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Biomedical subjects

E Wiesner

Publications and source records attributed to E Wiesner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Decrease in cardiovascular disease mortality in the Czech Republic from 1984 to 1993 and its possible causes].

BACKGROUND: The objective of the investigation was to evaluate the ten-year development of the cardiovascular mortality rate in two population groups in the age bracket from 25 to 64 years, i.e. in subjects living in six districts which participated in the international WHO project MONICA and in the population of the whole Czech Republic. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data on the mortality rate in 1984-1993 for the age group from 25-64 years were provided by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics, information on the prevalence of risk factors was obtained in three cross-sectional studies implemented in six districts as part of the MONICA project in 1985, 1988 and 1992. In the mortality rate per 100,000 population in the six districts the following changes were revealed (in parentheses the values for 1984 and 1993 are given): men - a statistically significant declining trend in the from all caused mortality (849.3-742.5; p < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (367.2-280.4; p < 0.001) and cerebrovascular mortality (69.7-44.8; p < 0.001). In the mortality from ischaemic heart disease (215.7-170.6; ns) a declining trend was not recorded. In women aged 25-64 years in the six districts there was a statistically significant decline of the mortality from all caused (359.5-322.1; p < 0.001), the cardiovascular mortality (115.6-100.6; p < 0.001) and cerebrovascular mortality (31.1-23.6; p < 0.001). The mortality from ischaemic heart disease did not change (49.2-48.8; ns). In the population of the Czech Republic in men the following were detected: a drop of the from all caused mortality (907.1-784.8; P < 0.001), the cardiovascular mortality (383.5-308.4; p < 0.001) and cerebrovascular mortality (76.5-55.3; p < 0.001). Also in women of the Czech Republic a decline of the mortality from all caused was recorded (390.1-328.5; p < 0.001), the cardiovascular mortality (135.3-103.8; p < 0.001), ischaemic heart disease (58.0-48.6; p < 0.001) and cerebrovascular mortality (43.5-27.4; p < 0.001). In 1990 an increased cardiovascular mortality was recorded in men different from the trend during 1984-1993, statistically significant in the Czech Republic (p < 0.05) and in the six districts (p < 0.05). The reasons of this trend are not clear. The role of health services in the mortality drop is not clear, although available data indicate their improvement. Favourable changes were found in risk factors: during the period from 1985-1992 the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia declined significantly in men and women, the prevalence of hypertension in women and the prevalence of smoking in men declined in the six districts. From nationwide data ensues that after 1989 significant changes occurred in the diet of the Czech population. The meat consumption declined by 1993 by 13%, the milk and dairy product consumption by 26.8% the butter consumption by 43.6% the consumption of vegetable fats increased by 16%, of vegetables by 8%, tropical fruit by 43.2%. These changes probably had an impact on the cholesterol level and BMI of the Czech population. CONCLUSIONS: In the declining cardiovascular mortality trend during 1984-1993 the following may have participated: improved medical care, dietary changes, improvement of the risk profile and other, in particular socioeconomic factors. With regard to the close temporal association of the investigated changes it may be assumed that this development is at least partly associated with changes of the political and economic position in the Czech Republic after 1989.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Is the recent decrease in cholesterolemia in the Czech Republic convincing evidence?].

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate the 8-year trend of serum cholesterol levels in six districts of the Czech Republic, to assess whether the reduction of mean values of total cholesterol recorded during the period between 1985 and 1992 was convincing and to discuss possible causes and consequences of this development. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three cross-sectional surveys of risk factors were implemented in independent random 1% samples of the population aged 25-64 years. In 1985 1256 men (respondence rate 81.5%) and 1317 women (85%) were examined, In 1988 1357 men (85.2%) and 1412 women (88.4%), in 1992 1142 men (73.2%) and 1211 women (76.7%). A detailed check of the deviations in estimations during different time intervals from reference values provided evidence that the analytical method did not have an impact on the revealed changes. In men the mean total cholesterol level was 6.21 (95% confidence limit 6.14-6.28 mmol/l in 1985; 6.29 (6.23-6.35) mmol/l in 1988; 5.99 (5.91-6.06) mmol/l in 1992. In women the mean value of the total cholesterol level was 6.19 (6.12-6.25) mmol/l in 1985; 6.23 (6.17-6.30) mmol/l in 1988; 5.95 (5.88-6.02) mmol/l in 1992. According to variance analysis (ANOVA) the serum cholesterol in 1992 was lower by 0.22 mmol/l (p < 0.0001) than in 1985 and by 0.28 mmol/l (p < 0.0001) lower than in 1988. The drop of cholesterol between 1988-1992 may have been caused by dietary changes recorded in the population. According to nationwide data after 1990 there was a marked drop of the consumption of meat and meat products, milk and dairy products and animal fats, while the consumption of vegetable fats increased. Despite these dietary improvements, in six districts in 1992 fats accounted for 37% of the energy intake, the P/S ratio was only 0.41 in men and 0.46 in women. In these districts in 1992 and 1993 a decline of the standardized mortality rate from IHD in men was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: During an eight-year period the mean serum cholesterol level of men and women decreased significantly in six districts of the Czech Republic. This change was probably associated with a restricted intake of foods which have an impact on the serum cholesterol level.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Development of the cardiovascular risk in the population of the Czech Republic.

Population surveys of the major cardiovascular risk factors were conducted in six districts of the Czech Republic in 1988 and 1992 as part of the WHO MONICA Project. One-percent independent random samples of the population aged 25-64 years were examined and investigated; in 1988, the survey included 1357 men and 1412 women (response rates of 85.5% and 88.4%, respectively); 1139 men and 1214 women with the response rate 71.2% and 75.0%, respectively, were enrolled in 1992. Over the four years, the mean levels of diastolic blood pressure rose from 83.8 mmHg to 85.5 mmHg (p < 0.001) in men; the rise in women from 80.7 mmHg to 81.6 mmHg was non-significant. Systolic blood pressure between the two surveys did not differ significantly. Mean total cholesterol levels declined from 6.24 mmol/l to 5.91 mmol/l (p < 0.001) in men and from 6.16 mmol/l to 5.87 mmol/l (p < 0.001) in women. Mean BMI decreased from 27.5 to 26.9 (p < 0.001) in men and from 27.4 to 26.5 (p < 0.001) in women. The authors assume that the significant decreases in cholesterolaemia and BMI may be caused by changes in the dietary pattern resulting from the market economy principles setting in after the 1989 revolution, and by an increased attention of the population to their health in the new socioeconomic conditions. If the trend continues, one might expect a decrease in mortality from IHD. On the other hand, the rise in diastolic blood pressure may be due to deteriorated control of hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The effect of body fat distribution on cardiovascular risk factors in the population of the Czech Republic.

A study of cardiovascular risk factors including anthropometry was performed as part of the MONICA project in 1988 in the population of six districts of the Czech Republic. In addition to probands' weight and height, the circumferences of waist and hips were measured to calculate the index of body fat distribution given as WHR (wast/hip ratio). In the age group of 25-64 years, WHR was significantly higher in men (0.936) than in women (0.836 - p < 0.001); in either sex, its value rose with increasing age. WHR values were statistically significantly higher in this group than those found in a Finnish population where males aged 25-64 years had a mean WHR value of 0.90 (p < 0.001), and women of the same age group had a mean WHR of 0.78 (p < 0.001). An analysis of the relationship between abdominal obesity and some cardiovascular risk factors revealed significant correlations between WHR and total cholesterol (men: r = 0.112, p < 0.001; women: r = 0.122, p < 0.001), HDL cholesterol (men: r = -0.184, p < 0.001; women = -0.23, p < 0.001); atherogenic index, i.e., total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol (men: r = 0.183, p < 0.001; women: r = 0.345, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (men: r = 0.295, p < 0.001; women: r = 0.263, p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (men: r = 0.32, p < 0.001; women: r = 0.237, p < 0.001). The closest correlation was demonstrated between WHR and BMI (men: r = 0.525, p < 0.001; women r = 0.345, p < 0.001). The authors believe WHR is an important parameter for cardiovascular risk assessment and should be determined on a routine basis. The frequent prevalence of abdominal obesity, as suggested by the high values of WHR, contributes to the high cardiovascular risk of the population of the Czech Republic.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cardiovascular risk factors in the Czech population.

In 1985 and 1988 as part of the WHO's MONICA project two surveys of cardiovascular risk factors were conducted in the population aged 25 to 64 years and resident in the six districts of the Czech Republic collaborating in MONICA. Over a period of three years, the prevalence of smoking decreased from 46% to 41.8% (p less than 0.05) in men. Daily cigarette consumption declined from 17.9 to 15.1 (p less than 0.001) in men and from 11.1 to 10.1 (p less than 0.05) in women. Despite the unchanged prevalence of hypertension during the three years' period the proportion of population with elevated BP levels declined from 22.25% to 19.1% in men (p less than 0.05), and from 16.8% to 14.0% (p less than 0.05) in women as a result of better hypertension control. The prevalence of obesity in men rose from 18.5% to 23.9% (p less than 0.001). The proportion of individuals with a total cholesterol level over 5.2 mmol/l rose from 78.0% to 83.1% (p less than 0.001) in men and from 75.9% to 80.6% in women (p less than 0.01). The changes were favourable only in those risk factors that were actively influenced by the preventive programmes "A Chance for Three Million" in smoking habits, and the "National Programme of Hypertension Control". The authors believe that consistent nationwide preventive programmes might exert a beneficial effect on the profile of risk factors of the whole Czech population.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The development of cholesterolemia in the Czech population 1985-1988].

The authors followed up the development of serum cholesterol levels in the population aged 25-64 years in six districts of the CR. These districts collaborate since 1984 in the international WHO programme, MONICA. The mean total cholesterol levels increased during 1985-1988 in men from 6.21 mmol/l to 6.28 mmol/l (ns), in women from 6.18 mmol/l to 6.22 mmol/l (ns). During the same period in the population of the six districts the number of subjects with total cholesterol values of 5.2 mmol/l or less declined from 21.9% to 16.8% (p less than 0.001) in men and from 24.0% to 19.4% in women (p less than 0.01). It is important that the greatest change was recorded in the age group of 25-34 years--in men from 38.7% to 27.7% (p less than 0.01) and in women from 46.6% to 36.7% (p less than 0.05). In the investigated population in 1988 cholesterol levels of 6.5 mmol/l and more were recorded in 39.4% of the men and 36.9% of the women, values of 7.8 mmol/l and more in 10% of the men and 9.6% of the women. If in our population, within the framework of prevention of IHD, recommendations of the European Society for Atherosclerosis will be applied, preventive provisions will be necessary in more than 80% of the adult population.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Coronary events in the population of six districts of the Czech Socialist Republic.

In 1984, 640 coronary events were registered in six districts of the Czech Socialist Republic in a population of 164, 185 men aged 25 to 64 years; in a population of 166, 651 women of the same age-group there occurred 162 coronary events. 695 coronary events were according to criteria of the MONICA project (Monitoring of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors) confirmed as definite or possible myocardial infarction (MI). The incidence of MI per 100,000 inhabitants amounted in 1984 to 347.7 in men and to 74.4 in women aged 25 to 64 years. The death-rate up to the 28th day of the disease is in men and women the same: one third of patients with a coronary event die within 4 weeks after the onset of symptoms. Death occurs in 75.8% of men and in 69.2% of women during the first 24 hours. Of all subjects with fatal MI, 35.4% of men and 56.1% of women died in hospital.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Interrelations between structure and function in the vocal repertoire of Saimiri. Asking the monkeys themselves where to split and where to lump.

The identification of units used in primate vocal behaviour and the isolation of components essential for intraspecific communication (i.e. having a function) from possibly inessential ones (i.e. having no function) is an absolute prerequisite to a successful analysis of primate vocalizations. For most calls special methods are required because neither the essentials of structure nor their relation to function are known, nor the context involved. For calls without any distinct frequency modulation we showed that the animals utter calls containing categorical amplitude changes. The changes within one call are either very small or very large. The positions or the very large amplitude changes within a call depend on the social situation the animals were subjected to and affect the immediately succeeding vocalization of the conspecific. This proves that in vocal communication discrete components are produced (structure) as well as used (function).

Animal Communication↗
PubMed1983

Analysis of Israeli children's fears: a comparison of religious and secular communities.

This study examined the community intervention practice of grouping children on the basis of religious attitudes for analysing community fear responses. The study examined the differences of responses between religious and secular school populations to the Israeli Fear Survey Schedule for Children (IFSSC), an adaptation of the Wolpe and Lang (1964) Fear Survey Schedule. 283 children from secular-trend schools in Israel. 18 of the 99 items of the IFSSC (Klingman & Wiesner, 1982) showed significant differences. The study supported the continuation of the community intervention practice of grouping children on the basis of religious attitude for analyzing IFSSC responses. Religious group affiliation was found to be an influential factor in certain fear responses. The findings point to the need for investigating normative differences among subpopulations with FSS-like instruments. Pre-knowledge and the understanding of the fear level in a community is of great value for emergency-oriented consultation during a crisis. When facing an anxiety-producing situation, the focus of primary as well as early secondary prevention is reaching individuals, as well as groups, of high psychological risk (Caplan, 1964; Klingman & Ben-Eli, 1981; Ollendick & Offman, 1982; Poser & Hartmen, 1979; Shippee, Bradford & Gregory, 1982). The utilization of appropriate classification variables enhances the ability to assess the quality and the degree of reaction to stress within a community.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child↗
PubMed1982

The relationship of proximity to tension areas and size of settlement to fear levels of Israeli children.

A children's version of the Israeli Fear Survey Schedule was administered to 171 children in the central region of Israel and to 320 children along the tense Northern border. Proximity to the border and size of settlement were found to be factors in the fear levels observed. Beyond the finding that children closer to tension areas had higher fear levels, those from small settlements had higher fear levels than those from medium or large settlements. It was proposed that the variable of population size be viewed as mediated by a sense of social isolation by the subjects in small towns.

Child↗
PubMed1981

[Effect of dl-alpha-tocopherol on incorporation of selenium in "selenium-indicating" organs and on glutathione peroxidase activity in rat and rabbit erythrocytes following application of therapeutic doses of sodium selenite].

An explanation of the functions of both vitamin E and selenium in metabolism and an account of the correlations between them is followed by reference to the results obtained by the authors of this paper from studies into the effects of dl-alpha-tocopherol on selenium levels in the M. longissimus dorsi, blood, and liver as well as on the activity of glutathione-peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) in erythrocytes of rabbit and rat, following application of therapeutic doses of selenium (0.5 mg/kg live weight). In both species selenium application increased the glutathione-peroxidase activity in erythrocytes. Vitamin E had no additional effect. Application of selenium was followed by rise in intraorganic selenium concentrations. In rabbit, the effect of vitamin T on intraorganic distribution of selenium caused an increased of the selenium level in the liver, but not in the muscles. No vitamin E effect was recordable in the rat. The findings are discussed, with conclusions being suggested for the treatment of metabolic disorders in the context of selenium and vitamin E and for non-invasive liver therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes and selenium concentration in blood of untreated and selenium-treated rabbits].

White New Zealander rabbits were tested for erythrocyte-borne reference values of glutathion peroxidase Px activity, with correlations being established between that activity and selenium content of the blood. The average glutathion peroxidase Px activity in untreated clinically intact rabbits was 11.8 K/g Hb. That value doubled following five selenium applications in therapeutic dosage. The values empirically determined were well adapted to normal distribution. Selenium concentrations recorded from organs of control animals were in fair agreement with values established in earlier studies (Wiesner et al., 1978). The correlation coefficient was r = 0.7117 (n = 44, alpha less than 0.001). The equation of regressive straight line Y oder X (ŷ) was ŷ = -5.3 + 59.94x, and that of X over Y (ŷ) was ŷ = 0,27 + 0,0095y, when Y defined the activity of glutathion peroxidase Px and X the selenium level in the blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Facilitating and debilitating test anxiety among college students and volunteers for desensitization workshops.

Administered the Alpert-Haber Achievement Anxiety Test (AAT) to 54 students who expressed interest in participating in a test anxiety desensitization workshop. In addition, 182 students from the general college population were tested. Results indicated that both the debilitating and facilitating (AAT) scales were higher for the self-referred volunteer group. These data indicate that these scales are useful in distinguishing self-referred volunteers for behavior modification workshops from a general college population. In addition, the scales of the AAT were correlated with the number of sessions attended by those students who enrolled in the desensitization groups. Results indicated no relationship between attrition and debilitating anxiety. There was a correlation of r = .318 p less than .15 between facilitating anxiety scores and number of sessions attended. It is suggested that facilitating anxiety can function as a measure of S's ego strength in predicting workshop attendance.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1978

[Distribution pattern, statistical analysis and correlation of selenium levels in swine selenium-indicating organs].

There is a potential risk of excessive selenium levels in organs of swine, resulting in toxicity and residues in pork, or selenium deficit. Therefore, random selenium mean values in "selenium-indicating" organs of pigs selected from suspicious populations were compared with mean and limiting values (reference or normal values) recorded from animals with intact metabolism. Prerequisites required for such comparative assessment included the availability of estimated variance values and knowledge of the presence of abscence of agreement between normal distribution and empirical frequency distribution for the population concerned. Knowledge must be available also on the informative value of measured selenium data in blood plasma and their relevance to the general selenium situation in the organism and muscle at large. These were some of the problems studied by determining selenium levels in the liver, kidneys, blood plasma, and M. longissimus dorsi. Organic selenium concentrations were found to be distributed with right axis deviation but almost normal. The parameters established were typical of the majority of data known from literature. Those date, however, are quite variable, so that the need for independently prepared reference values cannot be abandoned. Correlation analysis showed reciprocal relationships between selenium levels in blooc plasma, liver, and muscles but much less correlation between these, on the one hand, and selenium in kidneys, on the other. The correlations between blood plasma and muscle selenium were close enough to take blood plasma values recorded from the living animal as reference from which to draw conclusions as to the muscular selenium state.

Animals↗