Regions Of Bulgaria Research Articles

ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN BULGARIA

Purpose: Noise has emerged as a leading environmental nuisance. Cardiovascular diseases rank first among the causes of death on a global scale and one of the possible effects of noise impact on the human organism. The study aims to analyze the level of noise pollution in Bulgaria and to measure its association with cardiovascular diseases. Methods: Data provided by the National Statistical Institute, Eurostat and other databases were used to analyze the noise pollution in Bulgaria. The 28 regions in Bulgaria were compared according to the proportion of surveyed points above permissible limits and the death rates due to cardiovascular diseases, /2022/. Data were statistically processed with SPSS v.26. Results: A positive fact is the absence of high values of noise levels in the range of 78-82 dB(A) and over 82 dB(A) and the decrease in the share of surveyed points with noise levels in this range during the analyzed period- from 27.3% in 2006 to 18.56% in 2022. The study found that almost all districts with the highest share of surveyed points above permissible limits have higher levels of death rate due to CVD. There is a positive moderate correlation between the share of surveyed points above permissible limits and the Death rate due to CVD - coefficient of Pearson is 0.423 (p=0.025). Conclusion: Cardiovascular diseases have a multifactorial genesis, but the reduction of noise in urban areas would help prevent these diseases.

Public employment services and rural NEETs aged 25-29: A case study from the South-West Region in Bulgaria

Public employment services and rural NEETs aged 25-29: A case study from the South-West Region in Bulgaria

Empowering the Children through the Eyes of Humanitarian Professionals

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, children should be supported and empowered to express their opinion about their future, lifestyle, and everything related to their existence. This is especially important when kids are in foster care, because they are at a disadvantage. So, the understanding about their empowerment in the decision-making process should be part of the professional qualification, training, rehabilitation, support (as well) at horizontal and hierarchical level for humanitarian professionals. That is why focus groups were organized and held in different geographical regions in Bulgaria during 2021 – 2022, with professionals that are taking care of children with disabilities, abandoned children, gifted children and other children's groups with the aim to understand how professionals understand the process and the right of the child to participate in the decision-making process when part of the social care system.

Are the elements zinc, copper, magnesium, and rubidium related to nutrition and iodine deficiency in pregnant Bulgarian women from iodine deficient region?

Trace elements are essential for the biochemistry of the cell. Their reference values have been found to differ considerably in pregnant women stratified by age, place of residence, anthropometric status, and length of pregnancy. In optimal amounts, these elements reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and rubidium (Rb) on pregnant women in an iodine deficiency region and find the relationship with the thyroid status and nutrition. We evaluated the iodine status of 61 healthy pregnant women from an iodine deficient region in Bulgaria. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxin free (FT4) levels were measured using ELISA. We found elevated levels of copper that differed the most between the first and second trimesters; Cu and TSH were found to be positively correlated (р < 0.05). Lower Cu levels were found in pregnant women consuming pulses more than 2-3 times a week (р = 0.033). The women consuming fish more than 2-3 times a week had higher levels of Rb. We found a pronounced iodine deficiency in more than half of the examined women in the first to third trimesters, without any effect of pregnancy on the ioduria (р=0.834). All second and third trimester cases were associated with severe ioduria (< 150 µg/L). The high Cu levels were associated with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and less pulse consumption during pregnancy in an iodine deficiency endemic area. SCH was found in 24% of the pregnant women in such an area while in 13% of them SCH had progressed to overt hypothyroidism.

HUMAN CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN ENDEMIC REGIONS IN BULGARIA - ULTRASOUND SURVEILLANCE, TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS

Introduction: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic disease in humans, usually asymptomatic, but in some cases could be very severe with fatal outcomes. This parasitosis is a health and economic problem in many areas of the world. The actual spread among people with CE in endemic regions is not known. The purpose of prophylactic ultrasound examinations of people in some areas was to clarify the real prevalence of CE and to detect undiagnosed asymptomatic cases and recurrences. Materials and methods: An abdominal ultrasound survey in four endemic regions in Bulgaria with the highest rate of registered patients with CE in Bulgaria for the last five years was conducted. For every patient with CE an epidemiological and clinical history, abdominal ultrasound examination, blood tests and ELISA IgG test for CE were performed. Results: From all 8602 people examined, in seventeen persons (0.2%), liver hydatid cysts were found for the first time. Ssixty five (0.8%) reported a history of previous surgical treatment for CE, of which 54 (83.1%) had passed surgery because of liver CE and 11 (16.9%) had extrahepatic CE (pulmonary, cardiac, bone, spleen). In three (5.6%) patients, who were operated years before for liver CE, recurrences were discovered. In 11 (64.7%) patients devitalized CE4 cysts were observed without any data for previous treatment. Three of the discovered patients with CE were treated with surgery, one with puncture-aspiration-injection-reaspiration, four only with Albendazole. The patients were successfully treated and followed for a period of five years. Conclusions: During the prophylactic ultrasound examinations, a higher percentage of people infected with liver cystic echinococcosis was found compared to the official information. It should be noted that these results are found in areas with the highest incidence of this disease in the country. US screenings give the opportunity for early detection, timely treatment of infected people and to prevent severe complications in patient with CE disease.

COVID-19 AND REGIONAL HEALTH INEQUALITIES IN BULGARIA

Purpose: The study aims to analyze regional health and socioeconomic inequalities in Bulgaria. Methods: An ecological epidemiological study was conducted. The 28 regions in Bulgaria were compared according to death rates due to COVID-19, the share of people 65+, availability of physicians, hospital beds for active and intensive care per 10,000 people, and the average annual salary of employed people /2021/. Data were statistically processed with SPSS v.26, the Pearson coefficient was used. Results: The death rates due to COVID-19 in Bulgaria vary widely, and the regions with the highest rates in 2021 are Kyustendil /642.440/0000/, Vidin /591.150/0000/, Montana /533.980/0000/, Gabrovo /533.480/0000/ and Vratsa /531.900/0000/. All five regions have ageing rates higher than the national average of the availability of physicians per population - lower than the average, respectively 36.60/0000, 35.50/0000, 34.90/0000, 37.60/0000 and 38.10/0000. Among the areas with high levels of death rates, Vidin stands out with very low availability of hospital beds for active and intensive treatment - 37.80/0000, but Gabrovo and Montana have higher. A moderate correlation was found between the death rate due to COVID-19 and the ageing of the population, but for other factors, no correlation was established. Conclusions: Reducing regional health inequalities in Bulgaria is one of the possible ways to control and reduce the death rate in the country, especially due to COVID-19.

Impact of sharp weather warming on the exchangeable forms of 137Cs in soils and its bioaccumulation in orchard grass

The manuscript considers the effects of the sharp temperature increase on the exchangeable forms of 137Cs, from one to three months after its entrance in the soil. The impact of the sharp increase of the environmental temperature on the migration ability of 137Cs and bioaccumulation in orchard grass was investigated in soils taken from five different regions in Bulgaria. The soil samples were contaminated with an aqueous solution of 137Cs and stored at different temperature regimes, simulating temperate and hot summer conditions for a period from one to three months. The exchangeable forms of the radionuclide were determined by single extractions with 1 M NH4NO3, followed by gamma-spectrometric determination. Vegetation experiments with the conditioned soil samples were carried out and the transfer factors (TFs) of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were determined. The results showed that the conditioning for one month at increased temperature, two months after contamination caused a decrease in the exchangeable 137Cs and the transfer factors. A reduction of the exchangeable forms of radiocesium with the increase of the content of muscovite in the soils was observed. It was found that the change in TFs provoked by the temperature raise two months after contamination increased with increasing potassium concentration in the soils.

Composition and antioxidant potential of essential oil of Geranium macrorrhizum L. from different regions of Bulgaria

The common geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum L.) is the economically most important species of the genus Geranium, and is highly valued for its fragrance and medicinal properties. Object of the present study is the essential oil (EO) prepared by hydro-distillation of aerial parts and rhizomes of common geranium from four floristic regions of the country. Its quality was determined by GC-MS analysis. The antioxidant potential of G. macrorrhizum was evaluated by the DPPH method. Forty-two compounds were identified. In the EOs from the aerial parts, the compound in the most quantity was the sesquiterpene germacrone (from 51.41 to 62.58 %). In the EOs from the rhizomes, this compound was only 5.80-8.94%. The most common ingredient of the rhizome EO was another sesquiterpene: cis-β-elemenone in a quantity from 45.20 to 50.64%. Other nine compounds were present only in the rhizome samples, among which the sesquiterpene globulol was found in good quantities: 15.71 – 15.90%. Monoterpenes like α-terpinene and phellandrene, and sesquiterpenes like eudesm-11-en-4α,6α-diol and eudesm-7(11)-en-4-ol acetate were detected only in some EOs from the aerial parts. The radical scavenging potentials of the EOs were from 33.15 to 41.79 µmol TE/100 µg EO, the rhizome samples showing weaker antioxidant potential compared to the aerial parts. Pearson correlation coefficients between the main ingredients of the EOs from the aerial parts and the radical scavenging potential pointed to the strongest impact of germacrene A on thе antioxidant value. The large differences in the results are due to the different agro-ecological conditions under which the plants were grown.

Phytonutrients in black nightshade fruit (Solanum nigrum L.) growing in Bulgaria

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) belongs to the Solanaceae family and is a medicinal plant with wild populations found in different regions of Bulgaria. The aim of this study was to analyze the availability of selected phytonutrients in the fruits, and, in particular, their presence in two individual fruit structures (seeds and peels) regarded as by-products in juice production. Fresh fruits were characterized by their diameter (8.42±0.62 mm) and absolute weight (393.75±38.00 g/1000 pcs). The seeds contained 9.81% lipids, while their content in the peels was negligible. The main fatty acids in the extracted lipid fraction were linoleic (48.0%), oleic (27.8%) and palmitic (19.6%), with 76.6% share of unsaturated fatty acids. β-Sitosterol (70.80%) predominated in the sterol fraction, and γ-tocopherol (100%) – in the tocopherol fraction of the extracted oil. The main soluble carbohydrates in the seeds were glucose (2.78%) and fructose (2.42%), while the respective quantities in the peels were 4.21% and 3.82%. The cellulose content of the two fruit parts was 14.90% and 15.70%, respectively. The most abundant macro minerals in the seeds were K (15109.34 mg/kg) and Mg (1988.07 mg/kg), and the main micro minerals – Fe (53.68 mg/kg) and Zn (37.77 mg/kg). The peels contained the respective dietary minerals in substantially higher quantities; K (31373.32 mg/kg), Na (3348.46 mg/kg), Ca (2365.82 mg/kg). The results from the study contribute to a more complex appreciation of the nutritional potential of black nightshade fruit available in Bulgaria and the prospects for their processing into value-added products

Damages on hazelnut kernels caused by Penicillium spp.

The presence of Penicillium spp. was observed during a laboratory examination of nuts (Corylus avellana L.) collected from April 2019 to April 2023 from hazelnut trees, grown in different regions of Bulgaria. The obtained isolates were identified following the Koch’s postulates and their cultural and morphological characteristics were studied. Three-hundred ninety seven (397) samples, with suspected presence of pathogen, were taken from nuts. Penicillium spp. strains were identified as a cause for damages in approximately 2% of all examined kernels. Keywords: Penicillium spp., hazelnut, pathogenicity

Study of the Earliest Symptoms of Plum Pox in the Sofia Valley and Vratsa Region

Since ancient times, the fruits of the plum have occupied an important place on the table of the Bulgarians. To obtain high and stable yields an important condition is the proper organization and conduct of plant protection activities and the fast, the correct and accurate diagnosis of PPV - Stoneware. In our climate, Plum pattern manifests symptoms first on the first spring leaves. The described symptoms of flowers in different stone species are few and scarce, so we conducted the present study in two following years 2019 and 2020 to describe, differentiate and compare visual symptoms of flowering with the results of DAS-ELISA tests on the leaves of the studied stone species. From the surveyed PPV host species in two orchards 12 mather trees with color symptoms were selected and described in two regions of Bulgaria - the Sofia field (Vrajdebna (1,2 ha) and the Vratsa region (Roman Orchard Nursery (0,4 ha). In a total of 9 samples, PPV infection was confirmed. The established deviations were found only in fruit crops that bloom with white flowers. Based on the results and conclusions, the present study will contribute to the timely detection of the causative agent of pox virus in the earliest symptoms in nurseries and gardens and will provide the right and quick direction to overcome the damage through proper plant protection activities

Regional health and social inequalities in Bulgaria

Abstract Background The administrative division of Bulgaria divides it into 28 regions, which differ significantly in terms of both socioeconomic development and a number of demographic indicators. The death rate is an indicator according to which our country has been at the top of the world rankings for several years. Cardiovascular diseases stand out among the leading causes of death and they are one of the most important problems facing our society and health system. The study aims to analyse the relationship between the death rate due to CVD in different regions in Bulgaria with the average annual salary of employed persons as an indicator for the socioeconomic development of the regions. Methods The regional differences in the death rate due to CVD and the average annual salary of employed persons were analysed based on the National Statistical Institute data. Analysis and calculations were performed by MS Excel 2019. Results The death rate due to CVD in Bulgaria varies widely - from 1739.7 per 100000 in region Vidin, 1685,2 in region Montana to 878.0 in the city of Sofia, with a national average of 1163.2 /2021/. At the same time, Vidin and Montana regions are also among the regions with a very low average annual salary of employed persons - respectively 12 855 and 13 983 BGN, which is much lower than the average for the country - 21 128 and than the capital Sofia - 25 724 BGN /2021/. Conclusions The regional health inequalities in Bulgaria are very important in order to control and decrease the level of mortality in the country, especially the death rate due to CVD. Bulgaria is among the counties that have the most serious challenges related to high cardiovascular deaths and should be among the priorities of public policy. The profound regional differences that were found impose permanent monitoring and directing the regional social and public health policies to avoid their unfavourable effects. Society should be making major and cost-effective efforts to reduce mortality. Key messages • The elimination of regional inequalities in the country is one of the possible ways to deal with the difficult demographic situation which occurred in the years after the democratic changes. • Regional health inequalities create the need for a long-term health policy that will improve the population's health status and the effective functioning of the healthcare system in our country.

The Role of Family and Media Environment on Aggressive Behaviour in Bulgarian Schools

The article examines the influence of two of the main social environments on students’ aggressive behaviours. On the one hand, attention is paid to the general socio-psychological climate in the family environment and the attitude of the parents towards the child; and on the other hand, a less frequently studied aspect related to aggressive manifestations of the children and adolescents towards the parents is addressed. The study explores how watching TV shows and movies, as well as video games, in which aggression and violence predominate, is connected to the frequency and degree of manifestation of types of aggression in adolescents. The survey was conducted at the end of 2017 among 992 students in 18 primary schools, secondary schools, and vocational schools/high schools in six different cities in different regions of Bulgaria. A structured questionnaire for the study of aggression in school was designed and was intended for students. The results of the study generally show that the verbal aggression towards parents (insulting and shouting) is mostly associated with verbal aggression towards both teachers and classmates. Regarding the influence of TV shows and movies containing aggression, it was found that students who watched movies with military, fighting and bloody scenes demonstrated more frequent manifestations of verbal aggression, but the TV contents did not significantly influence the manifestations of indirect aggression and physical aggression. However, the frequency of playing video games with aggressive content has a significant effect on all investigated forms of aggression, with the strongest effect on physical aggression. Aggression in social networks is a significant factor that affects the frequency of manifestation of various forms of aggression. Students who bully others on social networks stand out as the most aggressive (verbally, physically, and indirectly).

Factors of the Regional Dynamics of the Newly Built Residential Area in Bulgaria for the 2005 – 2021 Period

Residential construction, as part of the construction sector, has developed quite dynamically over the last twenty years. This paper examines the dynamics of new housing construction over a seventeen-year period. The panel dataset includes household-related factors of demographic, social, and economic character regarding the demand for newly built housing estate. Different specifications of econometric panel models for the dynamics of new housing construction at district level in Bulgaria are built and estimated. The results show that the dependence of housing area of newly built dwellings by regions in Bulgaria is directly proportional to natural increase, migration, average annual wage, and number of pupils, and inversely proportional to unemployment. Interestingly, the variable “net enrollment rate of children in kindergartens” did not show the expected effect on the growth of newly built housing.

Potato Viruses of Economic Importance for Production of Planting Material in Bulgaria

Potato is the world’s third most widespread food crop, following wheat and rice. Tubers play an important role in the spread of virus diseases in different regions in Bulgaria for seed production. The most important viruses in potatoes in Bulgaria include Potato virus Y (PVY), Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), Potato virus S (PVS), and Potato virus M (PVM). Most of the viruses in potatoes do not induce symptoms in tubers, which plays an important role in viral dissemination by the growers. In this way, after planting the tubers, the quality and yield of the production may be severely reduced. The use of virus-free tubers by growers is of key importance for the control of diseases and the reduction of loss of production.

Investigation of polychlorinated biphenyls in breast milk from two regions in Bulgaria.

Human breast milk is an optimally balanced infant food and a suitable tool for assessing the burden of humans with lipophilic persistent organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation profile of polychlorinated biphenyls in breast milk of women living in Bulgaria and to assess the health risk to infants. Breast milk samples were obtained from 72 healthy primiparae and multiparae mothers, living in two regions in northeastern Bulgaria - Varna region and Dobrich region, in the period October 2019-July 2021. Important information for the study, such as age, body mass, smoking and dietary habits, was collected through a questionnaire. Fifteen congeners of PCBs, including six indicator congeners, were determined by capillary gas chromatography system with mass spectrometry detection. The lipid content of the tested samples was in the range from 0.5% to 6.7%, with average value 3.25%. The six indicator PCBs in human milk samples formed up to 89% of the total PCBs levels. The most abundant congener was PCB 153, followed by PCB 138 and PCB 180. Five of the 15 PCB congeners (77, 126, 128, 156, 169) were not detected in any of the milk samples. The arithmetic mean PCB levels in milk samples from Varna (32.7ng/g lw) were found higher than PCB levels in breast milk of mothers from Dobrich (22.5ng/g lw). The highest PCB levels were found in milk samples from primiparae mothers in 36-40 age group (for both regions). Infant exposure to PCBs present in human milk was estimated using toxic equivalents (TEQ). The health risk to infants was assessed and was compared to the tolerable daily intake (TDI). Positive correlation was found between the arithmetic mean PCBs levels and two important factors - the age and body mass index of the primiparae group. The mean values of the analyzed PCB congeners in breast milk samples from multiparae were lower than in those from primiparae mothers. The regional differences in PCB concentrations were small, suggesting similar exposures in the studied regions. The levels of PCBs in breast milk were found lower than levels from studies in other European countries. Statistical data does not show any association between PCB levels in milk and dietary habits. The results showed that infants are not at risk of any adverse effects caused by PCBs through breast milk.

Comparative Study on Physicochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Propolis Collected from Different Regions of Bulgaria

Abstract Propolis (bee glue), a valuable biological mixture produced by European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), is widely used as a remedy in traditional and alternative medicine, as an effective food biopreservative and as a nutritional value enhancer. The present study aimed to investigate eighty propolis samples collected from all twenty-eight districts of Bulgaria in the period of 2020–2022 in order to determine their physicochemical properties as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. The raw propolis samples exhibited brown or green colour depending on the climatic zone from which they are collected and pH values from 4.82 to 5.87, while the moisture content ranged between 0.98% and 2.97%. The total phenolics content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) varied from 63.14 mg GAE/g to 737.27 mg GAE/g, and from 29.22 mg QE/g to 234.17 mg QE/g, respectively. The propolis samples demonstrated significant antioxidant potential determined by DPPH and FRAP methods, from 18.56 mM TE/g to 1598.66 mM TE/g and from 82.28 mM TE/g to 1208.81 mM TE/g, respectively, whose values showed a positive correlation (r 2) with the TPC and TFC. The results from the antimicrobial screening revealed that the methanolic propolis extracts in concentration of 20 mg/ml exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on the Gram-positive bacteria such as Micrococcus luteus 2YC-YT, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Listeria monocytogenes NBIMCC 8632 and Listeria innocua ATCC 33090.

Educational Practices in Teaching Humanities and EU Studies in a Digital Environment

In our article we present the problem about practical training of students in bachelor program of physical education and sports in the conditions of distance learning. For the need of the experiment is used expert assessment on the basis of opinion of school teachers-mentors of our students during their sportspedagogical practice. The results was used for feedback aimed to improving of practical training of physical education and sports students as well as to examine the influence of distance learning on the level of students practical skills. 17 teachersmentors from 13 schools in the region of Blagoevgrad and from other regions in Bulgaria took part in the research.

Detection of HEV RNA Using One-Step Real-Time RT-PCR in Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farms in Bulgaria.

(1) Background: HEV is a zoonotic, foodborne pathogen. It is spread worldwide and represents a public health risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of HEV RNA in farrow-to-finish pig farms in different regions of Bulgaria; (2) Methods: Isolation of HEV RNA from pooled samples of feces was performed using a QIAamp® Viral RNA Mini Kit followed by HEV RNA detection using a single-step real-time RT-PCR with primers and probes targeting the ORF 3 HEV genome; (3) Results: HEV RNA was detected in 12 out of 32 tested farms in Bulgaria (37.5%). The overall percentage of HEV-positive pooled fecal samples was 10.8% (68 of 630 samples). HEV was detected mostly in pooled fecal samples from finisher pigs (66/320, 20.6%) and sporadically from dry sows (1/62, 1.6%) and gilts (1/248, 0.4%); (4) Conclusions: Our results confirm that HEV circulates in farrow-to-finish pig farms in Bulgaria. In our study, we found HEV RNA in pooled fecal samples from fattening pigs (4-6-months age), shortly before their transport to the slaughterhouse indicating a potential risk to public health. The possible circulation of HEV throughout pork production requires monitoring and containment measures.

Identification of ectoparasitic insects among domestic goats in Bulgaria.

Ectoparasitic entomoses cause serious economic losses to small-scale farmers. Parasites have both direct and indirect impacts on hosts. Domestic goats are a common target of infestation with ectoparasitic insects. This study aimed to identify the species of ectoparasitic insects in domestic goats in Bulgaria. The study was performed in 34 farms from 29 settlements in 16 regions of Bulgaria. A total of 4599 goats from eight breeds, naturally infested with ectoparasitic insects were included in the study. The goats were inspected with a magnifying glass for the presence of skin changes (alopecia, dandruff, crusts, and nodules), eggs and adult ectoparasites. The detected insects were collected individually with tweezers and preserved in containers with 70% ethanol. Over the study period, 5,651 insects were collected; their species, sex, and developmental stage were identified by their morphological features and biometric measurements. Six species from 5 genera were detected: Linognathus stenopsis Burmeister, 1838; Linognathus africanus Kellog and Paine, 1911; Bovicola caprae Gurlt, 1843; Pulex irritans Linnaeus, 1758; Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758; and Lipoptena cervi Linnaeus, 1758. Linognathus stenopsis were the most prevalent, followed by B. caprae and P. irritans. In detected lice populations, female insects were more numerous; female: male ratios ranged from 2.2 to 7.2 and imagines prevailed over the nymphs. In fleas, male imagines were more numerous than females (1:0.8). The study demonstrated that the species L. stenopsis, L. africanus, B. caprae, and P. irritans were encountered in more than 40% of surveyed farms, situated in 68.75% of regions in Bulgaria. The most intense infestation was by species from the Linognathus genus (907 insects), whereas the highest extensity of infestation was registered for P. irritans (32.3%). This study detected P. irritans as the only flea species.