Research laboratory of military therapy of the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy: from its origins to present day

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Abstract

This article outlines the key milestones in the development of the Research Laboratory of Military Therapy. The laboratory was founded in 1981 during the height of the armed conflict in Afghanistan, when a high incidence of morbidity (particularly infectious diseases), a large number of complications in the wounded, and the prolonged and recurrent course of somatic conditions resulted in sanitary losses equating to combat losses. In 1984, based on data obtained in Afghanistan, Professor Novitsky formulated and substantiated the fundamental concept of chronic adaptive overstrain syndrome, elucidated its mechanisms, and defined its clinical manifestations. One of the laboratory’s research areas was the study of the health status of individuals living in the areas of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia contaminated with radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. In 1996, studies were conducted at the Luga Artillery Range to examine the effects of air blast waves of varying intensity on the physical performance and conditioned reflex activity of laboratory animals, enabling the assessment of the potential use of new actoprotective agents. In collaboration with the Department of Military Field Therapy, the laboratory’s staff investigated the characteristics of somatic conditions in individuals engaged in chemical weapons destruction. The Research Laboratory of Military Therapy staff developed and implemented a modern system for the medical examination of military personnel engaged in work with chemical weapons. Currently, the laboratory addresses research issues in areas such as improving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of injuries caused by highly toxic compounds; studying the chromosomal apparatus of cells in cases of occupational exposure to various chemicals and acute poisonings; and experimentally justifying the prevention and treatment of hepatotropic poisonings using glutathione disulfide- and inosine-containing drugs. In an organotypic culture model, changes in cell proliferation of various tissues under the influence of alkylating agents and the potential of using selected coded amino acids and oligopeptides to mitigate toxic effects were studied. In addition, organizational measures for preventing maladaptation disorders in military personnel serving in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation have been proposed. Furthermore, the laboratory has examined the state of cellular and humoral immunity in patients with novel coronavirus infection.

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About the authors

Alexander S. Zhukov

Kirov Military Medical Academy

Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4915-9157
SPIN-code: 4570-3470

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Oleg V. Protasov

Kirov Military Medical Academy

Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4003-4881
SPIN-code: 8452-9089

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, 6Zh Akademika Lebedeva st., Saint Petersburg, 194044

Alexander E. Korovin

Kirov Military Medical Academy; Saint Petersburg State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-3390-2970
SPIN-code: 6157-4453

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Alexey V. Denisov

Kirov Military Medical Academy

Email: vmeda-nio@mil.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8846-973X
SPIN-code: 6969-0759

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

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2. Fig. 1. A.A. Novitsky (left) with the head of the Main Hospital of the Afghan Army, Major General of the Medical Service Valoyat Habibi. © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025. The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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3. Fig. 2. Laboratory staff in Afghanistan, from left to right: junior researcher, Captain of the medical service S.S. Aleksanin, senior researcher, Lieutenant Colonel of the medical service V.R. Gritsenger, senior nurse of the admission department of the Kabul Infectious Diseases Hospital N.A. Ivanova, head of the laboratory, Professor, Colonel of the medical Service A.A. Novitsky, senior researcher Major of the medical service V.I. Kuzenkov. © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025. The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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4. Fig. 3. "A man in an extreme situation" — this is how the newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda (April 5, 1985) formulated the main topic of research at the scientific research center in Kabul, conducted by laboratory staff: on the left - senior researcher Major of the medical service V.I. Kuzenkov; on the right, the head of the laboratory, Colonel of the medical service A.A. Novitsky. © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025. The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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5. Fig. 4. Professor A.A. Novitsky at the Army Hospital of the 40th Army (Kabul, 1987). © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025. The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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6. Fig. 5. Employees of the scientific research laboratories of military therapy and military surgery who conducted tests at the Luga training ground. In the first row, from left to right: senior researcher N.P. Burkova, laboratory assistant T.B. Panchenko, junior researchers S.M. Kaloshina, L.G. Arzhavkina; in the second row: junior researcher E.V. Dmitrieva, senior researcher A.S. Kryuchkova, group heads colonels of the medical service M.Y. Tyurin and V.F. A rubber band. © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025 The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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7. Fig. 6. Senior researcher A.S. Kryuchkova studies the physical performance of rats exposed to an air shock wave in the field and conducts a "swimming to failure" test. © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025. The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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8. Fig. 7. Staff of the visiting military medical Commission, 2016 © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025. The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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9. Fig. 8. Senior researcher L.G. Arzhavkina performs an analysis of unstable chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes. From the personal archive of A.S. Zhukov.

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10. Fig. 9. The staff of the Scientific Research Laboratory of Military Therapy, 2011 © Archive of the Institute of Military Therapy of the Scientific Research Center of the Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, 2025. The photo is published for the first time with the permission of the administration of the institution.

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11. 10. Senior researcher O.V. Protasov evaluates indicators of humoral immunity in patients with COVID-19. From the personal archive of A.S. Zhukov.

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