The Impact of Altitude on Tick-Borne Pathogens at Two Mountain Ranges in Central Slovakia.

Ticks are ectoparasites of a wide range of animals and are important vectors of numerous pathogens affecting humans, livestock, and pets. This study investigates possible correlations between selected factors, altitude, soil pH, and a factor called 'amount' (number of ticks examined in pooled samples) on the occurrence of I. ricinus ticks positive for selected tick-borne microorganisms. Questing I. ricinus ticks were collected in 2016 and 2017 across various altitudes, at two mountain ranges in central Slovakia. Tick pools were screened for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), Babesia/Theileria spp., Rickettsia spp., and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) using molecular methods. Regression analysis was employed to evaluate relationships between selected factors and the occurrence of vector-borne microorganisms. This study revealed a statistically significant influence of altitude on the occurrence of A. phagocytophilum; increasing altitude of the sampling site was associated with increased probability of pathogen occurrence. For Babesia/Theileria spp., neither altitude nor soil pH significantly affected pathogen occurrence. The occurrence of Bbsl was notably impacted by both altitude and soil pH; higher altitudes were associated with a decreased probability of pathogen presence, whereas higher soil pH increased the likelihood of pathogen occurrence. The presence of Rickettsia in a pooled sample was not affected by altitude and soil pH, but the 'amount' factor was a significant predictor, increasing the probability of pathogen detection. Neither altitude nor soil pH had a significant impact on TBEV occurrence. The regression models showed moderate goodness-of-fit levels to the data, underscoring their utility in examining the role of altitude and soil pH on pathogen occurrence. However, they explained only a small portion of the overall variance in pathogen occurrence, indicating the presence of other significant factors not covered in this study.

Cerebral oxygen saturation and autoregulation during hypotension in extremely preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the permissive hypotension approach in clinically well infants on regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) and autoregulatory capacity (CAR) remains unknown. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of blinded rScO2 measurements within a randomized controlled trial of management of hypotension (HIP trial) in extremely preterm infants. rScO2, mean arterial blood pressure, duration of cerebral hypoxia, and transfer function (TF) gain inversely proportional to CAR, were compared between hypotensive infants randomized to receive dopamine or placebo and between hypotensive and non-hypotensive infants, and related to early intraventricular hemorrhage or death. RESULTS: In 89 potentially eligible HIP trial patients with rScO2 measurements, the duration of cerebral hypoxia was significantly higher in 36 hypotensive compared to 53 non-hypotensive infants. In 29/36 hypotensive infants (mean GA 25 weeks, 69% males) receiving the study drug, no significant difference in rScO2 was observed after dopamine (n = 13) compared to placebo (n = 16). Duration of cerebral hypoxia was associated with early intraventricular hemorrhage or death.  Calculated TF gain (n = 49/89) was significantly higher reflecting decreased CAR in 16 hypotensive compared to 33 non-hypotensive infants. CONCLUSIONS: Dopamine had no effect on rScO2 compared to placebo in hypotensive infants. Hypotension and cerebral hypoxia are associated with early intraventricular hemorrhage or death. IMPACT: Treatment of hypotension with dopamine in extremely preterm infants increases mean arterial blood pressure, but does not improve cerebral oxygenation. Hypotensive extremely preterm infants have increased duration of cerebral hypoxia and reduced cerebral autoregulatory capacity compared to non-hypotensive infants. Duration of cerebral hypoxia and hypotension are associated with early intraventricular hemorrhage or death in extremely preterm infants. Since systematic treatment of hypotension may not be associated with better outcomes, the diagnosis of cerebral hypoxia in hypotensive extremely preterm infants might guide treatment.

Hypotension in Preterm Infants (HIP) randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether restricting the use of inotrope after diagnosis of low blood pressure (BP) in the first 72 hours of life affects survival without significant brain injury at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA) in infants born before 28 weeks of gestation. DESIGN: Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial. Caregivers were masked to group assignment. SETTING: 10 sites across Europe and Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Infants born before 28 weeks of gestation were eligible if they had an invasive mean BP less than their gestational age that persisted for ≥15 min in the first 72 hours of life and a cerebral ultrasound free of significant (≥ grade 3) intraventricular haemorrhage. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to saline bolus followed by either a dopamine infusion (standard management) or placebo (5% dextrose) infusion (restrictive management). PRIMARY OUTCOME: Survival to 36 weeks of PMA without severe brain injury. RESULTS: The trial terminated early due to significant enrolment issues (7.7% of planned recruitment). 58 infants were enrolled between February 2015 and September 2017. The two groups were well matched for baseline variables. In the standard group, 18/29 (62%) achieved the primary outcome compared with 20/29 (69%) in the restrictive group (p=0.58). Additional treatments for low BP were used less frequently in the standard arm (11/29 (38%) vs 19/29 (66%), p=0.038). CONCLUSION: Though this study lacked power, we did not detect major differences in clinical outcomes between standard or restrictive approach to treatment. These results will inform future studies in this area. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01482559, EudraCT 2010-023988-17.

Skin conductance as a marker of pain in infants of different gestational age.

AIMS: To assess the use of skin conductance as an objective measure of pain in infants of different gestational age. A second aim was to investigate the relationship between skin conductivity and selected physiological and behavioural variables (oxygen saturation, heart rate and behavioural state). METHODS: Infants were divided according to gestational age into the following 3 groups; group A: 25+0-31+6 weeks (13 infants), group B: 32+0-35+6 weeks (25 infants), group C: 36+0-41+6 weeks (19 infants). The pain stimulus was blood sampling. RESULTS: The most sensitive parameter for describing changes in skin conductance related to pain was peak per second. No other parameter correlated with the physiological variables chosen. The results showed that the inability to determine basal skin conductance is a crucial disadvantage to practical application. The lack of correlation between conductance parameters and gestational age is surprising. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Peak per Second is the best parameter for evaluating skin conductance in infants and it is not influenced by gestational age. Peaks per Second correlate only with Prechtl's Scale of behavioural state and not with the physiological parameters chosen.

[Congenital rubella syndrome - case report]. / Vrozený zardenkový syndrom - kazuistika.

The goal of this case report is not only to describe a case of congenital rubella syndrome that is currently rarely seen in the Czech Republic but also to emphasize the importance of vaccination against rubella. Rubella usually occurs in susceptible children as a mild illness with rush. Its association with abortions and severe congenital disabilities was noticed in the 1940s. Since that time, efforts have been made to develop a vaccine against rubella to prevent congenital rubella syndrome.

[Ethics in neonatal intensive care]. / Etika neonatální intenzivní péce.

Work summarises current data ideas of problems of ethical thinking and decision making in neonatology. Primary objective ethical questions of administration resuscitative and intensive care are outlined, as well as administration of care for babies, delivered on limit of viability, in the same way for children with high probability of serious damage in case of survival. Role of parents in decision making about to other administration care is discussed, some recommendation and instructions for communication with parents are handed up. Findings of extensive european study named EURONIC are shortly mentioned, study concerns problems of ethical dilemmas in neonatology in 8 European countries. Finally the categorization of newborns in ethical thinking is mentioned and present circumstances in Czech republic are remarked.

[Perinatal brachial plexus palsy]. / Perinatální paréza brachiálního plexu.

Upper limbs palsy as a result of affliction of plexus brachialis nervous bunch is disorder, whose frequency moves among 0.42-5.1 / 1000 liveborn children. Delivery mechanism itself certain weighty, no however only cause rising paralysis. Some way paralysis rise already intrauterinne, some way then at surgical childbirth per sectionem caeseream. Brachial plexus palsy isn't benign disorder. If isn't this disorder in time diagnosed and accordingly treated, child threatens late aftermath, especially significant limitation of limbs movement with functional consequencies.

Description of Bucephalus anguillae n. sp. (Trematoda: Bucephalidae), a parasite of the eel Anguilla anguilla (Anguillidae) from a brackish water lagoon of the Adriatic Sea.

The digenetic trematode Bucephalus anguillae n. sp. is described from the intestine of eel, Anguilla anguilla L., originating from a brackish water fish farm on the Italian coast of the Adriatic Sea. The new taxon is 1 of 12 Bucephalus species characterized by an anterior rhynchus surrounded by 7 tentacular appendages, each when fully protruded with 2 prongs. Scanning electron microscopy reveals, for the first time in a Bucephalus species, the crescent-shaped, unspined field located between the rhynchus and the dorsal tentacles. A comparison of B. anguillae n. sp. with 11 congeneric species revealed its remarkable similarity with B. polymorphus Baer, 1827; however, the new species has a larger cirrus sac, larger pharynx, vitelline gland fields not extending the level of pharynx, ovary located in the pharyngeal area rather than fairly posterior to pharynx, smaller testes, relatively wider rhynchus, and tegumental armature comprising slightly larger spines. Multivariate discriminant analyses confirmed a differentiation of B. anguillae from populations of B. polymorphus; the combination of 4 variables, namely cirrus sac length, pharynx width, cirrus sac width, and rhynchus width yielded a total separation of compared species.

A description of Cinclotaenia georgievi n. sp. (Cestoda: Dilepididae), a tapeworm from the dipper Cinclus cinclus (L.) (Passeriformes: Cinclidae).

Cinclotaenia sp., described originally by Georgiev & Genov (1985) from the dipper Cinclus cinclus (L.) in Bulgaria, has recently been identified from the same host in the Carpathian Mountains in the Slovak Republic. This tapeworm is considered to be a new species, which is named C. georgievi n. sp. It is characterised by: a scolex armed with 23-27 (predominantly 24-26) hooks in two rows; hooks 30.5-36 microm long, with a blade 10-13.5 microm long and resembling in shape the diorchoid hooks of hymenolepidids; irregularly alternating genital pores with simple genital atria; a slightly conical cirrus armed by small spines of up to 3 microm in length; 24-51 testes posterior to a bi-alate, branched ovary; a gravid uterus filled with egg packets; and eggs with filaments. C. georgievi n. sp. differs from the closely-related C. tarnogradskii (Dinnik, 1927) in the slightly higher number of rostellar hooks, which have longer blades, and a larger cirrus.