Background: Occupational bronchopulmonary diseases (OBPDs)—including pneumoconiosis, silicosis, and occupational COPD—remain a pressing public health issue, especially in regions with intensive mining, metallurgy, and construction industries. Caused by chronic inhalation of fibrogenic dusts, these conditions are often diagnosed at late stages, resulting in irreversible lung damage and diminished work capacity. Methods: A scoping review was performed using the Arksey and O’Malley framework, with methodological refinements from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and gray literature for publications from 2014 to 2024. After screening 1761 records and full-text review, nine studies were included in the final synthesis, comprising two systematic reviews, two narrative literature reviews, and five observational studies. Results: Key risk factors identified included prolonged exposure to silica and coal dust, tobacco use, and genetic susceptibility. Diagnostic delays were attributed to the underuse of high-resolution CT and exhaled nitric oxide analysis. Several studies highlighted the diagnostic value of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α). Nutritional rehabilitation and polyphenol-enriched herbal therapies were associated with improved respiratory function and quality of life. However, these strategies remain underutilized, particularly in low-resource settings. Conclusions: A coordinated, biomarker-driven approach integrating early diagnosis, dust exposure control, and tailored rehabilitation is urgently needed. Multidisciplinary models may reduce the clinical and socioeconomic burden of OBPDs.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by irreversible extracellular matrix deposition and high mortality, with aging representing its strongest risk factor. Increasing evidence suggests that cellular senescence is not merely a consequence of tissue injury but a central driver of disease progression. Senescent alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts contribute to impaired tissue repair and persistent fibrotic remodeling through the acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which promotes chronic inflammation and amplifies profibrotic signaling. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence on the role of cellular senescence in IPF, focusing on key molecular mechanisms, including telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, DNA damage response activation, and dysregulated transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling. A structured literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify mechanistic, translational, and clinical studies related to cellular senescence in IPF. Relevant studies were selected based on conceptual relevance and scientific quality, and findings were qualitatively synthesized within a narrative-review framework. These interconnected pathways form self-reinforcing feedback loops that stabilize the senescent phenotype and sustain fibroblast activation. In addition, we critically evaluate emerging therapeutic strategies targeting senescence, including senolytic and senomorphic approaches, highlighting their potential to modify fundamental disease mechanisms rather than solely attenuating fibrotic progression. Preclinical and early clinical studies suggest that selective targeting of senescent cells may represent a promising avenue for intervention, although challenges related to specificity, safety, and biomarker development remain. Overall, this review positions cellular senescence as a central mechanistic link between aging and fibrosis and underscores its relevance as a translational target in IPF.

INTRODUCTION. The profound socio-political and economic changes of the 1990s had a negative impact on people's quality of life and overall health. The constant stress inherent in urbanized society leads to a decline in the functional capabilities of the human body. Developing the health resort complex is a key solution to maintain the population's essential life-support systems and address the challenges associated with urbanization. To better understand the current state of the resort industry in Kazakhstan, it is important to explore its history and development. This will help us understand its characteristics and challenges. AIM. To examine and evaluate the historically significant events in the development of balneology in Kazakhstan, as well as to identify current trends and outlooks for the modernization of the country's resort industry. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In order to conduct a comprehensive literature review, a range of international electronic databases were consulted, including Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar and eLibrary. The period under review extended from 2014 to 2024, with earlier works of seminal importance also included in the analysis. Literature searches were conducted using comprehensive search strategies that were relevant to the development of Kazakhstani balneology during certain historical periods. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. The history of health resort treatment in Kazakhstan goes back well beyond the thirty years since the country's independence. This traditional form of therapy is used in various fields of medicine for disease prevention. Sanatoriums and resorts offer a wide range of natural resources, including a unique climate, clean mountain air, mineral waters and therapeutic muds. These elements create exceptional conditions for recovery and improved health. This approach combines traditional medical practices with modern technologies, as well as natural and climatic factors. Although Kazakhstan has a significant recreational potential, the demand for these services is still low. This may be due to the fact that the focus is still on the Soviet-style recreation, which emphasizes social interaction and the state engagement. In the past, the government had to cover significant expenses for running sanatoriums, resorts, and providing recreational services, ensuring restorative care for people. CONCLUSION. The development of resorts in Kazakhstan has undergone significant transformations, starting in the pre-socialist period and continuing into the post-Soviet era of modernization. Thanks to its rich natural resources and government support, as well as private investment, Kazakhstan was able to partially maintain its resort industry. However, the modernization of Kazakhstan's resorts and sanatoriums requires government regulation, followed by optimization and digitalization of the health resort network in order to provide high-quality treatment and recreational services that are accessible to all segments of the population.

Background: The increasing use of computed tomography (CT) in pediatric populations has raised concerns regarding radiation-induced malignancies due to higher radiosensitivity and longer post-exposure lifespan in children. Objective: This study aimed to synthesize evidence from large-scale cohort studies on the association between pediatric CT exposure and subsequent cancer risk, with a focus on leukemia and brain tumors. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature searches were performed in PubMed and the Cochrane Library from database inception to 30 June 2025. Seven large cohort studies, including more than 11 million individuals from Europe, Asia, and Australia, were included. Data on radiation exposure, cancer outcomes, follow-up, effect measures, and methodological quality were extracted independently by two reviewers. Results: A consistent dose-response relationship was observed across studies. Excess relative risk (ERR) per mGy ranged from 0.033 to 0.045 for leukemia and from 0.006 to 0.023 for brain tumors in studies reporting organ-dose estimates. The risk was higher in children exposed at younger ages, particularly under 5 years, and increased with cumulative exposure. Scan-count analyses also suggested higher incidence with repeated CT, although scan count is a proxy for dose and should not be interpreted as equivalent to organ-dose ERR. Although indication bias was identified, adjusted and lagged analyses generally supported a persistent association. Conclusion: Pediatric CT exposure is associated with a small but measurable increase in long-term cancer risk. These findings should be interpreted alongside the diagnostic benefit of CT in trauma, oncology, and life-threatening illness. Clinically justified CT remains essential; the results support strict justification, dose optimization, and the use of non-ionizing alternatives when they can answer the clinical question.

Journal of Clinical Medicine of Kazakhstan

Background: Pneumoconiosis remains a major occupational lung disease associated with progressive respiratory impairment, reduced functional capacity, and diminished quality of life. Non-pharmacological rehabilitation has been increasingly proposed as a supportive intervention; however, evidence regarding its effectiveness remains heterogeneous. Objective: This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize the available evidence on the effects of non-pharmacological rehabilitation interventions on functional capacity, quality of life, and psychological outcomes in patients with pneumoconiosis. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in major electronic databases and grey literature sources in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies evaluating non-pharmacological rehabilitation interventions in adults with pneumoconiosis were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes of interest included functional capacity, health-related quality of life, and psychological well-being. Due to methodological heterogeneity across studies, a qualitative synthesis was performed. Results: Six studies met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. The reviewed evidence suggests that structured rehabilitation interventions were associated with clinically meaningful improvements in functional capacity, particularly in structured rehabilitation programs, most consistently reflected by increases in six-minute walk distance exceeding established minimal clinically important differences in three studies. Improvements in health-related quality of life and selected psychological outcomes were also reported, although outcome measures and intervention protocols varied across studies. Significant improvements in exercise capacity, dyspnea severity, and health-related quality of life were reported. Conclusions: Non-pharmacological rehabilitation may provide clinically meaningful benefits for patients with pneumoconiosis, based on limited and heterogeneous evidence, particularly in terms of functional capacity and quality of life. Nevertheless, the current evidence base is limited by heterogeneity in study design and outcome reporting. Further high-quality, standardized trials are needed to strengthen the evidence and guide the clinical implementation of rehabilitation programs for occupational lung diseases.