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The unstable plaque plays a key role in the development of acute coronary syndromes. The possibility of its detection and therapeutic influence significantly affects the prognostic stratification of the ischemic heart disease (IHD).The objective of this paper is to examine, using the selected serum inflammatory marker, the lipid spectrum, and the non-invasive coronarography, the possibility of detection of unstable plaques in the coronary bed and its use in the secondary prevention. The set consisted of 107 patients with various forms of ischemic heart disease divided into four basic groups according to diagnosis and coronarographic findings. All the patients have been tested for the serum levels of the hsC-reactive protein and the lipid spectrum.We have detected a substantially higher occurrence of soft unstable plaques and serum level of hsC-reactive protein in patients with the acute coronary syndrome. The presence of the soft unstable plaques was significantly associated with the increased levels of the C-reactive protein and the total level of cholesterol. A significant change in time for all the laboratory parameters occurred after the application of the "plaque-stabilizing" treatment. The comparison of the levels of the C-reactive protein demonstrated a difference between the acute coronary syndrome and ischemic heart disease groups (p < 0.01) but there is no difference between the groups with the calcified coronary atherosclerosis and unstable plaque. The occurrence of the ACS and sudden cardiac death during the time of research was not associated with the existence of unstable plaques or diagnosis. We have found out through the progress analysis of the serum levels of hsC- reactive protein that the existence of the monitored complications was associated with the level of the hsC-reactive protein above 2 mg/l.Conclusion: Our "plaque-stabilizing" treatment accompanied with significant changes in the serum levels of the laboratory monitored parameters has balanced the risk of acute complications in all the sample subgroups. Such treatment is not able to eliminate the acute complications of the ischemic heart disease but, in the case of the verified unstable plaques, it can effectively decrease the risk of their occurrence.

In recent decades, an attention has been given to new-appearing infections, currently be referred to as the emerging infectious diseases. West Nile fever is ranked among these infections i.a. The disorders are caused by mosquito-borne West Nile flavivirus. The asymptomatic course of illness is usual but an onset of aseptic meningitis or encephalitis may be reported. The Hantavirus infections are classified in that group as well. In natural foci, they circulate among rodents even in Europe including the Czech Republic and they produce a haemorrhagic fever with a renal syndrome or a hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. In the nineties of the last century, Hendra and Nipah viruses were discovered and revealed mainly as the causes of encephalitis. Bats are a natural reservoir of these viruses. Marburg and Ebola viruses are counted among the deadliest micro-organisms humankind has ever met. They induce a haemorrhagic fever with a high lethality. The Sub Saharan Africa is the enzootic region of these filoviruses above all. New phenomenons are both SARS and avian influenza. Both disorders are characterized by an involvement of respiratory tract. The importance of the disorders for the mankind will be known only in the future. No doubt it is very important to profound our knowledge not only as the mankind population concerns, but also other animal associations and ecosystems of the Earth too.

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage, usually served hot, prepared from roasted seeds of a coffee plant. In terms of money, coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, that is outclassed only by petroleum. Even though substances in coffee have relatively small health effects they are widely discussed by the public. Coffee is one of mankind's main sources of caffeine, compound with a stimulating effect. Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive "drug" in the world and probably one of the most commonly used stimulants in sports. Its potential benefits and hazards have been, and continue to be, widely studied and discussed. For example it is supposed that caffeine in coffee increases the risk of hypertension. The aim of this paper is to present a view of toxicologist of drinking of coffee.

The study pays attention to toxinogenic fungi producing mycotoxin ochratoxin A. Its toxicity, the method of exposure evaluation, health risks and the danger to the population are mentioned. Patients with chronic renal insuficiency, who in a significant way accumulate OTA in the blood serum and probably in the kidneys, are considered the risk group. The method of OTA determination in the kidneys with the aim of investigating OTA concentrations in the ordinary population and also in people who died due to chronic renal insuficiency has been worked Out.

23. May 1997, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

The paper presents time trends in cardiovasculardisease risk factors. This paper shows the results of 4 cross-sectional studies of medical students from 1996 to 1999. The analysis includes data from 298 males and 440 females. The evaluated risk factors include: BMI (Body Mass Index), body fat percentage, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plus total and HDL blood cholesterol. From the time trend results it is possible to evaluate the negative increase in total blood cholesterol, variation of the HDL cholesterol and the BMI male increasing trend. As a positive factor an increasing time for physical activity, low arithmetic mean values of blood pressure and a stagnating smoking prevalence could be assessed. Similar results are also found in papers by other authors. This paper does not evaluate nutritional food intake which is also an important cardiovascular risk factor.

The authors give a historical overview of the development of aviation medical assessment in Czechoslovakia from the 1920s to the present. The medical assessment of aviators has always been tightly connected with preventive measures and treatment procedures of the Institute of Aviation Medicine, delivered to military and civilian flying personnel. The main working activity of this discipline has been the selection of applicants for flight training and the selection of pilots, appropriate for retraining in supersonic aeroplanes. It has also been engaged in the problems of early diagnostics, treatment, preventive measures and of flight fitness assessment in cases of the most frequent and/or more serious diseases, including basic and Specific follow-up. Since the early 1970s the waiver problems in flight personnel under continuous medication have been Solved with very good results. At the same time this discipline has concentrated on the Subject of the medical fitness of ageing fliers. The long-term monitoring of the health status and Systematic analysis of the main causes for grounding military and civilian flying personnel, respectively have ranked among the Specıfities and priorities of Czechoslovak/Czech aviation medical assessment Since 1956. The centralisation of aviation medical assessment in a Single facility - the Institute ofAviation Medicine - has seemed very useful both from the economic and professional points of view.

This study disscuses the effect of electromagnetic fields on the autonomous nervous system (ANS) Of a human being. Within the periodical preventive examinations of professional flight technicans, we monitored under laboratory conditions the effects of electromagnetic fields using heart frequency variability spectral analysis. The results of the examination showed that the electromagtIetic field caused in the ANS a stress reaction manifested by an increased sympathicotonia. This knowledge can be applied when assigning persons to different places of work having exposure to electromagnetic fields. Early preventive measures can prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Strychnine is a poisonous indole alkaloid which was first identified in plants of the Strychnos genus and Loganiaceae family. It is an extremely toxic compound. Strychnine is rapidly absorbedfrom the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and causes failure of the central nervous system and induces seizures. The principal symptom is strong convulsions, sometimes beginning within a few minutes of ingestion and it may be fatal. Any sound or movement may elicit seizure activity. Other symptoms include: muscular cramps (especially in the neck and back), joint stiffness, muscle twitching, restlessness, headache, severe blood-oxygen deficiency in body tissues and cyanosis. Kidney failure may occur as a secondary effect of central nervous system toxicity. Death often occurs due to respiratory arrest. Strychnine is a substantial component of arrow curare poison.

The aim of this study is to present selected life-style characteristics in university students, important from the point of view of cardiovascular risk and intersexual differences which occurred from 1992 to 2002. A total of 3172 medical students participated (1185 men, 1987 women, the average age being 22.38±1.34 years). The occurrence of psychogenic stress was increasing (32.8% of students in 1992 and 46.5% in 2002, p<0.001). The opposite situation exists with sport activity: the number of students with low physical activity increased from 13.2% to 36.9% in 2002 (p<0. 001). Women more frequently use hormonal contraception (0.5% in 1992; 26.9% in 2002, p<0. 001). Men still smoke more than women (21.6% vs. 12.2%, p=0.025). While nutrition and the way of eating were changed (meat, milk andfruit consumption decreased; ,the consumption of cereals and legumes increased) typical intersexual differences were preserved.

The aim of this Study was to find the incidence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Slovak population and to motivate the working population, by targetted intervention, to actively take care of its own health.
The examined group. The project was carried out at twelve workplaces in Slovakia from June to September 2001. 1,503 workers took part in it (48.3% men and 51.7 % women). Their average age was 41.7±9.3 years.
The results. The most important life-Style factors are smoking, a high amount of Stress both at work and at home, insufficient physical activity and Some bad aspects of nutrition. The high incidence of obesity, unfavourable TK values in men, insufficient hypertension treatment eflectivity and worse lipid metabolism indicators in men are the most severe factors from the objective examinations. All indicator values get worse with age. Only 6.3% of men and 14.8% of women had all their examination results within normal limits.
Conclusion. The worst results from the objective examinations with the highest average number of riskfactors were found in persons with elementary education, in people working manually, in Smokers, and in physicially non-active and obese persons.

This article presents the results of a six-year monitoring of selected life-style risk factors (smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, coffee drinking, and hormonal anticonception) and positive family and personal case histories in connection with cardiovascular risk during the monitoring of students in the 5th year of medicine at the Jessenius Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Martin, Slovakia. 501 students were evaluated (216 men and 285 women) in the form of an anonymous questionnarie survey carried out from 1998 to 2003. The following five personal case history data were monitored: hypertension, myocardial infarct, congenital heart defects, angina pectoris and acquired diseases. In the family case history the following data were monitored: acute myocardial infarct, atherosclerosis, sudden death up to the age of 65, hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus. Quite a high percentage of cardiovascular diseases was found in family members, which confirms that cardiovascular diseases are the number one case of mortality in Slovakia. The results of the personal case histories were good because these results concerned young and quite healthy people. Based on our evaluation of the life-style risk factors of the university students monitored, they should stop smoking, use drugs carefully, only use the amount of alcohol recommended by WHO, change their nutritional habits and increase their physical activity. In case the students do not change their life-style, the risk of cardiovascular diseases with their increasing age will be high because of the bad family case histories.

This study tests the hypothesis of the caloric restriction effect on the antioxidative state of the organism in obese patients during the course of reduction therapy with a low energy diet. By achieving an average weight reduction of 10% using a diet with 5 MJ contents and with a high proportion off ruits and vegetables (1.7 MJ), HDL and total antioxidative potential have increased significantly statistically. An increased lipolysis in ersons reducing their weight probably increases the lipoperoxidation products in plasma. The method used for their determination is not, however, specific. The glutathionperoxidase activity is not increasing significantly.

In the course of past years one notes a growth of infections, with yeast likefungi of mucous membrane, to the skin of hand and feet (3, 8). In epidemiological research in Poland, yeast like fungi accounted for 27.8—36.8% of the composition of the flora of the mycosis concerning human population....

The aim of our study was to conduct an anonymous questonnaire inquiry concerning the health risk selfperception of workers in various professions. Their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour concerning essential health questions were also assessed. So far we have analysed 574 questionnaires from 242 teachers from all school levels, 170factory workers who were mostly from risky professions and 160 health professionals (doctors and nurses). Our results show that our respondents are exposed to a number of riskfactors resulting from their professions, but above all, from their lifestyle. Nevertheless, marked differences can be found among individual professional groups. The worst situation was found in the group of factory workers. They are the group most exposed to negative lifestyle factors (59% of them smoke, 42% sufier from overweight and 18% from obesity); they have bad nutrition habits and low physical activity. In this group we also see the biggest risk accumulation. Factory workers significantly underestimate this situation, they are not aware of the risks (47%), and if they are, they do not wish to solve the situation (29%). The same holds true for appreciating the role of health prevention — 34% of workers do not participate in preventive check-ups carried out by general practitioners, 32% do not participate in stomatological prevention, 72% do not know their blood pressure level and 94% of them do not know their cholesterol level. We also confirmed significant risk underestimation in the group of teachers and medical workers, in spite of their high level of education.

This study describes the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase with high doses of pyridostigmine (100 and 200mg/kg of pyridostigmine bromide) in selected parts of a laboratory rat brain (frontal cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus) This study is also focused on a comparison of the influence of various methods of processing brain tissue including perfusion on acetylcholinesterase activity. When using the above-mentioned pyridostigmine doses the inhibition of brain AchE has been proven in all selected parts of the brain tissue. Various methods of tissue processing did not influence acetylcholinesterase activity significantly.

The lungs are organs that are constantly under the attack of ubiquitous inert particles and micro—organisms. The lungs represent the natural site of entry for micro-organisms into the body and understanding the innate and adaptive immune response mechanisms after aerogenic infection is of great importance. The non-adaptive immune response is created by several basic defence mechanisms. Physical lung defence includes the removal of inhaled material by mucociliary clearance, physiological defence (mediated by soluble proteins, immunoglobulin A or complement factor C3) and bacteriostatic or bactericidal protein activity. The cell mechanisms include the activity of macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, dendritic cells and epithelial cells. All these cells are able to directly eliminate some of the micro-organisms and can induce an adaptive immune response in which mainly activated macrophages and T— and B-cells participate. Such a response is antigen-specific and its aim is to eliminate encapsulated and intracellular micro-organisms and to establish a resistance to re-infection.

Using originally developed method for monitoring of rat blood acetylcholinesterase activity, the toxicity and half-times of enzyme inhibition in vivo were compared following intoxication with highly toxic organophosphates of O-alkyl S-2-dialkylaminoethyl methyl phosphonothiolate type. A linear relationship between these two parameters was demonstrated. On the other hand, similar correlation for sarin and soman was not found. It suggests that mechanism of the toxic effect ofphosphonofluoridates covers more reactions in comparison with phosphonothiolates.

Centrally mediated seizures are one of the toxic signs that occur following poisoning with a very toxic organophosphate (OP) soman (pinacolyl methyl phosphonofluoridate). They are belived to be primarily due to hyperactivity of the cholinergic system as a result of decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) activity and increased endogenous acetylcholine (ACh) level at central neuronal synapses.
This convulsive activity creates a problem for medical management and, if uncontrolled, can lead to brain damage. A combined regimen of prophylaxis and therapy, consisting of pretreatment with pyridostygmine and treatment with atropine and oxime (mostly HI-6), is now generally agreed to be the most effective medical countermeasure for dealing with these poisonings (Dunn and Sidell, 1989; Moore et al., 1995)....

The antitumorous treatment has a lot of side effects. One of them is also cardiac toxicity. The study focuses on using electrocardiography in monitoring of acute cardiac toxicity induced by anthracyclines. There were 15 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome participating in the study. The patients were treated by induction chemotherapy containing anthracyclines (idarubicin, daunorubicin or mitoxantron). The study shows the suitability of using electrocardiography to monitor acute cardiac toxicity of anthracyclines, particularly important is the prolongation of QTc interval, which can cause ventricular arrhythmias severely threatening the patient. In our group, the significant QTc interval prolongation (above 440 ms) was seen in 3 (20 %) patients.

We studied radiosenzitivity of neural stem cells (NSCs) by widely used functional test and by method with adherent NSCs. NSCs were given 0-8 Gy, cultivated floating in medium (Group N) or finally adhered to polyornitine-coated Petri dishes (Group A). After 6 generation times neurospheres were fixed, stained and their numbers were counted. Finally adherent NSCs showed significantly higher radiosenzitivity than non-adherent NSCs from the dose of 0.5 Gy. Average D0 of group A was 1.85 Gy; average D0 of group N was counted as low as 0.96 Gy.We assume that the functional test widely used for influences determination to NSCs is not valid for NSCs radiosensitivity measurement. Additionally, NSCs radiosensitivity test should be performed with adherent NSCs.

This study analyzes possibilities of the use of biodosimetric methods in military practice. It also mentions information concerning limited use of these methods. Subsequently it contains a summary of the most important facts concerning radiation-induced mechanisms at the molecular level, in paticular those concerning p53 activation, induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and related activation of the MAP kinase pathway at the molecular level.

A new, highly sensitive capillary zone electrophoresis methodfor determination of huperzine A, a perspective prophylactic antidote against militarily important nerve agents and anti-Alzheimer's disease drug, was developed. Huperzine A is an alkaloid isolated from the Chinese club moss Huperzia serrata. The absorption spectra and electrophoretic behaviour of the compound were studied. The compound shows two absorption maxima (λ_max 230 and 310 nm). The protonation constant was determined by spectrophotometry and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and the recommended value is pK = 7.70 ± 0.07. A CZE method for the determination of huperzine A in pharmaceutical tablets and serum has been developed. This method is based on separation of the compound as a protonated species with electrophoretic mobility determined as 50.7x 10^-9 m²V^-1S^-1. The optimal separation conditions were.“ acetate bujfer (pH4.60,' 20 mM) as a background electrolyte, a separation voltage of 20 kV,“ a temperature of 25°C, hydrodynamic injection 10 s and detection at wavelengths 230 and 310 nm. The analyses were run in an uncoated fused-silica capillary with a total length of 47.5 cm (39.0 cm to the detector) and the 75 μm I.D. Detection limit was found to be 70 μg/l. The method of huperzine A determination was applied for analysis of two pharmaceutical products. The results were found to be in good agreement with the declared amount. The precision of the method is ± 2.30 % rel. The method for determination of huperzine A in serum was also developed with a detection limit of 110 ug/l which is applicableforpharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring of this compound

In the present-day life conditions, the number and intensity of heavy physical work, which has to be done by an average man in every day life, decreases. Physical efforts are still an element of much kind of the professional jobs. They have been and will be a part of general human activity....

The author describes the organizational structure and subordination of a forward surgical team which is a part of the USA Armed Forces Medical Service. During his study stay the author was acquainted with the activity of this facility and he actively participated in the forward surgical team training.

In our previous pharmacological evaluations of isolated organs (the atrium, the trachea and the aorta), we confirmed the effect of a new synthetized (4-fluorphenyl) piperazine derivative on the cardiovascular system (I). Specific influencing of the myocardium and a relatively high vasodilatative activity (2) led us to targeted morphometric and histological analysis of myocardium structure and aortal wall changes after a short-term IIIv agent application.
A seven day 5 and 50 mg/kg administration of IIIv agent to rats led to a significant decrease in heart weight. In the 50 mg/kg dose we monitored a statistically significant narrowing of the aortal wall (96,4 ± 20,31μm) in comparison with the control group which was not accompanied by structural abnormalities of the aortal vascular wall. A histological analysis of myocardium, liver and kidney tissue insections did not show any changes in their architecture after the application of both IIIv agent doses.

The authors inform us about the aetiological agent of mass toxic damage to the Skin of 28 Czech Army soldiers. The reader is provided with an overview of natural furocumarines which are the aetiological agents of skin infection and are produced by some well-known plants and also with clinical symptoms of health damage. History proves that human beings have known about plants producing phototoxic compounds as their natural way of defence since time immemorial and have used them for therapeutic purposes up to now. At the end of the article the authors disscuss simple preventive measures during contact with parsnip and other similar plants.

Francisella tularensis is the Gram - negative, facultative intracellular bacterium which is able to cause tularemia. It can survive in macrophages or hepathocytes. Francisella tularensis is devided into four subspecies F. tularensis subsp. tularensis, F tularensis subsp. palearctica, F. tularensis subsp. mediaasiatica, F tularensis subsp. palearctica japonica. Live attenuated Vaccine Strain (LVS) Selected from a mixture of attenuated strains is used as an experimental model for human infection in mıce....

Francisella tularensis is the ethiological agent of tularemia, an infection of humans and other mammals. The laboratory diagnosis of human tularemia is based on serological tests. However, there is a lack of information about the Francisella tularensis antigens inducing antibody response to date. Except for the complex antigen preparations as sonicated whole bacteria [Viljanen 1983], only the Francisella lipopolysaccharide [Carlsson 1979] and the partially purified fraction containing outer membrane antigens [Bevanger 1988] have been described as immunogens suitable for diagnostic purposes. Proteome technology, based on two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting and identification of protein spots by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF), is the current method of choice for analysis of antigenic repertoire in bacterial pathogens. In the case of F. tularensis, 2D-immunoblotting approach has the potential to reveal new Francisella specific markers suitable for diagnostic purposes as well as potentially protective antigens useful for the construction of subunit vaccine.

The influence of L-carnitine, which is known to enhance the penetration of some chemical compounds through the biological barrier, on the central reactivating efficacy of the oxime HI-6 was studied in rats poisoned with highly toxic organophosphate soman.
The influence of L-carnitine on the central reactivating effects of the oxime HI-6 was evaluated through a comparison of acetylcholinesterase activity in erythrocytes, the diaphragm and various parts of the brain in rats poisoned with soman and treated with the oxime HI-6 and atropine that were perorally or intraperitoneally pretreated with L-carnitine at various doses with the non-pretreated rats. The activity of acetylcholinesterase was measured 30 min following Soman challenge.
Our results show that L-carnitine is not able to significantly influence the reactivating efficacy of the oxime HI-6 in soman-poisoned rats regardless of the dose and route of administration. Thus, L-carnitine is not suitable for the pretreatment of poisonings with organophosphorous compounds.