A survey of Russian women regarding the presence of a companion during labor

Objective

To assess qualitatively the attitudes of Russian women toward the presence of a support person during labor.

Methods

Pregnant and postpartum women were surveyed at the Omsk County Maternity and Delivery Hospital, Omsk, Russia. Demographic information was obtained, and each woman was asked about her opinions regarding the presence of a companion during labor.

Results

Of the 70 women interviewed, 68.6% declined to have a partner present during labor. The most common reasons were that they: felt afraid for their husband (15.7%); felt personally embarrassed (17.1%); wanted to have a private experience (22.9%); and thought it would adversely affect their sex life (8.6%). Only 17.1% of the women agreed and were able to have a companion present during labor. In total, 31.4% of women were unable to have a companion present, for the following reasons: family matters; husband declined; husband did not undergo necessary laboratory tests; or spontaneous labor.

Conclusion

Many Russian women viewed childbirth as a medical process that should not involve social interaction. It is important for physicians to understand that there is a wide range of cultural differences in childbirth practice.     

Antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Arkhangelsk, Russia

OBJECTIVES: To characterise comprehensively the antibiotic susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Arkhangelsk, Russia, and to investigate whether the recommended treatment guidelines are updated and effective. METHODS: The susceptibility of N gonorrhoeae isolates, cultured during June-November 2004 mainly from consecutive patients with gonorrhoea (n = 76) in Arkhangelsk, to penicillin G, ampicillin, cefixime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, azithromycin, kanamycin, spectinomycin and tetracycline was analysed using Etest. Nitrocefin discs were used for beta-lactamase detection. RESULTS: The levels of intermediate susceptibility and resistance to the different antibiotics were as follows: penicillin G 76%, ampicillin 71%, cefixime 0%, ceftriaxone 3%, ciprofloxacin 17%, erythromycin 54%, azithromycin 14%, kanamycin 49%, spectinomycin 0% and tetracycline 92%. Of the isolates 55 (72%) were determined as multiresistant--that is, they showed intermediate susceptibility or resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics. However, none of the isolates were beta-lactamase producing. CONCLUSIONS: In Arkhangelsk, and presumably in many other areas of Russia, penicillins, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, azithromycin, kanamycin and tetracycline should not be used in the treatment of gonorrhoea if the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing are not available. In Russia, optimised, standardised and quality-assured antibiotic susceptibility testing needs to be established in many laboratories. Subsequently, continuous local, regional and national surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility is crucial to detect the emergence of new resistance, monitor changing patterns of susceptibility and be able to update treatment recommendations on a regular basis.     

A unique seroepidemiological pattern of HBV,HCV and HTLV-I in Nenets and Komi in Northwestern Russia

An epidemiological study of hepatitis viruses type B (HBV) and type C (HCV) and human T-cell leukemia virus ‍type I (HTLV-I) was carried out among 105 residents (male:female=19:86) regarded as Nenets partly mixed with ‍Komi, in the region of Krasnoe, the Nenets Autonomous District of the Arkhangelsk Region, in northwestern Russia ‍in 2004. Blood was drawn from apparently healthy volunteers at ages of 41.6+16.5 (range 14-85) years. HBsAg, ‍HBsAb, HBcAb, HBeAb and HCV Ab were measured by microparticle enzyme-immunoassay, and HTLV-I Ab was ‍measured by particle agglutination. Prevalences of HBsAg(+), HBsAb(+), HBcAb(+) and HBeAb(+) were 0.0%, ‍29.5.%, 20.0% and 7.6%, respectively. The overall HBV infection rate (positive HBsAb or HBcAb) was 34.3%, ‍while no positive HCV or HTLV-I Abs could be detected. A serological subgroup with positive HBsAb and negative ‍HBcAb, consisting of 15(14.3%) females, contrasted sharply to other serological subgroups in sex, age, parent’s ‍ethnicity, positive HBeAb rate, and HBcAb inhibition%. We conclude that HBV is prevalent with unique serological ‍patterns among the Nenets, while HCV and HTLV-I infections are negligible.     

俄罗斯学术期刊的发展现状与思考

【目的】 分析俄罗斯学术期刊的发展状况,归纳中俄学术期刊交流合作中存在的障碍,提出进一步推动两国学术期刊合作的措施和建议,为我国期刊界和相关管理部门提供借鉴。【方法】 采用文献调研法与网络调查法,从出版情况、传播体系、作者群体、相关法律、国际化进程等方面对俄罗斯学术期刊的发展状况进行调查,在此基础上分析中俄学术期刊交流合作存在的障碍。【结果】 中俄学术期刊交流存在着政策障碍、语言障碍、获取性障碍、写作障碍和投稿障碍。【结论】 两国相关部门有必要组织制定学术共同体统一评价体系,打造品牌化学术期刊交流平台。我国期刊应组建专业化编委团队,探索多元化交流方式。     

中俄双边口岸地区鼠形动物监测名录

目的于2006至2009年间对中俄黑龙江、内蒙古双边11个口岸地区的鼠形动物进行本底调查。方法 5 m夹夜法、弓形夹法及电弧捕鼠器捕捉法。结果编著中俄双边11个口岸鼠形动物名录。结论该名录为中俄口岸公共卫生及鼠传疾病的防治提供本底资料。     

Adolescent binge drinking and risky health behaviours: Findings from northern Russia

Background

Some evidence suggests that in recent years the prevalence of heavy drinking has increased among Russian adolescents. However, as yet, little is known about either heavy alcohol consumption or its relationship with other adolescent health risk behaviours in Russia. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the association between binge drinking and health risk behaviours among adolescents in Russia.

Methods

Data were drawn from the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA), a survey carried out in Arkhangelsk, Russia in 2003. Information was obtained from a representative sample of 2868 adolescents aged 13–17 regarding the prevalence and frequency of binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row in a couple of hours) and different forms of substance use, risky sexual behaviour and violent behaviour. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between binge drinking and adolescent involvement in various health risk behaviours.

Results

Adolescent binge drinking was associated with the occurrence of every type of health risk behaviour – with the sole exception of non-condom use during last sex. In addition, there was a strong association between the number of days on which binge drinking occurred and the prevalence of many health risk behaviours.

Conclusions

Binge drinking is associated with a variety of health risk behaviours among adolescents in Russia. Public health interventions such as reducing the affordability and accessibility of alcohol are now needed to reduce binge drinking and its harmful effects on adolescent well-being.     

Novel frameshift mutation in NYX gene in a Russian family with complete congenital stationary night blindness

ABSTRACT

Background: The complete form of X-linked congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB1A) is a very rare genetic disease caused by mutation in the NYX gene. CSNB1A-associated several mutations in the NYX gene have been reported earlier.

Methods: In this case report, we have clinically diagnosed and genetically confirmed a novel mutation associated with CSNB1A in four members of a Russian family. Two male siblings from a family of four siblings (two girls, two boys) with non-progressive stable night blindness since early childhood and high myopia underwent - visual acuity test, perimetry, biomicroscopy, OCT, ophthalmoscopy, electroretinography, color vision Hue test, NGS based whole exome analysis and Sanger sequencing for clinical characterization and genetic confirmation of CSNB.

Results: The members are clinically diagnosed and genetically confirmed with CSNB1A. All the patients had a novel frameshift mutation in the NYX gene (c.283delC, p.His95fs, NM_022567.2) that is found to segregate in X-linked manner

Conclusions: This is probably the first case report with a novel mutation from Russia associated with CSNB1A.     

Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection

Aims To understand the epidemiology and transmission patterns of hepatitis C virus (HCV), the predominant blood borne‐pathogen infecting injection drug users (IDUs), in a part of the former Soviet Union. Design Cross‐sectional respondent‐driven sample of IDUs. Setting St Petersburg, Russia. Participants A total of 387 IDUs were recruited in late 2005 and throughout 2006. Measurements Participants were surveyed to collect demographic, medical and both general and dyad‐specific drug injection and sexual behaviors. A blood sample was collected to detect antibodies to hepatitis C and to amplify viral RNA for molecular analysis. The molecular data, including genotypes, were analyzed spatially and linkage patterns were compared to the social linkages obtained by respondent‐driven sampling (RDS) for chains of respondents and among the injection dyads. Findings HCV infection was all but ubiquitous: 94.6% of IDUs were HCV‐seropositive. Among the 209 viral sequences amplified, genotype 3a predominated (n = 119, 56.9%), followed by 1b (n = 61, 29.2%) and 1a (n = 25, 11.9%). There was no significant clustering of genotypes spatially. Neither genotypes nor closely related sequences were clustered within RDS chains. Analysis of HCV sequences from dyads failed to find associations of genotype or sequence homology within pairs. Conclusions Genotyping reveals that there have been at least five unique introductions of HCV genotypes into the IDU community in St Petersburg. Analysis of prevalent infections does not appear to correlate with the social networks of IDUs, suggesting that simple approaches to link these networks to prevalent infections, rather than incident transmission, will not prove meaningful. On a more positive note, the majority of IDUs are infected with 3a genotype that is associated with sustained virological response to antiviral therapy.