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PubMed2000

Characterization of a new spotted fever group rickettsia detected in Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) collected in Slovakia.

Two previously undescribed rickettsiae were detected in Ixodes ricinus Ricketts by polymerase chain reaction. Ixodes ricinus Slovakia (IRS) 3 and IRS4 were identified in ticks collected in northeastern and southwestern Slovakia, respectively. Sequences of the 16S rRNA citrate synthase (gltA) and outer membrane protein rOmpA (ompA) encoding genes of both strains were nearly identical but were distinct from those of all other known rickettsiae. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from the comparison of these sequences with those of other members of the genus Rickettsia indicate that IRS3 and IRS4 constitute a new rickettsial genotype and form a separate cluster among the spotted fever group rickettsiae.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Aminoglycoside resistance. Enzymatic mechanisms in clinical bacterial strains in Slovakia during the last decade.

We determined the importance and dissemination of enzymatic mechanisms of aminoglycoside resistance in 239 gentamicin-resistant strains of Gram-negative bacilli isolated in Slovakia during the past decade. Over the past 5 years, the resistance to tobramycin has risen by 1.1% to netilmicin by 27.4%, to amikacin by 78.3%, and resistance to isepamicin was high too (81.9%). Sixteen different aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes were detected and their significance for resistance to aminoglycosides was confirmed. It is evident that within the past 5 years gentamicin-resistant bacterial have obtained genetic information on resistance to the other aminoglycosides tested and the percentage of strains with different enzyme combinations has risen. These observations confirm the continuously increasing complexity of antibiotic resistance in clinical bacterial isolates under study in Slovakia during the last decade.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

Prescribers' indications for drugs in childhood: a survey of five European countries (Spain, France, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Russia).

BACKGROUND: Indication-based, in comparison to diagnoses-based, drug utilization studies in children are scarce in the literature. AIM: To determine the adequacy of the prescriber's indications for specific drug treatments compared to the current literature in five different European countries; and to show the possibilities of performing indication-based drug utilization studies. DESIGN: a descriptive, cross-sectional, international study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomly selected sample of 12,264 paediatric outpatients seen in consultation rooms attended by paediatricians or general practitioners. Data on patient demographics, diagnoses, and pharmacological treatment, with therapeutic indications for each drug, were collected in pre-designed forms. Diagnoses and indications were coded using the ICD-9 and drugs according to the ATC classifications. RESULTS: Indications were registered for every drug prescribed in all locations. Antibiotic indications considered incorrect (common cold, upper respiratory tract infections, viral infections, general symptoms or "not specified") accounted from 24.1% of the total antibiotics prescribed in Tenerife to 67.4% in Slovakia. Incorrect indication of first-choice antibiotics prescribed in acute otitis media and tonsillitis ranged from 28.9% of total antibiotics use in Russia to 75.4% in Tenerife. Correct antibiotic indications ranged from 23.4% of total antibiotics used in Slovakia to 65.7% in Tenerife. Aspirin use in febrile viral conditions was detected mainly in Toulouse and Russia. CONCLUSION: The main areas for improvement detected were high use of mucolytics, prescription of aspirin in potential or established viral infections, overuse of antibiotics and identification of specific patterns of incorrect antibiotic prescription and clinical entities associated with each location.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Linkage of autosomal recessive primary congenital glaucoma to the GLC3A locus in Roms (Gypsies) from Slovakia.

The autosomal recessive form of primary congenital glaucoma (gene symbol GLC3) has been recently mapped to two different loci, GLC3A (at 2p21), and GLC3B (at 1p36), respectively, on families of Turkish and Saudi Arabian provenance. This disorder is known to occur with an extremely high incidence in Roms (Gypsies) in Slovakia. We performed a standard linkage analysis on a sample of 7 Slovak Gypsy families comprising 18 affected members, and found significant linkage with four STR markers from the chromosomal region of 2p21 (D2S1788, D2S1346, D2S2328, and D2S1356), without heterogeneity. This finding demonstrates that in the Rom population of Slovakia, primary congenital glaucoma is due to the locus GLC3A, and consequently, to the mutation(s) in the cytochrome P4501B1 gene, which has been recently identified as the principal cause of the disease. Roms represent the third population, in which the disorder has been mapped to GLC3A.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1995

Incidence and prevalence of childhood diabetes in Slovakia (1985-1992). Slovak Childhood Diabetes Epidemiology Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To provide reliable data on the incidence and prevalence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in children in Slovakia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 754 Slovak children with IDDM, aged 0-14 years, were identified during an 8-year study period. There were 369 boys and 385 girls from an average population of 1,363,499 children. All patients were prospectively recorded. The primary ascertainment was based on notifications by physicians from outpatient departments. The second independent source of information was from all hospitals where the diabetic patients were hospitalized. The completeness of ascertainment was based on the capture-recapture procedure. RESULTS: The completeness of the ascertainment was 95%. In 1992, the annual incidence rate of IDDM (per 100,000) in the 0- to 14 year-old age-group was 8.92 for both sexes (7.95 for boys and 9.93 for girls). In the youngest age-group, an increase in the incidence rates from 2.89 in 1985 to 6.54 in 1992 was observed. Seasonality, with a higher incidence in autumn and winter, was observed in children older than 4 years. The prevalence rates of IDDM (per 1,000) were 0.28-0.50% in the 8-year period. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of IDDM in Slovak children (0-14 years) is similar to what has been found in other Central European countries. In children younger than 4 years of age, in the last 2 years (1991 and 1992) more patients with diabetes were found than in any period during the preceding 6 years. The recent conspicuous increase in the incidence of IDDM among the younger children in Slovakia urges us to study its mechanisms, so far unknown, and to search for possible means of prevention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Antibody responses to the herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein G in sera of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Slovakia.

Thirty sera of human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) and 37 sera of HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals in Slovakia were tested for the presence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein G (gG). A notable difference between the prevalence of HSV-2-specific antibodies in HIV+ and that in HIV- individuals was found (37% vs. 11%) confirming and extending previous reports that HSV-2 infection is an important risk factor for HIV transmission. Efforts toward the detection of HSV-2 infection and its therapy by anti-HSV drugs should be considered an important factor in decreasing the risk of contracting and spreading of HIV in Slovakia.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[A tularemia epidemic in western Slovakia 1995-1996].

The activation of natural foci of tularaemia in West Slovakia during 1994-1996 led to an epidemic outbreak in 1995-1996--mean annual morbidity 6.2 per 10(5) population. In comparison with the mean annual morbidity rate in the preceding period (1980-1994), a more than sevenfold increase was recorded. Of 213 notified cases of the disease 156 cases occurred in 1995--morbidity 8.9 per 10(5) population--being the highest morbidity recorded in this endemic region since the period of epidemic occurrence in the 60s. The highest proportion of cases (59.2%) was recorded in the districts of Nitra and Nové Zámky. The activation of natural foci along with changing social conditions, caused also marked changes of some epidemiological characteristics of tularaemia in Slovakia, such as seasonal and professional occurrence, as well as clinical forms of the disease. The impaired epidemiological situation in the occurrence of tularaemia is pointing to the importance of systematic surveillance to improve the diagnosis of the disease and ensure effective preventive measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Sludge treatment and disposal in Slovakia.

The ongoing economic changes that accompany the transformation period of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries have significantly affected the production of wastes generated in urban areas and/or particularly in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The production of sewage sludges is expected to increase in Slovakia because of upgrading the existing plants, requiring more extensive sewage treatment, and because of construction of new treatment plants. Analysis of available data combined with the latest results of comprehensive monitoring of sludge generated at municipal WWTPs shows the serious problems concerning its quality and thus in general with sludge management and its reuse. Based on results obtained from monitoring, an amendment of the present legislation for sludge disposal in agriculture is under preparation. Priorities of state environmental policy should include improvement of the present situation is sludge treatment and disposal in Slovakia.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2000

[New findings on the ecology and epidemiology of murine herpes virus isolated in Slovakia].

Rodents are important reservoir animals of many human microbial pathogens. Of small rodents, trapped on Slovakia territory, were several strains of murine herpes virus (MHV) isolated. Our purpose was to complete the existing knowledge about circulation of MHV in rodents and to find out, whether also other animal species including man are MHV sensitive or not. The presence of antibodies against MHV in serum of the tested animals and men was followed by virus neutralization test (VNT) and ELISA. Pathological changes in differential white blood cell count of the trapped rodents, were also observed because it is known, that MHV induces them in laboratory mice. A total of 627 small terrestrial mammals of nine species were collected in four localities of western and eastern Slovakia during 1984-1988. Neutralizing antibodies to MHV were detected in five species of rodents in 130 cases (20.7%). Antibodies were most frequently detected in Apodemus flavicollis (34.9%). Pathological changes in differential white blood cell count of trapped rodents were detected in 37% (34/92). Neutralizing antibodies were found also in serum of fallow deers (Dama dama), wild boars (Sus scrofa), deers (Cervus elaphus) and sheep but not in serum of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and muflons (Ovis musimon). ELISA and VNT tests were used to investigate 20 serums of employees of the Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences and Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University. There were eight samples positive (40%). The titers of antibodies were 4-32 in VNT and 1000 in ELISA.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Participation of Chlamydia pneumoniae in an epidemic of respiratory infections in Slovakia.

In human sera collected in three regions of Slovakia during an epidemic of respiratory infections, both genus-specific chlamydial and species-specific anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies, as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and microimmunofluorescence test, respectively, were found. Based on seroconversion or significant rise of antibody titers and detection of antibodies of IgM class, an acute C. pneumoniae infection was indicated in 21 of 298 (7.0%) patients tested. The results obtained bring the first evidence on the role of C. pneumoniae as respiratory pathogen in Slovakia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Lung cancer incidence rates by histologic type: an example of trends in Eastern Europe--Slovakia 1978-95.

During the period 1978-1995 43206 cases of lung cancer--37967 in men and 5239 in women--were recorded in Slovakia. Among 26240 microscopically confirmed cases in men squamous cell carcinomas were the most frequent (57.1%) followed by small cell carcinomas (18.3%) and adenocarcinomas (11.7%). In women from 3190 microscopically confirmed cases squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas had nearly the same frequency (31.9% and 32.2%, respectively), followed by small cell carcinomas (16.1%). In men after a marked increase of overall lung cancer incidence and mortality the rates started to flatten and even decline from the early 1990s. The main histologic types peaked in the late 1980s and declined thereafter but showed increase of percentage change when the rates at the beginning and the end of the studied period were compared; the highest one was marked for adenocarcinomas. The corresponding rates in women were much lower, but their increase was more pronounced than in men. Adenocarcinomas showed almost twofold increase in women during the first time-period of the study but after peaking in 1984-1986 they stabilized, while squamous cell carcinomas continued to increase also in recent years. The analysis of incidence rates by age groups showed that the initial increase and subsequent decrease of all microscopically confirmed cases in men as well as their gradual increase in women was influenced mainly by the trends of squamous cell carcinomas in younger age groups in men and in all age groups in women. Absence of higher increase and proportion of adenocarcinomas in Slovakia in both sexes could probably be explained by delayed introduction of filter tipped and low tar cigarettes.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

[Basic assessment of needs for training in evidence-based medicine in Slovakia].

BACKGROUND: The health care reform in Slovakia produces a desire for greater responsibility for and control of strategic decisions and to be better able to evaluate international knowledge and experience in the specific national social and professional contexts. Evidence based medicine (EBM) provides an increasingly organised and accessible database of international knowledge in health and health care, capable of informing decisions at the macro and micro levels. AIM: The aim of this pilot study was to assess education, training and other capacity building needs in EBM and evidence based health care. METHODS: This study was primarily qualitative and based on a triangular approach, which included: (1) The analysis of the situation in pre- and postgraduate education in Slovakia aiming to the estimation of needs in EBM and critical appraisal skills training; (2) The analysis of questionnaires distributed in a sample of 50 medical doctors and university educated public health workers undergoing a postgraduate training; (3) The discussion in focused groups. RESULTS: The findings and analysis uncovered a gap in knowledge and experience of EBM approaches, particularly of searching for evidence, utilising information technology, of undertaking critical appraisals of the validity and quality of external evidence and of knowledge of English. On the other hand the findings revealed a high access to information including the Internet access at the workplace, an increasing awareness of the need for up-date information, a demand for training and potential opportunities for action. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The effective implementation introduction of EBM approach would require changes in broader political, cultural and behavioural contexts, including changes in pre- and postgraduate systems of professional and managerial education, changes in professional and managerial attitudes and changes in emphasis in skills and capacity building and improvements in knowledge management systems at the national level.

Education, Medical↗
PubMed2002

Tick-borne encephalitis virus foci in Slovakia.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus as a typical arbovirus relies on two types of hosts for its survival: ticks act both as virus vectors and reservoir hosts, and vertebrates amplify the virus infection by acting as a source of infection for feeding ticks. Longitudinal monitoring of TBE virus in ticks and vertebrate hosts including humans over a period of 40 years resulted in the identification of the areas of Slovakia where TBE virus is endemic. These are concentrated to the western, southern, and eastern parts of the country. Even with recently identified foci there is no evidence that the size and location of the natural TBE foci have changed significantly during the last decades. Numbers of diagnosed hospitalised cases of TBE in Slovakia vary from less than 20 to almost 100 cases annually with 54-89 cases in recent years. A part of these cases (33 cases during the last 5 years) are alimentary infections after drinking of raw goat and sheep milk.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Refractive surgery in Slovakia].

Since 1991 the chief specialist evaluates different spheres of ophthalmology based on data provided by all departments in Slovakia. In the submitted article the author summarizes the 10-year period of refractive surgery in Slovakia.

Corneal Transplantation↗
PubMed2002

Trends of childhood diabetes incidence in Slovakia 1985-2000: accelerated increase in the years 1990-2000.

BACKGROUND: A sudden rise in the incidence of childhood diabetes (DM 1) in Central and Eastern Europe over the last decade has been reported. AIM: To compare in Slovakia incidence trends in the 80s with those in the 90s. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The data from the Slovak Register of Diabetic Children diagnosed in 1985-2000 (n=1818) were divided into 6 groups according to sex and age at diagnosis (0-4, 5-9, 10-14). Trends were computed separately for 1985-1990 and 1990-2000. The 95% confidence estimates of linear regression coefficients and as percentages from the estimated starting values in 1985 and 1990, were calculated by the linear regression based on statistical inferential approach. RESULTS: Non-significant increasing or decreasing trends were found in 6 gender/age groups 1985-1990. In the 90s, however, significantly increasing trends were present in each of 6 groups. They were significant (p<0.05) in the male groups and in the total of all cases. The overall incidence rise (+0.03 cases per 100000 children per year) was nonsignificant in the 80s but significant in the 90s (+0.63/100000/year). As a result, the incidence rate of childhood diabetes in Slovakia rose from 6.01 new cases per 100000 children per one year in 1985 to 13.53/100000/year in 2000. CONCLUSION: The overall DM 1 incidence increaseed from the 1980s (80s) to the 1990s (90s), expressed in the number of new cases, is more than a 20-fold absolutely and almost 10-fold in relative terms. This was not due to an improvement in diagnosis in 1990s. Both the gender and age heterogeneity were present. (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 25.).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Molecular evidence for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks from eastern Slovakia.

Ixodes ricinus ticks (20 males, 20 females and 20 nymphs) collected in Kosice, Slovakia were examined for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) by PCR. 38.3 % of the tested ticks carried single infection of B. burgdorferi s.l. and 8.3 % were infected with A. phagocytophilum. Double infection of both pathogens was detected in 5 % of tested ticks. These results indicate that both B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum co-circulate in the enzootic sites of Eastern Slovakia and may cause co-infection in humans.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum↗
PubMed2004

[Isolation of highly divergent vaccine strains of polioviruses in Slovakia].

April 2003 was the first time in Slovakia, when the vaccine derived poliovirus Type 2 was isolated from waste water sampled from the waste water disposal plant in Vrakun, which collects most waste from Bratislava. The examination in the Regional reference laboratory in Helsinki revealed an almost 15% divergence from the vaccine strain and genetic identity with the Sabine vaccine strain was only 86.6%. Various cases of paralytic poliomyelitis have been published in world literature, caused by mutants = vaccine derived polioviruses (VDPV). Sporadic diseases were described not only in persons who excreted genetically modified vaccine strains, but even examples of epidemic occurrence connected with circulation and transfer of VDPV in non-vaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated population. Epidemiologist of the State Faculty Public Health Institute of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia immediately accepted measures to strengthen surveillance of poliomyelitis at all levels in order to minimize the risk for the origin of paralytic disease in the population. The world-wide activities aimed at eradication of poliomyelitis may eliminate the wild virus from human community as well as from the environment. It will be difficult to eradicate poliomyelitis completely before the potentially infectious oral vaccine is substituted with inactivated vaccine.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) as a potential source of chlamydial infection in East Slovakia.

The presence of antibodies against Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) psittaci in small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) in the region of East Slovakia are presented. The hosts were caught in several areas of Slovakia in habitats with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance. Research was carried out during 2000-2002. The authors examined 1,947 sera coming from 4 insectivore and 10 rodent species. Each serum was examined by micromethod of complement binding reactions using antigen Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) psittaci. Chlamydial infections were found in 251 individuals (prevalence 12.9 %) of 8 mammal species. The antichlamydial antibodies were proved at levels ranging from 1:32-1:1024. The highest prevalence of antibodies was detected in the most abundant rodent species Apodemus microps (14.8 %), Apodemus agrarius (13.9 %), Apodemus flavicolis (12.4 %), Microtus arvalis (12 %), and Clethrionomys glareolus (10.9 %). Positive hosts were registered in all studied localities. Testing of prevalence values in the individual research years confirmed significant changes. Our results showed that small mammals probably play an important role in the circulation of chlamydiae in nature.

Animals↗