods. Results: The research on quality of life in the experimental group establishes an increase in the overall self-assessment (44,18 points) and in the following domains: "Physical" by 19,409 points, "Psychological" by 12,591 points, "Social relationships" by 3,909 points and "Environment" by 7,50 points. The comparative characteristics of the data from the overall self-assessment of both groups and domains indicate an increase in the overall self-assessment by 66,52%, in the domain "Physical" by 50,06%, in the domain "Psychological" by 60,23%, in the domain "Social relationships" by 87,38% and in the domain "Environment" by 79,37%. Conclusion: The implementation of complementary medicine in dysmenorrhea management should be interpreted as a modern approach to treatment and female health promotion and prevention to achieve optimal quality of life.

Introduction: The ongoing digitalization is affecting not only how work is organized, but also the health of employees. A safe and healthy working environment is vital for overall sustainability, as it affects opportunities for economic and social development. Material and methods. A subjective study was conducted, and mixed groups comprising 499 people from the following professions were surveyed: administrative student staff, groups of employers, occupational health services, computer technology professionals, insurers, and pharmacists. A sociological method was used—a questionnaire. The results of the study are presented using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the Mann-Whitney test to compare two groups and check the normality of the distribution of quantitative data. Results. The gender distribution of participants is as follows: 228 participants are men and 271 are women, according to the percentage distribution - 45.7% men and 54.3% women. Employees who work from home visit the office as follows: 54.7% once a month, and 45.3% more than once a month. The results show that most of the respondents did not receive assistance in relocating their workplace during the pandemic. 78.4% of them answered negatively, while 21.6% received assistance in organizing the work process. Conclusion. This study examines the impact of work organization on quality of life in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. Further studies are needed to better characterize how the organization of work—such as job tasks, workflows, and potential overlaps between occupational and community exposures.

Purpose: To investigate the prospects for prevention of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) through vitamin D supplementation in risk groups. Material/Methods: A targeted review of the scientific literature by keywords in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, over the last 10 years and the full text of the scientific reports was performed. Clinical and epidemiological studies investigating the relationship between vitamin D levels and the risk of developing T1DM were analyzed. The research study was financed with funds from the state budget, provided through the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) to the Science Fund at the Medical University – Varna for financing the scientific activity inherent in state higher education institutions under project No. 24034 "Awareness, treatment and control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus of long duration". Results: The results show that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher incidence of T1DM, and early supplementation, even in childhood, can reduce the likelihood of developing the disease. However, the results are not unambiguous and remain controversial regarding the uniformly accepted recommended dose and duration of intake. Conclusion: Despite the encouraging results, additional long-term studies are needed to establish vitamin D as an effective prophylactic agent against T1DM. Early intervention in genetically predisposed individuals may be a key element in future prevention strategies.

Purpose. This review aims to present recent data from contemporary scientific literature on the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of selected herbs from the Lamiaceae family. Material and methods. A literature search was conducted to obtain current information on the role of phenolic compounds from Lamiaceae species in neuroinflammation. The Lamiaceae family, widely represented across Europe by genera such as Salvia, Mentha, Melissa, Origanum, Ocimum, Thymus, and Satureja, is a rich source of bioactive phenolic compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and emerging neuroprotective potential. Results. Species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, including rosemary, sage, mint, thyme, oregano, and others, are rich in phenolic compounds, particularly phenolic acids and flavonoids. These herbs demonstrate promising anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective properties, largely attributed to their phenolic content. Conclusion. Phenolic compounds from Lamiaceae plants modulate key neuroinflammatory pathways by suppressing microglial activation, downregulating pro-inflammatory mediators, and activating antioxidant defences. Through these mechanisms, they mitigate oxidative stress and promote neuronal survival, thereby exerting protective effects in experimental models of neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, phenolic compounds from Lamiaceae species represent promising multifunctional agents for targeting neuroinflammation and potentially slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Introduction: Pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system, including the hip joint, are often the prime cause of multimorbidity and significant disability. Individual-oriented physiotherapy, compatible with the concomitant diseases, promotes quality of life and restoration of working capacity. Purpose: to evaluate the quality of life after an individualised rehabilitation program in patients with total hip replacement. Methods: The subjects of the study are 72 multimorbid patients with total hip replacement who visited the Clinic for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at UMHAT "St. Marina", located in Estreya Residence, Varna, Bulgaria, from 2021 until 2022; research methods: sociological (administrative questionnaire, WHOQOL BREF), functional, and statistical methods; methods of influence: individualised rehabilitation program. Results: All multimorbid respondents suffer from coxarthrosis and concomitant chronic diseases, including cancer (1,4%). The overall self-assessment of quality of life increased by 15,39 points after the individual rehabilitation program. The average values in the domain "Physical health" increased by 7,125 points, in the domain "Psychological" - by 3,542 points, and in the domains "Social relationships" and "Environment"—by 0.417 and 4,306 points, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusions: An individualised rehabilitation program assists in the recovery despite the restrictions associated with concomitant diseases. The results correspond with the strategy for the optimisation of national and public financial expenses for working capacity restoration. After the individual rehabilitation program was conducted, the overall self-assessment of quality of life improved. A positive dynamic is observed in all domains, mainly at the expense of "Physical health" and "Environment".

The aim of this article is to study patients who have experienced acute demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and to propose an individually developed kinesitherapy program to overcome the functional deficit and improve their quality of life. Material and methods: The study included 5 patients (three men and two women) with an average age of 52.5 years. The study was conducted from March 2023 to March 2024 at the University Hospital "Saint Marina" Varna - Second Clinic for Nervous Diseases, and after their discharge, continued at home. Patients were admitted due to pain, numbness and muscle weakness of the distal parts of the lower extremities, as well as difficulty in walking. During the first days of the inpatient stay, an increase in neurological symptoms was observed, with the progression also covering the upper extremities. After the acute condition was controlled, an individual kinesitherapy program was prepared and applied to the patients, which was carried out for a period of 3 months. Results: the study showed that after the individual physiotherapy program, muscle weakness, postural and balance abilities, and gait were positively affected, all of which led to an improvement in the general condition and quality of life of the patients. To assess the results achieved before and after the applied physiotherapy program, we examined the functional abilities and limitations of the patients. The most significant results were recorded in the restoration of muscle strength in shoulder joint movements. Conclusion: the study showed that the appropriate selection of kinesitherapy methods and means in patients with Guillain Barre syndrome, tailored to their individual functional capabilities, has a positive impact during the recovery period, both in terms of functional deficit and in terms of improving their quality of life.

Purpose: Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease (PAOD) is a vascular disease associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism (rs4340) has been suggested as a potential risk factor for PAOD. This study aimed to examine the association of the ACE I/D polymorphism and PAOD risk in Bulgarian patients. Materials/Methods: This case-control study included 85 patients with PAOD and 394 controls. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood, and ACE genotyping was performed using classical end-point polymerase chain reaction. Results: ACE genotype frequencies were similar between PAOD patients (DD: 0.317; ID: 0.459; II:0.224) and controls (DD: 0.345; ID: 0.495; II: 0.160; p=0.368), as well as the allelic frequencies (p=0.274). Further analysis based on the clinical manifestation of the disease did not reveal a significant association with the ACE I/D polymorphism. However, a tendency for a higher frequency of the DD-genotype was observed among cases with arterial hypertension (0.348 vs. 0.188) or with atrophic changes (0.412 vs. 0.294), compared to patients without these conditions. Conclusion: There was no significant association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and the development of PAOD in the Bulgarian population. However, carrying the DD-genotype might contribute to the clinical characteristics of PAOD.