Biomedical subjects

E Kavcova

Publications and source records attributed to E Kavcova.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Pneumococcal vaccination--current situation and perspectives.

The authors carried out a survey in outpatient and hospitalised patients with risk factors for invasive pneumococcal disease in a tertiary-care medical faculty affiliated hospital. Data were collected by individual interviews and verified against the medical records of all addressed patients. The authors also attempted to discover the attitude of general practitioners (GPs) from 2 Slovak districts towards the pneumococcal vaccine by means of an anonymous questionnaire. Out of the total of 154 addressed patients, 128 (83.1%) had at least one risk factor for acquiring invasive pneumococcal disease. However, only 8 (6.3%) of them had ever been administered pneumococcal vaccine. Out of 34 hospitalised patients with at least one risk factor 82.4 % had not received any pneumococcal vaccination in the past. When subdivided according to age and risk factors (chronic respiratory, cardiovascular, uropoetic, metabolic, immunne system disorders, asplenia), vaccination coverage in all groups was very low, ranging between --9.3%. In an anonymous questionnaire 74 (94.9%) out of 77 surveyed GPs referred to a lack of information on the polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine and 22 (28.2%) expressed their general distrust towards vaccination of any kind. The main role in increasing the disturbingly low pneumococcal vaccination coverage lies in the hands of medical professionals, especially GPs who should inform their patients about the possibility of a free vaccine and who should make an effort to explain to their patients the benefit of pneumococcal vaccination. (Tab. 4, Reft 9.)

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Pharmacotherapy in smoking cessation.

The authors reviewed literature on nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion in smoking cessation. Nicotine replacement therapy increases the quit rate in smoking cessation; however, its efficacy is influenced by numerous factors. Bupropion, particularly combined with nicotine replacement therapy, reaches even higher efficacy. Behavioural therapy as well as individualized approach during the cessation process are beneficial. Beside from this, these agents help to avoid excessive weight gain after quitting. If properly used, they have minimal side effects, and, if not contraindicated, they should be included into standard smoking cessation programs. (Ref. 74.)

Bupropion↗

PubMed1990

Spectra of the voluntary first cough sounds.

The voluntary cough sounds recorded according to Korpas and Sadlonova-Korpasova were sampled at a frequency of 20.000Hz and spectra of six consecutive windows of 50ms were estimated. To digitize signals an autotrigger mode was used. The subjects were healthy volunteers as well as patients with chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchial carcinoma (growing intraluminarly in the 1st or in the 2nd or in the 3rd order bronchi), emphysema, laryngeal nerve paralyzis or laryngotomy. The duration of averaged cough sounds of patients was longer than that of healthy volunteers. The mean power of the spectra in the successive windows showed different patterns in the same group. In the third window of healthy volunteers (0.10 s-0.15 s) a high modulus broad bandwidth (between 1-2 kHz) spectrum was found which was considered as a bronchial "flute", and was probably related to the lowest resistance as well as to the velocity of airflow of cough manoeuvre. This pattern appeared with a delay and/or it was changed in the diseased groups compared to the healthy volunteers. Due to this delay, the spectra of the fifth window (0.20 s-0.25 s) showed somewhat higher harmonics (400-800 Hz) in the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), carcinoma and laryngeal nerve paralyzis than in healthy volunteers. In emphysematous patients in the first (0.00-0.05 s), in the third (0.10-0.15 s) and in the fifth (0.20-0.25 s) windows the fundamental frequency was low (156-176 Hz) compared to that of the other groups. The paralyzed vocal cords functioning as an added resistance to the expiratory effort caused a phase-shift in the cough patterns, similarly to that seen in COPD patients. Due to the cannula, the spectra of patients having laryngotomy had a lot of high harmonics. They also had peaks nearly identical to that of bronchitic patients because they suffered from serious chronic bronchitis. It was found that by examination the cough spectra of series of voluntary cough sound signals it was possible to distinguish healthy volunteers from patients. This examination would therefore be useful for screening of bronchial diseases.

Adult↗