Issues of risky behaviours in university students.

AIM: Risk behaviour is typical of adolescence and young adulthood, but the consequences can persist for the rest of life - in all domains - physical, psychological, and social. Challenging situations, stress, as well as feelings of a lack of stimulation in an individual's life are considered to be triggers for risky behaviours. Prevention therefore plays a crucial role. The aim of the study was to analyse the current situation in addictive and risky sexual behaviours in a group of university students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2019 and 2022, students of universities in East Bohemia - University of Hradec Králové (UHK), Charles University (UK), University of Defence (UNOB), and University of Pardubice (UPCE) - were approached and asked to complete a questionnaire survey focused on addictive and risky sexual behaviours. Based on the search strategy, research hypotheses were constructed, which were subsequently developed into interview questions. The research hypotheses were tested using Pearson's test. The questionnaire return rate was 84%. After eliminating invalid responses, 157 participants were included in the survey - 64% female, 36% male, age range 19-32 years. RESULTS: In the area of addictive behaviours, the focus was on substance and non-substance addictions. In terms of addictive substances, a question addressed cigarette smoking, which was reported by 14.6% of the survey participants. This is 50% less than what we see in the general population of the same age (by general population we mean the group of people approached for the surveys conducted, chosen by stratified random sampling based on age). In contrast, significantly higher rates of university students reported the use of illicit substances - marijuana, sedatives/tranquilizers without a doctor's prescription, cocaine, or hallucinogens compared to the age-matched general population. In the area of risky sexual behaviours, a question was included       about sexual intercourse with casual acquaintances. It was experienced by one in four respondents. In 83.3%, this behaviour was influenced by the use of an addictive substance. The survey pointed to the high rates of salutoprotective factors (e.g. interest in sports was reported by 87.9% of respondents). Perceived social support from friends (reported by 74.5% of respondents) or family (reported by 72.6% of respondents) is a preventive factor for risky behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: The aim of the survey was to determine the prevalence of high-risk addictive and sexual behaviours among university students and possible prevention measures. Salutoprotective factors during increased stress or awareness of social support seem to be of benefit. We assumed a protective effect of higher education, but this survey did not show it. On the contrary, the stress induced by university studies and the pressure on academic performance appeared to be a risk factor. The results of the survey provide insights into new approaches to the prevention to improve its effectiveness and point to major problems to be addressed in Czech university students.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in women undergoing an initial infertility evaluation.

AIMS: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are potentially pathogenic bacterial species that are frequently isolated from the urogenital tract of women. These pathogens could be responsible for various genitourinary diseases and have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and female fertility problems. The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in the cervical canal of uterus of women with and without fertility problems. METHODS: Endocervical swabs obtained from women with reproductive problems and fertile women were tested by both cultivation and polymerase chain reaction. The antimicrobial susceptibility to the azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline and erythromycine of the isolated strains of M. hominis and U. urealyticum was also tested by the microdilution broth method. RESULTS: A total of 111 women with fertile problems were examined. U. urealyticum was detected in samples from 44 (39.6%) women. M. hominis was detected in significantly fewer samples, i.e. only from 9 (8.1%) samples. From these, 6 (5.4%) women were positive for both microorganisms. The fertile group consisted from 23 women. The presence of U. urealyticum was detected in 8 (34.7%) of them. M. hominis was detected only in the mixture with U. urealyticum in 3 (13.0%) cases. The most effective antibiotic against both species in our study was doxycycline. CONCLUSION: The results show slightly higher incidence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in the genitourinary tract of women with fertility problems compare with control group. The potential negative effect of these species on the reproduction ability of women was not observed.

[Infections caused by human alpha herpes viruses]. / Infekce vyvoláné lidskými alfa herpetickými viry.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus one (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus two (HSV-2) represent three out of the eight known human herpesviruses and belong to the subfamily of α-herpesviruses. These viruses are present worldwide and humans are their sole host and reservoir. After the primary infection, these viruses persist in the body throughout life. The period of latency may be interrupted by reactivation of infection due to various factors. Each virus can induce a wide spectrum of diseases. The primary infection is typical for children and otherwise healthy individuals are often asymptomatic. It is mainly immunocompromised patients who are at risk of developing severe disease or complications when infected by these viruses. However, even in otherwise healthy individuals an infection by a-herpesviruses can run a severe course and lead to death.

[Opposite trends in the incidence of gonorrhea and syphilis in the East Bohemian Region - 30 years of surveillance]. / Protikladný vývoj trendu incidence kapavky a syfilis ve východoceském regionu - 30 let surveillance.

The epidemiology of selected sexually transmitted diseases in the Czech Republic has been carefully evaluated for many years. Data from 1981-2011 for eastern Bohemia shows a sharp decrease in the incidence of gonorrhea in 1993-1994 and a very low incidence thereafter with a slightly higher prevalence in males. However, syphilis and genitourinary infections with Chlamydia trachomatis show entirely opposite trends. Also, for the similar number of diagnostic tests performed, Chlamydia had a 10 fold higher rate of positive results. This underscores the changing epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and necessity for adapting the reporting algorithms accordingly.

[An increase in the prevalence of syphilis in women in Eastern Bohemia - 30 years of surveillance]. / Rust prevalence syfilis u zen ve východoceském regionu - 30 let sledování

Epidemiological data on sexually transmitted infections in the Czech Republic has been carefully reported for many years. Here we present an analysis of regional data on syphilis spanning more than 30 years in eastern Bohemia. The epidemiological data were derived from the mandatory reporting of sexually transmitted diseases covering the period 1981-2011. The data showed a minimal incidence of cases in 1990 and an increasing trend thereafter. Two peaks in the incidence are apparent - within years 1995-1999 and 2003-2007. Interestingly, while before 1990 the numbers of positive men always exceeded those of women, their numbers equalized or even reversed within the two peaks. The results may also reflect trends in social change in the country after 1989. The analysis showed that the regional prevalence of syphilis in eastern Bohemia still remains low compared to some other regions of the Czech Republic.

[Legionella infection--a neglected problem]. / Legionelové infekce - opomíjený problém.

UNLABELLED: Pathogenic species of the Legionella genus can cause respiratory diseases ranging in severity from benign Pontiac fever to life-threatening Legionnaires disease often characterized by severe pneumonia, high fever, and multiple organ involvement. Predisposing underlying conditions, such as immunosuppression, chronic lung disease, and malignancies and other variables such as smoking and higher age constitute high-risk factors. Legionalla has been isolated from natural aquatic habitats (freshwater streams and lakes, water reservoirs, etc.), artificial sources, and also from humid soil. These pathogens are distributed worldwide. Besides water reservoirs (surface and underground water, fresh and salt water), they occur in a wide range of technical devices and systems - water distribution systems, showers, pools, spa systems, perlators, foggy makers, irrigation systems with sprinklers, cooling towers, etc. About 20% of detected Legionella infections in Europe have been associated with travel history. Travel-associated cases present a particular difficulty in terms of identifying the source of infection and implementing remedial measures. KEYWORDS: Legionella pneumophila - Legionnaires disease - Pontiac fever - nosocomial infections.

[Vaccination against viral hepatitis A and B in adults aged over 40 years--antibody persistence and immune memory]. / Ockování proti virové hepatitide A a B u dospelých starsích 40 let veku--sledování pretrvávání protilátek a imunitní pameti.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Primary vaccination with combined vaccine against viral hepatitis A (VHA) and viral hepatitis B (VHB) induces higher anti-hepatitis B surface (anti-HBs) antibody responses and similar anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) antibody responses in adults aged over 40 years in comparison with concomitant monovalent vaccines against VHA and VHB. Th e objectives were to assess, in a clinical study, persistence of anti-HAV and anti-HBs antibodies in adults aged over 40 years four years after primary VHA/VHB vaccination and antibody response following a booster dose of the vaccine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five hundred and ninety-six subjects aged > 40 years were vaccinated with three doses of the combined VHA/VHB vaccine at Months 0, 1, 6 (HAB group) or with concomitant VHA and VHB vaccines at Months 0, 6 and 0, 1, 6 (ENG+HAV and HBVX+VAQ, respectively). Blood samples were collected one month following primary vaccination (Month 7) and then at one-year intervals for four years after the booster dose with the same vaccine as used for the primary vaccination. The anti-HBs and anti-HAV antibody levels were determined prior to the booster dose and at days 14 and 30 after the booster dose. RESULTS: At Month 7, > 97% of study subjects were seropositive for anti-HAV antibodies in all groups analyzed. Four years after primary vaccination, anti-HAV antibody seropositivity persisted in > 93% of study subjects, increasing to > 99% after the booster dose. At Month 7, the highest proportion of study subjects with anti-HBs antibody levels > or = 10 mIU/ml was found in the HAB group (91.7% versus 79.7% in the ENG+HAV group versus 71.0% in the HBVX+VAQ group). Four years after vaccination, anti-HBs antibody levels of 10 mIU/ml persisted in 57.1% of the HAB study subjects in comparison with 40.1% and 26.6% of the study subjects in the ENG+HAV and HBVX+VAQ groups, respectively. One month after the booster dose, anti-HBs antibody levels increased and antibody levels > or = 10 mIU/ml was achived in 95.2% of study subjects in the HAB group, 90.5% in the ENG+HAV group and 85.3% in the HBVX+VAQ group. CONCLUSION: In the adults aged over 40 years, an adequate anti-HAV antibody response persisted for at least four years after vaccination and was higher and more sustained in those who received the combined HAB vaccine. A strong antibody response to the booster dose indicative ofthe presence of immune memory was seen in all study groups.

[The use of IgG antibody avidity assays in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection]. / Vyuzití testu avidity IgG protilátek v diagnostice cytomegalovirové infekce.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection. Primary CMV infection can lead to severe disease and complications in patients immunocompromised as a result of disease or therapy. IgG antibody avidity assays make it possible to differentiate between primary infection and reactivation of latent infection or reinfection. The study objective was to determine CMV IgG avidity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with denaturation of IgG antibody binding to the antigen and by chemiluminiscent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) on an Abbott Architect analyzer. Both methods yielded comparable CMV IgG avidity results. In some cases, the Abbott test was superior in reflecting IgG antibody maturation during primary infection to microplate ELISA using antigen-antibody complex dissociation by a denaturing agent.

[Polio news]. / Novinky na poli poliomyelitidy--krátké sdelení.

Although the Word Health Organization (WHO) launched the global polio eradication initiative 22 years ago, reports of new cases of this serious disease from various parts of the world are far from being uncommon. Former Czechoslovakia became the first country in the world to achieve polio eradication at the nationwide level. Since summer 1960, no case of non-imported paralytic poliomyelitis has been reported since 1961, Czechoslovakia has been the first country in the world to control permanently the spread of wild poliovirus strains.

Molecular epidemiology of varicella zoster virus.

Varicella zoster virus has highly conserved genome 125,000 base pairs. The different molecular genetic methods of analyzing VZV genome are discussed, as well as their results with regards to the virus phylogenesis, geographic distributions, possible recombination and virulence of different VZV strains.

[Herpes zoster in the Czech Republic--epidemiology and clinical manifestations]. / Herpes zoster v Ceské republice--epidemiologie a klinické projevy.

Herpes zoster (shingles) is a viral infection of the skin that manifests itself as painful, unilateral vesicular rash. The causative agent is varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Primary infection with VZV causes chickenpox, a common childhood infection, and then the virus lies dormant in the sensory neural ganglia, reactivating to cause shingles. The most important complications are neurological disorders (in particular postherpetic neuralgia) and eye disorders. First-line therapy are antiviral agents. A single vaccine has been registered to date. Herpes zoster occurs sporadically in the Czech Republic and its incidence is long-term stable. In 1990-2008 the average annual incidence was 6306 cases (61.3 cases/100,000 population), with the lowest number of 5511 cases (53.5/100,000) reported in 1991 and the highest number of 6,894 cases (67.6/100,000) reported in 2002. The incidence rate in females (69.9/100,000) was 1.4 times as high as in males (49.5/100,000). From the age perspective, the elderly are at a considerably higher risk of developing shingles. In 2008, the incidence rate was the highest in the age group 70 years (155.0/100,000). Nevertheless, the beginning of the upward trend is seen in the age group 45-49 years. Herpes zoster does not show any seasonal trend.