Polymorphism of trinucleotide repeats in loci DM, DRPLA and SCA1 in East European populations.
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A normal polymorphism at three triplet repeat loci (myotonic dystrophy (DM), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1)) were examined in healthy unrelated individuals from the Siberian Yakut (Mongoloid) population, the Adygei (Caucasian) population and nine East European populations: populations from Russia (Holmogory, Oshevensk, Kursk, Novgorod, Udmurts, Bashkir), two Ukrainian populations (Lviv and Alchevsk) and one Belarussian. The distribution of alleles for DRPLA and SCA1 were similar for all East-European populations. For the DM locus, East European populations had typical allele distribution profiles with two modes, (CTG)5 and (CTG)11-14, but some differences were found for the Bashkir population where alleles containing 11-14 CTG repeats had relatively higher frequency. The Yakut population had different allele spectra for all types of repeats studied. Higher heterozygosity levels and insignificant differences between expected and observed heterozygosity were found for all tested loci. The latter led us to suggest that the trinucleotide repeat loci analysed are not influenced by selection factors and could be useful for genetic relationship investigations in different populations. (+info)
Susceptibility to telithromycin in 1,011 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from 10 central and Eastern European countries.
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Among 1,011 recently isolated Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from 10 Central and Eastern European centers, the MICs at which 50% of isolates are inhibited (MIC(50)s) and the MIC(90)s were as follows: for telithromycin, 0.03 and 0.06 microg/ml, respectively; for erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin, 0.06 to 0.125 and 1 to 8 microg/ml, respectively; and for clindamycin, 0.125 and 0.125 microg/ml, respectively. Erythromycin resistance occurred in 12.3% of strains. Erm(A) [subclass erm(TR)] was most commonly encountered (60.5%), followed by mef(A) (23.4%) and erm(B) (14.5%). At <0.5 microg/ml, telithromycin was active against 98.5% of the strains tested. (+info)
Challenge of goodness III: public health facing war.
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Using moral and empirical analysis, we analyzed and discussed the role of public health in prevention of war as well as its function during and after the war. The idea is to develop a theory and new strategy in the spirit of public health to improve practices in preserving and strengthening peace, to be prepared for the future. The experiences from the last four wars in South Eastern Europe were ethical challenges to public health. We identified and described four models of public health practice in the past wars and conflicts. Based on the recent wars, the two new models, Professional Model and Peace Model, were developed and suggested as a new public health strategy in prevention and alleviation of the health burden of war. (+info)
Chlamydia trachomatis infections in eastern Europe: legal aspects, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
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OBJECTIVES: Knowledge concerning genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in eastern Europe is scarce. Data on the legal aspects, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the infection have never been collected, summarised, and presented to the international scientific community. The aim of this study was to present the current situation on the main aspects of chlamydial infections in the countries of eastern Europe. METHODS: Written questionnaires concerning legal aspects, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the infection were distributed among national STI operating administrators as well as researchers who had presented papers at earlier meetings of European chlamydia or STI societies. RESULTS: Most of the countries have not legalised reporting of chlamydial infections and in those who have done so, the quality of the reporting system is poor. Contact tracing is mostly done on a voluntary basis. Reported chlamydia incidence varies from 21 to 276 per 100000 inhabitants. The most commonly used diagnostic test remains the direct immunofluorescence test; however, some tendencies towards nucleic acid amplification are in evidence. Diagnostic services are paid for by the patient himself, while treatment in many countries is partially or completely covered by public insurance. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report summarising data concerning the situation on C trachomatis infections in eastern Europe. The reporting system and diagnosis of C trachomatis infections remain suboptimal, which allows neither control of the epidemiological situation nor optimal treatment of the patients. The most urgent work currently necessary is the education of professionals and the general population. (+info)
Bacterial and fungal aerosols in indoor environment in Central and Eastern European countries.
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Studies of indoor bioaerosols conducted in Central and Eastern European countries, as a result of the scarcity of funding, mostly do not attain the level presented by similar studies in Northern America and Western Europe. For socio-economic reasons, most of the intense studies on indoor bioaerosols in Central and Eastern European countries were carried out in industrial facilities and have contributed significantly to occupational health science. In contrast, until recently, insufficient of studies have been conducted on bioaerosols of residential and communal premises (dwellings, offices, schools, etc.) and no network for monitoring the microbiological quality of air in such premises exists. In Poland, in the mid-1990s complex bioaerosol investigations were carried out by the Bioaerosol Group at the Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health in Sosnowiec. The concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi in dwellings without mold problems were between 88-4297 cfu/m(3) and 0-1997 cfu/m(3), while in moldy homes they were 178-4751 cfu/m(3) and 49-16,968 cfu/m(3), respectively. As many as 167 microbial species were isolated from the air of examined dwellings. Most frequently occurred Gram-positive cocci (Micrococcus/ Kocuria spp., Staphylococcus spp.), endospore-forming bacilli (Bacillus spp.), Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonadaceae, Aeromonas spp.), filamentous fungi (Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp.), and yeasts. Notable studies of indoor bioaerosols have also been performed in the other Central and Eastern European countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary, are reviewed in this article. The lack of reference limit values for bioaerosols seriously hinders interpretation of results obtained in various countries. The following residential limit values (RLV) for dwellings and communal premises are proposed for the concentration of airborne bacteria, fungi and bacterial endotoxin: 5 x 10(3) cfu/m(3), 5 x 10(3) cfu/m(3) and 5 ng/m(3) (50 EU), respectively. The proposed values of occupational exposure limit (OEL) for industrial settings contaminated by organic dust are 100 x (3) cfu/m(3), 50 x (3) cfu/m(3) and 200 ng/m(3) (2000 EU), respectively. It is also proposed that the presence in indoor air of microorganisms from risk groups 3 and 4 of European Community Directive 2000/54/EC (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus anthracis, Coxiella burnetii), independently of the concentration, should always be inadmissible and result in preventive actions. (+info)
Long-term follow-up of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in children of different ethnic origins.
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The natural history of chronic hepatitis B in children is influenced by mode of transmission and varies with regional endemicity. Seroconversion rates were studied in 174 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive children who were of different ethnic origins and living in Canada. Overall, 40.2% became anti-HBeAg positive, and 8.6% were hepatitis B surface-antigen positive during a mean follow-up of 4.5 years. Spontaneous seroconversion rates were lower in Asian-born, mainly vertically infected, children, versus those born either in Canada or where horizontal transmission predominates (24% vs. 44%, P=.015). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative persistence of HBeAg after 13 years was 25% in Asian-born children, versus 6% in all others (P<.05). Treatment of 27 children accelerated seroconversion by 3 years, without influencing the proportion seroconverting over time. Thus, although Asian-born children seroconvert more slowly, a large proportion will seroconvert before adulthood. Because treatment appears to accelerate anti-HBe seroconversion, longitudinal studies are required in order to assess the long-term benefits of early treatment. (+info)
Eye healthcare services in eastern Europe: Part 1. Cataract surgery.
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AIM: To describe cataract surgical services in 1998 in 12 eastern European countries and to identify their needs to reduce cataract blindness. METHODS: All inpatient eye departments in the 12 countries received a standardised questionnaire; the data obtained were further processed at the coordinating centre in Prague. RESULTS: All 458 eye departments in the region were involved. The response rate was 100%, except for Bulgaria (93%) and Romania (93%). The total number of cataract surgeries per one million inhabitants in 1998 was calculated: Belarus (800), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1275), Bulgaria (1730), the Czech Republic (4210), Estonia (2530), Hungary (3530), Latvia (1860), Lithuania (1550), Trans-Dniester Moldova (1300), Poland (1475), Romania (1260), and Slovakia (2430). Cataracts were mostly operated on by the extracapsular technique. Intracapsular extractions were frequently performed in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (47%), Belarus (46%), Bulgaria (18%), and Romania (14.3%). Phacoemulsification was uncommonly used in 1998, except for the Czech Republic (86%), Estonia (50%), Slovakia (38%), and Hungary (16%). An IOL was implanted in more than 90% of patients in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia. CONCLUSIONS: Conditions for cataract surgery in the eastern European region differ. The main barriers to cataract surgery were state budget limitations, insufficient supply of consumables, underutilisation of operating theatres, and poor detection of patients requiring surgery. (+info)
Eye healthcare services in eastern Europe: Part 2. Vitreoretinal surgical services.
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AIM: To describe vitreoretinal surgical services in 1998 in 12 eastern European countries and to identify ways for their further improvement. METHODS: All inpatient eye departments in the 12 countries received a standardised questionnaire; the data obtained were processed at the international study coordinating centre in Prague. RESULTS: All 458 eye departments in the region were involved. The number of retinal detachments treated by extraocular surgery, or pars plana vitrectomy, per one million inhabitants respectively, were as follows: Belarus (52; 6), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (21; 2), Bulgaria (39; 19), the Czech Republic (78; 40), Estonia (60; 17), Hungary (81; 88), Latvia (82; 36), Lithuania (68; 6), Trans-Dniester Region of Moldova (6; -), Poland (70; data not available), Romania (24; 25), and Slovakia (67; 55). The number of people per one retinal laser was assessed (in millions): Belarus (1.26), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2.23), Bulgaria (0.59), the Czech Republic (0.22), Estonia (0.24), Hungary (0.23), Latvia (0.41), Lithuania (0.62), Poland (0.36), Romania (2.25), and Slovakia (0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Conditions for posterior eye segment surgery in the central and eastern European region vary substantially. Underserved regions require (1) more eye doctors trained in surgical and laser retinal treatment; (2) improvement in screening for diabetic eye complications and retinopathy of prematurity; (3) technical equipment for places in need. (+info)