Heavy Metals — Soil Communities at Ecological Risk

This article outlines an effect of the different kinds of environmental pollution on the soil nematode communities at two industrial regions (Krompachy and Jelšava) of eastern Slovakia. At the locality Krompachy, soil nematode communities were significantly affected by increased concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, and Zn. At the other location Jelšava, despite low concentrations of heavy metals, long-term emissions of magnesium dust had indirect impact on soil environment through altered soil conditions, mainly by alkaline pH. Pollution effects at the community structure (trophic and c-p groups) of soil nematodes were found to be the highest near the pollution sources, where communities with low population densities consisted mainly of disturbance-tolerant taxa from c-p 1 and c-p 2 groups. With an increasing distance from the pollution sources, the nematode communities were more structured and complex, with higher proportions of sensitive c-p 4 and 5 nematodes, composed mainly of predators and omnivores. Ecological indices (H´, MI2-5, SI) also clearly showed deteriorating environmental conditions towards the pollution sources. The greatest difference in the nematode community structure between the two localities was found in the proportion of c-p 1 and c-p 2 bacteriovorous nematodes. At the locality Krompachy characterised by critical heavy metal load, c-p 2 nematodes dominated, while c-p 1 nematode group prevailed at under extremely alkaline soil conditions in Jelšava. Results also showed that the free-living nematodes are useful tools for bioindication of industrial contamination and could be used as an additional source of information to the common approaches based on chemical methods

Geodemographic aspects of the take-up, provision, and availability of the selected healthcare services in Czechia

Geodemographic aspects of the take-up, provision, and availability of the selected healthcare services in Czechia Abstract This work focuses on finding connections and monitoring differences in the area of take-up, provision, and availability of the selected health services in Czechia, especially from a geodemographic point of view. The main goal is to describe and evaluate the influence of basic demographic aspects, age and sex, on take-up, provision, and availability of health services, and also to clarify regional differences. This issue has so far been studied relatively limited in the Czech environment. The work mainly concerns the segment of outpatient care, which is an irreplaceable component of the healthcare system, namely specializations of general practice, outpatient diabetology, cardiology, and psychiatry. Particularly data from the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic (VZP ČR) were used, which contained detailed anonymised information on take-up, provision and availability of health services. Based on these data, methods of a quantitative character were applied. The findings confirm global trends and also offer new insights for further examination of the issue. Keywords: health services, physicians, patients, age structure, demographic ageing, regional differences, CzechiaGeodemografické aspekty čerpání, poskytování a dostupnosti vybraných zdravotních služeb v Česku Abstrakt Práce se zaměřuje na hledání souvislostí a sledováním rozdílů v oblasti čerpání, poskytování a dostupnosti vybraných zdravotních služeb v Česku, a to zejména z geodemografického pohledu. Hlavním cílem je přiblížit a zhodnotit vliv základných demografických aspektů, věku a pohlaví, na čerpání, poskytování a dostupnost zdravotních služeb a zároveň objasnit regionální rozdíly. Jedná se o problematiku, která byla v českém prostředí zkoumána doposud poměrně omezeně. Práce se zabývá především oblastí ambulantní péče, která je nenahraditelnou složkou zdravotnického systému, konkrétně se jedná o odbornosti všeobecné praktické lékařství, ambulantní diabetologie, kardiologie a psychiatrie. Primárně byla využita data ze Všeobecné zdravotní pojišťovny České republiky (VZP ČR), která obsahovala podrobné anonymizované údaje o čerpání, poskytování a dostupnosti zdravotních služeb. Na základě těchto dat byly použity metody kvantitativního charakteru. Výstupy potvrzují celosvětové trendy a zároveň nabízejí i nové přístupy, jak na danou problematiku nahlížet a dále ji studovat. Klíčová slova: zdravotní služby, lékaři, pacienti, věková struktura, demografické stárnutí, regionální diferenciace, ČeskoKatedra demografie a geodemografieDepartment of Demography and GeodemographyFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

The immune system of patients with cystic fibrosis

pj-edkládaná disertační práce shrnuje výsledky komplexního klinicko-imunologickomolekulárně- genetického studia imunitního systému pacientó s cystickou fibró zou (CF). Tato diserta č ní práce je seřazena do šes ti na sebe navazujícícll odborn)/ch kapitol , které pojednávaj Í o následujících tématických okruzích: I. Shrnutí dosavadních poznatků o molekulárně genetické a klinické patogenezi CF. 2. Shrnutí dosavadních poznatků z oblasti studia imunitního systému u pacientli s cystickou fibró zou. 3. Zkoumání imunitního systému cr pacientů na vlastním souboru - pf'ehled. 4. Shrnutí dosavadních p07.natků o genetických modifikátorech klinického prúběhu CF. S. Shrnutí dosavadních poznatků z oblasti studia interakce imunitního systému a infekc e. 6. Klinická aplikace imunologických metod - stanovení titrli protilátek proti Psclldomonas aer1tglnosa. Práce si v úvodní přehledné kapitole neklade za cíl shrnout danou problematiku do detail!"!. Zam ě řuj e se spíše na zaj ímavosti vyplývající ze základní genetické poruchy genu pro cystickou fibrózu. Pro větší přehlednost a menší náročnost jsou informace předkládány formou tabulek, obrázkli a graflL Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)The immune system of patients with cystic fibrosis Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)Ústav imunologieDepartment of Immunology2. lékařská fakultaSecond Faculty of Medicin

Ecological Risk and Distribution of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Fish

The distribution and concentrations of polychrolinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in nine freshwater fish species and the parasite Acanthocephalus lucii in Zemplínska šírava, a heavily polluted water reservoir in Slovakia. The study performed at two different time points five years apart (2004 and 2009) revealed excessive PCB contamination of the fish muscle tissue and significant interspecies as well as tissue-specific differences in PCB uptake by fish. Total PCBs broadly correlated with the trophic position of individual fish species within a food chain (P adipose tissue > muscles > hard roe > bones > brain. Maximum concentrations of PCBs were recorded in the liver of northern pike (214.0 mg.kg-1 lipid wt) and the hepatopancreas of freshwater bream (163.0 mg.kg-1 lipid wt). Individual congeners were not distributed homogeneously within the investigated organs and the adipose tissue. PCB 153 was present in the higher concentrations than other congeners in all fish organs as well as the adipose tissue. Acanthocephalans absorbed significantly higher concentrations of PCBs (P<0.001) than the muscles, liver, kidney, brain and adipose tissue of their host. About 20-fold lower PCB levels was detected in the liver and almost three times in the muscles of infected perch. Data on PCB accumulation in perch infected with acanthocephalans demonstrated a decline of PCB values in all organs as well as the adipose tissue compared to uninfected fish. The study has shown that the fish species, its feeding habit and specific conditions of the habitat are mutually interrelated factors that are responsible for significant variations in fish body burdens

Geodemographic aspects of the take-up, provision, and availability of the selected healthcare services in Czechia

Geodemografické aspekty čerpání, poskytování a dostupnosti vybraných zdravotních služeb v Česku Abstrakt Práce se zaměřuje na hledání souvislostí a sledováním rozdílů v oblasti čerpání, poskytování a dostupnosti vybraných zdravotních služeb v Česku, a to zejména z geodemografického pohledu. Hlavním cílem je přiblížit a zhodnotit vliv základných demografických aspektů, věku a pohlaví, na čerpání, poskytování a dostupnost zdravotních služeb a zároveň objasnit regionální rozdíly. Jedná se o problematiku, která byla v českém prostředí zkoumána doposud poměrně omezeně. Práce se zabývá především oblastí ambulantní péče, která je nenahraditelnou složkou zdravotnického systému, konkrétně se jedná o odbornosti všeobecné praktické lékařství, ambulantní diabetologie, kardiologie a psychiatrie. Primárně byla využita data ze Všeobecné zdravotní pojišťovny České republiky (VZP ČR), která obsahovala podrobné anonymizované údaje o čerpání, poskytování a dostupnosti zdravotních služeb. Na základě těchto dat byly použity metody kvantitativního charakteru. Výstupy potvrzují celosvětové trendy a zároveň nabízejí i nové přístupy, jak na danou problematiku nahlížet a dále ji studovat. Klíčová slova: zdravotní služby, lékaři, pacienti, věková struktura, demografické stárnutí, regionální diferenciace, ČeskoGeodemographic aspects of the take-up, provision, and availability of the selected healthcare services in Czechia Abstract This work focuses on finding connections and monitoring differences in the area of take-up, provision, and availability of the selected health services in Czechia, especially from a geodemographic point of view. The main goal is to describe and evaluate the influence of basic demographic aspects, age and sex, on take-up, provision, and availability of health services, and also to clarify regional differences. This issue has so far been studied relatively limited in the Czech environment. The work mainly concerns the segment of outpatient care, which is an irreplaceable component of the healthcare system, namely specializations of general practice, outpatient diabetology, cardiology, and psychiatry. Particularly data from the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic (VZP ČR) were used, which contained detailed anonymised information on take-up, provision and availability of health services. Based on these data, methods of a quantitative character were applied. The findings confirm global trends and also offer new insights for further examination of the issue. Keywords: health services, physicians, patients, age structure, demographic ageing, regional differences, CzechiaKatedra demografie a geodemografieDepartment of Demography and GeodemographyPřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc

Perch and its parasites as heavy metal biomonitors in a freshwater environment: the case study of the Ružín water reservoir, Slovakia

Heavy metal concentrations were determined in 43 perches (Perca fluviatilis) and in two of its most common parasites, the acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus lucii and the cestode Proteocephalus percae, collected in the period 2009-2010 from Ružín, a seriously polluted water reservoir in Slovakia. Samples of muscle, liver, kidney, brain, male and female reproductive organs and adipose tissue of fish and both parasites were analyzed for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, by ICP-MS. Mean concentrations of individual heavy metals in all fish samples decreased in the order zinc > copper > manganese > mercury > arsenic > chromium > cadmium > nickel > lead. Zinc was found to be the dominant element and its antagonistic interaction with copper was confirmed. The kidney was a key target organ receiving the highest mean concentrations of all analyzed metals, but some metals showed specific affinity for particular tissues. In terms of human health, concentration of Hg in fish muscle, which exceeded more than two-times its maximum level admitted in foodstuffs in European countries, is of great importance and should be taken into account. Bioaccumulation factors s (C[parasite]/C[fish tissue]) calculated for all elements indicated much higher detection skills of A. lucii and P. percae parasites than fish organs and hence, present results allow proposing both parasite models as useful tools to monitor aquatic environmental quality. Acanthocephalans, however, seem to be superior for heavy metal monitoring, also demonstrated under experimental conditions. Present results also indicate the decreasing heavy metal burden of the reservoir and its gradual recovery in the course of time.publishe

Modern multiple sclerosis treatment

Diplomka thesis as concerned with the various symptoms of multiple sclerosis (RS). An investigative techniques used to diagnose MS are also described. These ones include basic clinical examination, examination of the eye background, lumbar puncture, magnetic resonance imaging and examination of the evoked potentials. There are following types of MS : Relapsing remitting, relapsing - progressive, primary- progressive, and secondary- chronic- progressive. The largest part of thesis discusses the current treatment of RS The treatment of acute attacks and of all types of this disease is described. The special interest to the mechanism of action and side- effects of these drugs is given. Finally the treatment of particular symptoms of MS is described An essential part of treatment of this disease belongs to the rehabilitation for improving and reconstruction of impaired movement and its function

Geodemographic aspects of the take-up, provision, and availability of the selected healthcare services in Czechia

Geodemographic aspects of the take-up, provision, and availability of the selected healthcare services in Czechia Abstract This work focuses on finding connections and monitoring differences in the area of take-up, provision, and availability of the selected health services in Czechia, especially from a geodemographic point of view. The main goal is to describe and evaluate the influence of basic demographic aspects, age and sex, on take-up, provision, and availability of health services, and also to clarify regional differences. This issue has so far been studied relatively limited in the Czech environment. The work mainly concerns the segment of outpatient care, which is an irreplaceable component of the healthcare system, namely specializations of general practice, outpatient diabetology, cardiology, and psychiatry. Particularly data from the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic (VZP ČR) were used, which contained detailed anonymised information on take-up, provision and availability of health services. Based on these data, methods of a quantitative character were applied. The findings confirm global trends and also offer new insights for further examination of the issue. Keywords: health services, physicians, patients, age structure, demographic ageing, regional differences, Czechi