Varna Medical University Press: Journals
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Tendencies in the development of world tourism, European regulations and the challenges for Bulgarian tourism
Get PDFAn analysis of Bulgarian tourism will be made in the context of world tourism development and the European regulations
Optimizing simulation-based learning for maritime professionals: challenges and solutions
Get PDFThe utilisation of simulation-based learning is of paramount importance in the field of maritime education. The incorporation of advanced technologies facilitates the creation of highly immersive training environments, which are of significant benefit to students. Nevertheless, several challenges may impede its efficacy. The following issues present considerable obstacles to the effective implementation of simulation-based maritime training: the necessity for instructors with the requisite qualifications, the design of curricula that encompass the full range of relevant competencies, the limitations of technology in simulating realistic scenarios, logistical constraints, compliance with evolving regulations, and the impact of the global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. Moreover, the training of personnel in maritime crisis management presents a distinctive set of challenges due to the infrequency of actual crises and the intricate nature of maritime operations. To address these challenges, a comprehensive approach is required that enhances technology, improves instructor training, and fosters collaboration among educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies. By overcoming these obstacles, maritime education can more effectively equip future seafarers with the requisite skills to navigate the complexities of modern operations
On antibiotics—salvation or threat
Get PDFThe discovery of antibiotics is among the greatest breakthroughs in the 20th century. The first discoverers of these substances, winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, paved the way for the discovery and synthesis of many new analogs with similar effects.Unfortunately, the rapid and widespread introduction of antibiotics into treatment practice was followed by the equally rapid development of resistant strains of microorganisms. According to the latest WHO report (May 2024), the following are assessed as critical for practice: Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacterales—resistant to carbapenem, Enterobacterales—resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, Mycobacterium tuberculosis—resistant to rifampicin. Research indicates their widespread presence in both hospital and outpatient settings. Multidrug resistant bacteria (MDR) pose a significant burden for patients in intensive care units and a daily challenge for healthcare providers aiming to ensure effective treatment. The widespread use of antibiotics outside of human medicine raises global issues that require coordinated action measures. The adopted One Health strategy unites cooperation and communication between all organizations related to the assessment of public health risks and the development and implementation of complex impact measures
Attitude of midwife students towards tobacco smoking
Get PDFIntroduction: Countless studies have been conducted on the harms of smoking, proving a connection to serious diseases and a negative impact on both male and female reproductive systems (1, 3). Healthcare professionals are role models for patients and their families; if they are smokers themselves, they send conflicting messages to those around them (2, 4). Often, the role models for younger family members are their parents and older relatives, leading to children of secondhand smokers inadvertently becoming smokers at an early age (5).Aim: To determine students' attitudes toward smoking.Materials and Methods: Sociological method, individually and anonymously surveying students from MU - Varna, specialty "Midwife," in March 2024. Documentary method. Statistical method.Results: The conducted research found that 53% of the respondents are smokers. A relatively high percentage of students' parents are smokers—40% for both parents and 20% for one. More than three-quarters of the surveyed students approve of the ban on smoking indoors.Conclusion: The decision to smoke is a personal choice for everyone, but the example set by family and the environment plays a decisive role in determining role models
Awareness and Attitudes of the Population about Healthy Lifestyle
Get PDFIntroduction: A healthy lifestyle includes various aspects of daily life that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being. According to various analyses, an active health culture is the result of good personal awareness of health risk factors and the motivation of citizens. Sources of health information and health-seeking behavior can be doctors, pharmacists, patient associations, the Internet, etc. By means of the Internet, access to a variety of information is facilitated, which makes patients themselves more informed.Aim: To study the attitudes and preferences of citizens regarding their choice of information sources on the topic of a healthy lifestyle.Materials and Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted in an online environment among 85 respondents during the period of March to April 2024. Sociological and graphic methods, as well as descriptive statistics, were used, processed with Microsoft Excel, version 2016.Results and Discussion: The survey found a desire among the respondents to improve their lifestyle. Of the indicated sources of information, the most frequently chosen is the Internet and social media, at the expense of consultations with pharmacists or other medical specialists.Conclusion: People's awareness of the risks and benefits of a healthy lifestyle makes them more motivated to take active steps to improve their health. The introduction of Internet-related technologies in healthcare is changing the way individuals search for information, transforming their awareness from analog to digital sources
Impact of Cosmetic Products on the Health of the Anterior Ocular Surface: An Overview of Risks and Safety Recommendations
Get PDFIntroduction: Women have traditionally used cosmetics for the eye area and facial treatments, but recently, more men are also opting for beauty procedures such as eyebrow coloring, peeling, and facial massages. In her book "55 Reasons to Love Eyes," Prof. Grupcheva highlights that in ophthalmology, factors such as age, gender, or social status are irrelevant. Medical professionals concerned with eye health must stay updated on the latest fashion trends to provide appropriate care while considering potential risks and complications. This study explores the relationship between decorative cosmetics and the anterior ocular surface, with a focus on procedures and facial products linked to ophthalmic complications.Aim: This study aims to systematize and analyze trends and preferences in the use of decorative eye cosmetics and to gather data on the experience, awareness, and health literacy of medical and non-medical professionals.Materials and Methods: This educational study consists of two surveys: (a) face-to-face interviews with the staff of the University Eye Hospital in Varna and (b) a questionnaire distributed to students and faculty from the "Medical Cosmetician" program at the Medical College – Varna.Results: The findings reveal a high frequency of weekly decorative eye cosmetic use, age-specific preferences for cosmetic product groups, confirmed complications from cosmetic products and procedures, and satisfactory health awareness among participants.Conclusion: The study highlights the need to improve health literacy and awareness regarding the visual system among medical and non-medical personnel, as well as among women and adolescents, through targeted informational campaigns
NT-pro BNP – A Biomarker in Patients with Heart Failure: A Clinical Case Report
Get PDFNT-pro BNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) is a bioactive endogenous peptide released from the ventricular myocardium during ventricular overload. It is synthesized from natriuretic peptide precursor C during hemodynamic stress, such as heart failure, where hypertrophied and dilated ventricles are observed.It is considered the "gold standard" for diagnosing and predicting heart failure at a very early stage, monitoring the effects of drug therapy, and differentiating dyspnea caused by heart failure from that caused by other conditions.NT-pro BNP levels in patients with heart failure correlate with the functional class according to the NYHA (New York Heart Association) classification. High NT-pro BNP levels are a poor prognostic indicator, while patients with levels below the lower reference limits for men and women are at low risk of developing complications such as left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, or death.In this report, NT-pro BNP values were monitored in two patients admitted for treatment at the Cardiology Department of MC "St. Ivan Rilski" in Stara Zagora. The first patient was a 74-year-old man classified as NYHA functional class II, and the second was a 72-year-old woman classified as NYHA functional class III, both diagnosed with "Congestive heart failure." Upon admission, NT-pro BNP levels were significantly higher than the upper reference limits for their age. After treatment, the patients stabilized, and a decrease in NT-pro BNP concentration was observed upon discharge
