Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been available since the late 1990s for use in dentistry. European legislation requires optimisation of protection and the use of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) as well as regular quality control (QC) of the imaging devices, which is well outlined in existing international recommendations. Nevertheless, the level of application is not known. Earlier studies have indicated that few European countries have established DRLs and that patient doses (exposure parameters) have not been properly optimised. The EURADOS Working Group 12-Dosimetry in Medical Imaging undertook a survey to identify existing practices in Member States. Questionnaires were developed to identify equipment types, clinical procedures performed, and exposure settings used. The surveys were circulated to 22 countries resulting in 28 responses from 13 countries. Variations were identified in the exposure factors and in the doses delivered to patients for similar clinical indicators. Results confirm that patient doses are still not properly optimised and DRLs are largely not established. There is a need to promote the importance of performing QC testing of dental CBCT equipment and to further optimise patient exposure by establishment and use of DRLs as a part of a continuous optimisation process.

• MeSH
• dávka záření MeSH
• diagnostické referenční úrovně * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• počítačová tomografie s kuželovým svazkem * MeSH
• radiometrie MeSH
• řízení kvality MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

AIM: To investigate the relationship between osteopontin plasma concentrations and the severity of portal hypertension and to assess osteopontin prognostic value. METHODS: A cohort of 154 patients with confirmed liver cirrhosis (112 ethylic, 108 men, age 34-72 years) were enrolled in the study. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement and laboratory and ultrasound examinations were carried out for all patients. HVPG was measured using a standard catheterization method with the balloon wedge technique. Osteopontin was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in plasma. Patients were followed up with a specific focus on mortality. The control group consisted of 137 healthy age- and sex- matched individuals. RESULTS: The mean value of HVPG was 16.18 ± 5.6 mmHg. Compared to controls, the plasma levels of osteopontin in cirrhotic patients were significantly higher (P < 0.001). The plasma levels of osteopontin were positively related to HVPG (P = 0.0022, r = 0.25) and differed among the individual Child-Pugh groups of patients. The cut-off value of 80 ng/mL osteopontin distinguished patients with significant portal hypertension (HVPG above 10 mmHg) at 75% sensitivity and 63% specificity. The mean follow-up of patients was 3.7 ± 2.6 years. The probability of cumulative survival was 39% for patients with HVPG > 10 mmHg and 65% for those with HVPG ≤ 10 mmHg (P = 0.0086, odds ratio (OR), 2.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-7.76). Osteopontin showed a similar prognostic value to HVPG. Patients with osteopontin values above 80 ng/mL had significantly lower cumulative survival compared to those with osteopontin ≤ 80 ng/mL (37% vs 56%, P = 0.00035; OR = 2.23, 95%CI: 1.06-4.68). CONCLUSION: Osteopontin is a non-invasive parameter of portal hypertension that distinguishes patients with clinically significant portal hypertension. It is a strong prognostic factor for survival.

• MeSH
• biologické markery krev   MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• jaterní cirhóza krev   diagnóza   mortalita   patofyziologie   MeSH
• Kaplanův-Meierův odhad MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lineární modely MeSH
• logistické modely MeSH
• odds ratio MeSH
• osteopontin krev   MeSH
• portální hypertenze krev   diagnóza   mortalita   patofyziologie   MeSH
• portální tlak * MeSH
• prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• stupeň závažnosti nemoci MeSH
• upregulace MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The interaction of arthropods with the environment and the management of their populations is a focus of the ecological agenda. Spatial autocorrelation and under-sampling may generate bias and, when they are ignored, it is hard to determine if results can in any way be trusted. Arthropod communities were studied during two seasons and using two methods: window and panel traps, in an area of ancient temperate lowland woodland of Zebracka (Czech Republic). The composition of arthropod communities was studied focusing on four site level variables (canopy openness, diameter in the breast height and height of tree, and water distance) and finally analysed using two approaches: with and without effects of spatial autocorrelation. I found that the proportion of variance explained by space cannot be ignored (≈20% in both years). Potential bias in analyses of the response of arthropods to site level variables without including spatial co-variables is well illustrated by redundancy analyses. Inclusion of space led to more accurate results, as water distance and tree diameter were significant, showing approximately the same ratio of explained variance and direction in both seasons. Results without spatial co-variables were much more disordered and were difficult to explain. This study showed that neglecting the effects of spatial autocorrelation could lead to wrong conclusions in site level studies and, furthermore, that inclusion of space may lead to more accurate and unambiguous outcomes. Rarefactions showed that lower sampling intensity, when appropriately designed, can produce sufficient results without exploitation of the environment.

• MeSH
• členovci fyziologie   MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mokřady MeSH
• odběr biologického vzorku MeSH
• populační dynamika MeSH
• prostorová analýza * MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• statistické modely * MeSH
• stromy fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: Providing hospital care is an essential objective of national health policies. The countries that share common history, when they emerged from the same health system and similar conditions in the early 1990s, after the division of Czechoslovakia, became the objects of evaluation of the development of technical efficiency of hospital care. The subsequent development of their health care system also was very similar, but no longer entirely identical. The article aims to identify the trends and disparities in the productivity of the capacities of hospital care on the regional level (NUTS III.) in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic in 2009-2018 before the COVID-19 pandemic using the multi-criteria decision methods. METHODS: The window analysis as a dynamic DEA method based on moving averages and also the Malmquist Index, that allows the evaluation of changes in relative efficiency and of changes in the production possibilities frontier have become the key methods for evaluating the over time efficiency evolution. To model technical efficiency, an output-oriented method assuming constant returns to scale was chosen. Aggregated input and output parameters for each region were the object of study. RESULTS: The results showed that differences in the efficiency trends in terms of the examined parameters among the individual regions are slightly greater in the Czech Republic than in the Slovak Republic. The least efficient regions are those where capital cities are located. Furthermore, the analysis showed that in 2018 all of the Slovak Republic regions improved its productivity compared to 2009 and that technological conditions had a significant impact on this improvement. The results of the Czech Republic regions show productivity improvement in 57% of the regions that, on the contrary, was due to changes in technical efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: It should be recommended to the state- and regional-level governments to refrain from unilaterally preferring the orientation of public policies on the efficiency of the provision of hospital care, and rather focus on increasing the quality and availability of hospital care, especially in smaller, rural, and border regions, in the interest of population safety during pandemics and other emergencies.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice MeSH
• pandemie * MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Slovenská republika MeSH

Hlavním cílem studie bylo pomocí krátkodobého záznamu spektrální analýzy variability srdeční frekvence (SA HRV) sledovat úroveň autonomního nervového systému (ANS) u sportující mládeže. U testované skupiny 401 sportovců ve věku 9–18 let byla aktivita ANS monitorována a zpracována diagnostickým systémem VarCor PF7. Vyšetření sportovců probíhalo v klidném prostředí bez předchozího zatížení. Sledovanými proměnnými byly věk, pohlaví a sportovní odvětví. Z výsledků studie vyplývá, že námi změřená sportující mládež má mírně redukovanou úroveň aktivity ANS ve srovnání se stejně starou netrénující populací. Rozdíly v aktivitě ANS mezi chlapci a děvčaty nebyly výrazné. Nevyšší aktivity ANS dosahovali chlapci ve věku 16 až 17 let a dívky ve věku 14 až 15 let. Ze sportovních odvětvích mají nejlepší úroveň aktivity ANS plavkyně a fotbalisté, naopak nejhorší výsledky měli chlapci a dívky ze sportovního gymnázia. V další etapě výzkumu se budeme zabývat vztahem mezi sportovní výkonností, parametry laboratorního vyšetření a úrovní aktivity ANS.

The main purpose of the study was to monitor the activity level of autonomic nervous system (ANS) of sporting youths through short run spectral analysis of heart rate variability (SA HRV). The testing group consisted of 401 athletes between ages 9 and 18, whose ANS activity was observed and analyzed using the diagnostic system VarCor PF7. The athletes' examination took place in a calm environment without any prior strain. Age, gender, and sport type were the independent variables. The study showed that the ANS activity of measured sporting youth is slightly reduced as compared to that of the same old non-sporting population. The gender-based differences in the ANS activity were not pronounced. The highest activity levels of ANS were achieved by boys aged 16–17 years, and girls aged 14–15 years. Female swimmers and male football (soccer, Am.) players had the highest activity levels, while the students from the high school with sport focus had the worst results. The following phase of research will focus on relation between sport performance, parameters of laboratory examination and activity level of ANS.

• Klíčová slova
• variabilita srdeční frekvence, věk, sportovní odvětví, sportovní výkonnost,
• MeSH
• autonomní nervový systém fyziologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• pohlaví MeSH
• sporty fyziologie   MeSH
• srdeční frekvence fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH

The aim of this article is to acquaint the general public with select socioeconomic status (SES) parameters (type of work, education level, employment category, and net monthly income) of select nationalities (Ukrainians, Slovaks, Vietnamese, Poles, and Russians) from a total of 1,014 immigrants residing in the Czech Republic. It will also present a subjective assessment of socioeconomic status and its interconnection with subjective assessment of health status. This work was carried out as part of the "Social determinants and their impact on the health of immigrants living in the Czech Republic" project (identification number LD 13044), which was conducted under the auspices of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) agency. Quantitative methodology in the form of a questionnaire was selected to facilitate the research aim. Data was processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 16.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson chi-square test, adjusted residual analysis, and multivariate correspondence analysis. The results of these tests demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between subjective assessments of socioeconomic status and the following related select characteristics: type of work performed (manual/intellectual), employment categories, education, and net monthly income. Results indicate that those situated lowest on the socioeconomic ladder feel the poorest in terms of health; not only from a subjective perspective, but also in terms of objective parameter comparisons (e.g. manual laborers who earn low wages). As the level of subjective SES assessment increases, the level of subjective health assessment increases, as well. Thus, the relationship has a natural gradient, as was described by Wilkinson and Marmot in 2003. Our study found no evidence of a healthy immigrant effect. Therefore, it was not possible to confirm that health status deteriorates with length of residence, or that the health status of immigrants with a residence duration of less than 5 to 10 years is statistically significantly better than immigrants who have resided in the Czech Republic for 10 years or more. We conclude that, by increasing the education levels of immigrants, or actively selecting qualified foreign workers (according to set criteria), the number of people in the Czech Republic who positively assess their health status will surge. In terms of prevention, it is essential to focus on manual laborers and to differentiate specific methods to improve their health status (e.g. awareness-raising campaigns in large plants and factories), given that they comprise the weakest group in this regard.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• emigranti a imigranti statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• společenská třída * MeSH
• zaměstnanost statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• zdravotní stav MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

In 2004, Murray et al. reviewed methodological developments in the design and analysis of group-randomized trials (GRTs). We have updated that review with developments in analysis of the past 13 years, with a companion article to focus on developments in design. We discuss developments in the topics of the earlier review (e.g., methods for parallel-arm GRTs, individually randomized group-treatment trials, and missing data) and in new topics, including methods to account for multiple-level clustering and alternative estimation methods (e.g., augmented generalized estimating equations, targeted maximum likelihood, and quadratic inference functions). In addition, we describe developments in analysis of alternative group designs (including stepped-wedge GRTs, network-randomized trials, and pseudocluster randomized trials), which require clustering to be accounted for in their design and analysis.

• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• populační skupiny MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma * MeSH
• shluková analýza * MeSH
• statistické modely MeSH
• výzkumný projekt * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Únava je považovaná za jeden z hlavných príznakov, ktorý sťažuje život pacientom so sclerosis multiplex (SM). Cieľom nášho výskumu bolo zistiť vplyv únavy na fyzickú, kognitívnu a psychosociálnu oblasť života pacientov so SM a zároveň poukázať na význam pravidelnej fyzioterapie v manažmente tohto symptómu. Pre zhodnotenie vplyvu únavy na sledované parametre sme použili medzinárodne akceptovanú Modifikovanú škálu vplyvu únavy (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, MFIS). Výskumu sa zúčastnilo 94 pacientov (priemerný vek 46,22 rokov (SD ?10,54 min. 21 max. 66, z toho 18 mužov a 76 žien), rozdelení boli do troch skupín podľa rozsahu ich fyzickej invalidity. Na získanie sociodemografických a klinických údajov respondenti vyplnili autormi vytvorený dotazník. V sledovaných skupinách sa cítili najmenej unavení pacienti, ktorí sa pravidelne zúčastňovali fyzioterapie. Signifikantný význam pozitívneho vplyvu pravidelnej fyzioterapie na úroveň únavy týchto chorých však nebol použitými štatistickými metódami dokázaný.

Fatigue is considered as one of the main symptoms burdening patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of the research was to investigate the impact of fatigue on physical, cognitive and psychosocial areas of MS patientęs life, and also to focus on the importance of physiotherapy in the management of this symptom. An evaluation of the impact of fatigue on physical, mental and psychosocial areas of MS patientęs life was assessed using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Patients completed by the authors prepared questionnaire that includes questions for investigation of the sociodemographic and clinical data. Total number of investigated responders was consisted of 94 patients with MS. The average age was 46.22 years (SD ? 10.54 min.21 max. 66), from that 18 men and 76 women. In the studied groups of patients the lowest fatigue was experienced by the patients who regularly participated in physiotherapy. In the work has not been confirmed a statistically significant positive effect of regular physiotherapy to the level of fatigue.

• MeSH
• analýza rozptylu MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hodnocení výsledků zdravotní péče statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• roztroušená skleróza * psychologie   rehabilitace   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• spokojenost pacientů MeSH
• stupeň závažnosti nemoci MeSH
• techniky fyzikální terapie * využití   MeSH
• tělesná výkonnost MeSH
• únava * komplikace   prevence a kontrola   rehabilitace   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• tabulky MeSH

OBJECTIVE: Sleep quality is strongly associated with parameters of mental and physical health and therefore a major public health issue. We wanted to evaluate this association in young and healthy students by a survey. Further, we aimed to detect the relevance of sleep onset latency and sleep duration for sleep quality. METHODS: A group of young nursing and technical students was surveyed (N = 196) with the objective to measure subjective sleep quality, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, depression score, physical symptoms, trait-anxiety, and pathological eating behaviours. RESULTS: Subjective sleep quality was strongly negative correlated with depression score (Pearson's r = -0.57), physical symptoms (r = -0.51) and trait-anxiety (r = -0.54) (p < 0.001 for all three). Subjective sleep quality's association with sleep onset latency was stronger than with sleep duration. Further, high depression score (odds ratio OR = 3.90; 95% confidence interval CI = 1.88-8.06) and long sleep onset latency (OR = 3.56; 95% CI = 1.65-7.69) were the best predictors of poor subjective sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports evidence that links physical and mental symptoms with poor sleep quality. Especially important is the fact that we found this connection in young and basically healthy adults. Taking into account that poor sleep quality has major negative long term impact on health, prevention programmes should focus especially on the association between depressive symptoms and subjective sleep quality that is significantly influenced by sleep onset latency.

• MeSH
• deprese epidemiologie   MeSH
• duševní zdraví MeSH
• komorbidita MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• poruchy spánku a bdění epidemiologie   MeSH
• spánek fyziologie   MeSH
• studenti ošetřovatelství psychologie   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• zdravotní stav MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Rakousko MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Models assessing the prospects of plant species at the landscape level often focus primarily on the relationship between species dynamics and landscape structure. However, the short-term prospects of species with slow responses to landscape changes depend on the factors affecting local population dynamics. In this study it is hypothesized that large herbivores may be a major factor affecting the short-term prospects of slow-responding species in the European landscape, because large herbivores have increased in number in this region in recent decades and can strongly influence local population dynamics. METHODS: The impact of browsing by large herbivores was simulated on the landscape-level dynamics of the dry grassland perennial polycarpic herb Scorzonera hispanica. A dynamic, spatially explicit model was used that incorporated information on the location of patches suitable for S. hispanica, local population dynamics (matrices including the impact of large herbivores), initial population sizes and dispersal rate of the species. Simulations were performed relating to the prospects of S. hispanica over the next 30 years under different rates of herbivory (browsing intensity) and varying frequencies of population destruction (e.g. by human activity). KEY RESULTS: Although a high rate of herbivory was detected in most populations of S. hispanica, current landscape-level dynamics of S. hispanica were approximately in equilibrium. A decline or increase of over 20 % in the herbivory rate promoted rapid expansion or decline of S. hispanica, respectively. This effect was much stronger in the presence of population destruction. CONCLUSIONS: Browsing by large herbivores can have a dramatic effect on the landscape dynamics of plant species. Changes in the density of large herbivores and the probability of population destruction should be incorporated into models predicting species abundance and distribution.

• MeSH
• býložravci MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• hustota populace MeSH
• květy MeSH
• počítačová simulace MeSH
• Scorzonera růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• statistické modely * MeSH
• vysoká zvěř MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH