Introduction. Lung cancer is the most common type of occupational malignancies. A "case–control" study may allow an initial assessment of the impact of certain factors on the risk of developing malignant neoplasms.

The study aims to conduct a "case–control" study by collecting data through a questionnaire and identifying a possible link between the incidence of lung malignancies and professional activity.

Materials and methods. Researchers conducted a case-control study in the Rostov region. The authors carried out data collection by the questionnaire method.

Results. Specialists received 363 questionnaires for persons from the "cases" group and 599 for persons from the control group. The ratio of lung cancer detection risks in coal industry workers was higher compared to the population control (OR=1,229(0.891–1.696)), was lower compared to humanitarian workers (OR=0.983(0.645–1.500)). The risk ratio of lung cancer detection in smoking men was higher (OR=1.997; CI (0.792–5.036)). Workers who smoke more than one pack per day have a higher risk of lung cancer detection (OR=1,667(0.860–3.231)). Statistically significant risk ratio in the group of construction sector workers compared to humanitarian workers OR=2.275(1.244–4.159), as well as in the group of technical professions OR=0.606(0.404–0.909).

Limitations. Insufficient research potential due to the high level of refusal of respondents, administrative and legal restrictions, little information and its inaccuracy.

Conclusion. There was a tendency to increase the risk of lung cancer among coal industry workers compared to other professions, as well as a tendency to increase the risk of lung cancer among coal industry workers who smoke more than one pack per day (but without achieving statistically reliable indicators). Further epidemiological studies in this direction are needed based on the use of modern digital databases.

Ethics. Protocol No. 4 of April 17, 2019 of the meeting of the Local Ethics Committee of the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health.

Contribution:
Bukhtiyarov I.V. — development of the concept and design of research, editing, writing the text;
Kovalevsky E.V. — development of the concept and design of research, data collection and processing, editing, editing, writing text;
Pictushanskaya T.E. — data collection and processing, writing text;
Tshomaria I.M. — data collection and processing, text writing;
Khvalyuk P.O. — writing the text.

Funding. The work was carried out by order of the Ministry of Health, Russian Federation. The work was carried out in cooperation with the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (Department of Epidemiology of the Environment and Lifestyle, Joachim Schutz and Ann Olsson): methodological support and advice on research planning, questionnaire development, approaches to the selection of research subjects and the choice of methods of statistical data analysis.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 09.02.2023 / Accepted: 29.02.2023 / Published: 20.03.2023

Introduction. The high importance of preserving and strengthening the health of cadets at the stage of mastering their profession is due to the negative influence of factors of the production environment during vocational training, leading to an increase in chronic diseases and functional abnormalities in cadets. The leading role in solving this problem belongs to preventive measures implemented in modern conditions of progressive development of weapons, military and special equipment.

The study aims are scientific development and justification of additional preventive measures aimed at preventing negative changes in the health of cadets.

Materials and methods. When developing and justifying additional hygienic (preventive) measures aimed at preventing negative changes in the health of cadets, we have used a set of hygienic research methods to assess their compliance with hygienic standards, the risks of side effects.

Results. The conducted research made it possible to identify factors that negatively affect the health of cadets during training, to develop and justify additional preventive measures aimed at preventing negative changes in the health of cadets. Also, to include them in the current system of a military university, to improve the commander's system of work to ensure the safety of military personnel and to justify additional preventive measures to preserve and strengthen the health of cadets in the conditions of daily activities.

Conclusion. The implementation of the developed additional preventive measures together with general preventive measures contributed to an increase in working capacity, a decrease in morbidity rates and the number of dismissed university cadets (contract service servicemen) for health reasons from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which significantly reduces the amount of damage to the state.

Contribution:
Klimov V.V. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, writing the text;
Novikova I.I. — research concept and design, editing;
Savchenko O.A. — data collection and processing, writing the text.

Ethics. The material of the article was approved by the Ethics Committee at the Novosibirsk Scientific Research Institute of Hygiene of Rospotrebnadzor (Protocol No. 2 of April 29, 2022).

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 25.01.2023 / Accepted: 30.01.2023 / Published: 20.03.2023

Introduction. The speed and efficiency of visual search are important characteristics of the activities of a significant range of specialists working with visual information. Specialists have carefully studied the features of visual search from the point of view of cognitive psychology and in connection with the modeling of oculomotor activity. It has been shown that its effectiveness and the parameters of search eye movements are influenced by both stimulation factors and some cognitive factors (features of the subject's preset, the influence of previous search stages, etc.). We assume that the search features are also related to how well a person represents the desired stimulus: whether it belongs to a familiar semantic category, how accurate and unambiguous its visual representation is.

The study aims to explore the relationship between the parameters of eye movements in visual search and the features of the mental representation of the target object.

Materials and methods. We have created sets of stimuli belonging to different semantic categories, characterized by different accuracy of mental representations, but having similar sensory qualities. Each object (both the target stimulus and the distractor) in the search field was a black circle on a white background with four black segments inside. The segments formed one of three configurations: a) a face; b) a Roman numeral; c) a random configuration. The study participants were asked to find in a matrix of 84 objects a specific target stimulus belonging to one of the three specified categories. The scientists recorded the participant's eye movements during the search.

Results. The results of the study generally confirmed the hypothesis about the relationship of search characteristics with the category of the target object. The smallest number of errors, the minimum duration of fixation and the maximum amplitude of saccades characterized the search for Roman numerals — objects with a well-formed and well-defined visual representation. The most difficult, as expected, was the search for objects representing random configurations of segments.

Limitations. Since the study was largely exploratory in nature, the results obtained require clarification on a wider sample. It is possible that the characteristics of the search were influenced by such a factor not controlled in the study as the configuration of the lines, namely, the presence or absence of their intersections, which should be taken into account in further work.

Conclusions. The better the visual representation of the target object is formed, the more successful its search is. In this case, eye movements are characterized by a shorter duration of fixation and a higher frequency of saccades of greater amplitude.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with the ethical principles set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association, all participants gave voluntary informed consent.

Contribution:
Lunyakova E.G. — the concept and design of the study, data collection and processing, writing the text, editing;
Kruskop A.S. — the concept and design of the study, data collection and processing, writing the text;
Dubrovsky V.E. — the concept and design of the study, data collection and processing, editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 08.02.2023 / Accepted: 14.02.2023 / Published: 20.03.2023

In the structure of interstitial lung diseases (ILD), hypersensitive pneumonitis (HP) is quite common in the world. However, to date, the disease is often diagnosed at a late stage (fibrosis), which requires improving the methods of early diagnosis of the disease and timely examination of the connection of the disease with the profession. The analysis of domestic and foreign literature devoted to the peculiarities of the formation of a professional GP in modern socio-economic conditions is given. The authors have described the evolution of ideas about the disease, modern classification, occupational risk factors and methods of diagnosis of HP. Due to the complexity of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease, we have drawn the attention to the need for an interdisciplinary integrated approach to the diagnosis of professional HP. The scientists have considered modern methods of treatment of the disease from the standpoint of occupational health, the prospects for improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of occupational HP.

Contribution:
Gorblyansky Yu.Yu. — concept and design of the study, writing the text;
Ramazanova E.R. — writing the text;
Kontorovich E.P. — writing text, editing;
Ponamareva O.P. — writing the text, bibliography design.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 17.11.2022 / Accepted: 26.01.2023 / Published: 20.03.2023

Researchers have formed a database for work on the evaluation of the indices of the "standardized mortality ratio" (SMR±95% confidence intervals — CI) in comparison with the general population for total mortality and mortality from all malignant neoplasms ("all cancers") for various professions and types of employment (mainly men). The database includes 689 publications (706 cohorts/groups, 67 professions and types of employment).

Experts have conducted an assessment the presence of the "healthy worker effect" (HWE) in the studies included in the database based on the criterion of the upper 95% CI value of less than one.

Among all professions and types of employment, scientists have identified HWE in total mortality only in 52%, and in mortality from all types of cancer — only in 28% of cohorts/groups.

HWE for both indicators simultaneously and only for total mortality occurred in 26% of cases. For 2% of the studies, there is an inverse relationship (absence of HWE for total mortality in the presence of an effect on mortality from all types of cancer), which is most likely accidental.

There were no strict dependencies between HWE and the carcinogenic potential of activity, although there was a definite trend.

The frequency of work with HWE for specific professions identified as the most "unprofitable" work with such heavy metals as Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu (the frequency of HWE is 0% for total mortality and 5% (mercury miners) for mortality from malignant neoplasms; one publication), followed by activities related to dust exposure (talc, quartz, various minerals, etc.; 5% and 6%) and asbestos (10% and 2%). Pilots (89% and 65%), oil and petrochemical industry workers (97% and 56%), as well as doctors (94% and 96%) and cosmonauts/astronauts (100% and 67%; the sample is small) occupied leading positions in the highest frequency of HWE.

A complete sample of SMR studies of foreign doctors (1886–2017) demonstrated a strict linear decrease in the SMR value in total mortality compared with the population since the 1940s (r=–0.927; p<0.001), with SMR=0.38 (95% CI: 0.01; 0.76) achieved by the 2010s.

At the same time, mortality from all cancers among doctors was reduced in comparison with the population almost equally for all time periods since 1926 (average SMR=0.6; 95% CI: 0.53; 0.66).

Possible reasons for the reduced mortality among foreign doctors compared to the population are not only in prevention and professional skills, but probably in better access to medicine and specialists. In connection with professional solidarity, medical care and informing doctors is apparently distinguished by great attention.

Earlier treatment of non-cancerous pathologies is also important, preventing their transformation into chronic ones, which can subsequently lead to carcinogenic consequences.

Contribution:
Koterov A.N. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, writing the text, editing;
Ushenkova L.N. — data collection and processing, editing;
Dibirgadzhiev I.G. — data collection and processing, editing.

Funding. As part of the broader budget theme of the FMBA of Russia; without other sources of funding and sponsorship.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 17.01.2023 / Accepted: 24.01.2023 / Published: 20.03.2023

The main reason for the low life expectancy of the population and the deterioration of the demographic situation in the Russian Federation is the high mortality of  employees of working age. One of the significant directions in the problem of ensuring the preservation of the health of workers is to ensure the preservation of labor longevity.

The study aims to analyze the features of labor activity in a daily cycle during the week and the functional state of employees of the management staff of industrial enterprises, depending on age characteristics, to develop measures to prevent the development of unfavorable functional conditions, occupational pathology.

The object of the study are employees of neuropsychiatric mental labor, including 140 employees of the management staff at the two television enterprises, men aged 25 to 65±1.15 years, with work experience in a managerial position from 3 to 20±0.99 years. Physiological studies included assessment of the functional state of the central nervous system (CNS) and the cardiovascular system by conventional methods.

Scientists presented a scientific justification of the problem of ensuring professional performance depending on gender and age characteristics, which are based on insufficiently identified physiological features of the formation of fatigue, fatigue, the development of overstrain of the functional systems of the body of workers in modern forms of labor, to predict possible changes in the health of workers in order to prolong working longevity.

As a result of the analysis of data on changes in the functional state of workers, we found: a significant spread of arterial hypertension in the groups of 30–39 and 40–49 years, low representation of the "weak" type of nervous system and high diastolic pressure in people with arterial hypertension, with a "strong" type of nervous system, a tendency to affect rigidity in the group of employees with arterial hypertension.

Limitations. There are quantitative restrictions related to the volume of the questionnaire survey.

Ethics. All studies were conducted in accordance with the principles of biomedical ethics and approved by the Local Ethics Committee of Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health, Moscow (Protocol No. 4 of 04/14/2021). Informed consent. Each participant of the study submitted a voluntary written informed consent signed by him after explaining to him the potential risks and benefits, as well as the nature of the upcoming study.

Contribution:
Glukhov D.V. — concept and design of the study;
Yushkova O.I. — concept and design of research, text writing, editing;
Kapustina A.V. — data collection and processing, text writing, editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 21.12.2022 / Accepted: 24.12.2022 / Published: 20.03.2023

In the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical diagnostic laboratories conducting a test for the presence of coronavirus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in most cases, work with significant overload. Performing professional duties in these conditions imposes special requirements on medical personnel. First of all, this concerns the parameters of systemic hemodynamics as an objective criterion of health risk.

The study aims to analyze the state of systemic hemodynamics in medical workers of PCR laboratories when working in the conditions of the COVID–19 pandemic when using personal protective equipment against a biological factor.

The researchers have conducted the study in the winter period of the year in PCR laboratories for the diagnosis of a new coronavirus infection. The observation group included 33 people aged 32.5±1.44 years and 1–33 months of experience in the PCR laboratory. We have evaluated the key parameters of systemic hemodynamics, heart rate variability and the degree of oxygen saturation in the blood of laboratory staff. The authors have carried out measurements at the beginning and end of the work shift.

There was a significant increase in heart rate (by 3.7%), minute heart volume (by 5.2%), myocardial oxygen consumption (by 5.6%) at the end of the work shift compared with its beginning. The values of these parameters of systemic hemodynamics remained within the normal range. At the same time, the increase in the values of these indicators indicates a significant strain on self-regulatory mechanisms and the development of fatigue.

When using personal protective equipment against a biological factor, the tension of the systemic mechanisms of hemodynamic self-regulation in medical workers of PCR laboratories increases. The degree of severity of the tension of these mechanisms significantly depends on the features of the functional state of the cardiovascular system and vegetative status. At the same time, it is necessary to provide a physiological and hygienic justification for the duration of the periods of work of medical workers of PCR laboratories when using various types of personal protective equipment against a biological factor, which justifies the relevance of further research.

Limitations. The results of this study were obtained on a relatively small sample. Therefore, in order to increase its representativeness, it is necessary to increase the number of participants, which will allow leveling the existing restrictions.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with the ethical standards set out in the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 with additions of 2008. The study participants signed a form of "Informed Voluntary consent to conduct a study", developed in accordance with the requirements of the local ethics committee of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of the Volga State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

Contribution:
Shkarin V.V. — research concept and design;
Latyshevskaya N.I. — research concept and design, writing the text, editing;
Orlov D.V. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, editing;
Kudrin R.A. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, writing the text, editing;
Robertus A.I. — research concept and design, editing;
Kulikov V.S. — data collection and processing;
Shestopalova E.L. — data collection and processing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 22.01.2023 / Accepted: 26.01.2023 / Published: 20.03.2023

Diseases arising from exposure to industrial aerosols remain an urgent problem and occupy a leading position among all occupational diseases.

Scientists present clinical observations demonstrating the development of pneumoconiosis with a relatively short work experience in contact with fibrogenic dust slightly exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations. The rapidly progressing course is characterized by the development of the disease by the type of complicated pneumoconiosis with the formation of nodular fibrosis or an increase in profusion (severity) by more than one subcategory for five years. As a rule, it develops after ten or less years of work experience in contact with high concentrations of quartz dust.

Researchers have considered the features of the occurrence and course of silicosis in persons in contact with industrial aerosols with a high mass fraction of silicon dioxide in production conditions.We have analyzed the situations demonstrating the development of pneumoconiosis with a professional experience of less than five years in persons who come into contact with industrial aerosol in low excess of the maximum permissible concentration of quartz dust, but with a very high mass fraction of silicon dioxide.

An important condition in the prevention of pneumoconiosis should be mandatory periodic medical examinations with digital radiography of the lungs in two projections. 

The authors recommend performing computed tomography (CT) of the chest to persons working in contact with fibrogenic dust with a frequency of once every five years due to the fact that CT has a higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting reticular and focal seals in the lungs, as well as initial changes in the pleura.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with ethical principles and with the voluntary informed consent of the participants.

Contribution:
Strizhakov L.A. — concept and design of the study, writing the text, editing;
Garipova R.V. — concept and design of the study, data collection and processing, writing the text;
Babanov S.A. — concept and design of the study, writing the text, editing;
Gulyaev S.V. — data collection and processing;
Berheeva Z.M. — concept and design of the study, data collection and processing;
Lavrentieva N.E. — writing the text, editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 25.01.2023 / Accepted: 27.01.2023 / Published: 20.03.2023