Introduction: Correlations are considered as a reliable indicator of adaptive variability in populations. Objective: To make a comparative assessment of physical development of children and adolescents living in areas with different levels of anthropogenic load. Material and methods: We analyzed the structure of correlations between morphological and functional indicators of children and adolescents (n = 5,137) and the level of anthropogenic load (from relatively satisfactory to critical) in four territories for the years 2018–2021. We measured body length and weight, chest circumference, right and left hand grip strength, vital capacity of the lungs, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and sexual size dimorphism, and then calculated the body mass index and body surface area. The variability of somatic and functional indices was examined separately in age-standardized groups of 9, 13 and 15-year-old boys and girls. Significant differences in the frequencies of statistical correlations in each group and in different environmental clusters were determined. Results: We established a statistical decrease in body length by 0.82 % and in right and left handgrip strength by 5.22 % and 9.68 %, respectively, accompanied by an increase in body weight by 5.02 %, chest circumference by 1.26 %, and vital capacity by 5.56 %, all associated with an increase in the level of anthropogenic load in the area. In environmental clusters with intense and critical load, we noted a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 4.54 % and 5.89 %, respectively, and an increase in the heart rate by 2.81 %. We found an increase in the total number of age and sex-specific intrasystemic (anthropometric) and intersystemic (anthropometric/hemodynamic) morphofunctional correlations from 186 in clean areas to 228 in heavily polluted ones. Health effects of environmental contamination was the most pronounced in 9-year-old children of both sexes. Conclusion: An increase in the frequency of significant intrasystemic and intersystemic correlations of morphological and functional indicators in children and adolescents with the increase in environmental load indicates tension of adaptive mechanisms in the body; the effect of interactions between environmental pollution and anthropogenic parameters in age and sex groups is attributed to greater sensitivity in the male cohort.

Introduction. Due to the need to identify patterns of formation of the morphophysiological status of rural schoolchildren in modern intensively changing economic and demographic conditions, this work is devoted to the study of the characteristics of schoolchildren in Chuvashia and the Nizhny Novgorod region. Materials and methods. The results of the survey of children and youth of the Yadrinsky district of the Chuvash Republic (333 girls and 298 boys), as well as Russian rural schoolchildren living in the Arzamas district of the Nizhny Novgorod region (1930 girls and 1635 boys), aged 7 to 17 years, were used in the work. The examinations were carried out according to the program adopted in Russian anthropology, the total body dimensions were included and analyzed: body height and weight, BMI, chest circumference. In addition, the rate of ontogenesis in the examined girls was estimated: the frequency of menarche age was calculated in each group. Results and discussion. For schoolchildren of the Arzamas region of the Nizhny Novgorod region, large average values of total body size are characteristic, pronounced in the case of body height and chest circumference. Analysis of the percentile curves of the BMI of the surveyed contingent suggests a shift in the boundaries of variation of the indicator in the greater direction in Russians, especially in the area of increased values of the indicator corresponding to overweight and obesity. The frequency of occurrence of individuals with borderline BMI values in the examined groups does not demonstrate significant differences, which may be evidence of a similar nature of the shifts in physical development occurring in them. The analysis of the rates of ontogenesis using the age of menarche confirms the earlier puberty of schoolgirls of the Nizhny Novgorod region. At the same time, however, intergenerational analysis of tempos of ontogenesis confirms the continuation of acceleration processes in the Chuvash group, while no similar trend was found among Nizhny Novgorod residents. Conclusion. Russian and Chuvash schoolchildren, the results obtained allow us to make a cautious conclusion about the similarity of the shifts in physical development occurring in the groups of Chuvash and Russian schoolchildren, which are more pronounced in the case of the latter, as evidenced by the earlier puberty of Russian girls. The continuation of acceleration processes in the Chuvash group indicates that this group is in conditions of less social stability.

Introduction. The cardiovascular system is an integral indicator of the body’s adaptive responses. Goal is a comparative analysis of the function of the cardiovascular system (CVS) in persons with different nutritional status, working on a rotational basis. Materials and methods. Two groups of healthy men were observed: those with normal nutritional status (NNS, n = 14) and those with increased body weight (IBW, n = 13). Working conditions were evaluated according to the degree of harmfulness and danger. The examination was carried out twice: before the start and after 2 months. after shift work. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR) were measured. The Robinson index, endurance coefficient, vegetative Kerdo index, and circulatory efficiency coefficient were calculated. Results. Working conditions were characterized by work at night in an open area, irregularity of shifts, unregulated breaks for rest, the influence of noise and vibration. In the initial state, body weight in NNS individuals was 74.1±1.1 kg versus 91.8±2.7 kg (p=0.001) in IBW persons; HR – 60.0±2.3 versus 73.1±2.0 (p=0.001). After shift work, body weight decreased by 22.2% and 50.0% in persons in the comparison groups. Integral indicators indicated a more negative response of the cardiovascular system to working conditions in IBW people: less resistance to stress (eurance coefficient), lower performance (efficiency ratio of blood circulation), a higher level of hemodynamic load (Robinson index), in NNS people there were dominated by parasympathetic influences, 33.3% of IBW persons had sympathetic influences. Limitations. Healthy males working on a rotational basis, with a normal nutritional status and with overweight and obesity. Conclusion. Overweight and obesity negatively affect the cardiovascular system, reducing the functional reserves of the body. Under unfavourable working conditions, the changes are also more pronounced than in the group of people with a normal nutritional status.

Background: By the end of university, the proportion of medical students with chronic diseases usually increases while physical activity and fitness decrease. Objective: To assess physical development of final-year medical university students and clinical residents. Materials and methods: We have assessed physical health of 16 final-year medical students and 14 first-year medical residents (20.0 % and 25.0 % of the sample population in 2019–2022, respectively). We measured body height, weight, chest circumference, leading hand force, lung capacity, hemodynamic parameters at rest, after exercise and recovery and the mean dynamic pressure in all study participants. We also estimated Quetelet, Pignet, and Robinson indices and those of force, vitality, endurance, and functional changes. In addition, we assessed living conditions, nutrition, and daily energy expenditures of the young people. Results: We established that, under conditions of an organized team, a regulated mode of learning and a high calorie intake, two students (12.5 %) were overweight while the number of overweight residents was six (42.9 %), which was probably related to changes in the lifestyle, nutrition, and daily routine. Estimation of the body mass index showed that 10 (62.5 %) students and 11 (78.6 %) residents were overweight and obese. A more positive body build index among the residents was attributed to a higher number of overweight subjects and confirmed by strength and vital indices and chest circumference measurements. We revealed more considerable preclinical shifts in the health status of the residents in terms of the functional state of the cardiovascular system (diastolic blood pressure at rest and after exercise, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure after exercise, mean dynamic pressure after a period of rest, endurance coefficient, Robinson index) and the index of functional changes. Conclusions: Changes in the synergistic factors of learning and lifestyle of medical residents at the beginning of their professional career cause more significant preclinical alterations in the body compared with students, which necessitates raising their awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

Assessment of weather and climate conditions is significant for many aspects of life and activities of the population of the country and individual territories. The bioclimatic comfort of the city of Nizhny Novgorod was assessed by the wind cooling index and the equivalent effective temperature at various combinations of temperature and wind speed: average values, average temperature and maximum wind, minimum temperature and average wind, minimum temperature and maximum wind. A wavy annual dynamics of air humidity has been established: the minimum in April, increasing towards December. The highest values of the minimum, average and maximum positive temperature in July (from 13.4±0.60С to 25.0±1.10С), the lowest — in February (from –11.9±3.10С to — 5.7±1.80C). Average wind 2.6±0.2 (August) — 4.1±2.0 m / s (November); maximum 4.7±0.2 (July) — 7.7±0.7 m / s (November and February). The duration of the period, estimated as a «cold environment», from 5 to 9 months. With average temperatures and winds, there is no risk of hypothermia for a seasonally dressed person. With minimum temperatures and maximum winds, there is a risk of hypothermia during the winter months. According to the equivalent effective temperature, optimal conditions were created only in the summer months. With average temperature and wind conditions were assessed as «cold» in March ( — 11.1±2.10С), «very cold» in December ( —19.4±0.80С) and in January ( — 20.9±1.30С); in February — and as a «threat of frostbite» ( — 22.0±2.40C). Under the influence of the minimum temperature and maximum wind, the health risk, assessed as «very cold» and «threat of frostbite», was determined in November-March. Assessment of the weather and climate conditions of the environment in the city according to the generally accepted method has a less pronounced degree of discomfort than the extreme values of physical factors. This must be taken into account when carrying out work in an open area at night, and when planning meetings for city guests when visiting it on excursions and other events.