BACKGROUND: The study aimed to analyze the effect of respiratory muscle endurance training (RMT) on performance and respiratory function in professional road cyclists during the off-season period. METHODS: Twenty professional road cyclists from the Czech Republic were divided into the control (CON) (N.=10) and the RMT (N.=10) groups. Cyclists from the RMT group accomplished 30 sessions over 10 weeks. Performance in the incremental cycling test and respiratory capacity via test were assessed before and after 10 weeks in both groups. The comparison between and within the groups was performed, together with effect size and delta % (P<0.05). RESULTS: Significant effects on respiratory function during the exercise, on lung volume utilization at 90% of VO2max (TV-90%) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) were found in RMT compared to the CON group, with a moderate effect size (0.71 and 0.61), and improvements of 13% and 14%, respectively. Parameters of performance in the cycling protocol and respiratory function at rest presented better values in the RMT group, however with no significance and in minor magnitude. CONCLUSIONS: Using RMT during off-season benefits professional road cyclists by improving the major efficiency of respiratory function during progressive efforts. Therefore, the protocol of RMT could be used as an ergogenic aid during this period in order to maintain respiratory adaptations, optimizing the pre-season training. Adjustments can be made to improve the parameters outcomes.

• MeSH
• cyklistika fyziologie   MeSH
• dechová cvičení metody   MeSH
• dýchací svaly fyziologie   MeSH
• dýchání MeSH
• fyzická vytrvalost * fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• vytrvalostní trénink * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Seasonal influenza vaccination rates among the elderly in the Czech Republic are alarmingly low, making it one of the least vaccinated countries in Europe. This study explored the role of vaccine literacy and insurance coverage on vaccination status. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Summer 2023 using a self-administered questionnaire covering vaccine literacy (functional, interactive, and critical skills), negative perceptions towards influenza vaccination, and the 5C model (confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility). Individuals aged 55 and older were included in the study. Mediation analyses assessed the indirect effects of insurance coverage on vaccination status. RESULTS: Significant differences were noted in vaccination rates based on insurance coverage, chronic diseases, regular medication use, and previous COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccinations. Vaccine literacy, especially interactive and critical skills, was higher among vaccinated individuals. Confidence and collective responsibility were significant promoters, while complacency and constraints were barriers to vaccination. Mediation analyses indicated that negative perceptions, confidence, and collective responsibility significantly mediated the relationship between insurance coverage and vaccination status. CONCLUSION: Enhancing vaccine literacy and addressing psychological antecedents are crucial for improving influenza vaccination rates among the elderly. Policy measures should include improving vaccine literacy, building public confidence, and addressing negative perceptions.

• MeSH
• chřipka lidská * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• odkládání očkování * psychologie   MeSH
• pojistné krytí MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• vakcinace psychologie   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• vakcíny proti chřipce * MeSH
• Východoevropané MeSH
• zdraví - znalosti, postoje, praxe MeSH
• zdravotní gramotnost * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Persons living in industrial environments are exposed to levels of air pollution that can affect their health and fertility. The Czech capital city, Prague, and the Ostrava industrial agglomeration differ in their major sources of air pollution. In Prague, heavy traffic produces high levels of nitrogen oxides throughout the year. In the Ostrava region, an iron industry and local heating are sources of particulate matter (PM) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), especially in the winter. We evaluated the effects of air pollution on human sperm mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Using real-time PCR, we analysed sperm mtDNA copy number and deletion rate in Prague city policemen in two seasons (spring and autumn) and compared the results with those from Ostrava. In Prague, the sperm mtDNA deletion rate was significantly higher in autumn than in spring, which is the opposite of the results from Ostrava. The sperm mtDNA copy number did not show any seasonal differences in either of the cities; it was correlated negatively with sperm concentration, motility, and viability, and with sperm chromatin integrity (assessed with the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay). The comparison between the two cities showed that the sperm mtDNA deletion rate in spring and the sperm mtDNA copy number in autumn were significantly lower in Prague vs. Ostrava. Our study supports the hypothesis that sperm mtDNA deletion rate is affected by the composition of air pollution. Sperm mtDNA abundance is closely associated with chromatin damage and standard semen characteristics.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch toxicita   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondriální DNA * genetika   MeSH
• motilita spermií účinky léků   MeSH
• pevné částice toxicita   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• policie MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• spermie * účinky léků   MeSH
• variabilita počtu kopií segmentů DNA * MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

It is so far unclear how the COVID-19 winter waves started and what should be done to prevent possible future waves. In this study, we deciphered the dynamic course of a winter wave in 2021 in Saxony, a state in Eastern Germany neighbouring the Czech Republic and Poland. The study was carried out through the integration of multiple virus genomic epidemiology approaches to track transmission chains, identify emerging variants and investigate dynamic changes in transmission clusters. For identified local variants of interest, functional evaluations were performed. Multiple long-lasting community transmission clusters have been identified acting as driving force for the winter wave 2021. Analysis of the dynamic courses of two representative clusters indicated a similar transmission pattern. However, the transmission cluster caused by a locally occurring new Delta variant AY.36.1 showed a distinct transmission pattern, and functional analyses revealed a replication advantage of it. This study indicated that long-lasting community transmission clusters starting since early autumn caused by imported or locally occurring variants all contributed to the development of the 2021 winter wave. The information we achieved might help future pandemic prevention.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   přenos   virologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• roční období * MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Německo MeSH

BACKGROUND: The regional disparity of heatwave-related mortality over a long period has not been sufficiently assessed across the globe, impeding the localisation of adaptation planning and risk management towards climate change. We quantified the global mortality burden associated with heatwaves at a spatial resolution of 0.5°×0.5° and the temporal change from 1990 to 2019. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We collected data on daily deaths and temperature from 750 locations of 43 countries or regions, and 5 meta-predictors in 0.5°×0.5° resolution across the world. Heatwaves were defined as location-specific daily mean temperature ≥95th percentiles of year-round temperature range with duration ≥2 days. We first estimated the location-specific heatwave-mortality association. Secondly, a multivariate meta-regression was fitted between location-specific associations and 5 meta-predictors, which was in the third stage used with grid cell-specific meta-predictors to predict grid cell-specific association. Heatwave-related excess deaths were calculated for each grid and aggregated. During 1990 to 2019, 0.94% (95% CI: 0.68-1.19) of deaths [i.e., 153,078 cases (95% eCI: 109,950-194,227)] per warm season were estimated to be from heatwaves, accounting for 236 (95% eCI: 170-300) deaths per 10 million residents. The ratio between heatwave-related excess deaths and all premature deaths per warm season remained relatively unchanged over the 30 years, while the number of heatwave-related excess deaths per 10 million residents per warm season declined by 7.2% per decade in comparison to the 30-year average. Locations with the highest heatwave-related death ratio and rate were in Southern and Eastern Europe or areas had polar and alpine climates, and/or their residents had high incomes. The temporal change of heatwave-related mortality burden showed geographic disparities, such that locations with tropical climate or low incomes were observed with the greatest decline. The main limitation of this study was the lack of data from certain regions, e.g., Arabian Peninsula and South Asia. CONCLUSIONS: Heatwaves were associated with substantial mortality burden that varied spatiotemporally over the globe in the past 30 years. The findings indicate the potential benefit of governmental actions to enhance health sector adaptation and resilience, accounting for inequalities across communities.

• MeSH
• celosvětové zdraví trendy   MeSH
• extrémní horko * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• klimatické změny * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mortalita trendy   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• vysoká teplota škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Influenza A viruses circulated in Europe from September 2023 to January 2024, with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 predominance. We provide interim 2023/24 influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) estimates from two European studies, covering 10 countries across primary care (EU-PC) and hospital (EU-H) settings. Interim IVE was higher against A(H1N1)pdm09 than A(H3N2): EU-PC influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 IVE was 53% (95% CI: 41 to 63) and 30% (95% CI: -3 to 54) against influenza A(H3N2). For EU-H, these were 44% (95% CI: 30 to 55) and 14% (95% CI: -32 to 43), respectively.

• MeSH
• chřipka lidská * epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice MeSH
• primární zdravotní péče MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• vakcíny proti chřipce * MeSH
• virus chřipky A, podtyp H1N1 * MeSH
• virus chřipky A, podtyp H3N2 MeSH
• virus chřipky B MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Research on the external physical load on elite youth soccer players during the weekly training microcycle in competitive periods and official matches is limited. The aims of this study were twofold: a) investigate possible differences in external physical load (PL) across player positions in U17 elite youth soccer players during official matches; b) determine the weekly training to match physical load ratio (WTMLr) across player positions. The sample included 20 outfield players from an elite soccer academy (mean age 15.94 ± 0.25 years) playing in four positions: central defender (CD), full-back (FB), central midfielder (CM) and Striker (S). Data were collected during the spring in-season period for 17 official matches played in a 4-3-3 game format. Indicators of external physical load monitored were: total distance (TD); total distance in high-speed running (HSR; > 16.1 km.h-1); total distance in sprint running (SPR; > 21.6 km.h-1); and relative physical load intensity (%HSR). The WTMLr was calculated for TD, HSR, SPR and %HSR as the ratio of the average weekly sum of training PL to the average sum of PL in an official match for a given players' position. Collectively, the training intensity during a one-week microcycle (%HSR in WTMLr) achieved only 76 % of match demands. CD performed significantly lower in all measured indicators of external PL during the official match than all other positions (p < 0.05; g > 0.80) except for TD in S. S achieved significantly higher SPR during official matches compared to CD (p < 0.05; g > 0.80), CM, and FB (g > 0.80). In contrast, CD reported higher WTMLr (medium-large effect size) in HSR and SPR indicators than all other positions. CM performed significantly higher %HSR in WTMLr than S and FB (p < 0.05; g > 0.80). Results revealed insufficient training intensity relative to match demands and, at the same time, weekly training PL did not meet match demands (especially in HSR and SPR) for players across the different positions. Therefore, practitioners should select appropriate training methods (drills and games) to ensure sufficient training intensity (HSR and SR metrics) and consider using the WTMLr, which can be used to help optimise and individualise training PL for different player positions.

• MeSH
• běh * MeSH
• fotbal * MeSH
• geografické informační systémy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• MeSH
• atopická dermatitida * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• humanizované monoklonální protilátky * MeSH
• kontrolní skupiny MeSH
• leukocyty MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pyl MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• T-lymfocyty MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The study aimed to assess the frequency of food intake and to compare the consumption of female extramural players training floorball in Poland and the Czech Republic during the preparation period for the league season. In total, 43 players training floorball in senior clubs participated in the study, including 21 from the Polish and 22 from the Czech clubs. The research tool was based on the standardised questionnaire for the Examination of Eating Behaviours and Opinions on Food and Nutrition (QEB). The study also analysed body composition using the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) method, and the research tool was a TANITA MC-780 S MA body composition analyser (Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The Polish women's floorball players had lower results in body fat percentage (FM) and muscle mass (MM) than the Czech team. The mean FM in the players of the Polish team was 18.6% ± 5.4, and the mean MM was 45.8 kg ± 4.2. In the Czech team players, these figures were 19.8% ± 5.4 and 47.8 kg ± 4.2. Despite the similar value of mean BMI in both teams, the highest BMI in the case of female athletes from Poland (17.7), indicating underweight, and the highest BMI in female athletes from the Czech Republic (26.9), indicating overweight, were significant. The study showed differences in both body composition analysis and dietary patterns of the Czech and Polish players. The Czech women's floorball players had a higher muscle mass and body fat percentage than Polish floorball players. Furthermore, differences in diet were observed among the players of the Czech team compared to the players of the Polish team. The Czech women's floorball players consumed a slightly higher amount of healthier products, such as whole-grain products. The Polish players took in more meat, processed products and fruit juices. This study is one of the first to assess the nutrition of those involved in floorball. There is a need for further research that focuses on the specifics of the discipline, the exercise capacity of the players and points during the season that require nutritional support. This knowledge would help develop effective nutritional strategies and plan and implement appropriate nutrition education for this group of athletes.

• MeSH
• dieta * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nutriční stav * MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Polsko MeSH

Whereas temporal variability of plant phenology in response to climate change has already been well studied, the spatial variability of phenology is not well understood. Given that phenological shifts may affect biotic interactions, there is a need to investigate how the variability in environmental factors relates to the spatial variability in herbaceous species' phenology by at the same time considering their functional traits to predict their general and species-specific responses to future climate change. In this project, we analysed phenology records of 148 herbaceous species, which were observed for a single year by the PhenObs network in 15 botanical gardens. For each species, we characterised the spatial variability in six different phenological stages across gardens. We used boosted regression trees to link these variabilities in phenology to the variability in environmental parameters (temperature, latitude and local habitat conditions) as well as species traits (seed mass, vegetative height, specific leaf area and temporal niche) hypothesised to be related to phenology variability. We found that spatial variability in the phenology of herbaceous species was mainly driven by the variability in temperature but also photoperiod was an important driving factor for some phenological stages. In addition, we found that early-flowering and less competitive species characterised by small specific leaf area and vegetative height were more variable in their phenology. Our findings contribute to the field of phenology by showing that besides temperature, photoperiod and functional traits are important to be included when spatial variability of herbaceous species is investigated.

• MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• fotoperioda * MeSH
• klimatické změny MeSH
• listy rostlin * fyziologie   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• rostliny MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH