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V posledných rokoch boli opakovane publikovane udaje o tom, že vacsina chýb v procese ziskavania laboratorneho výsledku sa vyskytuje v predanalytickej faze (46 % až 68,2 %). Ide o oblasť, ktora je zvycajne mimo priamej kontroly laboratoria, najcastejsie zahŕňajuca odber venoznej krvi (flebotomiu). Odhalenie týchto chýb sa poklada za znacne obťažne, a preto možu ľahko viesť k nespravnej interpretacii laboratornych výsledkov s nasledným nepriaznivým dosahom na pacienta až jeho poskodeniu. K najucinnejsim sposobom ako im predisť patri dobra znalosť sucasných odporucani pre odber krvi, ktore boli nedavno (2018) revidovane Europskou federaciou pre klinicku chemiu a laboratornu medicinu (EFLM, European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) a su ponuknute v tomto prehľade.

V starnucej populacii sa neustale zvysuje aj pocet predpisaných liekov na liecbu systemových ochoreni. Pocas farmakologickej terapie sa pocita najma so žiadaným alebo terapeutickým ucinkom lieku. S narastom objemu farmakoterapie v populacii možno predpovedať, že výskyt nežiaducich ucinkov vratane tých oralnych sa bude tiež naďalej zvysovať. Tieto prejavy sa možu tiež zamieňať s nastupom noveho ochorenia, co sposobi oddialenie kauzalnej liecby s možným vznikom zavažných komplikacii. Identifikovaných bolo niekoľko chorob, ktore možu pomocť lekarovi urciť možný vzťah medzi pricinami a nasledkami konkretneho lieku alebo skupiny liekov. Ich patogeneza zahŕňa zložite interakcie medzi prislusným liekom, inými liekmi, zakladnou chorobou pacienta, genetikou a faktormi životneho prostredia. K najbežnejsie vyskytujucim sa nežiaducim ucinkom v ustnej dutine patri xerostomia, porucha chuti, stomatitida, oralna lichenoidna reakcia, pigmentacia na tvrdom podnebi, hyperplazia gingivy, bulozne dermatozy a osteonekroza. Tieto oralne prejavy maju nepriaznivý vplyv na ustne zdravie a zvysuju tiež riziko infekcie, bolesti, straty zubov a celkových zdravotných komplikacii.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss worldwide. There is an enormous need for the detection of its early stages and also speeding up and simplifying regular examinations. Among the new diagnostic approaches, the use of tear fluid has been intensively investigated in recent years. For this purpose, we analyzed the tear fluid of patients with glaucoma and related diseases. To sensitively capture the subtle ocular abnormalities related to glaucoma and manifested in tear fluid, we used synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. In this observational case–control study, we detected significant differences in the intensity of tear fluid fluorescence located at λex/Δλ = 280/70 nm between the groups of primary open-angle glaucoma (p 0.05), nor treatment (p > 0.05). Taken together, tear fluid fluorescence could serve as a discriminative parameter between patients with glaucoma, related diseases, and healthy control subjects and might contribute to the improvement of diagnostics of these diseases.

In recent years, data have been repeatedly published stating that most errors in the process of obtaining a laboratory result occur in the pre-analytical phase (46 % to 68.2 %). This is an area that is usually out of direct control of the laboratory, involving venous blood collection (phlebotomy). The detection of these errors is considered to be quite difficult and can therefore easily lead to a misinterpretation of laboratory results with a consequent adverse effect for the patient and even in unintended injury. The most effective way to prevent them is to have a good knowledge of the current blood collection recommendations, which were recently (2018) revised by the European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) and are offered in this review.

The current study is focused on the influence of hyperglycemia on weight loss in obese premenopausal women. Specifically, the study evaluated the impact of a six-month individualized low-calorie diet combined with moderate exercise on weight reduction and glucose metabolism in obese women with normoglycemia compared to obese women with moderate hyperglycemia. The results indicated that patients with normoglycemia achieved a successful weight loss, which was connected to a decrease in adipose tissue and reflected by diminished content of visceral fat area (VFA) and percent body fat. In contrast, weight reduction in patients with hyperglycemia was connected not only to the loss of VFA but also to undesired decrease in skeletal muscle mass as well as intracellular and total body water. These unfavorable outcomes were observed despite normalization of glucose metabolism reflected by statistically significant lowering glucose, fructosamine, advanced glycation end-products, and HOMA-IR levels. Overall, the obtained results indicate the importance of the measurement of the carbohydrate profile in obese women and the need for an early introduction of weight reduction strategies before the development of hyperglycemia.

Weight loss is recommended for obese patients with cardiovascular risk; however, it remains questionable how hyperglycemia affects this process. To address this problem, we aimed to determine the association between weight loss, lipid profile, and body mass parameters in obese normoglycemic and hyperglycemic patients. Obese (body mass index30 kg/m

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide with premenopausal women showing a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease compared with men of the same age. After menopause, this advantage disappears, suggesting that sex hormones play a cardioprotective role. This study was aimed to assess on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma and the respiratory function of isolated heart mitochondria after the induction of MI in rats after ovariectomy and estradiol benzoate supplementation. Sprague-Dawley female rats were ovariectomized 3 months before the induction of MI and supplemented/not supplemented with oestrogen 3 months before/7 days after the induction of MI. No significant differences in glutathione peroxidase activities were found in any group. Differences between values were only significant in the ovariectomized not supplemented group (P0.01) for the glutathione reductase activity and glutathione concentrations. In isolated mitochondria (7 days after MI), the decline in respiration was observed comparing the ovariectomized and nonovariectomized group. Respiratory functions did not show significant differences between animals supplemented with oestrogen before MI or treated with oestrogen after MI. Ovariectomy worsened mitochondrial dysfunction after MI, and oestrogen supplementation before or after the induction of MI did not improve mitochondrial function.

The Mediterranean diet is known for its many health benefits, including the low prevalence of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Olive oil is considered an essential component of the Mediterranean diet. The consumption of olive oil is associated with many beneficial effects on the human body, most of which are attributed to its phenol content, which varies between cultivars due to different processing and extraction procedures, with only 0.3-1.5% of phenols being transferred to the oil from the olive fruit. Many studies suggest that olive oil phenolic compounds have a protective role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, metabolic syndrome, obesity, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, recent epidemiological research has shown that regular olive oil consumption is associated with increased longevity. Keywords: olive oil, phenols, health benefits

Background: Health characteristics associated with uric acid (UA) in the Roma minority remain less well known. The study sought to determine the ethnicity- and sex-specific associations of serum UA with health factors in Eastern Slovakian Roma and non-Roma populations. Methods: Data from the comparative cross-sectional HepaMeta study conducted in Slovakia in 2011 were used. The study enrolled 452 Roma subjects (35.2% men) and 403 non-Roma individuals (45.9% men) aged 18–55 years. Results: All study parameters differed between the sexes in both the Roma and non-Roma participants (p &lt, 0.05). UA was related to sex with odds ratio for female sex 0.873, 95% CI 0.853–0.893 (p &lt, 0.0001) per 10-unit increase of UA. Average level of UA ± standard deviation was lower in Roma than in non-Roma (226.54 ± 79.8 vs. 259.11 ± 84.53 umol/L, p &lt, 0.0001). The Roma population presented with greater levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (3.07 ± 4 mg/L vs. 1.98 ± 2.83 mg/L, 0.0001) and ferritin in Roma males (403.78 ± 391.84 vs. 302.67 ± 236.26 mg/L, 0.0001). Conclusions: Serum UA is sex- and ethnicity specific. Elevated levels of hsCRP and ferritin particularly in Roma males can reflect low-grade systemic inflammation and thus serve as a marker of an increased cardiovascular risk.

BACKGROUND A hundred years ago, scientists believed that amniotic fluid is a yellowish hypotonic mixture of foetal urine and maternal transudate with peculiar odour. Current knowledge shows that it represents a dynamic, complex mixture of inorganic and organic compounds. OBJECTIVES Despite modern technological procedures, information is still lacking about the composition and properties of amniotic fluid. We focused on dynamics of selected physical and chemical properties of the amniotic fluid with the increasing gestational week. METHODS The physicochemical characteristics of 89 amniotic fluid samples were determined according to the week of pregnancy. The determination of pH, specific gravity, glucose and nitrites was performed immediately, at room temperature. RESULTS Our results show a significant negative correlation between week of pregnancy and semi-quantitative determined parameters of specific gravity (p < 0.001), pH (p < 0.01) and glucose (p < 0.001) values. Within the whole group of samples (n = 89), 29 % (n = 26) were nitrites positive (N+) and 71 % (n = 63) nitrites negative (N-). CONCLUSION In this study were determined basic parameters of amniotic fluid, which could be related to a wide range of pathological states (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 27).

Background: Interest in the positive impact of naturally occurring polyphenols is still increasing in the scientific community. Research is focused mainly on their antioxidant properties, due to their significant effects in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress. Pycnogenol is an extract from French maritime pine bark ( Pinus pinaster ), which is composed of a mixture of phenolic compounds: monomers (catechin, epicatechin, taxifolin), flavonoids (classed as procyanidins/proanthocyanidins), phenolic or cinnamic acids and their glycosides. Due to its composition, it has a high antioxidant capacity, and is used in traditional folk medicine, cosmetics and medicine. Purpose of the study: The aim is to study the antioxidant properties of pycnogenol in order to obtain experimental information on the antioxidant effect of pycnogenol in terms of concentration dependence and pH conditions. Methods: In our study, we used a methionine-riboflavin superoxide generator, and focused on determining the antioxidant capacity of Pycnogenol against the superoxide radical in different pH values (range 6.5 – 8) using the spectroscopic method. Results: Our results showed that the antioxidant properties increased with a higher concentration of the tested compound in the tested pH range. Amongst all tested pH values, the most appropriate for pycnogenol antioxidant capacity is slightly basic pH (pH 8). Conclusion: Information on the antioxidant and prooxidant properties of naturally occurring compounds is very important for understanding their activity and their proper use in prevention, disease treatment, and detection of pathological processes. The antioxidant activity of pycnogenol depends on the structure and concentration of antioxidants; it only slightly changes at different pH values. Increasing concentration of pycnogenol enhances its antioxidant properties. Keywords: Pycnogenol, reactive oxygen species, spectrophotometry, pH dependency

Background and objectives: Melanin, which has a confirmed role in melanoma cell behaviour, is formed in the process of melanogenesis and is synthesized from tryptophan, L-tyrosine and their metabolites. All these metabolites are easily detectable by chromatography in urine. Materials and Methods: Urine samples of 133 individuals (82 malignant melanoma patients and 51 healthy controls) were analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The diagnosis of malignant melanoma was confirmed histologically. Results: Chromatograms of melanoma patients showed increased levels of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid, vanilmandelic acid, homovanilic acid, tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, and indoxyl sulphate compared to healthy controls. Concentration of indoxyl sulphate, homovanilic acid and tryptophan were significantly increased even in the low clinical stage 0 of the disease (indoxyl sulphate, homovanilic acid and tryptophan in patients with clinical stage 0 vs. controls expressed as medium/ interquartile range in &micro, mol/mmol creatinine: 28.37/15.30 vs. 5.00/6.91, 47.97/33.08 vs. 7.33/21.25, and 16.38/15.98 vs. 3.46/6.22, respectively). Conclusions: HPLC detection of metabolites of L-tyrosine and tryptophan in the urine of melanoma patients may play a significant role in diagnostics as well as a therapeutic strategy of melanoma cancer.

The use of medicinal products is becoming more and more modern. Although little is known about the exact composition and effects of various herbal preparations, their plant and natural origin serve as evidence of their safety. The doctor is rarely notified of their use, while there is increasing body of evidence on the effects, side effects and interactions with synthetically produced drugs.

Although weight loss is recommended for obese patients, it remains questionable how much weight loss is optimal. A novel index that accurately determines the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in terms of weight loss is needed. The modified Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), presented here is unique in the literature. It is calculated based on data for anti-atherogenic, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) fractions, instead of the total HDL-C. This study investigates whether weight loss correlates with CVD risk, and whether the modified AIP allows more accurate diagnostics in obese/overweight people. According to the increase or decrease of AIP during weight loss, 52 Polish patients were subdivided into two groups: group I (increased AIP, n = 16) and group II (decreased AIP, n = 36). The patients&rsquo, body mass composition and fasting serum lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol)), and cholesterol in 21 lipoprotein sub-fractions were determined. Over six months, all patients reduced their body mass by about 10%. There were no significant differences in anthropometric measures between groups. Increases in large and intermediate HDL-C fractions 1 to 6 and decreases in smaller fractions 7 to 10 were observed in group II. In group I, HDL-C fractions 1 and 10 decreased, while cholesterol in other fractions increased. Increases were observed in the antiatherogenic HDL-C of 52% of group II and 4% of group I. As for atherogenic HDL-C, a decrease of 24% was observed in group II and an increase of 9% in group I. In group I, increases of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and large LDL fractions were noticed, and the reverse in group II. The results show that the modified AIP is a more accurate indicator of CVD risk than existing indices, and that uncontrolled weight reduction does not necessarily have a beneficial influence, and may adversely affect the cardiovascular system.

We assumed that proteins are most likely responsible for synovial fluid fluorescence and that changes detected in fluorescence intensity are most likely the result of changes in the concentration of fluorescent proteins. Synchronous fluorescent matrices from synovial fluid samples were measured in the excitation wavelength range of 200–350 nm using a luminescence spectrophotometer. The synchronous matrix of synovial fluid consists of 2 dominant fluorescent centers (F1 and F2) in the ultraviolet region. The fluorescence intensities of both centers were significantly higher in pathological samples, with p = 0.001 (a 59% increase of the median value) for the F1 center and p = 0.002 (a 52% increase of the median value) for the F2 center. Receiver operating characteristic analysis confirmed that synovial fluid autofluorescence is a significant predictor of medial compartment disease in dogs, with the area under the curve at 0.776 (F1) and 0.778 (F2). We did not detect any differences in the autofluorescence of synovial fluid between male and female, or any breed-based changes. No position changes of fluorescent centers were recorded in the synovial fluid in diseased dogs compared with healthy dogs. The synovial fluid metabolic fingerprint of canine patients with medial compartment disease differed from that of healthy dogs. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of synovial fluid fingerprinting to identify disease-specific profiles of synovial fluid metabolites.

Caffeic acid is a bioactive compound found in a variety of plants including vegetables, fruits, herbs, and drinks. It belongs to the huge group of chemicals called polyphenols and is a major representative of the polyphenol subgroup of hydroxycinnamic acids. In foods, caffeic acid occurs mostly as a quinic acid ester called chlorogenic acid. Caffeic acid, like other polyphenols, is believed to exhibit many health benefits associated with their antioxidant properties, including the prevention of inflammation, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. Nowadays, the use of naturally occurring bioactive substances, including caffeic acid, is becoming a very common phenomenon. Thus, information about their functions and properties is very important.Keywords: caffeic acid, polyphenols, bioactive compound, oxidative stress

Human urine is one of most accessible body fluids and its collection does not burden patients. Wide spectrum of compounds present in urine with a close relation to metabolism determines a large diagnostic potential. Presented work is focused on information extraction from autofluorescent data analysis of urine. Simple modified synchronous autofluorescent spectrum of urine sample – human fluorescent profile of urine (HFPU) seems to be powerful in mining distinct characters and could be meaningful tool for classification of patients into subgroups according to specific fluorescent characteristics without exact knowledge of urine composition. This could be beneficial in broad range of applications on urine autofluorescence. Offered concept of autofluorescent fingerprints evaluation was tested on 119 urine samples. In this study was found that patients with hypertension have lower intensity of fluorescence at the wavelength range 380–450 nm compare to healthy.

Background: The Roma population is one of the major marginalized groups in Europe, having higher incidence of all spectrums of disease and a shorter life expectancy. Yet, the reasons for higher morbidity and its exact prevalence were not properly studied. Objectives: The objective of our study was to compare the frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Roma people to the non-Roma population in Slovakia, and to compare levels of uric acid and its correlation with components of metabolic syndrome. Methods: A group of 452 Roma people aged 18&ndash, 55 years, was compared to a control group of 403 non-Roma people. The data were obtained by questionnaire, anthropometric measures, and analyzed blood and urine samples Results: The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher among Roma participants (131, 29.6%) compared with non-Roma participants (80, 20.1%), p = 0.001. Roma people significantly more often fulfilled obesity and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) criteria of MetS (257, 58.9% vs. 180, 45.8%, p &lt, 0.0001, and 312, 70.0% vs. 140, 34.9%, p &lt, 0.0001). There was no difference in the triacylglycerols (TG), glycemia or blood pressure (BP) criteria of MetS. The Roma also presented with greater levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Baseline levels of uric acid (UA) among the Roma population were significantly lower compared with the majority population (226.54 &plusmn, 79.8 vs. 259.11 &plusmn, 84.53) (p &lt, 0.001). The levels of UA significantly correlated with fulfilled criteria of MetS. Univariate regression showed that UA is a significant predictor of MetS in the whole cohort (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.005, 95% CI 1.004&ndash, 1.007, p &lt, 0.0001) also after the adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity (adjusted OR 1.008, 95% CI 1.005&ndash, 1.010, 0.0001). Conclusions: We were able to show that prevalence of MetS among the Roma is higher than in the majority population. Moreover, the uric acid levels are significantly lower in the Roma group as well as when it comes to a cohort with MetS. Levels of UA, besides others, depend on ethnicity, age, and sex.

Hepatitis E infection is one of the most frequent causes of acute hepatitis in the world. Currently five human genotypes with different geographical distributions and distinct epidemiologic patterns are identified. In Slovakia, only rare cases of hepatitis E have been reported in past years. Because the most important risk factors associated with HEV infection include consumption of contaminated pork meat and poor hygienic standards, the aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HEV total antibodies and the main risk factors for HEV in the population living in separated and segregated Roma settlements (n = 195), which represent places with increased risk of infection in Slovakia and to compare it with the prevalence in the general population (n = 69). Of 264 respondents included in the study, 47 (17.8%) showed positivity for anti-HEV antibodies, 42 of whom were Roma (21.5%, n = 195) and 5 (7.2%, n = 69) non-Roma. The population living in Roma settlements lives in poorer conditions and are at higher risk of HEV in comparison to the general population. However, differences in living conditions within the settlements do not contributed to lower risk of HEV antibody prevalence between Roma living in settlements.

The lifestyle, health and social status of the Roma are generally below the standards characteristic for the non-Roma population. This study aimed to find out the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the population of Roma living in segregated settlements and to compare it with the prevalence of antibodies in the non-Roma population from the catchment area of eastern Slovakia. The seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was significantly higher in the Roma group (45.0%) than in non-Roma inhabitants (24.1%). A statistically significant difference was also recorded between the two non-Roma groups in the study, 30.4% of those from the catchment area and 19.7% from the non-catchment area were seropositive. Univariate logistic regression confirmed poverty and higher age to be significant risk factors influencing the seropositivity to T. gondii. Of the clinical symptoms analyzed in the study, only muscle and back pain were associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The close contact of Roma with an environment contaminated by different infectious agents and the insufficient hygiene, lower level of education, poverty, lack of water and household equipment and high number of domestic animals increase the risk of infectious diseases in the Roma settlements and subsequently the spread of communicable diseases at the national or even international level.

Trichinellosis and cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are serious parasitic diseases transmissible between animals and humans. Moreover, alveolar echinococcosis is considered one of the most dangerous of human helminthoses. Roma communities are particularly numerous in Central and Eastern Europe. They are often concentrated in economically undeveloped regions and live in segregated localities with unsatisfactory housing and sanitary conditions. The study aimed to find out the seroprevalence of Trichinella and Echinococcus infections in the Roma population of segregated settlements and to compare it with the seropositivity of the non-Roma population of eastern Slovakia. Out of 823 samples, three sera showed seropositivity to Trichinella in the ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test. Subsequent Western blot reaction (WB) confirmed seropositivity in two Roma women. ELISA seropositivity to E. multilocularis was recorded in six persons (0.73%), and five (0.61%) respondents were seropositive to E. granulosus, but WB confirmed the presence of antibodies to Echinococcus spp. in one Roma participant. Positive persons suffered from unspecific clinical symptoms; Trichinella-positive persons reported headache, cough, fatigue, and muscle pain. The Echinococcus-positive participant suffered from headache and back pain. The study showed that the worse living conditions of the Roma community did not significantly influence the occurrence of Trichinella and Echinococcus infections in this minority.

The trend of modern clinical biochemistry is to emphasize the composition and the quality of lipoproteins over their quantity. The serum lipoprotein fractions and subfractions were analyzed by the Lipoprint Lipoprotein Subfractions Testing System, the parameters of lipid profile, as total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triacylglycerides (TAG) were determined by an automated selective biochemical analyzer. Our results showed a significantly lower concentration of cholesterol in the LDL fractions 1 and 2 and in the HDL fractions 8 to 10 in Roma compared to the majority population. The most significant differences between Roma and the majority population when considering body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio and the index of central obesity were in very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins, fraction A (IDL-A) and LDL-2. The last two listed were significantly higher in the majority population. VLDL was significantly higher in overweight or obese Roma men and in Roma men with central obesity compared to men from the majority population, as well as in Roma women with normal weight and physiological waist-to-hip ratio compared to the women from majority population. Our study is among the first describing the distribution of lipoprotein subfractions in different ethnic groups.

BACKGROUND Multiple studies have recently proposed the lowering of upper limit of normal (ULN) for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to improve the diagnostic sensitivity for viral hepatitides and metabolic syndrome (MS). We have tried to validate some of the proposed ULNs in the diagnosis of MS. METHODS We used data from the HepaMeta Study conducted in 2011 in Slovakia, which explored the prevalence of MS in eastern Slovakia. Patients were tested for the criteria of MS and ALT. Different, previously published, ALT cutoffs were then used to calculate odds' ratios, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MS and its components. RESULTS Manufacturers' recommended ULN used in our institution (0.8 µkat/l, 47 U/l for men and 0.6 µkat/l, 35 U/l for women) failed to predict any significant risk of MS. Lowered cutoff (72% of the original ULN) identified the patients with the highest age-adjusted probability of MS (odds ratio 3.194, 95% confidence interval 1.398-7.295). ALT was significantly associated with elevated levels of triacylglycerols, hyperglycemia, and obesity. CONCLUSION In patients with MS, one must consider liver involvement if the patient has ALT levels in the upper third of the reference range. There is the need for discussion about the feasibility of lower ALT ULN in clinical practice.

Urine contains a variety of compounds including a number of natural fluorophores. Fluorescence spectroscopy has proven to be a useful tool in analytical science. Fluorescence detection has three major advantages over other light-based investigation methods: high sensitivity, speed, and safety. Our work presents the newest approach to analysis of dog urine. Fluorescent fingerprint can very quickly reveal differences between complicated mixtures without adding any reagents. We describe autofluorescence characteristics of the urine of healthy dogs and of those with various disorders using fluorescent fingerprint. Fluorescent analysis has given good results to distinguish between pathological urine and the healthy standard in dogs. Our results suggest that this method can be used to characterize fluorescent properties of canine urine and to reveal some pathological changes in dogs.

As cancer ranks among the most common diseases worldwide, its early diagnosis has become a key point of clinical oncology. Such a diagnosis has been accomplished using a number of techniques; however, some of them show low sensitivity. Conventional laboratory methods are expensive and usually cannot identify lesions in an early stage or are provided in an invasive way. Therefore, it is necessary to find an easy and noninvasive protocol for detecting cancer. An early and noninvasive diagnosis of malignancies offers the opportunity of early therapy and concomitantly a higher chance of healing and/or survival. Nowadays, several new alternative methods are employed in cancer diagnosis. One of them is native fluorescence analysis of biological fluids. Compared with a healthy organism, the metabolism of cancerous tissue is altered, leading to the altered fluorescent characteristics of biological fluids. This review examines the potential application of autofluorescence analysis of biological fluids in clinical diagnosis.

The fluorescent analysis of multicomponent biological materials is very difficult. To model a proper system to characterize their quality is therefore indispensable. Influence of mixture composition was studied in a mixture of three naturally occurring diagnostically important urine metabolites: indoxyl sulfate, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid. Relationships between these compounds were monitored by measurement of synchronous fluorescence spectrum matrix. The fluorescence emission of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid when combined with indoxyl sulfate, or even with 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, was utilized for the excitation of indoxyl sulfate or 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, resulting in an increase in their fluorescence and in a decrease in 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid fluorescence intensity.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare socioeconomic characteristics of the Roma population living in Roma settlements with the majority population. Moreover, it was aimed to assess socioeconomic differences in health and health-related behaviour within the population living in Roma settlements. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional HepaMeta study conducted in Slovakia in 2011 were used. The sample consisted of 452 Roma (mean age = 34.7; 35.2% men) and 403 non-Roma (mean age = 33.5; 45.9% men) respondents. Roma in selected settlements were recruited by local Roma community workers. Respondents from the major population were randomly selected from a list of patients from general practitioners. Data were collected via questionnaire, anthropometric measures and analysed blood samples. Differences in socioeconomic characteristics between the population living in Roma settlements and the majority population were tested using the chi-square test. The contribution of selected socioeconomic characteristics on health and health-related behaviour of the population living in Roma settlements was assessed by logistic regression models adjusted for age and gender. Results: The population living in Roma settlements is characterised by significantly lower socioeconomic standards, and the living conditions are significantly worse compared with the majority. With few exceptions, the study did not confirm any significant association between socioeconomic indicators and health and health-related behaviour within the population living in Roma settlements. Conclusions: The deteriorating effect of living in Roma settlement on health and health-related behaviour seems to be immense regardless differences in socioeconomic characteristics or living condition within the settlement population.

SUMMARY Living in Roma settlements is associated with worse health in comparison with the majority population; this might be partially explained by socioeconomic disadvantages as well as cultural differences, including lifestyle. Eating habits represent an important part of lifestyle closely related to primary causes of morbidity and mortality, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases or cancers. The eating habits of the population living in Roma settlements in comparison with those of the majority population were explored using the cross-sectional epidemiological HepaMeta study conducted in 2011. A representative sample of Roma (n = 452, mean age = 34.7; 35.2% men) and non-Roma (n = 403, mean age = 33.5; 45.9% men) aged 18–55 years living in the Kosice region were asked about breakfasting and recent consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat products, meat, farinaceous dishes, and soft drinks. A logistic regression model was used separately for male and female participants. The population living in Roma settlements reported the recent consumption of fruit, vegetables and dairy products significantly less frequently in comparison with the majority population. Moreover, Roma females, in comparison with non-Roma females, reported significantly more frequently the consumption of meat and soft drinks. No differences were found between Roma and non-Roma in the consumption of meat products and farinaceous dishes. The population living in Roma settlements reported more frequently unhealthy eating habits in comparison with the majority population; this might contribute to worse health status of this population. The differences might be attributed to cultural differences between ethnic as well as socioeconomic groups, reduced availability of certain food items due to segregation or poverty and lower health literacy.

Background: Obesity and overweight are major contributors to the global burden of chronic diseases and disability in both majority and minority populations. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional population-based HepaMeta study conducted in Slovakia in 2011 were used. The sample comprised a total of 452 Roma. Measurements of special bioactive mediators were taken in final groups consisting of 63 male Roma respondents (mean age = 32.59; SD=8.63) and 117 female Roma respondents (mean age = 34.55; SD=8.35). Respondents were divided into three groups: those with normal weight, those with overweight and obese. Values for anthropometric parameters, lipids parameters, C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, leptin, and adiponectin were determined. Results: 27.6% of examined Roma females and 26.9% of males were overweight. Obesity (BMI>30.0 kg/m2) appeared in a higher proportion of males (28.8%) compared with female (26.5%). Mean levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly elevated in the overweight and obese subjects compared to normal-weight Roma respondents. The relation was reversed for HDL-C level, with significantly decreased levels in both male and female obese Roma (p

Cancer is one of the most highlighted topics of current research. Early detection of this disease allows more effective therapy, hence higher chance of cure. Application of fluorescence spectral techniques into oncological diagnostic is one of the potential alternatives. Chemically induced carcinogenesis in rats is widely used model for exploration of various aspects of colorectal cancer. This study shows value of discriminate analysis of urine fluorescent fingerprint between healthy control group of rats and those with dimethylhydrazine induced early lesions of colorectal cancer. Using fluorescence spectroscopy, significant difference (P < 0.05) between both of group was achieved.

Ovarian cancer is the type of cancer with the highest mortality rate among gynaecologic malignancies. Due to lack of screening tools, this disease is mainly diagnosed at a progressed stage, when it is too late to adequate therapy. Despite many attempts, enough sensitive and specific biomarker was not still uncovered. Fluorescence spectroscopy has proven to be a useful diagnostic tool with high efficiency. Fluorescence detection has three major advantages over other light-based investigation methods: high sensitivity, high speed, and reliability. Biological materials consist of a number of intrinsic fluorescent compounds -autofluorophores, which are associated with cardinal metabolic pathways. It is well known, that cancerous tissue metabolism is altered compared to healthy one, what influence also intrinsic fluorophores composition of bodily fluids. Urine is one of the biological fluids that could be obtained most easily and displays a blue - green fluorescence that can change in case of pathological process. Analysis of urine autofluorescence is non invasive and simple technique. Using fluorescent spectroscopy, ovarian cancer patients and healthy control group were discerned with high significance, so we predict that fluorescence analysis of urine could be a potential means of ovarian cancer screening.

SUMMARY Background: Roma represent one of the largest and oldest minorities in Europe. Health of many of them, particularly those living in settlements, is heavily compromised by poor dwelling, low educational level, unemployment, and poverty rooted in generational poverty, segregation and discrimination. The cross-sectional population-based study using community based approach aimed to map the prevalence of viral hepatitis B/C and metabolic syndrome in the population living in separated and segregated Roma settlements and to compare it with the occurrence of the same health indicators in the majority population, considering selected risk and protective factors of these health indicators. Methods: The sample consisted of 452 Roma (mean age = 34.7; 35.2% men) and 403 non-Roma (mean age = 33.5; 45.9% men) respondents. Data were collected in 2011 via questionnaire, anthropometric measures and analysed blood and urine samples. A methodology used in the study as well as in the following scientific papers is described in the Methods section (i.e. study design, procedures, samples, methods including questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, physical measurements, blood and urine measurements). Conclusions: There are regions of declining prosperity due to high unemployment, long-term problems with poverty and depleted resources. Populations living in these areas, i.e. in Central and Eastern Europe in Roma settlements, are at risk of poverty, social exclusion and other factors affecting health. Therefore, we should look for successful long-term strategies and tools (e.g. Roma mediators, terrain work) in order to improve the future prospects of these minorities.

Background: Several studies have revealed a high prevalence of risk factors associated with unhealthy lifestyle among individuals with lower socioeconomic status. In Slovakia, one of the most socially and health-disadvantaged groups is the Roma minority. The aim of this study is to explore differences in physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption between the population living in Roma settlements and the majority population in Slovakia. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional epidemiological HepaMeta study conducted in Slovakia in 2011 were used. The sample consisted of 452 Roma (mean age = 34.7; 35.2% men) and 403 non-Roma (mean age = 33.5; 45.9% men) respondents. The differences in health-related behaviour between the population living in Roma settlements and the majority population were analysed using logistic models separately for males and females. Results: These data show a clear difference between the population living in Roma settlements and the majority population with regard to leisure-time physical activity (only in women) and smoking, although not alcohol consumption. The prevalence of leisure-time physical activities such as walking or some other type of sport was significantly lower among Roma women than among non-Roma women. Men and women living in Roma settlements are more likely to smoke on a daily basis and they are heavier smokers in comparison with the majority population. HepaMeta study did not find differences in alcohol consumption between the Roma and non-Roma men. However, Roma women reported less frequent recent drinking and binge-drinking of 6 or more doses of alcohol on a single occasion. Conclusion: The higher prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle activities among Roma seem to contribute to these inequalities in cardiovascular diseases morbidity and mortality in comparison with the majority population.

SUMMARY Background: We aimed to study the occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the population living in Roma settlements and to compare the obtained results with the prevalence in the majority population. Methods: We examined 340 people for the presence of bacterium C. trachomatis, 208 of them were Roma (66 men, 142 women) and 132 were from the majority population (75 men, 57 women). Respondents were aged 18–55 years (mean age = 33.44, STD = 9.57). The occurence of C. trachomatis was detected by direct proof of the pathogen by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Of 340 respondents included in the study, 22 (6.5%) showed positivity for C. trachomatis infection, 15 of them were Roma (7.2%) and 7 non-Roma (5.3%). The highest positivity was detected in Roma women (8.5%), while positivity in both non-Roma women and men was 5.3%, and in Roma men 4.5%. We did not confirm any significant contribution of age, gender or ethnicity to the occurrence of C. trachomatis infection. Conclusions: Despite the increased number of people with risk factors in the Roma community, no significant difference in the occurrence of C. trachomatis infection was found. Neither age nor gender contributes to the probability of C. trachomatis infection. Nevertheless, there are other health consequences which might be more pronounced among the population living in Roma settlements due to barriers to the health care and their lower ability to benefit from health care services provided.

Roma constitute the largest ethnic minority in Europe and the second largest minority in Slovakia. Their health problems originate mainly from their low socioeconomic status, certain cultural aspects and their health-threatening lifestyle as well as the psycho-social burden arising from poverty and frequent migration. Evaluation of glucose, albumin, triacylglycerol (TAG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations did not reveal any clue about the presumed deteriorated health of the Roma population. Higher proportions of subjects with elevated serum total cholesterol were found in Roma women as compared to both control groups of women (p = 0.027, p = 0.006) and in Roma men as compared to the male control group living in standard conditions. Only the low level of HDL-cholesterol gives a glimpse of their deteriorated health. Significantly lower levels of serum HDL-C were reported in Roma men and women compared to the respondents in both control groups with a p value of p < 0.001. Comparing the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C yielded significant differences between the number of physiological values in Roma men and men from the control group 1 (p = 0.022) in favour of the control group. When comparing the number of people with physiological values of cholesterols and with worsening TAG parameters at the same time, the increased risk of Roma men compared with men from the control group 1 became evident, with a level of significance of p = 0.023. Evaluation of urine samples pointed to significantly higher concentrations of urinary protein in Roma women compared with women in the control group 1 (p = 0.012).

Cancer chemoprevention is defined as the use of natural, synthetic or biological chemical agents to reverse, suppress or prevent carcinogenic progression of invasive cancer. Carcinogenesis is a complex multi-step process; therefore, it is necessary to attack cell proliferation, stimulate apoptosis and inhibit angiogenesis. There have been more than 60 randomised trials using chemopreventive potential agents. The success of several recent clinical trials in preventing cancer in high-risk populations suggests that chemoprevention is a rational and appealing strategy. In this review, we describe the conceptual basis for the chemoprevention of cancer, proven concepts of efficiency and current trends in the use of chemopreventive agents according to place and mechanism of action. We classify chemopreventive substances into seven groups based on their chemical structure and their effects, namely, deltanoids (paracalcitriol), retinoids (13-cis retinoic acid), non-steroidal anti-rheumatics (Deguelin), antiestrogens (genistein), polyphenols (curcumin), sulphur containing compounds (sulforaphane) and terpenes (lycopene). Chemoprevention is one of several promising strategies for reducing the incidence of malignant tumours or helping to prolong the time before recurrence.

Objectives: Ethnic differences in the prevalence of various chronic diseases, including end-stage renal disease, have been previously reported. Surprisingly, data focusing on the lower grade of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore differences in the prevalence of nephropathy between the Roma and non-Roma populations. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional population based HepaMeta study conducted in Slovakia were used. Nephropathy was defined as: a known history of any kidney disease; or the presence of proteinurialhematuria; or glomerular filtration rate (GFR)