What is the Role of the Horizontal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Young Adult and Middle-Aged Roma Population Living in the Settlements in East Slovakia?

: The aim of our work is to objectify the manner of transmission of HBV infection in young adult and middle-aged Roma people who live in the settlements. : We used data from the cross-sectional study HepaMeta. We analyzed Roma people living in the settlements in East Slovakia, who have had HBsAg and anti HBc IgG antibodies examined.

3D printed Polylactid Acid based porous scaffold for bone tissue engineering: an in vitro study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to fabricate PLA-based porous scaffold by 3D printing technology and to evaluate their cytotoxicity and biocompatibility under in vitro conditions in respect to bone tissue engineering.

Material And Methods: Pure PLA in filamentous form was processed via 3D printing technology of fused filament fabrication into porous scaffolds. The structure and porosity of scaffolds were measured by metrotomography.

Role of diversity in assembling of rehabilitation teams in Central Europe.

Background: Multiprofessional teamwork in physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) allows achieving patient-centered goals in accordance with the assumptions of the bio-psycho-social model of functioning. Team composition and methods of collaboration depend of the specificity of goals to be achieved, as well local contextual factors. International comparative studies on rehabilitation teamwork are lacking, despite data on how teams differ between countries are crucial for the process of harmonization of PRM practice across Europe.

Association of JAG1 gene polymorphism with systemic blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective cohort study.

Aim: To assess the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on blood pressure control in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study, conducted between 2004 and 2014, examined the associations of SNPs of JAG1, GUCY1A3-GUCY1B3, SH2B3, and NPR3-C5orf23 genes with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) in 1179 adults evaluated for OSA with overnight polysomnography. Genotyping was performed by unlabeled probe melting analysis.

[Tick-borne encephalitis in a pregnant patient].

There is a lack of information in the literature about the course and risk of vertical transmission of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) during pregnancy. Presented is a case report of a female patient in the 37th week of pregnancy infected by foodborne transmission. She developed meningitis with no neurological damage.

Use of the Clinical Global Impression scale in sleep apnea patients - Results from the ESADA database.

Objective/background: The Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) reflects the clinician's assessment of the disease impact on patient's global functioning. We assessed predictors of CGI scale rating in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Patients/methods: Consecutive patients with suspected OSA (n = 7581) were identified in the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA).

The Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Mountain Environment on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Chronic Bronchitis.

BACKGROUND We aimed to test the effectiveness of the pulmonary rehabilitation in a mountain environment on the pulmonary function, physical performance, dyspnea, affective factors, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis (CB), as well as to determine predictors of clinical improvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS 128 consecutive patients (90 diagnosed with COPD and 38 diagnosed with CB) underwent comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation for a duration of 3 weeks in one of 3 mountain health resorts in the High Tatras. The examination included spirometry (FEV1 and FEV1/FVC), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Borg scale of dyspnea, and assessment of depression (Zung score), anxiety (Beck score), and QoL using the SF-36 scales.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Roma and Non-Roma People in Slovakia.

Unlabelled: Prevalence of Hepatitis B is relatively low in developed European countries. However specific subpopulations may exist within each country with markedly different Hepatitis B burden. Roma minority is very numerous in Slovakia and their lifestyle is completely different to non-Roma population.

Influence of Kartogenin on Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived MSCs in 2D Culture and in Co-Cultivation with OA Osteochondral Explant.

Articular cartilage has limited capacity for natural regeneration and repair. In the present study, we evaluated kartogenin (KGN), a bioactive small heterocyclic molecule, for its effect on in vitro proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs) in monolayer culture and in co-culture models in vitro. OA osteochondral cylinders and hBMSCs were collected during total knee replacement.

A Preliminary Study Comparing Microfracture and Local Adherent Transplantation of Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Followed by Intraarticular Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Chondral Defects in Rabbits.

Objective This study aimed to compare microfracture and application of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) by local adherent technique enhanced by platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to provide a new approach for the repair of cartilage defect. Design Full-thickness cylindrical defects were created in the medial femoral condyle in 9 New Zealand White rabbits (5 months old, 4.65 ± 0.

Epidemiological Study of Orofacial Clefts among Population of Eastern Slovakia during the Period 1996-2013.

Background: Over the past 18 years, according to data from the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, L. Pasteur University Hospital, there have been 493 cases of orofacial clefts (OC) reported in the area of Eastern Slovakia. The aim of this study was to map the occurrence of orofacial clefts reported in the area of Eastern Slovakia during the years 1996-2013.

Prenatal three-dimensional sonographic findings associated with fetal defecation. Case Report.

Routine ultrasonography examination may miss fetal defecation and if seen it can be a source of misinterpretation which can lead to a wrong diagnose and management of pregnancy. We report two rare cases of fetal defecation in the second trimester and we describe 3D sonographic findings associated with this condition.

Pilot Cross-Sectional Study of Three Zoonoses (Lyme Disease, Tularaemia, Leptospirosis) among Healthy Blood Donors in Eastern Slovakia.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of three zoonotic infections among healthy blood donors/volunteers in Eastern Slovakia.

Methods: Sera from 124 blood donors were investigated for the presence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, Francisella tularensis and Leptospira pomona. The participants also completed the questionnaire about demographic, exposure and epidemiological characteristics.

Sigmoidal polyp with adenocarcinoma discovered by transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasonographic virtual colonoscopy.

Adenocarcinoma of the colon represents the third most frequent cause of death from cancer, being surpassed only by lung and stomach cancer. Early screening and diagnosis of polyps are important for a good prognosis. Based on a clinical case, a novel approach is presented for screening of sigmoidal polyps and neoplasia using transvaginal 2D, 3D mode in women.

Isolation, cultivation and characterisation of pigeon osteoblasts seeded on xenogeneic demineralised cancellous bone scaffold for bone grafting.

Avian osteoblasts have been isolated particularly from chicken embryo, but data about other functional tissue sources of adult avian osteoblast precursors are missing. The method of preparation of pigeon osteoblasts is described in this study. We demonstrate that pigeon cancellous bone derived osteoblasts have particular proliferative capacity in vitro in comparison to mammalian species and developed endogenous ALP.

Telomere repeats and macronuclear DNA organization in the soil ciliate Kahliella matisi (Ciliophora, Hypotricha).

To better understand the structure of macronuclear chromosomes in ciliates, the organization of macronuclear DNA was investigated in the hypotrich Kahliella matisi. Total DNA of K. matisi separated by agarose gel electrophoresis showed continuous smear ranging in size from ∼500bp to ∼15kb.

Two rep genes in small cryptic plasmid pKST21 of Escherichia coli.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a small cryptic plasmid pKST21 from Escherichia coli was determined. This plasmid is 1,460 bp long with an overall GC content of 51 %. Based on sequence analysis, the presence of two segments with different average GC density was observed.

Circulatory and adipose tissue leptin and adiponectin in relationship to resting energy expenditure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Increases in resting energy expenditure (REE) likely contribute to weight loss in various chronic diseases. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), relationships between the ventilatory impairment and increased REE, and between disturbances in adipokines and weight loss were previously described. Therefore, we investigated serum levels and adipose tissue expression of leptin and adiponectin, and their relationships to REE in patients with COPD.

Size and subclasses of low-density lipoproteins in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have proatherogenic dyslipidemia. We analyzed predictors of low-density lipoproteins' (LDLs) size in patients with OSA. In a cross-sectional study including 58 participants with OSA (30 without the metabolic syndrome [MetS] and 28 with MetS), we evaluated the size of LDL by gradient gel electrophoresis.

Prenatal three-dimensional sonographic findings associated with annular pancreas.

Annular pancreas is a rare developmental anomaly that accounts for 1% of neonatal intestinal obstructions. For the first time, we describe 3D sonographic findings associated with this condition. In addition to stringent diagnostic criteria based on 2D ultrasound, this case suggests the possible contribution of 3D ultrasound in rare cases of suspected annular pancreas.