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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

The influence of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on the occurrence of pollen allergens (Betula, Poaceae, Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in the atmosphere of Bratislava (Slovakia).

The occurrence of pollen grains in the atmosphere markedly relates to meteorological factors. In the study we have evaluated a correlation between the concentration of pollen grains in the atmosphere of Bratislava and temperature, relative humidity and rainfall during the vegetation period of 1995 and 1997. For our analysis we have selected one representative of each phytoallergen group (trees, grasses, weeds). We have chosen the Betula genus of trees, the whole Poaceae family of grasses and ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. to represent weeds. The taxons mentioned represent the most significant allergens in Slovakia. The concentration of pollen grains has been monitored by a Lanzoni volumetric pollen trap. The data obtained, the average daily concentration in 1 m(3), have been included in the statistical analysis together with values for the average daily temperature, relative humidity and total rainfall in 24 h. The correlation between the concentration of pollen grains in the atmosphere and selected meteorological variables from daily monitoring has been studied with the help of linear regression and correlation coefficients. We have found the average daily temperature and relative humidity (less than temperature) to be significant factors influencing the occurrence of pollen grains in the atmosphere of Bratislava. The total daily rainfall does not seem to be significant from the statistical point of view.

Allergens↗
PubMed1997

Department of palliative care in Bratislava and the development of the palliative care movement in Slovakia.

Slovakia is a country with no tradition of home care services and a long history of regarding death and dying as taboos and therefore institutionalising them. Increased attention to palliative care issues has resulted in some important changes, to the benefit of patients in need of palliative care. These include general availability of oral slow-release forms of strong opioids (cost completely reimbursed by the insurance companies), a developing network of home care agencies, and increased attention to the needs of palliative patients, especially among oncologists and pain specialists. In February 1995 the Department of Palliative Care was established within the National Cancer Institute in Bratislava. It has 19 in-patient beds and also an out-patient clinic. Although the primary goal is the improvement of the quality of life, several approaches that can prolong life without worsening its quality are also used. These include laser destruction of intraluminal gastrointestinal tumours, insertion of intraluminal stents, brachyradiotherapy, pleurodeses, percutaneous gastrostomy, percutaneous nephrostomy, palliative chemotherapy, treatment of hypercalcaemia. In 1995 the Palliative Care Section of the Association for Study and Treatment of Pain was established, as was the first Hospice Foundation.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed1998

Clinical and serological analysis of a Q fever outbreak in western Slovakia with four-year follow-up.

In the spring of 1993, an outbreak of respiratory infection affected 113 persons (103 males) in Jedl'ové Kostol'any, a village located in a hilly area of western Slovakia. Q fever, manifested as a flu-like illness with atypical pneumonia and hepatic involvement, was diagnosed using four serological tests (microimmunofluorescence, microagglutination, complement fixation, and enzyme immunoassay). Aborting goats were proven as a source of infection. During a 4-year follow-up study, no chronic form of Q fever could be demonstrated, either clinically or by tests to detect phase I Coxiella burnetii antibodies.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed2005

The first clinical isolates of Candida dubliniensis in Slovakia.

Candida dubliniensis, yeast closely related to Candida albicans, is a new pathogen associated mainly with infections of immunocompromised hosts. In this study, we report the first isolation of three isolates of C. dubliniensis in Slovakia. The first selection of both C. albicans and C. dubliniensis from the other Candida species was done on the basis of specific green color of primoculture grown on CHROMagar Candida. The presumptive identification was completed by supplemental tests: germ-tube formation, production of chlamydospores, ability or inability to grow at 42 and 45, degrees C and by commercial set API 20C AUX. Parallely, the discrimination between both species was performed by PCR assay using primers specific for Candida dubliniensis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Biological environmental specimen banking in Slovakia.

Biological environmental specimens, including samples of human tissues, were stored for 5-10 years after solubilizing by mineralization in boiling nitric acid. The sampling procedure, transport treatment and storing was standardized. Documentation identifying the sample and its origin were used. Data on toxic metals in dust-fall, in the individual components of the environment as soil, air, ground and surface water, plants, animals, food and human tissues (liver, kidney, lung, brain, heart and plasma) are reported for the 6 most heavily contaminated regions of Slovakia. In some areas xenobiotics in the environment seriously affected the flora and fauna, including man. Banking of specimens has been stressed as the necessity for future analyses.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 in Slovakia: are differences in prevalence of familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 explained by ethnicity?

The objective of this study was to examine frequency of familial defective apo-B-100 (FDB, R3500Q mutation) in probands with the phenotype of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and in the general population of 40-year-old subjects in Slovakia and to characterize their lipid and clinical criteria and to compare the frequency of FDB with other populations. We identified 35 patients with FDB among 362 probands with clinical diagnosis of FH and two cases of FDB in the 40-year-old cohort of 2323 subjects from general Slovak population. Probands with FDB differed from those with FH only in plasma triglyceride concentrations (1.84+/-1.4 mmol/l versus 1.45+/-0.98 mmol/l, respectively, p<0.01). Evaluation of personal history of premature atherosclerosis did not show any differences (11.4% in FDB versus 20% in FH, p<0.16). The FDB patients had similar manifestation of xanthomatosis as the FH patients (17.1% versus 8.25%, p<0.25). The frequency of FDB of 9.7% found in the FH patients is among the highest of those reported to date. The frequency of R3500Q mutation of 0.09% found in Slovak 40-year-old subjects did not differ significantly from published population molecular data. Our comparison of estimated FDB frequencies with those which were found by DNA analysis demonstrated that estimated frequencies were not only wider in range, but also significantly higher than those which were assessed by the analysis. The definitive answer to the prevalence of FDB and its biochemical and clinical characteristics requires screening of unbiased samples of the general population from different ethnic groups based on molecular genetic methods.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Serum PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Slovakia: age, gender, and residence as determinants of organochlorine concentrations.

We measured organochlorine concentrations of 15 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and six organochlorine pesticides (PCB28, 52, 101, 123(+149), 118, 114, 153, 105, 138(+163), 167, 156(+171), 157, 180, 170, 189, alpha-, beta-, gamma-HCH, HCB, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE) in 2047 subjects from contaminated and background areas of eastern Slovakia. Data were collected in 2001 and analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography with electron capture detection in 2002-2003. Elevated levels persist in subjects from Michalovce district, site of former production facility, after almost 20-years since the end of the PCB manufacturing. Sum of 15 PCB congeners was 3105 ng/g of lipid in the Michalovce district versus 871 ng/g of lipid for subjects from the background districts of Svidnik and Stropkov. Relatively high concentration in children from the Michalovce district, sum PCB = 766 ng/g of lipid versus 372 ng/g of lipid in children from background area suggest ongoing exposure from environmental reservoirs and contaminated food. Consistent differences between genders in both contaminated and background areas are reported here. Levels in males are about 20% higher in both districts. Levels of organochlorine pesticides, particularly of DDT metabolite DDE and hexachlorobenzene are also elevated in the Michalovce district, reflecting intensive use of pesticides in agriculture in the past. About 30% decrease in serum organochlorine levels was observed in comparison with our earlier samples collected in 1998. These results suggest that contamination with PCBs still remains a source of relatively high environmental exposure for subjects in the Michalovce district.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A new soil hypotrich ciliate (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from Slovakia: Gonostomum albicarpathicum nov. spec.

The morphology and infraciliature of the soil hypotrich ciliate, Gonostomum albicarpathicum nov. spec., collected from Biele Karpaty (White Carpathian Mts.), Slovakia, were investigated using living observations and the protargol impregnation method. This new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters including arrangement of macronuclear nodules forming a pair of nodules each ahead of and behind mid-body; 6-10 frontoventral cirri and 3 frontoterminal cirri forming a short row; first frontoterminal cirrus separated from the second by a slightly greater distance than between second and third.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Spathidium seppelti foissneri nov. subspec., Spathidium simplinucleatum nov. stat., and Dileptus americanus Kahl, 1931, one new and two poorly known soil gymnostome ciliates from soils of Slovakia.

The morphology and infraciliature of three soil gymnostome ciliates, Spathidium seppelti foissneri nov. subspec., Spathidium simplinucleatum nov. stat., and Dileptus americanus, collected from Slovakia, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. S. seppelti foissneri is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters including: distinctly spatulate shape with convex oral bulge; 25 ellipsoidal, scattered macronuclear nodules; an average of 23 ciliary rows, 3 anteriorly differentiated to form a dorsal brush occupying 25% of the body length; and rod-shaped to slightly ellipsoidal extrusomes measuring about 5 x 0.5 microm. S. simplinucleatum is about 110 x 50 microm in vivo, characterized by solid, concave oral bulge, with the impression of doubled oral bulge in right side, macronuclear tortuous strand, usually 30 ciliary rows, 3 anteriorly differentiated to form a dorsal brush, and about 7 microm long rod-shaped extrusomes. S. simplinucleatum is highly variable in body size and length of monokinetidal bristle tail. Dileptus americanus is about 300 x 50 microm in vivo and differs from its congeners by a combination of characters including two macronuclear segments with a single micronucleus in between, two contractile vacuoles in dorsal side of trunk, two size types of rod-shaped extrusomes, a proboscis which occupies about 37% of body length, circular oral opening, and an average of 22 ciliary rows, of which up to 4 are differentiated to form a dorsal brush.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Incidence of trichothecenes and zearalenone in poultry feed mixtures from Slovakia.

A total of 50 samples of poultry feed mixtures of Slovakian origin were analyzed for eight toxicologically significant Fusarium mycotoxins, namely zearalenone (ZON), A-trichothecenes: diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), T-2 toxin (T-2) and HT-2 toxin (HT-2) and B-trichothecenes: deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) and nivalenol (NIV). The A-trichothecenes and the B-trichothecenes were detected by means of high pressure liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (HPLC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD), respectively. Reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (RP-HPLC-FLD) was used for ZON detection. The most frequent mycotoxin detected was T-2, which was found in 45 samples (90%) in relatively low concentrations ranging from 1 to 130 microg kg(-1) (average 13 microg kg(-1)), followed by ZON that was found in 44 samples (88%) in concentrations ranging from 3 to 86 microg kg(-1) (average 21 microg kg(-1)). HT-2 and DON were detected in 38 (76%) and 28 (56%) samples, respectively, in concentrations of 2 to 173 (average 18 microg kg(-1)) for HT-2 and 64 to 1230 microg kg(-1) sample (average 303 microg kg(-1)) for DON. The acetyl-derivatives of DON were in just four samples, while NIV was not detected in any of the samples investigated. In as many as 22 samples (44%), a combination of four simultaneously co-occurring mycotoxins, i.e. T-2, HT-2, ZON and DON, was revealed. Despite the limited number of samples investigated during this study poultry feed mixtures may represent a risk from a toxicological point of view and should be regarded as a potential source of the Fusarium mycotoxins in Central Europe. This is the first reported study dealing with zearalenone and trichothecene contamination of poultry mixed feeds from Slovakia.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. OspA types in Ixodes ricinus ticks from selected localities in Slovakia and Poland.

In this study, 746 questing Ixodes (I.) ricinus ticks from eastern Slovakia and 187 ticks from southern Poland were investigated for infection with Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato and different outer surface protein A (OspA) types by an improved restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the ospA gene. The method enables differentiation of both single and multiple infections with B. burgdorferi s.s. (OspA type 1), B. afzelii (OspA type 2), B. garinii (OspA types 3-8), B. valaisiana (subgroups I and II), B. lusitaniae, B. bissettii, and the recently described genospecies A14S. Broad heterogeneity in B. burgdorferi s.l. was found including all species and subtypes except for B. lusitaniae, B. bissettii, and genospecies A14S. Regional prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. varied between 8% and 22.5%. The most frequent species were B. garinii (45.4%) and, notably, B. burgdorferi s.s. (31.3%). I. ricinus nymphs harbored almost exclusively B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. garinii OspA type 4, while in adults a broad variety of B. burgdorferi s.l. types was found. Mixed infections were significantly more often in nymphs than in adult ticks. In all mixed infected nymphs, B. burgdorferi s.s. with OspA type 4 was present. These data strongly suggest that B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. garinii OspA type 4 are maintained in these areas by specific transmission cycles involving a so far undetermined vertebrate host which is frequently fed on by I. ricinus larvae. This improved method provides a reliable tool for epidemiological studies on the heterogeneity of B. burgdorferi species and OspA types, an important prerequisite for improved local risk assessment and for test- and vaccine development for Europe.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Environmental stress in the Early Mediaeval Slavic population at Borovce (Slovakia).

Several palaeopathological indicators examined in skeletal samples are caused by stress during childhood and remain visible in adults. In this study, dental enamel hypoplasia was observed in 451 individuals from the Early Mediaeval (8th to beginning of 12th c. AD) Slavic skeletal series at Borovce (Slovakia). The presence of enamel hypoplasia was scored in all types of deciduous and permanent teeth. More than one-fourth (27.2%) of the individuals with preserved permanent teeth showed enamel hypoplasia. No significant differences in the occurrence of the enamel lesions were found between males and females. The age at development of hypoplasias was estimated for 74 individuals by measuring the distance of the defect from the cemento-enamel junction. The hypoplastic defects appeared most frequently between 2.5 and 3.0 years. Following the trends observed in the distribution of age at development of the enamel lesions between subadults and adults, individuals stressed earlier in life had a reduced ability to cope with later insults. High prevalence of enamel hypoplasia, especially among 10-14-year-old growing juveniles, has led to the assumption that the Borovce population lived a considerably long period under conditions of high environmental pathogen load, and probably also suffered from some nutritional deficiencies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Alternaria jesenskae sp. nov., a new species from Slovakia on Fumana procumbens (Cistaceae).

Alternaria jesenskae sp. nov. recovered from seeds of a shrubby perennial plant Fumana procumbens (Cistaceae) in Slovakia is described and illustrated. The new taxon can be clearly separated from the other related large-spored and filament-beaked Alternaria species based on sequences of the ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 region as well as by its distinctive morphology. Even though the molecular data have shown close relatedness with A. multirostrata, the new species is morphologically most similar to A. tomatophila distinguished primarily by the pronounced colony pigmentation, conidial septation and beak branching.

Alternaria↗
PubMed2006

In situ monitoring of clastogenicity of ambient air in Bratislava, Slovakia using the Tradescantia micronucleus assay and pollen abortion assays.

Aim of this study was to monitor the genotoxic effects of polluted air in Bratislava (Slovakia) with the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MN) test. In situ monitoring was carried out at five locations during two seasons (years 2003 and 2004). Flower pots with Tradescantia paludosa (clone 03) plants were exposed for 6-8 weeks at the different sites each year. The highest MN levels were observed in the vicinity of an agrochemical factory (3.1 times higher than background level in 2003 and 2.7 times higher in 2004). Lower effects were seen when plants were exposed to urban traffic emissions or in the vicinity of a glass-producing plant (the MN frequencies ranged between 2.8 and 4.4 per 100 tetrads, respectively, while the control frequencies were 2.1-2.6 per 100 tetrads); exposure near a petrochemical plant had no significant effects. In pollen abortion assays, three wild growing species were used, namely, chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), old man's beard (Clematis vitalba L.) and common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris Mill.). Again, the strongest effects were observed close to the agrochemical industry (reduction of fertile pollen by 5.6%, 11.1% and 8.3% in chicory, old mans beard and in toadflax, respectively). Cichorium intybus was the most sensitive species and the number of abortive pollen grains was 5.1 times higher in specimens collected near the agrochemical factory than that seen at the control location. These observations indicate that contaminated urban air has an impact on the fertility of wild plants. Furthermore, it is interesting that the same rank order of effects was seen in pollen abortion assays as in the Trad-MN test (agrochemical industry>technical glass industry≥traffic>city incinerator/petrochemical plant). These results confirm the sensitivity of the Tradescantia MN test and pollen abortion assays for the detection of air pollution, and show that distinct differences exist in genotoxicity of different sources of pollutants.

Agrochemicals↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of microorganisms isolated from lignite excavated from the Záhorie coal mine (southwestern Slovakia).

Microorganisms were isolated from lignite freshly excavated in the Záhorie coal mine (southwestern Slovakia) under conditions excluding contamination with either soil or air-borne microorganisms. The isolates represented both Prokarya and Eukarya (fungi). All were able to grow on standard media, although some microorganisms were unstable and became extinct during storage of coal samples. Bacteria belonged to the genera Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Rhodococcus, according to both morphological criteria and ITS sequences. Several bacterial isolates were resistant to antibiotics. The presence of anaerobic bacteria was also documented, although they have not yet been identified. Fungal isolates were typified by using their ITS sequences. They belonged to the genera Trichoderma (Hypocrea), Penicillium, Epicoccum, Metarhizium (Cordyceps), and Cladosporium. Several fungi produced compounds with antibiotic action against standard bacterial strains. The evidence for the presence of microorganisms in native lignite was obtained by means of fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron microprobe analysis. Results demonstrated that microorganisms were able to survive in the low-rank coal over a long time period.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Environmental contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls in the area of their former manufacture in Slovakia.

Evidently increased environmental pollution as a consequence of the 25-year manufacture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in eastern Slovakia was observed. PCB levels determined in ambient air, soil, surface water, bottom sediment, wildlife (fish and game) samples collected in a potentially contaminated area of about 250 km2 (a part of the Michalovce district) were compared with those determined in a control area (Stropkov district). Up to 1700 ng/m3 were found in ambient air in a village close to a manufacturer's dumping site and a highly contaminated manufacturer's effluent canal whereas PCB concentrations in ambient air samples taken in villages in the control area were about 80 ng/m3 only. While soil samples taken from the agricultural fields of the polluted area contained PCBs at levels comparable with soil samples from the control area (about 0.008 mg/kg) much higher values (from 0.4 to 53,000 mg/kg) were determined in soil taken in the vicinity of manufacturer's landfill and storage sites and especially plants preparing asphalted gravel using formerly PCBs in their heat-exchanging systems. The contamination of the Laborec river and large Zemplinska Sirava reservoir is caused by the manufacturer's effluent canal since PCB levels in the canal sediment are still to be found about 3000 mg/kg. While PCB levels in sediment samples from Michalovce watercourses ranged between 1.7 and 6 mg/kg, sediment samples from the control Stropkov district ranged between 0.007 and 0.052 mg/kg only. Fish living in contaminated Michalovce waters contained about hundred times higher PCB levels than those caught in Stropkov ones. Similarly, game animals shot in Michalovce forests contained several times higher levels than those shot in Stropkov ones.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

Higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in gypsies than in non-gypsies in Slovakia.

OBJECTIVE: Gypsies (or Roma) recently experienced a transition from a traditional to a Westernized lifestyle. Although mortality in this population is 4-fold higher compared with non-Gypsies, very limited information is available on their morbidity especially with regard to non-communicable diseases. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in Gypsies and non-Gypsies living in the same region of southern Slovakia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 156 Gypsies and 501 non-Gypsies who participated in a population survey. Age- and sex-standardized prevalence rates were computed for each of the following: T2DM, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, elevated albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Age-sex standardized prevalence of T2DM was 30% (95% CI=22-39) in Gypsies and 10% (8-13, P=0.0001 for comparison of ethnic groups) in non-Gypsies. Corresponding prevalence of the other variables are: 65% (56-74) and 30% (26-34, P=0.0001) for obesity, 69% (61-76) and 59% (54-63, P=0.04) for hypercholesterolemia, 66% (59-74) and 39% (35-43, P=0.009) for hypertriglyceridemia, 49% (42-56) and 43% (39-47, P=0.1) for hypertension, 33% (26-50) and 8% (2-14, P=0.002) for hyperinsulinemia, 16% (9-22) and 5% (3-7, P=0.0001) for elevated ACR, 20% (12-27) and 4% (3-6, P=0.0001) for metabolic syndrome and 35% (28-43) and 26% (22-29, P=0.004) for cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with non-Gypsies, Gypsies had a much higher prevalence of T2DM, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, which may contribute to their higher mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Benzimidazole resistance in equine cyathostomes in Slovakia.

The present study included 19 stud farms, including 243 horses, that were investigated for the occurrence of anthelmintic resistant cyathostomes. The number of horses on the farms varied from nine to more than 100, and horses of all ages were included. A minimum of seven horses were used for faecal egg count reduction (FECR) tests. The anthelmintics included were: fenbendazole (paste formulation), ivermectin (paste formulation) and pyrantel (powder). Resistance to benzimidazoles was detected on 14 farms, with FECR values ranging from 65.1 to 86.3%. Larval cultures after fenbendazole treatment revealed exclusively cyathostome larvae. Ivermectin was tested on eight farms and proved to be effective on all. Pyrantel was tested on two farms and FECR test indicated high efficacy (92-97%). Egg hatch assay (EHA) results showed that mean concentrations of thiabendazole that inhibited hatching in 50% of the eggs (ED(50)) in resistant populations were over 0.1 microg ml(-1). The results of our study suggest widespread resistance to fenbendazole in equine cyathostomes in Slovakia, and possible strategies to delay anthelmintic resistance are discussed briefly.

Animals↗