Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1)

Birth weight of neonates as an indicator of morbidity and mortality in adult age and factors which influence it

Málek F., Málková J., Pokorný R.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):3-7

In 28 neonates born by spontaneous delivery to healthy mothers with a normal course of gestation venous umbilical blood was examined to assess the immunoreactive insulin concentration. Moreover, the birth weight of the neonates was recorded, the weight increment of the mother during pregnancy and the body mass index at the end of gestation. By means of a questionnaire and the computer programme Progana the dietary intake of the mothers at the end of pregnancy was assessed and compared with recommended allowances. The assembled data were evaluated statistically by assessment of the correlation coefficient. The investigation revealed that the birth weight...

Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis (report of 2 cases)

Şener B., Ergüven S., Günalp A.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):8-9

Leishmaniasis is an endemic, sporadic infection in many parts of the world. Turkey is geographically unique in linking Asia and Europe. Of special interest is leishmaniasis, as various forms of this disease have long been reported in the surrounding regions. Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic in the western and southeastern parts of Turkey, respectively. Here, we report a cutaneous and a visceral leishmaniasis case, to draw attention to the increase in the incidence of leishmaniasis in Turkey. In the patient with cutaneous leishmaniasis, the ulcerative lesion on the cheek had persisted for two months before admittance to the hospital....

Immunological disorders in men exposed to metallic mercury vapour. A review

Moszczyński P.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):10-14

The awareness of the effects of metallic mercury vapour on the human immune system has increased only in the last decade. The regulatory guidelines relating to testing for immunotoxicity of metals are not standardized so far. A full understanding of the relevance of the tests to man is still incomplete. Immunotoxicity investigation of metals in rodents, with subsequent extrapolation to man, forms the basis of human risk assessment. Human contact with mercury vapour is mainly in chloralkali plants and in factories producing controlling and measuring devices. When the immune system acts as a target of xenobiotic insults, the result can be a decreased...

Electro-ionic microclimate and materials used in the indoor environment

Lajčíková A., Mathauserová Z., Bencko V.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):15-18

In 170 experiments relationships between 31 different materials used in indoor premises and ionization of the air in their proximity were assessed. The influence of temperature and relative humidity on ionization of air was studied. It was observed that the materials tested could be divided into four groups according to their behaviour towards ambient light negative ions. From the results obtained it follows that the more humid and thus more conductive the material in question, the greater is its influence on the ionization of the air. The most important criterion influencing the relationship of the material and ambient air ionization is the magnitude...

Diet, smoking, and blood lipids in patients with combined familial hyperlipidaemia

Králíková E., Češka R., Rameš J.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):19-23

This study analysed the diet (based on a 7-day-record), smoking habits and basic anthropometric parameters of patients with familial combined hyperlipidaemia (N = 154, 52 % men, 48 % women, mean age 55.73 ± 12.95). These data were correlated with blood lipids and lipoproteins. In high-risk patients' diets we found not quantitative, but mostly qualitative shortcomings: the average energy intake was 104 % of the recommended daily intake (RDI), but 34 % of the energy was derived from fats. The daily fat intake represented 137 % of RDI, and 60 g were of animal and 24 g of vegetable origine. The protein intake was 120 % of RDI (155 % animal, 75 %...

Elimination of Yersinia enterocolitica by chlorine on fresh tomatoes

Escudero M.E., Velázquez L., DiGenaro M.S., de Cortínez Y.M., de Guzmán A.M.S.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):24-26

The effect of temperature throughout 18 day-storage and the efficacy of different free chlorine concentrations in washing solutions upon the survival of Yersinia enterocolitica on surface of inoculated fresh tomatoes were studied. Two virulence plasmid-bearing strains. A. Y. enterocolitica W1024 0:9 - a reference strain - and B. Y. enterocolitica B1 0:5 Lis Xz - a strain isolated from food in San Luis, Argentina, were assayed. Counts of both strains at 6 °C did not present significant changes during the first 4 days, but increased until day 15. Both strains were able to grow on tomatoes stored at 22 °C and 35 °C. At 22 °C maximum...

Possibilities of long-term protection against blood-sucking insects and ticks

Kočišová A., Para Ľ.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):27-30

Insecticidal and repellent properties and residual action of permethrin and deltamethrin and two commercial preparations Peripel 55 and Permanone were investigated under laboratory and field conditions. The tests were conducted on ticks, mosquitoes and houseflies. Permethrin in concentrations of 0.036-2.276 mg.m-2 caused 90-100 % mortality and deltamethrin in concentrations of 0.012-0.75 mg.m-2 induced 78-100 % mortality in ticks after 24 hrs exposure (Table 1). Good repellent properties of the preparation Peripel 55 were confirmed in experiments on mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (Table 2 and Fig. 1). Experiments confirmed good residual effects (Fig. 3 and...

Epidemiology of smoking habit in adolescents. Suggestions for prevention

Baška T., Ballová M., Maďar R., Straka Š.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):31-34

The results of a cross-sectional questionnaire study on smoking in 1,571 pupils of secondary schools in Martin, Slovakia (average age 15.7 y. ± 1.0) are presented. Prevalence of regular smoking (min. 1 cigarette/day) was in 24.8 % of boys and in 14.3 % of girls. Higher prevalence was in pupils of apprentice schools. Association between smoking or respondents and their parents were stronger in case of mothers and their children, namely girls. Higher educational level of parents was followed by a decrease of smoking in girls. Girls appear to be more influenced by family background than boys. The authors emphasise the importance of primary prevention...

Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis: comparison of habitat risk assessments using satellite data (an experience from the Central Bohemian region of the Czech Republic)

Daniel M., Kolář J., Zeman P., Pavelka K., Sádlo J.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):35-39

The vegetation types have been used as the indicators of an ecosystem suitable for high incidence of Ixodes ricinus ticks and their hosts, for the circulation of tick-borne diseases pathogens and, accordingly, for the existence of natural foci of these infections, namely tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme borreliosis (LB). The method of remote sensing offers a suitable solution to this problem. We attempted to prepare the habitat risk assessment maps on the territory (11,500 km2) of Central Bohemia (Czech Republic) using Landsat 5 TM imagery. Nine forest classes have been recognized in the satellite data and further identified in a field checking...

Relation between concentration of lead, zinc and lysozyme in placentas of women with intrauterine foetal growth retardation

Richter J., Hájek Z., Pfeifer I., Šubrt P.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):40-42

Intrauterine foetal growth retardation (IUGR) implies increased risk of morbidity and mortality of the newborn. Aetiology of intrauterine retardation is probably multifactorial and may include maternal infection, malnutrition, placental dysfunction, hypertension, toxaemia, smoking, professional and environmental exposure. The work concentrates on the lead, zinc and lysozyme levels in blood and placental tissues of 50 females in the IUGR group and 43 females from a control group. Statistically significant differences in zinc and lead levels between the compared group were found. The IUGR group had lower zinc and higher lead levels. A significant negative...

Encephalitozoon intestinale infection in an AIDS patient - a case report

Kučerová-Pospíšilová Z., Staňková M., Ditrich O.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):43-46

The first case of one of the most frequent intestinal microsporidians, Encephalitozoon intestinale, is reported from an AIDS patient in the Czech Republic. The patient experienced diarrhoea and was found to have microsporidia spores in stool. Species determination by electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of the microsporidian, E. intestinale. The CD4-count at the time of the diagnosis was 73 cells/mm3, IRI = 0.21. Only after symptomatic therapy and rehydration the patient stopped the complaining, and although he refused an antimicrosporidial therapy, the CD4-count one month later increased to 200 cells/mm3 and patient didn't suffered from diarrhoea....

Plesiomonas shigelloides and its serovars in animals in the Czech Republic - region Moravia

Bardoň J.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):47-49

In the period of 1994-1997, 4,552 samples of sectional, clinical material and environment were examined for the presence of Plesiomonas shigelloides. In 55 cases (1,21 %) Plesiomonas shigelloides was isolated. Within 55 isolated strains, 26 serovars have been successfully identified. Among other secured cases was Plesiomonas shigelloides isolated in pig (Sus scrofa domestica), mouse Mus musculus), binturong (Arctictis binturong) and raccoon (Pocyon lotor). In mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) the strain of Plesiomonas shigelloides with a new 0 antigen-097 was isolated. In regard of the particular biological classes, the isolation of Plesiomonas shigelloides...

Health effects of indoor air pollutants - difficulties of evaluation

Holcátová I.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1999, 7(1):50-51

The quality of indoor environment has become a matter of growing concern in many countries over the twenty years and even in our countries the interest in indoor air quality (IAQ) is still growing, but slowly. There is a lot of studies on different aspects of IAQ including some in CEEC, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in indoor air quality evaluation. Most of the common methods of risk assessment cannot be used from the different reasons. There are many results from different countries and different studies and according to research results, indoor climate in buildings varies a lot. So varies also human reactions. Only some symptoms are relatively...