Determinants of self-rated health among highly educated Ukrainian women refugees in Czechia: analysis based on cross-sectional study in 2022.

BACKGROUND: Russia's military aggression against Ukraine set in motion a large number of refugees. Considerable amount of them came and stayed in Czechia. Refugees represent special vulnerable individuals often affected by war physically and psychologically. Due to the national regulations not allowing most of Ukrainian men aged 18-60 to leave the country, nowadays Ukrainian forced migration is relatively young and strongly gendered. Evidence suggests the higher probability for searching the safe refuge abroad among Ukrainian women with small children as well as those with relatively higher economic and cultural capital. The aim of this study is to identify the structural features of systemic risks associated with war migration by examining determinants of self-rated health among forcibly displaced highly educated Ukrainian women of productive age residing in Czechia. METHODS: Data from one wave of the panel survey among Ukrainian refugees in Czechia conducted in September 2022 was used. Determinants of self-rated health including self-reported diseases and healthcare factors, lifestyle, human and social capital, economic factors, and migration characteristics were analysed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: About 45% highly educated Ukrainian women refugees in Czechia assessed their health as poor. The poor self-rated health was mostly associated with the number of diseases and depressive symptoms, and by social capital and economic factors. Having four and more diseases (OR = 13.26; 95%-CI: 5.61-31.35), showing some severe depressive symptoms (OR = 7.20; 95%-CI: 3.95-13.13), experiencing difficulties to seek help from others (OR = 2.25; 95%-CI: 1.20-4.23), living alone in a household (OR = 2.67; 95%-CI: 1.37-5.27), having severe material deprivation (OR = 2.70; 95%-CI: 1.35-5.41) and coming originally from the eastern part of Ukraine (OR = 2.96; 95%-CI: 1.34-6.55) increased the chance of these refugees to assess their health as poor. CONCLUSION: Social and economic determinants such as lack of social contacts for seeking help and material deprivation were found to be crucial for self-rated health and should be tackled via migration policies. Further, qualitative research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind the factors affecting subjectively assessed health.

Calicophoron daubneyi (Paramphistomidae) in deer of the Sumava National Park, Czech Republic - Consequence of prevalent rumen fluke infection in cattle.

A substantial parallel increase in prevalence and geographical spread of the rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi, in livestock in western and central Europe has been recognized in the recent past. In the course of the examination of rectum feces of 471 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and one sika deer (Cervus nippon) from the Fascioloides magna endemic Sumava National Park in the years 2021 and 2022, rumen fluke eggs were detected in four red deer (0.8%) and the sika deer and identified as eggs of C. daubneyi by molecular analysis. Subsequent examination of rectal fecal samples of 247 beef cattle from 22 herds of 14 farms located in or nearby the national park revealed rumen fluke eggs in 53 samples (21.5%) originating from 16 herds of 11 farms, molecularly identified as C. daubneyi eggs as well. One C. daubneyi egg positive red deer and three C. daubneyi egg positive cattle samples also contained fasciolid eggs, respectively, which were detected in 9.5% or 3.6% of the total samples from red deer or cattle, respectively. Results of this investigation reveal the first finding of C. daubneyi in sika deer worldwide and in red deer in mainland Europe and add to the growing number of reports on C. daubneyi in livestock in Europe. Considering that the ratio of cattle excreting rumen fluke eggs exceeded that of deer substantially, it can reasonably be assumed that the C. daubneyi infections in deer are a consequence of the prevalent infection in cattle, illustrating a pathogen spillover event from livestock into wildlife.

Disease-Causing TIMP3 Variants and Deep Phenotyping of Two Czech Families with Sorsby Fundus Dystrophy Associated with Novel p.(Tyr152Cys) Mutation.

We aim to report the ocular phenotype and molecular genetic findings in two Czech families with Sorsby fundus dystrophy and to review all the reported TIMP3 pathogenic variants. Two probands with Sorsby fundus dystrophy and three first-degree relatives underwent ocular examination and retinal imaging, including optical coherence tomography angiography. The DNA of the first proband was screened using a targeted ocular gene panel, while, in the second proband, direct sequencing of the TIMP3 coding region was performed. Sanger sequencing was also used for segregation analysis within the families. All the previously reported TIMP3 variants were reviewed using the American College of Medical Genetics and the Association for Molecular Pathology interpretation framework. A novel heterozygous variant, c.455A>G p.(Tyr152Cys), in TIMP3 was identified in both families and potentially de novo in one. Optical coherence tomography angiography documented in one patient the development of a choroidal neovascular membrane at 54 years. Including this study, 23 heterozygous variants in TIMP3 have been reported as disease-causing. Application of gene-specific criteria denoted eleven variants as pathogenic, eleven as likely pathogenic, and one as a variant of unknown significance. Our study expands the spectrum of TIMP3 pathogenic variants and highlights the importance of optical coherence tomography angiography for early detection of choroidal neovascular membranes.

A comprehensive study of food waste management and processing in the Czech Republic: Potential health risks and consumer behavior.

Food waste is currently a widely discussed phenomenon with significant economic and social consequences. One third of the food produced in the world is wasted at various points along the food supply chain. This article presents a comprehensive study that examines consumer behavior in dealing with food waste and activities in the composting process that enable waste sanitation. The survey conducted as part of this study showed that consumers want to eliminate odors, are concerned about potential infections, and generally sort less food waste. This study suggested that the addition of appropriate additives could be a solution. The results indicated that additives could eliminate negative side effects such as unpleasant odors, the presence of insects and rodents, and act as a prevention of the occurrence of pathogenic organisms. Tea tree oil showed the best positive physical and chemical properties among the additives tested (CaCO3 and citric acid) with a significant effect on inhibiting the growth of bacterial strains such as Salmonella strains and had the strongest antibacterial effect, neutralized unpleasant odors, and stabilized the waste. The use of additives could be a future solution to meet consumer demands, improve the quality of food waste and advance the circular economy to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Lentzea sokolovensis sp. nov., Lentzea kristufekii sp. nov. and Lentzea miocenica sp. nov., rare actinobacteria from Miocene lacustrine sediment of the Sokolov Coal Basin, Czech Republic.

The taxonomic position of three actinobacterial strains, BCCO 10_0061T, BCCO 10_0798T, and BCCO 10_0856T, recovered from bare soil in the Sokolov Coal Basin, Czech Republic, was established using a polyphasic approach. The multilocus sequence analysis based on 100 single-copy genes positioned BCCO 10_0061T in the same cluster as Lentzea waywayandensis, strain BCCO 10_0798T in the same cluster as Lentzea flaviverrucosa, Lentzea californiensis, Lentzea violacea, and Lentzea albidocapillata, and strain BCCO 10_0856T clustered together with Lentzea kentuckyensis and Lentzea alba. Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of these strains support their assignment to the genus Lentzea. In all three strains, MK-9(H4) accounted for more than 80 % of the isoprenoid quinone. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars were rhamnose, ribose, mannose, glucose, and galactose. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, and C16 : 0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, methyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol. The genomic DNA G+C content of strains (mol%) was 68.8 for BCCO 10_0061T, 69.2 for BCCO 10_0798T, and 68.5 for BCCO 10_0856T. The combination of digital DNA-DNA hybridization results, average nucleotide identity values and phenotypic characteristics of BCCO 10_0061T, BCCO 10_0798T, and BCCO 10_0856T distinguishes them from their closely related strains. Bioinformatic analysis of the genome sequences of the strains revealed several biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) with identities >50 % to already known clusters, including BGCs for geosmin, coelichelin, ε-poly-l-lysine, and erythromycin-like BGCs. Most of the identified BGCs showed low similarity to known BGCs (<50 %) suggesting their genetic potential for the biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites. Based on the above results, each strain represents a novel species of the genus Lentzea, for which we propose the name Lentzea sokolovensis sp. nov. for BCCO 10_0061T (=DSM 116175T), Lentzea kristufekii sp. nov. for BCCO 10_0798T (=DSM 116176T), and Lentzea miocenica sp. nov. for BCCO 10_0856T (=DSM 116177T).

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Examination in Eye Clinics in the Czech Republic - Questionnaire Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to map the behavior of ophthalmologists regarding protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic (coronavirus disease 2019), both during the time of the mandatory restrictive measures and after their relaxation. Another aim was to evaluate the awareness of ophthalmologists in the Czech Republic about the possible impact of nose and mouth protective measures (masks, respirators) on the quality of eye examinations, especially on the results of standard automated perimetry (SAP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of two professional ophthalmological events in the Czech Republic, which took place in 2022, we obtained and evaluated data from the ophthalmologists in attendance using a questionnaire. We evaluated demographic parameters, frequency of use and type of nose and mouth protective equipment and their influence on the quality of ophthalmological examination as well as the awareness of ophthalmologists about their possible influence on the outcome of SAP and IOP measurements. RESULTS: We obtained data from a total of 212 respondents (148 women, 44 men, in 20 cases gender was not stated). In 91.5% of cases, ophthalmologists agreed that the use of respirators and masks makes ophthalmological examination more difficult. The most common problems were eyepiece fogging (85.8%), examination lens fogging (85.8%), and lens fogging when spectacles correction was prescribed (79.2%). The respondents most often combated these problems either by completely removing the respirator (24.1%) or at least by pulling it under the nose (39.2%). At the time when the measures were relaxed, significantly more men did not use any nose and mouth protection at all during ophthalmological examinations (15.8% of men vs. 4.2% of women; p = 0.032). An alarming finding was the fact that 35.6% of respondents did not know whatsoever whether the nurse was performing a perimetry examination on a patient with a respirator/mask or without protective equipment, i.e. they were not aware whatsoever of the possible formation of artifacts. Only 21.2% of respondents were aware of the possible difficulties of measuring IOP while wearing a respirator, while 59.9% of respondents were not aware of this risk (39.6% had never considered this problem, 20.3% of respondents were convinced that a respirator could not have an effect on the measurement of IOP). CONCLUSION: The use of nose and mouth protective equipment clearly affects the ophthalmological examination and makes it more difficult. Although ophthalmologists belong to a group at high risk for the possible transmission of infection in the performance of their profession, they often removed nose and mouth protection in an effort to eliminate fogging of eyepieces and examination lenses. The awareness of ophthalmologists regarding the possible influence on the results of SAP and IOP measurement by wearing a respirator was low in our questionnaire survey. It is therefore advisable to discuss this issue more widely and warn doctors about these risks.

Multiple Infections with Viruses of the Family Tymoviridae in Czech Grapevines.

This study focused on the viruses of the Tymoviridae family that infect grapevines in the Czech Republic. Complete sequences of GFkV (grapevine fleck virus) and GRGV (grapevine red globe virus) from the genus Maculavirus and GRVFV (grapevine rupestris vein feathering virus) and GSyV-1 (grapevine Syrah virus 1) from the genus Marafivirus were obtained using high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs and total RNAs. Mixed infections with these viruses were observed, as well as several variants of these viruses in the same plant. Phylogenetic analysis showed the position of the newly obtained virus isolates within the Tymoviridae family. Recombinant analysis provided evidence of single and multiple intraspecific recombinations in GRGV, GSyV-1, and GRVFV. Additionally, GAMaV, a grapevine virus from the genus Marafivirus, was reported for the first time in the Czech Republic.

TB index case tracing in the Roma community in the Czech Republic.

Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing and TB preventive treatment are key tools in preventing the transmission of TB with the aim of eliminating the disease. Our study seeks to demonstrate how the infection spread from an individual patient to the entire community and how proactive contact tracing facilitated prompt diagnosis and treatment. Our work was conducted as a retrospective analysis of the spread of TB infection within the Roma community in the Czech Republic, following the case of an index patient who succumbed to pulmonary TB. Several levels of care and preventive and treatment measures are outlined. Confirming the identity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain was achieved using molecular methods. Among the 39 individuals examined, TB disease was detected in eight patients and TB infection was detected in six patients. The investigation of contacts within this group yielded positive results in 36% of cases, necessitating treatment. The study's findings provide evidence that actively tracing individuals at risk can lead to early detection of cases, prompt treatment, and prevention of further disease transmission. The study also indicates that the highest risk of infection occurs within the sick person's household and that young children under the age of 5 are most susceptible to falling ill.

Mental health and help-seeking in Czech sexual minorities: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.

AIMS: The mental health of sexual minority (SM) individuals remains overlooked and understudied in Czechia. We aimed to estimate (1) the prevalence rate and (2) the relative risk of common mental disorders and (3) the mental distress severity among the Czech SM people compared with the heterosexual population. In addition, we aimed to investigate help-seeking for mental disorders in SM people. METHODS: We used data from a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of Czech community-dwelling adults, consisting of 3063 respondents (response rate = 58.62%). We used the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview to assess the presence of mental disorders. In individuals scoring positively, we established help-seeking in the past 12 months. We assessed symptom severity using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. We computed the prevalence of mental disorders and the treatment gap with 95% confidence intervals. To assess the risk of having a mental disorder, we used binary logistic regression. RESULTS: We demonstrated that the prevalence of current mental disorders was 18.85% (17.43-20.28), 52.27% (36.91-67.63), 33.33% (19.5-47.17) and 25.93% (13.85-38) in heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual and more sexually diverse individuals, respectively. Suicidal thoughts and behaviours were present in 5.73% (4.88-6.57), 25.00% (11.68-38.32), 22.92% (10.58-35.25) and 11.11% (2.45-19.77) of heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual and more sexually diverse individuals, respectively. After confounder adjustment, gay or lesbian individuals were more likely to have at least one current mental disorder compared with heterosexual counterparts (odds ratio = 3.51; 1.83-6.76). For bisexual and sexually more diverse individuals, the results were consistent with a null effect (1.85; 0.96-3.45 and 0.89; 0.42-1.73). The mean depression symptom severity was 2.96 (2.81-3.11) in heterosexual people and 4.68 (2.95-6.42), 7.12 (5.07-9.18) and 5.17 (3.38-6.95) in gay or lesbian, bisexual and more sexually diverse individuals, respectively. The mean anxiety symptom severity was 1.97 (1.85-2.08) in heterosexual people and 3.5 (1.98-5.02), 4.63 (3.05-6.2) and 3.7 (2.29-5.11) in gay or lesbian, bisexual and more sexually diverse individuals, respectively. We demonstrated broadly consistent levels of treatment gap in heterosexual and SM individuals scoring positively for at least one current mental disorder (82.91%; 79.5-85.96 vs. 81.13%; 68.03-90.56). CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence that SM people in Czechia have substantially worse mental health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts. Systemic changes are imperative to provide not only better and more sensitive care to SM individuals but also to address structural stigma contributing to these health disparities.

Changing dynamics of antibiotic resistant Escherichia in Caspian gulls shows the importance of longitudinal environmental studies.

This study is focused on Escherichia spp. isolates resistant to critically important antibiotics (cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin and colistin) among Caspian gull's (Larus cachinnans) chicks nesting in the Nove Mlyny Water Reservoir, Czech Republic. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria within wild birds is commonly evaluated using a single sampling event, capturing only a brief and momentary snapshot at a particular location. Therefore, the Caspian gulls in our study were sampled in May 2018 (n = 72) and May 2019 (n = 45), and a water sample was taken from the reservoir (2019). We obtained 197 isolates identified as E. coli by MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 158 representative isolates were whole-genome sequenced, 17 isolates were then reclassified to Escherichia albertii. We observed a higher (86 %; 62/72) occurrence of ESBL/AmpC-producing Escherichia spp. among gulls in 2018 compared to 38 % (17/45) in 2019 (p < 0.00001). The decrease in prevalence was linked to clonal lineage of E. coli ST11893 predominating in 2018 which carried blaCMY-2 and which was not recovered from the gulls in 2019. Oppositely, several Escherichia STs were found in gulls from both years as well as in the water sample including STs commonly recognized as internationally high-risk lineages such as ST10, ST58, ST88, ST117, ST648 or ST744. Phylogenetic analysis of E. coli from EnteroBase from countries where these particular gulls wander revealed that some STs are commonly found in various sources including humans and a portion of them is even closely related (up to 100 SNPs) to our isolates. We demonstrated that the occurrence of AMR in Escherichia can vary greatly in time in synanthropic birds and we detected both, a temporary prevalent lineage and several persistent STs. The close relatedness of isolates from gulls and isolates from EnteroBase highlights the need to further evaluate the risk connected to wandering birds.

Leaky bodies, vaccination and three layers of memory: bio-immune, social-collective and lived experience.

This paper focuses on the omnipresent yet analytically almost invisible role of memory and bodily experiences in childhood vaccination. Previous scholarship on the sociocultural aspects of vaccination has primarily focused on the individual and sociodemographic factors underpinning vaccine hesitancy, the role of healthcare professionals and the politicisation or mediatisation of vaccination. Social practices considering vaccination were primarily explored as a matter of the present. Only little consideration was given to the past, individual biographies and sociohistorical temporalities. To complement this body of work, we focus on cognitively-based, embodied and emotionally-experienced memory related to vaccination. Based on a qualitative study of childhood vaccination conducted in Czechia between 2017 and 2019 consisting of ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews and a document review, we identified three interconnected forms of vaccination memory: bio-immune, social-collective and lived experience. Bio-immune memory refers to the body's physical memory, gained to protect itself from diseases. Social-collective memory focuses on socially shared narratives about diseases and vaccination in the past. The memory of lived experience refers to feelings, embodied knowledge and pain. Our findings may inspire further analysis of childhood vaccination in other geographical contexts and amidst the reconfiguration of attitudes and newly established memories following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-cultural perception of strength, attractiveness, aggressiveness and helpfulness of Maasai male faces calibrated to handgrip strength.

Previous research has demonstrated that Maasai and Europeans tend to align in their ratings of the physical strength and aggressiveness of Maasai male faces, calibrated to hand grip strength (HGS). However, perceptions of attractiveness of these faces differed among populations. In this study, three morphs of young Maasai men created by means of geometric morphometrics, and depicting the average sample and two extrema (± 4 SD of HGS), were assessed by men and women from Tanzania, Czech Republic, Russia, Pakistan, China, and Mexico (total sample = 1540). The aim of this study was to test cross-cultural differences in the perception of young Maasai men's composites calibrated to HGS, focusing on four traits: physical strength, attractiveness, aggressiveness, and helpfulness. Individuals from all six cultures were able to distinguish between low, medium, and high HGS portraits. Across all study populations, portrait of Maasai men with lower HGS was perceived as less attractive, more aggressive, and less helpful. This suggests that people from diverse populations share similar perceptions of physical strength based on facial shape, as well as attribute similar social qualities like aggressiveness and helpfulness to these facial images. Participants from all samples rated the composite image of weak Maasai men as the least attractive.

Terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum in the Czech Republic: A prospective multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Terbinafine, an allylamine antifungal, is crucial for treating dermatophytosis by inhibiting squalene epoxidase (SQLE) in the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway. However, resistance is emerging, particularly in India and Southeast Asia, but reports of resistance spread worldwide. Despite this, comprehensive studies on terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton are still limited. OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to determine the prevalence of terbinafine resistance in the Czech Republic, with a focus on Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. PATIENTS/METHODS: A total of 514 clinical strains of T. rubrum and 240 T. mentagrophytes collected from four Czech clinical institutions were screened for terbinafine resistance. Molecular investigations included DNA sequencing, specifically the ITS rDNA region and SQLE gene, as well as antifungal susceptibility testing following EUCAST guidelines. RESULTS: While no resistance was observed in T. rubrum, 2.5% of T. mentagrophytes strains exhibited resistance, marked by the F397L mutation in SQLE. Notably, resistance surged from 1.2% in 2019 to 9.3% in 2020 but reverted to 0% in 2021. All resistant strains were identified as T. mentagrophytes var. indotineae. Resistant strains exhibited high MICs for terbinafine (≥4 mg L-1 ) but low MICs to the other seven antifungals tested except for fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the emergence of terbinafine-resistant T. mentagrophytes strains in the Czech Republic, with the F397L mutation being pivotal. Due to the relatively low resistance level, the current guidelines for dermatomycosis treatment in the Czech Republic remain effective, but ongoing surveillance is essential for timely adaptations if resistance patterns change.

Genetic Parameters for Limousine Interbeef Genetic Evaluation of Calving Traits.

The aim of this study was to estimate across-country genetic correlations for calving traits (birth weight, calving ease) in the Limousine breed. Correlations were estimated for eight populations (Czech Republic, joint population of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Estonia). An animal model on raw performance accounting for across-country interactions (AMACI) was used. (Co)variance components were estimated for pairwise combinations of countries. Fixed and random effects were defined by each country according to its national genetic evaluation system. The average across-country genetic correlation for the direct genetic effect was 0.85 for birth weight (0.69-0.96) and 0.75 for calving ease (0.62-0.94). The average correlation for the maternal genetic effect was 0.57 for birth weight and 0.61 for calving ease. After the estimation of genetic parameters, the weighted bending procedure was used to compute the full Interbeef genetic correlation matrix. After bending, direct genetic correlations ranged from 0.62 to 0.84 (with an average of 0.73) for birth weight and from 0.58 to 0.82 (with an average of 0.68) for calving ease.

Comparison of Nutrition among Female Floorball Players of Extra-Class Teams from Poland and the Czech Republic during the Preparation Period for the League Season.

The study aimed to assess the frequency of food intake and to compare the consumption of female extramural players training floorball in Poland and the Czech Republic during the preparation period for the league season. In total, 43 players training floorball in senior clubs participated in the study, including 21 from the Polish and 22 from the Czech clubs. The research tool was based on the standardised questionnaire for the Examination of Eating Behaviours and Opinions on Food and Nutrition (QEB). The study also analysed body composition using the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) method, and the research tool was a TANITA MC-780 S MA body composition analyser (Tanita Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The Polish women's floorball players had lower results in body fat percentage (FM) and muscle mass (MM) than the Czech team. The mean FM in the players of the Polish team was 18.6% ± 5.4, and the mean MM was 45.8 kg ± 4.2. In the Czech team players, these figures were 19.8% ± 5.4 and 47.8 kg ± 4.2. Despite the similar value of mean BMI in both teams, the highest BMI in the case of female athletes from Poland (17.7), indicating underweight, and the highest BMI in female athletes from the Czech Republic (26.9), indicating overweight, were significant. The study showed differences in both body composition analysis and dietary patterns of the Czech and Polish players. The Czech women's floorball players had a higher muscle mass and body fat percentage than Polish floorball players. Furthermore, differences in diet were observed among the players of the Czech team compared to the players of the Polish team. The Czech women's floorball players consumed a slightly higher amount of healthier products, such as whole-grain products. The Polish players took in more meat, processed products and fruit juices. This study is one of the first to assess the nutrition of those involved in floorball. There is a need for further research that focuses on the specifics of the discipline, the exercise capacity of the players and points during the season that require nutritional support. This knowledge would help develop effective nutritional strategies and plan and implement appropriate nutrition education for this group of athletes.

Refractive Errors Among Members of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of refractive errors among members of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, to recommend a safe way of correcting refractive errors with regard to the specific needs of military personnel (especially members of combat units and flying personnel), and to propose a system for solving these errors in order to increase combat effectivity. Methodology: Questionnaire to determine previous refractive surgery and spectacle correction wear. Measurement of refraction with a hand-held autorefractometer and evaluation of current visual acuity on ETDRS optotypes (Landolt rings). Results: 259 servicemen (518 eyes) were investigated. The return rate of the questionnaires was 100%. The incidence of myopia greater than -0.75D was 22% (113 eyes), myopia greater than -0.5D 32% (166 eyes). The mean value of myopia was -0.78 D (SD ±0.6). Hypermetropia values ranged from +0.25 to +5.0 D. The mean value of hypermetropia was 0.63 D (SD ±0.7). Astigmatism values ranged from -0.25 to -3.75. The mean value of astigmatism was -0.55 Dcyl (SD ±0.49). The average visual acuity was 84.1 letters ETDRS SD (±6.1), visual acuity worse than 80 letters was manifested by 23% of the members of the monitored group. 25 people (10%) had undergone laser refractive surgery. Visual acuity after laser refractive surgery was measured in 19 people (38 eyes). Mean uncorrected post-laser visual acuity was 83.87 (SD ±6.1) ETDRS letters. The mean follow-up period after laser refractive surgery was 6.78 (SD ±4.8) years. Conclusion: Despite the initial selection of military personnel and entry limitations, the prevalence of refractive errors is comparable to the general population. However, in contrast with the general population, refractive errors larger than -3.0 D were not represented in the group. Due to the finding of insufficient correction of refractive errors, increased emphasis should be placed on identifying and regularly observing military personnel with refractive errors

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.

A Multicenter Study of Stellate Ganglion Block as a Temporizing Treatment for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are life-threatening conditions and can be refractory to conventional drug and device interventions. Stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) has been described as an adjunct, temporizing intervention in patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmia. We examined the association of SGB with VT/VF in a multicenter registry. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the efficacy of SGB for treatment/temporization of refractory VT/VF. METHODS: The authors present the first analysis from a multicenter registry of patients treated for refractory ventricular arrhythmia at a clinical site in the Czech Republic and the United States. Data were collected between 2016 and 2022. SGB was performed at the bedside by anesthesiologists and/or cardiologists. Outcomes of interest were VT/VF burden and defibrillations at 24 hours before and after SGB. RESULTS: In total, there were 117 patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmias treated with SGB at Duke (n = 49) and the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (n = 68). The majority of patients were male (94.0%), were White (87.2%), and had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (70.1%). The most common etiology of heart disease was ischemic cardiomyopathy (52.1%), and monomorphic VT was the most common morphology (70.1%). Within 24 hours before SGB (0-24 hours), the median episodes of VT/VF were 7.5 (Q1-Q3: 3.0-27.0), and 24 hours after SGB, the median decreased to 1.0 (Q1-Q3: 0.0-4.5; P < 0.001). At 24 hours before SGB, the median defibrillation events were 2.0 (Q1-Q3: 0.0-8.0), and 24 hours after SGB, the median decreased to 0.0 (Q1-Q3: 0.0-1.0; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the largest cohort of patients with treatment-refractory ventricular arrhythmia, we demonstrate that SGB use was associated with a reduction in the ventricular arrhythmia burden and need for defibrillation therapy.