RISK FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a socially significant problem and are theleading cause of death worldwide. A number of studies prove that lifestyle changes related to weightreduction, active physical activity, control of arterial hypertension can delay and possibly prevent thedevelopment of CVD.Objective: To investigate the presence of risk factors in patients with cardiovascular diseases.179Material and methods: Analysis of literary sources, documentary and survey method (directindividual anonymous survey) are applied. The opinion of 54 patients treated at "Sveta Marina" UMBALEAD - Varna - Department of Invasive Cardiology and Department of Non-Invasive Cardiology at theSecond Clinic of Cardiology was studied. The research was conducted in the period April - May 2022.Graphical analysis was applied to visualize the observed processes and phenomena. The Microsoft OfficeExcel software package was used to create the graphs.Results and discussion: The results of the study prove the presence of family burden in themajority of patients. A significant part of the respondents answered that they do not follow a dietaryregime with restriction of cooking salt and do not consume fruits and vegetables daily. The majority ofrespondents indicate that they do not have daily physical activity. Two-thirds of the study participantshad been under stress in the past year and the same number were smokers.Conclusion: The study of the presence of risk factors in patients with cardiovascular diseases isan important prerequisite for active work in the direction of overcoming them. Nurses can significantlycontribute in this direction, through prophylactic activities for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Clogging of Microchannels by Nano-particles due to Hetero-coagulation in Elongational Flow

We have investigated flow-induced aggregation in highly concentrated colloidal dispersions exposed to strongly converging flow fields. A ring-slit device has been developed in order to investigate this phenomenon. Our experiments demonstrate that clogging of the microchannel is induced by hetero-coagulation between primary colloidal particles and micron-sized impurities present at concentration in the ppm range

Methods of paternity testing

Един от най-често срещаните въпроси, които вълнуват все повече обществото е свързан с бащинството. Съдебномедицинските лекари посочват, че през последните години желаещите за експертиза по отношение на бащинството рязко са се увеличили. Решаването на този проблем се базира на няколко вида изследвания: кръвногрупови, хромозомни и ДНК изследвания, антропобиометрични изследвания. Години преди разкодирането на ДНК молекулата и възможностите за изследване на генетично ниво един от основните методи за доказване или отхвърляне на бащинството са били антропологичните изследвания. Чрез тях се търси визуална прилика и разлика между детето, майката и мъжа, посочен за баща. Поради голяма субективност на този вид анализ обаче, той не намира приложение понастоящем в практиката. Последните данни показват, че изследванията, проведени върху еритроцити, левкоцити, серумни и ензимни системи, дават обща вероятност за изключване на предполагаемо бащинство 99,6%. Хромозомната експертиза повишава този процент, a с най-големи възможности е ДНК-анализът, който при неизключване дава конкретна вероятност, близка до 100%. Тъй като изследваните кръвно-групови фактори остават неизменни през целия живот на човека, те могат да бъдат определени по всяко време от неговия жизнен път. Всичко това показва, че ако преди десетилетия жените спокойно са можели да скрият истината за бащинството на децата си, сега благодарение на развитието на медицината и генетиката в частност, тази тяхна измама лесно може да бъда изобличена.One of the most common questions that concern society more and more is connected with paternity. Forensic doctors say that in recent years the wish for expertise regarding paternity has increased sharply. The solution to this problem is based on several types of tests: blood group, chromosomal and DNA tests, and biometric research. Years before decoding the DNA molecule and opportunities to study at genetic level, one of the main methods of proof or rejection of paternity was anthropological research. It seeks visual similarity and difference between the child‘s mother and her husband, indicated as the father. Due to the great subjectivity of this type of analysis, however, it is not currently applicable in practice. The latest data show that research conducted on erythrocytes, leukocytes, and serum enzyme systems offers a general probability of excluding alleged paternity of 99.6%. Chromosome expertise increases this percentage, and with the best results is DNA analysis, which in nonexclusion gives a specific probability close to 100%. Since the test bloodgroup factors remain unchanged throughout the life of the person they can be identified at any time of his/ her life time. All this shows that if decades ago women could safely hide the truth about the paternity of their children, now thanks to the development of medicine and genetics in particular, their scam can easily be exposed

Breaking with the past.Team leaders’ approaches on leadership, maintaining organizational culture and hybridity

As the beginning of a new decade began, the world experienced a global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to unforeseen changed within our daily lives such as social distancing and travel restrictions. However, organisations also had to adapt to new ways of doing work overnight. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate team leaders’ approaches to leadership, maintaining organisational culture during the pandemic and future perspectives on adapting to a hybrid workplace. The study adapted a mixed method approach for collecting data from the chosen sample of six team leaders from two Norwegian companies. A revised version of Bass and Avolio’s (1992) multifactor leadership questionnaire (MLQ) was used to determine the leader’s leadership style. The results from the survey allowed me to create the semi-structured interview guide, where more in-depth questions tackled the three research areas within this study. The results of the MLQ suggest that leaders align more towards of having a transformational leadership style, with some elements from transactional leadership behaviours. As for the results from the interviews, it can be suggested that the leaders experienced some challenges with regards to their leadership approaches some of them where: maintaining informal communication and accommodating to everyone’s needs. There has been little evidence from the responses that the leaders have experienced cultural change during the pandemic. However, what could be highlighted is that role-modelling and strong organisational cultural practices contribute to maintaining the overall cultural environment of the organisation. Lastly, the team leaders are open for breaking with the past by re-inventing better workplace practices, such as giving more work flexibility to their employees. The finding can help organisations to take actions where it is most needed when it comes to dealing with one of the three concepts outlined in the study and thus, contribute to the overall success and well-being of the organisation

Allergic Rhinitis - Risk Factor for Bronchial Asthma in Children

In recent decades, both worldwide and in our country, there is a noticeable increase in allergic diseases, including those of respiratory system - bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Epidemiological studies show that these conditions often coexist in the same patient. Allergen - specific sensitization is one of the major risk factors for the development of asthma in children. Allergic rhinitis usually precedes asthma. The premise `one respiratory system, one disease` marks a change in diagnostics and therapeutic treatment of respiratory allergies. Currently allergen-specific immunotherapy, administered in the early stage of the disease, is the only treatment that could have disease-modifying effect.The aim of this study is to analyze what proportion of children with asthma suffer from allergic rhinitis and what are the most common therapeutic schemes and practices used in the prophylaxis and treatment of the condition.For this purpose we conducted a survey among parents of children suffering from bronchial asthma on the territory of the city of Varna. Data were processes statistically based on respondent`s answers and were presented graphically. Results confirm that allergic rhinitis is a widespread disease among children with asthma and that is often neglected and not diagnosed and managed in time. Early diagnostics and adequate control of allergic rhinitis is crucial to stop the disease progression to asthma

Quality of Life in Patients with Bronchial Asthma in Childhood

Bronchial asthma is a major cause of morbidity in children in developed countries. In recent years, a large number of epidemiological studies have found an in- creased incidence of childhood asthma which makes this respiratory disorder the most frequent chronic dis- ease in childhood. Many factors are responsible for the huge incidence of asthma: triggering factors from the external environment, the use of inappropriate an- ti-inflammatory medication, lack of assistance with regard to therapeutic regimen, inadequate training of patient (family). The quality of life adolescents suffer- ing of bronchial asthma and their families often is ex- tremely deteriorated. Asthma may limit the ability of children to play, learn and sleep, to lead normal active life. Achieving disease control is the main goal of the treatment conducted. The Global initiative for asthma (GINA) defines control on asthma as minimal chron- ic symptoms, no emergency medical visits, no need of saving medication, normal daily activity, social adap- tation and school attendance.The aim of this study is to analyze the quality of life of children with asthma based on the achieved disease control. To achieve this goal a survey was conducted among parents and children of various ages in the city of Varna. Data from the surveys were processed using mathematical and statistical methods, and the results are presented by graphic images.Results show that in early childhood, when the treatment is performed under the supervision of par- ents, a well-controlled treatment is achieved compared to teenage years.Bronchial asthma is a chronic disease that is best affected in `therapeutic cooperation` between clini- cians, patients and their families. Implementation of training programs for children and parents will im- prove their compliance and execution of their indi- vidual treatment plan, and hence disease control and quality of life of patients

Integrating Crisis Management Mechanisms In European Cohesion Policy

The series of challenges facing modern society posed by the consequences of the global economic crisis, the debt crisis in Europe, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, etc. inevitably determine the relevance of research in the field of crises and the mechanisms for dealing with them. The aim of this publication is to examine the effectiveness of the introduced crisis management toolkits within the EU. The research methods used are limited to the study of scientific knowledge on the relevant issue, critical analysis and expert evaluation of the adopted approach to recovery by the Community. As a result of the conducted research, the tools that the EU applies to deal with the negative consequences of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine have been clarified. Priority areas for impact are identified depending on the applied mechanisms and new horizons for development are defined. In this context, the role of integrated territorial investments (ITI) in this process is also considered

Patient treatment path in the radiotherapy department at ST. Marina University Hospital - Varna

Лъчелечението води началото си от 1895 г., като от тогава е постигнат висок технологичен прогрес. Основната цел на лъчелечението е реализирането на предписаната лъчева доза в определен мишенен обем с едновременно минимално увреждане на съседните здрави тъкани. Резултатът е локален туморен контрол, подобрено качество на живот и удължена преживяемост.Лъчелечението в Клиниката по лъчелечение на УМБАЛ „Св. Марина` преминава през следните етапи: клинико-биологично планиране, анатомо-томографско планиране, дозиметрично планиране и изпълнение на плана на облъчване, контрол и проследяване състоянието на пациента. При консулта на пациента лекар лъчетерапевт определя целта на лъчелечението на базата на диагнозата и стадия на заболяването и назначава дата за виртуална симулация - планиращ компютърен томограф. При симулацията според подбрания протокол лъчетерапевтичният рентгенов лаборант имобилизира пациента на масата и провежда сканирането. Симулацията се включва в етапа на анатомо-томографско планиране, при което лаборантът контурира органите в риск, a лекарят дефинира клиничните мишенни обеми и предписва общата и дневната огнищни дози. На следващия етап медицинският физик изготвя индивидуален дозиметричен план, като се прилагат прецизни техники на облъчване - 3 DC, IMRT, VMAT. След като лъчетерапевтът одобри плана, физикът изготвя предварителен верификационен план, изпълняващ се от лаборанта преди първата фракция на пациента. При първото облъчване на пациента задължително присъстват лъчетерапевт, физик и рентгенов лаборант. При всяка следваща фракция рентгеновият лаборант облъчва пациента самостоятелно на линейния ускорител.При всички пациенти с цел прецизно изпълнение на плана се прилага образно насочено ЛЛ (IGRT) - верификации на позицията на пациента чрез рентгенографии, CBCT. На всички етапи медицинската радиологична сестра отговаря за манипулациите на пациента и вливанията на химиотерапевтици. По време и след терапията лечетерапевтът проследява състоянието на пациента. Тези етапи се повтарят при нужда от свръхдозиране в тумора или при бързо обратно развитие на тумора.Целта на настоящия доклад е да проследи пътя на пациента в Клиниката по лъчелечение на УМБАЛ „Св. Марина` - Варна.Since the first implementation of radiotherapy in 1896, high technology progress has been achieved in that field. The aim of radiotherapy is precise delivery of certain radiation dose in clinical target volumes with minimal damage of healthy tissues. The result is high tumor control with good quality of life and prolonged survival.The radiotherapy workflow at the Radiotherapy Department at the St. Marina University Hospital - Varna has the following specific stages: clinical and biological planning; anatomical topographic planning; treatment planning and delivering the plan, control of the symptoms and follow-up of the patients. During the consultation the radiation oncologist defines the aim of the treatment according to the cancer type and stage and an appointment for virtual simulation (planning CT) is given.During the simulation according to the selected protocol, the radiation technology technician (RTT) immobilizes the patient on the CT table and performs the CT scanning. The simulation is part of the anatomical topography planning where technicians contour organs at risk and the physician defines the target volumes and prescribes the daily and total radiation dose. At the next stage, the medical physicist per forms treatment planning, applying precise radiation techniques - 3 DC, IMRT, and VMAT. After the radiation oncologist approves the plan, the physicist prepares a preliminary verification plan running from the RTTS before the first fraction of irradiation. During the first patient irradiation a radiation oncologist, physicist and RTT are present at the linear accelerator. Then the following irradiation procedures of the patient are responsibility of RTT. In all patients to accurately implement the plan image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is applied - verification of the position of the patient by radiographs and CBCT. At all stages a radiological nurse takes care of the patient and infuses the chemotherapeuticals. During and after treatment, the radiation oncologist follows up the patient. These stages could be repeated in case of boost or fast shrinking tumors. The aim of the present report is to demonstrate the patient treatment path at the Radiotherapy Department at the St. Marina University Hospital - Varna

Essential oil composition of the Balkan endemic Thymus longedentatus (Degen & Urum.) Ronniger

The chemical composition of essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of the Balkan endemic species Thymus longedentatuswas studied by GC-MS. Twenty eight compounds, consisting 98.2% of the total components were detected in amounts exceeding 0.1%. The oil was characterized by relatively high concencentration of oxygentated monoterpenes (78.7%), among which citral isomers neral (27.5%) and geranial (30.3%) were the principal ones. In addition, 1,8-cineole (7.8%), trans-β-ocimene (7.5%), and β-myrcene (3.7%) were detected in significant ammounts. Germacrene D (4.4%) was found to be the main sesquiterpene in the essential oil

A review on computer vision based defect detection and condition assessment of concrete and asphalt civil infrastructure

To ensure the safety and the serviceability of civil infrastructure it is essential to visually inspect and assess its physical and functional condition. This review paper presents the current state of practice of assessing the visual condition of vertical and horizontal civil infrastructure; in particular of reinforced concrete bridges, precast concrete tunnels, underground concrete pipes, and asphalt pavements. Since the rate of creation and deployment of computer vision methods for civil engineering applications has been exponentially increasing, the main part of the paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of the state of the art in computer vision based defect detection and condition assessment related to concrete and asphalt civil infrastructure. Finally, the current achievements and limitations of existing methods as well as open research challenges are outlined to assist both the civil engineering and the computer science research community in setting an agenda for future research