Interdisciplinary Approaches to Medicine

SMOKING AS AN UNFAVORABLE LIFESTYLE FACTOR FOR THE PROGRESSION OF PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Clivia Erb, Alibek Amandykov , Carl Erb — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Smoking remains a widely used and socially accepted psychoactive substance. According to a July 2024 national survey by the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, 20.7% of the adult population are smokers—39.8% of men and 7.6% of women.Smoking is the leading preventable health risk and a major cause of premature death, associated with increased rates of cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine diseases, and cancer.

Methods: This study is a literature review. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Springer were searched using the terms “smoking” and “primary open-angle glaucoma” for the period from 1990 to 2024. Duplicates were removed. The selected literature focused on the roles of microcirculation and neurodegeneration in glaucoma.

Results: Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, including 69 known carcinogens. Sidestream smoke, which constitutes 75% of total smoke, is more toxic than mainstream smoke and contributes to passive smoking.Smoking—both active and passive—causes mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation. It negatively affects the vascular endothelium and the nervous system, increasing neurotoxins like beta-amyloid and TNF-α, while reducing protective factors like BDNF. These effects contribute to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), now recognized as a neuroinflammatory disease with mitochondrial origins.

Conclusion: Primary open-angle glaucoma is a neuroinflammatory disease of the optic nerve and central nervous system that leads to systemic neurodegeneration. To positively influence the progression of glaucoma, the avoidance of iatrogenic risk factors is essential. Smoking has numerous unfavorable influences on the glaucomatous process, which are summarized in this mini-review. This makes it absolutely necessary to refrain from smoking in the case of glaucoma.

INVESTIGATE AND COMPARE GENDER-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN COPING MECHANISMS AMONG PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER USING THE MEANING-CENTERED COPING SCALE SCORES.

AijazMohiud din Bhat , Nizamud din Dar, Abdul Majid Gania — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Investigate and compare gender-specific differences in coping mechanisms among patients diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder using the Meaning-Centered Coping Scale scores.

Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects 2-3% of the world's population. Evidence suggests significant gender-based differences in presentation and management. Currently, gender-specific differences in coping mechanisms have been seen as an important area of research. Their impact on treatment outcomes and quality of life remains understudied.

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate and compare gender-specific differences in coping mechanisms among patients diagnosed with OCD using Mean-Centered Coping Scale (MCCS) scores.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional comparative study that was conducted at SKIMS Medical College and HospitalBemina's outpatient psychiatry department. Ethical clearance was taken. Confidentiality and privacy were taken care of. Fifty-five patients (38 females, 17 males) with confirmed OCD diagnoses were recruited and evaluated using the MINI 7.0.2 for diagnosis and MCCS, a 9-item scale measuring various coping strategies. Participants were recruited through consecutive sampling, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results and Discussion: In our study, males had significantly higher overall coping scores (M=28.3, SD=7.4) compared to females (M=25.9, SD=8.1; t=2.34, p=0.023) with a modest effect size (Cohen's d=0.31). A significant interaction between gender and education (F=2.76, p=0.038) was observed. Males demonstrated higher utilization of religious coping, problem-solving approaches, and social support networks compared to females. The mean age of 27.4 years (SD=8.2), with 74.5% from rural areas, was documented.

Conclusion: Our study saw significant gender-based variations in coping strategies among OCD patients, with males showing higher adaptive coping scores. Educational level moderated the relationship between gender and coping mechanisms. Findings emphasize the importance of developing individualized, gender-sensitive approaches in OCD treatment.

STUDY OF LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AMONG MANAGERS OF A MEDICAL ORGANIZATION

Bahriniso Isodukht, Maxat Konysbayev, ⁠Assem Uristemova — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Leadership in healthcare is essential for driving reform, improving service quality, and ensuring organizational adaptability. In Kazakhstan, while leadership development is gaining attention, many healthcare managers still lack formal training.

Aim: To assess leadership and managerial qualities among healthcare managers in Kazakhstan and identify potential demographic predictors of leadership traits.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 managers from the Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases and Atlas Dental clinics. Participants completed the MBA.SU “Leader or Manager?” test. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26 with chi-square tests and logistic regression.

Results: Most participants exhibited ambiguous personality traits, followed by managerial, with leadership types being least common (χ² = 13.571, p = 0.001). Female managers and those with postgraduate education were more likely to show leadership qualities, though not statistically significant.

Discussion: The dominance of ambiguous types reflects a transitional leadership landscape. Limited representation of leadership traits may hinder reform efforts. Trends suggest gender and education could influence leadership development.

Conclusion: There is a need for structured leadership training to strengthen healthcare management in Kazakhstan and support ongoing reforms.