PURPOSE: The Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) is a short, multidimensional instrument translated into several languages that covers five domains recommended in the assessment of outcome in patients with low-back and neck pain. The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the COMI from English to Czech language and to test the face and construct validity and reproducibility of its results in patients with low-back and neck pain. METHODS: Participants (n = 125) were included from primary and secondary care. The participants reported moderate pain and disability levels. All participants filled in the COMI forms before and after surgery. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon paired test, Crombach's alpha, principal component analysis and information entropy calculation were used. RESULTS: The instrument was successfully forward and back-translated. It can be seen that the questionnaire applied as part of our intervention study produces answers with a sufficient degree of variability and with a satisfactory degree of representation of extreme values. It can be also seen that the questionnaire can diagnose an objectively occurring change associated with the surgeon within the intervention procedure. Our other findings support the idea of a possible reduction in the number of questions that measure the same latent variable. Our investigations also showed that it is possible to reduce the range of the point scale of the perception of pain to 5 degrees of intensity and thus unify the range with the other questions. CONCLUSION: The Czech COMI shows acceptable properties and is thus suitable to use as a short instrument for measuring important domains in patients with low-back and neck pain.
- MeSH
- bolest krku * diagnóza MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hodnocení výsledků zdravotní péče metody MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lumbalgie * diagnóza MeSH
- měření bolesti metody MeSH
- posuzování pracovní neschopnosti MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky normy MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- srovnání kultur * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
As of the 7th of July 2024, 775,754,322 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 7,053,902 deaths worldwide, had been reported to the WHO (World Health Organization). Nevertheless, untill the 15th of July 2024, a total of 13,578,710,228 vaccine doses had been administered, with almost no country spared from COVID-19 attacks. The pathophysiology of this virus is complicated, and several symptoms require a deep understanding of the actual mechanisms. It is unclear why some patients develop severe symptoms while others do not, although literature suggests a role for vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in the infection or in ameliorating the severity of symptoms. The mechanism of action of vitamin D and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is well understood. VDD is associated with increased hospitalization of severely ill patients and increased levels of COVID-19-caused mortality. Recent studies suggest that vitamin D levels and genetic variations in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene significantly impact the severity and outcomes of COVID-19, especially in the infections caused by Delta and Omicron variants. Furthermore, VDD causes immune system dysregulation upon infection with SARS-CoV-2, indicating that vitamin D sufficiency is crucial in fighting against COVID-19 infection. The therapeutic effect of vitamin D raises interest in its potential role as a prophylactic and treatment adjunct. We evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D and its ability to enhance the efficacy of new antiviral drugs like molnupiravir and paxlovid against SARS-CoV-2. This review discusses the role of vitamin D sufficiency and VDD in COVID-19 initiation and progression, emphasizing the molecular mechanisms by which vitamin D exerts its actions as a proactive step for the next pandemic. However, there is still no clear evidence of vitamin D's impact on prevention and treatment, leading to contradictory findings. Therefore, large-scale randomized trials are required to reach a definitive conclusion. A bibliometric analysis of publications related to vitamin D, immunity, and COVID-19 revealed a significant increase in research activity in this area, particularly in 2020-2024, underscoring the growing recognition of vitamin D's potential role in the context of the pandemic.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * imunologie MeSH
- farmakoterapie COVID-19 MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nedostatek vitaminu D * farmakoterapie imunologie MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- receptory kalcitriolu metabolismus MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 imunologie MeSH
- vitamin D * terapeutické užití aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Industrial noise sources are among the environmental noise sources that are ranked second among the causes of ill health in Europe by the World Health Organization. The aim of this paper is to summarize and review of published information focusing on noise annoyance from industrial activities and mining. A search for articles was performed using the bibliographic databases platforms. The epidemiological evidence shows that environmental noise may be associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, impaired cognitive development in children, mental health, post-irritability, and sleep disturbances. As a result of efforts to minimize the effects of industrial noise on human health, the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority published A Guide to the Noise Policy for Industry in 2017, which sets out recommended noise levels, methods, and procedures for noise management based on the latest scientific evidence. Social networks can be used to assess the population's noise annoyance and to verify the effectiveness of the measures. The industrial noise sources are typically defined by low-frequency noise. Low-frequency noise has very low attenuation and is only slightly affected by obstacles, therefore it can be a major cause of night noise annoyance. An association was confirmed between exposure to low-frequency noise and sleep disturbance, psychological problems, cognitive impairment, increased social conflicts, anxiety, emotional instability, nervousness, and reduced mental performance - concentration, and visual perception. In view of the long tradition of mining and industry, the assessment of noise from these activities from the perspective of its impacts on human health is an inherent part of legislative processes. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2024;75(5):425-431.
- MeSH
- hluk na pracovišti škodlivé účinky MeSH
- hluk * škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
BACKGROUND: The initial rhythm is a known predictor of survival in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) patients. However, the effect of the rhythm at hospital admission on outcomes in these patients is less clear. METHODS: This observational, single-center study assessed the influence of the rhythm at hospital admission on 30-day survival and neurological outcomes at discharge in patients who underwent ECPR for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). RESULTS: Between January 2012 and December 2023, 1,219 OHCA patients were admitted, and 210 received ECPR. Of these, 196 patients were analyzed. The average age was 52.9 years (±13), with 80.6 % male. The median time to ECPR initiation was 61 min (IQR 54-72). Patients with ventricular fibrillation as both the initial and admission rhythm had the highest 30-day survival rate (52 %: 35/67), while those with asystole in both instances had the lowest (6 %: 1/17, log-rank p < 0.00001). After adjusting for age, sex, initial rhythm, resuscitation time, location, bystander, and witnessed status, asystole at admission was linked to higher 30-day mortality (OR 4.03, 95 % CI 1.49-12.38, p = 0.009) and worse neurological outcomes (Cerebral Performance Category 3-5) at discharge (OR 4.61, 95 % CI 1.49-17.62, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The rhythm at hospital admission affects ECPR outcomes. Patients presenting with and maintaining ventricular fibrillation have a higher chance of favorable neurological survival, whereas those presenting with or converting to asystole have poor outcomes. The rhythm at hospital admission appears to be a valuable criterion for deciding on ECPR initiation.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- fibrilace komor terapie mortalita komplikace MeSH
- hospitalizace statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- kardiopulmonální resuscitace * metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mimotělní membránová oxygenace * metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- míra přežití trendy MeSH
- příjem pacientů statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- srdeční frekvence fyziologie MeSH
- zástava srdce mimo nemocnici * terapie mortalita MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- pozorovací studie MeSH
Brain imaging studies in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) have found mixed evidence for functional and structural changes in CRPS. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated two patient cohorts from different centers and examined functional connectivity (rsFC) in 51 CRPS patients and 50 matched controls. rsFC was compared in predefined ROI pairs, but also in non-hypothesis driven analyses. Resting state (rs)fMRI changes in default mode network (DMN) and the degree rank order disruption index (kD) were additionally evaluated. Finally, imaging parameters were correlated with clinical severity and somatosensory function. Among predefined pairs, we found only weakly to moderately lower functional connectivity between the right nucleus accumbens and bilateral ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the infra-slow oscillations (ISO) band. The unconstrained ROI-to-ROI analysis revealed lower rsFC between the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) and left anterior insula, and higher rsFC between the right sensorimotor thalamus and nucleus accumbens. In the correlation analysis, pain was positively associated with insulo-prefrontal rsFC, whereas sensorimotor thalamo-cortical rsFC was positively associated with tactile spatial resolution of the affected side. In contrast to previous reports, we found no group differences for kD or rsFC in the DMN, but detected overall lower data quality in patients. In summary, while some of the previous results were not replicated despite the larger sample size, novel findings from two independent cohorts point to potential down-regulated antinociceptive modulation by the PAG and increased connectivity within the reward system as pathophysiological mechanisms in CRPS. However, in light of the detected systematic differences in data quality between patients and healthy subjects, validity of rsFC abnormalities in CRPS should be carefully scrutinized in future replication studies.
- MeSH
- default mode network diagnostické zobrazování patofyziologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- komplexní regionální syndromy bolesti * patofyziologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- konektom metody MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční tomografie * MeSH
- mozek patofyziologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- nervová síť patofyziologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
The pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a key regulator of metabolism, but the mechanisms underlying its antagonism remain unclear. Garcia-Maldonado et al. reported potent new antagonists and their co-crystal structures, revealing molecular determinants of PXR antagonism and paving the way for developing antagonists as therapeutics and preventing undesirable PXR activation.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pregnanový X receptor * antagonisté a inhibitory metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The major organelles of the endomembrane system were in place by the time of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) (~1.5 billion years ago). Their acquisitions were defining milestones during eukaryogenesis. Comparative cell biology and evolutionary analyses show multiple instances of homology in the protein machinery controlling distinct interorganelle trafficking routes. Resolving these homologous relationships allows us to explore processes underlying the emergence of additional, distinct cellular compartments, infer ancestral states predating LECA, and explore the process of eukaryogenesis itself. Here, we undertake a molecular evolutionary analysis (including providing a transcriptome of the jakobid flagellate Reclinomonas americana), exploring the origins of the machinery responsible for the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles (LROs), the Biogenesis of LRO Complexes (BLOCs 1,2, and 3). This pathway has been studied only in animals and is not considered a feature of the basic eukaryotic cell plan. We show that this machinery is present across the eukaryotic tree of life and was likely in place prior to LECA, making it an underappreciated facet of eukaryotic cellular organisation. Moreover, we resolve multiple points of ancient homology between all three BLOCs and other post-endosomal retrograde trafficking machinery (BORC, CCZ1 and MON1 proteins, and an unexpected relationship with the "homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting" (HOPS) and "Class C core vacuole/endosomal tethering" (CORVET) complexes), offering a mechanistic and evolutionary unification of these trafficking pathways. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive account of the rise of the LROs biogenesis machinery from before the LECA to current eukaryotic diversity, integrating it into the larger mechanistic framework describing endomembrane evolution.
In the aging process, skin morphology might be affected by wrinkle formation due to the loss of elasticity and resilience of connective tissues linked to the cleavage of elastin by the enzymatic activity of elastase. Little information is available about the structural requirements to efficiently inhibit elastase 1 (EC 3.4.21.36) expressed in skin keratinocytes. In this study, a structure-based approach led to the identification to the pharmacophoric hypotheses that described the main structural requirements for binding to porcine pancreatic elastase as a valuable tool for the development of skin therapeutic agents due to its similarity with human elastase 1. The obtained models were subsequently refined through the application of computational alanine-scanning mutagenesis to evaluate the effect of single residues on the binding affinity and protein stability; in turn, molecular dynamic simulations were carried out; these procedures led to a simplified model bearing few essential features, enabling a reliable collection of chemical features for their interactions with elastase. Then, a virtual screening campaign on the in-house library of synthetic compounds led to the identification of a nonpeptide-based inhibitor (IC50 = 60.4 μM) belonging to the class of N-substituted-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl]thio]acetamides, which might be further exploited to obtain more efficient ligands of elastase for therapeutic applications.
Despite extensive evidence on the impact of various mental health issues including smartphone/internet addiction, and personality traits on academic achievement, little is known about the complex interactions between multiple of these factors simultaneously, as well as cross-country differences in these nuanced relationships. In particular, understanding the role of the mentioned addictions has become increasingly important in recent years in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this cross-country study was to investigate, using path analysis, the complex relationships between mental health determinants (depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and smartphone/internet addiction) and academic achievement in 1785 Czech and Chinese university students using an online battery of psychological tests. The results confirmed the previously described effect of multiple factors (anxiety, stress, resilience, smartphone/internet addiction, personality traits, and sex, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness) on academic achievement, overlapping in most cases for both groups of students. At the same time, however, different country-dependent patterns of interactions emerged. For the Czech students, the variables formed a complex network of interacting factors, whereas for the Chinese students, the effect of each cluster of factors was separate for individual domains of academic achievement. These cross-country differences have implications particularly for planning and targeting the most effective interventions to promote and develop academic achievement.
- MeSH
- chytrý telefon MeSH
- COVID-19 * psychologie epidemiologie MeSH
- deprese psychologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- duševní zdraví MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- návykové chování psychologie MeSH
- netholismus * psychologie MeSH
- osobnost * MeSH
- školní úspěšnost * MeSH
- srovnání kultur MeSH
- studenti * psychologie statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- univerzity MeSH
- úzkost psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Čína MeSH
Mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses with bacterial evolutionary origins, play a pivotal role in maintaining neuronal function and cognitive health. Several viruses have developed sophisticated mechanisms to target and disrupt mitochondrial function which contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The interplay between viruses and mitochondria might be traced to their co-evolutionary history with bacteria and may reflect ancient interactions that have shaped modern mitochondrial biology.
- MeSH
- biologická evoluce * MeSH
- kognice fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mitochondrie * metabolismus MeSH
- neurodegenerativní nemoci * metabolismus patologie patofyziologie MeSH
- viry MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
