BackgroundFew studies have examined the effects of low‐dose alcohol consumption on the “lipid peroxidation‐antioxidant defense” (LPO‐AOD) system of mothers and infants, and on infant growth and development. This study examined effects of alcohol consumption on the LPO‐AOD system of pregnant women and newborns and infant development.MethodsA total of 209 pregnant women were recruited for this prospective study at the first prenatal visit and followed until delivery: 112 consumed alcohol and 97 reported no alcohol use during pregnancy. Infants were evaluated at birth, and at 6 and 12 months of age. The study controlled for the confounding effect of maternal smoking.ResultsBiomarkers of lipid peroxidation, for example, thiobarbituric acid reactants, were higher and the activity of the antioxidant defense system was lower in drinkers and their infants. Higher rates of pathological conditions and slower postnatal growth were observed among infants who were prenatally exposed to alcohol. Low‐dose alcohol use and tobacco smoking were associated with lower postnatal infant growth trajectories, resulting in restricted growth at 6 and 12 months among infants born to mothers who drank or smoked during pregnancy. Alcohol had a broad effect on the infant and maternal LPO‐AOD system, while the effect of smoking was limited in this study to maternal glutathione peroxidase.ConclusionsSmall amounts of alcohol consumed during pregnancy are associated with dysfunction of the LPO‐AOD system and development of oxidative stress in women and their children. Identification and preventive interventions are needed for pregnant women who use alcohol in any amount.

The article analyzes the problem of alcohol behavior of women of reproductive age in Eastern Siberia and assessment of their quality of life. The authors analyze the current research of this problem and make a conclusion about the ambiguity of the solution of the problem of alcohol behavior in women and its connection with the quality of life. In a sample of 1,300 women (mean age 34.22±6.39), 816 of whom consumed alcohol, and 514 of whom consumed no alcohol, the authors conclude that women of reproductive age who consumed alcohol were less satisfied with their lives than women who did not consume alcohol, using the BDI and SF-12 methods and the Mann-Whitney U-criteria and the Pearson Chi-square. In addition, ethnic specificity was found to determine the relationship between alcohol use and life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Finally, it turned out that depressive symptoms were predominantly related to the use of strong alcohol.

The purpose of this сase-control study was to investigate the factors of subjective assessment of stress and their relationship with neuroendocrine mechanisms of its development in obstetricians-gynecologists against the background of professional burnout. Methods and Results: A total of 96 physicians and nurses from the different clinics specializing in both obstetrics and gynecology were surveyed. The Russian versions of MBI, BDI, SF-12, FFMQ, MAAS, and Coping strategies (the Ways of Coping Checklist) were applied. Blood serum/plasma was tested on the concentration of hormones (DHEA-C and TSH), melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine. Saliva cortisol was also estimated. In the present study, 43.75% of the physicians and nurses showed a high degree of burnout, which was comparable to that among physicians and nurses in other studies. Physicians and nurses with a high degree of burnout had more expressed coping strategies like Confrontive coping, Distancing, Self-controlling, Seeking social support and Escape-avoidance. Also, they have more expressed level of depressive manifestations. We found significant correlations between some factors of subjective assessment of stress (like coping and mindfulness) and neuroendocrine biomarkers. Adaptive coping like Planful problem-solving correlated negatively with the level of melatonin, and subscales of the mindfulness questionnaire were correlated negatively with levels of some biomarkers. Thus, we concluded that coping strategies and mindfulness could theoretically contribute to a decrease in the secretion of several hormones. Conclusion: Physicians and nurses with a low degree of burnout have a greater level of mindfulness and a lower level of some maladaptive coping strategies – Confrontive coping, Distancing, Escape-avoidance. Our results focus on the predictive role of these factors of subjective assessment of stress, in particular, Confrontive coping and mindfulness, in burnout syndrome. The present data confirm that there are some psychological and physiological aspects related to stress in the medical profession.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed 34 million lives so far. 38 million people are living with HIV around the world. 2 million of these people are children. The high medical, social and economic significance of HIV infection is determined by the widespread and severe course of the disease. Every year, up to 2.7 million new infections are registered worldwide. Up to 30 % of cases of HIV infection in pregnant women are detected for the first time during pregnancy-related examinations. Every year, 1.49 million babies are born to HIV-positive women worldwide. The current tasks are to preserve the health of women and reduce the risk of transmission of HIV infection from mother to child. The article analyzes the results of Russian and foreign studies concerning the problems of pregnant HIV-positive women, published in international databases. The aim of the work is to analyze the data of studies aimed at studying the effect of HIV infection on the course of pregnancy.

Aim. To determine the attitude of medical students to alcohol and nicotine. Methods. An anonymous survey of 118 5th year students (43 male students, 75 female students; mean age 22.6±0.9 years) of Irkutsk State Medical University was conducted. A self-composed questionnaire allowing to evaluate the students’ attitude to alcohol and nicotine was used. No cases of turndown were observed. Results. 17 (39.5%) out of 43 male students and 31 (41.3%) out of 75 female students were active smokers. 29.4% male students and 58.1% female students smoked up to 5 cigarettes per day, 58.8 and 38.7% - 5 to 10 cigarettes per day, 11.8 and 3.2% - over 10 cigarettes per day, accordingly. The majority of students (88.2% amle and 70.9% female students) smoked «light» cigarettes, 11.8 and 29.1% - «superlight». 25 (58.1%) male students and 47 (62.7%) female students reported that they were alcohol takers. Most of male students (84%) were drinking beer, most of female students (74.5%) - wine. 96% male and 36.2% female students took strong spirits. 17 (39.6%) male and 22 (29.3%) reported episodes of partial amnesia after alcohol consumption. 5 (20%) out of 25 male and 16 (34%) out of 47 female students reported they would like to reduce their alcohol consumption. Conclusion. The study showed that alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking is a rather common in the respondents; this problem requires further study.