Grodno Region Research Articles

Experimental studies of a machine for collecting the Colorado potato beetle

ional Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, the Republic of Belarus The substantiation of the design and technological scheme of the machine for the mechanical collection of the Colorado potato beetle in the production of environmentally friendly potato is carried out. The parameters and modes of rotors with flexible-elastic blades and regulators of the amplitude of their oscillations, providing high-quality shaking and collection of Colorado potato beetle individuals from the tops with minimal damage, have been experimentally substantiated. A description of the laboratory installation, an experimental sample of a combined unit is presented, and a methodology for conducting experiments is described. Experimental studies were carried out in 2004-2008 in the experimental field of the Educational institution "Grodno State Agrarian University" (UO "GGAU") and in the fields of the Agricultural production cooperative (SEC) "Zanemansky" of the Mostovsky dis-trict of the Grodno region. It was found that in order to reduce the energy intensity of the process, the interaction of the rotor with the tops in its apical part, where the maximum con-centration of Colorado potato beetle individuals takes place, is expedient. The minimum amount of beetle on the tops and the absence of visible damage to it are achieved when the diameter of the nylon threads of the blade is 1.2-1.5 mm, and the rational position of the regulator from the rotor axis is 0.14-0.18 m according to the energy intensity condition. Under the condition of minimal energy consumption of the process and without visible damage to the leaves, the circumferential speed range of the rotor should be 3-4 m/s. A regression equation of the second degree is obtained, which determines the relationship of the residual number of beetle individuals on the tops after the passage of the machine with the circumferential speed of the rotor Voc, the position of the regulator on the radius of the rotor Rr and the cross section of the blade Sbl. The optimal values were determined by solving the equation: Voc = 3.7 m/s, Rr = 0.16 m, Sbl = 1800 mm2 .

СЕНСИБИЛИЗАЦИЯ К МОЛЕКУЛЯРНЫМ КОМПОНЕНТАМ АЛЛЕРГЕНА КЛЕЩА ДОМАШНЕЙ ПЫЛИ DER Р1 И DER Р2 У ДЕТЕЙ

Objectives. To establish the molecular profile of sensitization to individual components of the house dust mite allergen (Der p1 and Der p2) in children of Grodno region (Republic of Belarus). Material and methods. We examined 61 children aged from 4 to 17 years with symptoms of allergy associated with house dust mite. sIgE antibodies to the house dust mite allergen components Der p1 and Der p2 were determined by the ImmunoCAP method. Results. sIgE antibodies to at least one molecule of the house dust mite allergen Der p1 and/or Der p 2 were detected in 83.6% of children. sIgE antibodies to Der p1 were found in 75.4% of children, and to Der p2 - in 70.5% of children. sIgE antibodies simultaneously to two molecular components of the dust mite (Der p1 + Der p2) were detected in 62.3% of children. With age, the ratio of Der p1 and Der p2 changes towards the prevalence of Der p2 (p=0.02). It has been found that 9.8% of children have IgE-recognizing Der p1, but not Der p 2, and 6.5% of children have IgE-recognizing Der p2, but not Der p 1. In 16.4% of children with sensitization to a house dust mite no sIgE antibodies to Der p1 and Der p2 were detected. The frequency of sensitization to Der p1 and Der p 2, depending on the degree of skin reactivity, established by the results of skin prick tests with water-salt extracts of house dust mite was as follows: «+» 31.25% and 31.25%, «++» 91,17% and 85.29%, «+++» 80% and 60%, respectively. 9.8% of children with negative skin prick test results (but increased level of sIgE to house dust mite extract) were Der p1-, Der p2- and Der p1 + Der p2-positive in 100% of cases. Conclusions. The allergenic components of house dust mite Der p1 and Der p2 are major in children of Grodno region. A component-resolved diagnostic approach to clarify the profiles of IgE-mediated reactivity in patients with allergy associated with house dust mite will allow to improve and to optimize the therapeutic and diagnostic tactics of managing such patients.

METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING THE LOGISTIC POTENTIAL OF THE REGONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The article provides a comparative analysis of the definitions of "logistics potential", considers the structure of the logistics potential of the region. The author proposes and substantiates the indicators for assessing each structural element of the logistics potential (spatial, transit, transport, personnel and storage). A methodology for assessing the logistics potential has been developed and its level has been calculated in the context of the regions of the Republic of Belarus. Based on the results of the calculations, the ranks of the regions of the republic for the development of logistics potential were established, which made it possible to develop the main directions for increasing the logistics potential of the Grodno region, which ranks last in the ranking of regions in terms of the development of logistics potential.

КЛИНИКО-ЭПИДЕМИОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ АСПЕКТЫ ОПУХОЛЕЙ ЯИЧНИКОВ В ГРОДНЕНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Background. When providing specialized medical care and planning preventive measures, analysis of epidemiological data is instrumental in determining what should be done to reduce morbidity and mortality from ovarian malignant neoplasms (OMNs) within the given scenario. Purpose of research. To study the epidemiological situation with OMNs in the Grodno region. Material and methods. The OMN incidence and indicators of the quality of oncological care in the Grodno region were analyzed according to the data obtained from the Belarusian cancer registry. Results. Since 2007, the OMN morbidity and mortality rates have been relatively stable. In most cases, the diagnosis of malignant ovarian pathology has been based on the results of a pathomorphological investigation. The histological variant of the neoplasm significantly affects the prognosis for life. The most common neoplasms are serous ovarian carcinomas (69%). Neoplasms of non-epithelial origin occur in 8% of all cases. About 16% of women have multiple primary neoplasms with ovarian involvement. In most cases of metachronous development of polyneoplasia the ovarian neoplasm occurs last. The analysis of the age-specific morbidity showed that OMN was most often (52%) diagnosed at the age of 46-65 years. During the study period, about 70% of neoplasms were diagnosed at a later stage, 10% of patients were incurable and received only symptomatic therapy. The indicators of the quality of oncological care demonstrate an increase in the number of cases diagnosed at an early stage. In 2019, in the Grodno region, OMNs of stage I-II were diagnosed in 42% of patients. Conclusion. To improve oncological care for the population and reduce morbidity and mortality from OMNs, it is necessary to develop and implement a set of measures aimed primarily at early diagnosis of the disease and prevention of neoplasm development in the case of primary multiple forms.

СВЯЗЬ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМА ГЕНОВ ТРОМБОЦИТАРНЫХ РЕЦЕПТОРОВ GPIA(С807Т), GPIIIA (Т1565С) С АКТИВНОСТЬЮ ТРОМБОЦИТОВ И ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬЮ АЦЕТИЛСАЛИЦИЛОВОЙ КИСЛОТЫ У ПАЦИЕНТОВ СО СТАБИЛЬНОЙ СТЕНОКАРДИЕЙ НАПРЯЖЕНИЯ

Background. Recently, much attention has been paid to the genetic aspects of thrombus formation. Understanding the genetic contribution to platelet function may have clinical implications for personalized pharmacotherapy. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of polymorphic variants C807T of the ITGA2 gene and T1565C of the ITGB3 gene and to study their effect on platelet activity and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) efficiency in patients with stable angina (SA) living in the Grodno region. Material and methods. The study included 92 patients with SA, 89 of them underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and 93 were apparently healthy people. The survey data (general clinical, aggregometry, general blood count and platelet indices, polymerase chain reaction genotyping) were analyzed using the STATISTICA 10.0 program. Results. The prevalence of carriage of genotypes associated with possible variability of response to ASA therapy among patients with SA was 69.6% for the C807T polymorphic locus of the ITGA2 gene, 31.5% for the T1565C polymorphic ITGB3 locus, 60.2% and 37.6% among practically healthy individuals respectively. A lower frequency of the CC variant of the C807T polymorphic locus of the ITGA2 gene was noted in the group of men with SA in comparison with the control group of men (p = 0.043) according to Fisher's exact test. The patients were divided into subgroups (SG). Carriers of the CC genotype of the C807T polymorphic locus of the ITGA2 gene and TT genotype of the T1565C polymorphic locus of the ITGB3 gene were in SG1. Carriers of the CT+TT genotypes of the C807T polymorphic locus of the ITGA2 gene and TC+CC of the T1565C polymorphic locus of the ITGB3 gene were in SG2. The ASPI-test values were 23.0 [14.0; 50.5] U in SG1 and 22.5 [14.5; 34.5] U in SG2 of the ITGA2 gene, p>0.05. The ASPI-test values were 23.0 [16.0; 38.0] U in SG1 and 20.0 [14.0; 34.0] U in SG2 of the ITGB3 gene, p>0.05. Conclusions. No relationship was found between the polymorphic variants C807T of the ITGA2 gene and T1565C of the ITGB3 gene and platelet activity and the effectiveness of ASA in patients with SA.

Fruit and berry industry of Belarus: production status, labor productivity and performance

The article draws attention to the relevance of the topic. It is noted that the level of self-sufficiency of Belarus with domestic fruit and berry products in some years does not reach 50%, although the soil and climatic conditions of the republic contribute to the almost universal cultivation and cultivation of various types and varieties of fruit and berry crops. In the fruit and berry industry of all categories of farms for the period 2015–2019, there were significant dynamic changes: if the gross harvest of fruits of seed crops decreased by almost 30%, the production of berries increased by 31%. The main contribution to the total gross harvest of fruits and berries was made by the households of the population – at least 70%. Attention is drawn to the fact that during the study period, the fruit-bearing area of horticultural crops significantly decreased, but their yield significantly increased. The article states that the yield of garden crops is characterized by a significant fluctuation between odd and even years: for even years, the yield indicators are higher compared to odd years. This pattern does not apply to berry crops.An in-depth study of the indicators characterizing the fruit and berry industry was carried out on the example of the agricultural production cooperative (APC) “Progress-Vertelishki” of the Grodno region. In this farm, considerable attention is paid to the cultivation and cultivation of horticultural crops: from a significant fruit – bearing area for the period 2014–2018, from 2.6 to 3.2 thousand tons of fruits and from 31 to 85 tons of berries were collected annually. Using the example of the fruit and berry industry of the APC “Progress-Vertelishki”, the author of the article proves the need to calculate and evaluate labor productivity on the basis of net production (added value) rather than gross output. The main part of the article concludes with an analytical assessment of the economic and financial indicators of the fruit and berry industry in the APC “Progress-Vertelishki”. The content of the article ends with reasoned conclusions.

Important aspects of the development of the children’s cardiological services of the Grodno region. Analysis of sixty years of activity

Introduction.The relatively young science of pediatric cardiology has made enormous breakthroughs in recent years: the labor intensity and complexity of modern diagnostic techniques have increased, and interventional methods of treatment are widely used. Modern pediatric cardiology covers a wide range of diseases: from intrauterine pathology, such as congenital heart and vascular defects, fibroelastosis, various arrhythmias, to acquired diseases represented by arterial hyperand hypotension, systemic vasculitis, autonomic dysfunction, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.Purpose.To demonstrate the important stages of the development of the children’s cardiological service in Grodno region over a sixty-year period, assess its current state and analyze the dynamics of the incidence rate of children’s heart and vascular diseases during 2005–2019 in this region.Material and methods. During the period of 1960–2019 a retrospective research was carried out using the statistics: report of the chief substitute pediatric cardiologist, report of medical treatment for children during 2005–2019, analytical and conjunctral reports, reviews and references of chief doctors and local pediatricians.Results and discussion. The sixty-years of activity of the children’s cardiological service in Grodno region were analyzed. It was found that over the past 15 years there has been an annual increase in the overall incidence of diseases of the circulatory system (classes I00-I99 ICD 10), while the primary incidence decreased from 331.06 to 265.63 per 100,000 of the child population. The overall incidence of congenital heart defects over the past 15 years was characterized by a low decrease from 916.40 to 800.16 cases against the stabilization of the primary incidence rate.Conclusion.The obtained results indicate the well-organized work of the diagnostic, hospital, dispensary and prophylactic stages of medical assistance to children with cardiovascular pathology.

Inguinal hernias in elderly patients. Strategy for choosing a surgical treatment method

Objective:to evaluate the existing approaches to the treatment of inguinal hernias in the elderly and to propose a strategy for choosing the method of surgical treatment taking into account the metric assessment of the state of the topographical and anatomical parameters of the inguinal canal.Materials and methods.The analysis of surgical interventions for inguinal hernias in elderly patients in surgical in-patient clinics of the Grodno region over 2018–2019 was carried out. The morphometric parameters of the inguinal canal being determinants for choosing the method of hernioplasty were studied in 39 elderly patients.Results.The coefficient for choosing the method of inguinal herniation (K) has been proposed. It is calculated by the formula: К = h : m, where h is the height of the inguinal space (mm), m is the total thickness of the upper wall of the inguinal canal (mm). At K>4.83 they choose atension methods of hernioplasty.Conclusion.The use of the coefficient for choosing the method of inguinal hernioplasty has made it possible to reduce the number of recurrent hernias in the long-term postoperative period from 5.7 % to 2.0 % of cases.

Sociological analysis of doctor–patient relationships in the healthcare system of the Republic of Belarus on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: One of the most relevant areas of research in the sociology of medicine is the study of the problems of the quality of medical care, the development of approaches and criteria for assessing it at the current stage of development, institutional changes in medicine, the perception of transformational changes in the social institute of medicine by the population. The cornerstone of the health system is the subject relationship in the context of the doctor-patient bond. The determinicity of these interactions by the deontological principles of medicine determines the high level of expectations of patients regarding the personality of the doctor, which, in turn, affects the characteristics of the social status and the spectrum of social roles of medical workers. Despite objective changes in social interactions due to the departure from the paternalistic approach of modern medicine and the strengthening of patient autonomy trends regarding his life and health, the basis for the sustainability of the health system as a social institution remains the patients trust in the doctor, on the one hand, and the high level of professional motivation of medical workers on the other. This becomes the key to the effectiveness of the system, its flexibility and effective opposition to modern challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
 AIM: To study the attitudes and expectations of patients and health professionals regarding aspects of the image, openness and responsiveness of the health system, the risks of its commercialization and compliance with the needs of patients, as well as the peculiarity of motivation of medical workers, conflicts and professional errors, and based on the survey data, to characterize and compare the attitude of patients and health system managers to interaction in the combination of medical worker patient.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sociological study was implemented in 2019 on the basis of a republican sample of patients (n=800) and a representative sample of health managers of the Grodno region of the Republic of Belarus (n=143). For statistical data analysis, the methods of non-parametric statistics of Statistica 10.0 were applied: estimating intergroup differences by calculating the Kruskal-Wallis test, establishing relationships through correlation analysis with calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient.
 RESULTS: The majority (54,3% of patients surveyed) claim that the main factor affecting their attitude and image of institutions and health workers is the reputation of the institutions employees and their clinical experience, in second place in terms of response rates 35,3% the appearance of buildings, equipment of departments and offices, corridors; the third place (28,9%) was taken by the answer preventive work with the population. Managers call the defining motives in the activities of medical workers: professional interest (70,3%), the opportunity to earn money for a living (52,1%), compassion and assistance to the patient (41,3%).
 The results of the study indicate that there are no direct causes and manifestations of conflict situations in the doctorpatient communications.
 In the situation of medical errors, 51,3% of respondents consider the most common subjective errors of the doctor, 22,3% medical. Managers more regard the medical errors encountered as organizational (31,2%) or purely deontological (31,2%). Thus, the majority of managers (62,2%) associate professional deontological errors of medical workers with errors in the behavior of a doctor with patients and relatives of patients. There is a relationship between the level of the leader and the frequency of qualification of professional error as an objective error (r=-0.28; p0.05): the higher the position the leader occupies, the more often he notes precisely objective errors and tends to respond adequately to them.
 Despite the fact that in order to be able to pay for paid medical services, 34,4% of patients are forced to reduce other costs, one in three patients (about 32%) considers additional remuneration to the medical worker directly from patients and their relatives, which is manifested by the so-called corruption environmental pressure however, the vast majority of health managers categorically do not allow such situations.
 CONCLUSIONS: It was revealed that patient attitudes reflect the commercialization of social interactions in the doctor-patient system and create conditions for corrupt environmental pressure, but despite this, relations generally unconditionally maintain a humanistic orientation and priority motive in the form of compassion and patient assistance. Most patients note trust in doctors, two-thirds have never clashed with healthcare professionals, the main image factor is the reputation of the institutions employees and their clinical experience. It was also revealed that the degree of professionalism has a direct impact on the perception of medical errors: for example, patients are much more likely to interpret any incomprehensible situation as a mistake, and health managers, on the contrary, regard the errors encountered more as organizational or deontological, and there is a positive correlation between the level of the leader and the frequency of qualification of professional error as an objective error.

Effect of polymorphism of platelet receptors genes P2RY12, ITGB3 and CYP2C19 cytochrome metabolizer enzyme on the platelet activity and efficiency of clopidogrel in patients with stable stenocardia in the Grodno region

The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of polymorphic variants G681A of the CYP2C19 gene, H1/H2 of the P2RY12 gene, and T1565C of the ITGB3 gene and to study their effect on the platelet activity and clopidogrel efficacy in patients with stable stenocardia living in the Grodno region. The study included 92 patients with stable stenocardia, 89 of them underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and 93 practically healthy people. The survey data (general clinical, aggregometry, general blood count and platelet indices, and polymerase chain reaction genotyping) were analyzed using the STATISTICA 10.0 software.A high prevalence of carriage of genotypes associated with possible variability in response to clopidogrel therapy was revealed both among patients with stable stenocardia and among practically healthy individuals in the Grodno region. The frequency of occurrence of studying genotypes among patients with stable stanocardia was 23.9 % for the CYP2C19 gene (polymorphic locus G681A), 40.2 % for the P2RY12 gene (polymorphic locus H1/H2), and 31.5 % for the gene ITGB3 (polymorphic locus T1565C). For the group of practically healthy individuals, the distribution of these genotypes was 18.3; 46.2; 37.6 %, respectively. Associations were revealed between the carriage of the 681A allele of the CYP2C19 gene and the H2 haplotype of the P2RY12 gene with high residual platelet reactivity during clopidogrel therapy in patients with stable stenocardia. An association was found between the carriage of the H2 haplotype of the H1/H2 polymorphism of the P2RY12 gene with high platelet MPV values and a higher frequency of large platelets (P-LCR) in patients with stable stenocardia.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus as a problem of modern medicine

Abstract Aims: To carry out a comprehensive retrospective assessment of the prevalence, features and course of treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods: Our study is based on a retrospective analysis of statistical data obtained from 762 current and former MDR-TB patients (74% of patients with resistance only to first-line drugs – isoniazid (H) and rifampin (R); 36% with resistance to H, R and second-line drugs) included in the register of tuberculosis (TB) patients from different regions of Ukraine and the Grodno region of the Republic of Belarus between 2015 and 2019. Results and Discussion: In both groups of the study recurrent TB prevailed: 49 cases (55.7%) of relapse TB compared to 39 cases (44.3%) of primary TB in the main group; 363 cases (53.9%) of relapse TB compared to 311 (46.1%) primary TB in the control group (P < 0.05). The rate of successful treatment in the control group is higher than in the main group (64.7% vs. 61.4%; P < 0.05). A significant difference between the two groups was observed owing to the difference in frequency of treatment, which in the main group has recorded 27.3%, as against 40.3% in the control group (almost two times lower; P < 0.05). Conclusions: The association between TB and DM increases the morbidity, chemoresistance and proportion of recurrences. Pulmonary TB developed significantly more often in middle-aged patients with type 2 DM with moderate and severe states, with subcompensated form and with a complicated course.

А. А. БОГДАНОВ (МАЛИНОВСКИЙ): МЫСЛИТЕЛЬ, ПИСАТЕЛЬ И ВРАЧ-ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТАТОР

The article presents biographical data on the life and activities of a prominent scientist, writer, revolution figure of the beginning of the 20th century, organizer and Director of the world's first Institute for Blood Transfusion, born in province town Sokolka, Grodno Governorate, A.A. Bogdanov (Malinovsky) who made a great contribution to the foundation and development of domestic hematology. The results of the study indicate that the childhood years spent in the Grodno region had a significant impact on the formation of the scientist's outlook and scientific interests.

КЛИНИЧЕСКИЙ СЛУЧАЙ АЛЛЕРГИЧЕСКОГО ОСТРОГО КОРОНАРНОГО СИНДРОМА (СИНДРОМА КОУНИСА), ВЫЗВАННОГО ХОЛОДОВОЙ КРАПИВНИЦЕЙ

Kounis syndrome is one of the rare variants of acute coronary syndrome that occurs as a result of an allergic reaction. Its main pathophysiological mechanism is coronary vasospasm. Clinically, Kounis syndrome is manifested by symptoms of both an allergic reaction and an acute coronary syndrome, and its treatment is not an easy task, since both cardiac and allergic manifestations must be treated at the same time. In the given article we describe a clinical case of diagnosis and successful treatment of Kounis syndrome caused by cold urticaria in a 58-year-old patient who was hospitalized to the Grodno Regional Clinical Cardiology Center.

Territorial distribution alleles of SSR-loci of chloroplast DNA of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Belarus

Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the main forest forming species in Belarus, which cover 49.2 % of the country’s forested area. The aim of the study was to investigate spatial distribution of microsatellite (SSR) alleles (chloroplast DNA) and identify the features of the genetic structure and genogeographic differentiation of P. sylvestris populations in Belarus. Molecular genetic analysis of six SSR loci of Scotch pine cpDNA in samples form 73 naturally originated stands was carried out. 35 allelic variants of loci PCP1289, PCP4507, PCP83314, PCP71987, PCP26106, PCP30277 were identified. The analysis of the geographic distribution of the dominant allelic variants showed that the population structure of the pine forest is rather homogeneous. Certain regional differences in a number of cases were found for less common, but also widespread variants. One group of alleles is characterized by an increase or decrease in the frequency of occurrence in the direction from the southwest to the northeast. Another group includes allelic variants which share is maximal in the zone covering the Grodno region, the southwestern part of the Minsk region and the Gomel region, while to southwest and to northeast from this zone their frequency of occurrence decreases or is absent. A number of alleles were found only in one of the analyzed stands or in a limited area, which may indicate their local origin as a result of spontaneous mutations. The obtained results are important both from a general biological point of view in studying the evolution and formation of the genetic structure of P. sylvestris in Belarus, and from a practical point of view, since they allow to improve the forest seed zoning of the species.

The corners of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the early columns of Eliza Orzeszkowa

The article recalls little-known columns and literary texts by Orzeszkowa from the earliest period of her work, devoted to descriptions of several parts of the Grodno region, Lithuanian Polesie and Pińszczyzna. The article presents a thesis about the coherence of the vision of the province as a cultural and social space presented in these texts.

ЛЕПТОСПИРОЗ: ЗАБОЛЕВАЕМОСТЬ И РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЕ СРЕДИ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ БЕЛАРУСЬ ЗА ПЕРИОД С 1990 ПО 2019 ГОДЫ

world and poses a serious threat to human health. Also relevant is the problem of animal disease with lepto- spirosis, which causes significant economic damage to countries. In the Republic of Belarus, human diseases with leptospirosis have been registered since 1944, when there were 2 large outbreaks of the disease in the Minsk and Mogilev regions. Currently, the epidemic situation for leptospirosis is characterized as unstable, which is due to the presence in all regions of the Republic of Belarus of natural and economic foci, as well as the formation of new persistent foci of infection both in rural areas and in cities. During the study period 1990—2019, from 4 to 55 cases of the disease were annually registered in the country. The average incidence of leptospirosis during this period was 0.27 per 100 000 population. It was relatively high in the eastern and southeastern regions: in the Mogilev region — 0.85 per 100 000 population, in the Gomel region — 0.49. A low incidence of leptospirosis is typical for the western and northern regions: in the Brest region 0.03 cases per 100 000 population, in the Vitebsk region — 0.05, in the Grodno region — 0.09. In the central region (Minsk region) — 0.11, in Minsk — 0.25. Long-term dynamics of morbidity is characterized by a pronounced reliable upward trend.

Results of international comparison tests on determination of <sup>137</sup>Cs activity concentration in soil samples

In 2016—2019, comparison tests of different methods for quantitative determination of the content of the technogenic radionuclide 137 Cs in soil samples were performed. Soil samples were collected from areas with high and low 137 Cs contamination in Belarus. The intercomparison was performed as a part of an ongoing Russian—Swedish—Belarusian cooperation on the assessment of radioactive contamination of the environment. Three laboratories of the regular participants in the project and three laboratories from other facilities participated in the intercomparison that was focused on the samples of cultivated soil from the Gomel region (the first stage of comparisons, 3 samples) and the Grodno region (the second stage of comparisons, 4 samples). Results on activity concentrations in the samples presented by the participants were in satisfactory agreement with each other. The maximum deviation from the average value, that had been calculated for each sample based on the individual results from all laboratories, was 14%. Stage-averaged deviations from the inter-laboratory mean did not exceed 10%. Results of the comparison tests should be taken into consideration when comparing or merging experimental data from different laboratories participating in the Russian—Swedish—Belarusian cooperation project.

О НОВЫХ МЕТОДАХ ОЦЕНКИ ДОВЕРИЯ ИНОСТРАННЫХПОТРЕБИТЕЛЕЙ МЕДИЦИНСКИХ УСЛУГ БЕЛОРУССКИМВРАЧАМ

Background. To date, there are no evidence-based ways to assess patients ' trust in medical professionals. The relevance of searching for such methods for studying the level of social trust of foreign consumers of medical services in Belarusian doctors is not in doubt due to the annual increase in the export of medical services. Objective: to develop a new method for assessing the confidence of foreign patients in Belarusian doctors. Material and methods. Based on the Russian and foreign experience in studying trust in the provision of non-medical services and using the principles of sociology of medicine, an approach to the mathematical assessment of the level of trust of foreign consumers of medical services in Belarusian doctors has been developed. Results. The method includes a sociological survey with subsequent calculation of the index of trust in Belarusian doctors, determined on the basis of generalized trust indices (three types), the values of which are calculated based on the values of two indicators: the indicator of generalized trust of foreign consumers in Belarusian doctors and the indicator of the measure of personal trust of foreign consumers in Belarusian doctors. Conclusions. The method of calculating confidence indices needs to be implemented and further tested, the survey of foreign patients is planned to be conducted after each case of receiving medical care in the Grodno region.

Волпа. Старая и новая

The article is devoted to the history of the Jewish community in Volpa. Until 1939 the town was the centre of a commune of the Grodno district of the Bialystok voivodeship, and now it is part of the Volkovysk district of the Grodno region of the Republic of Belarus. The article describes the economic, religious, cultural, and national life of Jews, who naturally complemented the life of the Belarusians and Poles in Volpe providing an example of mutual understanding and cooperation. Particular attention is paid to the fate of the unique wooden synagogue of the 17th century and the activities of Zionist groups and clubs. A separate place is given to the story of the tragic death of the community during the Holocaust and the attempts to preserve the memory of their small homeland by the modern generation of Volpa residents. The article was written following the author's visit to Volpa in 2018 and it is based on rare archival data, scholarly publications in Hebrew, English, Polish and Russian, periodicals, and interviews with local residents.

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOT LENGTH AND SHOE SIZE IN MALE AND FEMALE ADOLESCENTS LIVING IN DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL ZONES

The purpose of the study is to compare the length of the left and right feet, as well as the shoe size in 19 year old adolescents living in different geographical zones. Foot-measuring device was used to measure the length of the foot in 222 people living in various regions of Belarus and the Southern Urals. We assessed the size of shoes worn by girls and boys. The study was conducted at the same period of day in the interval from 12.00 to 13.00, in the same microclimate conditions (room temperature +20 C, relative humidity – 51%, air velocity – 0, 2 m/s. The findings obtained show an increase in the length of the foot in 19 year old girls compared to the average values in this age group. The girls living in the Grodno region had a 0.47 cm longer foot than the girls living in the Brest region and 0.5 cm longer than girls living in the Minsk region. There are differences in the size between the left and right feet for the girls living in the Grodno and Brest regions: for girls from the Grodno region, the difference is 0.04 cm, and for girls living in the Minsk region – 0.02 cm. The average foot length of 19-year-old girls living in the Grodno region of Belarus differs significantly (p<0.05) from the foot length of girls in the Southern Urals. The difference makes up 1.5118 cm of the right foot and 1.6384 cm of the left foot. The feet in the residents of the Brest region (right 1, 1330 cm, left-1, 1616 cm) is longer than that of 19-year-old girls in the Southern Urals. The difference in foot length between girls from the Minsk region and the southern Urals is 1, 0358 cm for the right foot, and 1, 0814 cm for the left. The feet of boys living in Belarus is longer than that of the boys from the Southern Urals for the right foot by 0.7921 cm and for the left foot by 0.8957 cm. 19-year-old residents of the Grodno region wear shoes of a larger size than the girls of the same age from the Southern Urals.