Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2)
Water-borne household infections due to Mycobacterium xenopi
Slosárek M., Kubín M., Jaresová M.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):78-80 
Of 21 M. xenopi excretors recorded in Prague in 1990, 13 suffered from a serious pulmonary disease and the organisms were detected repeatedly in all of them. In 11 flats of these excretors water samples were collected from faucets and showers and M. xenopi was detected in five of them, as well as in five neighbouring flats. In flats of six remaining excretors and 12 adjoining flats, M. xenopi was not found. However, in 14 of 28 examined flats, the clinically insignificant M. gordonae was isolated. Water samples from three water-works, six regional water reservoirs and 10 street hydrants did not harbour mycobacteria. In the authors' view M. xenopi originating...
Electron microscopy and the polymerase chain reaction of spirochetes from the blood of patients with Lyme disease
Hulínská D., Krausová M., Janovská D., Rohácová H., Hancil J., Mailer H.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):81-85
Results of studies using direct antigen detection suggest that seronegative Lyme borreliosis is not rare and support the hypothesis that Borrelia antigens can persist in humans. We report three successful cultures from blood out of 30 attempts from 96 Lyme disease patients. The proof of borreliaemia in early or late phases of Lyme disease by immuno-capture electron microscopy has practical importance for subsequent cultivation. The polymerase chain reaction with oligonucleotide sequences directed against 16S rRNA identified two of our blood isolates as Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies III., VS 461 group, and one as Borrelia garinii sp. nov. All of...
Health risk assessment of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A to humans: Czech Republic - Brno - 1991/92
Ruprich J., Ostrý V.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):86-93
In the course of year 1991 and 1992 about 594 blood donors of the Brno agglomeration in the Czech Republic were examined for the ochratoxin A content (OA) in blood serum. When higher concentrations of OA were found the blood donors were examined repeatedly (differentiation of acute or chronic exposure). A mean concentration of 0.63 microgram OA/l blood serum (0.30 microgram = geom.mean) was recorded. The assessed continuous mean daily dietary intake of OA was about 0.74 ng (0.35 ng = geom. mean) OA/kg b.w./day. The assessed continuous mean contamination of food groups (cereal and meat products) was about 0.65 microgram (0.31 microgram = geom. mean)...
Trachoma, an imported disease
Vanista J., Haicl P., Benes C.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):94-95
The authors review the incidence of trachoma in the Czech Republic during the last 20 years. Trachoma has become almost exclusively an imported disease. In 1989-1990 the authors treated 34 foreign nationals with imported trachoma at the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Prague. Even after many years' stay in the Czech Republic foreigners may develop exacerbations of the trachomatous process.
In vitro inhibition of some gram-positive bacteria by Staphylococci and Aerococcus viridans of porcine origin
Zaria L.T.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):96-100
Nine coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Aerococcus viridans were tested for bacterial antagonism. Seven of the nine of the coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Aerococcus viridans inhibited the growth of four Staph. hyicus, three Staph. aureus strains and some other Gram-positive bacteria, including Streptococcus group A and D, Corynebacteria, but none of the Gram-negative and yeast was inhibited on agar media. There was also production of inhibitory substances in different types of liquid media but no antagonistic activity was observed on Millipore membrane. The inhibition was not due to the pH change of media in which the producers were grown,...
Contribution of "in vitro" assays to preclinical and premarketing testing in immunotoxicology
Procházková J.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):101-105
An attempt to replace the "in vivo" testing by "in vitro" exposure of cells to drugs is discussed from the point of view of the limitations of these artificial test conditions. The critical reminders are evaluated, the most important ones being the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and metabolism of drugs in the body what may be a cause of the discrepancy between "in vivo" and "in vitro" exposure assays. Various sensitivity of different cell types and of different phases of the generation cycle represent the crucial importance in the immune response and in the drug-cell interactions. The "in vitro" assays are technically sophisticated and mostly based...
Toxic organic compounds in the environment - TOCOEN '93
Bláha K.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):106
TOCOEN Project - goals, state and prospects
Holoubek I.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):107-109
Chemical ecotoxicology - general aspects
Paasivirta J.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):110-112
Chemical ecotoxicology is defined as application of methods of chemistry to the study of the occurrence and adverse effects of anthropogenic chemicals and their transformation products in the biosphere. Examples of methods and their applications are given.
Determination of polycyclic aromates, chlorinated insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the air of north Bohemian region
Lenícek J., Sekyra M., Cítková M., Holoubek I.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):113-116
North Bohemia is recognized to be one of the most polluted areas in Europe. Combustion processes in several power plants, other industrial activities, transportation, waste incineration and household furnaces belong to the main sources of the air pollution. Therefore, the presence of numerous organic pollutants, namely polycyclic aromates (PAHs), chlorinated insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is expected to contribute significantly to the impaired health conditions. Samples of the ambient air collected in different seasons were analysed using GC-ECD, GC-MS and HPLC methods. Chlorinated insecticides and PCBs have been found of minor importance...
Occurrence and leaching of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) generated at steelworks
Twardowska I., Wlodarczyk-Makula M.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):117-120
Occurrence of organic pollutants in the soil of upper Austria
Puchwein G., Brodacz W., Sageder J.P.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):121-122
In the course of a study of soil quality over 200 soil samples were collected in an Austrian province and analyzed for residues of organochlorine pesticides, selected PCB congeners, triazine herbicides and selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Concentrations of these compounds were found to vary within a broad range. This holds true especially for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The results are set into relation to the agricultural use of soils, the intensity of nearby road traffic and population density.
Indicator parameters for PCDD/F as a possible means to monitor emissions of toxicity equivalents from waste incinerators
Kaune A., Lenoir D., Nikolai U., Kettrup A.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):123-124
In the stack emissions from a hazardous waste incinerator we found highly significant correlations between 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxicity equivalents (I-TE) and pentachlorobenzene (CI5Bz) and between I-TE and heptachlorobiphenyl (CI7B). We therefore propose to utilize these substances as indicator parameters from which I-TE values can be estimated. Since they are easier to analyze than PCDD/F the use of indicator parameters such as CI5Bz and CI7B offers the chance to monitor I-TE emissions which are limited to 0.1 ng/m3 in many European countries.
Patterns of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediments
Zitko V.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):125-129
The patterns of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediments were studied by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Phenanthrene (P), fluoranthene (Fl), pyrene (Py), benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chr), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) were used. Three patterns were found: type P, associated primarily with petroleum hydrocarbons, type Fl, from relatively clean marine sediments, and type Py+BaA+Chr+BaP, from industrialized areas. Aerial fallout appears to be the major source of PAH for the latter. There is a considerable variation in the PAH patterns obtained in different laboratories. PCA is a good tool for the study of PAH patterns.
News and Notes
Introduction to the national project of health restoration and promotion in the Czech Republic
Kříž J.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):65
National project of health restoration and promotion in the Czech Republic
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):66-77
Indoor air quality: a risk-based approach to health criteria for radon indoors. Summary report on a WHO Working Group Eilat, Israel, 28 March-4 April 1993
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):130-131
The Working Group discussed to what extent exposure to radon is a public health risk. It reviewed data from epidemiological studies of the occupational exposure of miners and residential exposures, animal experiments and other relevant work. The Group confirmed radon to be a human carcinogen, and recommended that indoor situations where individual risks exceeded 10(-3) per year should always be considered severe, further risk reduction must be sought based on procedures such as the optimization and evaluation of available control techniques. The Group considered what guidance could be offered to national authorities, and whether risks from radon should...
Indoor environment is a public health issue. Conference on indoor air quality and health July 4-8, 1993 Helsinki, Finland, Press Bulletin
Cent Eur J Public Health 1993, 1(2):132
No one today is in any doubt that the indoor environment can constitute a real health hazard if buildings are not properly designed, constructed and maintained. The 690 papers presented at the Sixth International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Health held in Helsinki, Finland, are an indisputable proof of this. The 20 workshops arranged during the Conference have worked hard to find solutions for controlling and improving indoor environment. The summary report from these workshops is available now.