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Biomedical subjects

M Mikulecky

Publications and source records attributed to M Mikulecky.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Geographic and extraterrestrial aspects of morbidity and/or mortality patterns from myocardial infarction and stroke.

Two authors (M.K. and M.M.) provided insight into a manuscript submitted by them elsewhere for publication and kindly offered for meta-analysis data on the monthly incidence from January 1989 up to December 2004, of 6094 cerebral infarctions, 414 intracerebral and 277 subarachnoid hemorrhages, cases admitted at the Neurological Clinic in Nové Zamky, Slovakia. Spectral components with a period exceeding (beyond = trans) the length of the calendar year--transyears--reported originally by M.K. and M.M. are here also documented linearly on original data without and after detrending by the fit of first- or second-order polynomials. For intracerebral and subarachnoidal hemorrhage, the zero-amplitude (no-rhythm) assumption is rejected (P < 0.05, not corrected for multiple testing) for the transyear but not for a precise 1.0-year trial period. As reported earlier by M.K. and M.M., the transyear's amplitude is larger than the calendar year's amplitude for all three series of stroke incidence in Slovakia. The putative importance of the new findings stems from earlier and new analyses revealing other spectral components that are presumed signatures of magnetoperiodisms, e.g. about 50- and 7-year components in about five decades of diagnostically unqualified, pooled data on stroke in Minnesota. There is, however, the danger of relatively small numbers providing artifacts for loosely defined transyears. The original cosinor approach by M.K. and M.M., testing anticipated periods, had its strength. The observation of a quindecadal component in mortality from strokes in Minnesota supports the presence of signatures of effects from extraterrestrial space in acute human pathology such as strokes, myocardial infarctions and sudden cardiac death. Magnetoperiodic mechanisms remain to be investigated further as added strokes accumulate in Nové Zamky and greater Slovakia as well as for sudden cardiac death where transyears have been documented in the Czech Republic, in Arkansas and particularly in Minnesota, but not elsewhere (as yet?). This study is also a plea for worldwide access to morbidity, mortality and natality data that constitute a largely unexploited treasure, brought to the fore mainly for relatively short-term comparisons of the effect of interventions against the fiction of imaginary baselines.

Death, Sudden, Cardiac↗
PubMed2005

Yearly and perhaps transyearly human natality patterns near the equator and at higher latitudes.

Data on the daily numbers of births in Davao, Philippines, available from 1993 to 2003 are re-analyzed herein by linear-nonlinear rhythmometry, as are data from Italy and Japan. A transyear, characterizing the solar wind and other non-photic physical environmental factors, corresponds to a spectral peak of the near-equatorial natality series. This component with a period of about 1.3 years is found to have an amplitude larger than the calendar year, the amplitude ratio being 134%. Whereas the transyear is validated nonlinearly, the 95% confidence interval for the period extending from 1.21 to 1.38 years and the 95% confidence interval for the amplitude not overlapping zero (P < 0.05), the annual variation is only demonstrable by linear least squares analysis. The results bring added evidence for an influence of non-photic environmental effects on human physiology, in this case data collected near the equatorial region, Davao being situated at 7 degrees N, 126 degrees E. They are in keeping with some degree of generality of a rule of reciprocity among mutually supporting physical and biological periodicities. They do not detract from the fact that in other longer data sets at higher latitudes, the calendar year, presumably reflecting climatic influences, dominates the spectrum.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Daily birth numbers in Passo Fundo, South Brazil, 1997-1999: trends and periodicities.

Between October 6, 1997 and April 30, 1999, 5011 births (mean: 8.76 per day) were registered in the city of Passo Fundo, South Brazil. The sequence of 572 daily birth numbers was not random (iteration test). Neyman distribution (m = yen ) showed the best fit. Clusters of days with higher birth numbers alternated with days with low numbers of births. Periodogram analysis revealed a significant periodicity of 6.98 days. The cosinor regression, testing 10 a priori supposed period lengths, found significant seasonality peaking in August-September and significantly highest birth numbers on Thursdays. Among the lunar and solar rotation cycles, the tropic lunar cycle and its 4th harmonic were most pronounced, in agreement with results concerning natality in Germany obtained by Svante Arrhenius in the 19th century. These findings confirm Derer-Halberg's concept of multiseptans. In addition to cycling, a significantly increasing linear trend with a daily increase of 0.0045 births was encountered. This documents a growth of the population in agreement with national statistical data.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed2002

Trends of childhood diabetes incidence in Slovakia 1985-2000: accelerated increase in the years 1990-2000.

BACKGROUND: A sudden rise in the incidence of childhood diabetes (DM 1) in Central and Eastern Europe over the last decade has been reported. AIM: To compare in Slovakia incidence trends in the 80s with those in the 90s. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The data from the Slovak Register of Diabetic Children diagnosed in 1985-2000 (n=1818) were divided into 6 groups according to sex and age at diagnosis (0-4, 5-9, 10-14). Trends were computed separately for 1985-1990 and 1990-2000. The 95% confidence estimates of linear regression coefficients and as percentages from the estimated starting values in 1985 and 1990, were calculated by the linear regression based on statistical inferential approach. RESULTS: Non-significant increasing or decreasing trends were found in 6 gender/age groups 1985-1990. In the 90s, however, significantly increasing trends were present in each of 6 groups. They were significant (p<0.05) in the male groups and in the total of all cases. The overall incidence rise (+0.03 cases per 100000 children per year) was nonsignificant in the 80s but significant in the 90s (+0.63/100000/year). As a result, the incidence rate of childhood diabetes in Slovakia rose from 6.01 new cases per 100000 children per one year in 1985 to 13.53/100000/year in 2000. CONCLUSION: The overall DM 1 incidence increaseed from the 1980s (80s) to the 1990s (90s), expressed in the number of new cases, is more than a 20-fold absolutely and almost 10-fold in relative terms. This was not due to an improvement in diagnosis in 1990s. Both the gender and age heterogeneity were present. (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 25.).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Onset of spontaneous pneumothorax and the synodic lunar cycle.

The relation between spontaneous pneumothorax events and synodic lunar cycle was studied in a retrospective analysis of patients with a first or recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax. The study included a total of 244 patients, 203 males and 41 females. The data were arranged along the first (new moon) to 28th day (one day before another new moon) of the synodic lunar cycle. Periodogram analysis revealed a 14-day rhythm, significant for the male and pooled sample. Cosinor analysis found the whole synodic lunar cycle and its 2nd, 4th and 5th harmonics as significant. Maximal accumulation of cases happened 1 week before and 1 week after the new moon. Mechanisms of a putative moon influence are not clear.

Female↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for glucose intolerance in active acromegaly.

In the present retrospective study we determined the frequency of glucose intolerance in active untreated acromegaly, and searched for risk factors possibly supporting the emergence of the diabetic condition. Among 43 patients, 8 (19%; 95% CI: 8-33%) had diabetes mellitus and 2 (5%; 1-16%) impaired glucose tolerance. No impaired fasting glycemia was demonstrable. The frequency of diabetes was on average 4.5 times higher than in the general Slovak population. Ten factors suspected to support progression to glucose intolerance were studied by comparing the frequency of glucose intolerance between patients with present and absent risk factors. A family history of diabetes and arterial hypertension proved to have a significant promoting effect (P<0.05, chi-square test). A significant association with female gender was demonstrated only after pooling our data with literature data. Concomitant prolactin hypersecretion had a nonsignificant promoting effect. In conclusion, the association of active untreated acromegaly with each of the three categories of glucose intolerance (including impaired fasting glycemia, not yet studied in this connection) was defined as a confidence interval, thus permitting a sound comparison with the findings of future studies. Besides a family history of diabetes, female gender and arterial hypertension were defined as additional, not yet described risk factors.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed2000

Diabetes mellitus in primary aldosteronism.

BACKGROUND: Information concerning diabetes mellitus associated with primary aldosteronism is scarce. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in its two main pathogenetic forms of primary aldosteronism and to evaluate its association with several clinical variables. PATIENTS: Fifty in-patients (31 female and 19 male, aged 16-66), diagnosed during the years 1980-1998 as aldosterone producing adenoma (n = 26) or as idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (n = 24). METHODS: Morning fasting plasma glucose was measured by glucoso oxidase method in all patients. In the presence of higher values, confirmatory measurements were performed on the next day. The results were evaluated retrospectively by the diagnostic criteria of American Diabetes Association, 1997. Statistical significance of the association between diabetes mellitus and clinical variables was evaluated by chi-square test. RESULTS: Diabetes mellitus was ascertained in 6 patients out of 50 (12%; interval of 95% confidence 5-24%). Diabetes was accompanied significantly more often with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (10-47%) than with aldosterone producing adenoma (0-13%). Patients with the family history of diabetes suffered more often (9-76%) from this disease than those without the history (1-19%). Obesity, longer (> 5 years) duration of hypertension and hypokalaemia did not affect the occurrence of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of diabetes in primary aldosteronism was connected significantly with its idiopathic subtype and positive family history of diabetes. (Tab. 2, Ref. 11.)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Alterations in lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood at manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in childhood.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in cellular immunity at manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus, as described in publications so far, are equivocal. Moreover, the age of children was usually not taken into account. OBJECTIVES: Exact inferentially statistical measures were used to arrive at reliable information. METHODS: Thirty four diabetic children and 48 normals were taken randomly according to the established criteria, and scrutinized. Lymphocyte subpopulations counts were measured by flow cytometry using three-color-labelled monoclonal antibodies against cell surface markers. The resulting absolute cell counts as well as percentages from the total lymphocyte count were expressed in terms of univariate and bivariate 95% confidence intervals. They render an illustrative way for defining statistically significant (alpha = 5%) differences between health and disease. RESULTS: The CD8, CD16 absolute counts in younger diabetics were significantly decreased in average to 96-58% of the normal subgroup. For older children, CD4, CD8, CD16 and CD19 absolute counts were significantly lowered to 75-61% of the norm. Relative changes in Ly subpopulations were less pronounced. The immunoregulatory index increased significantly to 125-128% of the norm in either age group. The proportion of CD4 memory cells from the total of naive and memory cells was significantly increased to 122-133% of the norm in diabetic children of either age group. CONCLUSION: More significant changes of lymphocyte subpopulations than those given in literature were revealed at manifestation of childhood type 1 diabetes. They testify to the autoimmune pathogenesis of the type 1 diabetes mellitus. (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 18.)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Daily blood pressure profile in Cushing's syndrome before and after surgery.

No significant difference has been demonstrated in the altered circadian blood pressure pattern between the pituitary-dependent and adrenal forms of Cushing's syndrome before surgery. The effect of therapy, however, proved to be different. The mesor was normalized in the pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome more conspicuously for systolic than for diastolic blood pressure. In Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal adenoma, systolic and diastolic blood pressure mesors have been even significantly "overnormalized" after treatment, being 11 to 27 and 2 to 13 mmHg (95% confidence) lower than corresponding mesors in controls. There was no difference between forms in the effect of treatment on blood pressure amplitudes, which remained significantly lower than in controls. Finally, acrophase patterns were partly normalized after treatment of the pituitary-dependent form only for diastolic blood pressure, while both systolic and diastolic blood pressure acrophases were normalized in the treated adrenal form. In conclusion, complete normalization of the pattern of daily blood pressure profile has not been achieved in either form of the syndrome. This may be one of the reasons for the reduced long-term survival after surgical cure of hypercortisolism, than expected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Worker honeybee hemolymph lipid composition and synodic lunar cycle periodicities.

The aim of the present investigation was to extend a previous study, showing a correlation of the variations of hemolymph carbohydrates with synodic lunar-like cycle and its circaseptan harmonics to worker honeybee hemolymph lipids. Hemolymph lipid concentrations of emerging worker imagos were analyzed in terms of one ideal synodic lunar cycle and processed by the cosinor method testing the null hypothesis versus the presence of 29.5-, 14.8- or 7.4-day periods in the data. A rhythmicity statistically compatible with a 29.5-day rhythm was observed for triacylglycerols and steroids as well as for body weight. A circadiseptan rhythm was determined for 1,3 diacylglycerols, while fatty acids and phospholipids exhibited a circaseptan rhythm. An agreement of peaks for triacylglycerols, steroids and body weight at the new moon, but not at the full moon, was noted with respect to trehalose and glucose circadiseptan rhythms. The latter moon-phase timing of peaks and nadirs, compared with that previously determined for trehalose and glucose, appeared to be identical to the circadiseptan rhythm and reciprocal for the circaseptan rhythms of 1,3 diacylglycerols. Reciprocal tendencies in circaseptans of trehalose and glucose on the one hand, and fatty acids and phospholipids on the other are indicated. The underlying causal nexus of these relationships is unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Detection of patients with pheochromocytoma using a cybernetic analysis method of the signs and symptoms of the disease].

The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is established more frequently in recent years due to better diagnostic possibilities. The aim of this study was to determine whether it is possible to distinguish the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma from mild, moderate and severe hypertension by analysis of symptoms and signs of pheochromocytoma using mathematical methods such as the pattern recognizing procedure before investigation of catecholamines in serum and urine. We retrospectively analysed the presence or absence of 45 symptoms and signs of pheochromocytoma except for investigation of catecholamines in 20 randomly selected patients with mild hypertension (HT), 20 patients with moderate HT, 20 patients with severe HT, and 20 patients with known pheochromocytoma. This procedure improved screening of pheochromocytoma and allowed early detection of the disease on a large scale.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Lunisolar tidal waves, geomagnetic activity and epilepsy in the light of multivariate coherence.

The computed daily values of lunisolar tidal waves, the observed daily values of Ap index, a measure of the planetary geomagnetic activity, and the daily numbers of patients with epileptic attacks for a group of 28 neurology patients between 1987 and 1992 were analyzed by common, multiple and partial cross-spectral analysis to search for relationships between periodicities in these time series. Significant common and multiple coherence between them was found for rhythms with a period length over 3-4 months, in agreement with seasonal variations of all three variables. If, however, the coherence between tides and epilepsy was studied excluding the influence of geomagnetism, two joint infradian periodicities with period lengths of 8.5 and 10.7 days became significant. On the other hand, there were no joint rhythms for geomagnetism and epilepsy when the influence of tidal waves was excluded. The result suggests a more primary role of gravitation, compared with geomagnetism, in the multivariate process studied.

Epilepsy↗
PubMed1996

Lunar influence on atrial fibrillation?

The most popular periodicities in biology and medicine-the circadians and circannuals-stem undoubtedly from the Earth's rotation and its revolution around the sun. The problem is how to explain the existence of circaseptan, i.e. 5-9-day, and other infradian rhythms. They may correspond to the lunar cycles and their 2nd to 6th harmonics. To test such hypothesis, the calendar dates of 127 attacks of atrial fibrillation in one male subject (M.M.) between 1980 and 1994 were transformed into the days numbered 0-29 for the synodic, and 0-26 for tropic lunar cycle. The daily frequencies obtained in this way were smoothed by moving averages of three successive days each. Considerable fluctuations of frequencies of attacks during both cycles were visible by inspection of the corresponding graphs, called lunar plexograms. Thus, a conspicuous nadir is found under the full moon in the synodic cycle, and a marked peak shortly after the extreme southern position of the moon in the tropic cycle. Halberg's cosinor analysis testing the presence of the 1st to 6th harmonic of either lunar cycle rejected the null hypothesis at the alpha = 0.05 level for all harmonics. Accordingly, the occurrence of attacks was cycling with the period lengths of synodic and tropic lunar cycles, and with those of their 1/2-1/6 period lengths, i.e. with a cluster of approximately circa(di)-septan rhythms. This conclusion is supported by similar findings obtained earlier for various medical and biological events.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Additivity test for composition of binomial effects in chromosome aberrations after radiation injury.

Additivity of clastogenic effects of two doses of radiation to human peripheral blood lymphocytes is considered. We compare the effects of combined tritium and gamma irradiation with the sum of the effects of either irradiation administered separately. Our solution is based on combination of de Moivre and Cramèr-Slucky theorems. The results for 14 subjects where the deletion types of chromosome aberrations were counted indicate a Normal distribution of the sample additivity index, oscillating non-significantly around zero, with one outlier towards adaptivity and another towards synergism of the effect of the two doses absorbed by the cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Daily variation of serum cortisol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and five androgens in healthy women.

Serum cortisol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and five androgens (androstenedione, 11-hydroxyandrostenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulphate, and testosterone) were measured by radioimmunoassay at 8:00, 16:00, 20:00 and 24:00 h and again at 8:00 h on the next day in eight healthy female subjects aged 16-40 years in the midfollicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Regression analysis revealed a significant (alpha = 0.05) circadian periodicity, with estimated peaks between 8:00 a.m. (testosterone) and 2:00 p.m. (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate), and with estimated amplitudes between 76% (11-hydroxyandrostenedione) and 33% (17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) of the rhythm adjusted mean. The inferential statistical approach illustrated here should contribute significantly to the diagnostic elucidation of adrenocortical disorders.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMed1995

Factors influencing the development of glucose intolerance in Cushing syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Although the frequency of glucose intolerance in endogenous Cushing syndrome has been repeatedly evaluated, no attempt has been made so far at analyzing simple clinical factors in order to quantify their influence on the development of glucose intolerance. METHODS: The influence of 6 factors on the development of glucose intolerance (family history of diabetes, age and body mass index of patients, duration of hypercortisolism, its pathogenetic form, and the extent of its clinical manifestation) was evaluated by means of multiple regression in 74 patients with Cushing syndrome. RESULTS: The disappearance of a normal glucose tolerance in Cushing syndrome was a function of the time of duration of hypercortisolism. The emergence of diabetes mellitus, but not of impaired glucose tolerance, was supported by ageing. Surprisingly, the family history failed to have any predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that diabetes mellitus in endogenous Cushing syndrome is a disorder genetically different from primary diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Plasma somatostatin levels in ulcerative colitis.

The circadian (24 hour) rhythmicity of somatostatin in healthy subjects and patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) was studied and established. UC patients were found to have a higher 24-hour amplitude, a higher average level and a longer peak level phase of plasma somatostatin. This finding may indicate a defensive role of somatostatin in inflammatory bowel disease.

Adult↗