This study aimed to assess the relationship between the content of toxic trace elements, such as aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb), in the hair of the adult population of western Kazakhstan and the distance of their residence from oil and gas fields. The cross-sectional study included 850 adults aged 18–60 years. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure the level of Al, As, Be, Cd, Hg, and Pb in hair. The relationship between the concentration of toxic trace elements in the hair and the distance from oil and gas fields was assessed in three groups (110 km), using multiple linear regression analysis. The highest concentration of Hg = 0.338 μg/g was determined in the group living near oil and gas fields (0–16 km), whereas the lowest concentration of Al = 3.127 μg/g and As = 0.028 μg/g was determined in participants living at a long distance (more than 110 km) (p < 0.001). The concentration of Al (−0.126 (CI: −0.174; −0.077)), Hg (−0.065 (CI: −0.129; −0.001)), and Pb (0.111 (CI: 0.045; 0.177)) is associated with the distance to oil and gas fields. The obtained data indicate a change in the toxic trace element content in the hair of residents in the Caspian region of western Kazakhstan, a change that is most pronounced in residents living in the zone of oil and gas pollution. The distance to the oil and gas fields affects the content of toxic elements in scalp hair. In particular, the concentration of Al and Hg is associated with a decrease in the distance to oil and gas fields, while the concentration of Pb is associated with an increase in the distance to these fields. The lowest content of Al and As was determined in the hair of study participants living in the most remote areas (more than 110 km from oil and gas fields). Our results demonstrate the need for the biomonitoring of toxic elements to determine long-term temporal trends in the impact of chemicals on public health in western Kazakhstan.

Связь лептина с антропометрическими характеристиками, дислипидемией и углеводным обменом у взрослых в казахской популяции

The prevalence of T2DM has been increasing dramatically over recent decades, about 537 million people in 2021. LADA type diabetes, a subtype of diabetes that exhibits characteristics of both T2DM and autoimmune beta‐cell destruction similar to T1DM, but with a later onset. The aim of this study is to analyze the main research field on LADA type, including analysis of countries, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords. This research utilized a descriptive bibliometric design. We collected and analyzed data from 672 publications indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, covering the period from 1994 to January 2024. The bibliometric analysis included English‐language research articles that involved studies on patients with LADA type diabetes, aged 18 years or older. RStudio and the Bibliometrix R package were used for data merging and for performing statistical and visual analyses. The annual publication shows an upward trend over the period, with the highest number of publications per year in 2021. The study showed that China leads in the number of articles, with 101 papers published. The United Kingdom demonstrates significant international collaborations, particularly with Germany. The top institutions in terms of the number of published articles are the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in the Kingdom of Norway, followed by the Central South University in China. Tuomi has shown significant long‐term publication impact, while Zhou ranks among the most frequently cited authors. Diabetes Care is one of the most important scientific journals in diabetology with the highest impact factor of 16.2. This abstract summarizes a comprehensive bibliometric analysis that provides insights into the global research field of LADA type, underscoring the importance of international collaboration and the significant contributions of leading countries and institutions in shaping our understanding of this complex subtype of diabetes.

Background: A stable natural and technogenic boron geochemical province characterized by high environmental levels of boron has formed in the Aktobe Region of West Kazakhstan. The main local source of boron is sludge collectors of the boric acid production of the now destroyed chemical plant, built without impervious screens in the former old channels of the Ilek River, as well as in the river floodplain on alluvial quaternary sand and gravel deposits with high permeability. The objective of the study was to map hair levels of boron in residents of the Aktobe Region and to establish their relationship with disease incidence of the adult population. Materials and methods: The study included 340 permanent residents of the Aktobe Region, Republic of Kazakhstan, aged 18–60. Hair boron levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a Nexion 300D spectrometer (PerkinElmer Inc., USA) coupled with an ESI SC-2 DX4 sampler (Elemental Scientific Inc., USA). Mapping was performed using the QGIS cross-platform geographic information system (QGIS 3.18). Results: The map of the boron status of the study participants visually demonstrated the uneven distribution of hair boron concentrations in the inhabitants of the region. Hair levels of boron were significantly higher in men than in women (p = 0.000). We established a strong direct correlation between hair levels of boron and the incidence of congenital anomalies and chromosomal abnormalities (r = 0.886, p = 0.019), diseases of the genitourinary system (r = 0.829, p = 0.042), respiratory diseases (r = 0.943, p = 0.005), diseases of the digestive system (r = 0.878, p = 0.021), diseases of the blood, hematopoietic organs and the immune system (r = 0.880, p = 0.017). Conclusion: The mapping of hair levels of boron in the residents of the Aktobe Region of West Kazakhstan gave a visual demonstration of the uneven distribution of environmental pollution with boron in the study area. The revealed relationships between boron concentrations in hair tissue and disease incidence in the boric geochemical province confirm the assumption that the ecological features of the environment can affect the health of the population, which requires further in-depth research.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an urgent need to understand the differences between vaccine-induced and natural immunity, particularly in the context of post- COVID syndrome (long COVID). This review compares the immune responses elicited by natural infection and vaccination, focusing on their duration, strength, and effectiveness in mitigating long COVID symptoms. Vaccine-induced immunity, primarily targeting the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, often produces a more consistent antibody and T-cell response, especially when bolstered by booster doses. In contrast, natural immunity, though broader in scope, is more variable and influenced by factors such as infection severity. Hybrid immunity, resulting from both infection and vaccination, may offer superior protection against long COVID. This comparative analysis highlights the importance of understanding these immune mechanisms to optimize protection strategies against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.