BACKGROUND: Latitude gradients and secular trends in Europe and North America have been found in the male-female ratio at birth (M/F: male births divided by total births) which approximates 0.515. METHODS: Annual national data for Yugoslavia and the post-Yugoslavia States for male and female live births were obtained from the World Health Organisation and analysed with contingency tables. RESULTS: This study analysed 22,020,729 live births. There was a increasing trend in M/F prior to the breakup of the former Yugoslavia (1950-1990, p = 0.002), followed by a decreasing trend after 1990 (p = 0.02). A latitude gradient was also noted, with more males being born in southern, warmer latitudes (p < 0.0001). There was an overall excess of 42,753 male births based on an anticipated M/F of 0.515. CONCLUSION: M/F is decreasing in this region, similar to the rest of Europe and North America. A latitude gradient is also present with more males being born in warmer (more Southern) latitudes (p < 0.0001), even in this small region and over the short time-frame studied. and V. Grech
Výzkumné šetření bylo zaměřeno na společný ošetřovatelský lůžkový fond, který se v posledních několika málo letech stává trendem menších, ale i středně velkých nemocničních zařízení. Díky restrukturalizaci lůžek akutní péče v České republice dochází ke slučování jednotlivých odborností, a to jak v rámci chirurgických, tak interních oborů. Cílem výzkumu bylo zhodnotit přínos vzniku společného ošetřovatelského lůžkového fondu, analyzovat problémy v ošetřovatelské péči, zhodnotit náročnost práce sestry a zmapovat pochybení v oblasti ošetřovatelské péče v souvislosti se vznikem projektu. Výzkumný soubor byl tvořen zaměstnanci Nemocnice Tábor, a. s., kteří měli osobní zkušenosti s fungováním společného ošetřovatelského lůžkového fondu. Sběr dat probíhal prostřednictvím metody dotazování, technikou nestandardizovaného rozhovoru s doplňujícími otázkami. Výzkumným šetřením bylo zjištěno, že hlavními důvody vzniku společného lůžkového fondu byly finanční úspory spojené s restrukturalizací lůžek akutní péče. Studie potvrdila, že i přes větší zatíženost sestry v pracovním procesu nenastaly v souvislosti se vznikem projektu problémy v ošetřovatelské péči a nebyla zaznamenána pochybení v této oblasti. Závěry výzkumného šetření mohou pomoci organizacím, které se projekt sloučení lůžkového ošetřovatelského fondu chystají zrealizovat., The research is focused on MNIW, which is over the last few years becoming a trend of smaller, but also medium-sized hospitals. With restructuring of acute care beds in the Czech Republic, merging of individual expertise occurs, both within surgical and internal medicine. The aim of the research was to evaluate benefits of MNIW. The research sample consisted of employees of the Tábor Hospital, a. s., who have had personal experience with the functioning of MNIW. The data were collected by interviewing methods, using nonstandardized interview technique with additional questions. Research survey found that the main reasons for constitution of MNIW were the cost savings associated with restructuring of acute care beds. The study confirmed that despite higher stress in nurse’s working process, no problems occurred in nursing care in connection with the establishment of the project and that there were no mistakes in this area. Conclusions of the research can help organizations that plan to implement project of MNIW., Hana Valešová, Iva Brabcová, and Literatura
AIMS: Authors studied potential side effects of fetal calf serum (FCS) in cultivation media on human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) during long-term cultivation. METHODS: Two lines of DPSC obtained healthy donors (male 22 years, female 23 years) were used. Both lines were cultivated under standard cultivation conditions in four different media containing 10% or 2% FCS and substituted with growth factors. During long-term cultivation proliferation ability, karyotype and phenotype of DPSC were measured. RESULTS: Both lines of DPSC cultivated in a media containing 2% FCS and ITS supplement showed the highest number of population doublings. On the other hand the proliferation rate of DPSC cultivated in a media with 2% FCS without ITS supplement was slowest. Proliferation rate of DPSC cultivated in 10% FCS media with or without FGF-2 was comparable. DPSC cultivated in a media with 10% FCS showed a significantly higher amount of chromosomal aberrations. These chromosomal aberrations do not seem to be clonal but surprisingly we found large amounts of tetraploid cells in the 9th passage in both media containing 10% FCS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study proved that cultivation of DPSC in media containing higher concentration of FCS has critical side effects on cell chromosomal stability. and J. Suchánek, TS. Kleplová, M. Kapitán, T. Soukup
This study aimed to investigate alterations in hemorheology induced by L-carnosine, an anti- oxidant dipeptide, and to determine their relationship to oxidative stress in density-separated erythrocytes of aged and young rats. 28 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups as aged (Aca), young (Yca) L-carnosine groups (250 mg/kg L-carnosine, i.p.) and aged (As), young (Ys) control groups (saline, i.p.). Density separation was further performed to these groups in order to separate erythrocytes according to their age. Blood samples were used for the determination of erythrocyte deformability, aggregation; and oxidative stress parameters. Erythrocyte deformability of Yca group measured at 0.53 Pa was lower than Aca group. Similarly, deformability of least-dense (young) erythrocytes of Yca group was decreased compared to least-dense erythrocytes of Aca groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of Aca group was higher and oxidative stress index (OSI) lower than As group. Although L-carnosine resulted in an enhancement in TAC of aged rats, this favorable effect was not observed in erythrocyte deformability and aggregation in the dose applied in this study. and G. Erken, M. Bor-Kucukatay, E. KilicToprak, B. Akdag, V. Kucukatay
Charcot foot neuropathic osteoarthropathy is a disorder affecting the soft tissues, joints, and bones of the foot and ankle. The disease is triggered in a susceptible individual through a process of uncontrolled inflammation leading to osteolysis, progressive fractures and articular malpositioning due to joint subluxations and dislocations. The progression of the chronic deformity with a collapsed plantar arch leads to plantar ulcerations because of increased pressure on the plantar osseous prominences and decreased plantar sensation. Subsequent deep soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis may result in amputation. The Charcot foot in diabetes represents an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in clinical practice. Conservative treatment remains the standard of the care for most patients with neuropathic disorder. Offloading the foot and immobilization based on individual merit are essential and are the most important recommendations in the active acute stage of the Charcot foot. Surgical realignment with stabilization is recommended in severe progressive neuropathic deformities consisting of a collapsed plantar arch with a rocker-bottom foot deformity. and P. Sponer, T. Kucera, J. Brtková, J. Srot
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
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to find out the impact of degradation and regeneration of force over time at NiTi springs on the value and course of the final acting force and to verify the possibility of using these phenomena for a directed transition to the reverse plateau and its maintaining. METHODS: Static and cyclic mechanical loadings were performed. At first unused springs were tested. Afterwards the springs were mechanically stabilized by stress cycling and finally tested again. The difference in shape of the working curves was assessed. For simulation and description of the force degradation the modified Voight model was used. RESULTS: New springs, mainly those with large hysteresis, showed a significant stress-strain curve movement and shape changes during the cycling. The effect of the stress-strain curve course change disappeared fully in the stabilized springs. Multiple loading led to an overall decrease of force value during the measurement. The effect of force degradation and regeneration over time by simple static loading varies in the range of percentage of the nominal force in the plateau area. The transition between stress-strain curve phases caused by the degradation or regeneration of the force wasn't observed in case of mechanically stabilized springs. CONCLUSIONS: Springs should be mechanically stabilized before their application. The degree of force degradation over time is insignificant for mechanically stabilized springs. Degradation or regeneration of force over time, mechanical stabilization or micromovements in the mouth don't cause any transition between individual stress-strain curve phases. and A. Bezrouk, L. Balský, M. Smutný, T. Nosek, J. Záhora, J. Hanus, R. Polma
Cardiac surgery is inseparably linked to the activation of innate immunity cells recognizing danger signals of both endogenous and exogenous origin via pattern recognition receptors such as TLR receptors. Therefore, we followed by flow cytometry TLR2 and TLR4 expression on blood monocytes and granulocytes of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using beating heart surgery (off-pump, n = 34), with use of standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), (on-pump, n = 30), and miniinvasive CPB (mini on-pump, n = 25), respectively, before, during surgery, and up to 7th postoperative day. TLR2 and TLR4 expression both on monocytes and granulocytes was significantly diminished already at the end of CPB being highly significantly decreased at the end of surgery in all patients' groups. TLR2 and TLR4 expression reached preoperative value at the 1st postoperative day being significantly higher at the 3rd postoperative day. Using intracellular staining we found the peak of TLR2 and TLR4 expression inside of monocytes and granulocytes at the first postoperative day in a subgroup of on-pump patients. In conclusion, TLR2 and TLR4 expression is significantly modulated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting as a part of adaptive homeostatic mechanisms induced by major surgery. The very surgical trauma is responsible for TLR2 and TLR4 modulation. Surprisingly, cardiopulmonary bypass itself was little contributing to the modulation of TLR2 and TLR4 expression. and J. Krejsek, M. Kolácková, J. Mand'ák, P. Kunes, Z. Holubcová, D. Holmannová, M. AbuAttieh, C. Andrýs