The occurrence, environmental risks and contribution of organic UV filters to detected (anti-)progestogenic activities were examined in samples of wastewater treatment plant influents and effluents, various surface waters and fish from the Czech Republic. Of the 20 targeted UV filters, 15 were detected in the WWTP influent samples, 11 in the effluents, and 13 in the surface water samples. Benzophenone-3, benzophenone-4, and phenyl benzimidazole sulfonic acid (PBSA) were found in all water samples. Octocrylene, UV-327 and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor exceeded the risk quotient of 1 at some sites. In the anti-progestogenic CALUX assay, 10 out of the 20 targeted UV filters were active. Anti-progestogenic activities reaching up to 7.7 ng/L, 3.8 ng/L, and 4.5 ng/L mifepristone equivalents were detected in influents, effluents, and surface waters, respectively. UV filters were responsible for up to 37 % of anti-progestogenic activities in influents. Anti-progestogenic activities were also measured in fish tissues from the control pond and Podroužek (pond with the highest number of detected UV filters) and ranged from 2.2 to 9.5 and 1.9 to 8.6 ng/g dw mifepristone equivalents, respectively. However, only benzophenone was found in fish, but it does not display anti-progestogenic activity and thus could not explain the observed activities.

• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• odpadní voda MeSH
• přípravky chránící proti slunci * analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• progestiny analýza   MeSH
• ryby * metabolismus   MeSH
• ultrafialové záření MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

• Publikační typ
• abstrakt z konference MeSH

Vaccination is an important tool in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with haematologic malignancies. The paper provides an analysis of the course of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection in a group of vaccinated patients with haematological malignancy and a comparison with a historical cohort of 96 non-vaccinated patients with haematologic malignancies and bone marrow failure syndromes (two patients) in the treatment of COVID-19. A severe or critical course of COVID-19 was significantly less frequent in the group of vaccinated patients (10.2% vs. 31.4%, p = 0.003). The need for hospitalisation due to COVID-19 was significantly lower in vaccinated patients (27.1% vs. 72.6%, p < 0.0001) and the duration of hospitalisation was significantly shorter (10 vs. 14 days, p = 0.045). Vaccinated patients were insignificantly less likely to require oxygen therapy during infection. COVID-19 mortality was significantly higher in non-vaccinated patients (15.6% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.047). The paper demonstrated a significant positive effect of vaccination against COVID-19 on a less severe clinical course of infection, lower need for hospitalisation and mortality. However, the results need to be evaluated even in the context of new antivirals and monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 or virus mutations with different biological behaviour.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• Publikační typ
• abstrakt z konference MeSH

Background and Objectives: Given the limited knowledge of antibody responses to COVID-19 and their determinants, we analyzed the relationship between the occurrence of acute-phase symptoms and infection-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) G seropositivity up to 8 months post-symptom onset. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 661 middle-aged unvaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) were interviewed about the presence of symptoms during the acute phase of their previously confirmed COVID-19 and were tested for specific IgG, targeting the spike protein (S1 and S2). The dependence of seropositivity on the symptom occurrence was explored through multiple logistic regression, adjusted for the interval between symptom onset and serology testing, and through classification and regression trees. Results: A total of 551 (83.4%) HCWs showed seropositivity and, inversely, 110 (16.6%) HCWs were seronegative. The chance of IgG seropositivity was increased by dyspnea (odds ratio (OR) 1.48, p < 0.001) and anosmia (OR 1.52, p = 0.021). Fever in HCWs with dyspnea resulted in the highest detected seropositivity rate, and anosmia in HCWs without dyspnea significantly increased the proportion of seropositivity. Conclusion: Clinical manifestation of the acute phase of COVID-19 predisposes to the development of infection-induced antibody responses. The findings can be applied for assessing the long-term protection by IgG, and thus, for creating effective surveillance strategies.

• MeSH
• anosmie MeSH
• COVID-19 * komplikace   MeSH
• dyspnoe MeSH
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• protilátky virové MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• zdravotnický personál MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

All renal transplant recipients should undergo a regular screening for BK viral (BKV) viremia. Gradual reduction of immunosuppression is recommended in patients with persistent plasma BKV viremia for 3 weeks after the first detection, reflecting the presence of probable or suspected BKV-associated nephropathy. Reduction of immunosuppression is also a primary intervention in biopsy proven nephropathy associated with BKV (BKVN). Thus, allograft biopsy is not required to treat patients with BKV viremia with stabilized graft function. There is a lack of proper randomised clinical trials recommending treatment in the form of switching from tacrolimus to cyclosporin-A, from mycophenolate to mTOR inhibitors or leflunomide, or the additive use of intravenous immunoglobulins, leflunomide or cidofovir. Fluoroquinolones are not recommended for prophylaxis or therapy. There are on-going studies to evaluate the possibility of using a multi-epitope anti-BKV vaccine, administration of BKV-specific T cell immunotherapy, BKV-specific human monoclonal antibody and RNA antisense oligonucleotides. Retransplantation after allograft loss due to BKVN can be successful if BKV viremia is definitively removed, regardless of allograft nephrectomy.

• MeSH
• imunosupresiva terapeutické užití   MeSH
• leflunomid terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci ledvin * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• polyomavirové infekce * diagnóza   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• transplantace ledvin * MeSH
• viremie diagnóza   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• virus BK * genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on all endoscopy centers in the Czech Republic, that belongs to the most affected countries in the world. The aim of our study was to analyze all procedures following routine RT-PCR testing in our tertiary center during the peak of the pandemic. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all procedures performed from October 2020 to January 2021 after a new RT-PCR center had been set up. Main outcomes were type of scheduled procedure, indication, rate of therapeutic interventions and rate of new relevant and malignant findings. Comparison to the same period before the pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 infection in endoscopy staff are also reported. RESULTS: A total of 1,953 procedures were performed. 624 patients were referred with a negative RT-PCR test and the remaining 1,346 patients were tested in the new center. 1,293 negative tests led to 1,329 procedures. A new relevant finding was reported in 589 (44.3%), including new malignancy in 56 (4.2%). 53 patients tested positive (3.9%). There was a reduction by 9% in the number of all procedures compared to the same period before the pandemic and an increase in the number of screening colonoscopies and ERCP procedures. In the study period, 9 of 54 staff members contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS: Routine RT-PCR testing of patients scheduled for elective endoscopy during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic enabled us to essentially maintain our unit productivity, including activities such as screening colonoscopy, endoscopic resection and pancreatobiliary endoscopy.

• MeSH
• centra terciární péče MeSH
• COVID-19 * diagnóza   MeSH
• diagnostické testy rutinní MeSH
• gastrointestinální endoskopie * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pandemie * MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce s reverzní transkripcí * MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• testování na COVID-19 průkazem nukleové kyseliny MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Úvod: Nárůst incidence spalniček začátkem roku 2019 vedl k provedení řady preventivních opatření zaměřených zejména na zdravotníky. Cílem práce bylo vyhodnotit jak séroprevalenci protilátek proti spalničkám mezi zaměstnanci velké nemocnice, tak míru sérokonverze na pilotním vzorku přeočkovaných s ročním odstupem. Metodika: 3 027 zaměstnanců Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc podstoupilo nabídnuté vyšetření hladiny specifického imunoglobulinu G s následnou možností přeočkování v případě nedostatečné hladiny. Zhruba po roce od přeočkování bylo u vzorku 52 zaměstnanců provedeno stejné vyšetření. Výsledky: V celém souboru testovaných zaměstnanců s průměrným věkem 41,8 ± 9,2 let byla séropozitivita prokázána u 54,0 % osob s jednoznačně vyšším zastoupením, a současně vyššími absolutními hodnotami protilátkových titrů, u zaměstnanců narozených před zahájením pravidelné vakcinace (rok 1969). Možnost přeočkování využilo 80,9 % séronegativních. Ze znovu otestovaných zaměstnanců pak sérokonverze nastala u 73,2 %. Relativní zvýšení titru protilátek po přeočkování korelovalo středně silně s věkem (r = 0,47, p < 0,05). Závěr: Podíl séronegativních zaměstnanců velké nemocnice dosáhl 46,0 % s vyšším zastoupením u mladších jedinců. Sérokonverze nastala u 73,2 % přeočkovaných zaměstnanců v opětovně vyšetřeném pilotním souboru. Byla zaznamenána statisticky významná korelace mezi relativním nárůstem titru protilátek a věkem.

Introduction: The increase in measles cases in early 2019 led to the implementation of several preventive measures focused mainly on health care providers. The study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of measles antibodies among employees of a large hospital and, a year apart, the rate of seroconversion in a pilot sample of the revaccinated subjects. Methods: In 3027 employees of the University Hospital Olomouc, specific immunoglobulin G levels were tested on a voluntary basis. Those with insufficient levels were offered a booster dose. About approximately one year after the booster dose, the same test was performed in a sample of 52 employees. Results: Of the tested subjects with a mean age of 41.8 ± 9.2 years, 54.0% were seropositive. A higher proportion of seropositivity as well as higher absolute values of antibody titers were noted in those born before routine vaccination was introduced in 1969. A total of 80.9% of the seronegative subjects opted for a booster dose. Seroconversion occurred in 73.2% of retested subjects. The relative increase of post-booster antibody titers was moderately correlated with age (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The proportion of seronegative employees of a large hospital reached 46.0%, being higher in younger individuals. Seroconversion occurred in 73.2% of booster dose recipients included in a pilot sample for reanalysis. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the relative increase of antibody titers and age.

• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• protilátky analýza   MeSH
• sekundární imunizace MeSH
• séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
• sérokonverze MeSH
• spalničky * epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents an important infectious complication associated with high mortality rates in patients with hematologic diseases. There have not been published any epidemiologic studies from Czech Republic so far. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study is the first analysis of patients with hematologic malignancies and bone marrow failure syndromes treated at single hematology center in the Czech Republic between March 1 and December 31, 2020, in whom COVID-19 infection was confirmed. RESULTS: The sample comprised 96 patients aged 26 to 84 years (median, 66.0 years). At the time of their COVID-19 diagnosis, 75 patients (78.1%) were treated for hematologic diseases. Twenty-seven patients (28.1%) in the sample had complete remission (CR) of their hematologic disease. They were nonsignificantly more likely to have asymptomatic to moderate COVID-19 infection than those who failed to achieve CR (74.1% vs. 56.5%; P = .06). A more severe course of the infection was significantly correlated with older age (P = .047). Lung involvement was also statistically significantly associated with older age (P = .045). Over the study period, a total of 15 patients died. Age greater than 60 years was significantly associated with deaths from COVID-19 (P = .036), with failure to achieve CR having a statistically nonsignificant impact on mortality (P = .22). CONCLUSION: These results confirm the prognostic significance of age for achieving treatment response of hematologic disease as well as the severity and mortality of COVID-19 in hematology patients.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * komplikace   diagnóza   epidemiologie   terapie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hematologické nádory komplikace   diagnóza   epidemiologie   terapie   MeSH
• hospitalizace statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• krevní nemoci * komplikace   diagnóza   epidemiologie   terapie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mortalita MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 fyziologie   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• syndromy selhání kostní dřeně komplikace   diagnóza   epidemiologie   terapie   MeSH
• testování na COVID-19 metody   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

The early identification of asymptomatic yet infectious cases is vital to curb the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to control the disease in the post-pandemic era. In this paper, we propose a fast, inexpensive and high-throughput approach using painless nasal-swab self-collection followed by direct RT-qPCR for the sensitive PCR detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This approach was validated in a large prospective cohort study of 1038 subjects, analysed simultaneously using (1) nasopharyngeal swabs obtained with the assistance of healthcare personnel and analysed by classic two-step RT-qPCR on RNA isolates and (2) nasal swabs obtained by self-collection and analysed with direct RT-qPCR. Of these subjects, 28.6% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using nasopharyngeal swab sampling. Our direct RT-qPCR approach for self-collected nasal swabs performed well with results similar to those of the two-step RT-qPCR on RNA isolates, achieving 0.99 positive and 0.98 negative predictive values (cycle threshold [Ct] < 37). Our research also reports on grey-zone viraemia, including samples with near-cut-off Ct values (Ct ≥ 37). In all investigated subjects (n = 20) with grey-zone viraemia, the ultra-small viral load disappeared within hours or days with no symptoms. Overall, this study underscores the importance of painless nasal-swab self-collection and direct RT-qPCR for mass testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and in the post-pandemic era.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 diagnóza   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• diagnostické testy rutinní metody   MeSH
• klinické laboratorní techniky metody   MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• odběr biologického vzorku metody   MeSH
• plošný screening metody   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• samovyšetření metody   MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 genetika   MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• testování na COVID-19 metody   MeSH
• virová nálož metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• validační studie MeSH