BACKGROUND: Treatment with direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has provided sustained virological response rates in >95% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However treatment is costly and market access, reimbursement and governmental restrictions differ among countries. We aimed to analyze these differences among European and Eurasian countries. METHODS: A survey including 20-item questionnaire was sent to experts in viral hepatitis. Countries were evaluated according to their income categories by the World Bank stratification. RESULTS: Experts from 26 countries responded to the survey. As of May 2016, HCV prevalence was reported as low (≤1%) in Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK; intermediate (1-4%) in Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Kosovo, Greece, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Serbia and high in Georgia (6.7%). All countries had national guidelines except Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Tunisia, and UK. Transient elastography was available in all countries, but reimbursed in 61%. HCV-RNA was reimbursed in 81%. PegIFN/RBV was reimbursed in 54% of the countries. No DAAs were available in four countries: Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Serbia, and Tunisia. In others, at least one DAA combination with either PegIFN/RBV or another DAA was available. In Germany and the Netherlands all DAAs were reimbursed without restrictions: Sofosbuvir and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir were free of charge in Georgia. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of HCV is relatively higher in lower-middle and upper-middle income countries. DAAs are not available or reimbursed in many Eurasia and European countries. Effective screening and access to care are essential for reducing liver-related morbidity and mortality.

• MeSH
• antivirové látky terapeutické užití   MeSH
• elastografie MeSH
• Hepacivirus * MeSH
• hepatitida C diagnóza   farmakoterapie   epidemiologie   virologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• úhrada zdravotního pojištění MeSH
• virová nálož MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH

AIMS: Several clinical conditions may precipitate acute heart failure (AHF) and influence clinical outcome. In this study we hypothesized that precipitating factors are independently associated with 90-day risk of death in AHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population consisted of 15 828 AHF patients from Europe and Asia. The primary outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality according to identified precipitating factors of AHF [acute coronary syndrome (ACS), infection, atrial fibrillation (AF), hypertension, and non-compliance]. Mortality at 90 days was 15.8%. AHF precipitated by ACS or by infection showed increased 90-day risk of death compared with AHF without identified precipitants [hazard ratio (HR) 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.44-1.97, P < 0.001; and HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.18-1.92, P = 0.001), while AHF precipitated by AF showed lower 90-day risk of death (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42-0.75, P < 0.001), after multivariable adjustment. The risk of death in AHF precipitated by ACS was the highest during the first week after admission, while in AHF precipitated by infection the risk of death had a delayed peak at week 3. In AHF precipitated by AF, a trend toward reduced risk of death during the first weeks was shown. At weeks 5-6, AHF precipitated by ACS, infection, or AF showed similar risk of death to that of AHF without identified precipitants. CONCLUSIONS: Precipitating factors are independently associated with 90-day mortality in AHF. AHF precipitated by ACS or infection is independently associated with higher, while AHF precipitated by AF is associated with lower 90-day risk of death.

• MeSH
• adherence pacienta statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• akutní koronární syndrom epidemiologie   MeSH
• akutní nemoc MeSH
• fibrilace síní epidemiologie   MeSH
• hypertenze epidemiologie   MeSH
• infekce epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mortalita * MeSH
• precipitační faktory MeSH
• příčina smrti MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• proporcionální rizikové modely MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• registrace * MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční selhání epidemiologie   mortalita   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
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) is the causative agent of yaws, a multi-stage disease, endemic in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. To date, four TPE strains have been completely sequenced including three TPE strains of human origin (Samoa D, CDC-2, and Gauthier) and one TPE strain (Fribourg-Blanc) isolated from a baboon. All TPE strains are highly similar to T. pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) strains. The mutation rate in syphilis and related treponemes has not been experimentally determined yet. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Complete genomes of two TPE strains, CDC 2575 and Ghana-051, that infected patients in Ghana and were isolated in 1980 and 1988, respectively, were sequenced and analyzed. Both strains had identical consensus genome nucleotide sequences raising the question whether TPE CDC 2575 and Ghana-051 represent two different strains. Several lines of evidence support the fact that both strains represent independent samples including regions showing intrastrain heterogeneity (13 and 5 intrastrain heterogeneous sites in TPE Ghana-051 and TPE CDC 2575, respectively). Four of these heterogeneous sites were found in both genomes but the frequency of alternative alleles differed. The identical consensus genome sequences were used to estimate the upper limit of the yaws treponeme evolution rate, which was 4.1 x 10-10 nucleotide changes per site per generation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The estimated upper limit for the mutation rate of TPE was slightly lower than the mutation rate of E. coli, which was determined during a long-term experiment. Given the known diversity between TPA and TPE genomes and the assumption that both TPA and TPE have a similar mutation rate, the most recent common ancestor of syphilis and yaws treponemes appears to be more than ten thousand years old and likely even older.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• Escherichia coli genetika   MeSH
• frambézie epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• genom bakteriální * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mapování chromozomů MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• Papio mikrobiologie   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• Treponema pallidum klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Ghana epidemiologie   MeSH
• Jižní Amerika epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND: African catfishes of the families Bagridae and Clariidae are known to be parasitized with monogeneans of Quadriacanthus Paperna, 1961 (Dactylogyridae). The genus remains taxonomically challenging due to its speciose nature and relatively wide host range representing two fish orders, i.e. Siluriformes and Osteoglossiformes, in Africa and Asia. Here, we investigated diversity of Quadriacanthus spp. parasitizing Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), Heterobranchus bidorsalis Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, and Bagrus docmak (Forsskål) collected in the Lake Turkana (Kenya) and Nile River Basin (Sudan). The interspecific relationships among Quadriacanthus spp. parasitizing catfishes inferred from ribosomal DNA sequences were investigated for the first time. METHODS: A combined morphological and molecular approach was used for description of the new species and for a critical review of the previously described Quadriacanthus spp., by means of phase contrast microscopic examination of sclerotized structures, and assessing the genetic divergence among the species found using rDNA sequences. RESULTS: Seven species (including four new) of Quadriacanthus were identified. These were as follows: Quadriacanthus aegypticus El-Naggar & Serag, 1986, Quadriacanthus clariadis Paperna, 1961, Quadriacanthus fornicatus n. sp., Quadriacanthus pravus n. sp., and Quadriacanthus zuheiri n. sp. from Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae); Quadriacanthus mandibulatus n. sp. from Heterobranchus bidorsalis (Clariidae); and Quadriacanthus bagrae Paperna, 1979 from Bagrus docmak (Bagridae). For both 18S-ITS1 and 28S rDNA regions, Q. clariadis from a clariid fish was found to be most closely related to Q. bagrae from a bagrid host. Quadriacanthus mandibulatus n. sp. was observed to be the most distant species from the others. The separation of Q. mandibulatus n. sp. from the other species corresponds with the different morphology of its copulatory tube. The copulatory tube is terminally enlarged in Q. mandibulatus n. sp., while the tube in all other congeners studied is comparatively small and with an oblique tapering termination. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to a better understanding of African dactylogyrid diversity and provides the first molecular characterization of Quadriacanthus spp. The observed interspecific genetic relationships among Quadriacanthus spp. from clariids and Q. bagrae from a bagrid host suggest a possible host-switching event in the evolutionary history of the genus. Our records extend the currently known geographical range for Quadriacanthus spp. to Kenya and Sudan.

• MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• infekce červy třídy Trematoda epidemiologie   parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• jezera parazitologie   MeSH
• nemoci ryb epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• ploštěnci klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• řeky parazitologie   MeSH
• ribozomální DNA MeSH
• sumci parazitologie   MeSH
• Trematoda genetika   MeSH
• žábry parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Keňa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Súdán epidemiologie   MeSH
• východní Afrika epidemiologie   MeSH

It is not clear whether alcohol consumption is associated with lung cancer risk. The relationship is likely confounded by smoking, complicating the interpretation of previous studies. We examined the association of alcohol consumption and lung cancer risk in a large pooled international sample, minimizing potential confounding of tobacco consumption by restricting analyses to never smokers. Our study included 22 case-control and cohort studies with a total of 2548 never-smoking lung cancer patients and 9362 never-smoking controls from North America, Europe and Asia within the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO) and SYNERGY Consortium. Alcohol consumption was categorized into amounts consumed (grams per day) and also modelled as a continuous variable using restricted cubic splines for potential non-linearity. Analyses by histologic sub-type were included. Associations by type of alcohol consumed (wine, beer and liquor) were also investigated. Alcohol consumption was inversely associated with lung cancer risk with evidence most strongly supporting lower risk for light and moderate drinkers relative to non-drinkers (>0-4.9 g per day: OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.70-0.90; 5-9.9 g per day: OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.69-0.99; 10-19.9 g per day: OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.65-0.96). Inverse associations were found for consumption of wine and liquor, but not beer. The results indicate that alcohol consumption is inversely associated with lung cancer risk, particularly among subjects with low to moderate consumption levels, and among wine and liquor drinkers, but not beer drinkers. Although our results should have no relevant bias from the confounding effect of smoking we cannot preclude that confounding by other factors contributed to the observed associations. Confounding in relation to the non-drinker reference category may be of particular importance.

• MeSH
• alkoholické nápoje škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• kohortové studie MeSH
• kouření škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory plic epidemiologie   patologie   MeSH
• pití alkoholu škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Severní Amerika epidemiologie   MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The Ambulatory blood pressure Registry TEleMonitoring of hypertension and cardiovascular rISk project was designed to set up an international registry including clinic blood pressure (CBP) and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) measurements in patients attending hypertension clinics in all five continents, aiming to assess different daily life hypertension types. METHODS: Cross-sectional ABP, CBP and demographic data, medical history and cardiovascular risk profile were provided from existing databases by hypertension clinics. Hypertension types were evaluated considering CBP (≥140/90 mmHg) and 24-h ABP (≥130/80 mmHg). RESULTS: Overall, 14 143 patients from 27 countries across all five continents were analyzed (Europe 73%, Africa 3%, America 9%, Asia 14% and Australia 2%). Mean age was 57 ± 14 years, men 51%, treated for hypertension 46%, cardiovascular disease 14%, people with diabetes 14%, dyslipidemia 33% and smokers 19%. The prevalence of hypertension was higher by CBP than by ABP monitoring (72 vs. 60%, P < 0.0001). Sustained hypertension (elevated CBP and ABP) was detected in 49% of patients. White-coat hypertension (WCH, elevated CBP with normal ABP) was more common than masked hypertension (elevated ABP with normal CBP) (23 vs. 10%; P < 0.0001). Sustained hypertension was more common in Europe and America and in elderly, men, obese patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. WCH was less common in Australia, America and Africa, and more common in elderly, obese women. Masked hypertension was more common in Asia and in men with diabetes. Smoking was a determinant for sustained hypertension and masked hypertension. CONCLUSION: Our analysis showed an unbalanced distribution of WCH and masked hypertension patterns among different continents, suggesting an interplay of genetic and environmental factors, and likely also different healthcare administrative and practice patterns.

• MeSH
• ambulantní monitorování krevního tlaku * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hypertenze klasifikace   diagnóza   epidemiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• krevní tlak * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• maskovaná hypertenze diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• obezita epidemiologie   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• registrace MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• syndrom bílého pláště diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Afrika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Austrálie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH
• Spojené státy americké MeSH

Dermacentor reticulatus is a hard tick species with extraordinary biological features. It has a high reproduction rate, a rapid developmental cycle, and is also able to overcome years of unfavourable conditions. Dermacentor reticulatus can survive under water for several months and is cold-hardy even compared to other tick species. It has a wide host range: over 60 different wild and domesticated hosts are known for the three active developmental stages. Its high adaptiveness gives an edge to this tick species as shown by new data on the emergence and establishment of D. reticulatus populations throughout Europe. The tick has been the research focus of a growing number of scientists, physicians and veterinarians. Within the Web of Science database, more than a fifth of the over 700 items published on this species between 1897 and 2015 appeared in the last three years (2013-2015). Here we attempt to synthesize current knowledge on the systematics, ecology, geographical distribution and recent spread of the species and to highlight the great spectrum of possible veterinary and public health threats it poses. Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis is a severe leading canine vector-borne disease in many endemic areas. Although less frequently than Ixodes ricinus, D. reticulatus adults bite humans and transmit several Rickettsia spp., Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus or Tick-borne encephalitis virus. We have not solely collected and reviewed the latest and fundamental scientific papers available in primary databases but also widened our scope to books, theses, conference papers and specialists colleagues' experience where needed. Besides the dominant literature available in English, we also tried to access scientific literature in German, Russian and eastern European languages as well. We hope to inspire future research projects that are necessary to understand the basic life-cycle and ecology of this vector in order to understand and prevent disease threats. We conclude that although great strides have been made in our knowledge of the eco-epidemiology of this species, several gaps still need to be filled with basic research, targeting possible reservoir and vector roles and the key factors resulting in the observed geographical spread of D. reticulatus.

• MeSH
• arachnida jako vektory klasifikace   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• Babesia izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• babezióza epidemiologie   přenos   MeSH
• demografie MeSH
• Dermacentor klasifikace   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• ekologie MeSH
• hostitelská specificita MeSH
• infestace klíšťaty epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• klasifikace MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci přenášené klíšťaty epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• nemoci psů epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• omská hemoragická horečka epidemiologie   přenos   virologie   MeSH
• psi MeSH
• stadia vývoje MeSH
• veřejné zdravotnictví MeSH
• viry klíšťové encefalitidy izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an acute febrile illness with neurological manifestations that is prevalent in forested areas of moderate climate in Europe and Asia. TBE virus is transmitted by ticks and rarely by unpasteurized milk and dairy products. The disease burden is attributed mainly to resulting long-term disability, especially in individuals over 50 y of age. Currently, there is no causative treatment, but a very effective vaccination is available with a good safety profile. The vaccination requires 3 basic doses to be fully effective and regular boosters afterwards. An accelerated vaccination schedule enables a patient to reach reasonably protective titres within 3 to 4 weeks from the first injection. The risk of travel-related TBE is estimated to be less than the risk of acquiring typhoid fever while visiting highly endemic regions in South Asia, but more than the risk of acquiring Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal invasive disease, or rabies. The pre-travel risk assessment of acquiring TBE should consider known risk factors which include 1) the country and regions to be visited; 2) April to November season; 3) altitude less than 1500 m above the sea level; 4) duration of stay; 5) the extent of tick-exposure associated activities including leisure and professional outdoor activities within the endemic area; and 6) age and comorbidities of the traveler. A major challenge, however, is the very low awareness of the risk of contracting TBE in those who travel to industrialized European countries.

• MeSH
• cestování * MeSH
• endemické nemoci * MeSH
• klíšťová encefalitida epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• virové vakcíny aplikace a dávkování   imunologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Evropa epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is a frequent cause of morbidity in travellers. The objective was to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of dengue fever in Czech travellers. METHOD: This descriptive study includes patients with acute dengue fever diagnosed at Hospital Na Bulovce during 2004-2013. Data were collected and analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 132 patients (83 males and 49 females) of median age 33 years (IQR 29-40) were included. Diagnosis was established by NS1 antigen detection in 87/107 cases (81.3%) and/or RT-PCR in 50/72 (69.4%) and by serology in 25 cases (18.9%). Dengue was acquired in South-East Asia in 69 cases (52.3%), followed by South Asia (48 cases; 36.3%), Latin America (14; 10.6%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (1; 0.8%). The most frequent symptoms included fever, rash and headache. Initial leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were lower in patients who presented in the early phase (0-4 days), however, platelet count was lower and AST, ALT and LDH activity higher in patients with a longer symptoms duration (≥5 days). The clinical course was mostly uncomplicated. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue fever is becoming a frequent cause of fever in Czech travellers. Clinicians should be familiar with the typical clinical findings and novel diagnostic methods.

• MeSH
• akutní nemoc MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• centra terciární péče * MeSH
• cestování * MeSH
• dengue diagnóza   epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   virologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• horečka MeSH
• hospitalizace MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• jihovýchodní Asie epidemiologie   MeSH