Cieľ: V práci sme sa zamerali na vedomosti pacientov s astmou v oblastiach self-manažmentu tohto ochorenia a najmä na vplyv faktoru dĺžky trvania tohto ochorenia na úroveň vedomostí o self-manažmente. Zároveň sme zisťovali vzťah medzi úrovňou vedomostí o self-manažmente ochorenia a kontrolou astmy. Metodika: V tejto prierezovej štúdii bolo do súboru zaradených 297 respondentov. Na testovanie kontroly astmy a úrovne vedomostí pacientov sme použili valídne nástroje a to Dotazník vedomostí o self-manažmente astmy pre dospelých (Measuring asthma self-management knowledge in adults) a Test kontroly astmy (Astma Control Test ACTTM). Na štatistické spracovanie dát boli využité: Pearsonov Chi-kvadrat test nezávislosti a Spearmanov korelačný koeficient. Výsledky: Až 220 z 297 respondentov (74,07 %) preukázalo nedostatočné vedomosti, a to konkrétne v doméne Vedomosti o liečbe astmy. V oblasti Manažment bronchiálnej astmy malo nedostatočné vedomosti 191 respondentov (64,31 %). Početnosť správnych odpovedí zároveň naznačuje, že úroveň vedomostí v doménach self-manažmentu astmy, významných pre kontrolu ochorenia, bola vyššia v skupine pacientov diagnostikovaných v priemere jeden rok ako v skupine, ktorá trpí ochorením dlhšie (6-10 rokov), i keď rozdiel nie je štatisticky významný. Záver: Nedostatky vo vedomostiach astmatikov, vyššia frekvencia chýb v oblastiach self-manažmentu, vrátane self-monitoringu a horšia kontrola astmy pri ochorení diagnostikovanom viac ako 6 rokov naznačujú, že je potrebné v klinickej praxi venovať čas a pozornosť reedukácii, opakovanému posúdeniu vedomostí a praktických zručností (aplikácia metód self-manažmentu, inhalačnej techniky) v skupine už skôr diagnostikovaných astmatikov., Aim: This project is aimed to find out the patient knowledge with asthma in the area of self-management of this disease and particularly the influence of the length of the disease on the knowledge level about self-management. At the same time we tried to find out the relation between the knowledge level of the asthma self-management and control of asthma disease. Methods: The total number of 297 adult asthma patients were included in the cross sectional study. The valid instruments Asthma Control Test and Measuring asthma self management knowledge in adults were used for testing asthma control and the degree of patient knowledge in self management of asthma. The Chi-squared test and the Spearman´s rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical processing of data. Results: A total of 220 out of 279 respondents (74%) showed poor knowledge of selfmanagement of asthma, particularly in “Knowledge of asthma treatment” domain and 191 patients in “Management of bronchial asthma” domain (64%). Patients who had been diagnosed one year ago had better level of knowledge in selfmanagement of asthma than those who had been treated for asthma longer than six years (6-10 years). This difference was not significant, but it was related to those domains which has significant influence on asthma control (domains 2-5). Conclusion: Poor knowledge of asthma patients, higher frequency of errors in self management and worse control of asthma in patients with asthma longer than six years imply the need for better and repeated education, check of patient knowledge and skills for self-management, use of peak flow meter included in this group of patients., Michaela Dingová, Petronela Osacká, and Literatura
The aim of this study is to define the possible effects of vegetable oils used as vitamin E vehicle on the electrical activity of the rat heart. To test the possible effects of vitamin E vehicles we studied the effect of i.p. injected corn oil, hazelnut oil or peanut oil on the action potential parameters recorded in both papillary and left atrial muscle strips. Four experimental groups were used. The control group was injected (i.p.) with distilled water, while the three remaining groups received injections of corn oil, hazelnut oil, or peanut oil for five weeks (in a dose of 0.4 ml/kg/day - minimum amount of oil in which vitamin E could be dissolved). We used borosilicated (15-20 MΩ) capillary electrodes and intracellular action potentials (AP) were recorded in isolated papillary and left atrium muscle strips. While administration of three different types of vegetable oil had no significant effect on AP parameters of papillary muscle, they significantly prolonged the repolarization phase of AP in atrial strips. These results show that vegetable oils used as vitamin E vehicles may alter the electrical activity of the heart in a tissue-dependent manner. The present data indicate that the possible effect of vegetable oil vehicles should be kept in mind while evaluating the possible effects of in vivo vitamin E administration., S. Ozdemir, M. Ayaz, T. Tuncer, M. Ugur, B. Turan., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Nutrient-rich terrestric habitats form small areas in the peaty alluvial plain of upper stream of the Vltava river. Their vegetation consists of birch and grey alder alluvial woodland, willow and bridewort scrub and tall grassland of sedges, grasses and forbs. A hypothesis that this vegetation is an Early Holocene relic is presented. The relict origin is supported by recent dynamics of habitats and vegetation, findings of palynology, palaeoecology and history of land use, and by the analogical composition and history of relict vegetation of northernmost Europe. The refugial effect of the habitat is suggested by stable conditions on high temporal and spatial scales, and by permanent reclaiming of open gaps along the stream.
A phytosociological study of the West Carpathian mesic hay meadows and pastures (order Arrhenatheretalia elatioris) was performed and is the first unified investigation into the vegetation diversity in the area, which is situated in three countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland). Because of the differences in the current classification systems used in different countries it was not possible to make a single selection of the Arrhenatheretalia relevés from the databases, so a data set containing relevés originally assigned to three orders encompassing this vegetation in hay meadows and pastures in the area (Arrhenatheretalia elatioris, Molinietalia and Nardetalia strictae) was established. This data set was classified using cluster analysis. Only the cluster corresponding to the order Arrhenatheretalia elatioris at the level of three clusters was further classified in the same way as the whole data set. The ecological interpretation of the classification was based on altitude, Ellenberg indicator values and geological bedrock. The clusters were also compared with the syntaxonomical assignment of the relevés by their authors. The classification at the level of 12 clusters reflected the most widespread vegetation types of mesicmeadows and pastures recorded in the area. The vegetation of extensive pastures, corresponding to the association Anthoxantho odorati-Agrostietum tenuis, seemed to be more similar in floristic composition to the mesic meadows of Arrhenatherion elatioris than to the intensive pastures of Cynosurion cristati, where it was traditionally classified, which has important conservation consequences because of the different position of these units in conservation systems such as Natura 2000. Higher altitude meadows were divided into four vegetation types including meadows corresponding to the association Gladiolo imbricati-Agrostietum capillaris, which is a frequent community in the Polish Carpathians that does not occur in the other regions. Montane meadows currently classified in Polygono bistortae-Trisetion flavescentis were less clearly distinguished, probably because of their patchy distribution in theWest Carpathians. The differences in vegetation diversity of meadows and pastures between particular countries were confirmed, with Gladiolo imbricati-Agrostietum capillaris occurring predominantly in the northern part of the West Carpathians and Anthoxantho odorati-Agrostietum tenuis virtually absent here. The ecological determinants of variation in montane meadows are discussed.
The composition of the vegetation of fishpond mires in the Třeboň Basin (Czech Republic) was studied in relation to temporal fluctuations in certain environmental factors. The water-table depth, water pH and electrical conductivity at 49 permanent plots were measured at approximately threeweek intervals from March to October 2003. Minimum, maximum, mean, median and variation in the above-mentioned environmental factors were correlated with vegetation composition. The most important environmental factors explaining the variation in vegetation were mean pH and maximum water-table level. Median conductivity increased with increase in waterlogging and eutrophication. Some seasonal trends in the dynamics of these parameters were observed. The lowest conductivity was in spring, increased continuously throughout summer and peaked in autumn. In contrast, water level decreased in summer, when evapotranspiration was greatest, and rose in autumn after heavy rainfall. The pH increased from March to June, then was stable and decreased at the end of summer. Seasonal trends were generally identical in all vegetation types. The fluctuations in the environmental factors were so considerable that they may influence the reliability of vegetation environmental analyses.
Central European lowland wet meadows are habitats of great conservation interest, however, their phytosociological status has been to a large extent dependent on specific phytosociological traditions in different countries. In order to bridge the gaps between different national schemes of vegetation classification, a statistical analysis of variation in species composition of these meadows in the Czech Republic, E Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and NE Croatia was performed, using a data set of 387 geographically stratified vegetation relevés sampled at altitudes < 350 m. Principal coordinates analysiswas used to identify and partial out the noise component in the variation in this data set. The relevés were classified by cluster analysis. A new method for identifying the optimal number of clusters was developed, based on species fidelity to particular clusters. This method suggested the optimum level of classification with three clusters and secondary optimum levels with five and nine clusters. Classification based on three clusters separated the traditional phytosociological alliances of Calthion palustris and Molinion caeruleae, both with a suboceanic phytogeographical affinity, and a group of flooded meadows of large river alluvia, with a continental affinity. The latter group included the traditional alliances of Agrostion albae, Alopecurion pratensis, Cnidion venosi, Deschampsion cespitosae and Veronico longifoliae-Lysimachion vulgaris; however, the internal heterogeneity of this group did not reflect putative boundaries between these alliances as proposed in the phytosociological literature. Therefore we suggest to unite these alliances in a single alliance Deschampsion cespitosae Horvatić 1930 (the oldest valid name). Classification with nine clusters was interpreted at the level of broad phytosociological associations. Particular clusters were characterized by statistically defined groups of diagnostic species and related to macroclimatic variables.
We reviewed 37 studies on vegetation succession in which the succession started on bare ground, was followed in at least six sites, and where these sites were spatially separated over at least 10 km2. The effect of environmental factors, which were explored in at least five studies, on the course of succession was assessed, based on the proportion of significant and non-significant results. Surrounding vegetation, macroclimate, soil moisture, amount of nitrogen and soil texture appeared to have the highest influence on the course of succession. Less influential were the size of a disturbed site, pH, organic matter and phosphorus content. Surrounding vegetation exhibited a significant effect in all cases where this was considered. These results imply that succession cannot be studied without the landscape context. The large-scale approach to succession has the potential to contribute substantially to both the theory of succession and practical applications, especially in restoration ecology.
Typology of dry-mesic oak forest vegetation of Slovakia is presented. Seven vegetation types were distinguished based on a Braun-Blanquetian relevé data analysis using a TWINSPAN classification algorithm. The identified vegetation types are related to seven syntaxa traditionally used by Central European phytosociologists: dry-mesic oak forest on sandy soils – Carici fritschii-Quercetum roboris, dry-mesic oak forest on heavy soils – Potentillo albae-Quercetum, dry-mesic oak forest on basic rocky substrates – Corno-Quercetum, dry-mesic oak forest on acidic substrates – Sorbo torminalis-Quercetum, dry oak forest on loess – Quercetum pubescenti-roboris, dry-mesic oak forest on loess – Convallario-Quercetum roboris, dry-mesic forest of Turkey oak – Quercetum petraeae-cerris. Detrended correspondence analysis was used to visualize the similarity of vegetation types. Some aspects of dry-mesic oak forest ecology, distribution and dynamics in Slovakia are discussed; their general retreat due to mesophilous tree species expansion is stressed.