ObjectiveTo understand the disease burden, we studied the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and associated costs for brucellosis patients hospitalized in Nork hospital in 2016.IntroductionBrucellosis, endemic in Armenia, is recognized as a significant public health challenge with a major economic burden. To address the regional threat of brucellosis for both animal health and public health, the “One Health Surveillance of Brucellosis in Armenia” was initiated in December 2016. The project aims to develop scientifically sound strategies and policies for sustainable control of the disease.MethodsIn 2016, 265 patients diagnosed with brucellosis were hospitalized at “Nork” hospital, of whom 16 were 0-14 years old and 94% were males. Diagnosis was confirmed using agglutination test and ELISA. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data.ResultsDistribution of the disease by marz revealed that the most cases came from Ararat (53), followed by Kotayk (49), Armavir (38), Aragatsotn (36), Yerevan (28), Gegharkunik (26), Vayots Dzor (24), Syunik (8), and Lori (3). Clinical data indicated that 71% of patients had acute brucellosis with fever, arthralgia and night sweating while 29% suffered chronic brucellosis with damage of organ systems. The primary complaints included arthralgia (80%), sweating (60%) and fever (40%). Joint pain was mainly located in knee, elbow, and sacroiliac regions. Average grade of fever was 37,9±0,95oC. Total days spent in hospital were 1798, economic losses for the hospital were estimated at AMD 36 million per year.ConclusionsThose at the highest risk for brucellosis were males living in Ararat and Kotayk marzes who work with livestock.

Bacillus anthracis is an especially dangerous pathogen, which can be used in biological warfare. The bacterium causes anthrax in susceptible hosts. Anthrax is endemic to Armenia. Our goal is to describe the most common epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of anthrax in patients hospitalized in "Nork" republican hospital from 2000-2015.Methods & Materials: We used the medical charts of patients with anthrax admitted to "Nork" hospital during the period 2000-2015. The total number of patients with anthrax during that period was 20. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data.Results: All patients had the cutaneous form of anthrax. Of these, 75% were males with a mean age of 46±17 years old while 85% were residents of rural areas. Livestock exposure was recorded in 80%, agricultural activities in 50%, 65% were involved in animal slaughter. The mean duration of hospitalization was 9±7 days. Main clinical symptoms were fatigue (55%), lymphadenitis (55%), fever (50%), pallor (10%), sweating (5%), headache (5%) and hepatomegaly (5%). The vast majority of patients (95%) had ulcers and carbuncles and only one had edema of the skin; these elements were located on upper extremities in 19 patients and on the face in 1 patient. Most patients (85%) received antibiotics, mainly ciprofloxacin or penicillin. In 75% of cases (15/20), bacterial culture was used for laboratory diagnosis, although culture results were positive for just 40% (8 patients) patients. In all other cases (culture-negative and no culture) PCR was used; all these results were positive. For the CBC, leukocytosis was observed in 15% of patients while ESR was elevated in 40% of cases and one case of anemia was recorded. The urine test showed 25% of patients with elevation of leukocytes. Conclusion:Males living in rural areas who work with livestock are at higher risk for anthrax than urban dwellers. Skin lesions are primarily located on the upper extremities. Fever is not always present. Patients with anthrax symptoms but negative culture results should be tested with other diagnostic methods.

Silicon is one of the most common elements in the earth’s crust. It is always present in water and food in varying amounts. Higher amounts of Si are found in plant-based foods. About 20% of the total amount of silicon ingested with food and water comes with drinking water and drinks (including beer, which contains in average 20–25 mg/l of silicon)․ For higher animals and humans, silicon is generally not considered to be an essential nutrient. However, the importance of this element for human health is now supported by increasing research evidence. The biological role of silicon in human organism is still not clear, but it assumed to be necessary for processes of bone mineralization, collagen synthesis. It has a positive effect on the skin, hair, and nails, contributes to the prevention of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer disease. In the population of most Western countries, dietary Si intakes range from 20 to 50 mg/day. In addition to the beneficial effect of Si on health, questions regarding the adverse effect of this element on the body are also discussed in the literature. First of all, we are talking about the Russian authors’ researches in the field of drinking water hygiene. At present, the adequate and maximum admissible levels of Si consumption have not yet been established. Taking into account the results of research on humans and animals, some scientists have suggested a dietary intake of Si of about 25 mg/day. As for the standards of silicon content in drinking water, it is not regulated in the drinking water quality guidelines of the WHO and the European Union, as well as in the national normative documents of different countries. In the Russian Federation, as well as in the Republic of Armenia, in the hygienic requirements for water quality, Si is normalized according to the sanitary-toxicological index, with the value of the maximum admissible concentrations in drinking water amounting to 10 mg/l.

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Objective: To observe the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on patients with contamination fear at obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and how this can be used to improve psychotherapeutic treatment. Materials and methods: 33 patients were involved, divided into 2 groups, in one of which we used additional experimental features of psychotherapy. OCD total condition and separate symptoms were assessed using Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Results: Patients, included in Group A, showed significantly better improvement in both total Y-BOCS score, as well as in particular symptoms connected with so-called mental contamination. Conclusions: Adding reality-based and emotionally significant features of contamination control and prevention to standard cognitive-behavioral therapy protocol may seriously improve outcomes in the treatment of mental contamination obsessions. The period of pandemics, as well as post-pandemic, can be used for intense further research in this area in a larger selection of patients. Long-term follow-up is recommended to clarify the stability of positive changes.