Comparing the productive vocabularies of grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and young children.

Due to their outstanding ability of vocal imitation, parrots are often kept as pets. Research has shown that they do not just repeat human words. They can use words purposefully to label objects, persons, and animals, and they can even use conversational phrases in appropriate contexts. So far, the structure of pet parrots' vocabularies and the difference between them and human vocabulary acquisition has been studied only in one individual. This study quantitatively analyses parrot and child vocabularies in a larger sample using a vocabulary coding method suitable for assessing the vocabulary structure in both species. We have explored the composition of word-like sounds produced by 21 grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) kept as pets in Czech- or Slovak-speaking homes, and compared it to the composition of early productive vocabularies of 21 children acquiring Czech (aged 8-18 months), who were matched to the parrots by vocabulary size. The results show that the 'vocabularies' of talking grey parrots and children differ: children use significantly more object labels, activity and situation labels, and emotional expressions, while parrots produce significantly more conversational expressions, greetings, and multiword utterances in general. These differences could reflect a strong link between learning spoken words and understanding the underlying concepts, an ability seemingly unique to human children (and absent in parrots), but also different communicative goals of the two species.

Intestinal parasitic infections in children from marginalised Roma communities: prevalence and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections remain a significant global health issue, particularly affecting poor and marginalised populations. These infections significantly contribute to children's diseases, malnutrition, poor school performance, cognitive disorders, and future economic losses. This study aimed to explore and compare the occurrence of intestinal parasites in early childhood among the group of infants from the Slovak majority population and from marginalised Roma communities (MRCs). Furthermore, it aimed to explore the health complaints of children with and without intestinal parasitic infection in the past month and assess the effect of various risk factors on the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infection in infants from MRCs. METHODS: We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers and stool samples of their children aged 13-21 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study. A total of 181 stools from infants were analysed: 105 infants from the Slovak majority population and 76 from MRCs. RESULTS: Infants from MRCs are significantly more often infected by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Giardia duodenalis than their better-off peers from the majority population. Infection rates are 30% in infants from MRCs vs. 0% in the majority population (p < 0.001). Single and mixed infections were observed in children from MRCs. Infants with intestinal parasitic infections suffer significantly more often from various health complaints, particularly cough, stomach ache, irritability, and diarrhoea. Within MRCs, the risk of parasitic infections in infants is significantly increased by risk factors such as the absence of flushing toilets in households (OR = 4.17, p < 0.05) and contact with un-dewormed animals (OR = 3.61, p < 0.05). Together with the absence of running water in the household, these three factors combined increase the risk more than ten times (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Maintaining hygienic standards in conditions of socioeconomic deprivation in MRCs without running water and sewage in the presence of un-dewormed animals is problematic. These living conditions contribute to the higher prevalence of parasitic infections in children from MRCs, causing various health complaints and thus threatening their health and healthy development.

Impact of pollen season and viral disease COVID-19 on respiratory function of the adult population in Eastern Slovakia: analysis of spirometric data and results of a questionnaire survey.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a chronic heterogeneous disease with characteristic symptoms, but with proper treatment the patient can lead a full life. In patients with allergic asthma, symptoms appear after irritation with an allergen, most often in the pollen season. In 2019, the viral disease COVID-19 appeared, which, especially in people with asthma, led not only to an asthma attack, but also to other serious diseases. METHODS: The main aim was to investigate differences in patients' health status by comparing spirometric values in and out of pollen season (A), spirometric values before and after COVID-19 viral illness (B) and an anonymous questionnaire (C). Spirometric values were recorded in each patient (control group - patients diagnosed with asthma, research group - patients after overcoming COVID-19 disease) in 3 cycles, namely (in the pollen period, in the non-pollen period and after overcoming COVID-19 disease - at an interval of 2 months after a negative PCR test). RESULTS: We observed significant results during the individual spirometry performed (A) during the pollen season and non-pollen season. We observed the same in patients after they received COVID-19 treatment (B). Patients were also asked questions regarding family history, symptoms and their variability, worsening of the condition or correct inhalation technique (C). CONCLUSION: Our research shows that the PEF parameter is most affected by the pollen and non-pollen season in asthmatic patients. Significant differences in PEF parameter were observed between genders, where we observed highly significant statistical significance of PEF parameter in pollen and non-pollen season in females.

Exploring Within-Gender Differences in Friendships Using an Online Social Network.

People tend to befriend others similar to themselves, generating a pattern called homophily. However, existing studies on friendship patterns often rely on surveys that assess the perspective of relatively few participants on their friendships but do not measure actualized friendship patterns. Here, we used data from a large Slovakian online social network to assess the role of gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) in same-gender online connections among more than 400,000 users. We found that age and BMI homophily occurred in both men's and women's same-gender connections, but somewhat more strongly among men's. Yet, as women diverged in BMI, their connections were less likely to be reciprocated. We discuss how the evolutionary legacy of men's coalitional competition (e.g., warfare) and women's mating competition or recruitment of allocare providers might contribute to these patterns in modern same-gender relationships. For example, men's engagement in physical activities may lead to similar formidability levels among their same-gender peers. Altogether, our findings highlight the importance of trait similarity to same-gender friendship patterns.

Examining the Fraternal Birth Order Effect and Sexual Orientation: Insights from an East European Population.

The development of human sexual orientation remains a complex and multifaceted subject. It is often studied but its origins continue to elude us. In this preregistered study, our primary objective was to demonstrate the fraternal birth order effect (FBOE), which assumes a higher prevalence of older brothers in gay men than in their straight counterparts and which has also been recently recorded in lesbian women. Our second aim was to explore any potential impact of the FBOE on anal-erotic role orientation (AERO), both in gay and straight men. Our study sample included 693 gay men, 843 straight men, 265 lesbian women, and 331 straight women from Czechia and Slovakia. Employing a conventionally parameterized logistic regression model, we substantiated the FBOE among both gay men (OR = 1.35 for maternal older brothers) and lesbian women (OR = 1.71). These outcomes were confirmed by a more nuanced parameterization recently proposed by Blanchard (2022). Nonmaternal older brothers did not exhibit a significant influence on their younger brothers' sexual orientation. Contrary to some earlier reports, however, our data did not establish the FBOE as exclusive to gay men with the receptive AERO. Furthermore, our observations indicated a lower offspring count for mothers of gay men compared to mothers of straight men. Emphasizing the positive FBOE outcomes, we acknowledge the need for caution regarding the various options that can be used to estimate the familial influences on sexual orientation.

Strategies, processes, outcomes, and costs of implementing experience sampling-based monitoring in routine mental health care in four European countries: study protocol for the IMMERSE effectiveness-implementation study.

BACKGROUND: Recent years have seen a growing interest in the use of digital tools for delivering person-centred mental health care. Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM), a structured diary technique for capturing moment-to-moment variation in experience and behaviour in service users' daily life, reflects a particularly promising avenue for implementing a person-centred approach. While there is evidence on the effectiveness of ESM-based monitoring, uptake in routine mental health care remains limited. The overarching aim of this hybrid effectiveness-implementation study is to investigate, in detail, reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance as well as contextual factors, processes, and costs of implementing ESM-based monitoring, reporting, and feedback into routine mental health care in four European countries (i.e., Belgium, Germany, Scotland, Slovakia). METHODS: In this hybrid effectiveness-implementation study, a parallel-group, assessor-blind, multi-centre cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) will be conducted, combined with a process and economic evaluation. In the cRCT, 24 clinical units (as the cluster and unit of randomization) at eight sites in four European countries will be randomly allocated using an unbalanced 2:1 ratio to one of two conditions: (a) the experimental condition, in which participants receive a Digital Mobile Mental Health intervention (DMMH) and other implementation strategies in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) or (b) the control condition, in which service users are provided with TAU. Outcome data in service users and clinicians will be collected at four time points: at baseline (t0), 2-month post-baseline (t1), 6-month post-baseline (t2), and 12-month post-baseline (t3). The primary outcome will be patient-reported service engagement assessed with the service attachment questionnaire at 2-month post-baseline. The process and economic evaluation will provide in-depth insights into in-vivo context-mechanism-outcome configurations and economic costs of the DMMH and other implementation strategies in routine care, respectively. DISCUSSION: If this trial provides evidence on reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of implementing ESM-based monitoring, reporting, and feedback, it will form the basis for establishing its public health impact and has significant potential to bridge the research-to-practice gap and contribute to swifter ecological translation of digital innovations to real-world delivery in routine mental health care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN15109760 (ISRCTN registry, date: 03/08/2022).

Prediction of individual, community and societal resilience in the Czech Republic compared to Slovakia during the war in Ukraine.

The present study examines, as research questions, which and to what extent psychological and demographic variables significantly predict individual, community, and societal resilience among a sample of Czech Republic adults (N = 1,100) six months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The research tools included the following scales: Societal, community, and individual resilience; hope, well-being; morale; distress symptoms; a sense of danger; and perceived threats. The results indicated the following: (a) Correlation analysis shows that resilience is significantly and positively correlated with supporting coping factors and significantly and negatively correlated with suppressing coping factors. (b) A comparison of supporting coping indicators (hope, well-being, and morale) and suppressing coping indicators (distress symptoms, sense of danger, and perceived threats) in the Czech Republic with those variables in Slovakia and Israel indicated that Israel reported higher resilience, higher supporting coping indicators, and lower suppressing coping factors. Three-path analysis among the Czech sample indicated that the best predictor of SR was the level of hope, the best predictor of CR was morale, and the best predictor of IR was the sense of danger. In an attempt to explain these findings in the discussion section, we refer to the background of Czech society and a possible connection to the findings.

Association of socioeconomic disadvantage and ethnicity with perinatal neonatal, and infant mortality in Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: Infant mortality rates are reliable indices of the child and general population health status and health care delivery. The most critical factors affecting infant mortality are socioeconomic status and ethnicity. The aim of this study was to assess the association between socioeconomic disadvantage, ethnicity, and perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality in Slovakia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The associations between socioeconomic disadvantage (educational level, long-term unemployment rate), ethnicity (the proportion of the Roma population) and mortality (perinatal, neonatal, and infant) in the period 2017-2022 were explored, using linear regression models. RESULTS: The higher proportion of people with only elementary education and long-term unemployed, as well as the higher proportion of the Roma population, increases mortality rates. The proportion of the Roma population had the most significant impact on mortality in the selected period between 2017 and 2022, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). CONCLUSIONS: Life in segregated Roma settlements is connected with the accumulation of socioeconomic disadvantage. Persistent inequities between Roma and the majority population in Slovakia exposed by mortality rates in children point to the vulnerabilities and exposures which should be adequately addressed by health and social policies.

Differences in the body image based on physical parameters among young women from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Czech Republic and Slovakia has led to heightened emphasis on weight control, particularly among women. Our aim is to explore body image perceptions among women in both countries and compare their attitudes, focusing on the relationship between body image and body mass index (BMI), height, weight, body fat and the weight control. METHODS: The cross-sectional study involved 358 female students from the University of Pardubice and Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, with equal representation from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Body parameters were assessed using anthropometric methods and the InBody 230 diagnostic device, while participants' perceptions of their bodies were evaluated using the Body Shape Questionnaire. RESULTS: The results confirmed that BMI did not significantly influence self-perception among Slovak students, while Czech participants with increasing obesity tended to perceive themselves more negatively. Significantly higher median values for BMI (p = 0.0509), weight (p = 0.0507), height (p = 0.05) and body image (p = 0.002) were observed in the Czech Republic compared with Slovakia. No significant difference was found in weight control and fat between participants from both countries. CONCLUSIONS: Although obesity was demonstrated in both nations, body satisfaction was different for participants from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Epidemiology and comprehensive economic impact of atrial fibrillation and associated stroke in Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. It is also a major risk factor for ischemic stroke. The main objective of our study was to identify direct and indirect costs of AF and AF-related stroke in Slovakia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective population-based study of AF and stroke related costs both from the third-party healthcare payers and societal perspective. The prevalence and incidence of AF and stroke were determined from central government run healthcare database. Further we estimated both indirect and direct costs of AF and stroke. All costs and healthcare resources were assessed from 2015 through 2019 and were expressed in the respective year. RESULTS: Over the 5-year study period, the prevalence of AF increased by 26% to a total of 149,198 AF cases in 2019, with an estimated total annual economic burden of €66,242,359. Direct medical costs accounted for 94% of the total cost of AF. The total cost of treating patients with stroke in 2019 was estimated at €89,505,669. As a result, the medical costs of stroke that develops as a complication of AF have been estimated to be €25,734,080 in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a substantial economic burden of AF and AF-related stroke in Slovakia. In view of the above, both screening for asymptomatic AF in high-risk populations and effective early management of AF with a focused on thromboprophylaxis rhythm control should be implemented.

First detection and a new avian host of the tick Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado, 1936, in Slovakia.

This study describes the first detection of Ixodes ventalloi in Slovakia. Two engorged females of I. ventalloi were collected from Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) captured in eastern Slovakia. The identification of females was based on morphological and molecular 16S rRNA gene features. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a classification of the females into distinct genogroups. Moreover, comparative morphological analysis highlighted variations between the two females, particularly in the curvature of the auriculae, the shape of coxa I, and the internal spur. These findings suggest the potential for varied phenotypes of I. ventalloi correlated with their genogroups. Nonetheless, I. ventalloi population establishment within Slovakia necessitates further investigation through flagging or drag sampling.

Screening for diabetic peripheral neuropathy at community pharmacies in Slovakia.

AIM: To identify diabetic patients with a potential risk of developing diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in community pharmacies in Slovakia using a modified Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument questionnaire (MNSIq-12). METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 703 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus who had not been diagnosed with DPN. The study took place in selected community pharmacies across Slovakia in October 2019. The MNSIq-12 was administered by pharmacy students, and a Michigan score <1.5 was considered risky. The groups divided based on the Michigan score were compared in terms of duration of diabetes, age, body mass index (BMI), sex, weekly physical activity, level of education, and smoking. RESULTS: The risk of developing DPN was detected in 6.6% of respondents with type 1 diabetes and 13.4% with type 2 diabetes. Patients with both types of diabetes (38.2%; 67.0%) reported fatigue and heaviness in the legs as the most common clinical symptoms that may indicate the development of DPN. Those with a Michigan score <1.5 were older (P<0.0001), had a higher BMI (P<0.0001), a lower level of education (P=0.0020), and were less physically active (P<0.0001). Conclusion Approximately one-eighth of patients with diabetes who visited community pharmacies were potentially at risk for developing DPN. The modified MNSIq-12 was shown to be a simple, time-effective, and non-invasive indicative screening tool that can be applied in the environment of community pharmacies.

Organization of PhD studies at the Faculty of Public Health of the Slovak Medical University in the context of practice.

OBJECTIVES: The Slovak Medical University (SMU) holds a unique position in the health education system in Slovakia. It has a direct connection to the health sector, allowing health education to reflect the actual needs in this field. Because of increasing importance of public health in the last decades, more attention must be given to disease prevention and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. We aim to highlight the main characteristics of health higher education at one of the specialized health universities in Slovakia, with a particular focus on public health and its practical impacts. METHODS: We analysed the available legal regulations for postgraduate studies in Slovakia and the officially valid documents of the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) and the Slovak Medical University in accordance with the accredited study programme in Public Health. Archived data from the Department of Science, Research, and Doctoral Studies of the Faculty over the past 10 years were used for the analysis of postgraduate studies (2013-2023). RESULTS: PhD studies in Slovakia are conducted in accordance with Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on Higher Education Institutions and on amendments to certain acts. There are two forms of PhD study in Slovakia: full-time and external. The evaluation of study results is based on the credit system. The doctoral study programme proceeds according to an individual study plan under the guidance of the advisor. The PhD study concludes with the defence of the dissertation, which serves as the final thesis. A total of 97 students have graduated at FPH SMU in Public Health in the last 10 years. The majority of graduates were females (68% vs. 32% males) and studied in the external form of study (80.4% vs. 19.6% in the full-time programme). The most frequent research topics at FPH SMU in the last 10 years included Epidemiology and Prevention of Non-communicable (21.7%) and Infectious Diseases (11.3%), Health Management and Policy (17.5%), Environmental Health (15.5%), as well as Occupational Health (13.4%). CONCLUSION: High-quality and innovative postgraduate education in public health plays a crucial role in this field, preparing experts for the public health services. From a quality perspective, it is substantial to share experiences with various study programmes across the European region, as well as with other universities. Graduates of the Faculty of Public Health are highly sought-after professionals with diverse career opportunities not only in Slovakia but also within the European Union, other countries, and various important international institutions.

A case-control epidemiological survey on potential risk factors for celiac disease.

OBJECTIVES: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder caused by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The main goal of our case-control study was to analyse the association of environmental factors with the odds of CD development in a sample of the Slovak population. METHODS: Data were collected from 1,226 respondents (534 CD patients and 692 controls) by a questionnaire. The impact of analysed parameters on the chance of disease development was assessed by multiple regression analysis and expressed as odds ratios (OR). Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In the patient group, celiac disease was significantly more prevalent in women than in men (OR = 1.52, p = 0.010). Respondents with a positive family history of CD showed 2.9-fold higher odds of CD compared to others (p < 0.001), and respondents with coexisting autoimmune diseases had 2.6-fold higher odds of CD (p < 0.001). Subjects who had taken antibiotics at least three times a year during childhood had 1.95-fold higher odds of developing CD compared to those who took them less frequently or not at all (p = 0.022). Conversely, individuals who were breastfed in infancy had lower odds of CD compared to non-breastfed respondents (OR = 0.53, p < 0.001). The mode of delivery (vaginal vs. caesarean section), overcoming severe infections, and the timing of gluten introduction in childhood did not show a statistically significant effect on the odds of developing CD. CONCLUSION: Based on our data, being female, having a positive family history of CD, suffering from another autoimmune disease, and frequent use of antibiotics are factors associated with an increased chance of developing CD. On the other hand, breastfeeding in infancy seems to have a protective effect. Our findings highlight the importance of further research in understanding the complexities of this autoimmune condition and providing a foundation for prevention strategies.

The impact of ambient temperature and powertrains of SUVs on the environment in Slovakia during the use phase.

This study compares different powertrains of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with respect to ambient temperature and energy mix in Slovakia using the well-to-wheel (WTW) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. Battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and petrol and diesel vehicles were assessed and compared. The WTW study was conducted in SimaPro software assessing electricity/petrol/diesel production, transport, and use (energy conversion in the vehicle), with impact categories being climate change, particulates, NOx emissions, ionizing radiation, and fossil resource scarcity depending on the season (summer and winter). The results indicate that for Slovak conditions, BEV generally had the lowest environmental impact in both seasons studied. The only exceptions were ionizing radiation, which is clearly caused by the high share of nuclear power in the Slovak energy mix, and NOx emissions, which are caused by the combustion of biomass for electricity generation. The other impact categories were dominated by vehicles with an internal combustion engine. The results of emissions from fuel production are also given for each impact category. The transportation of fuel did not exceed the value of 1% for any impact category or for any powertrain. The conclusions of the study support the global trend in favour of vehicle electrification as an important way to reduce the negative environmental impacts of internal combustion engine vehicles in Slovakia.

Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 Infections in Slovakia during March 2020 to July 2022.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its spatiotemporal patterns. The objective of this study is to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 infections among five age groups (<1, 1-4, 5-9, 10-14, and 15-19 years) in 72 districts of Slovakia on a quarterly basis from March 2020 to July 2022. Material and Methods: During the study period, a total of 393,429 confirmed PCR cases of COVID-19 or positive antigen tests were recorded across all studied age groups. The analysis examined the spatiotemporal spread of COVID infections per quarter, from September 2021 to May 2022. Additionally, data on hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, pulmonary ventilation (PV), and death cases were analyzed. Results: The highest number of COVID-19 infections occurred between September 2021 and May 2022, particularly in the 10-14-year-old group (68,695 cases), followed by the 15-19-year-old group (62,232 cases), while the lowest incidence was observed in the <1-year-old group (1235 cases). Out of the total confirmed PCR cases, 18,886 individuals required hospitalization, 456 needed ICU admission, 402 received pulmonary ventilation, and only 16 died. The analysis of total daily confirmed PCR cases for all regions showed two major peaks on 12 December 2021 (6114 cases) and 1 February 2022 (3889 cases). Spatial mapping revealed that during December 2021 to February 2022, the highest number of infections in all age groups were concentrated mainly in Bratislava. Moreover, temporal trends of infections within each age group, considering monthly and yearly variations, exhibited distinct spatial patterns, indicating localized outbreaks in specific regions. Conclusions: The spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 infections among different age groups in Slovakia showed a higher number of infections in the 10-14-year-old age group, mainly occurring in urban districts. The temporal pattern of the spread of the virus to neighboring urban and rural districts reflected the movement of infected individuals. Hospitalizations, ICU and PV admissions, and deaths were relatively low. The study highlights the need for more proactive measures to contain outbreaks promptly and ensure the resilience of healthcare systems against future pandemics.

Secondary attack rate of COVID-19 in shared households in Slovakia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the secondary attack rate in unvaccinated members of households of two regions in the Slovak Republic for the period November 2020 ‒ April 2021. INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a high risk of transmission in close-contact indoor settings, such as households. The household transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 varies widely across countries. METHODS: We included 278 households for SARS-CoV-2 transmission analysis. We calculated the secondary attack rate (SAR). We assessed sex, level of disease severity and means of isolation during infection of index cases as determinants of disease transmissibilityRESULTS: The secondary attack rate in 278 households was estimated at 63.7% (95%CI: 58.2‒66.7%). The SARs were different by sex (60.2% in females, 67.5% in males). The highest SAR was observed in the households of asymptomatic cases (77.8%), followed by moderate severity (66.5%), hospital admissions (63.2%) and mild disease (58.2%). CONCLUSION: We found a high household secondary attack rate in two regions of Slovakia in the period when Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2 was dominant in the country. The results highlight the importance of monitoring transmission dynamics (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 12). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: COVID-19, secondary attack rate, Slovak Republic, households.

Anencephaly in Slovakia and Czech Republic: embryogenesis, risk factors, epidemiology and preventative approaches.

Anencephaly, a fatal anomaly of the central nervous system, belongs to the group of defects of the neural tube (NTDs). It is considered the most common congenital NTD, characterized by concurrent absence of a significant portion of the brain and cranial vault. This deformity occurs between days 23 and 26 after fertilization due to improper closure of the neural tube at its cranial end. Many genetic, epigenetic, and non-genetic factors (nutritional, environmental and geographical factors, parental socioeconomic status) contribute to the etiology of this disease. Despite significant advances in treatment and preventive measures, NTDs continue to pose a significant health and financial burden on patients and society as a whole. This study aimed to examine the incidence of anencephaly in Slovakia compared to the Czech Republic between 2012 and 2020. The authors seek to elucidate the reasons behind the higher incidence of this disease in Slovakia as compared to the Czech Republic, explore the male predominance of anencephaly in Slovakia, and investigate whether the prevention standards used in Slovakia differ from those employed in other countries (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 129). Keywords: neural tube defects, anencephaly, risk factors, folic acid, food fortification.

Nutritional status and risk of malnutrition.

Malnutrition is a global health problem that is not limited to developing countries. So far, it is one of the underdiagnosed and curative medical problems. THE AIM of our observation was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients at risk of malnutrition. METHODS AND PATIENTS: We retrospectively evaluated 140 patients from the Gastroenterology Clinic and the Center for Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) at the University Hospital Bratislava, Slovakia. Patients were indicated for examination as part of the entry screening for malnutrition or consultation examination in patients presenting with signs of malnutrition. Based on the determination of the body mass index (BMI), the completed questionnaire of nutritional risk screening (NRS) and the determination of the state of performance, we evaluated the nutritional status of the patient and subsequently started enteral, or parenteral nutrition. RESULTS: We recorded a statistically significant negative correlation between BMI and malnutrition risk (p<0.001), ie. the lower the BMI, the higher the risk of malnutrition. We did not observe a relationship between age, diagnoses and the incidence of BMI-related malnutrition in the study group of patients. CONCLUSION: Properly applied clinical nutrition, whether enteral, parenteral, or a combination thereof, can significantly affect morbidity and mortality in patients with malnutrition or the risk of its development. Unfortunately, Slovakia is still lagging behind developed countries in its implementation as part of a comprehensive treatment of patients (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 28).

Five-year prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the mortality and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) initially admitted to Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care in comparison with patients initially admitted to Cardiac Centre (CC). BACKGROUND: Global acute coronary syndrome (ACS) registries often omit patients with OHCA initially admitted to anaesthesiology and intensive care units. This exclusion may lead to underestimated mortality rates in patients following acute MI worldwide. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients admitted in 2014 to the (Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care) at a single center, J.A. Reiman Teaching Hospital in Presov, Slovakia. Survival rates were evaluated in-hospital, at 30 days, and annually over a five-year period. Patients with STEMI and NSTEMI were analyzed separately, particularly during the early in-hospital phase. RESULTS: In the OHCA group, 52% of STEMI patients experienced in-hospital mortality, whereas the CC group reported only 3% mortality. The total hospital mortality for STEMI patients was 6.69%. Among NSTEMI patients in the OHCA group, in-hospital mortality reached 50%, compared to 4.33% in the CC group. The total center mortality for all NSTEMI patients was 6.09%. CONCLUSION: Although the short-term prognosis for MI patients with OHCA is unfavorable, with a 30-day mortality rate of 54.9%, for those who survive the initial 30 days following cardiac arrest and are successfully discharged from the hospital, the long-term prognosis aligns with MI patients without OHCA. In light of these findings, the inclusion of all patients with MI (from both OHCA and CC groups) in global ACS registries could significantly raise in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 21).