Real Clinical Effectiveness of Molnupiravir Against 30-day Mortality Among 74 541 SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study From the Czech Republic.

Background: We examined the clinical effectiveness of molnupiravir in reducing deaths in a real-world cohort of adult patients with COVID-19 during the Omicron outbreak.

Methods: This was a population-wide retrospective cohort study in the Czech Republic. We analyzed all 74 541 patients with an officially registered diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 January and 31 December 2022, aged 18 years or older, treated with molnupiravir.

Antitumor progestins activity: Cytostatic effect and immune response.

Progestins are used to treat some hormone-sensitive tumors. This review discusses the mechanisms of progestins' effects on tumor cells, the differences in the effects of progesterone and its analogs on different tumor types, and the influence of progestins on the antitumor immune response. Progestins cause a cytostatic effect, but at the same time they can suppress the antitumor immune response, and this can promote the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells.

Bacterial Decontamination of Water-Containing Objects Using Piezoelectric Direct Discharge Plasma and Plasma Jet.

Cold atmospheric plasma has become a widespread tool in bacterial decontamination, harnessing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to neutralize bacteria on surfaces and in the air. This technology is often employed in healthcare, food processing, water treatment, etc. One of the most energy-efficient and universal methods for creating cold atmospheric plasma is the initiation of a piezoelectric direct discharge.

Using real-time ascertainment rate estimate from infection and hospitalization dataset for modeling the spread of infectious disease: COVID-19 case study in the Czech Republic.

We present a novel approach to estimate the time-varying ascertainment rate in almost real-time, based on the surveillance of positively tested infectious and hospital admission data. We also address the age dependence of the estimate. The ascertainment rate estimation is based on the Bayes theorem.

The association between duration of and indications for proton pump inhibitor use and risk of gastric polyps.

Objectives: The development of fundic gland polyps (FGPs) is the most common side effect of long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use; however, the effect of drug use characteristics and their impact on the risk of other gastric polyp development remain unclear. We aimed to identify the influence of PPI administration, as well as its duration and dose, in the development of gastric polyps.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent gastroscopy between September 2017 and August 2019.

The Effect of Progestins on Cytokine Production in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Menopausal Women and Their Luminol-Dependent Chemiluminescence.

Steroid hormones are the key regulators of inflammatory and autoimmune processes. The role of steroid hormones is mostly inhibitory in these processes. The expression of IL-6, TNFα, and IL-1β, as markers of inflammation, and TGFβ, as a marker of fibrosis, could be useful tools to predict the response of an individual's immune system to the different progestins suitable for the treatment of menopausal inflammatory disorders, including endometriosis.

Major iatrogenic bile duct injury during elective cholecystectomy: a Czech population register-based study.

Purpose: Bile duct injury (BDI) remains the most serious complication following cholecystectomy. However, the actual incidence of BDI in the Czech Republic remains unknown. Hence, we aimed to identify the incidence of major BDI requiring operative reconstruction after elective cholecystectomy in our region despite the prevailing modern 4 K Ultra HD laparoscopy and Critical View of Safety (CVS) standards implemented in daily surgical practice among the Czech population.

The Role of Autophagy and Apoptosis in the Combined Action of Plasma-Treated Saline, Doxorubicin, and Medroxyprogesterone Acetate on K562 Myeloid Leukaemia Cells.

The anti-cancer properties of plasma-treated solutions (PTS) and their interaction with drugs are one of the most popular topics in modern plasma medicine. Our research involved comparing the effects of four physiological saline solutions (0.9% NaCl, Ringer's solution, Hank's Balanced Salt Solution, Hank's Balanced Salt Solution with amino acids added in concentrations observed in the human blood) treated with cold atmospheric plasma and studying the combined cytotoxic effect of PTS with doxorubicin and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in relation to natural infection and vaccination between October 2020 and September 2021 in the Czech Republic: a prospective national cohort study.

Objective: Examine changes in SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity before and during the national vaccination campaign in the Czech Republic.

Design: Prospective national population-based cohort study.

Setting: Masaryk University, RECETOX, Brno.

Protection provided by vaccination, booster doses and previous infection against covid-19 infection, hospitalisation or death over time in Czechia.

Studies demonstrating the waning of post-vaccination and post-infection immunity against covid-19 generally analyzed a limited range of vaccines or subsets of populations. Using Czech national health data from the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic till November 20, 2021 we estimated the risks of reinfection, breakthrough infection, hospitalization and death by a Cox regression adjusted for sex, age, vaccine type and vaccination status. Vaccine effectiveness against infection declined from 87% at 0-2 months after the second dose to 53% at 7-8 months for BNT162b2 vaccine, from 90% at 0-2 months to 65% at 7-8 months for mRNA-1273, and from 83% at 0-2 months to 55% at 5-6 months for the ChAdOx1-S.

Enhancement of the Plant Grafting Technique with Dielectric Barrier Discharge Cold Atmospheric Plasma and Plasma-Treated Solution.

A garden plant grafting technique enhanced by cold plasma (CAP) and plasma-treated solutions (PTS) is described for the first time. It has been shown that CAP created by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and PTS makes it possible to increase the growth of L. by 35-44%, and the diameter of the root collar by 10-28%.

Nationwide increases in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies between October 2020 and March 2021 in the unvaccinated Czech population.

Background: The aim of the nationwide prospective seroconversion (PROSECO) study was to investigate the dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the Czech population. Here we report on baseline prevalence from that study.

Methods: The study included the first 30,054 persons who provided a blood sample between October 2020 and March 2021.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography for Differential Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Lesions: Single-Institutional Prospective Study of Qualitative and Quantitative CEUS Characteristics.

Objectives: To extend and revise the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for differentiation between malignant and benign thyroid nodules.

Methods: This single-institution prospective study aims to compare CEUS qualitative and objective quantitative parameters in benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Consecutive cohort of 100 patients was examined by CEUS, 68 out of them were further analysed in detail.

Does Pathological Complete Response after Neoadjuvant Therapy Influence Postoperative Morbidity in Rectal Cancer after Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision?

Purpose: It is still unclear if pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients treated for rectal cancer causes worse postoperative outcomes, especially after transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). Worse postoperative outcomes might be an argument for an organ preserving watch and wait strategy in fragile patients and patients with comorbidities. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether patients treated for rectal cancer who had pCR to neoadjuvant therapy develop worse postoperative outcomes after TaTME than patients without complete response.

Protection by Vaccines and Previous Infection Against the Omicron Variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

Background: The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) evades immunity conferred by vaccines and previous infections.

Methods: We used a Cox proportional hazards model and a logistic regression on individual-level population-wide data from the Czech Republic to estimate risks of infection and hospitalization, including severe states.

Results: A recent (≤2 months) full vaccination reached vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 43% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42%-44%) against infection by Omicron compared to 73% (95% CI, 72%-74%) against Delta.

[What are the specifics of diabetic foot syndrome and why we need interdisciplinary recommendations for its diagnosis and treatment?].

The care of patients with diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) requires interdisciplinary cooperation, and therefore interdisciplinary recommendations focused on the diagnosis and treatment and prevention of DFS are in place. We also need these recommendations because DFS has its own specifics that affect its diagnosis, therapy, but also the prognosis of patients. These include, for example, the different course of infection and PAD in patients with diabetes, the diagnosis of neuropathic Charcot osteoarthropathy, and the frequent association with end stage kidney disease, which worsens the course of SDN and increases its risk.

Incidence trends of esophageal cancer in the Czech Republic by histological subtype and stage and prescription rate of acid suppressing drugs.

Background: Incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease has increased substantially in developed countries during the past decades. We aimed to analyze trends in incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) by histological subtypes and trends in acid suppressing drugs prescription in the Czech Republic.

Methods: The incidence of EC by histological subtypes, sex, and stage from 1984-2017 was examined using data from the Czech National Cancer Registry.

Correlation of survival length after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma depending on tumor characteristics detected by means of computed tomography and resection margins status.

Pancreatic carcinoma is an aggressive tumor with a grim prognosis. Accurate staging is essential for indicating surgery in patients with borderline resectable tumors. This paper examines the correlation between pre-operation characteristics of tumors found on CT, infiltration of individual resection margins as confirmed by a pathologist, and the survival of patients with resectable pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma.

Prospective evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasound of breast BI-RADS 3-5 lesions.

Background: To determine the benefit of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of breast lesions.

Methods: A standardized contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed in 230 breast lesions classified as BI-RADS category 3 to 5. All lesions were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Radiofrequency ablation in pancreatic cancer.

Introduction: Clinical study evaluating the impact of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation in pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Patients with histologically proved pancreatic cancer were included. Two groups were defined.

Prognostic factors and seizure outcome in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in children with hematological malignancies and bone marrow failure: A retrospective monocentric study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate seizure outcome in children with hematological malignancies and PRES and to identify prognostic factors that could help manage the syndrome.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed the report data of 21 patients diagnosed with hematological malignancy or aplastic anemia and PRES between 2008 and 2018. Basic demographic data, oncology treatment, presymptomatic hypertension before PRES manifestation, neurological status, seizure type, and EEG and MRI findings at PRES onset and at the one-year follow-up visit were studied.

The Influence of Microscopic Inflammation at Resection Margins on Early Postoperative Endoscopic Recurrence After Ileocaecal Resection for Crohn's Disease.

Background And Aims: The pathogenesis and risk factors for early postoperative endoscopic recurrence of Crohn's disease [CD] remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to identify whether histological inflammation at the resection margins after an ileocaecal resection influences endoscopic recurrence.

Methods: We have prospectively followed up patients with CD who underwent ileocaecal resection at our hospital between January 2012 and January 2018.

Viewpoints of the target population regarding barriers and facilitators of colorectal cancer screening in the Czech Republic.

Background: Public awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) and uptake of CRC screening remain challenges. The viewpoints of the target population (asymptomatic individuals older than 50) regarding CRC screening information sources and the reasons for and against participation in CRC screening are not well known in the Czech Republic. This study aimed to acquire independent opinions from the target population independently on the health system.