Introduction. The prevalence of occupational respiratory diseases remains quite high. Artificial intelligence technologies are successfully used to assess the risk of bronchopulmonary diseases. The novelty of the study lies in the simultaneous comparison of classical statistical methods and interpreted machine learning using SHAP analysis, which ensures both scientific validity and practical applicability of the results obtained in the occupational pathology system.

The study aims to build a machine learning model based on the results of clinical, functional and laboratory parameters in patients with occupational bronchopulmonary pathology and to determine predictors of disease progression in the post-exposure period.

Materials and methods. To study changes in clinical, functional, laboratory and radiological data, taking into account the duration of the disease, the authors divided the patients into 2 groups: the first (61 people) — patients with occupational bronchopulmonary pathology (the diagnosis was established during initial hospitalization while continuing to work in aluminum production); the second group (69 people) — persons with occupational bronchopulmonary pathology in the post-exposure period (observed in a clinic with an established diagnosis of an occupational disease for 5 years or more). All of the surveyed are former employees of the aluminum industry. The final database includes 130 observations with 58 features (binary and quantitative) and a binary target variable. To build a prognostic model, the gradient boosting algorithm on XGBoost decision trees (XGBClassifier) was used. The result is a predictive function f(x), which converts the vector of input features into a predictive value of the probability of assigning a patient to the first or second group.

Results. When conducting mathematical statistics using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney criterion after correction by the Benjamini–Hochberg method, the authors identified signs that differ statistically between the groups. These included: work experience in harmful conditions, the total number of points on the CAT scale (COPD assessment test), the severity of shortness of breath on the mMRs and Borg scales, the number of meters covered during the 6-minute walking test. Of the spirometric parameters, an increase in the vital capacity of the lungs turned out to be significant, and of the laboratory parameters, the level of transferrin in the blood serum. In addition, the model revealed the influence of the following laboratory parameters: the number of platelets, lymphocytes, rod-shaped leukocytes, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), triglycerides, atherogenicity index, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, potassium, ceruloplasmin, as well as functional parameters — FEV1 and residual lung volume.

Limitations. The study has professional (aluminum production workers) and gender (men) limitations.

Conclusion. From the period of diagnosis to the post-exposure period of occupational bronchopulmonary pathology, shortness of breath rates on the MMRs and Borg scales, CAT 9 index, increase, with a simultaneous deterioration in 6-MSHT indicators, which manifests itself in maximum symptoms and has an extremely strong effect on the patient's health, quality of life and physical activity. At the same time, LDL levels increase with an increased level of platelets in the blood, which increases the risk of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and cardiovascular pathology. At the stage of diagnosis, there is a significant pro-inflammatory background, characterized by an increase in the number of rod-shaped leukocytes and blood ceruloplasmin. The XGBClassifier model demonstrated high prediction accuracy, supported by ROC-AUC values, sensitivity, and specificity.

Ethics. In accordance with the requirements of the Committee on Biomedical Ethics, the examination was conducted only with the written informed consent of the patients, the work did not infringe on the rights and did not endanger the well-being of the study subjects in accordance with the requirements of biomedical ethics approved by the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (2024) and the order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 200N (dated 04/01/2016). FGBNU VSIMEI has a license to curry out medical activities of the Territorial body of Roszdravnadzor in the Irkutsk region No. L041-00110-38/00355362 dated 07/28/2020.

Contributions:

Beigel E.A. — research concept and design, material collection and data processing, text writing, design and editing of the article;
Lakhman O.L. — concept and design of the research, design and editing of the article; Rozhkova N.Y. — statistical processing, text writing, design and editing of the article;
Peshcherova S.M. — statistical processing, text writing, design and editing of the article;
All co-authors — approving the final version of the article and ensuring the integrity of all parts of the article.

Funding. The funding was provided within the Framework of the research work "Study of the mechanisms of formation and progression of neurodegenerative and bronchopulmonary disorders under the influence of industrial toxicants" (state registration number No. 01201355913) and exploratory scientific research "Development of methods for diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of diseases aimed at prolonging the active longevity of the Siberian population" (number state registration No. AAAAA-A20-120100190008-8); "Development of approaches to the treatment and medical rehabilitation of patients with comorbid post-COVID syndrome and military personnel injured in combat operations" (state registration number 12303200011-5).

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 17.08.2025 / Accepted: 12.09.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

Introduction. In recent years researchers have recorded the highest levels of occupational morbidity among the subjects of the Russian Federation, in the Murmansk Region.

The study aims to identify trends in changes in the levels and structure of occupational morbidity among workers of various specialties and types of economic activity in the Murmansk region in 2003–2023.

Materials and methods. The authors analyzed the data of the Murmansk region register of occupational diseases for 2003–2023.

Results. In 2003–2023, occupational morbidity in the Murmansk Region was 1.24–11.68 times higher than the national figures. For the first time, the authors identified 5,298 occupational diseases in 2,613 workers, mainly mining (56.1%) and metallurgical (25.7%) enterprises. In the structure of pathology, radiculopathy (16.0%), vibration disease (16.0%) and sensorineural hearing loss (15.8%) were the most common. The features of occupational pathology in 2003–2023 were: an increase in the proportion of miners (p<0.001) and a decrease in the proportion of metallurgists (p<0.001), an increase in the proportion of radiculopathy and vibration disease in the pathology structure (p<0.001), a decrease in the proportion of sensorineural hearing loss and especially (5.5 times) chronic bronchitis (p<0.001). In addition, there was an increase in work experience before the development of pathology, which was accompanied by an increase in the number of various diseases in one employee (from 1.77±0.03 to 2.16±0.06 cases, p<0.001).

Limitations. The possibility of registering occupational diseases that have arisen in the Murmansk region and in other regions of Russia.

Conclusion. In the Murmansk region in 2003–2023, there was no decrease in occupational morbidity, which requires clarification of the reasons for the ineffectiveness of preventive measures.

Ethics. This study does not require the conclusion of a biomedical Ethics Committee or other documents.

Contributions:
Syurin S.A. — the concept and design of research, writing the text of the article;
Kovshov A.A. — statistical processing and analysis of results, editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 18.08.2025 / Accepted: 05.06.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

Thiocarbamide (TC) is increasingly used in many industries and agriculture. However, most of the data available in the literature (including materials on the assessment of mutagenic and teratogenic activities, as well as reproductive toxicity) are haphazard, obtained in the middle of the last century and do not comply with modern rules for studying the safety of chemical compounds. On this basis, IARC experts determined hazard class 3 for TC in 1979 and then in 2001.

The study aims to analyze the literature data to identify gaps in knowledge about the biological activity of TC and to describe a possible system for planning new research on the genetic safety of TC within the framework of modern experimental approaches. The authors carried out an analysis of 55 literature sources, which is almost all the materials published during the entire study of the biological effects of TC.

The main disadvantages of the conducted research are the lack of a systematic approach and the inconsistency of the choice of research methods with modern rules for studying the biological effects of chemical compounds. The variety of models and the fragmentary nature of the available data do not allow us to understand the mechanisms of the biological effects of TC.

The literature review includes almost all publications on the biological activity of TC available in the open press. The analysis of these data demonstrates extensive gaps in current knowledge about the biological effects of TC, the mechanisms of their formation and development. To fill in these gaps, it is especially important to study in detail the long-term effects of TC in humans and to develop a system of safe regulations for this contact. The analysis of the global TC market demonstrates a pronounced tendency to expand the sphere of human contact with this substance. The results of experiments on biological models prove a high probability of polymorphism of TK sensitivity genes, which, in turn, justifies the need for systematic research using all methods of genetic toxicology. Such comprehensive studies will make it possible to identify genetic markers of sensitivity to TC, which will make possible a scientifically sound selection of personnel for whom contact with TC is the least dangerous.

Ethics. The conducted research did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contributions:
Ingel F.I. — research concept and design, writing of the text; editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Konyashkina M.A.— writing and editing the text, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Mamonov R.A. — text editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Yudin S.M. — approval of the final version of the article.

Funding. The study was carried out within the Framework of the state assignment of the Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks, FMBA of Russia and had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 09.09.2025 / Accepted: 15.09.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

The population of resource–producing regions is exposed to a complex complex environmental impact — the combined effects of adverse factors of industrial and non-industrial origin. In coal mining and metallurgical areas, pathology of the bronchopulmonary system is especially common, which primarily reacts subtly to hypoxia in conditions of atmospheric air pollution. It is known that hypoxia underlies the pathogenesis of many occupational diseases, and is often a triggering factor in the development of the pathological process and, as a result, disorders of the energy balance in tissues. In this case, the pathways of intracellular signaling are disrupted, including the redox signaling system, whose action is mediated by the activation of free radical processes and changes in the level of protective proteins in cells. The physiological state and stability of these systems determine the adaptive capabilities of an organism in conditions of environmental disadvantage. In this regard, it is important to search for methods of treatment and prevention of occupational diseases based on the modulation of the redox signaling system. Such methods include interval normobaric hypoxic training, which is based on adaptation, in fact, to hypoxia, as well as to periods of reoxygenation at the time of returning to breathing air with a normal oxygen content. In this review, the authors have systematized studies on the use of adaptation of the human body to different oxygen levels in the prevention of occupational diseases of the bronchopulmonary system.

For this purpose, a search was conducted for literary sources on the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, eLibrary, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Scopus and CyberLeninka. The authors used specific keywords and phrases: occupational diseases, pathology of the bronchopulmonary system, prevention of interval normobaric hypoxic and hyperoxic training, redox signaling system, antihypoxic and antioxidant protective proteins. The experimental and clinical data presented in the review on the body's adaptation to different oxygen levels indicate that interval hypoxic and hyperoxic training can be an effective method of preventing occupational lung pathology with significant therapeutic potential for clinical practice in occupational health.

Contributions:
Zhukova A.G. — the concept and design of the review, collection, analysis and interpretation of data (literary sources), writing the text;
Kizichenko N.V. — collection, analysis and interpretation of data (literary sources);
Bugaeva M.S. — collection, analysis and interpretation of data (literary sources);
Mikhailova N.N. — the concept and design of the review, collection, analysis and interpretation of data (literary sources), writing the text;
Filimonov E.S. — collection, analysis and interpretation of data (literary sources);
Sazontova T.G. — the concept and design of the review, collection, analysis and interpretation of data (literary sources), writing the text.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 09.07.2025 / Accepted: 22.09.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

The main part of radiation exposure to humans is formed by natural sources of ionizing radiation, of which radon is the predominant. A number of epidemiological studies have proven its detrimental effect on health — up to 15% of lung cancer cases are associated with daughter products of radon decay. Despite the very low radon content in the atmospheric air, the threat to health is reinforced by the fact that a person stays indoors for a long time, where radon activity is usually higher.

The study aims to assess the radiation safety of students and staff of educational institutions in Tobolsk.

A radonometric survey of 6 buildings of educational institutions in Tobolsk was conducted. As part of the work, the average annual value of the equivalent equilibrium volumetric radon activity, radiation doses and radiation risks caused by radon inhalation were determined for the studied premises. Radon activity was measured weekly by express method during the heating period.

The average annual radon activity in the air of the studied rooms is estimated at 51–59 Bq/m³ (110–134 Bq/m³, taking into account the uncertainty of the estimate). The annual effective doses of internal radiation and radiation risks of students and staff associated with radon inhalation while in educational institutions were less than 0.6 mSv/year and 7.9×10^–5–1×10^–4, respectively. With exposure to residential and outdoor areas, radiation doses increase to 1.45 mSv/year, and the risk of death from lung cancer increases to 2.4×10^–4.

According to the results of measurements of radon activity, no non-compliance with radiation safety standards was found among the studied rooms. The effective radiation dose for Tobolsk school workers and students does not exceed an acceptable level (5 mSv/year). The risk of death from lung cancer can be classified as low, acceptable to staff, but not to the general population.

Ethics. This study did not require the approval of the Ethics Committee.

Acknowledgement. The author is grateful to the educational institutions of Tobolsk that participated in the research. The author is grateful to the reviewers for suggestions and comments that improved the quality of the article.

Funding. The work was carried out within the Framework of the study "Ecological and geochemical transformations of soils of ecosystems of the Ob-Irtysh basin under the influence of natural and man-made factors" (R&D reg. number: 1024023000029-9-1.5.4).

Conflict of interest. The author declares no conflict of interest.

Received: 15.09.2025 / Accepted: 20.09.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a myocardial disease associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The scientists examined the criteria for diagnosis and anatomical and morphological types, phenocopies of HCM, algorithms for examination and risk stratification of SCD, necessary when addressing issues of professional suitability based on clinical recommendations and regulations (Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 29n). The clinical observation of a patient with HCM who was sent for a mandatory periodic medical examination is presented. The analysis showed that, according to Order No. 29n, the diagnosis of HCM in itself does not serve as a medical contraindication to work. A restriction of admission occurs if an employee has complications of the disease (life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, chronic heart failure of functional class III–IV). At the same time, with an asymptomatic, non-obstructive variant of HCM, it is important to assess the risk of SCD according to special risk scales. Access to work with harmful working conditions is possible with a low risk of SCD. Thus, an individual assessment of professional aptitude, based on a comprehensive analysis of the patient's condition, SCD risk stratification data and compliance with industry standards, makes it possible to ensure occupational safety without unreasonable restrictions.

Contributions:
Gorokhova S.G. — concept and design of the study, data processing, writing;
Alpaev D.V. — data collection and processing, writing;
Korchagin I.A. — data collection and processing;
Strizhakov L.A. — design and editing;
Atkov O.Yu. — concept and editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 10.09.2025 / Accepted: 06.10.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

The coronavirus epidemic in 2020–2022 has brought the health of healthcare workers to the forefront. Biological factors have always been a leading threat to healthcare workers' health. Before the pandemic, tuberculosis was the leading occupational disease among healthcare workers in the Russian Federation due to exposure to biological factors. In rarer cases, parenteral infections such as HIV and hepatitis C can also be contracted in the workplace.

A case is presented in which the possibility of a combination of two occupational diseases — tuberculosis and HIV — was discussed in one patient. The absence of documentary evidence of the possibility of HIV infection (absence of emergency situations) in the performance of professional duties by the ward nurse, the absence of witness testimony of the fact of an emergency situation in the workplace, the impossibility of reliably proving by means of phylogenetic analysis the fact of transmission of the HIV pathogen from a specific patient to the ward nurse (based on the results of an independent phylogenetic analysis of three extended regions of the HIV-1 genome, it was established that the studied HIV-1 samples isolated from patient No. 3 and the nurse belong to the same genetic variant of the HIV subtype, the most common in the territories of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, therefore, their infection with HIV infection could have occurred with the HIV genome circulating in the territory of the Krasnoyarsk Territory), the absence of infection with viral hepatitis C in the nurse, with infection with HIV and hepatitis C established in patient No. 3, do not allow us to speak about the professional nature of the nurse's HIV infection.

It has been shown that when determining whether HIV infection is related to one's occupation, documentary evidence of the possibility of HIV infection occurring while performing one's job duties is necessary, with mandatory registration of the emergency in the emergency log.

Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences can be used as an additional tool in the epidemiological investigation of HIV cases presumably associated with the provision of medical care or other complex cases from an epidemiological perspective.

The distinguishing feature of occupational diseases caused by biological factors is not exposure and duration of work experience, but the clinical course and epidemiological history. Close collaboration between specialists in occupational medicine, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, and phthisiologists is essential to resolve expert issues.

Contribution:
Zakharinskaya O.N. — article concept and design, writing, editing;
Strizhakov L.A. — concept, design, and editing;
Pavlova N.Yu. — concept and design, writing, editing;
All co-authors — approving of the final version of the article.

Funding. Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 16.07.2025 / Accepted: 23.08.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025

Earlier, the environmental problems of the effects of mercury pollution on the environment at the industrial site of the mercury electrolysis workshop of Usolyokhimprom LLC in the Irkutsk region were discussed. Surveys were conducted among former employees and the contingent involved in liquidation measures, which made it possible to outline approaches to identifying individuals with a potential risk of negative health effects.

The study aims to consider combinations of unfavorable genotypes of polymorphic variants of the GSTM1, GSTP1, and HSPA1B genes in a population sample of residents of Eastern Siberia and compare them with those in cohorts exposed to occupational exposure to identify the risk of mercury intoxication.

The authors studied polymorphic variants of the GSTP1 (Ile105Val, rs1695), GSTP1 (Ala114Val, rs1138272) and GSTM1 genes by PCR-RV in 92 residents of the Usolsky district. In addition, the HSPA1B polymorphism (1267A/G, rs1061581) was additionally investigated by embedded PCR in 144 employees of the Federal Environmental Operator (FEO) who participated in the elimination of accumulated damage at the industrial site of the enterprise.

Analysis of HSPA1B genotypes combinations with two or three adverse GST genotypes revealed 6 (0.07) individuals with the GG-HSPA1B genotype in examined sample. That was comparable with the frequency of those in the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) group (0.05) and more than twice exceeded the combination frequency in FEO employees group of (0.03). Among former workers, carriage of similar genotype combinations was established in 6 (0.07) patients with chronic mercury intoxication (CMI) whereas no combinations were detected in group of long-term workers without CMI. Two patients with CMI and three firefighters from the MES (0.02 in both cases) were identified as carriers of three adverse GST genotypes in combination with a GG homozygote with the absence of such combinations in other groups.

The authors conducted a study of polymorphic loci of GSTM1, GSTP1, and HSPA1B genes in a population sample of Eastern Siberia residents followed by the analysis of adverse genotype combinations compared with those in occupationally exposed to mercury cohorts. Individuals with a combination of two or three adverse GST genotypes with the GG-HSPA1B genotype which is associated with a high prognostic risk of CMI development were identified in the examined sample. The latter is essential since the surveyed sample can potentially be considered as a cross-section of the future workforce engaged in the recultivation of Usolyekhimprom LLC mercury contaminated zone and the construction or operation of the objects of the planned environmental technology park.

Limitations. Limitations include both the relatively small size of the examined sample and the lack of data on the deletion polymorphism of the GSTT1 gene for this group, previously obtained for professionally exposed cohorts.

Ethics. Voluntary informed consent was obtained from each subject, approved by the local committee on Biomedical ethics (Protocol No. 6 dated 03/10/2020).

Contributions:
Chernyak Yu.I. — concept, research design, data analysis and interpretation, writing and editing text;
Larionova K.V. — performing techniques, data analysis, writing text;
Lakhman O.L. — making fundamental changes and editing the text.

Gratitude. The authors express their gratitude to the staff of the Institute's clinic for organizing the examination and forming groups.

Funding. The work was carried out within the Framework of the state assignment of the East-Siberian Institute of Medical and Ecological Research (No. 123032000010-8).

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 29.09.2025 / Accepted: 06.10.2025 / Published: 30.10.2025