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Genetic and karyotypic studies of natural Saccharomyces sensu stricto yeasts from Finland, Holland and Slovakia revealed three wild sibling-species: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces bayanus and Saccharomyces paradoxus.
A report is presented on the epidemiological, clinical and serological findings obtained in 37 patients in the southern part of Eastern Slovakia who were diagnosed as having Brill's disease. All patients presented with a recurrence of classical louse-borne typhus; in no case did the disease occur for the first time. It is recommended that all patients with a febrile illness of uncertain aetiology be subjected to a routine serological examination for louse-borne typhus in epidemic areas. Careful supervision is necessary since if such late recurrences are not detected they can result in a renewed spread of the disease in an environment where lice prevail. This was demonstrated in one of the patients in this study.
Knowledge with regard to the spontaneous abortion cytogenetics has been derived exclusively from populations of the highly developed countries; its full applicability to east-european populations living in the peculiar conditions of the former 'socialist countries' may be questioned. The consecutive series of 1912 spontaneous abortion products with identifiable embryonal tissue was collected in six maternal clinics in south Slovakia. 1508 specimens were set in culture. Among 926 (61.4%) successfully karyotyped abortions, 46.0% were chromosomally abnormal specimens. The proportion of the groups of abnormalities is similar to that in other large series, with the exception of a higher proportion of mosaics (14.3% of the abnormalities). The abnormality rate in the whole sample also lies within the range of values published. However, significant inter-regional variability has been established: the chromosome abnormality rate in the urban subsample is 47.8%, whereas the value was only 35.3% for rural southern districts. The anomaly rates are lower for all maternal ages and gestation phases in the country subsample. The possibility of the environmental diversity effect was discussed. No other major peculiarity of cytogenetic abortion characteristics can be determined in the population studied.
The development of cancer registration, from the introduction of obligatory notification and the establishment of National Cancer Registry of Slovakia, is described. The activity of the registry is illustrated by the list of publications which have emanated from this institution in recent years. The survey is completed by the analysis of the incidence rates of individual cancer sites in the last 5-year period (1984-1988) and by their trends in the decade 1979-1988. The positive role of the registry in the establishment of a cancer control programme and the investigation of cancer epidemiology is stressed.
BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite of warm-blooded animals that causes one of the most common parasitic infections in humans. Toxoplasmosis is not a frequently reported disease and its prevalence is based on regional studies. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in a non-endemic area among 508 healthy individuals in Slovakia. ELISA was used to detect the levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies. Epidemiological factors and clinical symptoms associated with seropositivity were investigated using questionnaires. RESULTS: An IgG antibody prevalence of 24.2% (123/508) was found in the study population, while examination of specific IgA and IgM antibodies was negative. A significant increase in toxoplasmosis prevalence with increasing age was confirmed (p=0.001). There were no significant differences between genders or between inhabitants of rural and urban areas (p=0.079 and p=0.291, respectively). An increased consumption of raw meat (40.7%) and raw vegetables or fruit (30.8%) was observed in serologically positive women. This difference between serologically positive and negative women was significant (p=0.042). A significant difference between men and women eating raw vegetables and fruit was also found (p=0.049). There was no difference in clinical symptoms between serologically positive and negative patients (p=0.658). Lymphadenopathy with or without other symptoms (influenza, arthralgia, ocular symptom, dermatosis), 40.7%, was the most common clinical symptom in seropositive patients. CONCLUSION: An increased prevalence of T. gondii was observed in the age group over 40 years and in women who consume raw meat, vegetables, or fruit.
A power station in central Slovakia emitted arsenic (As) in large quantities for over 30 years as a result of burning As-rich brown coal. Nowadays emissions of As are low. Over the lifetime of the plant's operation over 3000 tonne of As have been emitted into the environment. This paper aims to examine the concentrations of As in the soil around the power station, and also to investigate whether the coal burnt in the plant, and consequently the emissions from it, contained raised levels of six further heavy metals. Soil concentrations were compared to ground level air As concentrations predicted by an air dispersion model. Coal samples were taken from the power station and analysed to determine concentrations of As, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni and Cd. Soil samples (n=113) were taken up to 12 km from the plant along a transect designed to follow the valley floor in which the power station is situated. Soil samples were analysed for concentrations of those elements for which coal was tested. Concentrations of As in coal were high (AM 518 mug/g). Those of other heavy metals were, in general, low. Concentrations of soil As were substantially raised in the near vicinity of the plant but decreased within 5 km to concentrations similar to those in the rest of the district. Overall, levels within 10 km of the plant were slightly above those recommended for residential levels in the UK. Soil concentrations of other heavy metals were higher in the vicinity of the plant but none, overall was raised. Comparison of results from a previous air dispersion model of ground level air arsenic concentrations showed a moderate correlation (r=0.6) between modelled and measured values. Over its period of operation the power plant has contributed to raised levels of soil As in the local soils, though not substantially of other elements. Though now airborne As emissions are controlled, concern remains regarding soil arsenic concentrations and fugitive emissions from the plant that could be contributing to exposure of the local population and of the workforce.
Data are presented on the red cell acid phosphatase (ACP), phosphoglucomutase (PGM1), and adenylate kinase (AK) iso-enzyme distributions in a sample of gypsies (Roms) from Slovakia (Czechoslovakia). The findings of very low Pa (0.289) and PGM11 (0.656) gene frequencies as well as the complete absence of the Pc gene are in accordance with the generally accepted assumption of the Indian origin of European gypsies, and demonstrate that the rate of European admixture in Slovak gypsies is low. The finding of a very high AK1 gene frequency (0.984), on the other hand, contradicts this assumption, but with the limited available data on the iso-enzyme distribution in other gypsy and in Indian populations it cannot readily be explained.
A total of 201 cases of fungaemia in children in a 12-year national survey from seven University Paediatric Clinics in Slovakia in 1990-2001 was assessed to determine risk factors, therapy and outcome, and to compare those cases with fungaemia in 130 adult cancer patients studied in a similar survey. Four univariate analyses were performed to assess differences in aetiology, antifungal susceptibility and outcome between fungaemia in neonates and paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) patients as well as between paediatric and adult cancer patients with fungaemia. There was a significant difference in aetiology and antifungal susceptibility between the subgroups of children with fungaemia: 83.3% of neonates versus 40.2% in children with cancer were due to Candida albicans. None of the non-albicans Candida spp. (NAC) in neonates but 23.5% of NAC isolates from children with cancer were resistant to fluconazole. C. albicans caused 144 (71.1%) episodes and NAC 48 (23.7%) episodes. Trichosporon beigelii, Blastoschizomyces (Trichosporon) capitatus, Rhodotorula rubra and Cryptococcus laurentii were found less frequently in neonates than in children with cancer (18.8%). There were not many differences in risk factors between paediatric fungaemia and adult cancer fungaemia except C. albicans aetiology, corticosteroid use in therapy, breakthrough fungaemia after ketoconazole prophylaxis and meningitis as a complication, which were observed significantly more frequently among children than in adults, both with cancer and fungaemia. Thirty-three of the paediatric fungaemias were breakthrough cases and appeared frequently in children with cancer. Fifty-one (25.1%) children died with fungaemia (attributable mortality) and 25 (12.7%) due to underlying disease with fungaemia; overall mortality was 37.8% and there was no significant difference in death rates between the subgroups of paediatric patients (neonates, children in ICUs and children with cancer).
A study of an outbreak of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in a natural focus of this infection at ZAvada village (Slovakia) led to the conclusion that apparently the epidemic was caused by consumption of fresh sheep cheese and infection of persons occurred by the alimentary route. To our knowledge, this is the first record of this source of infection in man.
This meeting was hosted by the European Federation of Immunological Societies celebrating its 7th meeting in the High Tatra Mountains of Slovakia on 24-28 June 2006. Entitled molecular determinants of T-cell immunity, the meeting covered a wide range of novel methods to regulate an unwanted immune response in autoimmunity and boost the immune system to combat viral infection and cancer.
A total of 770 rodents (40 rats, 100 hamsters and 630 rodents) were serologicall examined in the old natural foci in some of the Eastern Slovakia regions; there were 10.6% of positive reactions to Leptospirosis in dilutions ranging from 1 : 100 to 1 : 1600. In rats 17 sers (40%) proved to be positive to leptospira, mostly reacting with the L. icterohaemorrhagiae. A positive reaction with the leptospira antigen was found in 13 sera (15%) of hamsters; the sera reacted with the Leptospira grypposa more frequently than with the L. serjoe. In the group of small rodents the greatest number of positive reactions to leptospirosis was obtained in microtus arvalis (10.7%); the sera reacted most frequently with L. grippotyphosa and L. serjoe. As many as 9 serological types were revealed in the group examined.
The author describes the serological demonstration of toxoplasma antibodies in sheep of ten flocks kept in the lowland region of western Slovakia. The results of serological examination by the complement-fixation reaction (CFR) were positive in different degrees in nine flocks. In the remaining flock the blood of the sheep was not found to contain such antibodies. At the locality L. the author selected a small group of serologically positive sheep from the group of animals to be slaughtered and he studied the CFR values of antibodies in the course of nine months. Toxoplasma strain denoted as H-1 was isolated from the brain of a ram of this group which had a 1 : 256 antibody titre in the blood. This strain was found to be highly virulent for white mice. Toxoplasma antibodies were also identified in the blood of exposed workers, in the blood of dogs, mice and sewer rats. The patho-anatomic picture and isolation of toxoplasma strains from the brain of dead sheep or their foetuses which had the antibodies in the blood before death -- all this demonstrated the occurrence of congenital infection.
In a retrospective study of two patients from Slovakia with clinical, virological and histopathological diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), measles virus antigen was detected by immunocytochemical labelling studies. The formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded thin brain sections labelled with anti-measles antibodies and avidin-biotin complex peroxidase were counterstained with haematoxylin. Only a single area of brain was examined in each patient: cerebellum and parietal lobe. Viral antigen positive reaction was identified within Purkinje cells and extending along dendritic processes in cerebellum, and also in oligodendrocytes of subparietal white matter.
Before 1777, the pharmacist in Slovakia gained their professional qualification by practising in a pharmacy. From the establishment of the University of Trnava to 1777, they attended lectures and took examinations at its Faculty of Medicine, then from 1784 onwards in Budapest. After the establishment of Czechoslovakia, the candidates of pharmacy studied in Prague, and after the closing of Czech universities (1939) in Bratislava. Between 1940 and 1948 there existed a three-year course, and later a four-year course at the Faculty of Medicine, the contents of which were close to the level of the development of sciences and the requirements of pharmaceutical practice. A logical completion of the development of the course of studies was the establishment of independent Faculties of Pharmacy in Bratislava and Brno and the prolongation of the course to five years. Commencing with the academic year 1977/78, the course of studies was divided into three specializations, General Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy and Technological Pharmacy. Since the academic year 1990/91 the course is uniform again, with possible differentiations in the profile of the graduate during the course according to the interests and options of the student.
The author reminds of the first attempts of therapeutic dialysis in Slovakia as well as the first instrumental haemodialysis implemented on August 15 1962 by doctors I. Ahlers, N. Scheid and T. Szabo in the Military Hospital in Kosice. Then he analyzes the development of dialyzation treatment in the Slovak Republic and compares the contemporary state with that in Europe.
The concentration of iodine was estimated in 667 urine specimens of boys and girls aged 6-18 years from 5 regions of Slovakia. Only about a half of all values (i.e. 48.43%) was found in the optimum range of 10-20 micrograms/dl, while 40.43% of values wore in the range of iodine deficiency (i.e. less than 10 mu/dl). In addition, there were 10.64% of high values (ie. more than 20 micrograms/dl). These results show that the intake of iodine appears to be 3-4 times higher than before the start of iodine prophylaxis in about 1950, but it still does not reach the optimum level. The increase of iodine intake would be achieved by the replacement of iodide (KI) with iodate (KIO3) which is much more stable. This prevents the looses of iodine from the salt which represent 50 to 75 percent of the original level within 1 to 1 and a half year.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is the most serious and potentially devastating chronic disorder of the pulmonary circulation with diverse etiologies and pathogenesis characterized by abnormal increased vasoconstriction and vascular remodelling. Current specific therapy of PH is based on an understanding of its pathogenesis and is acting through pathogenic pathways and therefore changes therapeutic strategy, effectively improves clinical course and prolongs life. The authors discuss the actual classification, pathogenesis in short and particularly actual treatment modalities and the impact on the natural history of this disorder. In chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is pulmonary endarterectomy if correct indicated the curable method, warranted substantial improvement of life quality and survival. These novel therapies of PH were absent in Slovakia until recently. The authors present initial experiences, results of PH management up to date on the basis of cooperation with PH centres in Austria and Czech Republic (Tab. 1, Fig. 6, Ref. 32).
Prenatal genetic diagnostics is a part of prenatal care. Prenatal karyotyping is used to identify major genetic and congenital abnormalities in a developing fetus. In the Presov region (Slovakia) in 1999-2004 370 amniotic fluid samples were analysed by G-banding. Abnormal karyotypes were detected in 3.8% of samples. A karyotype using classical banding methods is the only fully informative method able to detect all chromosomal abnormalities. Identification of fetal abnormal chromosomes in high risk pregnancies allows proper pediatric and obstetric managment of the cases as well as genetic counselling (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 5).