INTRODUCTION: Virus of hepatitis C (HCV) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and cancer, and the most common indication for liver transplantation. In industrialised countries, injecting drug use is currently the most important risk factor for infection with hepatitis C, resulting in high prevalence of hepatitis C among injecting drug users (IDUs). The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of HCV infection and distribution of genotypes among IDUs in the years 2004-2008. PROBANDS AND METHODS: A total number of 846 probands, both sexes (590 males and 256 females) with mean age from 24 to 29 years were investigated in the years 2004-2008. Standard virological tests were performed. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of anti-HCV positivity during the years 2004-2008 were in range 34-78% and positivity of HCV RNA assessed by PCR method were in range 17-71%. The genotypes distribution was in favour of genotype 3. CONCLUSIONS: In Slovakia IDUs represent risk group with high prevalence of hepatitis C. These results are comparable to those published in other European countries.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- Hepacivirus izolace a purifikace MeSH
- hepatitida C epidemiologie přenos MeSH
- intravenózní abúzus drog komplikace MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- protilátky virové krev MeSH
- RNA virová krev MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika epidemiologie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- protilátky virové MeSH
- RNA virová MeSH
INTRODUCTION: The most risk group with high rate of infection of viral hepatitis C represents the former drug abusers (IDUs). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the clinical study were to assess the sustained virological response (SVR) in the group of former IDUs with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 293 previously untreated (naive) former IDUs with CHC who have started treatment, we assessed 239 (69 women, 170 men) with an average age of 27 years who completed treatment and received a follow-up examination after 24 weeks. Prior to therapy abstinence to drug abuse 6 and more months has been required. The CHC has been diagnostics by the standard virological diagnostic tests, increased activity of aminotranferases (ALT) and histology of liver biopsy. Patients were treated with combined immunomodulatory therapy in the standard duration and standard regimen. SVR was considered if qualitative test HCV RNA was negative 24 weeks after the completion of the treatment. RESULTS: End-of-treatment virological response was in 224/94 % patients. Overall SVR rate was 95 %, 227 subjects had negative HCV RNA and only 12 patients no response. During treatment there was a statistically significant decrease in ALT. Treatment was accompanied by the expected side effects. CONCLUSION: Young age, short duration of HCV infection, high prevalence of genotype 3 and low grade of liver fibrosis in majority of patients and good adherence of patients to treatment were crucial predictive factors resulting in high SVR.
- MeSH
- antivirové látky aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- chronická hepatitida C komplikace farmakoterapie virologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- Hepacivirus izolace a purifikace MeSH
- imunologické faktory terapeutické užití MeSH
- interferon alfa aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- intravenózní abúzus drog komplikace MeSH
- kombinovaná farmakoterapie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- polyethylenglykoly aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- protilátky virové krev MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- ribavirin aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- RNA virová analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antivirové látky MeSH
- imunologické faktory MeSH
- interferon alfa MeSH
- peginterferon alfa-2a MeSH Prohlížeč
- polyethylenglykoly MeSH
- protilátky virové MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny MeSH
- ribavirin MeSH
- RNA virová MeSH
Vitamin D status and the relationship between serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations and the components of insulin resistance were examined in 120 patients with chronic kidney disease stage 2 and 3. Insulin sensitivity/resistance was calculated by the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). In this analysis, the prevalence of insulin resistance was 42 %. Only 17 % of patients had serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentration in the recommended range (>/=30 ng/ml), 42 % suffered from vitamin D insufficiency and 41 % had moderate vitamin D deficiency. Insulin resistance significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)(2)D concentrations, renal function and protein excretion rate. Our results support the increasing evidence that vitamin D deficiency may be one of the factors participating in the development of insulin resistance already in the early stages of chronic kidney disease.
- MeSH
- chronická renální insuficience komplikace metabolismus MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
- inzulinová rezistence fyziologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nedostatek vitaminu D krev komplikace epidemiologie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- vitamin D krev 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
- Názvy látek
- vitamin D MeSH
Coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like substance, represents a components of the complex antioxidant system of the human organism. The paper presents its structure, physiological function and the role in the disease pathogenesis with the accent on the supplementation therapy during human immune system disturbances, including infectious and oncological diseases.
- MeSH
- adjuvancia imunologická terapeutické užití MeSH
- antioxidancia metabolismus MeSH
- imunita * MeSH
- koenzymy MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ubichinon analogy a deriváty imunologie fyziologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Názvy látek
- adjuvancia imunologická MeSH
- antioxidancia MeSH
- coenzyme Q10 MeSH Prohlížeč
- koenzymy MeSH
- ubichinon MeSH
Hypokalemia is associated with some renal diseases manifested by renal tubular acidosis (type I and II) or by renal tubular syndrome (Bartter's, Gitelman's and Liddle's syndrome). Bartter's syndrome, originally described by Batter and colleagues in 1962, is a set of closely related renal tubular disorders characterized by hypokalemia, hypochloremia, metabolic alkalosis and hyperreninemia with normal blood pressure. The underlying renal abnormality results in excessive urinary losses of sodium, chloride, potassium and calcium. Muscle weakness, polydipsia, polyuria and mental retardation can be also present. Affected children have poor growth rates and they appear malnourished. The article is focused on ethiopathogenesis, laboratory and clinical characteristics and on the treatment of Bartter's syndrome.
- MeSH
- Bartterův syndrom * diagnóza genetika patofyziologie terapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Treatment by dialyzing represents an important contribution to the therapy of nephropathic patients. On the other hand, besides high financial costs it is not possible to forger significant social and psychic consequences of this therapy. The present paper aimed at a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of the costs of conservative treatment of nephropathic patients. The secondary aim was to compare the costs of conservative treatment in patients with markedly limited renal functions, creatinine clearance (Ccr < 0.4 ml/s), with those in patients with only slightly and medium-reduced renal functions (Ccr 0.4-1 ml/s). Health documentation from three nephrological out-patient surgeries was used to evaluate the results, the criterion for the selection of patients being a nephrological diagnosis with Ccr below 1 ml/s. The group comprised 102 patients aged 21-84 years (average age being 63.99 years), including 56 females (54.9%) and 46 males (45.1%). According to the stage of renal disease, they were divided into two groups. The patients with slightly and medium-reduced renal functions (Ccr 0.4-1.0 ml/s) represented nearly three quarters, whereas the patients with markedly reduced renal functions (Ccr < 0.4 ml/s) only slightly more than one quarter. In the group under study, the pharmacotherapeutic costs represented 2,889,778.0 SK/year (28,331.16 SK/1 patient/1 day), in patients with renal insufficiency the costs being markedly higher (47,427.3 SK/1 patient/1 day in comparison with 21,456.7 SK/1 patient/1 day). Of total pharmacotherapeutic costs, 29.38% was represented by antihypertensive agents, 24.47% by preparations supplementing essential amino acids, 14.83% by hypolipidemic agents, 14.37% by preparations supplementing calcium, 6.19% by antianaemic agents, and 7.76% by other drugs. The results demonstrate that pharmacotherapy of renal diseases is costly but in comparison with elimination methods (dialysis) it is incomparably less expensive. The spectrum of employed agents is in agreement with the present-day trends in conservative treatment which decelerates the progress of nephropathies.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- náklady na léky * MeSH
- nemoci ledvin farmakoterapie ekonomika MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři 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
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
The present paper aims to analyze therapeutic trends in allergic rhinitis and their relationships to selected pharmacoeconomic parameters. Health and Disease out-patient records from three out-patient allergologic-immunologic surgeries in the towns of Trencín, Nové Zámky, and Bratislava were surveyed. The analysis is based on the recorded prescription of drugs prescribed to the patients in the period of his or her "most recent season" in the years 1999-2000. Altogether 279 records (164 females, 115 males) were evaluated. The highest percentage of pollinotics was dispensed in Bratislava (73%) followed by Nové Zámky (55%) and Trencín (31%). In all three out-patient surgeries, the dominant therapy was a combination of specific immunotherapy (SIT) and antihistanime treatment (AH, 70-75%). Average costs for one day of treatment of allergic rhinitis in the out-patient surgeries under study did not significantly differ (22.20-24.50 Sk, the average value of the daily defined dose being 23.20 Sk). Due to confused kept records, the economic analysis did not take into account the financial costs connected with SIT. The present analysis shows a positive state in the field of diagnostics, connected with improved identification of the inducing allergen and application of causal therapy based on SIT (72%). Approximately one third of patients (27%) received only solo medicamentous therapy without application of SIT, and the SIT therapy alone was received by less than 2% of patients (1.4%).
- MeSH
- antialergika ekonomika MeSH
- celoroční alergická rýma farmakoterapie ekonomika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- náklady na léky MeSH
- sezónní alergická rýma farmakoterapie ekonomika MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antialergika MeSH
BACKGROUND: Coenzyme Q10 belongs to important antioxidants and it has a key role in the synthesis of adenosinetriphosphate. Its beneficial effect was proved in several diseases, e.g. in mitochondrial encephalopathy, mitochondrial myopathy, mitochondrial cardiomyopathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All 15 patients of the studied group (5 with tubulopathy and 10 with chronic tubulointersticial nephritis) received antioxidative therapy for three months (E vitamin, C vitamin, riboflavin) and for the last two months coenzyme Q10 was added. Renal functions, spectrum of lipids, parameters of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), levels of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10. RESULTS: Before the substitutive antioxidative treatment, coenzyme Q10 levels reached in blood 0.11 +/- 0.03 mumol/l and 0.15 +/- 0.04 mumol/l in plasma. These values were well below the reference range (rr) is 0.4 +/- 1.0 mumol/l). After the substitution coenzyme Q10 levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) to the values of 1.66 +/- 0.16 mumol/l in blood and to 1.78 +/- 0.27 mumol/l in plasma. Plasma levels of beta-carotene increased from the markedly subnormal values 0.25 +/- 0.07 mumol/l (rr > 0.8 mumol/l) to 0.56 +/- 0.02 mumol/l (no statistical difference). Plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol remained within the reference range 32.15 +/- 4.73 mumol/l (rr 15-30 mumol/l) and they increased up to the plasma level of 44.83 +/- 5.82 mumol/l during the period of testing. Malondialdehyde levels did not significantly change within the testing period. No changes in renal functions and parameters of lipid metabolism were described. Patients well tolerated the treatment and no adverse effects were seen during the period of observation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results ascertained that levels of antioxidant CoQ10 were lower in patients with nephropathy who underwent conservative treatment with peroral substation. Such deficit can be amended by CoQ10 administration, which could be therefore taken as complementary treatment of nephrology.
- MeSH
- antioxidancia metabolismus terapeutické užití MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- intersticiální nefritida krev farmakoterapie patofyziologie MeSH
- koenzymy MeSH
- ledviny patofyziologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- malondialdehyd krev MeSH
- nemoci ledvin krev farmakoterapie patofyziologie MeSH
- renální tubulární acidóza krev farmakoterapie patofyziologie MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ubichinon analogy a deriváty krev terapeutické užití MeSH
- vitaminy krev 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
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- klinické zkoušky MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antioxidancia MeSH
- coenzyme Q10 MeSH Prohlížeč
- koenzymy MeSH
- malondialdehyd MeSH
- ubichinon MeSH
- vitaminy MeSH
Mitochondrial diseases, rated as rarities in paediatrics and neurology, become more and more often diagnosed in various body systems. In nephrology, mitochondrial defects play an important role in the pathogeny of tubular syndromes, interstitial nephritis, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and probably also some other diseases. Review is aimed to point out such defects and to form conditions for their diagnosis and therapy.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mitochondriální myopatie komplikace MeSH
- nemoci ledvin diagnóza etiologie terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Nimodipine, a calcium antagonist, was administered to 33 patients with subarachnoidal haemorrhage as prophylaxis of late ischaemic neurological deficiency. Despite the relatively high frequency of vasospasm during repeated angiographic examinations (27%), the general therapeutic effect in the group of treated patients was favourable. 52% patients improved and had no or only a minimal neurological deficit. Possible mechanisms of the favourable effect of nimodipine in subarachnoidal haemorrhage are mentioned in the discussion.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nimodipin terapeutické užití MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- subarachnoidální krvácení komplikace MeSH
- tranzitorní ischemická ataka etiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- nimodipin MeSH
