0000000000426743
AUTHOR
Aleksandrs Koļesovs
PREDICTORS OF THE SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE COUNTRY: EXPLORING A NEW MODEL
This study explored new possibilities for measuring the sense of belonging to the country and investigated predictors of the sense of belonging to Latvia. Focusing on students’ sense of belonging to the country is explained by two reasons: 1) emigration is the main factor of depopulation in Latvia; 2) students’ intention to emigrate is the highest among other social groups. Studies in the field of community psychology present models of the sense of community and explore intentions to stay in a particular place. Within a new model, different levels of social systems (from meso- to macro-system) were included into the analysis of predictors of the sense of belonging to the country. The partic…
Vaccination Against Influenza: Attitude of Health Care Personnel in a Multidisciplinary Hospital in Latvia
Abstract Health care personnel (HCP) are at high risk of acquiring influenza due to exposure to patients. However, vaccination in HCP is lower than 40% for most European countries. The aim of this study was to determine the attitude towards influenza vaccination and possible reasons for this attitude in HCP. A cross-sectional study was performed in a multidisciplinary hospital of Latvia. The sample (n = 1099) included doctors (239), nurses (418), care services (236), administrative staff (108), and technical support staff (98). Five questions addressed vaccination of planned patients and HCP, knowledge of etiological anti-influenza drugs, and their storage at the hospital for immediate use.…
The Level of Cytokeratin 18 in Patients with HIV and Viral Hepatitis C Co-Infection in Latvia
Abstract Cytokeratin 18 (CK18) is a specific marker of hepatocellular apoptosis, which is a useful noninvasive indicator of liver fibrosis in the HIV/HCV group. However, data on the CK18 level in serum are limited for this group. This study demonstrated CK18 levels in serum in HIV/HCV co-infected and HIV mono-infected patients; investigated the association of CK18 levels with other non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis; and presents CK18 dynamics in a four-month-long period. The sample included 273 patients with HIV infection (128 of them were with HIV/HCV co-infection) aged from 23 to 65 (35% females). Levels of hyaluronic acid, CK18, ALT, and AST were determined in serum, and the FIB4 in…
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Association of Non-Invasive Markers of Liver Fibrosis with HCV Coinfection and Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients with HIV
Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the main effects and interaction between viral hepatitis C (HCV) coinfection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) by using a nonparametric ANOVA on direct and indirect markers of liver fibrosis in HIV-infected patients. The sample included 178 HIV patients aged from 23 to 65 (36% females). The following parameters were determined in blood of patients: hyaluronic acid, pro-matrix metalloproteinase-1, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and platelet count. The FIB-4 index was also calculated. The nonparametric ANOVA revealed no significant interaction between HCV coinfection and ART. This provides evidence for an independent contribut…
INDIVIDUAL FUTURE ORIENTATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS PREDICTING LIFE SATISFACTION
This study explored a model of prediction of life satisfaction by individual future orientation (FO) and demographic factors. Individual views of the future and goals are closely associated with well-being. Theories of FO represent different approaches to its conceptualization. Following Seginer (2009), this study presents a combination of motivational, cognitive, and behavioral components of FO. Participants were 130 females and 75 males from 18 to 49. A new measure of individual FO (the Individual Future Orientation Scale, IFOS) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) were used for the assessment. The results of structural equation modeling demon…
A Pilot Study on Markers of Genetic Predisposition in Tuberculous Pneumonia Patients In Latgale
Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the top ten leading causes of death in the world. Compared to other Baltic and Eastern European countries, TB incidence (24.8 new cases per 100 000 people in 2017) in Latvia is relatively high. One of the regions with the highest TB incidence is Latgale (31.1 cases per 100 000 people). The aim of this pilot study was to identify markers of genetic predisposition to TB in Latgale. The study included 26 patients (16 males and 10 females) aged between 18 and 85 with bilateral TB pneumonia and without HIV infection. HLA typing was performed in HLA-DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 loci by a polymerase chain reaction with low resolution sequence-specific primers. …
FORMULATIONS OF THE MAIN GOAL IN LIFE: A QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS
Humanistic tradition emphasizes the main goal in life as something towards which people determine themselves. The main goal (or a group of goals with the highest priority) provides the basis for the sense of purpose in life and for development of its meaning. This study aimed at revealing categories in formulations of the main goal in life. Participants were 226 adults aged from 18 to 69 (M = 25.34, SD = 8.51, 65% females). They answered an open question: “Kā Jūs raksturotu galveno dzīves mērķi? Lūdzu, padalieties ar savām pārdomām. [How could You describe the main goal in life? Please, share your opinion.]” The qualitative content analysis resulted in 29 categories. Inter-rater agreement a…
Human Leukocyte Antigens Class II Alleles Affecting the Response to 5–7 Year Antiretroviral Therapy in A Latvian Cohort
Abstract Antiretroviral therapy (ART) aims at suppressing viral replication and strengthening immune system in patients with HIV-1. Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) are among factors responsible for effectiveness of ART. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HLA Class II alleles on the response to long-time ART, assessed by a change in CD4+ T-cell count in relation to viral load. The sample included 69 patients (17 females and 52 males) aged 20 to 50 with HIV-1 infection, who were undergoing ART in the Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases. The median period of observation was 5.7 years. CD4+ T-cell count and viral load were analysed at the baseline and end of the period of obs…
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE FLOURISHING SCALE: LATVIAN VERSION
The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Latvian version of the Flourishing Scale (FS), created by Diener et al. (2010). FS is a brief self-report measure of the respondent’s well-being and success in areas of relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. The scale provides a single score across 8 items. The original FS was translated to Latvian and then back to English. The Satisfaction with Life Scale and Meaning in Life Questionnaire was applied for testing the convergent validity of the FS. Participants of the study were 191 people, ranged in age from 19 to 68 (159 women, mean age M = 30.62, SD = 9.50). Reliability analysis, exploratory and confi…