The paper addresses the strategy of development of marine medicine according to one of the six principal directions of the National Naval policy of Russia, which is the Arctic direction related to eight subjects of the Russian Federation, i.e., Murmansk Oblast, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Chukchi Autonomoius Okrug, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Sakha (Yakut) Republic, and Krasnoyarsk Region, and also islands in the Arctic Ocean. These territories altogether amount to almost one fifth of the whole area of the Russian Federation, and its population is 2.3 million making about 52% of the total arctic population in the world. The health characteristics of the arctic population of Russia and the factors that influence them are discussed. The priorities of developing marine medicine in the coastal arctic subjects of the Russian Federation are outlined.

In modern conditions the potential of the Russian Arctic contributes to strategic national interests and economic country security, hence the need of the resource (including human) support in the region. The article presents analysis of scientific studies of public health indicators in Arctic and Subarctic territories of the European North conducted by the Department of public health, health care and social work, Northern state medical University. The factors that determine the nature of demographic processes on the European North of the country, threats of population maintenance in kind of depopulation processes, aging of population, adverse trends in the child health status were identified that is economic and political risk of the Arctic region development.

A selective statistical analysis of medical reports on servicemen health status and military service activities on the form 3/MED of military units was performed. Health status of 60% of naval officers who did military service from 2003 to 2015 was analyzed. The analysis of officers’ health problems for 13 years showed that the average annual sick rate was 940±43‰, primary disease incidence — 347±12‰, dispensary observation 154±11‰, inpatient hospitalization — 237±13‰, days away from service — 5018±170‰, dismissal from service for health reasons — 17,48±1,3‰, death rate per 100 000 officers — 127±6 persons. It was found that the level of sick rate and primary disease incidence in naval officers was significantly lower than that of the Russian Armed Forces officers, but the level of dispensary observation, inpatient hospitalization and dismissal was higher. The structure of the formed complex index of naval officers’ health problems was determined in 79% by 6 classes of diseases according to International Classification of Diseases, 10 Edition (ICD-10CM): IX (cardiocirculatory system), IXI (traumas, intoxications, and some other consequences of external causes) X (respiratory system), XI (digestive diseases), XIII (skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases) and IV (endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders). Prevention of injuries and diseases of the listed classes will improve the health of Russian naval officers.

The function of external respiration was determined monthly for the same group of young men (42 persons, 319 examinations) at the age of 18 years — 22 years (19,0±0,9 years) on a microprocessor spirograph SPM-01-«R-D». Men lived in the territory of the European North (62° N) from six months to two years and were engaged in physical works of medium gravity in the open air. The results were processed statistically using the single-factor analysis of variance and using the Student’s t-test with the Bonferroni amendment. It was revealed that the features of the external respiration function in northerners are increased depth and minute volume of respiration, vital capacity of lungs, greater variation in the annual cycle of values of speed indicators of the function of external respiration, absence of significant statistical differences for temporal functions. The maximum values of pulmonary volumes and velocities were observed in the cold season (from November to April), the minimum values — in warm (from May to September). Adaptive changes of the function of external respiration in northerners can achieve the required level of air conditioning, alveolar ventilation, increase the surface of gas exchange, adapt to the metabolic needs of the organism sufficiently effectively.

At almost healthy persones the thermovision research of hands and the computer analysis of variability of a heart rhythm before and after of cold test are conducted. It is established that the convection type of transfer of heat defined at 20–30 summer people from trailer phalanxes blood current from arteries of fingers to superficial vessels within not less than 7 minutes at initial prevalence of activity of parasympathetic department of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) demonstrated good compensatory reaction of vascular system. To cold within 18 minutes and more at initial prevalence of parasympathetic department of ANS pointed a contact way of transfer of heat from a forearm from warm zones to cold violation of adaptation to cold.

Comparative data obtained by encephalographic studies of seaman and trainees during their first arctic navigation are reported. Significant differences between the two groups were found in the thirty-day time-courses of changes in encephalographic parameters. The findings suggest that adaptation responses of the central nervous system involve the beta- and theta-activities of the temporal-occipital zone. At the start of navigation, the subjects were somewhat stressed by the adverse arctic conditions as confirmed by increases in brain bioelectric activity. By the end of navigation, trends to EEG normalization were more pronounced in seamen. The data may be used for assessing body responses to extreme naval conditions.

The expansion of tasks, being carried out by military personnel in different climatic and geographical conditions, needs introduction of effective medical provision into the system of military training aimed at maintenance of high level of military efficiency in case of negative factors of the environment. At present the application of hypoxic factor is widely used in sports. In a number of Russian and foreign studies a high effectiveness of hypobaric hypoxia was shown for the correction of borderline functional states, enhancement of organism tolerance of pilots to flight factors, medical rehabilitation, therapy and prophylaxis of a number of diseases and so on. A research has been carried out that included the analysis of in- fluence of physical performance by volunteers in the course of a session of hypobaric hypoxia on factors of physical working capacity. Hypoxia was modelled in pressure chamber by means of barometric pressure decrease to the level equivalent to 3500 m altitude. In the time of presence «at the altitude» (30 min) physical activity was modelled by squatting performed by volunteers (30 squattings every 5 min) and stepping test performed throughout lift motion. Before hypoxic exposure, in the course of test trials and after its accomplishment the heart rate was assessed in volunteers. Also the results of functional probe performance (Shtange, Gench and Ruffier tests) and load testing on a treadmill («Running on the treadmill) were assessed. In the result of this study it was shown that the course of lift actions in pressure chamber leads to the increase of spare capacity of cardiorespiratory system and the development of human adaptation to the influence of moderate hypoxia levels. The most evident effect was observed at simultaneous impact of lift actions in pressure chambers and graduated exercise on the organisms of healthy volunteers.

The purpose of the research: assessment of functional state and productivity of specialists of ship construction and existing ships while out to sea. There were researched control groups of constructing crews (19 people) and active ships (36). Control research of functional state and productivity has been made in the period after the sea, three times during the sea and in the early period after the sea. Also was used a complex of clinico-physiological, psycho-physiological and psycho-diagnostic methods. Researches have shown that when access to the sea for testing specialists commissioning crews, in contrast to the seafarers operating ships, not achieved a sustainable level of efficiency, reflecting the formation of primary adaptive reorganizations in an organism at long operating cycle. This is due to the much worse conditions of habitability of ships under construction at the stages of testing. In addition, the crews of ships under construction compared to the active marked slowing of regenerative processes in the body period after the sea. Conclusion: when going out at sea to the test the crew of the construction ships observed the difficulty of the process of early adaptation, which leads to the organism inability for many experts to achieve the phase «optimal productivity» even nearly a 3-week period of sailing, in contrast to the seafarers of operating ships.

The paper addresses studies of the psychophysiological characteristics of gas-and-oil industry operators and of workmen employed at boiler and waste treatment facilities who work under shift regimens in the Far North represented with the territories of Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Seventy subjects aged 24 to 60 years (mean age 38,7±1,3) were interviewed and passed psychological tests. The results were treated statistically. Two groups were distinguished based on differences in dynamic response characteristics, personality traits, and self-regulation features.

The possible contribution of drinking water with various mineral composition to the incidence of the population in the Euro-Arctic region (the cities of Apatity and Kirovsk in the Murmansk region) and in the middle zone of Russia (the city of Serpukhov) is estimated. It is established that the mineral composition of the artesian well from the open source of drinking water supply to the population of Apatity and Kirovsk is more soft (0.3 mg-eq/l, and 0.05 mg-eq/l), compared to Serpukhov, where the drinking water from the well is much stiffer (7.5 mg-eq/l). Differences in the levels of calcium, magnesium, sulfates, strontium, iron in the drinking water of Serpukhov and aluminum in Kirov have been revealed, but significant. Differences in the incidence of childhood (0–14 years) and adult (over 18 years) population, depending on the mineral composition of water used in these regions have not been identified. Comparison of the structure of the incidence of the population in the Euro-Arctic region with the middle stripe of Russia, revealed a higher incidence of children in high latitudes, in particular, the prevalence of eye diseases, infectious and parasitic diseases, diseases of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. The adult population living in the Arctic region is dominated by: diseases of the circulatory system, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, eyes, genitourinary system, digestive organs, and infectious diseases.

The possible contribution of drinking water with various mineral composition to the incidence of the population in the Euro-Arctic region (the cities of Apatity and Kirovsk in the Murmansk region) and in the middle zone of Russia (the city of Serpukhov) is estimated. It is established that the mineral composition of the artesian well from the open source of drinking water supply to the population of Apatity and Kirovsk is more soft (0.3 mg-eq/l, and 0.05 mg-eq/l), compared to Serpukhov, where the drinking water from the well is much stiffer (7.5 mg-eq/l). Differences in the levels of calcium, magnesium, sulfates, strontium, iron in the drinking water of Serpukhov and aluminum in Kirov have been revealed, but significant. Differences in the incidence of childhood (0–14 years) and adult (over 18 years) population, depending on the mineral composition of water used in these regions have not been identified. Comparison of the structure of the incidence of the population in the Euro-Arctic region with the middle stripe of Russia, revealed a higher incidence of children in high latitudes, in particular, the prevalence of eye diseases, infectious and parasitic diseases, diseases of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. The adult population living in the Arctic region is dominated by: diseases of the circulatory system, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, eyes, genitourinary system, digestive organs, and infectious diseases.

The article is addressed to topical issues of organizing and conducting monitoring of the concentration of persistent toxic substances in human blood with a view to controlling their level and avoiding negative health effects of the population exposed to them in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study was the scientific substantiation of evaluation criteria and methods for biomonitoring of chemicals that can be used in programs of state social and hygienic monitoring. The objectives of the study included: analysis of persistent toxic substances in the blood of the population; Development of recommendations on justifying the priorities of the state program of social and hygienic monitoring for Arctic. The results of the research showed insufficient effectiveness of existing programs, allowed to develop proposals for improving monitoring systems, including a list of new indicators and changing the structure, forming a single information space in general for all regions of the Russian Arctic.

This article presents the points of life and health maintenance of the military personnel in the Arctic. The risk factors characteristic for the Extreme North conditions are given. Arrival of the person to the  Arctic from a midland is followed by reaction of the autonomic nervous system estimated by means of a vegetation index of Kerdo. A physical activity of the person in the Arctic garrison was investigated. The authors give materials of events at emergency situations in the Arctic garrisons in cases of heat supply loss of residential and office buildings. Sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) actions at mitigation of accidents consequences on municipal objects are presented. The held complex of medical and preventive actions in the emergency garrison allowed to avoid epidemic consequences. Now the system of the prevention and elimination of emergency situations both on the scale of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and garrison, military unit is created. At the same time the Main Military Medical Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation developed the official document regulating the activity organization of various medical formations in the emergency situations. The document («Methods») specifies not only the organization of rendering various types of medical assistance but also activity of mobile preventive groups (epidemiological, toxicological, radiological and toxico-radiological). The given materials testify the readiness of the health service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for mitigation of accidents and disasters consequences.

The paper addresses the medical backup and health care system designed for troopers at service under conditions specific for remote arctic islands and continental areas in Far North. The organizational structures of medical units and the features of vulnerability to diseases, therapy for diseases, emergency and resuscitation measures, provision with medicaments, and air evacuation are discussed. Problems related to the personnel composition of medical stations in the Arctic, to the impacts of natural factors and climate on humans, and to psychophysiological adaptation to closed military teams are outlined.

To analyze the experience of medical backup provision to deep-water diving operations using outfits featuring open breathing with alternating artificial gas mixtures, seven divers of various ages and professional levels were examined. Their resistance to high pressure and their basal physiological conditions were assessed. Four of them were rated as highly resistant to high pressure, and three, as moderately resistant. Changes in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems in the course of diving were tested. During the tests, the divers that were rated as highly resistant to pressure managed to establish the record of under-ice diving depth: 102 meters.