PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Mikulecký

Publications and source records attributed to M Mikulecký.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Insulin gene profile cycles with season of birth of future diabetic children and their relatives.

BACKGROUND: HLA class II gene pattern and IA-2A antibody positivity, revealing selected risks for prediction of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), were previously shown to be cycling roughly in parallel with seasonally fluctuating frequencies of births of future diabetic children. Is this also true for insulin genotyping? Is this also true for births of the healthy close relatives of children with DM1? PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 98 Slovak children with DM1 and in 60 healthy parents and siblings, two single nucleotide polymorphisms of the insulin gene (-23 Hph I; +1127 Pst I) were typed. Results were expressed as score 0 (maximal risk) up to 2 (minimal risk or protection), or 0-4 for the sum of both scores. Birth seasonality of these risk scores was tested by Halberg cosinor regression. RESULTS: Results were similar for the two alleles; therefore, the summed risk score was evaluated. The DM1 risk from the insulin gene pattern in births of future diabetics cycled significantly semi-annually, with maxima around the spring and autumn equinoxes. In the relatives, a significant annual and extremely pronounced quarterly peaking rhythm was found, with maximum risk in births around the autumn equinox and shortly after the winter solstice. Significant protection peaks are present in late winter, spring and summer. CONCLUSION: The highest frequency of Coxsackie infections in the Slovakian child population, and of 'diabetic' births and manifestations, found earlier together with maximal risks from HLA II and IA-2A antibodies in late summer and early autumn, is now confirmed also for the insulin gene pattern in diabetic children and even also for their healthy close relatives.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Some lung cellular parameters reflecting inflammation after combined inhalation of amosite dust with cigarette smoke by rats.

Cellular changes were followed in lung cell suspensions after 175 day inhalation by rats of concentrations 30 mg/m3 or 60 mg/m3 of amosite asbestos every second day combined with daily exposure to cigarette smoke at 30 mg of total particulate matter (TPM)/m3 air. Concomitantly, lung inflammation was assessed by changes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). A dose-dependent rise in the BALF inflammatory parameters was found. The rise of the proportion of binucleate (BNC) and multinucleate cells (MNC) in lung cell suspensions was also dose-dependent. It is concluded that, in the experimental assessment of effects of fibrogenic dusts, the number of BNC and of MNC in lung cell suspensions may serve as a useful semiquantitative biomarker of the inflammation.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2004

[Complex therapy of chronic hepatic encephalopathy supplemented with probiotic: comparison of two studies].

BACKGROUND: Several reports about usefulness of probiotics, including Enterococcus faecium in the treatment of chronic hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis have been recently published. The results obtained by the administration of Enterococcus faecium M-74 + selenium will be evaluated and compared with those published by Loguercio et al. for Enterococcus faecium SF 68. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen patients with liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension and chronic hepatic encephalopathy were treated, beside the standard therapy, also with one capsule of probiotic "Enterococcus faecium M-74 + Selenium" per day in three four-week periods, separated by two fortnight pauses. During the treatment, every patient was examined 9-times. The severity of chronic hepatic encephalopathy was evaluated with the aid of the portal systemic encephalopathy index, calculated from 5 parameters (mental stage, asterixis, number connecting test, blood ammonia, EEG). The indexes of initial and final values were compared. The time course of blood ammonia levels and that of results from number connecting test in either study were mutually compared on the basis of interval estimates of quadratic regression function. Significant improvement of the portal systemic encephalopathy index after the treatment was found: it decreased in average by 70% (55 to 85%, interval 95% confidence interval). The mental stage improved and the asterixis disappeared. The blood ammonia levels as well as the results from the number-connecting test after 8-9 weeks significantly approached the normal pattern. EEG findings improved and they were often normalised. Our starting blood ammonia levels (increased by 31% above norm) and results from the connecting test (increased by 60%) were significantly lower accordingly the Loguercio et al. (increased by 243 and 238%, respectively). During the treatment, the values in our study decreased by 25% and 30%, in the compared study by 50% and 70%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results proved the hypothetical favourable effect of probioticum Enterococcus faecium M-74 + Selenium on chronic hepatic encephalopathy. Interestingly, a markedly higher relative therapeutic effect has been achieved in more serious disorder in comparison with the less severe disorders in the present study.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

IA-2A positivity rate at manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in Slovak children culminates in September.

BACKGROUND: New cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in Slovak children accumulate in late summer, autumn and winter. HYPOTHESES: Children manifesting the disease in these seasons have higher autoantibody positivity than those first diagnosed in spring or summer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty Slovak children (and adolescents), aged 1-14 (15-17) years at the manifestation of DM1, born 1978-2000, with the disease manifested 1989-2001, were investigated at diagnosis by IA-2A, GADA and IAA autoantibody positivity, using standard radioimmunoassay procedures. The resulting risk score values (0-1) were related to calendar days of diagnosis. Their annual, semi-annual and quarterly periodicity was tested using Halberg's cosinor regression. RESULTS: Only IA-2A positivity at the time of diagnosis showed significant seasonal cycling, with the acme around the autumn equinox and with the nadir in spring. There was no increase of this positivity in winter. CONCLUSION: The maximum autoantibody levels were found for those manifesting the disease in late summer and early autumn--the only time of year in Slovakia when both the numbers of births of future diabetic children as well as those of manifestation of new cases are significantly above average.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Importance of determining serologic markers in patients with celiac disease].

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease is presently considered to be an autoimmune disorder. Basis for the diagnosis is the invasive histochemical examination of the intestinal biopsy. Pathologic changes are classified into three grades according to the villous atrophy. Due to the autoimmune process, the patients serum levels of the specific and nonspecific antibodies, more which easily accessible to investigation, are increase. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred thirty six probands (32 with coeliakia, 72 with other gastrointestinal disorders and 32 healthy ones) were included into the study. The antiendomysial, antireticular and antigliadin antibodies were examined. Results were compared with the histological finding in the gut sample. The highest sensitivity was found for antigliadin IgA antibodies (81%) and antiendomysial antibodies (75%). High specificity of the reaction in healthy subjects as well as in those with other gastrointestinal disorders (up to 100%), was found for antiendomysial and antireticular antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The most appropriate screening test the diagnosis of coeliac disease, appears to be the examination of the antigliadin antibodies of the class IgA and that of antiendomysial antibodies. On the basis of serology, today's high rate of underdiagnosing the disease can be prevented. However, the tests cannot differentiate between different degrees of the histological damage of the gut.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Secular and seasonal cycling of IA2-ab autoantibody in Slovak diabetic children.

The concept of seasonal and secular cycling of initial autoantibody plasma levels in children with diabetes mellitus 1 is not common, despite the known fluctuations in one of the triggering factors, i.e., various enteroviral infections. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the trends and cycles in the time series of IA2-autoantibody (ab) blood plasma levels measured in each patient at the moment of diagnosis of the disease, before the first injection of insulin. In a retrospective study, the IA2-ab data, with each item related to a calendar day, were analyzed from 83 male and 108 female patients aged up to 14 years, with the date of disease menifestation between January 1993 and December 1999. The data source was the Slovak National Register of Childhood Diabetes. The plasma levels of the autoantibody against pancreatic tyrosine phosphatase (IA2-ab) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The chronogram of the daily observed values, modified by moving averages, from three successive data items per patient, was processed by Halberg's cosinor method to test the presence of seven-year sinusoids and one-year rhythms. One seven-year sinusoid, peaking in February 1998 (boys) and in October 1996 (girls), and a seasonal rhythm culminating in May/June each year were significant. There are some similarities to the cycling of other variables such as the incidence of diabetes, the birth of future diabetics, Coxsackie virus epidemics and pancreatic glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD 65) autoantibody. Moreover, some cosmo-geophysical periods also seem to be cycling in a parallel manner. The novelty of this contribution is that it examines the seasonal cycling of the autoantibody, connected with the pathogenesis of diabetes and directed against IA2-ab.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Determination of NTx in second-morning urine: a proposal for the standardization of morning urine collection.

UNLABELLED: According to the instruction manual from the producer of kits for determining the levels of aminoterminal telopeptide of type I collagen of organic bone matrix (NTx), the time of the collection of second-morning urine is arbitrary, i.e., a patient can urinate anytime within the period from about 6 to 8:30 a.m. This time interval is within the period of change in the circadian rhythm of the NTx excretion (maximum excretion with transition into fast decrease of excretion). Therefore, we considered it appropriate to standardize the conditions for the collection of second-morning urine and proposed applying the so-called 2-hour morning urine NTx2 (from 6 to 8.00 a.m. after an overnight fast). We examined 48 female patients aged 33-65 years with primary or secondary osteopenia or osteoporosis (all patients had normal renal functions). In these patients we determined NTx (Osteomark, OSTEX, USA) in standardly used 24-hour urine (NTx24) and in the proposed 2-hour morning urine (NTx2). AIM OF THE STUDY: 1) To find a mathematical character for the dependence of values of dependent variable NTx2 on independent variable NTx24 and to evaluate the statistical significance of this dependence; 2) to compare the ratio of the widths of 95% confidence intervals (C. I.) for NTx2 and NTx24 in patients (index: IO) with the ratio of the widths of reference limits for NTx in arbitrary second-morning urine (NTx2ostex) and in 24-hour urine (NTx24ostex) in healthy women (index: IR); 3) to evaluate the proposed 2-hour urine for the determination of NTx. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Stochastic and deterministic linear regressive analysis. Index of 95% C. I., index of reference limits. RESULTS: A statistically significant (P < 0.01) regressive dependence (r2 = 0.781) was found between the values of NTx24 and NTx2. The index for the widths of reference limits (IR) was 1.5 times greater than the index for osteopenic and osteoporotic patients (IO), meaning that the scatter of the NTx2ostex values was greater than NTx2 in the proposed 2-hour urine. CONCLUSION: Based on the statistically significant linear regressive dependence between NTx24 and NTx2 values, it is possible to use the proposed 2-hour morning urine to determine NTx levels in women. The introduction of 2-hour morning urine NTx2 could decrease the fluctuation range of NTx values in repeated examinations and in comparison with the determination of NTx2ostex in a random second-morning urine sample could make its values more accurate.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Gout attacks and lunar cycle.

The aim was to search for periodical fluctuations in daily occurrence of gout attacks during the synodic lunar cycle. 126 gout attacks were recorded between 1972 and 1994 at known calendar dates. The synodic plexogram, displaying the number of attacks for each day of the cycle, was processed by cosinor regression. A pronounced cycling was found, with highest peaks under the new and full moon (syzygigies). Thus, the maximal occurrence of attacks coincides with the peaking lunisolar tidal effect. Similar relation of attacks to synodic moon was seen in bronchial asthma of children, and a reciprocal one in paroxysmal tachyarrhythmia. Differing pathogenetic backgrounds of these diseases substantiate the observed differences in their putative reactions on the changing cosmogeophysical environment.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Coxsackie infection and births of future diabetic children: year, seasonality and secularity.

BACKGROUND: Environmental factors including Coxsackie virus infections are considered as one of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms in childhood insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). HYPOTHESIS: This relationship should be reflected not only in similar seasonal and secular periodicities of Coxsackie epidemics and IDDM incidence but also in the cycling of births of future diabetic children. SUBJECTS: Seven hundred and seven healthy Slovak children randomly selected in 1985-98 were investigated for the presence of actual Coxsackie infection. The months of birth in 1970-93 of 1779 Slovak children with later IDDM were registered. AntiCoxsackie positivity was determined in 1978-91 at IDDM onset in 336 children. METHODS: AntiCoxsackie positivity was assessed by IgM antibodies and virus neutralization test. Time series data were processed by cosinor regression enabling the definition of statistical significance of trends and of cycles with tested period lengths. RESULTS: Marked autumnal peaks were found for Coxsackie infections. For births of future diabetics, both autumn and spring peaks were encountered. Moreover, seven-year cycling displayed peaks in 1990 and 1997 for Coxsackie and 1976, 1983 and 1990 for IDDM births. CONCLUSIONS: Connection between Coxsackie viral infections and births of future diabetic children appears plausible also in Slovakia.

Child↗
PubMed1999

[Linear regression analysis of values of the calciuria index, N-telopetide and bone mineral density in patients with osteoporosis].

UNLABELLED: The authors examined 49 patients (n=49) with primary and secndary osteoporosis incl. 37 women aged 41-58 years and 12 men aged 38-56 years. In all they assessed the 24-hour calciuria index (Ca/creatinine), the aminoterminal N-telopetide of collagen I of the organic matrix (NTx24) and the bone mineral density (BMD) in the first three lumbar vertebrae using quantitative computed tomography (QC). OBJECTIVE: To find an answer to the questions:1. Is the calciuria index in the 24-hour diuresis a parameter which provides information on osteresorption? 2. Is there a significant negative correlation between values NTx24 and BMD? 3. Is NTx a sensitive parameter of osteoresorption in men and women with primary or secondary osteoporosis? STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients for the correlated groups NTx24 - Ca/creatinine (r = 0.023, p>0.05) and NTx24 - BMD (r = -0.238, p>0.05) were not statistically significant. Statistical significance was recorded in the correlation coefficient for pathologically elevated values of NTx24(zNTx24), correlated with BMD (r = -0.3115, p<0.048). CONCLUSION: 1. The calciuria index in the 24-hour diuresis does not provide information on osteoresorption. 2. Between pathologically elevated values of NTx24 and BMD in L1-L3 is a statistically significant negative correlation. 3. NTx is a sensitive parameter of osteresorptioon in men and women with primary and secondary osteoporosis, it reflects the influence of the bone turnover on the density of the bone mineral.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Long-term survival in multiple myeloma].

The authors present the results of 23-year protocol studies of survival with multiple myeloma, focused on problems of perspective long-term survival. Of 535 diagnosed patients between 1970 and 1990 the authors checked regularly and treated 475. In addition to 60 latent forms where treatment was administered only when clinical symptoms developed or after progression of laboratory signs, to all patients treatment was administered according to protocols (monotherapy-cyclophosphamide prednisone in 1970-1975 only to 30 patients, the remainder had combined treatment--COPP, VMCP, MOCCA); in the third stage of the disease MOCCA treatment is better. The median of survival of patients after VMCP treatment (in stage II) MOCCA (in stage III) is more than 90 months, 15% survive for more than 10 years. The authors emphasize the importance of combined intensive treatment of patients for the prognosis of survival. Long-term experience revealed that patients achieve an objective response in 85%, while the risk of leukaemic and cancerogenic complications is low (1.1%). The therapeutic effect and survival period are favourably affected by immunomodulation treatment (Interferon, proteolytic enzymes, thymus factor).

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Occurrence of acute infectious diarrhea during the lunar phases].

A chronobiometric analysis of 753 cases of acute infectious diarrhoea in adults in 1981-1990 in Kosice confirmed to a surprising extent recently reached conclusions of an investigation made by authors from Bratislava. The Kosice group comprised 352 cases of bacillary dysentery, 305 patients with salmonellosis, 72 with campylobacteriosis and 24 with yersiniosis. Statistically significantly fewer patients (p < 0.0001) were hospitalized during full moon, moon quarterly and new moon. In the intervals there were periods with a short-term increase of the daily admissions by cca 25%. This 7.38-day periodicity cannot be explained by the influence of the social 7-day week, as during observations extending over several years this rhythm is eliminated by a gradual shift across different phases of the moon. The authors did not find similar reports in the literature. For explanation, not only the organism of the host (variable immunity?) but also the infectious agent must be taken into account. More profound understanding of the mechanism may open the road to practical application of the described lunar relationship. Its knowledge can help already now to improve the organization of the health service.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Probability in medicine].

The term "probability", apparently vague, is defined as the ratio of favourable and all cases, e. g. 1/4. Sometimes is expressed as "odds", in the above example 1:3. Mathematical (a priori) probability is calculated according to the following consideration: during accidental tossing of an intact coin the probability of head is 1/2. Statistical (a posteriori) probability is assessed experimentally. If randomization is not respected, the result is doubtful. We call it bias. Probabilities are multiplied (added) if one and (or) another phenomenon should occur. Phenomena which occur or do not occur are frequently governed by binomial division. According to the law of large numbers the a posteriori probability will become the closer to the a priori probability, the larger the number of experiments. Forecasts based on probability are made possible by interferential statistics. In this respect they differ from mere statistical description. Thus optimal decision is achieved under conditions of uncertainty, typical for medicine. This applies to diagnosis as well as treatment. In this way a cut-off value can be selected for a given diagnostic test to achieve an optimal combination of the resulting sensitivity and specificity and the probability of disease (health) in case of a positive (negative) finding can be expressed. The results of statistical testing (e. g. the effectiveness of treatment) is as a rule presented by means of the probability value p, as compared with error alpha which should be assessed in advance. It is, however, necessary to respect also an alternative hypothesis. The latter is unfortunately formulated only rarely.

Probability↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of echinococcosis in pigs and sheep in the Slovak Republic.

The prevalence of echinococcosis in slaughtered animals has been monitored in the Slovak Republic between 1971 and 1990. In pigs, the prevalence dropped almost constantly from 3.85% to 0.13%, by as much as 15% per year. The dynamics of prevalence in sheep differs substantially from that in pigs. Significant 12 year, 6 year and 3 year periodicities predominate over a nonsignificant and slight decrease of prevalence by only 1% per year. Therefore, the prevalence fluctuates in the period of observations between 0.49 and 3.72%. No significant correlations or cross-correlations have been found between the prevalences in the two groups of animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Circadian rhythmicity and cross correlation of plasma gastrin, cortisol and somatostatin levels in ulcerative colitis patients and healthy subjects.

Gastrin, somatostatin and cortisol circadian (24 hours) rhythmicity was confirmed in healthy subjects. Gastrin and cortisol circadian rhythmicity was studied and also established in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). UC patients were found to have a lower 24-hour amplitude of plasma cortisol and a shorter acrophase of plasma gastrin. Gastrin correlated positively with somatostatin and negatively with cortisol.

Adult↗