Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3)
Cytomegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis
Adam E., Melnick J.L., DeBakey M.E.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):99-106
The biological properties of human cytomegalovirus are consistent with pathogenic involvement at several levels of the atherogenic process. Although the sites of latency of CMV have not been established, both smooth muscle cells and leukocytes are likely possibilities. The observations of viral antigens and nucleic acid sequences in arterial smooth muscle cells suggest that latent CMV infection of the arterial wall may be common in patients with atherosclerosis. The seroepidemiologic studies suggest that a periodically activated latent infection is present in patients with atherosclerosis. Important are the observations that in immunosuppressed heart...
System of monitoring the environmental impact on population health of the Czech Republic
Kliment V., Kubínová R., Kazmarová H., Havlík B., Šišma P., Ruprich J., Černá M., Kodl M.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):107-116
The data collected in the System of monitoring the environmental impact on population health of the Czech Republic in 1994 and 1995 were obtained routinely and in a stabilized manner in six subsystems: health consequences and risks related to air pollution, drinking water quality, noise, human dietary exposure, human exposure to toxic pollutants from the environment and the monitoring of the health state and evaluation of selected indicators of demographic and health statistics. They represent a useful and comprehensive background for providing objective information on the health status of the Czech population and on pollution of different components...
A topographic analysis of atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer risk. A clinicoepidemiological study in Poland
Jedrychowski W., Popiela T., Steindorf K., Matyja A., Gryglewski A., Nowak K., Kieltyka A., Wahrendorf J., Becher H.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):117-121
The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relation between intestinal and diffuse stomach cancer at its various locations with topography of atrophic gastritis. The study population consisted of 3435 patients who reported over the period of 1991-1994 for the first time to gastroenterological outpatient clinics of 7 university medical centers in Poland. Among these subjects there were 131 histologically proved consecutive cases of gastric carcinoma. The reference group consisted of 1540 patients among whom endoscopic examination did not reveal peptic ulcers, polyps, deformations of antrum or bulbus duodenum and mucosa erosions. Gastroscopy...
The incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the district Olomouc in 1994 - descriptive study
Máchová L., Janout V.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):122-126
Cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the Czech Republic are among the highest in the world. The morbidity data, however, are not routinely registered and thus a basis for preventive program evaluation is not available. Aim of the study is to establish the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the Olomouc district in 1994 and to compare it with the incidence of this disease in the Czech Republic. Cases of acute myocardial infarction (diagnosis 121 according to the 10th revision of ICD established by a physician) were included. Sources of data concerning the diagnosis included the registries of internal clinics, departments of internal...
Formaldehyde - study of indoor air pollution in Austria
Köck M., Pichler-Semmelrock F.P., Schlacher R.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):127-130
As part of a long-term study of indoor air pollution, formaldehyde concentrations were determined in 792 apartments following complaints by inhabitants. Measurements were carried out using Draeger tubes as well as the acetyl acetone method. In 157 apartments, HCHO concentrations of more than 0.1 ppm, exceeding the recommended standard values for indoor air concentrations, were determined. The concentrations determined tended to decrease over time. As far as they were caused by furnishings, they were limited to the spaces where these furnishings were installed. In older-style prefabricated houses with foam-filled particle-board wall systems, concentrations...
Informativeness of the threshold adaptation and fatigue for assessment of the auditory health risk
Tzaneva L.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):131-132
The management and control of modern automated productions evidence the elevated role of the auditory system as one of the distant sensor communication systems. The present study informs about the auditory adaptation and fatigue at the end of the working shift of 385 operators at control boards in "Kremikovtzi" State Company. The results of the monitoring of the dynamic changes show significant changes, expressed in aggravation of the auditory fatigue manifestation by moderate to significant disturbance of the adaptation-recovery processes. The analysis established a significant positive correlation between the changes in auditory fatigue and the duration...
The influence of some factors on the non-homogeneity in adult male life expectancy in the Slovak Republic
Ginter E.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):133-135
Life expectancy of males in the Slovak Republic, a small postcommunist country in Central Europe, is among the lowest in Europe due to the extremely high mortality rate in middle-aged men. The relation between male life expectancy at age 20 and several variables (i.e. ethnic structure, educational status, religious belief and economic activity) was analysed by simple regressions and by multifactorial methods in all 38 districts of Slovakia. Significant negative associations were found between male life expectancy at age 20 and ethnic structure (i.e. percent of Hungarian population), economic activity (percent of men employed in agriculture) and educational...
Immunological monitoring of dry-cleaning shop workers - exposure to tetrachloroethylene
Andrýs C., Hanovcová I., Chýlková V., Tejral J., Eminger S., Procházková J.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):136-142
A panel of immunological parameters has been examined in a group of dry-cleaning workers (n = 21) and in a control group of administrators (n = 16) from the same plant. The results were also compared to long-term laboratory reference values (LRV) (n = 14-311). External exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PER) was represented by TWA (8 h) values in the range 11-752 mg PER/m3. Biological monitoring showed an amount from 9 to 344 mg PER/m3 in exhaled air by the end of workshift. 1. The exposed dry-cleaning workers compared to the controls from the plant had statistically significant changes in metabolic activity of phagocytes, α2-macroglobulin,...
Relationship between heart rate variability and hypercholesterolaemia
Danev S., Nikolova R., Kerekovska M., Svetoslavov S.
Cent Eur J Public Health 1997, 5(3):143-146
A statistically significant correlation between chronic (tonic) distress (expressed by long-term depression of heart rate variability-HRV) and the increase of the serum lipid level was found in the experimental group (39 clinically healthy subjects with hypercholesterolaemia; 16 women and 23 men; mean age 42.4 ± 2.45 years). A statistically significant relationship was found also between the experimental and control group (39 healthy normocholesterolaemic subjects; 18 women and 21 men; mean age 43.7 ± 2.18 years) when comparing distress indicating HRV-based measurements. Significant predictors of HRV depression were: total cholesterol...