Biomedical subjects

R Madar

Publications and source records attributed to R Madar.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Outbreaks of epidemic kerato-conjunctivitis in two hospital wards.

The authors analyzed two hospital outbreaks of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), one at the Department of Ophthalmology (30 cases) and another one at the Department of Premature Newborns (22 cases). In both outbreaks, EKC was diagnosed in inpatients (16 and 6 respectively), outpatients (5 and 3 respectively), healthcare workers (HCWs) (3 and 5 respectively), and relatives of EKC patients (6 and 8 respectively). Implemented infection control measures included isolation precautions, improved disinfection and hand-washing of both hospital and outpatient department personnel. Shortly after implementation of control measures the rate of infection transmission started to decrease significantly.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

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↗

PubMed2005

The role of non-critical health-care tools in the transmission of nosocomial infections.

The authors performed the cultivation of swabs taken from membranes of 110 stethoscopes of physicians, medical students and shared stethoscopes from ward consultant rooms. In addition to that, 24 random samples from other non-invasive health-care tools and the hospital environment were taken. In order to find out about the disinfection habits and knowledge of medical students, 97 of them were addressed in an anonymous questionnaire. Out of 110 stethoscopes, microbial colonisation was not present only in nine cases (8 %). Staphylococcus sp. was present on 94 stethoscopes (85 %), out of which 19 (20 %) were methicillin-resistant staphylococci of various species. S. aureus was found in 16 cases (14 %), out of which MRSA made 12 % (two cases). Cultivation of 24 additional samples discovered methicillin-resistant staphylococci in four cases--two of them were MRSA present on the esmarch and a blood-presure cuff. The questionnaire revealed that only six (6 %) addressed medical students have ever disinfected their stethoscopes in the past. Disinfection of non-critical tools should become an integral part of under-graduate and postgraduate education (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 7).

Cross Infection↗

PubMed2003

Influenza vaccination--knowledge, attitudes, coverage--can they be improved?

The reasons for low rate of influenza vaccination in Slovakia have been analyzed in selected target groups. In our questionnaire study we focused on the level of knowledge about this vaccination and the attitudes towards it. We selected three target groups: medical students, nurses and printing company workers. The authors as well tried to identify the ways how the flu vaccination coverage could be increased in the future. The questionnaire survey revealed several surprising facts. Though almost all the respondents knew about the existence of influenza vaccine, less than one quarter of them have ever received influenza shot. Despite our expectations that the main source of information about influenza prevention in medical students and nurses would be from their medical and nursing studies, it was shown to be from mass media instead. Even more staggering was the distrust towards the vaccination as a reason for not being vaccinated in a high proportion of both the medical students and the nurses. The majority of medical students would not even want to get a vaccination, even if it were to be provided for free. These results suggest that if we want to improve the low influenza vaccination coverage within the general population of our country, we will have to focus our attention primarily on the professional groups of medical workers and medical and nursing students who should be able to provide the public with the competent advice. Therefore, changing the current negative approach and improving the deficit in knowledge concerning vaccination are the key tasks for all under- as well as postgraduate teachers of medicine and nursing in Slovakia, especially, but not exclusively, of those specialised in public health.(Tab. 3, Fig. 2, Ref. 8).

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Detection of antibodies in saliva--an effective auxiliary method in surveillance of infectious diseases.

Saliva is a body fluid containing antibodies of diagnostic significance. Unlike venipuncture, saliva collection (by brushing the teeth and rubbing the gums) is painless, non-invasive, inexpensive, simple and rapid. By using sensitive immunoassays in salivary specimens it is possible to diagnose immunoglobulins against a wide range of infectious diseases e.g. hepatitis A, B and C, measles, mumps, rubella, human immunodeficiency virus, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus B 19, human herpesvirus 6 and Helicobacter pylori infections. Salivary antibody testing may provide better access to epidemic outbreaks, children, large populations, hard-to-reach risk groups and may thus play a major role in the surveillance and control of infectious diseases. (Tab. 2, Ref. 34.)

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed2001

Smoking and some life-style changes in medical students--Slovakia, 1995-1999.

INTRODUCTION: The main goal of a questionnaire cross-sectional study was to compare the changes of smoking habits in medical students between 1995 and 1999. Beside this, other factors of life-style such as alcohol consumption, nutritional status [studied through body mass index (BMI)] and citrus consumption were studied. METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire study in 453 medical students of 1st to 5th academic years of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Martin, Slovakia, carried out in October and November 1999. Data on smoking habit were compared with a similar study carried out in 1995. RESULTS: Prevalence of regular smoking (min. 1 cig/day) was 13.6% in men and 8.9% in women and did not change significantly in comparison with 1995. In women, prevalence of occasional smokers increased from 7.3% in 1995 to 19.8% in 1999 and almost reached men in the same year (21.8%). During this period significantly decreased proportion of respondents who have never smoked both in men (from 43.0 to 23.3%) and women (from 61.9% to 18.2%). Excessive drinking dominates in men, overweight (BMI > or = 25) had 16.0% of males and 2.0% of females and excessive underweight (BMI < or = 17.5) 1.0% of men and 2.8% of women. More than one half of respondents consumed less than 1 piece of citrus fruit per day. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking of men still predominates, however, the most apparent changes of smoking habit in regard to increasing proportion of smoking women, particularly occasional smokers. This indicates increasing social tolerance of smoking. In female a possibility of eating disorders deserve attention and a need for the improvement of diet is felt in both sexes.

Adolescent↗

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↗

PubMed2001

Non-pharmacological approach to smoking cessation.

Literary data on non-pharmacological approach in smoking cessation have been reviewed. The used methods are depending on particular target groups: patients visiting general practitioners, clients of smoking cessation clinics, pregnant women, hospitalised patients, and adolescents. Community based intervention represents a specific approach. The existing data on non-pharmacological smoking cessation show certain differences with a wide range of the reported cessation rates. Important role of primary health care providers in smoking cessation is evident, however, frequently underestimated. Specific situation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) requires evidence based data in this field, taking into consideration also psychological, social and cultural aspects. Only guidelines based upon authentic studies carried out in CEE can be of value for long-term tobacco control programmes. (Ref. 70.)

Counseling↗

PubMed2000

On Five- vs Six-membered Diacetal Formation from Threitol and the Intermediacy of Unusually Stable Protonated Species(1).

The long known, but hitherto poorly understood, thermodynamically controlled diacetalation of rac-threitol with alkylaldehydes provided bicyclic, cis-tetraoxadecalin (TOD) ("66") and bi(dioxolanyl) (BDO) ("55") products, shown to be formed in acid-concentration and temperature-dependent ratio. The configurational and conformational isomeric diacetals obtained in four such reactions of substituted aldehydes (RCHO, R = CH(3), CH(2)Cl, CH(2)Br, CO(2)CH(3)) with rac-threitol were isolated and characterized. A variable acid-concentration analysis of the equilibrium mixture of products in one such case (R = CH(2)Br) was performed and provided equilibrium constants and, hence, free-energy differences among these products and their relatively stable protonated intermediates. The latter were rationalized by the unusually high proton-affinity calculated for the cis-TOD ("66") form.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996