Northern State Medical University Research Articles

Dental health in the adult population of Arkhangelsk: а study protocol

BACKGROUND: The Arkhangelsk region is characterized by a high prevalence and intensity of dental diseases among adults, but most of the studies were either hospital-based or used small samples with questionable representativeness.
 AIM: This article is a protocol of an original study, the purpose of which is to assess the dental status and its association with somatic health in a representative sample of the adult population of Arkhangelsk.
 MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2022, a cross-sectional study “Prevalence of dental pathology among the population of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (using the example of Arkhangelsk) and associated characteristics of the microbiome of the intestine and the respiratory tract” (hereinafter referred to as the dental study) was conducted in Arkhangelsk. The dental study was a part of the study “Molecular and genetic markers of the response to coronavirus infection and changes in the human microbiota and metabolome during the COVID-19 pandemic” (hereinafter referred to as the study on the effects of COVID-19). Data collection for the study was carried out from October 3 to November 10, 2022 at the Northern State Medical University. The study involved 463 adults aged 42–76 years living in the city of Arkhangelsk, representing a random sample of the adult population who had previously taken part in the “Know Your Heart” project in 2015–2017. All participants were asked to undergo an additional dental examination. The response rate was 91.6%. The dental examination included a questionnaire, assessment of dental status as recommended by the World Health Organization (2013), assessment of oral hygiene and gum inflammation, dental aesthetic index (DAI), collection of gingival fluid, autofluorescence stomatoscopy (AFS), examination by an orthodontist with periotestometry, performing a photo protocol, conducting biometrics of plaster models. When indicated, participants were asked to undergo an in-depth diagnostic to identify orthodontic pathology, namely, teleradiography and a cone-beam computed tomography.
 EXPECTED RESULTS: The proposed study using validated instruments and a representative sample has a major strength in providing unbiased assessment of the prevalence of oral health conditions in Arkhangelsk in the studied age group. Moreover, the material collected in this study has a potential to provide a unique opportunity to assess the associations between dental health and somatic health, lifestyle, microbiota, and metabolome since the data on the abovementioned characteristics were collected during the other projects and stored in a biobank.

Readiness of medical graduates to self-guided work in primary health care organizations

Aim. To study the opinion of senior medical students about their readiness for self-guided practice in primary health care organizations.Material and methods. In 2023, a continuous cross- sectional social study was conducted among 5th and 6th year students of the Northern State Medical University (Arkhangelsk), of which 137 were from pediatric faculty (5th year — 70, 6th year — 65), 266 — general medicine faculty (5th year — 140, 6th year — 126).Results. An insufficient level of readiness of medical graduates for self-guided practice in primary health care facilities was revealed. Only 19,0%, after passing the primary accreditation, aim to immediately work as a local pediatrician and a local general practitioner, while 44,2% are not ready to begin independent practical activity. The main work direction of a local physician is considered to be prevention by 67,2% and 28,6% of senior pediatric and general medicine students, respectively. More than 75% of graduates are ready to work independently in a medical information system, but 15,1% of respondents are not sure that they will be able to independently make an electronic sick note, while 41% — a referral for disability examination, and about a third of graduates — fill out a statistical electronic form.Conclusion. The study results confirm the need to strengthen the practice in the training of medical students and introduce a mentoring system in primary health care facilities.

Northern State Medical University; Arkhangelsk Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital named after P. G. Vyzhletsov

Intestinal cystous pneumatosis is a rare pathology in pediatric practice, accompanied by a nonspecific clinical picture, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. The literature describes isolated cases of the development of this condition in oncohematological patients of childhood. Intestinal cystous pneumatosis in them can be complicated by life-threatening conditions, and therefore the choice of the correct tactics for managing these patients significantly affects survival. This article describes 2 clinical cases when cystic pneumatosis of the intestine developed during the treatment of an oncological disease.

Scientific and pedagogical schools of therapy and preventive medicine

On October 5, 2023, on the initiative of the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine and with the support of the Russian Society for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, the III International Research and Practice Forum "Scientific and Pedagogical Schools of Therapy and Preventive Medicine" was held. The Forum included two areas: symposiums dedicated to the best practices of higher education institutions; round tables dedicated to problems of education and practice integration. Scientific and pedagogical schools of the Far Eastern State Medical University, Siberian State Medical University, Samara State Medical University, Northern State Medical University, Smolensk State Medical University, S. I. Georgievsky Medical Institute of the V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University were represented. Scientists and practicing doctors representing the following educational organizations took part in the discussion of integration of medical education and practical healthcare: Belgorod National Research University, Kemerovo State Medical University, Medical Institute of the Derzhavin Tambov State University, V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Academy of Postgraduate Education of the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center, Research Medical Center "Gerontology", Multifunctional Medical Center (Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan), Ulaanbaatar Songo Hospital (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia), First Pavlov State Medical University of St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl State Medical University, Volgograd State Medical University, Volgograd Regional Clinical Hospital № 3, National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Russian Ministry of Health. The Forum showed that many medical higher educational institutions of the country have formed both independent scientific and pedagogical schools of fundamental biomedical sciences, therapy, preventive medicine, which have national and international recognition, and those that are intensively developing in accordance with Russian and international principles and demands of practical healthcare. The presence in medical education of authoritative scientific and pedagogical schools of therapy and preventive medicine is one of the indicators of the effectiveness of universities and academies in training internists and general practitioners. 

Allelic variants of folate metabolism genes among students in Arctic Russia

AIM: To assess the prevalence of allelic variants of folate metabolism genes in Russian and Indian students living in the Arctic region of Russia.
 METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of ethnic Indians, students at the Faculty of General Practitioner of the Northern State Medical University, living in Arkhangelsk and ethnic Russians who were born in Arkhangelsk region. The study included 117 ethnic Indians and 195 Russian participants. A survey of participants and a molecular genetic study of the nucleotide sequence in the genes involved in the exchange of folate by real-time PCR were carried out. A group of ethnic Indians was compared with Russians according to 4 variants of the nucleotide sequence in the genes involved in folate metabolism.
 RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in the frequency distribution of the T allele of the MTHFR gene polymorphism (rs1801133) (p=0.001). Among Russians, the occurrence of the T allele was found to be 26.3%, whereas among Indians, it was only 7.7%. At the same time, no statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of other polymorphic variants of the folate cycle genes between the groups. The mutant allele G of the MTRR gene polymorphism (rs1801394) was the most frequently occurring polymorphism among the participants.
 CONCLUSION: Greater prevalence of the unfavorable allele T of the MTHFR gene (rs1801133) compared to the group of ethnic Indians may suggest an elevated susceptibility to folate metabolism disorders in the Russian population

Is Dental Anxiety Associated with Oral Health-Related Quality of Life? Assessment of Statistical Significance and Clinical Meaningfulness in a Sample of Russian Medical and Dental Students.

Information about oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and dental anxiety (DA) in Russian young adults is scarce. We investigated how DA is associated with OHRQoL in a group of medical and dental students in North-West Russia. The study had a cross-sectional design and included 807 students aged 18-25 years who attended the Northern State Medical University in Arkhangelsk. OHRQoL and DA were measured by the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), respectively. A questionnaire collected information on socio-demographics and self-reported oral health (OH) characteristics. A dental examination was executed to assess dental caries and oral hygiene. We observed differences in the OHIP-14 scores between dentally anxious and non-anxious students: unadjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-2.12; after adjustment for socio-demographics and clinically assessed OH: IRR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.23-2.02; after adjustment for socio-demographics, clinically assessed OH, and self-reported OH characteristics: IRR = 1.27, 95% CI: 0.99-1.63. The differences between estimated marginal means for the DAS categories in the models were 2.92, 2.51, and 1.24, respectively. Minimal clinically important differences of OHIP-14 fell between 1.68 and 2.51. We found a negative statistical association between DA and OHRQoL in our study sample, but after adjustment for potential confounders, the association lost its clinical importance.

ЭЛЕКТРОННОЕ ОБУЧЕНИЕ ПО ХИМИИ В МЕДИЦИНСКОМ ВУЗЕ: ПЛЮСЫ И МИНУСЫ

Among the 1st-year students of the general medicine, pediatric, preventive medicine faculties, faculty of medical biochemistry, as well as the 2nd-year students of the pharmaceutical faculty of the Northern State Medical University, a sociological study was conducted to assess the quality of e-learning in chemical disciplines at the medical university. Northern State Medical University uses the Moodle electronic platform to provide e-learning. The total number of respondents was 241 people. The students gave a fairly good assessment of the electronic course in chemical disciplines (8,1±1,6). Almost all respondents (84,7%) use the Moodle electronic platform when mastering the discipline of Chemistry; 53,5% prefer to pre-watch video materials on laboratory work, perform laboratory experiments in the laboratory of the chemistry department, draw up conclusions under the guidance of a teacher. 76,4% of students constantly use questions in the module of the Moodle electronic platform to prepare for classes. At the same time, 55,2% of students prefer to pass the knowledge control at a practical lesson. 79,3% consider it impossible to use only distance learning in the process of studying chemical disciplines. The most preferred form of education for students is mixed (81,3%). The students made suggestions for changes in the work of e-learning on the Moodle platform.

Surgical correction of vestibulo-vaginal frictional dislocation of urethra in postcoital cystitis

Aim. To improve the results of surgical treatment of patients with recurrent postcoital cystitis.Material and methods. From 2005 to 2023, extravaginal transposition of the urethra according to the method developed by us (patent No. RU2408296C1 from 10.01.2011) and its modification (patent No. RU2686948C1 from 18.06.2018) was performed in 502 women aged from 18 to 61 years (average age 29.6 ± 7.2 year) at the Urology Department of the I.I. Mechnikov Northern State Medical University. The main part of patients was operated at the Center of Urology of the City Multidisciplinary Hospital No. 2 (St. Petersburg).Results. Out of 502 women we operated on, 370 (73.7 %) were examined in the distant postoperative period. A satisfactory result was observed in 338 (91.4 %) of them. The operation proved to be ineffective in 32 (8.6 %) women. Repeated transposition of the urethra was performed in 17 patients (3.4 %).Сonclusion. The indication for extravaginal urethral transposition is the association of sexual intercourse with episodes of cystitis exacerbations. The high efficacy of this operation for the prevention and treatment of postcoital cystitis is achieved through the correct selection of women as well as compliance with all technical features of the proposed surgical intervention.

Фолатный статус у студентов из Индии, обучающихся в г. Архангельске

The harsh climatic conditions of the subarctic regions of Russia, followed by lifestyle and nutritional changes, put a strain on the adaptive self-regulation mechanisms of newcomers. Acclimatization of foreign students coming to these regions, along with a high mental load and significant lifestyle modifications as well as alimentary and behavioural habits, can lead to homeostatic failure, in particular, folate metabolism disorder. It is known that both genetic (alleles determining the characteristics of folate and homocysteine metabolism) and phenotypic (nutritional and behavioural) factors play an important role in regulating folate metabolism. The purpose of this study was to analyse the folate status of ethnic Indians living in a subarctic region of Russia. Materials and methods. A prospective cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on a sample of ethnic Indians (n = 117) studying at Northern State Medical University in the city of Arkhangelsk. An analysis was performed of the relationship between folate levels and the duration of living in the subarctic region of Russia, body mass index, tobacco smoking, alcohol intake and nutritional status. The results of the study showed that folate levels in Indian students living in Arkhangelsk decreased significantly (from 10.0 [9.325; 13.65] ng/ml in the first year to 4.00 [4.00; 6.00] ng/ml in the sixth year of study; р < 0.001). This can be associated with changes in their diet (less vegetables), smoking and alcohol consumption, which are risk factors for impaired homocysteine metabolism and, as a consequence, for adverse vascular events. The significant folate deficiency in Indian students during their residence in subarctic conditions requires taking a number of measures aimed to prevent maladjustment disorders of folate metabolism in foreign students, which include quality of life, health and nutritional status controls as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including giving up bad habits.

ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ УСПЕВАЕМОСТИ ОБУЧАЮЩИХСЯ ПО ХИМИЧЕСКИМ ДИСЦИПЛИНАМ В МЕДИЦИНСКОМ ВУЗЕ И УРОВНЯ БАЗОВОГО ЗНАНИЯ ПО ХИМИИ

Paper analyzes the relationship between the academic performance of the Northern State Medical University students on the specialty «General medicine» in the chemical disciplines and basic knowledge of chemistry according to the results of the unified state exam. The study was conducted among students of 2017, 2018, 2019 admission years, total number of observation units was 586. The analysis included the scores of the unified state exam in chemistry, as well as the grades received by students in chemical disciplines at a medical university: «Chemistry» (1st year), «Biochemistry» (2nd year). The distribution of data was checked using the Shapiro-Wilk criterion. Data are presented in the form of extensive indicators (%) and Me (Q25; Q75). Spearman's correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between variables in the rank scale. Statistical analysis was carried out using the licensed STATA program (version 17). The study showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the level of unified state exam in chemistry and results of the exam in the discipline «Chemistry» for 1st-year students in each year of enrollment (middle correlation relationship), as well as between the level of unified state exam in chemistry and results of the exam in the discipline «Biochemistry» for 2nd-year students (middle correlation relationship). Results of the analysis confirmed the relationship between the academic performance of students in the specialty «General medicine» in chemical disciplines at a medical university and basic knowledge of chemistry according to the results of the unified state exam, which allows predicting academic performance at the faculty in the corresponding group of disciplines.

The influence of evening walks on the emotional state of students

The problem of creating harmony in relation to the mental and physical health of students at present is quite serious. Modern medical universities are characterized by an intellectual overload in conditions of insufficient physical activity, which necessitates increasing the stress resistance of the students’ organism. The means of physical activity used to reduce stress vary for different groups of people. The relevance of the study issue is due to thefact that evening walks are suitable for people of any age, including students, and have no contraindications. The purpose of the study is to compare the indicators of the emotional state and quality of sleep of the students who take daily evening walks in the fresh air, and the indicators of their peers who prefer spending time at home. It is assumed that students who combine physical activity in the elective classes of physical education and sports with daily walks have higher rates of emotional state and sleep quality than their peers who do not use physical activities in their free time. The study involved 180 students of the Northern State Medical University. The analysis of the emotional state of students was carried out according to the method of L. A. Kurgansky and T. A. Nemchina. According to the results of the survey, students who take evening walks have higher indicators of emotional state than those who prefer spending time at home. To study sleep indicators, a questionnaire for scoring the quality of sleep by Y. I. Levin was used. According to the results of the survey, students who take evening walks have higher rates of sleep quality. The conducted studies have shown that the means of physical education can optimize the emotional state of students, reduce anxiety, tension and discomfort. The study proves the importance of systematic exercises, even of the easiest and the most accessible ones, such as evening walks in the fresh air.

The influence of elective martial arts classes on the stress resistance students of the NSMU

This article examines the relationship between the level of development of resistance to psychophysiological stress and elective martial arts classes among students of the Northern State Medical University. The authors analyzed the essence and structure of adaptation mechanisms to stressful situations, as well as the role of resistance to stress during the learning process. The purpose of the study is: to evaluate the effectiveness of martial arts classes in comparison with physical education classes. The study was conducted in the form of a survey among two groups of students of the Northern State Medical University: those who regularly attended elective martial arts classes, and a control group (students attending regular physical education classes). In total, 64 students of the 3rd and 4th courses of medical and pediatric faculties aged from 20 to 22 years took part in the study. To conduct a survey among students, the Lemur-Tessier-Fillion "Psychological Stress Scale" (PSM-25) was used, which helps to assess stressful feelings by various indicators. As the results of the survey presented in the article showed, students who engage in martial arts on a regular basis have low and medium levels of stress, whereas students of the control group are more characterized by a high level.

АССОЦИАТИВНОЕ СОЗНАНИЕ В КОНТЕКСТЕ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЙ РЕАЛЬНОСТИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ РУССКИХ И ИНДИЙСКИХ СТУДЕНТОВ-МЕДИКОВ)

The paper presents data analysis of the association experiment aimed at studying the influence of professional culture on the linguistic consciousness of medical students. Being the most developed technique of psycholinguistic analysis of semantics, the association experiment reveals objectively the semantic relations of words and language stereotypes existing in a native speaker’s mind and reflecting the “mentality specific features”. The study sample consisted of Russian (n = 50) and Indian (n = 50) students of the Northern State Medical University, aged 17 to 20 years, studying General medicine. Study material included the results of a written questionnaire with seven stimulus words (doctor, Hippocratic Oath, medicine, hospital, patient, profession, lab coat). The stimulus list was prepared in Russian and English. The survey was conducted in the language of study participants. Linguistic units of different parts of speech and word combinations were allowed as answers. The analysis of a professionally determined specificity of consciousness of Russian and Indian students indicates the predominant positive orientation of ethnic stereotypes in all respondents. Both universal and nationality-related components, indicating the national and cultural markedness of the linguistic sign and peculiarities of ethno-linguistic consciousness are revealed. The associative behavior of both Russian and Indian students manifested itself in two directions: on the one hand, emotionally-evaluative reactions and descriptive associations were observed; on the other hand, reactions related to the professional reasoning development were traced. Word-reactions associated with social realities typical of Russian and Indian society are noteworthy.The total number of associations given by Russian students is slightly higher. In general, respondents’ reactions indicated their ambition to vocation realization and goals achievement. The results obtained can be considered as a culture-specific “associative profile” of images of consciousness, integrating mental and sensual knowledge possessed by a particular ethnic group.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПРОФИЛАКТИКА ИНТЕРНЕТ-ЗАВИСИМОСТИ У СТУДЕНЧЕСКОЙ МОЛОДЕЖИ

The number of Internet users is increasing every year: 62.5 % of the world’s population already have access to the World Wide Web. Most of them are people aged 12-24 years. It is this age range that is the main risk group for the development of Internet addiction (IA). The COVID-19 pandemic, in turn, has had a huge impact on increasing the time spent by citizens on the Internet. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on the development of IA among students on the example of the Northern State Medical University of Arkhangelsk; search for currently created IA prevention measures; update them and develop new ones. Materials and methods: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of IA, an intra-university online survey was conducted using the Kimberly Young methodology (Internet Addiction Test, IAT). The theoretical analysis of the problem was carried out on the refereed databases: eLibrary. Ru, CyberLeninka, PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library. Results: during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the students increased the duration of their stay on the Internet; however, the average value of +3.39 points does not allow us to say that this increase had a significant impact on the formation of IA. In accordance with the WHO classification, the main methods of prevention are presented from: the formation of a culture of Internet use by parents, conducting preventive conversations – as primary prevention. Secondary prevention consists in the use of the PROTECT curriculum, applications for digital detoxification; the formation of a self-determination setting or the use of professional assistance (clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, etc.). As a type of tertiary prevention, it is necessary to consider methods of social support, the creation of favorable and emotional conditions in the real world and the training of addicts in controlled Internet use.

Уровень гигиенических знаний родителей и стоматологическое здоровье детей в г. Архангельске

The aim of this research was to assess oral health literacy (OHL) among parents living in Arkhangelsk (Russia) and to study its correlation with children’s oral health. Materials and methods. We examined 125 children aged 3–14 years during their visit to the dental clinic of Northern State Medical University. Parental OHL was studied with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. Caries prevalence was assessed, depending on age, using the decay-filled (df) index for primary dentition, decay-missing-filled (DMF) index for permanent dentition, and df + DMF index. Oral hygiene was studied using the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Correlation analysis with Pearson correlation coefficient was utilized to establish the relationship between the parameters under study. Results. The majority of parents (53.6 %) demonstrated low or very low OHL levels, mean score being 12.2 points out of 30. Caries prevalence among children was 97.6 %, mean df, df + DMF and DMF values were 7.3, 7.6 and 7.8, respectively. The majority of children had decompensated (44.0 %) or subcompensated (38.4 %) forms of caries (classification by T.F. Vinogradova). Mean OHI-S was 1.8 (poor level of oral hygiene). An inverse correlation between parental OHL and caries experience in children was identified (r = −0.178; p = 0.047). Lower parental OHL was statistically significantly associated with more dental plaque in children (r = −0.307; p < 0.001); higher OHI-S was associated with greater levels of caries experience (r = 0.494; p < 0.001). The findings provide an evidence base for promoting health and hygiene literacy among parents in order to preserve oral health and prevent caries in children.

Мозговые проявления краткосрочной адаптации у студентов из Индии, обучающихся в Северном государственном медицинском университете (г. Архангельск)

The authors studied direct current (DC) potential level in male first-year students of Northern State Medical University aged 19–21-years: born and permanently living in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (n = 29) and students from India (n = 29). DC potential level was recorded from 12 monopolar leads using the Neuroenergokartograf hardware and software complex. Having compared the groups, we revealed differences in the intensity of neurometabolism, in the distribution of DC potential level, in interhemispheric interactions, as well as in the plasticity of cortical connections.

RUSSIAN MEDICAL EDUCATION FROM INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ VIEW POINT: CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES

Purpose. The manuscript is devoted to the burning issue of education internationalization in modern society. Having come to study in Russia, many international students face a number of difficulties concerning various aspects of their life activity. The authors aim to study international students’ opinion regarding their residence in the European North and their study at the Russian medical university.
 Methodology. Survey findings of 149 Indian students studying at the International Faculty of General Practitioners of the Northern State Medical University (NSMU), Arkhangelsk compose the research basis.
 Results. Main challenges encountered by international students in the conditions of the European North, their attitude to the organization and quality of the educational process in the university were revealed. Cold climate, language barrier, the lack of traditional foods and separation from family are believed to be the main factors that make it difficult for junior students to learn. Senior students express their disappointment at the lack of clinical practice due to the distance learning during the pandemic and different level of students and teachers’ language proficiency. In general, students speak positively about university educational process and are satisfied with Russian education quality.
 Practical implications. Research findings can be used to develop recommendations for improving the socio-pedagogical adaptation of international students in Russian universities.

Oral care practices and dental status among children in Arkhangelsk

Relevance. Proper and regular oral care is an integral part of dental disease prevention. The Arctic zone of Russia requires a separate study of caries prevalence and intensity as well as factors contributing to its development due to the Arctic climate and other features. Aim: To study oral hygiene practices among children in Arkhangelsk and evaluate their associations with dental health. Materials and methods. The study examined 125 patients aged 3-14 years and analyzed their oral hygiene practices by their parents’ survey. The patients were enrolled consecutively upon their presentation to the Northern State Medical University dental clinic. The study assessed caries intensity using the df, df+DMF and DMF indices. Bivariate analysis of hygiene factors and outcomes association was performed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The correlation analysis assessed sign association, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated. Results. Caries intensity was lower in children whose parents started oral care as the first tooth erupted (p = 0.006). The OHI-S score was worse in children who did not floss their teeth (p = 0.002), brushed their teeth with horizontal movements (p = 0.036), visited a dentist only when needed (p = 0.003), whose parents did not supervise and help with toothbrushing (p = 0.036). The OHI-S scores were better in children who brushed their teeth twice daily (p = 0.027). Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant association between the OHI-S and df, df+DMF, DMF scores (r = 0.494, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The study revealed that it is necessary to improve health promotion among parents. Individual dental education of patients and their parents requires more time at a dental appointment. And general dental health awareness among parents needs improvement.

Study profile: oral health assessment among participants of “Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases in Russian regions. Third study” in the Arkhangelsk region

RATIONALE AND AIMS: The population of North Russia has a high prevalence of both cardiovascular and dental diseases. The Arkhangelsk region was included in the third phase of the multicenter study entitled Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases in Russian regions. Third study (ESSE-RF3). The ESSE-RF3 study studied the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, their biological and behavioral risk factors, and the associations with regional economic, climatic, and geographical characteristics. The Arkhangelsk part of the study is unique as it involved an assessment of the oral health of the ESSE-RF3 study participants. The oral health study protocol is presented in this paper.
 METHODS: A population-based study was performed from February 24 through June 30 in the year 2021 at the outpatient facility of the Northern State Medical University in Arkhangelsk. A representative sample of 1816 permanent residents of the Arkhangelsk region aged 3574 years participated in the ESSE-RF3 study. Most of them (84.987.5%) agreed to take part in the oral phase of the study, which included the use of a questionnaire, the collection of oral and gingival crevicular fluid, assessment of dental and periodontal health status using a WHO (2013) methodology; oral hygiene and dental aesthetic index; an orthodontic assessment with periotestometry and a photo protocol. In addition, an in-depth orthodontic study was performed on a sub-sample of the participants aged 3551 years (n=236) using teleroentgenography, cone-beam computed tomography, and biometrics of the plaster models.
 EXPECTED RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The study will assess the prevalence of a wide range of states and conditions related to oral health in a representative sample of the adult population of the Arkhangelsk region in the target age-group using validated international instruments to ensure comparability and reproducibility of the findings. More importantly, the study will assess the associations between various aspects of oral health and cardiovascular diseases, their risk factors as well as regional and behavioral characteristics studied by the main ESSE-RF3 study protocol.

Subjective Assessment of the Effective Contract Impact in Universities on Improving the Indicators of Lectures` Research Work

Article shows the results of a sociological survey aimed at studying the opinion of the teaching staff on the impact of an effective contract on improving the research work indicators in universities in Russia and Belarus. The survey analyzes foreign and Russian evaluation of academic staff performance. A cross-sectional (single-point) study was the design. The focus of research was the academic staff of educational institutions that went over to an effective contract (Northern State Medical University, Russia) and without the implementation of an effective contract (Tobolsk Pedagogical Institute named after D. I. Mendeleev (branch) the University of Tyumen, Russia; National Institute for Higher Education and Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank, Belarus), the overall number of respondents is 395. A semi-structured questionnaire created by the National Research University Higher School of Economics was used as a tool for sociological research. The study showed that both study groups are aware of an effective contract purpose and criteria evaluation frequency. Respondents from universities without an effective contract receive information from the Internet and have overestimated expectations of the future income level. Respondents of both groups underlined the importance of determining the greatest weight in calculating incentive payments for publication and grant activity, participation in scientific conferences. When implementing an effective contract, not all lecturers are ready to fulfill the criteria for research work, but they note the positive effect of its implementation on the indicators of scientific activity. In the group of respondents without an effective contract, one third expressed doubts about the significant impact of the implementation of an effective contract on improving the performance of research work. This article will be useful to the management of universities when calculating weighting coefficients according to indicators and criteria for evaluating the activities of the teaching staff for the appointment of incentive payments. An interesting study in the future may be a comparison of subjective assessments obtained in universities without an effective contract, and after its implementation in the same universities.