Bacterial infections are a severe medical problem, especially in traumatology, orthopedics, and surgery. The local use of antibiotics-elution materials has made it possible to increase the effectiveness of acute infections treatment. However, the infection prevention problem remains unresolved. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of polylactic acid (PLA) “smart” films with microchamber arrays. These microchambers contain ceftriaxone as a payload in concentrations ranging from 12 ± 1 μg/cm² to 38 ± 8 μg/cm², depending on the patterned film thickness formed by the different PLA concentrations in chloroform. In addition, the release profile of the antibiotic can be prolonged up to 72 h in saline. At the same time, on the surface of agar plates, the antibiotic release time increases up to 96 h, which has been confirmed by the growth suppression of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The efficient loading and optimal release rate are obtained for patterned films formed by the 1.5 wt % PLA in chloroform. The films produced from 1.5 and 2 wt % PLA solutions (thickness—0.42 ± 0.12 and 0.68 ± 0.16 µm, respectively) show an accelerated ceftriaxone release upon the trigger of the therapeutic ultrasound, which impacted as an expansion of the bacterial growth inhibition zone around the samples. Combining prolonged drug elution with the on-demand release ability of large cargo amount opens up new approaches for personalized and custom-tunable antibacterial therapy.

Infectious sequelae caused by surgery are a significant problem in modern medicine due to their reduction of therapeutic effectiveness and the patients’ quality of life.Recently, new methods of local antimicrobial prophylaxis of postoperative sequelae have been actively developed. They allow high local concentrations of drugs to be achieved, increasing the antibiotic therapy’s effectiveness while reducing its side effects. We have developed and characterized antimicrobial hydrogels based on an inexpensive and biocompatible natural substance from the dairy industry—whey protein isolate—as matrices for drug delivery. The release of cefazolin from the pores of hydrogel structures directly depends on the amount of the loaded drug and occurs in a prolonged manner for three days. Simultaneously with the antibiotic release, hydrogel swelling and partial degradation occurs. The WPI hydrogels absorb solvent, doubling in size in three days and retaining cefazolin throughout the duration of the experiment. The antimicrobial activity of cefazolin-loaded WPI hydrogels against Staphylococcus aureus growth is prolonged in comparison to that of the free cefazolin. The overall cytotoxic effect of cefazolin-containing WPI hydrogels is lower than that of free antibiotics. Thus, our work shows that antimicrobial WPI hydrogels are suitable candidates for local antibiotic therapy of infectious surgical sequelae.

Introduction. Prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, maintaining health and prolonging the occupational longevity of the working population is the most important strategic direction of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of public health The purpose. Stratification of the occupational risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases among workers in the production of bearings for the subsequent development of specialized targeted programs for the prevention of health disorders. Material and methods. An assessment of the occupational risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases among workers in the production of bearings is given on the basis of complex studies of production factors, primary and general chronic morbidity using the methodology for assessing occupational health risk. Results. It has been established that the development of chronic non-infectious diseases in bearing production workers is determined by a complex of harmful (classes 3.2–3.4) factors of the working environment of various nature, which form an occupational health risk in categories from medium to very high. In the structure of the general chronic non-infectious morbidity of workers, diseases of the eye and its adnexa (24.4%), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (20.7%), diseases of the circulatory system (19.32%) and diseases of the endocrine system had the highest prevalence in systems of eating disorders and metabolic disorders — 15.1%. A causal relationship of varying severity with the work of the most common nosological forms of chronic was revealed as arterial hypertension (RR = 1.425; EF = 29.837%; C = 1.044–1.945), obesity (RR = 1.731; EF = 42.24%; CI = 1.219–2.459), presbyopia (RR = 2.443; EF = 59.071%; CI = 1.549–3.855), indicating their occupational conditioning. Limitations. The limitation of the study was the assessment of the occupational risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases in one occupational cohort of workers. Conclusion. The development of specialized programs for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases among workers should include the study of causal aspects of health disorders and the rationale for measures to minimize the impact of occupational risk factors for occupationally determined pathology.

Introduction. The relevance of the study is determined by the continuous high prevalence of smoking tobacco products among the working population. The aim is to assess the prevalence of smoking tobacco use among the working population of the Saratov region. Materials and methods. In frames of the cross-sectional study, four hundred fifty three employees of various industrial enterprises of the Saratov region who underwent periodic medical examination at the occupational diseases clinic of the Saratov Hygiene Center of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “MRC (Medical Research Center) of Medical and Preventive Technologies for Public Health Risk Management”, were surveyed, including 280 men (63.8%) and 173 women (38.2%). The average age was 50.5 years. The results of the study were statistically processed using the software Statistica 10. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney method was used to compare two independent samples. Results. The prevalence of tobacco smoking was 38.6% among men and 13.3% among women. More than half of those who used tobacco products belonged to the group of “trained” smokers - 66.7% of men and 56.5% of women, the majority of employees (79.4%) smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day. The main reason for giving up smoking was the state of health (65.2%). 8.7% and 9.9% of non-smoking respondents were found to be exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke at home and at work respectively. The frequency of use of other types of smoking products has been studied. Limitations. The study has regional (Saratov region) and professional (employees of industrial enterprises) limitations. Conclusion. Despite the complex of anti-smoking measures people of working age remain highly committed to the use of tobacco smoking products. Smoking of tobacco products and electronic means of heating tobacco is important to take into account when developing and carrying out preventive measures, including during periodic medical examinations of the able-bodied population.

Introduction. Identification and minimization of production risk factors and occupational and work-related diseases associated with their impact is the basis for preventing health disorders in the working population. Materials and methods. An analytical study of working conditions and health status (a cross-sectional continuous study based on periodic medical examination data) in workers in the oil refining industry with a fuel profile was conducted using hygienic and epidemiological analysis methods. Results. Workers in key occupations have been shown to be exposed to the complex effects of chemicals of hazard classes 2–4, noise, heating microclimate, physical and emotional overloads that form harmful working conditions (classes 3.1–3.3), causing occupational health risks of moderate and high categories depending on their occupation affiliation. The leading rank places in the structure of general morbidity were occupied by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (31.29%), eyes and their adnexa (25.07%), endocrine system, eating disorders and metabolic disorders (23.01%), and circulatory system (12.12%). The leading nosological diseases were dorsalgia of various locations (31.13%), refraction and accommodation disorders (23.31%), obesity (21.17%), and arterial hypertension (10.89%). Statistically significant cause-and-effect relationships of health disorders with working conditions were established: from medium to very high for diseases of the musculoskeletal system, connective tissue, and diseases of the eye and its adnexa; medium for diseases of the endocrine system, eating disorders and metabolic disorders, indicating the industrial causality of these pathologies. The levels of group occupational risk to workers’ health from exposure to working conditions ranged from medium (1.48 ∙ 10–2) to high (6.91 ∙ 10–2), being unacceptable and requiring the development and implementation of measures to eliminate them. Limitations. The limitations of the study are determined by the boundaries of the study of working conditions and health status of workers of one oil refinery. Conclusion. The research results form the basis for developing targeted preventive measures taking into account the occupational affiliation iw workers.

Полученный авторским способом, обеспечивающим максимальный выход флавоноидов, экстракт аврана обладает одновременно высокой противовоспалительной, избирательной антимикробной (выраженной в отношении Staphylococcus аureus, Pseudomonas аeruginosa) и жаропонижающей активностью. Преимуществами предлагаемого лекарственного экстракта служат низкая токсичность, доступность растительного сырья, а также широкий спектр его терапевтических эффектов.