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BRATISLAVSKE LEKARSKE LISTY
BRATISLAVA MEDICAL JOURNAL



Volume 96 / No. 6 / 1995


Nehomogenita strednej dlzky zivota na Slovensku

NON-HOMOGENEITY OF LIFE EXPECTANCY IN SLOVAKIA

GINTER, E., TATARA, M., SIPEKIOVA, T.

The life expectancy at birth of males in the Slovak Republic (SR) is one of the shortest in Europe. Exact explanation of this phenomenon is still unknown. The statistical significance of the relation between life expectancy and various factors (infant mortality rate, ethnical structure, educational level, religious belief, economic activity of inhabitants and environmental factors) was analysed by multifactorial methods in all 38 districts of Slovakia. A surprising paradox phenomenon was observed in the areas with the highest pollutant emissions, where the life expectancy was the longest. Infant mortality rate, ethnical structure and particularly the educational level of the districts were significantly correlated with life expectancy. The life expectancy was negatively influenced mostly by the proportion of elementary - educated males. We suppose the style of life presents the background of these relations, but there is a lack of statistically reliable data from the individual districts of SR for more profound analysis. It must be stressed that neither the statistically high significant correlation is evidence of the causal connection between observed parameters. (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 16.)

Key words: life expectancy at birth; districts of the Slovak Republic; multifactorial analysis; ethnical structure; educational level; infant mortality rate.

Bratisl Lek Listy 1995; 96: 301-306


Antifagocytarna aktivita ser opracovanych organickymi rozpustadlami (chloroform, eter)

ANTIPHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITY OF SERA TREATED WITH ORGANIC SOLVENTS (CHLOROFORM, ETHYL ETHER)

STEFANOVIC, J., BUCOVA, M., MURGASOVA, I., HEGYI, L.

The opsonization of C. albicans by means of sera treated with chloroform and ethyl ether resulted in significantly decreased values of PMN leucocyte phagocytic activity. In contrast to ethyl ether treated sera (decrease of phagocytic activity about 45 %), chloroform processed sera possessed increased antiphagocytic activity (decrease of phagocytic activity about 63 %). Significant changes were observed in the candidacidal capacity to C. albicans (decrease about 50 %) and in the capacity of NBT (INT) reduction measured spectrophotometrically (decrease about 66 % in chloroform treated sera and about 42 % in ethyl ether treated sera). (Fig. 1, Ref. 22.)

Key words: chloroform; ethyl ether; phagocytic activity; candidacidal activity; NBT (INT) reduction.

Bratisl Lek Listy 1995; 96: 307-310


Hypoglykemia - vyskyt, priciny a hormonalne kontraregulacne mechanizmy u zdravych osob a u pacientov s IDDM

HYPOGLYCEMIA - FREQUENCY, CAUSES AND HORMONAL COUNTERREGULATORY MECHANISMS IN NORMALS AND PATIENTS WITH IDDM

MOKAN, M.

The occurrence of hypoglycemia is common in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. They experience an average of one to two episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia per week; 10-20 % suffer at least one episode of severe hypoglycemia in a given year. The incidence of severe hypoglycemia in diabetic patients treated with intensive insulin therapy is threefold higher than in patients on conventional insulin therapy and 55 % of all episodes occurred in sleep. Prevention of hypoglycemia or the restoring of euglycemia involve the dissipation of metabolic insulin effects and activation of counterregulatory hormone responses (glucagon, catecholamines, growth hormone, cortisol). Among counterregulatory mechanisms there exists hierarchy. The glycemic threshold for release of glucoregulatory hormones in normal people is about 3,8 mmol/l. The glucose counterregulatory system is often impaired in patients with diabetes mellitus with the onset early after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Impaired glucagon response is almost universally present after 5 years of diabetes. The defect is selective and the mechanism is not fully explained. Most often it is considered a defect in signal perception of alfa-cells, a rearrangement of islets of Langerhans with predominance of delta-cells or mechanism of central adaptation. After 5-10 years of diabetes glucose counterregulation becomes further impaired with a defect in epinephrine secretion. A possible mechanism is the abnormality at the CNS level. Autonomic neuropathy is a contributory factor. Defective hormonal counterregulation correlates well with duration of diabetes and strict glycemic control. If the glucagon response is intact the hormonal counterregulation is sufficient even in the presence of the impairment of other glucoregulatory factors. Patients with defective glucagon and epinephrine secretion are without significant defense against development of iatrogenic hypoglycemia. Growth hormone, cortizol as well as other factors do not play an important role in hormonal counterregulation. (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 34.)

Key words: hypoglycemia; frequency; causes; counterregulation; diabetes mellitus.

Bratisl Lek Listy, 1995: 96: 311-316


Sucasne nazory na pneumokokove infekcie u dojciat a batoliat

CURRENT OPINIONS ON PNEUMOCOCCAL INFECTIONS IN SUCKLINGS AND TODDLERS

KOTULOVA, D., KAPELLEROVA, A., PALICOVA, F., KOTZIGOVA, A.

Pneumococci colonize the upper respiratory tract predominantly in sucklings and toddlers. By means of their factors of virulence (capsule, ahesines, peptidoglycan, and polysacharides of the capsule, cytoplasmic membrane enzymes) they can either avoid or impair the immunity mechanisms causing thus severe infections especially in children younger than three years of age and in patients with immunity defects. Regarding the possibility of occurence of pneumococci with altered susceptibility to penicillin and some other drugs (erythromycin, cotrimaxazol, ceftriaxon, chloramphenicol, tetracycline) it is necessary to treat severe pneumococcal infections on the basis of in vitro detected susceptibility. (Tab. 4, Ref. 26.)

Key words: Streptococcus pneumoniae; infections the of upper respiratory tract; resistance against antimicrobial drugs.

Bratisl Lek Listy 1995; 96: 317-321


Vyuzitie analyzy DNA pri urceni predispozicie pre hypertenziu

UTILIZATION OF DNA ANALYSIS IN ASSESSMENT OF PREDISPOSITION TO HYPERTENSION

HUDECOVA, S., KRIZANOVA, O., SZOMOLAYOVA, I., POLAK, E.

Angiotensinogen gene belongs to the genes designated as hypertension candidate genes. These genes might participate in development of hypertension.
The aim of this work was to establish frequency of the mutant allele M235T on angiotensinogen gene in Slovak population and compare this frequency with that obtained from the group of hypertensive patients.
We tested DNA from 120 healthy individuals and 20 hypertensive patients. By polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction analysis we determined frequency of mutant allele M235T in healthy population as well as in the group of hypertensive patients.
We have found that frequency of the mutant allele in Slovak population was 0.33, while among hypertensive patients 0.45. Percentage of heterozygosity for M235T allele was 44.5 %. Frequency of this mutant allele was significantly higher among women compared to men (0.38 vs. 0.27).
Increased frequency of M235T allele among hypertensive patients compared to healthy population confirm that M235T mutation is bound to increased blood pressure. This quick and noninvasive method should help in the future to determine the possible risk of hypertension development. (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 9.)

Key words: DNA analysis; angiotenzinogen; hypertension; PCR.

Bratisl Lek Listy 1995; 96: 322-325


Dynamika niektorych hemodynamickych parametrov vo vcasnom novorodeneckom obdobi

DYNAMICS OF SOME HAEMODYNAMIC PARAMETERS IN EARLY POSTNATAL AGE

JURKO Jr., A, JURKO, A., HLAUCOVA, E., ZIBOLEN, M., SPARCOVA, A.

Background: The fetal circulation is subdued to alteration after birth. Fetal vascular communications enclose (ductus arteriosus Botalli and foramen ovale) and vascular resistance of the lungs and pressure in the pulmonary artery decrease. Low-resistance placenta is excluded from the systemic circuit, leading thus to abrupt pressure elevation and to its further increase.
Objectives: The aim of the study is to judge the dynamics of alterations during the postnatal period by means of Doppler's echocardiography: - the left ventricular ventricle, - parameters characterizing circulation in the pulmonary bed.
Methods: 23 healthy randomly selected newborn infants born at full term were examined on the 1st and 2nd day of their life.
Results: Parameters of the left ventricular function did not change between the 1st and 2nd days of life. Parameters from the outflow tract of the right ventricle on the 5th day of life of infants: the ratio of PEP (preejection period) to AT (acceleration time) significantly decreased, the ratio of PEP to ET(ejection time) did not change. Parameters of the pulmonary artery on the 5th day of life of infants: significant decrease of the ratio PEP/AT, as well as of PEP/ET, the peak and mean velocity of blood flow significantly increased.
Conclusions: The left ventricular function is not subdued to alterations during early postnatal period. The parametres characterizing the pulmonary circulation proove a decrease of pressure in the pulmonary bed on the 5th day of life.
Meaning for practice and theory: The results are utilizable in interpretation of echocardiographic examination in postnatal age. (Fig. 8, Ref. 19.)

Key words: pulsion Doppler's echocardiography; left ventricular function; pulmonary hypertension; newborn infant.

Bratisl Lek Listy 1995; 96: 326-330


Uroven hladiny selenu v sere deti a dospievajucej mladeze vo vybranych lokalitach Slovenska

SERUM SELENIUM LEVELS IN SLOVAK CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS FROM SELECTED REGIONS OF SLOVAKIA

BRTKOVA, A., BEDEROVA, A., MAGALOVA, T., BABINSKA, K.

Background: There is a limited number of data concerning blood serum selenium levels in children and adolescents in the Slovak Republic.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to access blood serum selenium levels in 102 healthy children (11-14 y) and 122 adolescents (15-18 y) from two regions: The district of Cadca and Modra-Pezinok area.
Methods: Serum selenium was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometric method using Pd as a matrix modifier.
Results: The mean (±SD) serum selenium concentration was 0.644±0.154 µmol/l in children and 0.730±0.175 µmol/l in adolescents. A large proportion of the individuals (28.43 % in the children group, vs 14.05 % in adolescent group) exhibited serum selenium levels below 0.57 µmol/l (45 µg/l). A significant correlation between serum selenium concentration and age (p<0.001) was found. The correlation between serum selenium concentration and sex was not significant.
Conclusions: In comparison with serum selenium levels in children and adolescents from other countries, the concentration of serum selenium in Slovak children and adolescents is relatively low. This differences could probably be attributed to the selenium content in the soil and to the lower average daily selenium intake via food. (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 32.)

Key words: serum selenium concentration; sex; age; atomic absorption spectrophotometry; Slovak children and adolescents.

Bratisl Lek Listy 1995; 96: 331-337