Aim: The principal aim was to establish reference paediatric data for the serum homocysteine levels in Czech children and adolescents. Methods and Results: 144 children either healthy or not sufferig from acute or chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders including rheumatic diseases, inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, epilepsy, chronic renal failure, aged 0–19.9 years (0–6.9 years, n = 40; 7–10.9 y, n = 28; 11–15.9 y, n = 45; 16–19.9 y, n = 31) had their blood samples collected and the serum homocysteine level (S-homocysteine) was evaluated by chemiluminescence. A significant age dependence of the S-homocysteine levels was observed (R = 0.35, p < 0.01); with highest values of upper reference range in the 11–15.9 and 16–19.9 years’ group, respectively. Conclusion: The establishment of S-homocysteine reference Czech pediatric values is a potentially useful tool for proper evaluation of elevated homocysteine levels and corresponding risks in childhood., Vladimír Němec, Eva Bočkayová, Štěpán Kutílek, and Literatura 30
Úvod: Observační, prospektivní a neintervenční projekt SOLOSTAR měl za cíl získat informace z klinické praxe v České republice o spokojenosti pacientů s používáním předplněného inzulinového pera SoloStar. Metodika: 1 805 pacientů s diabetem 1. nebo 2. typu bylo po zahájení používání pera SoloStar sledováno 3–4 měsíce. Spokojenost pacientů s perem SoloStar a s jeho jednotlivými parametry byla posuzována ve skupině všech pacientů a v podskupinách rozdělených dle demografických parametrů včetně zdravotního omezení. Pacienti také porovnávali pero SoloStar s pery používanými před vstupem do projektu. Výsledky: 98,3 % pacientů ohodnotilo celkovou spokojenost s perem SoloStar jako „výbornou“ a „dobrou“ (nejlepší a druhé nejlepší hodnocení na 5stupňové škále). Na celkovou spokojenost s perem SoloStar nemělo statisticky významný vliv žádné z demografických kritérií, a to ani zrakový handicap či omezení manuální zručnosti. Parametry pera SoloStar byly u více než 90 % pacientů hodnoceny jako „výborné“ a „dobré“. Lépe byly některé parametry hodnoceny zejména pacienty bez předchozí zkušenosti s aplikací inzulinu. Pacienti, kteří používali jiný typ aplikátoru před zařazením do projektu, byli více spokojeni s perem SoloStar než s předchozím aplikátorem a většina z nich ohodnotila používání pera SoloStar (93,1 %) a aplikaci inzulinu perem SoloStar (83,5 %) v porovnání s původním perem jako „mnohem jednodušší“ a „jednodušší“ (nejlepší a druhé nejlepší hodnocení na 5stupňové škále). Závěr: Používání pera SoloStar je v běžné klinické praxi v České republice spojeno s vysokou spokojeností pacientů, a to včetně pacientů se zdravotním omezením. Pacienti navíc pero SoloStar upřednostňovali před inzulinovými pery používanými před vstupem do projektu. Klíčová slova: diabetes mellitus – inzulinové pero – spokojenost pacientů, Introduction: The aim of the observational, prospective and non-interventional survey SOLOSTAR was to obtain, in a clinical practice setting in the Czech Republic, information about patient satisfaction with the use of the pre-filled insulin pen SoloStar. Methodology: 1 805 patients suffering from type 1 or 2 diabetes who began using the pen SoloStar were observed for 3 to 4 months. Satisfaction of patients with SoloStar and with its particular features was evaluated in the group of all patients and in subgroups defined by demographic parameters including the type of handicap. Patients also compared SoloStar with the pens used before the entry into the survey. Results: 98.3 % of patients rated overall satisfaction with the pen SoloStar as “excellent” and “good” (the highest and second highest rating on a 5-point scale). Demographic criteria, including visual handicap and manual dexterity handicap, did not have any statistically significant effect on the rating of the overall satisfaction with SoloStar. Features of SoloStar were rated as “excellent” and “good” by more than 90% of patients. Higher rating of some of the features of SoloStar was awarded mostly by patients without prior experience with insulin application. Patients who used other insulin applicators before entering into the survey were more satisfied with the pen SoloStar than with the previously used applicator and most of them rated the use of SoloStar (93.1 %) and insulin application with SoloStar (83.5 %) as “much easier” and “easier” (the highest and second highest rating on a 5-point scale) in comparison with the previously used pen. Conclusion: The use of the pen SoloStar in a clinical practice setting in the Czech Republic is associated with high levels of satisfaction of patients, including handicapped patients. In addition, patients preferred SoloStar over insulin pens used before the entry into the survey. Key words: diabetes mellitus – insulin pen – patient satisfaction, and Tomáš Edelsberger, Michal Policar, Dita Pospíšilová, Jana Psottová, Jana Houdová, Denisa Janíčková Žďarská
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems among Czech dentists and to analyze the factors that affect these disorders. Information was gathered through questionnaire completed by 581 physicians. The questionnaire ascertained general information about physicians including their work habits and the characteristics of their work environment along with the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems as well as their intensity. In the past year the occurrence of at least mild difficulties associated with the locomotive system was reported by 96.9% of dentists surveyed (n = 557), with 66.3% of respondents (n = 381) reporting difficulties ofa moderate or major nature. Most respondents of both sexes indicated neck pain. A statistically significant correlation with the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints of medium and major intensity was demonstrated for the following factors: sex, age, running a private practice, past injury or musculoskeletal diseases, and the perception of work as psychologically demanding. Musculoskeletal disorders in dentists in Czech Republic are relatively frequent and serious health problem. The causes of these diseases must be identified and appropriate preventive interventions undertaken that will contribute to a reduction in the incidence of these problems. and Z. Sustová, L. Hodacová, M. Kapitán