Contact allergy to finished woods in furniture and furnishings: a small allergic contact dermatitis epidemic to western red cedar in sauna interior decoration.

BACKGROUND: Allergic contact dermatitis caused by wood dust remains uncommon and most cases are occupational. Contact allergy to finished wooden products is even more rare and only few cases of contact dermatitis to wooden furnishings and furniture are described. OBJECTIVE: During 2012-2014 surprisingly many patients with dermatitis associated to sauna baths were referred to our clinic. METHODS: We report three novel cases with allergic contact dermatitis to western red cedar due to exposure during sauna baths. RESULTS: Three cases of non-occupational contact dermatitis to western red cedar were confirmed by patch testing. CONCLUSION: Allergic contact dermatitis to interior decoration or furniture is a rarity, but can be induced by novel exposures, like western red cedar in sauna interior decoration.

Abundance of Cottus poecilopus is influenced by O2 saturation, food density and Salmo trutta in three tributaries of the Roznovská Becva River, Czech Republic.

The distribution patterns of alpine bullhead Cottus poecilopus in three tributary streams of the Roznovská Becva River (Danube basin) were studied with respect to temperature, oxygen concentration and saturation, shading, current, conductivity, total organic carbon (TOC), nitrates and phosphates, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 ), pH, redox potential, bottom grain structure, density of macroinvertebrates and the abundance of brown trout Salmo trutta. Sites with lower abundance per hectare of C. poecilopus differed significantly in dissolved oxygen saturation, density of macroinvertebrates during the autumn period (positive correlation with C. poecilopus) and in abundance per hectare of S. trutta (negative correlation). These results indicate that these factors significantly influence the distribution of this endangered species in the studied catchment and that stocking of S. trutta will impair its recovery.

Which patients should receive aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease? An economic evaluation.

Low-dose aspirin is a standard care for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Its use in primary prevention is less widely accepted, however, despite recent meta-analyses and US and European guidelines supporting its use in individuals at increased CVD risk. The aim of this study was to define which patients should receive aspirin for primary prevention of CVD using data from four European countries. Based on the clinical data from two meta-analyses, a state-transition model was developed to compare the costs and effects of no treatment and low-dose aspirin as primary prevention for CVD over 10 years. The model was applied to patients at different 10-year risks (2-5%) of fatal CVD according to the SCORE equation. Direct costs from the perspective of the healthcare payer were used (base year 2003). Country-specific discounting was applied. Treating patients with a 10-year risk of fatal CVD of 2% or higher with low-dose aspirin resulted in lower total costs and more quality-adjusted life-years gained in the UK, Germany and Spain. In Italy, savings started at a 10-year fatal CVD risk of 3%. This difference was due to the higher cost of gastrointestinal bleeding in Italy. Monte Carlo analysis showed that aspirin was dominant in more than 90% of patients at a 10-year risk of 4% and 5% in the four countries. In conclusion, low-dose aspirin treatment becomes cost-saving at a very low 10-year risk of fatal CVD. The cost of gastrointestinal bleeding defines the level at which low-dose aspirin becomes cost-saving.

[Nontuberculous mycobacteria and incidence of mycobacterioses in Prague in 1999-2004]. / Netuberkulózní mykobakteria a mykobakteriózy v Praze v letech 1999-2004.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria detected in Prague patients in 1999-2004 as either single findings suggestive of clinical insignificance or repetitive findings suggestive of mycobacteriosis when reported together with the corresponding organ damage and symptomatology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nontuberculous mycobacteria were isolated and identified according to the Czech recommended methods for mycobacterial diagnosis in two Prague laboratories. The determined incidence rates of Mycobacterium (M.) kansasii, M. avium complex (MAC) and M. xenopi were compared with the respective nationwide rates and those of other nontuberculous bacteria, M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. The data on cases of mycobacterioses reported within the Czech Registry of Tuberculosis were provided by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic. RESULTS: In 1999-2004, the annual incidence rates of nontuberculous mycobacteria detected in Prague patients ranged between 169-139 and accounted for 13-25% of the totals of isolated mycobacteria including M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. Over this period, M. kansasii, MAC and M. xenopi were detected in 45, 76 and 43 patients, respectively. The single to repetitive detection ratio was the highest for M. kansasii (1:1.6), followed by MAC (1:1.8) and M. xenopi (1:2.3). Most male excretors were from higher age categories (median of 58-73 years) while the median age of female excretors ranged between 41 and 75 years. As many as 47 cases of mycobacterioses caused by the following agents: M. kansasii (20 cases), MAC (17 cases), M. xenopi (6 cases) and other nontuberculous mycobacteria (4 cases), were reported to the National Registry of Tuberculosis over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Detection and identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria have become part of diagnostic routine of mycobacteriological laboratories. Compared to conventional tuberculous mycobacteria, detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria often requires the use of different and more cumbersome procedures such as incubation at preferential temperatures, longer incubation for detection of growth in primary cultures, species specific culture media, etc.. More skills and experience are needed for the use of automated detection systems and molecular biological techniques for species identification and interpretation of results. Regular consultations with clinical and outpatient physicians are crucial for the assessment of pathogenetic potential of nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Early conceptual and linguistic development of a patient and partner treatment satisfaction scale (TSS) for erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the early development of a pluri-language self-report questionnaire to assess male patients and their female partners' satisfaction with drug treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: This first development phase proceeded in several parts. Item generation followed literature review, hypothesized characteristics of the drug and in-depth interviews with patients and their partners. Perceptions and feelings related to ED and patients' expectations of treatment were explored. Items were generated simultaneously in 5 languages (American English, Canadian French, English, French and German). Content and face validity were empirically assessed by interviews with a few patients and partners in each country. Conceptual equivalence between languages was ascertained. RESULTS: The final content domains included satisfaction with: sexual spontaneity, quality of erection, quality of ejaculation, sexual pleasure, orgasm, confidence, reliability of treatment, side effects, convenience, overall satisfaction, conformity to treatment expectations and intent to continue use of drug. Cognitive debriefing with patients and partners found few issues with comprehension, however some words were considered problematic. The simultaneous development for the different languages allowed adaptation of the content at this stage and ensured consistency of all language versions. The final questionnaire consisted of 4 modules: unmedicated patient, medicated patient, unmedicated partner, and medicated partner modules. The questionnaire was then linguistically validated into 15 additional languages for further psychometric validation. CONCLUSIONS: The Treatment Satisfaction Scale (TSS) is a multi-facetted measure of patients' and partners' satisfaction with their sexual life relating to erectile dysfunction and intended for prospective use. Its simultaneous development for a variety of countries and languages has fostered true item equivalence across language versions. However, further work is needed to validate the TSS psychometrically, including identification of domains, test responsiveness and determination of appropriate scoring prior to its clinical use.

Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in Prague and South Moravia, Czech Republic: genetic analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates by IS6110-RFLP fingerprinting and spoligotyping.

OBJECTIVES: To genetically characterize and compare Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates among culture-confirmed TB cases in two regions in the Czech Republic in 1998. METHODS: Consecutive M. tuberculosis isolates from 111 TB patients in Prague and 120 patients in the South Moravia region were genotyped using the standardized IS6110 Southern blot hybridization method and by spoligotyping. RESULTS: Eighty of the Prague patients (72.1%) had isolates with unique RFLP patterns, while 31 (27.9%) had isolates which belonged to 10 clusters. Seventy-eight (64.7%) of the South Moravia strains displayed unique RFLP pattern and 42 (35.3%) were assigned into 15 clusters. The spoligotype profiles previously identified in the U.S. were found in 69 (33%) samples and newly identified Czech spoligotypes in 24 (11.4%) of the total number of examined strains. CONCLUSIONS: The present population-based molecular epidemiological study performed in two regions of the Czech Republic in 1998 demonstrated the distribution of individual genotypes as well as clustered strains of M. tuberculosis isolated from TB patients, and confirmed the similarity between the Czech strain collection and the European Community TB Database, that includes countries with low TB rate. The sporadic import of TB cases from foreign countries and recent transmission events probably do not play significant roles in the epidemiological situation in the Czech Republic.

[Molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis among prisoners]. / Molekulární epidemiologie tuberkulózy veznu.

The subject of the investigation is a group of 27 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated in 2000 from prisoners with the diagnosis of tuberculosis, 19 Czechs and 8 foreigners (mean age 41 and 35 years resp.). The molecular-epidemiological examination of these strains was made using the RFLP fingerprint technique (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) with evidence of the insertive sequence IS6110 and the technique of spoligotyping, based on detection of hybridization of spacer oligonucleotides. DNA fingerprinting revealed a high polymorphism in the number and molecular weight of sequence IS6110 which is common in Czech and other European strains of M. tuberculosis. All strains with the exception of two had mutually different fingerprint profiles. In the two with identical fingerprints probably a duplicit examination of the same material was involved which occurred by mistake during transport or in the laboratory. The fingerprint method thus did not prove interhuman transmission of tuberculosis between the examined prisoners. The technique of spoligotyping revealed the finding of genotype Beijing M. tuberculosis in two sick prisoners, one Algerian and one Albanese, and in one Czech prisoner. This genotype found in a high percentage of patients in southeastern Asia and in migrants from this area was detected for the first time in the Czech Republic. The findings are evidence of a satisfactory standard of the programme of tuberculosis control in the Czech prison system and at the same time draw attention to the potential possibility of the spread of tuberculosis from migrants coming from areas with a high prevalence.

Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction.

This review of the current epidemiological literature on erectile dysfunction (ED) suggests that approximately 5-20% of men have moderate-to-severe ED. Different definitions of ED, age distributions and concomitant medical conditions, as well as methodological differences, may explain much of the variance in reported prevalence rates. Various chronic disorders are associated with elevated rates of ED including depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Such disorders are more common in the elderly, which may partially explain the elevated prevalence of ED in men over 60 y of age. Currently, up to 70% of men with ED are not treated. However, so many men experience considerable distress from their condition, that the increasing awareness of ED as well as the availability of noninvasive treatments may result in a greater proportion of patients seeking treatment, and eventually regaining satisfaction with their sex life.

[Spoligotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Czech population (methods and pilot study)]. / Spoligotypy ceských populací Mycobacteria tuberculosis (metodické principy a pilotní studie).

In the introduction the authors describe molecular genetic principles of spacer oligonucleotide typing of the M. tuberculosis complex and mention in detail the methodical procedure of implementation of this examination technique incl. computer analysis of results. In the pilot part of the study the authors describe examination of 71 strains of M. tuberculosis isolated from patients living in the capital of Prague and 37 strains from patients in the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic. In the group of Prague strains a total of 7 clusters was identified formed by 2-14 identical profiles of spoligotypes and 37 individually different profiles. In the South Moravian strains there were 6 clusters with 2-14 identical spoligotypes and 10 non-clustered profiles. In neither of the groups there were spoligotypes typical for the genetic family Beijing or Africa. The study is a preliminary molecular epidemiological analysis where DNA fingerprint RFLP profiles are compared with spoligotypes of strains of M. tuberculosis of patients from the capital of Prague and the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic.

Intravenous and oral antibiotics in respiratory tract infection: an international observational study of hospital practice.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalised patients with respiratory tract infections (RTI) frequently receive intravenous (i.v.) antibiotics followed by a short course of oral treatment. OBJECTIVES: To observe antibiotic use in hospitals in Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the UK and the reasons for choosing the i.v. route and switching to oral treatment. METHODS: Research pharmacists sought the opinions of physicians and senior nurses in the completion of a semi-structured questionnaire on the treatment of RTI with i.v. antibiotics. Questions focussed on antimicrobials of choice, reasons for choosing i.v., reasons for changing to oral administration, and duration of treatment. RESULTS: This study recruited 796 patients with RTI, usually pneumonia. Prescribing patterns varied widely between the five hospitals. Accepted clinical criteria were only commonly cited in Germany, Spain and the UK as reasons for choosing the i.v. route at the beginning of the study. These were more commonly cited at the time of switch, although other criteria such as improved condition, were other significant reasons. The mean duration of i.v. treatment ranged from 4 days in the UK to 10 days in Italy, where most patients received the full course of treatment by the i.v. route. Unlike the other hospitals studied, the few patients in Italy who were switched to another form of treatment were as likely to receive intramuscular as oral administration (13% and 11%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The practice of and reasons for prescribing i.v. antibiotics varied in the hospitals studied. Objective clinical criteria were inconsistently cited as reasons for administering i.v. antibiotics and in general these reasons were unrelated to those given for the switch from i.v. to oral administration. In order for guidelines for switching from i.v. to oral antimicrobials to be routinely employed, explicit physiological criteria need to be recorded in a routine fashion. Closer co-operation between pharmacists and physicians may help in developing and implementing guidelines at a local level.

Prevention of coronary heart disease through treatment of infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae? Estimation of possible effectiveness and costs.

Evidence has been accumulating for a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae and coronary heart disease (CHD). A spreadsheet model was used to estimate the impact of different strategies for screening and treating C. pneumoniae on the incidence of myocardial infarction and cardiac mortality over a 1-year post-intervention period. It was found that screening would potentially be most cost-effective in men aged over 35 with a history of myocardial infarction (around l2,000 per life-year saved). Cost-effectiveness would be inferior in those with established heart disease but no history of myocardial infarction (MI), and poor for people at elevated risk of CHD. If causality of the association were proven, the cost-effectiveness of treating C. pneumoniae in post-MI patients would compare favourably with, for example, statins for treating hypercholesterolaemia.

ULBP1, 2, 3: novel MHC class I-related molecules that bind to human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein UL16, activate NK cells.

New members of the extended MHC class I-like family were identified based on their ability to bind human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein UL16 and/or their mutual homology. Soluble UL16 binding proteins (ULBP) competed with each other for binding to NK cells. Treatment of human and mouse NK cells with ULBP led to increased production of cytokines/chemokines, proliferation, cytotoxic activity and up-regulation of activation-associated surface molecules. The presence of ULBP during the stimulation phase of the CTL assay caused increased cytotoxic activity. Addition of soluble recombinant UL16 protein inhibited the biological activities mediated by ULBP, suggesting the existence of a novel mechanism utilized by CMV to evade elimination by the host immune system.

[DRE-PCR (Double Repetitive Element-Polymerase Chain Reaction)--a new molecular-epidemiologic method in the detection of tuberculosis]. / DRE-PCR (Double Repetitive Element-Polymerase Chain Reaction)--nová molekulárne-epidemiologická metoda pri setrení tuberkulózy.

In a pilot study Double Repetitive Element-Polymerase Chain Reaction 20 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Guatemala and 49 strains from Prague were typed. This technique is based on direct evidence of repetitive elements IS6110 or PGRS and does not require DNA purification, digestion by endonuclease nor Southern blot hybridization. Preliminary examination of Guatemalian strains revealed a striking identity or similarity of DRE-PCR profiles while the Prague strains were characterized by conspicuous polymorphism. The Prague strains were examined in a total number of 13 series of electrophoreograms and subsequently subjected to automated analysis with GelCompar software. The DRE-PCR method is suitable for screening of a major number of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis in laboratories equipped with a minimum of technical facilities for the PCR method, furthermore it requires facilities for synthesis of the necessary primers and at least basic knowledge of molecular biology.

Family outbreaks of tuberculosis in South Moravia, a low incidence area of the Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVES: To identify suspected family outbreaks of tuberculosis in South Moravia, an area with the lowest notification rates in the Czech Republic. METHOD: The insertion sequence IS6110-based RFLP analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was applied in isolates collected from 17 indigenous excretors giving the same family name and/or domicile. The fingerprints were matched with a database of 184 RFLP profiles of Czech M. tuberculosis isolates originating from remote localities. RESULTS: The RFLP analysis revealed uniform fingerprints in each of six indigenous outbreaks consisting of two to six family members or relatives. In three of them no matching case has been found in the Czech fingerprint database. The remaining three clusters showed identical patterns with RFLP profiles of 13 Czech M. tuberculosis strains originating from remote areas: five were from patients living in the immediate vicinity and eight were from distant regions. CONCLUSION: Different clustered genotypes of M. tuberculosis were identified in epidemiologically linked family outbreaks of tuberculosis, half of them indigenous and half matching fingerprints of strains from remote areas. It seems that family outbreaks may contribute to the continued occurrence of tuberculosis in South Moravia, which reports the lowest notification values in the Czech Republic.

ULBPs, novel MHC class I-related molecules, bind to CMV glycoprotein UL16 and stimulate NK cytotoxicity through the NKG2D receptor.

The human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein, UL16, binds to two members of a novel family of molecules, the ULBPs, and to the MHC class I homolog, MICB. The ULBPs are GPI-linked glycoproteins belonging to the extended MHC class I family but are only distantly related to MICB. The ULBP and MICB molecules are ligands for the activating receptor, NKG2D/DAP10, and this interaction is blocked by a soluble form of UL16. The ULBPs stimulate cytokine and chemokine production from NK cells, and expression of ULBPs in NK cell-resistant target cells confers susceptibility to NK cell cytotoxicity. Masking of NK cell recognition of ULBP or MIC antigens by UL16 provides a potential mechanism by which human cytomegalovirus-infected cells might evade attack by the immune system.