West Kazakhstan Medical Journal

Effects of QazVac Vaccination on Immune and Clinical Characteristics in Patients With and Without Long COVID-19

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Long COVID-19 is characterized by the persistence of symptoms and immune alterations beyond the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Understanding the demographic, clinical, and immunological differences between individuals with and without long COVID-19 is crucial for developing targeted interventions. This observational study included 206 participants, comprising 90 patients with long COVID-19 and 116 without. Data on demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics were collected, alongside immune cell profiles and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels. Statistical analyses compared these parameters between the two groups. Long COVID-19 patients were predominantly female (77.8%), older (47.78% aged 41–60, 20% >60 years), and had higher BMI, hypertension (31.1%), and autoimmune diseases (11.1%) compared to nonlong COVID-19 individuals (P < 0.001). Clinical symptoms unique to long COVID-19 included memory loss (40.0%), hair loss (37.8%), fatigue (35.6%), and myalgia/arthralgia (28.9%), all absent in the control group (P < 0.001). Immunologically, patients with long COVID-19 exhibited distinct immune profiles, including elevated cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+), reduced B cells, and higher CD4/CD8 ratios. Moreover, long COVID-19 patients had higher SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels, with 15.5% showing levels between 1000–2500 BAU/ml, compared to 6.9% in controls. These immunological biomarkers, including altered T cell subsets and antibody levels, highlight the complex immune dysregulation associated with long COVID-19. These findings could inform future clinical management and therapeutic strategies targeting immune modulation.

Impact of Awareness on Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Cultured Meat: A Study of Demographic, Knowledge, and Perception Factors

Farhad Rahmanifar — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the impact of awareness on consumer attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors regarding cultured meat. It examines how demographic factors, knowledge sources, and attitudes towards synthetic meat differ between individuals aware and unaware of this alternative protein source. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 71 participants over the age of 18, recruited via social media platforms. Participants aware of cultured meat (n = 50) were generally older, more educated, and had a wider range of income levels compared to those unaware (n = 21). The internet was the most common source of information (38%) among the aware group, while the unaware group relied more on friends and family (33%). Chisquare analyses revealed significant differences between aware and unaware groups in willingness to try cultured meat (60% vs. 38%, p = 0.047), perception of taste as acceptable (40% vs. 19%, p = 0.032), and belief in environmental benefits (56% vs. 33%, p = 0.049). Moreover, 50% of the aware participants considered cultured meat more ethical than natural meat compared to 29% of the unaware group (p = 0.015). Awareness was also positively associated with viewing cultured meat as a suitable alternative to natural meat (54% vs. 38%, p = 0.034) and with reduced health concerns (64% vs. 29%, p = 0.021). Findings suggest that targeted educational efforts and transparent communication could enhance acceptance of cultured meat, with future research addressing cultural and societal factors to facilitate broader integration into diets.

Analyzing the Social Support Among Family Caregivers of Elderly Individuals in China: A Scientific Mini Review

Chen Ying, Shang Jiayi — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

With the rapidly aging population in China, the role of family caregivers has become increasingly significant. These caregivers, often family members, provide essential care for elderly individuals with chronic health conditions. The physical and emotional demands of caregiving can significantly impact their well-being. This review examines various social support systems aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by family caregivers in China, focusing on recent studies and systematic reviews from the past 5 years in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Social support interventions show promise in easing caregivers’ burdens and improving their well-being. This paper aims to provide insights into the types of social support that can benefit family caregivers and reduce their burden, offering a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers working to enhance the well-being of both caregivers and the elderly they care for.

Selected Psychological Features of Personality and the Level of Internality in Patients of a Multidisciplinary Hospital

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The levels of extraversion-introversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and locus of control are of particular interest when researching samples of people with various health disorders. The study aims to describe the psychological profile according to Eysenck’s personality type and internality characteristics in patients of a multidisciplinary hospital’s trauma, neurological, and cardiological departments. The combined survey/case-control study with 58 in-patient participants and 58 controls was performed from July to December 2023 in a multidisciplinary clinic in Aktobe. The Rotter Locus of Control Questionnaire and the Hans and Sibylle Eysenck Personality Type Questionnaire were used to collect data. The levels of extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism were significantly higher in neurological patients (17.0 (15.0;18.0), 18.0 (14.0;21.0), and 11.0 (9.0;13.0), respectively). Cardiac patients showed the highest indicators of social desirability, 17.0 (16.0; 18.0), and the internality of achievements, 7.0 (5.5; 8.0). There were no significant differences between the groups in general internality and internality toward failure and health. Weak positive correlations with age were found on the scales of lying and internality in the field of achievements, failures, and family relationships, as well as a negative correlation between age and internality concerning health and illness (0.27; 0.28; 0.24; 0.38; -0.22, respectively). Analyzing the psychological profile of cardiac patients in our study confirmed the researchers’ version of type D behavior (a combination of negative emotionality, restraint, lack of self-confidence, and uncertainty) in this group. Compared with the controls, in-patient participants recorded relatively low levels of internality in business relations and, vice versa, high internality in family relations, particularly in men. Thus, stress caused by illness, especially long-term chronic pathology, affects the patient’s psychological profile and initiates a reassessment of values.

A Study on Melatonin Administration and its Influence on Required Dose of Propofol for Anesthesia Induction in Perioperative Patients

Geetha Bhavani Thota, Munagapati Sindhura, Sunanda Gooty — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Melatonin, a hormone synthesized by the pineal gland has been demonstrated to promote anesthetic effect when co-administered with propofol. This led to examining the possible role of melatonin in the field of anesthesia, prompting further investigation of its use as an anesthetic adjuvant. In this study, we evaluated the minimal dose of propofol required for anesthetic induction following pre-medication with melatonin in perioperative patients. A clinical study was conducted on 60 patients, aged between 18 and 60 years who were enrolled for various surgical requirements at a tertiary care hospital, in South India. Enrolled patients were divided into two groups and designated as control (without melatonin) and treatment (with melatonin). A 3 mg/Kg melatonin tablet was administered to the melatonin group followed by a pre-determined dose of propofol intravenously, whereas the control group received B-complex followed by propofol. The results indicate administration of melatonin 3 mg as a premedication before the surgery significantly reduced the required dose of the anesthetic drug propofol when compared to the control group. Therefore, supplementation of 3 mg oral melatonin proved to be an effective premedication, offering potential benefits in both sedation and as an adjunct to the commonly used anesthetic induction agent propofol. This study provided initial evidence suggesting that pre-medication with melatonin may influence the dose of propofol required for induction. The observed reduction in propofol dose in the melatonin group has potential implications for optimizing anesthesia induction, potentially contributing to improved patient safety and resource utilization.

The Prevalence and Spectrum of Cytopenia on Peripheral Blood Samples in Rural Punjab

Cherry Bansal, Amanpreet Singh — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cytopenia refers to reduced red blood cell count, white blood cell count, or platelet count which manifest as anemia, leucopenia, or thrombocytopenia and are commonly associated with underlying medical conditions. Till date, very little is known about the prevalence of unexplained cytopenia and their distribution in the general population, especially in rural areas in developing countries like India. The current study analyzes a total of 6260 peripheral blood samples of Complete Blood Count (CBC) for the duration of one year to learn about the prevalence and spectrum of cytopenia. Prevalence of pancytopenia was -1.34% (84 patients out of 6260) and it was twice as prevalent in females as compared to males. Pancytopenia in most females was associated with microcytic anemia of Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) <80fl, while pancytopenia in males was associated with macrocytic anemia of MCV>100fl. The prevalence of bicytopenia was found to be 13.92% (872 patients out of 6260). The prevalences of isolated cytopenia of anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia were found to be 41.53% (2600 cases out of 6260), 4.84% (303 cases out of 6260), and 20% (1208 cases out of 6260), respectively. Most of the patients with cytopenia (94%) presented with the chief complaints of fatigue and weakness. Fever was a major complaint among 28% of total patients. This study provides information regarding the prevalence and spectrum of cytopenia in rural Punjab, which may further help in the early diagnosis and treatment of its respective etiological factors.

Understanding Professional Risks and Quality of Life Among Medical Workers: A Pilot Study in Ukraine

Zoia Sharlovych, Natalia Chutova, Nurgul Abenova, Raisa A. Aringazina — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The problem of professional risks in the medical fieldhas a low priority among medical workers themselves, which can affect the quality of help to the population in the field of health care. This study aimed to identificaty the peculiarities of professional risk manifestation among medical workers and clarify the level of awareness among specialists and future professionals in the field regarding these risks. The subjects of the study were medical workers from local hospitals in Kriviy Rih, Dnepropetrovsk region, and undergraduate students from the Kriviy Rih Medical College. The study was conducted on 200 people using an accessible, spontaneous, quota sampling with elements of probability (quota’s indication — work experience), and two specially designed anonymous questionnaires were used. The majority of respondents are female (85%), only a small percentage of men (15%) are paramedics and doctors working at ambulance stations. The majority of undergraduate students are also women – 95%. By age characteristics: among the surveyed healthcare workers, the majority of the sample was made up of people over 35 years old, and among the senior students of the Kryvyi Rih Medical College, prevails the group over 25 years old. More than half of the surveyed respondents-practitioners (64%) have secondary special education and 36% have higher education. Among the surveyed healthcare professionals, the vast majority (55%) are people who have been working in the healthcare sector in medical specialties for more than 10 years. It was revealed that most respondents are familiar with traditional medical risks. The study reveals a decline in the prestige of the medical profession in modern Ukraine. The study argues that both future medical workers and practitioners often underestimate or accept professional risks. This attitude hinders their ability to perceive risks objectively, potentially leading to professional abnormality and a decline in the quality of medical services. Comprehensive strategic decisions and systemic measures are needed to protect medical workers from occupational risks.

Proliferation and Apoptosis in H. Pylori-associated Chronic Gastritis with Epithelial Metaplasia

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Helicobacter pylori - causes pathologies such as gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma. Pseudopyloric mucosal metaplasia in the incisura region is significantly correlated with the development of precancerous changes - atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Pseudopyloric metaplasia of the gastric mucosa develops as a result of persistence of H. pylori infection. Immunohistochemical and histological study of gastric mucosa biopsy specimens from patients with dyspeptic complaints was performed. Chronic non-atrophic gastritis was histologically detected in 21 patients. Of these, 17 (80.95%) were H. pylori-positive. Out of 55 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, 38 (69.1%) were H. pylori-positive. Ki-67 IM was significantly increased during the development of atrophic gastritis: in the antral region to 50.6±8.3 (P<0.05), in atrophy and pseudopyloric metaplasia in the incisura region to an average of 47.3±8.2 (P<0.05) and in the gastric body region to an average of 46.9±7.4 (P<0.05). In chronic atrophic gastritis, p53 expression was detected in the antral region in 22 (40.0%) patients, and in atrophy and pseudopyloric metaplasia in the incisura region in 18 (50.0%) and in the body in 4 (57.1%). All patients were H. pylori-positive. Intestinal metaplasia was found in 36 (65.5%) patients in the antral region, 34 (61.8%) patients in the incisura region and 24 (43.6%) patients in the body of the stomach This study showed that in chronic H. pylori-associated atrophic gastritis there is an acceleration of cell proliferation and impaired apoptosis, especially in areas of atrophy, as well as pseudopyloric and intestinal epithelial metaplasia, leading to an increased risk of gastric cancer.

The Problem of Acute Kidney Injury in Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The problem of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children undergoing cardiac surgery remains relevant even in the presence of modern medical technologies and methods. This complication, which occurs after pediatric cardiac surgery, has significant negative consequences, leading to the patient staying in the infant intensive care unit (IICU) for a longer period and even an increased risk of death. According to the literature, cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSAKI) is a common complication after surgery to correct congenital heart defects in children, with a reported incidence rate of up to 42%. This fact is increasingly recognized as a serious problem affecting the health of pediatric patients. The aim of the study is to analyze modern concepts concerning the impact of cardiac surgery on the development of acute kidney injury in children, and to, identify the main trends and current scientific ideas about the mechanisms which form this complication in pediatric cardiac surgery. The review was compiled using literature search methods in databases such as Scopus, PubMed, MedLine, Cyberleninka, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and TripDataBase, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. Scientific studies aimed at identifying risk factors for the development of acute kidney injury in children after cardiac surgery have identified a number of important aspects, including the age of the patients, the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, the level of surgical complexity of the operation, the need for mechanical ventilation, and inotropic support. Despite significant achievements in this area, some aspects remain under-researched. As the use of substitutive renal therapy as part of the comprehensive treatment of acute renal failure is increasing, understanding these problems becomes more urgent.

Comparison of Exosome Isolation Techniques for Clinical Applications

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with significant potential in clinical applications, particularly in diagnostics and therapeutics. Effective exosome isolation is critical to ensuring their functionality and integrity, especially for clinical uses such as regenerative medicine and cancer therapy. This mini-review provides a comparative analysis of three primary exosome isolation methods: ultracentrifugation (UC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and microfluidic-based techniques. UC, a traditional and widely used method, is effective but lacks scalability and may compromise exosome integrity. SEC offers high purity and scalability, making it a favorable option for clinical-grade applications. Meanwhile, microfluidic-based methods provide high precision and rapid processing, with potential in diagnostic and point-of-care applications, though challenges in scalability limit their use in large-scale production. Overall, SEC shows the most promise for clinical exosome production, with microfluidic techniques offering specialized utility in diagnostics. This review underscores the importance of selecting an appropriate isolation technique to advance exosome-based clinical applications.