Viral gastroenteritis in Eastern Bohemia Region of the Czech Republic.

PURPOSE: Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common diseases in humans worldwide and represents a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. The majority of cases are of viral aetiology, evidence for which has been increasing in the past decade. Several studies on the prevalence in European countries of viral aetiology of gastroenteritis have been published in the last decade, but none from the Czech Republic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total 107 faeces samples obtained from patients hospitalised in the University Hospital in Hradec Králové were examined by immunochromatographic tests using ROTA-ADENO Card Rapid-Viditest (VIDIA, Czech Republic) and RidaQuick Norovirus (R-Biopharm, Germany), and by an in-house Real-time PCR panel. RESULTS: Overall findings of viruses detected by PCR in the tested faeces samples were: rotaviruses in 29.9%, noroviruses in 14.0% and adenoviruses in 5.0%. Immunochromatographic antigen detection performed at lower sensitivity compared with PCR: rotaviruses in 28.0%, noroviruses in 4.7% and adenoviruses in 2.0%. Our findings demonstrate even lower sensitivity of the used immunochromatographic tests compared with manufacturers data. CONCLUSION: Our study has revealed limitations in immunochromatographic tests, especially in their sensitivity and the necessity for using another confirmatory method. We have set up real-time PCR in routine diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis in our hospital.

The role of sibutramine in weight reduction.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of pharmacologic support with sibutramine along with the preservation of dietary and regimen measures is shown in a group of long-term treated patients at the Metabolic Clinic of the University Hospital in Hradec Králové. METHODS: In ambulatory patients, basic anthropometric parameters as body weight, BMI, waist circumference and the total amount of adipose tissue were compared before substitution with 10 mg sibutramine and after a four-month therapy. This group included 94 patients who were administered the same dose of sibutramine for the whole period of time. This group consisted of 37 men and 57 women. RESULTS: After a four-month therapy with sibutramine there was a mean reduction in weight by 7.9 ± 3.8 kg in the monitored group of patients. Their BMI was reduced by 2.3 ± 1.5 kg/height2 and the waist circumference by 4.4 ± 3.8 cm. The decrease in the percentage of the total body lipid was 2.9 %. CONCLUSION: Despite a surprising decision of the European Drug Agency to suspend the registration of sibutramine in the whole of Europe since January 2010 we can state that in our patients we have proven a positive effect of sibutramine substitution on their weight reduction (Tab. 1, Ref. 19).

[Viral gastroenteritis]. / Virové gastroenteritidy.

The causative agents of viral gastroenteritis belong to generally little known pathogens. But according to some studies, these viruses make up a considerable proportion of agents causing diarrhea in children and adults. In this review, the authors focused on both relatively known pathogens such as adenoviruses, rotaviruses or caliciviruses and not so well known or newly recognized viral gastroenteritis pathogens like toroviruses, astroviruses, bocaviruses or parechoviruses. The first part of this review is concerned with basic information about each etiological agent. The second one deals with their detection and identification. The last part is about therapy and prophylaxis of viral pathogens.

Obesity in focus.

Obesity has become the most frequent metabolic disease as a result of life conditions and lifestyle which have resulted in a positive energetic balance. However, at the end of the 20th century it reached the dimension of the global epidemic as a result of constantly increasing energy intake without an adequate increase in energy expenditure. The article describes the 11th International Congress on Obesity which took place in Stockholm in July 2010. The delegates discussed recommended diagnostics and treatments in obesitology. A large number of presentations were focused on nutrition and dietary management. The Congress showed that it is necessary to keep paying obesity due attention.

[Differential diagnosis of hemorrhagic fever]. / Diferenciální diagnostika hemoragických horecek.

Viral hemorrhagic fevers(VHFs) are taken by common population, often also by science society, as only exotic diseases, which can not occur in our country. But the risk of importation of one of these diseases is very real. In the first part, basic information about microbiology, epidemiology and clinical manifestation is presented. In the second part, other diseases with similar manifestation are described. The last part is focused on basic information about treatment and prophylaxis.