Surveillance of chronic noninfectious diseases.

Surveillance is a comprehensive system of epidemiological work involving continuous collection, analysis and distribution of data on all characteristics of the disease. Among health professionals, surveillance in connection with noninfectious diseases is not as known as in infections where it has clearly proven successful. The principle of epidemiological surveillance may be applied in chronic noninfectious diseases but certain pitfalls and differences between this category and infectious diseases need to be borne in mind.

Optimal Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) Cut-Offs: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Czech Population.

The key pathogenetic mechanism of glucose metabolism disorders, insulin resistance (IR), can be assessed using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of IR (HOMA-IR). However, its application in clinical practice is limited due to the absence of cut-offs. In this study, we aimed to define the cut-offs for the Czech population.

A study evaluating noise levels at selected schools in the Czech Republic.

Objective: Worldwide, primary schools are the most important segment of childhood education. The main disturbing source of noise in schools is human speech, the primary component of the learning process. School noise has a negative impact on information processing, teachers and pupils, and communication in the classroom.

Occurrence and Antibiotic Resistance of Enterobacteriaceae in Acute Leukemia Patients.

Background: Acute leukemia (AL) is a heterogeneous group of malignant hematopoietic diseases and is divided into two basic types: acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patients with these diseases are highly immunosuppressed and therefore at a high risk of serious infections. This study aimed to perform active surveillance of enterobacteria, which cause these infections, and to determine their antibiotic resistance in patients with AL who were hospitalized at the Hemato-Oncology Center of University Hospital Olomouc.

Total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin levels and prediction of insulin resistance.

Introduction: Adiponectin is a peptide secreted by adipocytes; its reduction is associated with obesity-related disorders, including insulin resistance (IR). The study analysed levels of total adiponectin and its high-molecular-weight (HMW) oligomer in a group of metabolically healthy adults and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to evaluate these levels as potential predictors of the presence of IR.

Materials And Methods: The study comprised 269 metabolically healthy adults and 300 patients with T2DM.

Risks and protective factors for triple negative breast cancer with a focus on micronutrients and infections.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer (BC) with a poor prognosis. Second, patients cannot benefit from targeted therapy, except for those with BRCA1/2 mutations, for whom poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition therapy using olaparib has recently been approved. As global priorities continue to be epidemiological analysis of BC risk factors and early diagnosis, this review focuses on the risks and protective factors associated with TNBC.

Refractory Ventricle Arrhythmias Alternating with Pulseless Electrical Activity in a Young Woman Rescued by Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Introduction: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a challenging approach for treating refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Case Presentation: The authors describe a case of a 40-year-old Caucasian female who suffered from refractory OHCA, was admitted to a hospital while receiving ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and was connected to venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 73 minutes after collapse. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias alternating with pulseless electrical activity resolved after eight hours.

Loss of chromosome Y leads to down regulation of KDM5D and KDM6C epigenetic modifiers in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Recent genomic studies of sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have uncovered novel driver genes and pathways. Given the unequal incidence rates among men and women (male:female incidence ratio approaches 2:1), we compared the genome-wide distribution of the chromosomal abnormalities in both sexes. We observed a higher frequency for the somatic recurrent chromosomal copy number variations (CNVs) of autosomes in male subjects, whereas somatic loss of chromosome X was detected exclusively in female patients (17.

Experiences with preventing carpal tunnel syndrome in an automotive plant.

Objectives: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common occupational disease. The aim was to assess the effect of preventive measures in automotive assembly workers.

Material And Methods: The analysis summarizes data from annual crosssectional studies.

Primary and secondary prevention of colorectal cancer in the Czech Republic.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in the Czech Republic and worldwide. Also, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, a high proportion of smokers in the population, and one of the highest per capita alcohol consumption rates are typical for the Czech population. The role of general practitioners in the prevention of colorectal cancer is crucial.

Total and High Molecular Weight Adiponectin Levels and Prediction of Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetic Patients.

The study aimed at assessing the potential use of lower total and HMW adiponectin levels for predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Concentrations of total adiponectin or high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin decrease in association with the development of metabolic dysfunction such as obesity, insulin resistance, or T2DM. Increased adiponectin levels are associated with a lower risk for coronary heart disease.

In vitro efficacy of synthetic skin repellent IR3535 on head lice (Pediculus capitis).

In in vitro tests, skin repellent IR3535, applied in the form of the Diffusil H Prevental product in an aerosol bomb (active compound 20%), killed 100% of head lice (females and males) and nymphs 2 and 3, when directly sprayed at a dose of 0.94 mg of the active compound per square centimeter. Crawling lice exposed for 1 min on the filter paper impregnated by the same concentration showed no effort to suck blood 30 min after exposition.

[Antimalarial prophylaxis in travelers to malaria risk areas].

Malaria is one of the most common diseases imported to the Czech Republic with an upward trend in incidence. Travelers are leaving for abroad without antimalarial prophylaxis or refuse preventive antimalarial drugs. Failure to comply with antimalarial prophylaxis in high-risk areas can lead to malaria infection which may manifest itself even after returning home.

Xenobiotic metabolizing gene variants and renal cell cancer: a multicenter study.

Background: The countries of Central and Eastern Europe have among the highest worldwide rates of renal cell cancer (RCC). Few studies have examined whether genetic variation in xenobiotic metabolic pathway genes may modify risk for this cancer.

Methods: The Central and Eastern Europe Renal Cell Cancer study was a hospital-based case-control study conducted between 1998 and 2003 across seven centers in Central and Eastern Europe.

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and C-reactive protein levels as indicators of insulin resistance development.

Background: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aFABP) has recently been identified as a potential circulating marker for metabolic syndrome. C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation, is increased in individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome due to the development of subclinical inflammation. The study uses logistic regression models to analyze the relations between aFABP and CRP along with other parameters of insulin resistance.

Genetic syndromes associated with renal cell carcinoma: a review.

Aims: A review of recent knowledge on heredital syndromes related to renal cell carcinoma.

Methods: Aim of this review was to summarize the recent knowledge of genetic syndromes associated with renal cell carcinoma.

Results: Summary of incidence and factors modulating risk of hereditary renal cell carcinoma development.

Renal cancer risk and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and plastics.

Objective: To investigate whether occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and certain plastic monomers increased renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk.

Methods: Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate RCC risk in relation to exposure.

Results: No association between RCC risk and having ever been occupationally exposed to any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or plastics was observed.

Occupational exposure to arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and nickel, and renal cell carcinoma: a case-control study from Central and Eastern Europe.

Objectives: To investigate the risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Central and Eastern Europe in relation to exposure to known and suspected carcinogenic metals.

Methods: During 1999-2003, the authors conducted a hospital-based study in Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Russia, including 1097 cases of RCC and 1476 controls. Occupational exposure to arsenic, cadmium, chromium(III), chromium(VI), lead and nickel was assessed by teams of local industrial hygiene experts, based on detailed occupational questionnaires.

Occupational trichloroethylene exposure and renal carcinoma risk: evidence of genetic susceptibility by reductive metabolism gene variants.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a suspected renal carcinogen. TCE-associated renal genotoxicity occurs predominantly through glutathione S-transferase (GST) conjugation and bioactivation by renal cysteine beta-lyase (CCBL1). We conducted a case-control study in Central Europe (1,097 cases and 1,476 controls) specifically designed to assess risk associated with occupational exposure to TCE through analysis of detailed job histories.

Analysis of SNPs and haplotypes in vitamin D pathway genes and renal cancer risk.

In the kidney vitamin D is converted to its active form. Since vitamin D exerts its activity through binding to the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR), most genetic studies have primarily focused on variation within this gene. Therefore, analysis of genetic variation in VDR and other vitamin D pathway genes may provide insight into the role of vitamin D in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) etiology.

Multiple ADH genes are associated with upper aerodigestive cancers.

Alcohol is an important risk factor for upper aerodigestive cancers and is principally metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes. We have investigated six ADH genetic variants in over 3,800 aerodigestive cancer cases and 5,200 controls from three individual studies. Gene variants rs1229984 (ADH1B) and rs1573496 (ADH7) were significantly protective against aerodigestive cancer in each individual study and overall (P = 10(-10) and 10(-9), respectively).

Epidemiology of esophageal cancer--an overview article.

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most serious tumor diseases worldwide, owing to its rapid development and fatal prognosis in most cases. To compare epidemiologic characteristics, data published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France and data from Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic were used.

Methods: We conducted a search of selected Czech and foreign literature focused on the epidemiology of esophageal cancer and its main risk factors.

Family history and the risk of kidney cancer: a multicenter case-control study in Central Europe.

An elevated familial relative risk may indicate either an important genetic component in etiology or shared environmental exposures within the family. Incidence rates of kidney cancer are particularly high in Central Europe, although no data were available on the familial aggregation or genetic background of kidney cancer in this region. We have, therefore, investigated the role of family history in first-degree relatives in a large multicenter case-control study in Central Europe.

Dietary risk factors for kidney cancer in Eastern and Central Europe.

The authors examined the role of diet in the high-risk population of Central Europe among 1,065 incident kidney cancer cases and 1,509 controls in Russia, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic. They observed an increased association with kidney cancer for consumption of milk (odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.

Epidemiology of lung cancer.

This review article presents lung cancer epidemiology, describing main epidemiologic characteristics including epidemiological situation in cancer incidence, mortality and survival in Europe in comparison with situation in the Czech Republic. Influence of environmental and life style risk factors like smoking, passive smoking, risk factors of work environment, ionizing radiation, air pollution, nutrition and genetic and hormonal factors are discussed.