Translation, intercultural adaptation, and validation of the Slovak version of AOSpine patient reported outcome for spinal trauma tool.

OBJECTIVES: The implementation of patient-reported outcome measurements has become a standard component of evaluating the effect of treatment. For spine injuries, an evaluation tool AOSpine Patient Reported Outcome for Spinal Trauma (AOSpine PROST) has been developed. The aim of this study was to translate, interculturally adapt and validate the Slovak version of AOSpine PROST. METHODS: Based on methodologies we translated and culturally adapted the AOSpine PROST into Slovak. We then validated it on a representative sample of patients treated at a single level­one trauma center in the Slovak Republic. Content validity was assessed by evaluating the number of inapplicable or missing questions.  Internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha and Corrected item-total correlations. RESULTS: 37 patients were included in the study.  The questionnaire was understandable to patients. The mean T-score across questions and participants in the questionnaire was 79.6 with a narrow range of 70.4 to 97.3 for all questions, which is relatively high. The internal consistency of total score was excellent with Cronbach´s alpha of 0.92. Total correlation across questions revealed relatively good results ranging from 0.17 to 0.90. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the Slovak version of AOSpine PROST is reliable and valid and can be used in practice (Tab. 2, Ref. 14). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: AOSpine PROST, patient reported outcome, spinal trauma, translation, intercultural adaptation.

Prevalence of Conventional Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes in Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major health problem and the leading cause of death and disability in Slovakia. This is the first study to describe the prevalence rate of conventional cardiovascular risk factors in patients hospitalized for ACS. METHODS: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and cigarette smoking were documented in 1,567 cases (mean age, SD: 66.1±12.0 years, 34.8% of females) enrolled in the SLOVAKS registry from August 2011 through September 2011. RESULTS: Overall, 83.5% (95% CI, 81.6-85.2%) of the patients with ACS had hypertension, 65.0% (62.5-67.2%) had a hyperlipidemic profile, 32.6% (30.3-34.9%) were diagnosed with diabetes, and 27.6% (25.1-29.8%) were smokers at the time of a heart-related event. Only 5% of patients with ACS lacked any of the 4 conventional risk factors. Higher prevalence rates of all major risk factors, except smoking, were detected in women than in men, in older (≥65 years of age) than younger patients, and in rural (<2,000 inhabitants) than in urban areas. Premature ACS (<45 years of age) was associated with smoking in men, and smoking and hypertension in women. Smoking, in all risk factor combinations, reduced the age at the time of a heart-related event, on average, by 10.0 years in men and by 12.4 years in women. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest an appreciable burden of major cardiovascular risk factors and also highlight differences that may aid the targeting of public health interventions.

Effect of after-school physical activity on body composition in primary school children: The Slovak "PAD" project.

Physical activity is associated with many physical and mental health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a 24-month after-school physical activity intervention on body composition in normal-weight children. Participating students (6-7 years of age at baseline) were divided by reason of their parental preference to intervention and control groups. Children in the intervention group (n = 20; 10 boys and 10 girls) followed an aerobic training program (two 60-min sessions per week), whereas children in the control group (n = 20; 10 boys and 10 girls) participated in the usual practice. Body composition characteristics were repeatedly measured by means of bioelectrical impedance method. At 2 years, finally, intervention boys had a smaller rise in BMI (mean difference, MD: -0.97 kg/m2 , p < 0.05), BMI z-score (-0.44, p < 0.09), body fat % (BF%) (-6.47%, p < 0.01), and fat mass index (FMI) (-1.32 kg/m2 , p < 0.001) than controls. In girls, however, the intervention program induced no significant differences (p > 0.9) in the measured variables compared to controls at the final follow-up (MD: -0.04 kg/m2 for BMI and -0.01 for BMI z-score). Changes in BF% and FMI in a positive direction occurred at 18 months (MD: -3.38%, p < 0.05 and -0.99 kg/m2 , p < 0.01, respectively), but did not persist over time (p > 0.07). In addition, no significant changes (p > 0.07) in the fat-free mass index were associated with the physical activity intervention in either boys or girls. In conclusion, compared to the controls, a long-term physical activity intervention in boys was associated with a significantly smaller rise in BMI and improvement of body composition by reducing both BF % and FMI. In girls, however, this intervention did not result in any statistically significant changes in body composition variables.

The Influence of Phenol on the Growth, Morphology and Cell Division of Euglena gracilis.

Phenol, a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with various commercial uses, is a major pollutant in industrial wastewater. Euglena gracilis is a unicellular freshwater flagellate possessing secondary chloroplasts of green algal origin. This protist has been widely used for monitoring the biological effect of various inorganic and organic environmental pollutants, including aromatic hydrocarbons. In this study, we evaluate the influence of different phenol concentrations (3.39 mM, 3.81 mM, 4.23 mM, 4.65 mM, 5.07 mM, 5.49 mM and 5.91 mM) on the growth, morphology and cell division of E. gracilis. The cell count continually decreases (p < 0.05-0.001) over time with increasing phenol concentration. While phenol treatment does not induce bleaching (permanent loss of photosynthesis), the morphological changes caused by phenol include the formation of spherical (p < 0.01-0.001), hypertrophied (p < 0.05) and monster cells (p < 0.01) and lipofuscin bodies. Phenol also induces an atypical form of cell division of E. gracilis, simultaneously producing more than 2 (3-12) viable cells from a single cell. Such atypically dividing cells have a symmetric "star"-like shape. The percentage of atypically dividing cells increases (p < 0.05) with increasing phenol concentration. Our findings suggest that E. gracilis can be used as bioindicator of phenol contamination in freshwater habitats and wastewater.

Comparison of ultrasound-guided and palpation-inserted peripheral venous cannula in -patients before primary hip or knee arthroplasty: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: More than 2 billion peripheral vascular cannulas are introduced globally each year. It is the most frequently performed invasive procedure in medicine worldwide. There is a group of patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA). In experts' hands, ultrasound-guided vascular access appears to be a significantly better method. Investigators hypothesize that UGVA is superior also in short-term patency of cannula and even for blood draw through cannula. Repeated cannula pricks in the operating room setting not only puts a lot of stress on the patient and medical staff, but they also waste OR time. METHODS: This investigator-initiated prospective randomized monocentric controlled trial is designed to randomly allocate 200 patients undergoing elective primary total joint arthroplasty of hip or knee to one of two groups as follows: Group C (control group) - peripheral venous cannula insertion by palpation or Group USG (intervention) - cannula insertion by ultrasound-guided vascular access. Our primary endpoint is to compare the number of attempts for ultrasound-guided insertion of the peripheral venous cannula with common palpation insertion of the peripheral venous cannula in overweight/obese patients (BMI ≥ 25). The secondary endpoint is a failure rate of the peripheral venous cannula to administer intravenous therapy up to 5 days postoperatively. Tertiary endpoints include a portion of long PVCs that are able to ensure blood draw up to 5 days postoperatively, time needed to insert PVC in each group, number of needle tip redirections in both groups, and reinsertion of PVC needed in both groups for any reason. DISCUSSION: This study is pragmatic and is looking for clinically relevant data. After completion, it will answer the question of whether it is clinically relevant to use ultrasound-guided vascular access in the context of not only short-term benefit of insertion, but also up to 5 days after insertion. Also, if this method can ensure blood draw through a peripheral vein cannula, it can save resources in the perioperative period - valuable especially considering the ongoing shortage of medical staff worldwide. If this hypothesis is confirmed, this finding could contribute to more widespread implementation of ultrasound-guided peripheral vascular access in the perioperative period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05156008. Registered on 13.12.2021.

The prevalence of cigarette smoking and its relation to certain risk predictors of cardiovascular diseases in central-Slovakian Roma children and adolescents.

The objective of the study was to determine some Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors in relation to cigarette smoking in 174 Roma children and adolescents (88 males and 86 females) and 131 non-Roma probands (males and females) aged 7-18 in central Slovakia. In this biethnic study, 26.4% of the Roma children and adolescents (more than twice contrary to the control group) were smokers. Among the studied ethnicities, the majority of smokers was Roma (79.3%, 46 subjects). Smoking Roma have higher means of TG, Lp(a) and WHR compared with non-smoking non-Roma. The most frequent CVD risk predictors of smoking Roma probands was low serum levels HDL-C, apo A (the Fisher test confirmed a significant relationship between cigarette smoking and HDL-C, apo A; p < 0.01). The results of the research should help to develop an effective preventative health education programs focused on Roma education (who live in a higher-risk environment compared to the majority population) in order to stem the spread of CVD as well as morbidity and mortality in this ethnic group living in Slovakia.

Diurnal variation in red blood cell variables in athletes after single and repeated bouts of exercise.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the diurnal and exercise-related changes in red blood cell variables which serve as indirect markers of doping in sports. METHODS: Ten men and 7 women, all undoped highly trained endurance athletes aged 19-34 years, were included in the study. Before and on the day with single and repeated bouts of exercise, blood samples were collected at 07:00, 09:00, 13:00, 18:00, and 21:00, at least 2 hours after exercise. Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and the reticulocytes % (Ret%) were determined by flow cytometry. Changes in OFF-hr score were also calculated and repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare diurnal differences. RESULTS: In overall, the mean Hb decreased continuously by 4.5 and 3.3% (all P<0.001) over the day with single and repeated bouts of exercise, respectively. Corresponding values for the decline in Hct were 4.2 and 5.9% (all P<0.001). In contrast, the Ret% showed no apparent diurnal rhythm but single and repeated bouts of exercise increased the relative Ret% in the evening by 12.4 and 16.7% (P<0.01), respectively. Then the calculated OFF-hr score was reduced by 6.2 and 9.8% (all P<0.01) at the end of the day. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirmed the normal diurnal pattern in the examined red blood cell variables in response to exercise in highly trained athletes. Furthermore, they showed noticeable between-subject variability and the possible risk of a false suspicion of blood doping in undoped athletes after repeated bouts of exercise.

Cardiovascular risk predictors in central Slovakian Roma children and adolescents: regional differences.

The objective of the study was to determine some Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk factors in 174 Roma children and adolescents (88 males and 86 females) aged 7-18 in 3 Central Slovakian cities (44 from Zilina, 39 from Bansk, Bystrica and 91 from Rimavská Sobota). Venous blood samples were drawn in the morning, after a 12 hour overnight fast for biochemical analysis. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were determined enzymatically. HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) after selective precipitation lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated by the Friedewald Formula. Serum levels of apolipoproteins (apo A, apo B) were analyzed immunochemically. Concentration of lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] was analyzed by immunonephelometric method (Beckman-Coulter System). Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, waist and hip circumference were used to calculate the sum of the body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR). Measured blood pressure (BP) was used to classify for hypertension. Significant differences were determined in serum levels of LDL-C (p < 0.05; by Tukey HSD test multiple comparison more significant difference was determined between Zilina and Rimavská Sobota p < 0.046), TG (p = 0.008), apo A (p < 0.001), Lp(a) (p = 0.042), WHR (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), sBP (p < 0.001) and dBP (p = 0.012) in Roma individuals of all locality groups. The Roma population from Rimavsk, Sobota had (in comparison to the examined populations) statistically higher values of TC, TG, LDL-C, lower HDL-C. The population showed significant relation of TG and stress at home (p = 0.03) and at school (p = 0.01), HDL-C and cigarette smoking (p = 0.004), apo A and cigarette smoking (p = 0.02) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.006), WHR and cigarette smoking (p = 0.02). Risk values of WHR, apo B and Lp(a) were mostly determined in Zilina's population (WHR significantly connected with family history CVD p = 0.03, cigarette smoking p = 0.02 and leisure time physical activity p < 0.001) and BMI, apo A and BP in Banská Bystrica. WHR was positively correlated to BP and negatively to HDL-C and TG only in Roma participants from Rimavská Sobota. BMI was positively correlated to systolic BP in populations from Banská Bystrica and Rimavská Sobota. The results of the study should improve the paediatric health treatment and prevention of CVD risk predictors for Roma from different cities.

Distribution and correlations of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Roma and Caucasian children: the Slovak Lipid Community Study.

Non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol [total cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol] is considered a better predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk than low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The Slovak Roma population have approximately 2.5-fold higher premature CHD mortality than the overall population. It is agreed that detection of dyslipidemia and prevention of atherosclerosis by controlling CHD risk factors should begin in childhood. However, only limited population-based data are available for non-HDL cholesterol in children. Hence the aim of the present cross-sectional study has been to determine population frequency data and correlations of non-HDL cholesterol in 788 Roma and Caucasian children (42% Roma, 51% male), aged 7-17, from Central Slovakia, as part of the Slovak Lipid Community Study. Roma children, compared to Caucasians, had higher serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, were less physically active, smoked more, and had lower body mass index and blood pressure (all at p < 0.05). Serum non-HDL cholesterol levels were similar in Roma and Caucasians (in mmol/L: 2.74 vs. 2.65, p = 0.062) and similar too in boys and girls (2.66 vs. 2.73, p = 0.092), but higher in the younger (7-11 yrs.) than in the older (12-17 yrs.) age group (2.77 vs. 2.62, p < 0.001). Non-HDL cholesterol was negatively associated with age and cigarette smoking (r = -0.09 and -0.11 respectively, p < 0.05), whereas general obesity as measured by body mass index, waist circumference and per capita income were positively correlated with non-HDL cholesterol (r = 0.09-0.14, p < 0.05). Intermediate or strong positive correlations were found with other lipid variables under study: triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol and apoliporotein (Apo) B (r = 0.43-0.93, p < 0.001). No significant association was noted between non-HDL cholesterol and blood pressure, physical activity status, and HDL cholesterol and Apo AI. In a multivariate analysis: body mass index, age and cigarette smoking accounted for 3.3% of the variance in non-HDL cholesterol. The non-HDL cholesterol cut-off points identified as corresponding to the recommended cut-off points of LDL cholesterol for CHD risk assessment and treatment of dyslipidemia in pediatric population were: acceptable < 3.30, borderline 3.31-3.81 and high > or = 3.82 mmol/L. The prevalence of dyslipidemia according to the high non-HDL cholesterol value was 5.4% in Roma and 4.2% in Caucasian children (p = 0.098). In conclusion, our results confirm no ethnic-, gender- or age-related differences in non-HDL cholesterol levels between Slovak Roma and Caucasian children. In both ethnic groups, overweight and obesity and also higher socio-economic status--but not cigarette smoking--are adversely associated with non-HDL cholesterol levels in childhood.