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This study observes the development of apoptotic changes in type II pneumocytes in a time interval of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 12 weeks after local irradiation of the lungs with 15 Gy. We also measured the number of neutrophils in the lung tissue. Elevation of the apoptotic cells was observed 2 weeks and 4 weeks after irradiation. An increase in neutrophil infiltration was observedfrom 5 weeks after irradiation.

Nutrition plays an important role not only for the healthy development of personality, but also in promotion or, on the other hand, in prevention of chronic non - communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to describe the quality of infant nutrition using inventory analysis. A sample of 100 infants, randomly selected, was examined with 68% respondence of24-hour dietary records written by their mothers. The results show a lower energy intake, especially carbohydrates in comparison with Czech recommended dietary allowances, as well as a mildly lower intake of calcium, iron, and iodine and a moderately low daily intake of vitamin D and zinc.

Chemoprotective substances comprise a large (broad) group of natural substances occurring in plant foods. In humans, they exert a lot (plenty) of biological effects mostly by having a favourable influence on the health, especially as anticarcinogens and antiatherogenic agens. Antioxidant defense mechanisms as well as a stimulation and/or inhibition of enzymes engaged in various metabolic or regulation processes such as controlling the detoxification activities, signal transduction, cell division and apoptosis and lipid metabolism are of the particular significance regarding the biological activites of these substances. A support and promotion of health through prevention of cardiovascular and tumor diseases and the reduction of the other health risks is a very real consequence of sufi‘icient and regular intake offood containing the chemoprotective factors.

The aim of the study was to assess the intake (by various routes of exposure) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) by children living in a city and its effect on the excretion of I-hydroxypyrene (1 -OHP)during the summer and winter periods. Four groups of children (3-6 years Old) were chosen: (1) two groups (summer/winter) from a kindergarten situated in the city center with a higher traffic density („polluted kindergarten”); (2) two groups (summer/winter) from a kindergarten situated in a green zone of the same city „non-polluted kindergarten"). Food consumption was recorded in all children and the pyrene intake from foodstuffs was estimated. Ambient air samples were collected on the playground and inside kindergartens. Soil samples were collected, too. Morning and evening urine samples were collected during sampling days. In both seasons, the mean outdoor total PAH concentration (sum of 12 individual PAH) in the „polluted kindergarten" was approximately 3 times higher than that in the „non-polluted kindergarten”. Indoor concentration in the ,,polluted kindergarten” was more than 6 times higher than that in the „nOn-polluted kindergarten" in summer and almost 3 times higher in winter. The same trend was observed for pyrene and for the carcinogenic PAH sum. The contribution to the total pyrene absorbed dose from food consumption was much more important than that from inhalation and from ingestion of soil dust. Significantly higher urinary concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene (evening samples) were found in children from the „polluted kindergarten” in both seasons. The number of significant relationships between I-OHP and the daily pyrene absorbed dose from food and air was weak.

This paper presents current knowledge about the general functions and interactions of intercellular adhesion molecule I (ICAM-I) as well as the influence of ionizing irradiation on its expression. The presence of ICAM-1 is essential for leucocyte cell penetration through the vascular wall in the interstitial tissues of  arious organs. The overexpression of ICAM-1 is potentiated by TNF-α and IL-1β, and by proinflammatory cytokines which mediate the general proinflammatory cytokine cascade responsible for inflammatory development of all etiologies, not only irradiation one.

This paper presents current knowledge about classification, general functions, and interactions of integrin superfamily molecules. Since the initial characterization of the integrin family in the late 1980s, there have been numerous reports of integrin modulation during such processes as the development of wound healing, inflammation, carcinogenesis, and metastasis. The possible ways of integrin expression changes and the present and future role of integrins in radiobiology are described herein.

Methods to analyze toxic scheduled chemicals (TSC) and their decomposition products in environmental samples have been developed and are widely used. However, methods for such analyses in biological samples have only recently been developed. Retrospective detection of exposure to TSC can be useful for various reasons. First of all, such analytical methods can be used to establish firmly whether casualties have indeed been exposed to these chemicals, whereas dosimetry of the exposure will be a starting point for medical treatment of the intoxication. Second, these methods will be useful for verification of alleged non-adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Moreover, these methods can be used for health surveillance of workers in destruction facilities of chemical warfare agents and in forensic analyses in case of suspected terrorist activities. In this presentation an overview is given of the methods currently available for detection of exposure to sulfur mustard, nerve agents, lewisite and phosgene. In this report an overview is presented of the methods currently available for detection of exposure to sulfur mustard, nerve agents, lewisite and phosgene.

Organophosphates are compounds that are commonly used as pesticides and furthermore conceivable as chemical warfare agents. These compounds are also used for medical treatment in diseases like glaucoma and Alzheimer’s. All of the promising leads to date are based on observations made from in vivo studies conducted in animals and humans, and therefore have a strong mechanistic foundation. A current basic shift in the ethical, scientific and commercial engagement for alternatives to animal experimentation have engaged scientists from academia and industry to the development of alternative, non-animal test methods for assessing the toxic effect of a chemical.

Phenytoin (sodium salt), a developmental neurotoxicant, was administered orally by gavage (150 mg/kg) to pregnant rats on days 7—18 of gestation. Various developmental and behavioural indices were evaluated. This study suggest that prenatal phenytoin exposure may result in developmental, behavioural deficits and neurochemical changes.

Selective biodistribution (targeted to liver only, without adverse reactions in other organs) of a model cytostatic agent, ¹³¹I-radiolabelled docetaxel, was studied with lipiodol (20% emulsion of lipophilic x-ray contrast, ethiodized poppy seed oil) as an excipient. ¹³¹I-lipiodol alone was compared with a mixture of ¹³¹I-alocetaxel + non-radiolabelled lipiodol. Emulsions were administered to rabbits in ketamine-xylasine anaesthesia by slow infusion either to v. portae (after laparotomy) or to v. jugularis. Time-dependence of biodistribution was qualitatively estimated by 12-min whole body scintigraphy with gammacamera, whereas samples of blood and organs (taken in the pharmacokinetic "steady-state"), measured by gammacounter, yielded quantitative data of radioactivity in individual body compartments. Preferential accumulation was observed for both emulsions: ¹³¹I-lipiodol alone, intraportally, showed initial radioactivity localization in the liver and a slightly delayed pulmonary distribution, whereas the ¹³¹I-docetaxel-lipiodol mixture, after the initial capture in liver and lungs, showed some radioactivity spreading to other body areas incl. head and bile. For intrajugulary administration of lipiodol alone, localization was observed in the order: pulmonary area, upper abdomen (liver, spleen); for the ¹³¹I-docetaxel-lipiodol mixture, capture proceeds through lungs and abdomen (liver, spleen, kidneys), too, spreading further to head and other organs.

In the study of effect of New Chemical Entity (NCE) entering in organism it is advantageous to know the concentration of its loading the single organs and tissues. The greater stress is, the higher probability of undesirable effect and higher influence of pathologically changed organ function on effect kinetics and dosing can originate. The indicator of the stress degree can be the extraction potency (EP) of organ and tissues calculated using AUCS of plasma levels after administration of NCE in part of blood circuit before and after supplying the studied organ or area (2). Subtracting relation between these AUCS from one it is possible obtain the EP of studied organ (3)....

Medical facilities and health care in the Bulgarian Army were insufficient at the beginning of the Balkan Wars and that is why the Bulgarian Red Cross decided to ask foreign countries for help.
A great charity campaign took place in Prague. An auxiliary corps of physicians with the head of Prof. Kukula was formed and its mission was to ensure and organize the Czech physiacians’ participation....

It has been hypothesized that the extreme psychophysical strain to which some of the military population (e. g., diver-commandos, air pilots, submarine personnel, radar operators) is frequently exposed, can trigger the O₂ radical cascade and lipid peroxidation, thereby exacerbating body oxidative stress. When provided with antioxidative machinery (i.e. antioxidant molecules and enzymes), aerobic cells can cope with the reactive oxygen species. For this reason, a diet rich in antioxidant nutrients is of great importance for health preservation in individuals exposed to a hazardous environment, extensive sunlight, or arduous physical tasks. The main aim of this prospective study was to investigate safe natural antioxidants derived from Croatian endemic plants, used as food additives acting as efficient free radical scavengers. Preliminary data revealed that the propolis from Croatia has a high antioxidative efliciency. Peroxide values were measured at regular intervals after in vitro fat oxidation at 60 °C. Preliminary results indicate that natural bioactive substances rich in bioflavonoids might prove highly beneficial for the health of the military population.

A total of 12 physicochemical parameters in water samples from the military units’ own water wells were examined. The content of nitrates, chlorides, water hardness and pH range were in accordance with regulations obligatory in Poland in all of the tested samples. In 30 % of military units water exceeded the permitted content of manganese, iron, turbidity and colour.

During the 1990s depleted uranium began to be used in military industry for the production of armoured shields and ammunition prepared for the destruction of tanks and armoured vehicles. The use of ammunition containing depleted uranium in military conflicts brings with it the danger of exposing participants in military conflicts to uranium. Inhalation exposures are considered to be the most dangerous. Depleted uranium is harmful especially from the point of view of its chemical toxicity. Basic knowledge about the toxikinetics and toxidynamics of uranium with a stress on its possible acute toxic effects on various organ systems is described in this article. The most important hazard of exposure to uranium is its nephrotoxicity; nevertheless, its reproduction toxicity, genotoxicity and teratogenicity are not negligible either.

The etiology of Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegenerative disorder with impairment of cognitive functions and the loss of memory, is unknown. The deficit of the brain acetylcholine and cholinergic neurotransmission insufficence in Alzheimer’s patient is commonly accepted now. The key role of acetylcholinesterase, an important enzyme of cholinergic transmission in the etiology as well as in the therapy of Alzheimer’s disease is discussed in this paper.

The research to find better medicaments against Alzheimer’s disease is going on continuos. New drugs are under different levels of study. Galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, is in phase III (clinical trials) in Austria. In this communication, the results of its determination in biological fluids and pharmaceutical preparations using capillary zone electrophoresis are presented.

9. - 11. October 1997, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Apoptosis, contrary to necrosis, is a specific phenomenon at the end of a cell-life. This paper presents current knowledge about apoptosis development and mechanisms, a new categorisation of apoptosis by time and by type of its development mechanisms. Next, two points of no return for the apoptotic process as well as the possibilities of detection in experimental work are described. Finally, possibilities for the use of apoptosis in clinical practice are mentioned.

To provide a higher level of health care for career soldiers there were particular changes even in the area of primary prevention. Since 2000 an extended preventive examination will be performed on all career soldiers. This examination will contain in addition an extended anthropometrical examination, the evaluation of functional fitness through a step-test and a psychological examination by means of a questionnaire. The author writes in more detail about some methods used within the extended preventive examinations and describes in greater detail some other methods from the area of functional examinations which can be used in the long-term in primary prevention in the Czech Army.

Within the programme of extended preventive care in the Czech Army 6658 career soldiers have been examined. 30.5% of them have a low family case history, two thirds have a medium one and 3% have a high family case history in the area of noninfectious diseases of mass incidence. 65% are non-smokers, 20% smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day. More than half the people state that they have an office job. Below average values of physical fitness were measured in 10% of examined persons. In 7% of persons an increased blood pressure was measured, while 4% of persons had a higher value of glycaemia fasting and about 20% have higher hepatic tests. Correlation analysis which points out the cumulation of risk factors of noninfectious diseases of mass incidence in some persons and the danger of the development of an atherosclerotic process has been performed among the quantities found. The authors recommend that the state of health of career soldiers be maintained and improved.

A blood transfusion must be considered a risk operation. The extent of the risk can be minimalized but it is not possible to eliminate it absolutely. This is due to the specificity of the blood product. These products are biological products which when maintaining their treatment effect cannot be modified by the production processes in such a way that the known risks are completely eliminated. From the long-term legal point of view the most serious are post-transfusion infections, mainly of viral origin. The worst acute post-transfusion reaction is a haemolytic reaction. Pyretic reaction, allergic reaction, post-transfusion purpura, GvHD reaction, circulation reactions, haemosiderosis, haemochromatosis and complications during massive transfusion are described from other post-transfusion reactions and complications.

The process of microorganism transmission during host-vector-microorganism interactions is extremely complex. The saliva and haemolymph components that are able to modulate innate and acquired defence mechanisms participate in these interactions from the standpoint of the vector. In the case of immune response, modulation of both the humoral and cellular defence mechanisms are targeted due to a shift in the Th1 and Th2 immunoregulatory pathway balance. The components of the complement system, the antibodies and the cells of interaction induced inflammation participate in these complex interactions from the standpoint of the host. Changes in the defence mechanisms of the host and also changes induced by factors of the host in vectors that originate on the basis of primary and consequent mutual interactions influence the molecular and cellular background of the microorganisms that enter a host from a vector.

The Czech Army 6^th Field Hospital was in operation abroad in I999 for a period of less than 29 weeks. It was deployed there as a medical echelon during the NATO peacekeeping operation in Albania. As a Role 2+ hospital it provided medical and logistical aid to refugees from Kosovo. At the same time, it provided care to NATO soldiers participating in this operation. When the work in Albania was over, the hospital moved to Turkey to help the victims of the earthquake. The authors present their knowledge gained during the practical operation of the hospital in real field conditions. They state the organizational structure of the hospital and its manpower and resources. By describing the work methods in these conditions they want to stress that the set tasks were met. All the important parts of the field hospital, their way of deployment and the system of work are described in the article. Based on the stated results of the work the full operability of this type of Czech Army field medical facility is pointed out. The experience gained abroad shows the neccessity to continue improving the equipment and expertness of the hospital. This is the only way to have available in the Czech Army a medical echelon which is capable to react quickly to the needs of war, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.

This study deals with November 17, 1939 and the events which led to this day becoming an International Students’ Day. This happened thanks to Czechoslovak Students who were at that time soldiers - personnel of the Czechoslovak military unit in Great Britain. Now more than 60 years have passed since the beginning of the creation of this unit. Czechoslovak soldiers contributed significantly to the implementation ofan idea to have our medical students complete their studies at the British medical faculties during the Second World War. It was an extraordinary situation because the operation of Czech university educational system was interrupted by force during the period of Nazi occupation from 1939-1945.