Treatment of chronic generalized periodontitis in patients with underlying hypovitaminosis D: randomized comparative clinical trial Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the dynamics of clinical and laboratory indicators of the periodontal state and hemodynamics in patients receiving pharmaceutical intervention for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency as a part of the complex therapy of chronic generalized periodontitis. Methodology: This was a randomized prospective comparative clinical trial. It involved 110 patients with moderate generalized periodontitis and vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)<50 nmol/L) who were divided into two experimental groups. One experimental group received conventional treatment, whereas the other group received conventional treatment with pharmaceutical intervention for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency(vitamin D3 + calcium). Results: A significant reduction in periodontal inflammation was observed across all study groups starting from day 14 of treatment. However, in a longer perspective (12 and 18 months after treatment), the indices analyzed remained fairly stable and corresponded to the chronic periodontitis clinical stabilization stage in both groups. The conventional treatment group demonstrated a marked tendency for all indicators to return to the baseline. Conclusions: Pharmacotherapy of vitamin D deficiency contributed to the normalization of periodontal microcirculation (the σ and Kv values approached those of healthy periodontium) as evidenced by the immediate and long-term follow-up results. Clinical observation of patients suffering from moderate chronic generalized periodontitis with underlying hypovitaminosis D makes an argument to the use of vitamin D supplementation for the correction of vitamin D deficiency as a part of the complex treatment. Trial registration number: NCT67823273

ESP is considered the best choice in tertiary education context as it meets the students’ needs and consequently boosts motivation. However, the results of needs analysis applied while designing the course and the students’ awareness of their needs when using the language in professional communication may differ. The survey of 1st year students conducted at Sechenov University (Moscow, Russia) between 2014 and 2019 revealed only partial awareness of the needs. The possible solution may be either creating ‘first-hand’ experience (students’ exposure to the situations where they have to use respective ESP skills), or ‘second-hand’ experience (students’ exposure to communication with professionals in their prospective sphere of employment who are regularly using ESP skills).

The article focuses on the experience of online language learning in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic at Sechenov University (Moscow, Russia). Due to the differences in accepted professional communication practices in medical sphere in Russia and abroad there is a need of commenting, propagation and constant focusing on the part of the instructor. The aim of this research was to obtain a clear and a detailed picture of medical students’ attitude towards the change in the mode of delivery in teaching languages for medical purposes, which occurred during the lockdown and triggered a sudden shift in the roles. We analyzed the technologies used, the alterations to the academic content, modes of delivery, and the student’s attitude towards ESP/EMP employing mainly a quantitative methodology of gathering and analyzing data. The survey of the students showed that, though there is a strong preference in favor of technology use and more independent learning, they fully understand the role of the instructor in the process.

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