Introduction Cutaneous malignant melanoma prevalence, incidence and mortality rates are increasing in white populations worldwide more rapidly than any other cancer site (American Cancer Society, 2006). Despite the potential importance of regular skin selfexamination and promotion of selfprotection practices, little is known about the prevalence of these practices in medical students in Albanian population. Methods This is a descriptive, quantitative crosssectional study. In this study were included a sample of 150 individuals chosen among the students of Faculty of Medicine based on their family history for skin cancer. This study was started on October the 3rd and finished on November the 12th. Subjects had to fill in a structured, selfadministered questionnaire. All participants lived within Republic of Albania but at the time of the study were students in University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine. Results In this study that we conducted we included 150 individuals supposed to have a risk for skin cancer based on their family history. 200 individuals were approached for participation. Of these, 150 individuals returned questionnaire data, yielding a response rate of 75% among eligible, successfully contacted participants. The mean age of the sample was 20.05 years (Std. Dev. = 0.925), with males (22%) and females (78%) represented unequally, because the gender configuration of the faculty itself has gender disparities with more than 80% females and only 20% male students. The majority of the sample was born in city or town (85.3%), 14.7% was born in a village. In terms of income level, 79.3% of participants had a medium income family background, 15.3% high income and 5.3% had a low income level family background. Conclusion It is important for those individuals with family history for skin cancer (which inherently indicates risk for skin cancer) to develop selfexamination and SSE behaviours and practices in order to have a protection and at least an early detection (if onset) of the different forms of Melanoma. The results of this study provide some guide as to the key areas or 'hot spots' on which to focus attention when designing supportive care interventions for melanoma survivors and those at high risk of skin cancer., Yllka Bilushi, Rozeta Luci, Loreta Kuneshka, Numila Maliqari, and Literatura
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
Cílem této pilotní studie bylo srovnat výsledky ze dvou používaných nepřímých metod pro stanovení maximální spotřeby kyslíku (odhadu VO2max) a zhodnotit jejich využitelnost pro posuzování fyzické zdatnosti v rámci primárně preventivního vyšetření. K tomuto srovnání jsme použili Cooperův 12minutový běžecký test (CT 12) na běhátku a stupňovaný zátěžový test na bicyklovém ergometru (BE) do maxima. Naše výsledky ukázaly signifikantně nižší hodnoty odhadu VO2max z CT 12 na běhátku oproti stupňovanému zátěžovému testu na BE do maxima napříč různými skupinami populace. V celkovém souboru byly tyto hodnoty v průměru o 8,6 % (p<0,001) nižší. Rozdíly v odhadech VO2max se lišily svojí mírou v jednotlivých skupinách podle trénovanosti a převažujícího typu pohybové aktivity; největší rozdíly mezi oběma testy byly u cyklistů (-12,0 %), studentů medicíny (-10,9 %) a "nevyhraněných" (-10,4 %) a u těchto skupin dosáhly rovněž statistické významnosti (p<0,01). Podstatně nižší rozdíly byly naopak u běžců (-4,6 %, statisticky nevýznamné) a ve skupině triatlonistů prakticky žádné rozdíly nebyly. Výsledky a pozorování z tohoto pilotního testování naznačují, že CT 12 na běhátku je oproti stupňovanému testu na BE do maxima podstatně náchylnější k vlivům jako trénovanost, převládající typ pohybové aktivity, motivace apod. Po celkovém zhodnocení výsledků se nám pro vyšetření fyzické zdatnosti v rámci primárně preventivního vyšetření u běžné populace s průměrnou, ale i mírně nadprůměrnou fyzickou zdatností jako vhodnější jeví stupňovaný zátěžový test na BE do maxima., The aim of this pilot study was to compare the results of two commonly used indirect methods of assessing maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max estimation) and to assess the applicability of these two methods for physical fitness assessment of an individual as part of primary preventive examination. For this comparison we selected the Cooper run/walk test (CT 12) on a treadmill and an incremental maximum test on a bicycle ergometer (BE). Our results showed significantly lower VO2max estimations gained from CT 12 on a treadmill in comparison to incremental maximum testing on a BE in the population groups examined. In total the results were lower by about 8.6% on average (p<0.001). The differences varied in the groups according to how trained the subjects were and according to the prevailing type of their physical activity. The highest differences between the two tests appeared in the group of cyclists (-12.0%), medical students (-10.9%) and in the group of subjects without a preferred type of physical activity. In these groups the differences were also statistically significant (p<0.01). They were less substantial in the group of runners (-4.6%, statistically insignificant), and in the group of triathletes there were practically no differences. This suggests that a CT 12 on a treadmill is much more susceptible to influences such as training experience, prevailing type of physical activity and motivation compared with an incremental maximum test on a BE. Evaluation of results leads us to consider incremental maximal testing on a BE a more suitable tool for assessing physical fitness in the averagely trained and slightly above-averagely trained population., Pavel Řimák, Jindřich Fiala, Šárka Kunzová, Petr Kaňovský, and Literatura 20
Cíl studie: Vyhodnotit přínos interleukinu-6 u těžké akutní pankreatitidy pro odlišení sterilní nekrózy (SN) a nekrózy infikované (IN). Typ studie: Retrospektivní deskriptivní observační studie série případů. Metody: Ve vlastní práci bylo zahrnuto 59 pacientů hospitalizovaných s těžkou akutní pankreatitidou (Atlantská klasifikace 1992) na chirurgickém oddělení Nemocnice Písek v průběhu sedmi let. Pravidelně byly vyšetřovány C-reaktivní protein (CRP) a interleukin-6 (IL-6), přičemž dostatečná data byla u 42 pacientů: 14 s IN (průkaz mikrobiologicky či dle CT), 28 se SN. Statistické vyhodnocení pomocí Fisherova testu a chí-kvadrát testu. Výsledky: Byla nalezena statisticky významná diskriminační schopnost denních průměrů IL-6 5. a 6., resp. 7. a 8. den hospitalizace mezi IN a SN (p=0,0014 pro den 5 a 6, resp. p=0,0009 pro den 7 a 8). Rozvoj IN reálně nastával nejčastěji mezi 5. a 9. dnem (mikrobiologický průkaz agens či nepochybné CT známky infekce). CRP tuto schopnost diskriminace neprokázalo, jeho hladiny byly od 2. do 8. dne setrvale výrazně zvýšeny. Charakteristický byl průběh koncentrací IL-6, kdy vstupně byla přítomna výrazná elevace nezávislá na pozdějším rozvoji IN a již od druhého dne hospitalizace došlo k výraznému poklesu. K dalšímu vzestupu IL-6 došlo pouze u pacientů s rozvojem IN. Pro cut-off (diskriminace IN a SN) IL-6 (platný od 5. dne hospitalizace) 100 ng/l bylo p<0,005, pro 150 ng/l p<0,01. Závěr: Interleukin-6 v naší retrospektivní studii prokázal statisticky významnou schopnost diskriminovat infikovanou a sterilní nekrózu u těžké akutní pankreatitidy. Překročení cut-off IL-6 od 5. dne hospitalizace svědčilo pro přítomnost infikované nekrózy. Cut-off 100 ng/l diskriminoval obdobně (p<0,005, senzitivita 100 %, specificita 92 %) jako cut-off 150 ng/l (p<0,01, senzitivita 87 %, specificita 100 %)., Objective: Our retrospective study aimed to evaluate the contribution of interleukin-6 in severe acute pancreatitis. Mortality of severe acute pancreatitis ranges from 10-20% (for sterile necrosis, SN) to 20-85% (infected necrosis, IN). Resolution of SN and IN is clinically very important, but often difficult and therefore they are still searching for new laboratory markers for their differentiation. Design: Retrospective descriptive observational study of cases series. Methods: 59 patients hospitalized with severe acute pancreatitis (Atlanta classification 1992) in the surgery department of Hospital Písek in the 2000-2006 were included. Regularly they were investigated by C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin- 6 (IL-6), sufficient data was in 42 patients: 14 with IN (identified microbiologically or according to computed tomography, CT), 28 with SN. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher‘s test and chi-square test. Results: There was found statistically significant discriminatory ability of daily averages of IL-6 5th and 6th + 7th and 8th day of hospitalization between the IN and SN (p = 0.0014 for day 5 and 6, respectively. p = 0.0009 for day 7 and 8). Developing IN realistically set in the most between 5th and 9th day (needle biopsy with identification of microbiological agents or CT signs of infection). The ability of CRP to discriminate SN and IN was not found, the levels were between 2nd to 8th days increased steadily. The run of the concentrations of IL-6 was characteristic, where at the admission there was present significant elevation irrespective of subsequent development of IN and from the second day of hospitalization it decreased significantly. Further increase in IL-6 was present only in patients with the development of IN. For the cut-off (discrimination of SN and IN) for IL-6 (valid from 5th of hospitalization) 100 ng/L was P<0.005, for 150 ng/L P<0.01. Conclusion: Interleukin-6 in our retrospective study showed a statistically significant ability to discriminate between infected and sterile necrosis in severe acute pancreatitis. For the cut-off of IL-6 effective from 5th day of hospitalization 100 ng/L was P <0.005, for 150 ng/L was P<0.01., and Malina P., Cejp V., Jabor A.
Cieľ: Zámerom štúdie bolo zistiť, či dĺžka praxe ovplyvňuje mieru syndrómu vyhorenia v nami sledovanom súbore sestier a pôrodných asistentiek. Metódy: Zvolili sme štandardne využívaný dotazník na stanovenie miery syndrómu vyhorenia Maslach Burnout Inventory, ktorý on-line formou mohli vypĺňať sestry a pôrodné asistentky zaregistrované v Slovenskej komore sestier a pôrodných asistentiek. Vzorku tvorilo 844 sestier a pôrodných asistentiek. Výsledky: Hlbšou analýzou sa potvrdil štatisticky významný vzťah medzi mierou syndrómu vyhorenia a dĺžkou praxe. Sestry a pôrodné asistentky pracujúce v období od 1–3 rokov a od 5 rokov majú signifi kantne vyšší výskyt syndrómu vyhorenia. Závery: Zistené výsledky môžu uplatniť najmä zamestnávatelia v oblasti prevencie syndrómu vyhorenia., Aim: The aim of this study was to explore whether the length of employment aff ects the rate of burnout syndrome in nurses and midwives. Methods: In our research, we employed the standardized Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire, which was completed on-line by nurses and midwives registered in the Slovakian Guild of Nurses and Midwives. The sample consisted of 844 nurses and midwives registered by the Slovakian Guild of Nurses and Midwives. Results: Our results suggest signifi cant relation between the employment length and burnout syndrome. Nurses and midwives working from 1 to 3 years and more than 5 years had signifi cantly higher prevalence of burnout syndrome. Conclusion: The results of our study could be utilized by employers in the fi eld of prevention of burnout syndrome., Lucia Dimunová, Iveta Nagyová, and Literatura 18