The study summarizes basic information on environmental conditions and health status of the Czechoslovak population. It analyzes the relationships between health and environmental conditions, and Appendix brings the comprehensive results of relevant studies performed in Czechoslovakia. The analytic results suggest the quality of Czechoslovak ecology as unsatisfactory, which in some localities, e.g. North Bohemia coal fields, Prague, Ostrava, is next to critical, with heavy impact on the population's health. The Czechoslovak citizens are more prone to falling ill, die sooner than their peers in the majority of European and non-European countries. In addition to the specific effects of individual factors and life style also immunity, reproduction cycle, metabolic processes etc. become involved in the health-living conditions relationships. All these influences are responsible for high rates of morbidity due to the so-called civilization diseases. Inevitably, the only possible solution is to protect effectively human healthy by protecting his living conditions, i.e. environment and life style.
The epidemiology of human papillomaviruses (HPV) was studied in 61 immunocompromised patients (e.g. renal and cardiac transplants; Bowen's disease; genital cancer) undergoing therapy at the University Hospital of Wales at Cardiff U.K. Warts from various sites of these patients were studied for the presence of HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 using the dot-blot DNA hybridization technique. Four HPV-16 and one HPV-11 was detected. The presence of HPV-16 in our study is quite significant since it suggests the potential occurrence of genital HPV types in skin warts in immunocompromised patients and hence the need for screening such patients against HPV types. HPV, mainly types 16 and 18 are usually associated with genital cancer, cervical malignancies and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The semen of the husband of 30 women with cervical abnormalities and the semen of 30 husbands (control) of wives with normal cervix were tested for HPV-6, 11, 16 and 18. No HPV-DNA could be detected in all of the 60 specimen. This suggests that specimens were either truly negative for any of those types or because virus DNA could present in a small amount less than 5 pg/microliters in some patients. Whether semen plays a role in transmitting HPV is still controversial.
Serum samples were tested for antibodies against polio virus and measles virus from two serum banks after having been stored under different conditions for several years. The results are compared with those ones obtained immediately after sampling. Despite of small increases of antibody-negative samples and of small decreases of the titres the suitability of the samples stored could be shown. Special attention should be given to the establishment, e.g. in the framework of Expanded Programme on Immunization of the World Health Organization and in order to study new pathogens unknown to date, and the technical preconditions for that should be planed.
Schistosomiasis patients were immigrants to Czechoslovakia from Angola and Yemen. Most of them had light or moderate infections and felt subjectively healthy. They received treatment with praziquantel (two doses with a total of 40 mg/kg) and were followed up for several years. In nine of 13 patients, Schistosoma haematobium or S. mansoni eggs with undamaged miracidia were detected in biopsies from the bladder or the rectum one year or later after treatment. Granulomatous reactions in the rectum and bladder lesions of stage 1 including thickened bladder walls persisted in most of the patients. Antibody levels against adult S. mansoni worm antigen remained elevated for at least two years after therapy in some patients and declined in others. Among the nine patients, for whom pre- and post-treatment sera were available, the changes in relative levels of antibodies did not strictly correlate with the continued presence of schistosome eggs in, or their absence from, biopsies. We discuss the results obtained with sensitive diagnostic techniques in the absence of subjectively perceived disease.
The present paper is an overview of the experimental research into the effects of flue magnesite dust in the magnesite industry in which the raw material (magnesite) is processed into refractory magnesite clinker. The issues related to dust are divided into two problem areas: a) dust aerosol arising in the process of ore mining and consisting largely of magnesite (MgCO3) and b) dust aerosol originating during ore baking in rotatory furnaces and made up mostly of MgO. Thus, larger groups of people become exposed to these aerosols as a result of solid particles escaping into the atmosphere than in the case of occupational exposure. Experimental research carried out on laboratory animals after chamber exposure provided findings on the deposition, retention and elimination of magnesite dust, on impaired balance between magnesium and calcium leading to damage of biological membranes, on how the immune profile or reproduction and embryogenesis is impacted as well as on the possible interaction with sodium salicylate as a result of an impaired acid base balance. These findings are followed up by evidence produced in the course of biological monitoring (Part II).
Main antibacterially active agents obtained from plants-Cajeput essential oil--1,8 cineol, linalool, alpha-terpineol and terpinen-4-ol, for example from Melalleuce leucadendron (Myrtaceae) as well as essential oil from Ocimum gratissimum (Labiatae) were combined in tests in vitro with selected antibiotics. Above mentioned plant products were found to be effective medicaments for local application in modern medical practice. Combinations with antibiotics potentiated their therapeutical action. On the basis of tests in vitro the synergistic action of these two kinds of medicaments, i.e., preparations traditionally used for a few last decades--antibiotics--might be well applied for therapeutical needs.
Human serological profiles, and feline serological and fecal profiles were used to study the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Santa Clara County, California. The prevalence of human toxoplasmosis was determined to be 42.9% in a test population of 147 women. The prevalence of feline toxoplasmosis was indicated to be 34.8% based on serological analysis of 158 felines. Of 107 cats tested, 6.5% were shedding Toxoplasma gondii - like oocysts in their feces. Statistical analyses of questionnaire data indicated that the major infection sources for seropositive humans in this study were: (1) eating rare-medium cooked beef; (2) exposure to cats; and (3) working in an outside garden. Of these three sources, gardening represented the least risk. The data from questionnaires with reference to age, residence, and eating and toilet habits of owned felines were evaluated and found to show no significant statistical correlation with seropositivity. The infection sources for seropositive felines could not be determined. The plausible significance of feline-human interaction, human consumption of infected meat, and gardening habits is stressed.
Isoniazid in vitro decreased interleukin-1 production by glass-adherent cells from the blood of healthy donors. The previously described modulation of T cell activation by isoniazid seems to be independent of decreased interleukin-1 secretion.
The reproductive ability of 24 men exposed to lead was observed and the same number of no-exposed men were taken as controls. The influential factors, such as age, smoking and drinking were controlled. The finding shows higher prevalence of congenital epilepsy and heart disease in the filial generation of workers exposed to lead and high rate of teratospermia in the exposed workers. Meanwhile hypospermia, as well as decreased lactate dehydrogenase-x(LDH-x) and succinodehydrogenase (SDH) in sperm were found in exposed group.
The susceptibility to rubella of a group of Mexican females of childbearing age was determined. Members of the group were selected based on the highest probability of having been exposed to the virus they were older than 15, and from a low socio-economic urban stratum. Anti-viral antibodies were determined by hemagglutination inhibition. Concentration was expressed as International Units of IgG anti-rubella hemagglutinin (IU). Antibody concentrations lower than 15.6 IU/ml were regarded as non-protective. A 16% susceptibility was found.
Using HPLC, the authors had investigated the three metabolites of deltamethrin (DM) in the urine of spraymen and one suicide, namely: dibromovinyl-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (Br2A), 3-phenoxybenzyl-hydroxy-ethyl acetate (PHE) and 3-phenoxyl-benzoic acid (BA). Br2A was chosen as the biological monitoring parameter for DM exposed people, and the urine samples of one suicide and 11 farmers sprayed DM or DM plus methamidophos were examined for Br2A quantitatively which was detected in 8 of 11 sprayers and in the suicide case.
The incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis was studied in men with urethritis. Out of 150 examined men 48.7% had the positive isolation of U. urealyticum, 26.0% C. trachomatis, 22.7% N. gonorrhoeae, 18.7% M. hominis and in one (0.7%) patient T. vaginalis was found. None of the above mentioned microorganisms was detected in 24.7% of examined men. In 43.3% cases only one agent was isolated. In 23.3% of the men the combination of two agents, in 8.0% the combination of three and in 0.7% even the combination of four studied microorganisms was observed. C. trachomatis was most frequently observed in combination with N. gonorrhoeae (15 cases) and U. urealyticum (14 cases). M. hominis and U. urealyticum occurred simultaneously in 22 examined men.N.gonorrhoeae was most frequently found together with U. urealyticum (16 cases). Concerning the occurrence of other bacteria and yeasts, no significant difference was found between the groups positive and negative for the above mentioned microorganisms.
The common infective conditions encountered at King Khalid Teaching Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were described. These data were collected mostly during a period of 8 years between 1981 to 1988. These infections included brucellosis, cholecystitis, conjunctivitis, enteric fever, gastroenteritis, infective endocarditis, meningitis, otitis media, pneumonia, septicaemia, sorethroat, treponemal infections, urethritis, urinary tract infections, and vaginitis. A scheme for empiric chemotherapy has been suggested for these infections based on the sensitivity results obtained mostly from the microbiology laboratory at Teaching Hospital, Riyadh. This scheme of empiric therapy is offered as a guide only. It does not cover all possibilities and is not intended as a rigid dogma. Empiric therapy has also been suggested for some other infective conditions where sufficient data were not available from the Teaching Hospital. Empiric therapy should be started after relevant specimens are collected. Culture and sensitivity tests are invaluable in the management of patients with infectious diseases. As soon as sensitivities of the infecting organisms' are known, treatment should be adjusted accordingly. In some cases, Gram-staining is valuable to guide the initial therapy (eg. meningitis, pneumonia, and urethritis). Finally, close liaison between physicians and clinical microbiologists is mandatory for successful therapy.
In a model experiment, the use of specific hyperimmune globulins (SHG) alone failed to protect mice against infection with homologous and heterologous P. aeruginosa serotypes. However, the therapeutic potential of SHG dramatically improved after its conjugation with A1(OH)3, used as a biological carrier. The binding of SHG to this carrier proved to be the most effective and stable combination in the treatment of acute pseudomonad infections in mice.
A simple method for screening urine specimens for significant gramnegative bacteriuria is presented, in which microtitration plates, a vertical-beam photometer used for reading ELISA and an inexpensive microcomputer are employed. The wells of the plate containing brain-heart infusion broth are inoculated with urine. Every hour turbidity is measured and the values are compared with the original ones. The whole examination is terminated in five hours. At the actual prevalence of 0.27, specificity is 0.97, the predictive value of a negative result is 0.97 and false positives 0.03. The method is used for rapid reporting to the ward, and for subsequent differentiated standard cultivation.
A sample comprising 40 H. influenzae and 74 H. parainfluenzae strains was used to verify methods for determining susceptibility to antibiotics. Modified Levinthal agar proved to be suitable for the agar dilution and agar diffusion method, while brain heart infusion with the thermally released components of sheep blood (X and V factor) and lysed horse blood performed well in the dilution micromethod. The iodometric method served well for beta-lactamase production. A substantial proportion of strains was resistant to penicillin, erythromycin, roxitromycin and sulfamethoxazole. Ampicillin susceptibility was of crucial importance. Resistance was largely due to beta-lactamase production. Since there are ampicillin-resistant strains which fail to produce beta-lactamase, it is necessary either to determine the MIC value or use a disk with 2 micrograms ampicillin. A disk containing 10 micrograms ampicillin may yield a false positive result.
The reaction of macrophage disappearance (RMD) was found to develop one day after the immunization of experimental animals with the antigen FIA of Y. pestis and to persist for 21 days, correlating with a pronounced protective effect of the above antigen over this period. There were differences between white mice and guinea pigs in the intensity of the RMD, particularly when immunization was carried out using an FIA preparation without prolonged action. These differences are thought to reflect varying degrees of immunity elicited by FIA immunization. It is recommended that the RMD be used to quantify cellular immunity to Y. pestis.
SDS PAGE protein patterns of 37 H2S-positive strains of species belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae including the genera Budvicia (11 strains) and Leminorella (L. grimontii--3 strains, L. richardii--4 strains) were compared with 10 strains of species Pragia fontium. All strains under study form well separated clusters with overall similarity C = .49. Clusters are separated in the range of C = .68-.83. They display high homogeneity, only one strain of Edwardsiella tarda clusters with budviciae. Strains of Pragia form two distinct clusters separated from other genera. Electrophoretograms of two strains which do not group as expected are analyzed and results discussed. Results support evidence that strains designated Pragia fontium deserve independent treatment as a new species.
Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was done for the detection of antibodies to Cysticercus cellulosae in 135 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 152 serum samples from patients suspected clinically of neurocysticercosis (NC), neurological disorders other than NC and controls by the use of crude cyst extract antigen. This assay was compared with the standard technique of indirect haemagglutination test (IHA). The results of the two techniques were matched with retrospective analysis of proven diagnosis of these patients. ELISA and IHA was found to be positive respectively in 88 and 84 percent of CSF and 92 and 87.2 percent of serum samples from proven NC patients. The IHA technique was found to be absolutely specific for the detection of antibodies in CSF samples while cross reactions were observed with ELISA technique in CSF from 5 patients, one each suffering from disappearing CT scan lesion, tubercular meningitis (culture negative), chronic meningitis, benign intracranial hypertension and non compressive myelopathy. However possibility of neurocysticercosis cannot be absolutely ruled out in such patients. Both the techniques were found to be highly non specific for the detection of antibodies in serum samples. The study suggests that either of the two techniques may be used for the detection of antibodies in CSF samples from clinically suspected NC patients with high degree of sensitivity and specificity.
