Search

From the perspective of the modern system of domestic relations facilitating the development of research and industrial potential of the country and aimed at creating the conditions for the development of science intensive industries, which extract a high surplus value, the authors consider the research and education and innovation sectors of the Republic of Lithuania — the closest neighbour of the Russian Federation in the North-West region. The analysis of competences of Lithuanian research and education sectors helped identify promising research and technology development areas in terms of innovation cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Lithuania.

Background: Physicians faced increased workloads during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed them to considerable physical and psychological stress. Gaining insight into shapers of job morale of physicians can help healthcare administrators assess the effectiveness of current work conditions and support systems, enabling them to develop policies that improve work environments and prepare healthcare systems for future resurgences of COVID-19 and other future unknown challenges. Therefore, the present study aimed to improve the understanding of physicians' experiences of job morale in Kazakhstan during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: This was an explanatory sequential mixed method study that adopted an online structured questionnaire and semi-structured individual interviews as tools for data collection. The Warr-Cook-Wall scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel, and Beck Depression Inventory were used to measure job morale indicators. The interview topic guide, in turn, covered two key areas: general views on physicians' job morale during the COVID-19 pandemic and specific experiences which worsened or improved job morale during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics and regression models were utilised to analyse the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was employed for the qualitative data., Results: A total of 2086 survey responses and 30 interviews were analysed. Although job motivation was moderate, physicians were rather satisfied with their jobs. The prevalence of burnout was 30.97%, and signs of severe depression symptoms were detected among 3.69% of participants. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) fear of uncertainty; (2) media scrutiny; (3) resurgence in appreciation; and (4) heightened sense of duty., Conclusions: Despite the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians in Kazakhstan's public healthcare sector maintained generally positive job morale. This was mainly due to their strong sense of calling and a renewed appreciation for their role. Future research should rigorously examine longitudinal changes in job morale and the relationship between physicians' job morale and patient experiences., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsiniki, and approved by the ethics committee of First Multidisciplinary City Hospital of Astana (N2 25.11.2021). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: To systematically review the available literature on the efficacy of tibial nerve stimulation on faecal incontinence and quality of life in adult patients with low anterior resection syndrome following surgery for colorectal cancer., Methods: A primary search of electronic databases was conducted adopting a combination of search terms related to the following areas of interest: "efficacy", "tibial nerve stimulation" and "low anterior resection syndrome". A secondary search of the grey literature was performed in addition to checking the reference list of included studies and review papers. The review was reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A descriptive analysis was used to integrate the review findings., Results: Five distinct studies involving 116 patients met the inclusion criteria for the review. The included studies suggest that tibial nerve stimulation may have a positive effect on faecal incontinence and quality of life in some patients with low anterior resection syndrome and might be considered as an additional treatment option., Conclusion: There were a limited number of studies and a great degree of heterogeneity of evidence due to differences in participants' baseline characteristics, dropout rates, and follow-up periods. Further research adopting validated, consistent, and complex outcome assessment methods is recommended to determine the efficacy of tibial nerve stimulation for treatment of patients with low anterior resection syndrome.

Diabetic foot ulcer infection is a crucial complication associated with lower-limb amputation and postoperative mortality in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Deciding if a diabetic foot ulcer is infected in a community setting is challenging without validated point-of-care tests. Early detection of infected diabetic foot ulcers can reduce the frequency of hospitalizations, the occurrence of disability, and chances of mortality. Inflammatory biomarkers are predictors of infected diabetic foot ulcers and lower-limb amputation. Procalcitonin, CRP, pentraxin-3, interleukin-6, and calprotectin may help distinguish uninfected from mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers and diagnose soft tissue infections, bone lesions, and sepsis in diabetic patients. Moreover, these biomarkers may be predictors of lower-limb amputation and postoperative mortality. The current management of infected diabetic foot ulcers is disappointing and unsatisfactory, both in preventing its development and halting and modifying its progression. The use of new (molecular) techniques for the identification of the IDFU has not yet to be proven superior to classic cultural techniques for the management of such patients. For clinicians, if the risk stratification of DFU can be obtained earlier in diabetic patients, the hospitalization, disability, and mortality rate will be reduced. For the practical application of these biomarkers, it is important to correlate these quantitative parameters with clinical symptoms. Based on clinical observations and inflammatory biomarker evaluation, it can be used to guide clinical treatment methods. This review details clinical information published during the past several decades and discusses inflammatory biomarkers that may determine the risk and level of infection of diabetic foot ulcers., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objectives: To systematically review the available literature on the efficacy of erythropoietin for wound healing in human patients., Design: The review was reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A descriptive-analytical method was used to analyse and integrate review findings., Data Sources: A primary search of electronic databases was performed using a combination of search terms related to the following areas of interest: 'efficacy', 'erythropoietin' and 'wound healing'. A secondary search of the grey literature was conducted in addition to checking the reference list of included studies and review papers., Results: Seven distinct studies involving 150 patients met the inclusion criteria for the review. The included studies suggest that topical and subcutaneous application of erythropoietin improves the wound healing process via faster re-epithelialization and reducing wound area and depth., Conclusions: There were a limited number of studies and a great degree of heterogeneity of evidence due to differences in the course of concomitant illness, wound aetiology, and the time and dosing regimens adopted. Further research adopting validated and consistent outcome measures is recommended to determine the efficacy and safety of erythropoietin for wound healing., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Twenty eight patients with hereditary methemoglobinemia have been found and examined. Using the techniques of analytic isoelectrofucossing in polyacrylamide gel and the preparative isoelectrofocussing on a column in sucrose gradient we have managed to disclose an abnormal fraction in hemolysate of the above mentioned patients. It has been proved that the obtained fraction contains hemoglobin valent hybrids, possesses high affinity to oxygen and low cooperativity. Due to the presence of valency hybrids about one-half of the quantity of oxy-Hb fails to participate in the normal function of oxygen delivery, which evidently is the molecular cause of disturbance of oxygen delivery in patients with hereditary enzymopenic methemoglobinemia. This also explains a high degree of cyanosis in them.