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We have compared the epidemiology of dermatophytoses in Slovakia during the periods 1956-85 and 1986-92. Infections caused by Trichophyton rubrum gradually increased while infections due to Trichophyton verrucosum and Microsporum canis decreased.
This report describes a family outbreak of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC) infection, involving nine persons from one extended family, which occurred in eastern Slovakia. Three children suffered from haemolytic uraemic syndrome, two children had bloody diarrhoea, and four adults were asymptomatic carriers. Fourteen sorbitol-non-fermenting E. coli O157 isolates harbouring the vtx2, eae and ehxA genes were obtained. Verocytotoxin 2 activity was demonstrated in all 14 isolates. After epidemiological surveillance, the source of infection was identified as unpasteurised cow's milk.
In Europe, 6 of the 11 genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato are prevalent in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. In most parts of Central Europe, B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana are the most frequent species, whereas B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. bissettii, and B. lusitaniae are rare. Previously, it has been shown that B. afzelii is associated with European rodents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify reservoir hosts of B. garinii and B. valaisiana in Slovakia. Songbirds were captured in a woodland near Bratislava and investigated for engorged ticks. Questing I. ricinus ticks were collected in the same region. Both tick pools were analyzed for spirochete infections by PCR, followed by DNA-DNA hybridization and, for a subsample, by nucleotide sequencing. Three of the 17 captured songbird species were infested with spirochete-infected ticks. Spirochetes in ticks that had fed on birds were genotyped as B. garinii and B. valaisiana, whereas questing ticks were infected with B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana. Furthermore, identical ospA alleles of B. garinii were found in ticks that had fed on the birds and in questing ticks. The data show that songbirds are reservoir hosts of B. garinii and B. valaisiana but not of B. afzelii. This and previous studies confirm that B. burgdorferi sensu lato is host associated and that this bacterial species complex contains different ecotypes.
The article describes the development of drug-related problems in the context of the rapid sociopolitical and economic changes in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. The period of the last decade is marked by an increase in drug use in both countries; 17% of adults in the Czech Republic and 12% of the Slovaks report lifetime drug use. The respective figures are even higher for the population of adolescents. According to the data from the ESPAD survey carried out in 1999, 35% of young Czechs and 19% of young Slovaks used marijuana. Metamphetamine is the most misused substance among problem drug users in the Czech Republic, and heroin dominates in Slovakia. The response of the society to social and health problems caused by drugs is discussed in the following areas: institutional differentiation, political coordination and legislative development. The need for further social research is stressed.
BACKGROUND: To investigate the genetic cause of inherited hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis associated with Gitelman's syndrome, we searched for mutations in the SLC12A3 gene (thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter) among a set of patients from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. METHODS: We collected blood samples of patients from 16 families with characteristic clinical features. DNA was analyzed for mutation detection with SSCP and subsequent sequencing. Several mutations might be missed when only the SSCP method is applied, therefore direct sequencing of all the 26 exons became an essential tool. RESULTS: Genetic analysis revealed mainly missense mutations. Two novel mutations, c.480dupC (p.Pro160fsX97) and c.238dupCC (p. Pro79fsX35), caused a frameshift and preliminary stop codon appearance. Missense mutation c.790 G --> C (p.Gly264Arg) has never been reported before. Mutation c.1315G --> A (p.Gly439Ser) was frequent among our collection of unrelated patients (5 out of 16). Homozygous Gly439Ser was observed in a patient with chondrocalcinosis. CONCLUSION: We identified 13 different causative mutations in a cohort of Gitelman syndrome patients. Three of those mutations are novel. The occurrence of two mutation detections per individual corresponding to a recessive trait of inheritance was 62.5%. Gly439Ser is the most frequent type of mutation among our patients. Statistic evaluation of genotype/phenotype correlation could not be carried out.
Q methodology was applied to investigate the views of young people from Catalunia, England and Slovakia regarding sexual relationships and their health implications. The Q sorts of 188 16-18-year-olds from these three diverse European regions were reduced by Q factor analysis to six clear accounts. These accounts are presented in relation to three emergent themes: (a) traditionalism/liberalism; (b) locus of responsibility; and (c) the relationship between sex and love, and these discursive themes are discussed in relation to health-salient criteria such as awareness of sex-related risk and corresponding implications for conduct.
To assess the arsenic exposure of a population living in the vicinity of a coal-burning power plant with high arsenic emission in the Prievidza District, Slovakia, 548 spot urine samples were speciated for inorganic As (Asinorg), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and their sum (Assum). The urine samples were collected from the population of a case-control study on nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). A total of 411 samples with complete As speciations and sufficient urine quality and without fish consumption were used for statistical analysis. Although current environmental As exposure and urinary As concentrations were low (median As in soil within 5 km distance to the power plant, 41 micro g/g; median urinary Assum, 5.8 microg/L), there was a significant but weak association between As in soil and urinary Assum(r = 0.21, p < 0.01). We performed a multivariate regression analysis to calculate adjusted regression coefficients for environmental As exposure and other determinants of urinary As. Persons living in the vicinity of the plant had 27% higher Assum values (p < 0.01), based on elevated concentrations of the methylated species. A 32% increase of MMA occurred among subjects who consumed homegrown food (p < 0.001). NMSC cases had significantly higher levels of Assum, DMA, and Asinorg. The methylation index Asinorg/(MMA + DMA) was about 20% lower among cases (p < 0.05) and in men (p < 0.05) compared with controls and females, respectively.
This paper provides an analysis of the first decade of bioethics development in Slovakia (1990-1999), together with an overview of the most important bioethical issues entering the scene of public debate and scholarly ethical analysis.
BACKGROUND: Until recently, surgery for obesity was not done in Slovakia. After preparation in workshops, the authors began to perform laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Their laparoscopic work is based on a 7-year experience in laparoscopy. METHODS: From December 1997 to May 1998, 14 procedures were done. The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band was used in all procedures. The group consisted of 8 women and 6 men. Their ages ranged from 30 to 53 years (mean 43), the body mass index was 37-56 (average 46.2), the hospital stay was 3-7 days (4.8), and the operating time was 75-285 minutes (145.3). A five-trocar technique was used. RESULTS: Weight loss in the first month ranged from 9 to 15 kg. In follow-up, the weight loss averaged 3-4 kg monthly. Up to the time of writing, no band had been adjusted. Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in two patients. No conversion was done. One patient underwent reoperation and removal of the band because of obstruction of the stoma caused by profuse vomiting after enormous intake of food. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a small early series, the procedure seems to be safe and well tolerated by patients, with sufficient early weight loss.
Three new quill mite species of the genus Syringophiloidus Kethley, 1970 (Acari: Syringophilidae) from Slovakia are described and figured: S. bombycillae sp. n. from the waxwing Bombycilla garrulus (L.) (Passeriformes: Bombycillidae), S. schoeniclus sp. n. from the reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus L. (Passcriformes: Emberizidae) and S. montanus sp. n. from the tree sparrow Passer monlanus (L.) (Passeriformes: Ploceidae). A key to all known species of the genus Syringophiloidus is given.
A serological survey for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antibodies on a collection of 1295 serum samples obtained from 6-12 months old cattle originating from 45 farms in Slovakia was carried out. On 13 farms more than 90% of the examined animals were seropositive, on 14 farms 71-90% seroprevalence was observed, on 13 farms only 50-70% animals were found to be positive for BVDV antibodies, while the remaining 5 farms showed fewer than 50% seropositive animals. The average incidence of BVDV antibodies (around 70%) was similar as determined 30 years ago. Of 84 serum samples from seronegative animals originating from 14 farms in which 70-98% seropositivity was observed, six were positive in Ag-BVDV ELISA indicating persistently infected (PI) cattle. On a farm to which animals were imported from abroad, a BVD outbreak was observed. Of 110 animals tested, four were positive in Ag-ELISA indicating the presence of PI cattle on this farm. Genetic typing of two isolates from imported animals performed by RT-PCR (324/326 primers from 5'-UTR), sequencing of PCR products and computer-assisted phylogenetic analysis revealed that they belong to BVDV-1 h group.
In winter 2003-04, large numbers of budgerigars (Mellopsitacus undulatus) and cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) fell ill and died in a large parrot-breeding aviary in Slovakia. In budgerigars, the disease outbreak occurred at the age of 2-3 weeks; cockatiels died within their first 7 days of life. In budgerigars, symptoms of the disease included delayed growth, tremor, darkish discoloration of skin, quill bleeding, and feathering defects. cockatiels often died without any symptoms and with a full crop; feathering defects occurred sporadically. Electron microscopy with negative staining of aqueous lysates of the affected skin and of bleeding quills showed isolated or clustered polyomavirus particles 45-50 nm in size. Long filamentous forms of the virus were also found in virion clusters of skin lysates from the budgerigars. In ultrathin sections through the pathologically altered skin tissue of budgerigars, virus particles were present in both nuclei and cytoplasm of epidermal cells, often in crystalline form. In infected cells, enlarged nuclei showed an extensive chromatin margination. On the DNA level, presence of a polyomavirus infection was conclusively proved by the polymerase chain reaction using avian polyomavirus (APV)-specific primers. A sequence analysis of the gene encoding viral protein (VP)1 and of the combined region for VP2 and VP3 proteins revealed a previously undescribed synonymous mutation in this isolate. This report extended the knowledge of the area of APV occurrence and of the spectrum of hosts in the context of genomic and morphologic variability of APV isolates.
The spatially distributed hydrologic model WetSpa combines elevation, soil and land use data within GIS, to predict flood hydrographs and spatial distribution of hydrologic characteristics in a watershed. The model is applied to the Margecany-Hornad river basin (1131 km2) in Slovakia. Daily hydrometeorological data from 1991-2000, including precipitation data from nine stations, temperature data from four stations and evaporation data measured at one station are used as input to the model. Three base maps, i.e. DEM, land use and soil type are prepared in GIS form, using 100 x 100 m cell size. Results of the simulations show good agreement between calculated and measured hydrographs. The model predicts the daily/hourly hydrographs with 75-80% accuracy according to the Nash-Sutcliff criteria. For assessing the impact of land use changes on floods, the calibrated model is applied for a reforestation scenario, which considers a 50% increase of forest areas. The model results show that the reforestation scenario decreases the peak discharge by 12%. Investigation of peak discharges from the whole simulation period, shows that the scenario results are reduced by 18% on average, while for small discharges the reduction is even about 34%. The time to peak of the simulated hydrograph of the reforestation scenario is 20 hours longer than for the present land use.
As a result of dramatic political and economic changes in the beginning of the 1990s, Q-fever epidemiology in Bulgaria has changed. The number of goats almost tripled; contact between goat owners (and their families) and goats, as well as goats and other animals, increased; consumption of raw goat milk and its products increased; and goats replaced cattle and sheep as the main source of human Coxiella burnetii infections. Hundreds of overt, serologically confirmed human cases of acute Q fever have occurred. Chronic forms of Q fever manifesting as endocarditis were also observed. In contrast, in Slovakia, Q fever does not pose a serious public health problem, and the chronic form of infection has not been found either in follow-ups of a Q-fever epidemic connected with goats imported from Bulgaria and other previous Q-fever outbreaks or in a serologic survey. Serologic diagnosis as well as control and prevention of Q fever are discussed.
Plum pox virus (PPV) isolates from stone-fruit trees (plums, myrobalans, apricots and peaches) from orchards and gardens were characterized. To characterize their biological properties, several PPV isolates were transmitted by chip budding to GF 305 seedlings and mechanically to selected herbaceous test plants. The isolates differed in severity of infection, host range and symptomatology. A subgroup differentiation of 43 isolates from 22 localities of western and middle Slovakia was accomplished using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunocapture RT-PCR (IC-RT-PCR) and restriction analysis. These assays confirmed the presence of isolates belonging to PPV-M and PPV-D subgroups. PPV-M and PPV-D isolates were almost equally represented in tested samples. Tests of subgroup variability of PPV isolates from infected tolerant plum cultivars showed great predominance of PPV-M isolates.
In this report, the plum pox virus (PPV) spread from the point of view of agroclimatical conditions on the territory of Slovakia is analysed. The worst condition for the PPV spread was found in a warm macroregion. The air temperature sum in this macroregion during vegetative period ranged from 2400 to 3100 degrees C. The worst condition for the PPV spread was found in dry subregions of the macroregion. These were defined by differences between potential evapotranspiration and rainfall sums which ranged from 50 to 150 mm during summer months (from June to August). The decrease in air temperature sums and the increase of moisture in the environment as well as the severity of winter period was found to support the occurrence and spread of PPV.
This article tells of the founding of the Slovak Family Planning Association (FPA), of the approaches and strategies it has adopted in advocating expansion of family planning education and services, of the challenges and opposition it has faced, and continues to face, in Slovakia's generally unreceptive political climate to its efforts to promote respect for internationally recognized standards of reproductive health and choice, and of the dramatic reductions in the abortion rate--achieved without resort to legislative changes restricting abortion--that have occurred since the Slovak FPA began work.
Alpha2-antiplasmin is the main inhibitor of plasma fibrinolytic system. An inborn defect of alpha2-antiplasmin was first described by Koie et al. in 1978 in connection with severe haemorrhage syndrome. The authors present a case report of 45 years old woman living in middle Slovakia with severe haemorrhagic syndrome started in childhood (epistaxis, skin and muscle hematomas, appendectomy with 6 weeks recovery, hardly manageable haemorrhage after teeth extractions, menorrhage, metrorrhage). Laboratory tests were negative for platelet function defects and coagulation system defects. Low level of alpha2-antiplasmin activity (10%) was detected with use of synthetic chromogenic substrate method and low amount (2%) with ELISA method. In asymptomatic daughter was decreased level of alpha2-antiplasmin (activity 51%, quantity 32%) detected. On the basis of patient history, laboratory investigations and comparison with published cases the haemorrhagic syndrome is considered to be an inborn homozygous quantitative defect of alpha2-antiplasmin. Detection of the defect in further haemorrhagic and risk situations (including laparotomy, multiple teeth extractions, obstetric surgery) led to following therapeutic measures: careful local care [by procedures], tranexamic acid in sufficient dose [4 g/day in continual i.v. infusion, or 4 x 1 g in 1/hour infusions, 4 x 1 g perorally], in sufficient duration [14 days by procedures]. Therapeutic approach after detection of the defect is efficient. (Tab. 2, Ref. 13.)