The effect of the neural activity on topological properties of growing neural networks

© 2016 World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd.The connectivity structure in cortical networks defines how information is transmitted and processed, and it is a source of the complex spatiotemporal patterns of network’s development, and the process of creation and deletion of connections is continuous in the whole life of the organism. In this paper, we study how neural activity influences to the growth process in neural networks. By using a two-dimensional activity-dependent growth model we demonstrated the neural network growth process from disconnected neurons to fully connected networks. For making quantitative investigation of the network’s activity influence on its topological properties we compared it with the random growth network not depending on network’s activity. By using the random graphs theory methods for the analysis of the network’s connections structure it is shown that the growth in neural networks results in the formation of a well-known “small-world” network

The influence of social support on risk of acute cardiovascular diseases in female population aged 25–64 in Russia

Objective. To study the prevalence of social support (SS) and its influence on the relative risk (RR) of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in the female population aged 25–64 in Russia. Materials and methods. Under the third screening of the WHO “MONICA-psychosocial” programme, a random representative sample of women aged 25–64 (n=870) were surveyed in Novosibirsk. SS was measured according to the methods of the Berkman–Sym test [indices of close contacts (ICC) and index of social network (SNI)]. From 1995 to 2010, women were followed for 16 years to observe the incidence of MI and stroke. Results. The prevalence of low levels of ICC and SNI in women aged 25–64 was 57.1 and 77.7%, respectively. Low levels of ICC and SNI were associated with poor self-rated health and awareness about their health, adverse behavioural habits, high job strain and family stress. Rates of MI and stroke development were higher in married women with low ICC and SNI who were being in class “hard manual work”. Over a 16-year study period, the RR of MI in women with low ICC compared to those with high ICC was 4.9 times higher, and the risk of stroke was 4.1 times higher. Low level of SNI increased MI risk in 2.9 times, risk of stroke in 2.7 times. Conclusions. Majority of women aged 25–64 years in Russia have low social support which is associated with poor self-rated health, low awareness about the health that increases the risk of MI and stroke in 2.7–4.9 times in groups of “married” and “hard physical work”

Cost of human capital estimation and management in medical organization

© Medwell Journals, 2016.The purpose of this research is the analysis and improvement of technology of human capital cost management for maintaining efficient personnel policy in a modern organization. The study offers researchers method of assessment and management of investments in human capital. This method involves structure of cost behavior during formation and development of human capital, change history of investment risks on each stage of business career, modeling of volume of investments on various degrees of their riskiness, mathematical analysis and forecasting profitability of investments in human capital, development of recommendations on human capital cost management. Furthermore, it determines investment appeal of human capital development. The real method is assayed on the materials of a project on human capital development in "KORL" JSC. To maintain human capital cost management we offer systematic monitoring of its current value and change on the basis of the offered optimizing models, following the investment approach for personnel decision making, personalization in accounting the investments in human capital and its profitability

POLYMORPHISM OF GSTM1 AND GSTT1 GENES IN WORKERS OF FERROUS METALLURGY WITH PROFESSIONAL FLUOROSIS

The aim of the present work was to study genetic risk factors for the development of professional fluorosis in workers of Novokuznetsk aluminum factory, the presence of which is associated with the risk of professional dental fluorosis and resistance to it. The study involved 79 male workers of Novokuznetsk aluminum factory Ltd. "RUSAL" of 35-60 years. The control group (212 people) consisted of healthy individuals working for the same company and without fluorosis. The material for the study were the venous blood samples. Polymorphism of null-alleles of genes encoding transferase phase 2 biotransformation of xenobiotics - GSTT1 and GSTM1 was studied. In this study DNA was isolated by phenolhloroformnym method performing polymerase chain reaction amplification products electrophoresed on agarose gel, and the products were visualized under ultraviolet light. The frequencies of alleles and genotypes in groups of patients and healthy subjects were compared using the χ2 test with Yates correction for continuity. The association of different genotypes (or combinations thereof) was estimated by the magnitude of the disease odds ratio (OR). The frequencies of alleles and phenotypes in our sample were studied on an aluminum factory workers and were already comparable to previously published data on Russian Federation and Siberian federal district. Analysis of differences in genotype frequencies between patients with fluorosis and those of the control group using χ2 criteria and OR shows that the largest contribution to the risk of developing the disease is making by null-allele of the GSTT1 gene (GSTT1(-)), as well as the "double zero" - a combination of GSTT1(-) and GSTM1(-). On the other hand the holders GSTT1(+)) as well as combinations of genotypes GSTT1(+) / GSTM1(-) are the most resistant to this disease genotype. The obtained data can be used in the formation of risk groups for development of fluorosis, for timely diagnosis and prevention of loss of workers' health

Analysis of eight polymorphic Alu elements in the teleuts population

Allele frequencies and genetic diversity in the population of Teleuts were assessed by the Alu repeat polymorphism at eight autosomal loci (ACE, APOA1, PLAT, F13, PV92, A25, CD4, D1). For comparison, the study included previously obtained data on the Alu polymorphism in 19 indigenous populations of Siberia. On the dendrogram of genetic distances, the Teleut population is located in the cluster of Siberian ethnic groups, which are similar in origin, geography, and cultural traditions

The Relationship between Epigenetic Age and Myocardial Infarction/Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study

We investigated the relationship between ‘epigenetic age’ (EA) derived from DNA methylation (DNAm) and myocardial infarction (MI)/acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A random population sample was examined in 2003/2005 (n = 9360, 45–69, the HAPIEE project) and followed up for 15 years. From this cohort, incident MI/ACS (cases, n = 129) and age- and sex-stratified controls (n = 177) were selected for a nested case-control study. Baseline EA (Horvath’s, Hannum’s, PhenoAge, Skin and Blood) and the differences between EA and chronological age (CA) were calculated (ΔAHr, ΔAHn, ΔAPh, ΔASB). EAs by Horvath’s, Hannum’s and Skin and Blood were close to CA (median absolute difference, MAD, of 1.08, –1.91 and –2.03 years); PhenoAge had MAD of −9.29 years vs. CA. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of MI/ACS per 1–year increments of ΔAHr, ΔAHn, ΔASB and ΔAPh were 1.01 (95% CI 0.95–1.07), 1.01 (95% CI 0.95–1.08), 1.02 (95% CI 0.97–1.06) and 1.01 (0.93–1.09), respectively. When classified into tertiles, only the highest tertile of ΔAPh showed a suggestion of increased risk of MI/ACS with OR 2.09 (1.11–3.94) independent of age and 1.84 (0.99–3.52) in the age- and sex-adjusted model. Metabolic modulation may be the likely mechanism of this association. In conclusion, this case-control study nested in a prospective population-based cohort did not find strong associations between accelerated epigenetic age markers and risk of MI/ACS. Larger cohort studies are needed to re-examine this important research question

SELF-ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH IN MEN AND WOMEN OF THE OPEN POPULATION OF THE MEDIUM-URBANIZED CITY OF WESTERN SIBERIA: GENDER PECULIARITIES

Attitude to health is a complex of social and medical aspects that reflect the subjective health self-assessment of (SZ) by the population, awareness of risk factors (RF) of non-communicable diseases, as well as the level of population involvement in the process of health promotion. A separate category among these parameters is the health selfassessment as an indicator that closely correlates with the human physical health. The aim of the study was to determine the gender characteristics of self-assessment of health status in the open population of the mid-urbanized city of Western Siberia. Material and methods. An one-time epidemiological study was conducted as part of cardiac screening for an open urban population of 25–64 years old among males and females of working age (on the model of Tyumen). The study of health self-assessment, physical complaints, as well as health care evaluation was conducted using a standard questionnaire WHO «MONICA-psychosocial» «Knowledge and attitude to own health». Results. In the open population of the middle urbanized city of Western Siberia, the extremely low men health self-assessment, compared with women, prevails in the older group of 55–64 years old. In the female population the negative health self-assessment and physical complaints totally prevail in young and mature age. Approximately 10 % of the Tyumen population determined adequate own health care (predominantly women of 35–44 years old); men aged 25–34 show a greater desire for own health care. Conclusion. A subjective-objective indicator of the population health, where the health self-assessment holds a unique position, requires active study in populations and can serve as a scientific basis for the development and formation of socially oriented preventive programs that take into account gender and age characteristics and risks

Dynamics of sleep duration (2003-2018) and the risk of myocardial infarction in an open population aged 45-64 years in Russia/Siberia

Aim. To determine the dynamics and impact of sleep duration in 2003-2018 on the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in an open population aged 45-64 years in Novosibirsk.Material and methods. The study included representative samples of the population aged 45-64 years, obtained as part of the screening IV in 2003-2005 (men, 576; mean age, 54,23±0,2 years; response rate, 61%; women, 1074; mean age, 54,27+0,2 years; response rate, 72%) and screening VI in 2015-2018 (men, n=275; mean age, 49±0,4 years; response, 72%; women, n=390; mean age, 45±0,4 years; response rate, 75%). Screenings were carried out according to the standard protocol of the WHO MONICA-psychosocial Program (MOPSY). The Jenkins Questionnaire was used to assess sleep duration and disturbances.Results. For the period from 2003-2005 to 2015-2018, we revealed decrease in the number of following people: with 7 hours of sleep at night from 44,9% to 31,9%; with 8 hours of sleep from 28,5% to 24,4%. In addition, the number of participants with ≤5 hours of sleep increased from 4,9% to 9,9%, while those with ≤6 hours — from 16,2% to 27,2%, as well as the number of people sleeping 9 hours a day (from 3,7% to 5,4%). In 2003-2005, among the population in the age group of 55- 64 years, 7-hour sleep was observed more often (45б1%); 6-hour sleep prevailed in the group of people aged 45-54 (18,9%). There were no significant differences between the duration of sleep and the age group according to screening VI in 2015- 2018. Among men, 6-hour sleep were observed more often (38.4%), and among women — 7 hours (37,3%). Those who sleep 7 hours a night were more likely to consider their sleep “good” (35,3%) in 2015-2018. In a population of 45-64 years old, over a 14-year period, the risk of MI was higher as follows: 1. in men with 5-6 hours of sleep than with 7-8 hours of sleep at night by 1,689 times (95% confidence interval (CI), 1,124-2,537 p<0,012); in men aged 45-54 years by 2,416 times (95% CI, 1,311-4,452; p<0,005), respectively; 2. in women with 5-6 hours of sleep by 1,591 times (95% CI, 1,058-2,392; p<0,026) compared with 7-8-hour duration of sleep. In the 45-54 year group, the risk of MI was higher among women with 9-10 hours of sleep a night by 4,44 times (95% CI, 2,726-20,309; p<0,0001) compared with women who had 7-8 hours of sleep at night.Conclusion. We revealed that over the period of 2003-2018, the duration of night sleep of 7-8 hours among the population aged 45-64 years (without cardiovascular diseases) decreased both among men and women. At the same time, the “good” quality of sleep was more often found in people with 7-hour sleep. It was determined that short sleep duration was associated with MI among men and women, and long sleep duration turned out to be a risk factor for MI for women in the group of 45-54 years

Biological Determinants of Sleep Disorders

The purpose of the study is to research the effect of polymorphism of genes such as CLOCK, ARNTL, PER2, NPAS2, DRD4, DAT, TNF-α, and NPSR1 on sleep disorders in an open population of 25–64-year-old men. We conducted screening studies of representative samples of men aged 25–64 years. The general examination was carried out according to the standard methods included in the WHO MONICA-Psychosocial Program (MOPSY). Carriers of the C/T genotype of the CLOCK gene more often than others reported having “satisfactory” or “poor” sleep. Carriers of the C/T genotype of the ARNTL gene were more likely to experience anxiety dreams, and they woke up exhausted. Carriers of the A/A genotype of the PER2 gene were more likely to wake up two or more times per night, a total of four to seven times per week. In the population, C/T and T/T genotypes of the NPAS2 gene were significantly more common in individuals with 7-hour sleep. Genotype 4/6 of the DRD4 gene and genotype 9/9 of the DAT gene were significantly associated with sleep disturbances. Carriers of the heterozygous A/G genotype of the TNF-α-308 gene, compared with carriers of all other genotypes, more often rated sleep as “satisfactory” (30%) than “good.