Difference in alcohol consumption in central and eastern Slovakia during a coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several negative changes. Increased alcohol consumption has been reported in some studies. This study aimed to compare the level of alcohol consumption among college students in the central and eastern regions of Slovakia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three Slovak universities were included in the study. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to determine alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The total number of college students was 3,647. The overall AUDIT score was significantly higher in the eastern region (p 0.05). During a typical drinking day, more alcohol was consumed in the eastern region compared to the central region of Slovakia in men (p < 0.028). Excess drinking by men has been reported in the eastern region compared to the central region (p 0.05). Inability to remember what happened on a night of drinking was a significant difference in eastern men (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption is a significant problem in Slovakia. The number of students with a high AUDIT score from the eastern region is higher than the number of students with a high AUDIT score from the central region. More significant differences were found between men compared to women from eastern and central Slovakia (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 34). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: alcohol consumption, AUDIT, pandemic, COVID-19, Slovakia.

What is the quality of life in patients with long COVID compared to a healthy control group?

Introduction: Many patients have prolonged symptoms after COVID-19 infection, which can affect patient quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study is to determine the quality of life in patients with long COVID, compared with healthy controls. Material and methods: The study was a prospective cross-sectional study using an anonymous online survey. The SF-36 questionnaire was chosen for quality of life measurement. The survey was distributed through the Facebook social media platform targeting groups of patients with long COVID. The control group was made up of physiotherapy and physical education students. Results: There was a significant difference in physical function, with a mean score of 94.9 (±9.4) among the students, compared to long COVID patients with a mean score of 66.2 (±25.4) (p < 0.001). A similar result was found in the physical role (p < 0.001). The overall quality of life score for college students was 578.0 (±111.9), and the overall score for patients with long COVID was 331.9 (±126.9). Conclusions: Patients with long COVID had a lower quality of life compared to the healthy control group, and this was associated with the negative effect of long-COVID. Lower quality of life in patients with long COVID is an important therapeutic goal, which requires attention.

Relationship between alcohol consumption and adverse childhood experiences in college students-A cross-sectional study.

Background: Alcohol consumption is an important issue. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can affect alcohol consumption later in life. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to test the association between ACE and the alcohol consumption in college students. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study on college students was conducted during December 2021 and January 2022, Through the school web system, students received a standard questionnaire on alcohol consumption (AUDIT) and ACEs. The study involved 4,044 participants from three universities in Slovakia. Result: Compared to men, the incidence of emotional abuse by a parent, physical abuse by a parent, and sexual abuse was significantly higher in women (p < 0.001). Furthermore, women reported greater emotional and physical neglect (p < 0.001). The incidence of a high or very high AUDIT score in college students with ACE-0, ACE-1, ACE-2, ACE-3, and ACE-4+ was 3.8, 4.7, 4.1, 6.4, and 9.3%, respectively. Conclusion: More adverse childhood experiences were associated with increased alcohol consumption in both male and female university students. Baseline drinking was higher in male students, but increased drinking in relation to an increase in ACEs was higher in female students. These results point to gender-specific driving forces and targets for intervention.

Virulence, phylogenetic background and antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli associated with extraintestinal infections.

BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a major cause of urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections and an important agent in the resistance to antibiotics. The present study sought to determine associations between virulence, phylogenetic background and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli strains isolated from patients with extraintestinal infections. METHODS: A total of three hundred ten E. coli strains were isolated from blood, skin and soft tissue and urine. PCR methods were used to detect four main phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) and 11 virulence genes (3 toxins, 3 adhesins, 1 siderophore, 4 capsule synthesis proteins and protectins). Standard broth microdilution test was used to determine sensitivity to 12 antimicrobial drugs. RESULTS: The most common and the most virulent phylogenetic group B2 was found in 193 (62.3%) isolates. The lowest virulence was observed among the group A. Analysis of virulence factors revealed the kpsMTII gene in 212 (68.4%), aer in 194 (62.6%) and tra in 184 (59.4%) of isolates, respectively. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotype was noticed in 165 (53.2%) isolates. Lower representation of the MDR phenotype was detected in E. coli containing all groups of virulence genes and in the avirulent E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: Our study documented that E. coli associated with 3 different extraintestinal infections contain various virulence factors. Genes afa, pap, aer, neuC show significant differences among the 3 groups of the strains tested and might be the prerequisite virulence factors in bloodstream infections. Isolates containing all groups of virulence genes predominantly originate in the blood and belong to the B2 phylogenetic group. Overall, we identified significantly higher incidence of all the groups of virulence genes examined among the B2 group. Prevalence of the MDR phenotype and high levels of resistance to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and trimetoprim/sulfamethoxazole reflect the trend observed worldwide in recent years.

Movement Activity Determination with Health-related Variables of University Students in Kosice.

INTRODUCTION: There is currently a strong scientific evidence about the negative health consequences of physical inactivity. One of the potential tools for promoting physical activity at the institutional level of the Ecological model is to create conditions and settings that would enable pupils, students and employees engage in some form of physical activity. However, physical activities as a subject are being eliminated from the study programs at Slovak universities. The purpose of the study was to find current evidence about the level of structured physical activity and health-related variables in university students in Kosice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 1,993 or, more precisely, 1,398 students who attended two universities in Kosice. To collect data, students completed a questionnaire and were tested for body height, body weight, circumferential measures and percentage body fat. RESULTS: The university students did not sufficiently engage in a structured physical activity. A large number of students had either low or high values of percentage body fat and BMI and high WHR values. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have shown that the research into physical activity of university students should receive more attention.

First insights into indoor and outdoor Culicoides activity related to the risk period for Bluetongue virus transmission in Eastern Slovakia.

The epizootic of Bluetongue virus (BTV) throughout Europe in 2006 revealed insufficient knowledge regarding seasonal activities, endo/exophilic and endo/exophagic behaviour of the species of the Culicoides genus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Although several studies have been carried out in Western Europe, bringing new knowledge of the above mentioned topics, there was still a gap to fill in Central Europe. Therefore, this study investigated seasonal variations in the indoor/outdoor Culicoides activity observed in the south-eastern Slovakia from 2012 to 2014, using a light-trapping method. In total, 52,741 Culicoides were collected and identified; majority of them were caught outdoors (82.6%), with the highest activity period being mid-June. The C. obsoletus/C. scoticus and C.punctatus species predominated, altogether representing 88.8 and 94.1% of the total indoor and outdoor collections, respectively. Positive correlation was observed between the temperature and the abundance, whereas no correlation with other studied factors was detected. In autumn, Culicoides activity was observed outdoors at temperatures ranging between-1.5°C and 9.3°C, whereas the indoor activity was detected at temperatures ranging between-3.9°C and 0°C. This demonstrated that the most significant BTV vectors in the studied area are C. obsoletus/C. scoticus. The C. dewulfi and C. chiopterus vectors appeared to be of lower significance. The period with the highest risk of the BTV transmission in Eastern Slovakia appeared to be mid-June. The autumnal Culicoides activity inside the cowsheds may be important for the assessment of virus overwintering. This study is the first to provide the data on indoor/outdoor behaviour of biting midges in Slovakia.