Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4)
Five years of the system of monitoring the environmental impact on population health of the Czech Republic
Kliment V., Kubínová R., Kazmarová H., Kratzer K., Šišma P., Ruprich J., Černá M., Gregůrková M.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):198-205
The data collected in the System of monitoring the environmental impact on population health of the Czech Republic in 1994-1998 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 monitoring of the health status 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 of the...
The Czech External Quality Control system in medical microbiology and parasitology
Šlosárek M., Kříž B.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):206-209
The External Quality Control (EQC) system in activities of laboratories engaged in medical microbiology and parasitology was established in the Czech Republic in 1993 when to the first laboratories which applied coded serum samples were sent for diagnosis of viral hepatitis and bacterial strains for identification. In the course of years the number of control areas increased and in 2000 there were 31 and the number of those interested in participation in EQC increased from 79 in 1993 to 434 in 2000. This year a total of 13,239 samples will be sent to laboratories. Gradually thus almost all microbiological and parasitological laboratories concerned...
The Czech National Registry of Occupational Diseases. Ten years of existence
Urban P., Cikrt M., Hejlek A., Lukáš E., Pelclová D.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):210-212
The Czech National Registry of Occupational Diseases was founded in 1991 with the intention of restoring the information system on occupational diseases, which had collapsed in 1990, following deep societal changes brought about by the revolution in 1989. During the ten years of its existence, the Czech National Registry of Occupational Diseases proved to be a reliable information system providing valid data on occupational diseases. The completeness and quality of data stored in the Registry are being controlled by trained personnel. The information is available on-line for competent authorities. This makes it possible to monitor the situation regarding...
Reporting system and control of infectious diseases in the Czech lands in the past years until year 1945
Kříž B.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):213-215
The Health Care System in the Czech Lands (Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia) of the late Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Czechoslovak Republic was comparatively well developed. Attempts to create efficient health regulations and anti-epidemic measures can be traced as far back as the 16th century. The 19th century represents a period of rapid development of Public Health regulations. The kingdom-wide compulsory reporting system of selected infectious diseases was established in 1888 and data concerning morbidity of those infections have been available since 1890. It is probably the first routine reporting system in Europe, and has...
Dietary guidelines in the Czech Republic II.: Nutritional profiles of food groups
Brázdová Z., Fiala J., Bauerová J., Müllerová D.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):216-220
Modern dietary guidelines set in terms of food groups are easy to use and understand for target populations, but rather complicated from the point of view of quantification, i.e. the correctly set number of recommended servings in different population groups according to age, sex, physical activity and physiological status on the basis of required intake of energy and individual nutrients. It is the use of abstract comprehensive food groups that makes it impossible to use a simple database of food tables based on the content of nutrients in individual foods, rather than their groups. Using groups requires that their nutritional profiles be established,...
The importance of lymphocyte micronucleus test for the detection of genotoxic events
Kovalkovičová N., Šutiaková I., Kačmár P., Mlynarčíková H., Pistl J., Mikula I., Legáth J., Šulík E.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):221-226
DNA lesion induced by xenobiotics is implemented either through direct interaction of the chemical with DNA through covalent binding or intercalation, or indirectly, through interference with the processes of DNA replication and repair, interaction with proteins, nuclease release from lysosomes etc. The present study emphasizes that the assessment of genotoxic risk arising from xenogenous substances demands the development of sensitive, direct and more exact genotoxic testing methods. One of them is micronucleus assay. It is a simple and quick test for investigating of cytogenic damage with the advantage that exposure to both clastogens and aneugens...
Epidemiological features and economic evaluation of a potential chickenpox vaccination strategy in Slovak Republic
Hudečková H., Straka Š., Rusňáková Š.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):227-228
Cost effectiveness and cost benefit of a potential chickenpox vaccination strategy in Slovakia have been evaluated. As a base for comparison with potential vaccination strategy, direct and indirect costs of chickenpox incidence in Slovakia in 1996 were evaluated, using the EPIS data (Epidemiological Information System in Slovak Republic), and official annual analyse of epidemiological situation in Slovakia. According to their estimates, the authors consider the potential chickenpox vaccination as highly cost effective. The results of their analysis show that as the saved costs mostly indirect costs participate. With respect to the prevailing social...
Circadian adjustment and stress in operators under fast rotating 12-hour shifts
Vangelova K.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):229-232
The aim of the investigation was to follow the time-of-day variations of some circadian and stress indicators during fast rotating 12-hour shifts. The study covered twenty-one male operators in thermoelectric power plant aged 35.7 ± 8.5 years. The time-of-day variations of 6-sulphathoxymelatonin (aMT6s), the main melatonin metabolite, 11-oxycorticosteroids (11-OCS), catecholamines and oral temperature were followed during the 2nd day shift and two consecutive night shifts. The aMT6s was determined by RIA and the 11-OCS and catecholamines by fluoriphotometric methods. Moderate general activation and daily oriented circadian rhythms...
Audiological problems in patients with tinnitus exposed to noise and vibrations
Tzaneva L., Savov A., Damianova V.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):233-235
Tinnitus is a hearing sensation appearing without available sound fluctuations in the external environment. It is one of the major, constant and earliest symptoms suggesting different pathology of the hearing analyser. It must be considered, though, that it is evidenced also at disturbed functions of other organs and systems of the organism. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the state of the hearing analyser in patients with tinnitus occupationally exposed to noise and vibrations in relation to therapy. The study was performed on 67 miners, aged 34-55, mean age 44.5 years. The workers with subjective tinnitus (29 persons - 43 % of the studied...
Disturbance of respiratory system in workers in smelter plants
Dinkova K., Tzaneva L.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):236-237
Workers from smelter plants are at high risk from lung injuries due to exposure to quartz sand, clay, resin, loams, airborne metals etc. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of the problem and the risk of occupational pathology in metallurgy at "ELMA" plant - Troyan. The study revealed decreased number of occupational lung diseases but the percentage rate (about 10 %) of registered new cases with occupational lung diseases was maintained. No new cases with mixed silicosis were recorded. The results were compared to respective national data. Slowly evolving forms of diffusely outlined lung chart with late functional breathing disturbances...
Results of the health survey of a population living in a vicinity of a large waste site (Warsaw, Poland)
Zejda J.E., Jarosińska D., Biesiada M., Łączyński J., Jaźwiec-Kanyion B., Złotkowska R., Muszyńska M.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):238-244
Although attracting rapidly increasing attention from the public, the health impact of environmental exposures related to the operation of waste dumping sites is a relatively new issue in Poland. However, the problem cannot be neglected in light of the fact that environmental impact assessment in selected sites revealed the lack of sufficient documentation concerning quantity and quality of dumped materials and poor technological management of the sites. The paper describes the results of health survey performed in a vicinity of a country's largest municipal waste site. Although the study came across methodological obstacles involving low participation...
Smoking habits in university students in Slovakia
Baška T., Straka Š., Maďar R.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):245-248
Introduction: Cigarette smoking has reached the proportion of a global epidemic with particularly devastating consequences in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Learning of epidemiological aspects of smoking in youngsters, especially university students, is of great importance for the whole community. Goals of the study were mapping smoking habits and identifying other factors of life style including body mass index, alcohol and citrus fruit consumption in non-medical university students in Slovakia. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study, including 2,419 respondents, was carried out in students of 5 non-medical faculties in Slovakia...
Influence of maternal active and passive smoking during pregnancy on birthweight in newborns
Hrubá D., Kachlík P.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):249-252
Many studies have documented a strong association of active smoking during pregnancy with fetal growth retardation. Increasing interest has also been focused on whether there is an association between exposure of pregnant women to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and low birthweight of their babies. In the intervention controlled study "Healthy Pregnancy - Healthy Child", mothers after delivery were interviewed by medical students who collected data about their smoking and nutrition. Students were also trained to stimulate non-smoking behaviour and to explain the risks related to smoking and exposure to ETS. Data from 1147 mothers after delivery were...
Editorial
Editorial
Cent Eur J Public Health 2000, 8(4):197 