Effects produced by hazardous occupational factors on workers employed in oil extraction often occur under low temperatures when workers have to perform their tasks outdoors. Our research goal was to assess a contribution made by cooling meteorological factors into health risks for workers performing their job tasks outdoors during a cold season in order to substantiate priority prevention activities. The research was performed on workers employed by a large oil extracting company who spent different amount of time outdoors during a cold season. A posteriori group risk was assessed according to the Guide as per results obtained via periodical medical examinations in 2017–2018. Working conditions were assessed basing on a report obtained via special assessment of working conditions and industrial control results. Cooling microclimate was assessed according to G 2.2.2006-05. Basing on the results of a priori group risk assessment, work places were ranked as per health disorders probability. It was shown that in-plant noise was the leading factor causing health risks. Besides, when working experience exceeded 20 years, cooling meteorological conditions also made a substantial contribution into risks occurrence. Obtained results indicate that it is necessary to develop medical and prevention activities for workers who have to spend a lot of time outdoors in areas with cold climatic conditions.

Human bone allografts present a better alternative to autografts in terms of minimization of the harvesting procedure complications. Prior to the use in clinical applications, they require sterilization which aims to reduce bioburden. This often comes at the expense of their biological properties as carriers of cells. In this study, we evaluated the cytocompatibility of human bone allografts processed and sterilized by three different methods with mesenchymal stromal cells. Bone morphology, biological and biochemical properties of the extracted bone-conditioned medium and viability of cells were assessed. We found that chemical sterilization had a strong negative effect on cell viability, whereas thermal sterilization and washing with subsequent γ-irradiation both resulted in a bone graft compatible with the progenitor cells. Moreover, washing of the bone prior to sterilization allowed solid removal of cell debris and other bone marrow components. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the importance of a proper choice of the bone graft processing method for the production of the biomaterial suitable for tissue engineering.

Bacteriophages are common autonomous migrating mobile genetic elements in group A Streptococcus (GAS) and are often associated with the carriage of various virulence genes, including toxins, mitogens and enzymes. Two collections of GAS type M49 strains isolated from invasive (22 strains) and noninvasive (16 strains) clinical cases have been studied for the presence of phage and phage-associated virulence genes. All the GAS strains carried from at least two to six phage genomes as determined by the number of known phage integrase genes found. A sampling of the invasive M49 strains showed that they belonged to the same multilocus sequence typing type, carried two specific integrase genes (int5 and int7), and contained the toxin genes speA, speH and speI. Other invasive strains lacking this gene profile carried the prophage integrating in mutL-mutS region and inducing the 'mutator' phenotype. We suggest that this specific phage-related virulence gene constellation might be an important factor increasing M49 GAS pathogenicity.

Introduction. In recent years the researchers have noted an increase in the number of occupational diseases detected for the first time in one employee of mining and metallurgical enterprises in the Arctic. The study aims to obtain new data on occupational polymorbidity among employees of enterprises in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Materials and methods. We have studied the results of social and hygienic monitoring under the section "Working conditions and occupational morbidity" of the population of the Russian Federation in 2007-2020. Results. Scientists first have diagnosed occupational diseases in 7685 workers in 2007-2020. The authors have identified one nosological form of occupational pathology in 6164 employees (80.2%), two forms - in 1128 employees (14.7%), three forms - in 243 employees (3.2%), four forms - in 92 employees (1.2%), five forms - in 41 employees (0.5%), six forms - 14 employees (0.2%). In addition, one employee had seven diseases, another had eight diseases and the third had nine diseases. The researchers have noted the minimum level of polymorbidity in 2007 (1,013±0.005 cases), and the maximum - in 2012 (1,502±0.040 cases). The highest polymorbidity rates were in charge workers (3,333±0.849 cases), drillers (2,215±0.025 cases) and cleaners of finished products (2,136±0.208 cases), and the lowest - in health workers (1,087±0.054 cases) and civil aviation flight personnel (1,011±0.011 cases). There was no professional polymorbidity among the education workers. Of the nine subjects of the Russian Arctic, the experts have observed the maximum level of polymorbidity in the Murmansk region (1,552±0.021 cases), exceeding the indicators of all other regions. Limitations. There is a possibility of different methodological approaches among occupational pathologists to the diagnosis of occupational pathology in nine remote Arctic regions belonging to four federal districts of Russia. Conclusion. The phenomenon of polymorbidity is due to the combined effect of harmful production factors and a complex of reasons leading to late diagnosis of occupational pathology and, as a result, its progression with the continuation of labor activity. To reduce the level of occupational polymorbidity, it is necessary to improve working conditions, upgrade the skills of occupational doctors and use additional research methods that allow to objectify the early clinical manifestations of diseases.

Introduction. To prevent health disorders under the influence of cooling meteorological factors of open production sites, the assessment of the individual characteristics of the employee’s thermoregulation is of particular importance. The purpose of the study was to describe the individual characteristics of thermoregulation of employees of an oil producing enterprise when working in open production sites during the cold season. Materials and methods. We studied the employees of the oil-producing enterprise of Western Siberia, performing labour operations in open production sites during the cold season (operators, process plant machinists, repairmen). An assessment of general and local violations of thermoregulation of the body of workers was carried out using objective assessment methods (assessment of the thermal state of the body in seventy six people, skin thermometry with cold load - 54 people) according to approved methods. The duration of work in the open area of the workers included in the study ranged from 12 to 31 hours during a 40-hour work week. Results. According the assessment of the thermal state of workers, in 18.8% of workers, the personal indicators for assessing the thermal state were found to fail to correspond to the recommended values in the guidelines. Evaluation of the results of skin thermometry with a cold load in workers performing labour operations in open production sites under cooling conditions of the cold season of the year made it possible to establish the average values of temperature indicators in the study group to indicate the presence of initial signs of violations of the thermal control of the body and neurocirculatory disorders in the hands and fingers. An assessment of individual characteristics showed general and local violations of thermoregulation to be associated with the duration of work at open production sites, the objective indicators of local violations of thermoregulation were additionally affected by the employee’s smoking habit and work experience. Limitations. Significant time costs for assessing the general and local thermoregulation of the employees of the enterprise and distracting them from performing labor operations during the shift can be attributed to the limitations of the methodology. Conclusion. For the first time, the revealed features of thermoregulation in oil production workers in Western Siberia made it possible to develop targeted medical and preventive measures.

Natural resources extraction involves continuous exposure to cooling meteorological factors typical for open production grounds. This necessitates relevant health risk assessment and management of health risks caused by exposure to these harmful occupational factors. However, the available risk assessment models do not provide a possibility to perform complete assessment of the existing risks created by exposure to meteorological hazards. The study design included the following. We performed hygienic assessment of working conditions and health of workers employed by “Samotlorneftegaz” Joint Stock Company (JSC) who had to perform their work tasks under exposure to cooling meteorological factors on open production grounds; the assessment involved calculating the group health risk. Individual peculiarities were assessed using subjective (547 people took part in questioning) and objective assessment methods (76 people took part in estimating thermal state of their bodies and 54 people participated in thermometry with cold stress). Finally, we assessed prior and posterior risks. The prior group risk assessment made it possible to identify risk groups who had a significant risk of developing occupational and non-occupational diseases and to rank working places as per health hazards. The posterior risk assessment confirmed the results produced by the prior risk assessment regarding potentiating negative effects produced by cooling meteorological factors. The assessment of developing general and local thermoregulation disorders revealed that certain individual peculiarities made a substantial contribution into their development. Among them, we can mention long-term outdoor work (60 % of work time or more) under exposure to cooling meteorological factors; a chronic pathology; tobacco smoking. The results produced by this study allowed us to suggest an integrated model for risk assessment, management and communication about health risks caused by working under exposure to cooling meteorological factors.

Introduction. The extraction of minerals is associated with a permanent or periodic stay of workers at open production sites. However, there is an underestimation of the impact of working meteorological factors on the health both in the system of regulation and control over working conditions. The aim of the study is to scientifically substantiate approaches to the development of preventive measures to minimize the risk of health disorders and inform about the risk when working in an open area during the cold season. Materials and methods. The study included employees of the oil-producing enterprise of Western Siberia Samotlorneftegaz, performing labour operations in open areas during the cold season (operators, machinists, repairmen). The study included three stages: a priori risk assessment, a posteriori risk assessment, and an assessment of the individual characteristics of employees. The a priori risk assessment based on production control data and a special assessment of working conditions for the period from 2014 to 2018. A posteriori risk assessment based on data from periodic medical examinations. Personal characteristics based on the results of a questionnaire, in natural and model tests. Results. A quantitative assessment of a priori and a posteriori risk made it possible to identify groups of workers with a significant risk of developing occupational and general pathology, as well as to prioritize preventive measures aimed at preventing the harmful effects of working environment factors and the labour process on the health of an employee. The assessment of local and general violations of thermoregulation in workers performing labour operations in open areas during the cold season made it possible to establish individual risk factors: prolonged work in open areas (more than 60% of working time), the presence of chronic pathology, smoking habit and work experience. Limitations. As part of this study, the assessment of the health status of workers based on data from periodic medical examinations. At the same time, the study does not include the results of medical examinations at the place of residence of workers, which can expand data on the health status of workers and be the subject of further research. Further research on the stated topic may be associated with the need to assess an additional list of individual characteristics when working in an open area during the cold season, taking into account genetic and biochemical markers. Conclusion. The results obtained made it possible to substantiate a set of measures to minimize the risk of health disorders at the level of primary prevention, as well as to propose measures at the level of secondary prevention.

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