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A probe into diversity of the social work concept in students of social branchesHealth and Social Sciences - Original articleAlena Kajanová, David UrbanKontakt 2013, 15(1):75-81 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.010 The article presented here deals with the diversity of the social work concept in students of social branches at the Faculty of Health and Social Studies (branches Rehabilitation-Psychosocial Care for Children, Adults and Seniors and Social Work in Public Administration) and Faculty of Theology (the branch Social and Charitable Work), University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. |
Toxic effects of selected trichothecene (epoxytrichothecene) mycotoxins in manBiomedicine - ReviewFrantišek Malíř, Vladimír Ostrý, Eva NovotnáKontakt 2013, 15(1):89-99 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.012 In the human organism, mycotoxins present a considerable risk, which must be controlled, i.e. its impact on the human health should be minimized. Biological effects of mycotoxins are associated with their different chemical structures. Important mycotoxins also include a group of so called epoxytrichothecenes, as for example DON, DAS (diacetoxyscirpenol), nivalenol, T-2 toxin, fusarenons, satratoxins, roridins, verrucarins, etc. which have been described in a number exceeding 170. The decisive factors determining toxic effects of mycotoxins in general, and thus also of trichothecenes, are their dose and time period of their action (the magnitude of the exposure), individual sensitivity, age, gender, condition of health and nutrition, vitamin deficiency, alcohol abuse and infectious diseases. Combinations of two or more so called "emerging" or "masked" mycotoxins concomitantly occurring in foodstuffs and/or raw materials can, as a result of their synergism (at a dietary exposure considered), induce much higher toxic effects. Toxicologically important mycotoxins are trichothecenes as for example deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin (its limit concentrations being a still discussed and yet not solved problem in the EU); regulation should also be considered for haematotoxic nivalenol, etc. Appropriate attention should also be undoubtedly paid to a number of further species. Due to their toxicity and possible abuse, in the Czech Republic, (epoxy)trichothecenes are subjected to the force of Law No. 281/2002 Sb and its executing Regulation No. 474/2002 Sb. "On some provisions associated with the prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons". The purpose of the work presented here is thus monitoring of certain toxic effects of selected epoxytrichothecenes. |
How does the staff of labour offices evaluate their workload?Health and Social Sciences - Original articleKarel PaulíkKontakt 2013, 15(2):165-172 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.020 This paper deals with the subjective perception of workload of the labour office staff dealing directly with clients and their problems. The aim of this paper is to find out how these workers, who, according to the character of their job duties can be classified as a group of helping professions, feel their workload at all, how subjectively they perceive and evaluate changes in their workplace and in workload related to the reform of public administration and how they try to cope with the demands of their work. The research was carried out in February and March 2012 in labour offices in the Czech Republic. The respondents (N = 150, average age 39.23, average time of employment at the labour office 12.5 years) were the employees working directly with the clients. The used method was an inventory consisting of 7 items, 3 of which find out subjective assessment of working and non-working load and comparison of working demands compared to other professions in 5-point level of Lickert scale. Other items relate to the main sources of increased workload, to the ways chosen for its management and to the assessment pros and cons of the reform affecting the activity of the labour office. The results show that the respondents assess their own workload as relatively high (higher than non-working load and higher workload compared to other comparable professions). The main sources of their stress are caused by lack of free time, conflicts with colleagues, problems with technology. We can't exclude that in the sense of high workload is reflected the assessment of the reforms at the labour offices, where many respondents found no positive results. Critical comments (unprepared software, staff shortage, errors in implementation) prevailed above stating the positives (unified pay place). In order to cope with the workload the respondents most often choose relax, contact with family members and friends, sport and other popular recreational activities. |
Environmental health: acute problemsBiomedicine - ReviewJiří Patočka, Friedo ZölzerKontakt 2013, 15(2):190-202 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.023 At present, the definition of the human health is not limited only to the absence of diseases or corporal disorders, it is interpreted as the state of complete corporal, mental and social well-being. To reach such a state is not easy though, and it is quite impossible to be reached without providing such environmental quality, where the concentration levels of pollution caused by human activity do not impact significantly human health, or rather they do not represent any unacceptable risks for the human health. Researches in the latest years clearly show the causal connection between human health and environmental pollution, and the impossibility to improve the health of the population without improving the environment where people live, work, rest and perform a plenty of other activities. The newly being constituted discipline of "environmental health" should deal not only with the studies of the particular environmental factors, that have a positive or a negative impact on human health, but should also deal with the evaluation of health risks. This is meant to be especially the assessment of the level and seriousness of the load the population exposed to the risk factors of the environment, work conditions and lifestyle faces. At present, there exist several exigent problems that biomedicine due to its relation to the environment should deal with, and that are related to the global environmental problems as well as to local problems. |
Managing strategies of sistersNursingEva Marková, Sylva BártlováKontakt 2013, 15(3):229-244 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.028 The authors of this contribution are dealing with the managing strategies of sisters working as nursing officers. The aim of the qualitative study is an analysis of the professional career and the managing position of a nursing officer and the variation in conditions of a health-care facility with regard to family background. It is also to understand the values and attitudes of sisters, to understand how their career advancement developed, to define the style of management of the nursing team, to map how professional and personal careers of the sisters interact, and especially, how this subjective reflection of the sisters and relations contribute to creation of long term working strategy. To analyse the professional career on of the sisters we used the classical qualitative method of embedded theory. This method allowed, within a qualitative analysis, the integration of the data acquired thanks to the interviewing technique with the nursing officers in university hospitals. The selection of the respondents was carried out combining two methods: intentional choice by means of the institution, snowball and specific choice. On the basis of the data analysis we created a model of professional paradigm. According to the first model a sister goes through several phases of professional career that we have called strategies of choosing profession, circle (changing nursing professions and workplaces), virtue of necessity (a situation when a nurse bringing up a child opts for a workplace with a regime that permits taking care for the child), and embedding in a nursing profession. According to the second model the embedding happens right after finishing the qualification education. The managerial career devolves on embedding in the profession. A nurse becomes a shift chief or a deputy matron, a matron and finally a nursing officer. In the lives on nursing officers we discovered factors which predispose them to a managerial position. At this position nursing officers use a combination of managerial strategies: authoritative, democratic and consultative. The theoretical model of professional paradigm of nursing officers provides opportunities for other research in which we will be able to check out, to verify or to falsify some segments, e.g. the course of professional growth of nurses and their managerial styles. |
The use of cats in zootherapyHealth and Social Sciences - ReviewPavla Kohoutová, Ivana GardiánováKontakt 2013, 15(3):282-288 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.034 This article is mainly focused on clarification of issues concerning the use of cats in zootherapy, it describes used methods of therapy in the Czech Republic and informs about organizations dealing with the use of cats in the Czech Republic. It summarizes the principles of choosing the individuals for feline therapy and for selection of clients. It also focuses on health aspects of work with cats. Feline assisted therapy is a therapeutic interaction between a cat and a human. Only so-called AAT (Animal-Assisted Therapy, therapy with the use of animals) should be put there, but in the Czech Republic the term of feline assisted therapy also includes other activities with a cat in zoorehabilitation, not only therapy with the use of animals, but also AAA (Animal-Assisted Activities, activities with the use of animals) or AAE (Animal-Assisted Education, education with the help of animals) or AACR (Animal-Assisted Crisis Response, crisis intervention with the help of animals). In the Czech Republic mainly dogs and horses dominate in therapies, however, also cats and other animal species are used with success. There are other forms of feline assisted therapy, e.g. service for visiting homes, puppet fairy tales with animals, when, in addition to cats, also other animal species can be used. Also permanent placing of a cat with the client is possible, but in the Czech Republic still rather unused. The article describes a number of breeds, some of them are preferable, others less suitable but it is important to take into account the nature of a cat, the gender of each animal and to take into consideration other aspects of the use of cats. Feline assisted therapy, as opposed to the use of other animal species for medical purposes is not too widespread in the Czech Republic. |
Determinants of allotment and the amount of housing allowanceHealth and Social Sciences - Original articleRenata Petrášková, Hana FrancováKontakt 2013, 15(3):305-313 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.036 Housing is an essential human need and a key element for social, economic and cultural development in every society. A state shall form housing policy with clear objectives and ensure tools for its implementation. The translated text deals with problems of housing allowance according to the Act on State Social Support - one of the instruments of housing policy in the Czech Republic whose purpose is to contribute households to their expenses connected with housing. The importance of a housing allowance is indisputable, especially because it supports mobility of a household and its possibility to find an adequate housing, especially in the sphere of rental sector. The authors of this research project propose to find out the factors which influence the amount of housing allowance and development of new applications for housing allowance in 2008-10. At the same time, the subject of their interest is to map the amount of financial means paid out to housing allowance in the mentioned period. To achieve these goals the technology of secondary data analysis was applied, whereas the experimental file was formed by all the applicants for housing allowance in 2008-10 in the Employment Office in České Budějovice. Pursuant to the results a number of members in one household can be identified as a significant factor influencing the amount of housing allowance. Further it is possible to state that the number of applications for housing allowance as well as the volume of paid out financial means connected with this social benefit significantly increased in the monitored period. Regarding the coming socioeconomic development it is possible to predict, that the importance of a housing allowance will rise. |
Possibilities of shock wave usage in physiotherapyBiomedicine - Original articleJan Novák, Marek ZemanKontakt 2013, 15(3):330-340 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.039 Apart from a few expert works there is still lack of literature in the Czech language summarizing theoretical information on the effect of the shock wave treatment. The contribution presents an explanation of the basic physical principles of the origin and diffusion of shock waves, and it also presents a complex summary of the most common possibilities of the shock wave usage in the scope of physiotherapy. Specifically it regards the following diagnosis: epicondylitis radialis humeri (tennis elbow), epicondylitis ulnaris humeri (javelin throwers elbow), calcar calcanei (heel spur), and plantar fasciitis, shoulder tendinopathy with possible calcification, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy and trigger points. |
Cantharidin: natural bioactive molecule with a long historyBiomedicine - ReviewJiří Patočka, Kamil KučaKontakt 2013, 15(4):463-469 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.054 Cantharidin, a vesicant produced by insects in the order Coleoptera, has a long history both in folk and traditional medicine. Cantharidin, terpenoid of 7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]-heptane type, is a poisonous chemical compound secreted by many species of blister beetle (Meloidae), and most notably by the Spanish fly, Lytta vesicatoria. In dermatology, diluted solutions of cantharidin can be used as a topical medication for the treatment of benign epithelial growths: to remove warts and to treat the small papules of Molluscum contagiosum. The potential of cantharidin for adverse effects has led to its inclusion in a list of hazardous drugs. The extreme risk in acute toxicity of cantharidin makes any use as an aphrodisiac. It is highly dangerous because it can easily cause death. As a result, it is illegal to use cantharidin for this purpose in many countries. Nevertheless, according to new clinical results, cantharidin is a safe and valuable medication and should be readded to the dermatologic therapeutic armamentarium. In addition to topical medical applications, cantharidin, as well as its some analogues (mainly norcantharidin), show potential anticancer activities. Laboratory studies with cultured tumor cell lines suggest that this activity may relate to inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A, a specific serine/threonine phosphatase that can dephosphorylate multiple kinases. It is generally considered to be a cancer suppressor and its inhibition can induce phosphorylation and activation of substrate kinases that mainly accelerate growth. Cantharidin has shown potent anticancer activities on human cancer cells. It induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in many types of cancer cells. |
Overall screening of audition in newborns at Department of Neonatology, Hospital České BudějoviceBiomedicinePetra Hlavničková, Milan Hanzl, Jaroslava TomáškováKontakt 2009, 11(1):72-75 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.010 Screening of hearing defects in all the newborns is already being performed in most EU countries and in remaining countries its preparation is under way. The Czech Republic is also currently in this stage, where the nation-wide screening of the audition has not yet been ordered by law, e.g. in contrast to the Slovak Republic. All the perinatological centres provide screening of immature and risk newborns, but screening of the population of physiologic newborns is restricted to individual institutions only. This is rather due to personal problems of the examination (lack of personnel and considerable working load) than technical problems (instrumentation). At a level of particular regions, the overall screening is not provided in any region of the Czech Republic. The target of the screening was to establish diagnosis of severe hearing defects or further problems and to start timely the treatment or possibly to provide the child with suitable care necessary for the development of his/her communication. |
Management of nursing care for people with special needs in a communityPotřeba rozvoje ošetřovatelské komunitní péčeAndrea Solgajová, Miroslava LíškováKontakt 2009, 11(1):137-141 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.025 The term people with functional handicaps or people with special needs characterizes an individual and his/her specific features by a more positive concept compared with the negativistic concept of an individual considered as involved, defective or handicapped. The person with functional involvements, (which can either be somatic, sensory and mental ones or concern communication functions) cannot eliminate the disorder, but the fact, whether he/she will be handicapped, disadvantaged in all aspects or only in certain aspects of his/her life, depends on attitudes and activity of the society which he/she is living in. |
Importance of the screening in tumour-diseases preventionPotřeba rozvoje ošetřovatelské komunitní péčePapp Katalin, Valérie TóthováKontakt 2009, 11(1):169-174 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.031 The unfavourable health conditions of Hungarian population are known in Europe and over the world as well. The ratio of mortality by malignant tumours in our country is way over the European average. In Hungary, mortality ratio of cervix cancer in 3.5 times, that of cancer of lungs is 2.5 times higher, than the European average. Mortality of tumours diseases in Hungary in highest for women in cases of lungs, colorectal or breast; for men of lungs, colorectal, lips and mouth, or prostate. Approximately 67 000 new malignant tumours cases are registered yearly in Hungary and about 33 500 people die through some malignant tumours disease. The preventions have to be very effective and operative. We involved to our research 120 people how they apply for the screening test. We can tell mostly know the national screening system, but the application is not enough. The health workers have to give more information about the prevention of the tumours. |
Mobile Communication and University StudentsPotřeba rozvoje ošetřovatelské komunitní péčeViera Jakušová, Mária KilíkováKontakt 2009, 11(1):178-186 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.033 With the development of science and technology in the field of telecommunication tools, the problem of the massive use of mobile phones became very topical. Due to increasing requirements for the prevention, support and protection of public health, we decided to focus the interest of university students on the given problem, enhancing their ability to consider in qualified manner the health risks, and be able to present the recommendations for the population. In 165 students of the study programme Nursing at the Komenský University, Jessenius Medical Faculty in Martin and University of Health and Social Study of St. Alžbeta in Bratislava (branch in Prešov), an anonymous questionnaire was employed in order to search their knowledge concerning the physical principle, biological effects and possibilities of the prevention of possible adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the mobile phones. The questionnaire also included informational questions concerning the type and frequency of using the mobile phone. Our findings indicate that in the group evaluated, 164 (99.4%) students used mobile phones; 73 (44.5%) had calls exceeding 10 min daily. The university students have adequate theoretical knowledge concerning the physical principle and characteristics of electromagnetic radiation, but they miss knowledge about the safe use of mobile phone (e. g. in risky patients with implanted cardiostimulator, in the use of mobile phone by children, etc.). |
The use of traditional Chinese medicine by members of Chinese and Vietnamese minoritiesOšetřovatelská péče orientovaná na zdraví minorit a subkulturLucie Rolantová, Valérie TóthováKontakt 2009, 11(1):201-209 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.036 The traditional Chinese medicine is one of oldest medicinal methods in the world. The complex treatment with the help of traditional Chinese medicine includes several treatment procedures depending on needs of a given person, which are always individual. In therapeutic procedures, phytotherapy, i.e. treatment with herbs, is prevalent. This actually forms roots, which the traditional Chinese medicine is growing from. The treatment methods furthermore include the acupressure, acupuncture, use of moxa, adjustment of food, physical exercise and method of attaching flasks. |
Ethical and legal aspects of euthanasiaEticko - filozofické aspekty v péči o zdravíEva ProškováKontakt 2009, 11(1):257-265 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.043 The target of the contribution was to summarize basic ethical problems concerning euthanasia and legal answers to these questions and thus, to bring a contribution to the topical social discussion revived by a proposal of a law by the senator Domšová. In addition to the description of the situation in the Czech Republic, it also deals with comparison of foreign legal arrangements. Ethical values are investigated from the standpoint of basic human rights as expressed in the constitutional basis of the Czech law. Particular situations associated with euthanasia sensu lato are differentiated and described, including assisted suicide, respecting formerly expressed will (refusal of life-saving treatment) or death as not intended (though if admitted) consequence of the treatment of pain. The work was elaborated by a method of the available literature research and internet sources, legal regulations and their drafts with the use of published and repeated investigations of the Centre for the Research of Public Opinions. |
Quantification of nursing personnel and its qualification structure at the Department of Neurology, Hospital České Budějovice, a. s.NursingDarja Kavková, Iva Brabcová, Jiřina OtáskováKontakt 2009, 11(2):301-309 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.049 The article acquaints readers with results of research examination, which was focused on determining the required number and qualification structure of the nursing personnel at the neurological department of the Hospital České Budějovice, a. s. The research was implemented from 23. 2. 2009 to 20. 3. 2009 with the use of the "Methods for establishing the number and qualification structure of nursing personnel at standard nursing units for adults at internal, surgical, gynaecological and obstetric departments, in nursing and staying beds as a starting point for establishing a standard for personnel required at each working site" by the authors Karla and Otakar Pochylý. The research group included nursing personnel of the neurological department, Hospital České Budějovice, a. s. The neurological department has a capacity of 36 beds. For the period of the research examination, on average 32.8 patients were hospitalized, which means a 91.1% utilization of the total capacity. The average total working time of the nursing personnel at the neurological department for the period of interest was of 76.2 hours. The nursing professionals at the department of neurology includes 19 members, out of them 15 members working without expert supervision and 4 members (without A levels) working under expert supervision. Based on the method chosen, 18 members of the nursing personnel are necessary. The recommended qualification structure of the nursing personnel is as follows: 9.7 healthcare professionals performing the occupation without expert supervision (with A levels) and 8.3 healthcare professionals without the A levels working under an expert supervision. In accordance with Regulation of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic No. 493/2005, which published a list of healthcare output with point values in wording of later regulations, the number of nursing professionals at this department is of 13.5. Out of this, 9.9 members working without expert supervision (with A levels) and 3.6 members working under expert supervision (without A levels). |
Standpoints of modern man concerning dying and deathNursingMária HomolováKontakt 2009, 11(2):328-332 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.052 The expert as well as lay consideration of conditions of dying is currently critical. Dying in hospitals is unsatisfactory. Appropriate possibilities have not yet been established for dying in hospice institutions and in the hospice care. Still persisting transfer of a patient into a social institution is an unpleasant variant of taking care of a dying person. |
Pathogenesis of ulcus crurisBiomedicineJozef Beláček, Ján Jakubovský, Eliška Kubíková, Olia Elhassoun, Jozef NovotnýKontakt 2009, 11(2):459-464 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.069 Citizens of the consumption society suffer from a lack of movement activities, have bad nutritional habits and other problems. Ulcus cruris also belong to consequences of the bad style of life. It is of a considerable interest to clinical as well as academic specialists. The disease of a complex nature forms a considerable civilization load to the population. By its risk nature, it deteriorates the quality of life of the person involved. Ulcus cruris presents a serious sociological-economic problem particularly involving inhabitants of economically advanced countries. This severity is based on the chronic course of the disease and also tediousness of the treatment. The worst type of chronic insufficiency of veins makes about 57 - 80% of causes of all the long-healing wounds. Ulcers on arterial basis account for 4 - 30% and mixed arterial-venous ulcers for about 10 - 15%. The latter ones occur in 6 - 19% of cases. The main cause is stagnation of the blood in veins of the limb involved, rarely disorders of the arterial flow. Thus, ulcus cruris venosum is considered as the third stage of the chronic stagnation of the blood in veins. Common forms of blood flow disorders include chronic compartment syndrome, which is concealed under circulation disorders. Thus, it should be detected as soon as possible with the aim to prevent further damage to the tissue. It is also a cause of considerable complications of cardiovascular diseases. Poor regimen as well as diseased style of life, in addition to other risk factors, bring a vicious circle for the involved person as well as for his/her surroundings. Thus, they are all-society problems playing a considerable role according to the World Health Organization in their document Health 21. The progress in solving the problems of ulcus cruris in further years particularly brings widened knowledge about intercellular relationships, intercellular mass and mediators implementing these relationships. This knowledge can considerably contribute to the treatment of the persons involved. In the work presented here, we are pointing out the fact that improved theoretical knowledge will bring contributions to diagnostics, therapy and mainly prevention of this severe disease. |
Human trafficking matters: Next stepsEditorialMark A. SmallKontakt 2015, 17(2):e65-e66 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2015.04.003 |
Selected aspects of transportation services in country areas of the counties of Písek and TáborHealth and Social SciencesMarie Drlíková, Zuzana TupáKontakt 2005, 7(3-4):298-304 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2005.058 Transportation services belong to main assumptions of a harmonic development of the territory in the sense of the Czech Republic transportation policy that includes necessary support to the public transportation against the individual transportation and improvement of the quality of the public transportation of persons. The importance of the frequency of bus and rail connections is principally reflected into the bases of the social stability of country areas. However, the transportation services in country areas have long been subjected to criticism. |
Epothilones - new anti-cancer medicinesBiomedicineJiří Patočka, Zdeněk HonKontakt 2007, 9(2):403-406 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2007.061 Epothilones are a new group of cytotoxic molecules, originally identified as metabolites produced by the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum. Clinical success of paclitaxel and docetaxel stimulated the research of further substances with the same mechanism of effects and resulted in discovering three new types of natural substances of non-taxane type: Epothilones A and B from a soil bacterium, discodermolide from a sponge and eleutherobines and sarcodictyines from corals. All the three groups of substances stabilize microtubules and competitively inhibit the bond of paclitaxel to polymers of tubulin, which suggests that their binding sites are the same. Epothilones are natural substances stabilizing microtubules with strong in vivo and in vitro anti-cancer activity. Thus, epothilones were considered as potential chemotherapeutic drugs due to their intervention into the cytoskeleton. Recent studies in cancer cell lines and in humans with cancer diseases indicate their higher efficacy compared with taxanes. The mechanism of their effects is similar to that of taxanes, but their chemical structure is simpler and their solubility in water is higher. In addition, epothilones may be prepared in large amounts by the fermentation of bacteria and they also exert activities against cell lines and tumours, which are resistant to many other drugs. Due to their high activity and to clinical requirements for the treatment of cancer, epothilones are targets of many studies. The purpose of the present article is to familiarize Czech readers with problems of epothilones. |
Contents validation of nursing diagnosis "Fear"NursingRenáta Zeleníková, Yvetta Vrublová, Darja Jarošová, Katarína ŽiakováKontakt 2012, 14(1):30-38 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.005 In the NANDA-International classification system, the nursing diagnosis "Fear" (code 00148) is included in the Domain 9: Stress management. It is defined as an emotional reaction to a threat, which is perceived as a danger and contains 34 defining characteristics. |
Evaluation of mentors in view of nursing studentsNursingVěra Šrubařová, Renáta ZeleníkováKontakt 2012, 14(2):137-144 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.015 Clinical practice is an important part of the qualification study of nursing, which is performed under professional supervision of mentors. The evaluation of mentors brings a contribution to determining the monitoring efficacy. |
Prostitution as a profession (View of women working in sex-business)Health and Social Sciences - Original articleAlena Kajanová, Milena MutlováKontakt 2012, 14(2):171-176 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.019 The article deals with perceiving sex-business by the women involved who consider they form of income as a profession. It has been compiled in terms of their narrative testimonies which made them possible to provide appropriate self-evaluation and detachment. In the theoretical elimination, we characterized prostitution in the contemporary public as well as professional discourse, where sex-business is perceived as socially pathological phenomenon and the prostitution is not accepted as a legal profession. Thereafter, we mention forms of the prostitution and reasons for entering the sex-business environment. |
Anxiolytics of natural origin II. Exotic plantsBiomedicine - ReviewZdeňka NavrátilováKontakt 2012, 14(2):200-217 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.022 The article presented here is being published next to the previous article Anxiolytics of natural Origin I, which discussed plants originally occurring in the Czech Republic and plants cultivated othere. The second part summarizes knowledge concerning plants, which are neither original nor commonly cultivated in the Czech Republic. These are the species as follows: Atractylodes macrocephala, Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiatica, Citrus spp., Clitoria ternatea, Echium amoenum, Erythrina mulungu, Morinda citrifolia, Myristica fragrans, Ocimum sanctum, Panax spp., Passiflora incarnata, Piper methysticum, Sceletium tortuosum, Withania somnifera, Zingiber officinale and Ziziphus jujuba. These plants have been used in traditional medicine in areas of their original occurrence for the treatment of different disorders including anxiety and sleeplessness. These plants are currently subjected to a number of scientific studies, which frequently support the presence of medicinal effects. In some of these plants, only preliminary results are available and further research is needed including preclinical studies in animals and subsequently clinical trials. A further research of active substances of these plants and mechanism of their action on the organism can result in the development of new products for the treatment of anxiety disorders and further mental diseases. Mental problems currently widely occur in the population and thus, the research is promising. In tropical and sparingly explored regions, there are definitely a number of further plants with anxiolytic and sedative effects and thus, further ethno-botanical and ethno-pharmacological research of plants employed in traditional medicine in these regions is of importance. The protection of biodiversity, particularly in tropical rainforest inhabited by many plants and animals, which can serve as a source of still unknown biologically active substances is also of a great importance. |
Asthma bronchiale and smokingBiomedicine - ReviewDana LaukováKontakt 2012, 14(2):218-230 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.023 Effects of active as well as passive smoking are frequently marginally described in terms of possible development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CHOPD). According to the World Health Organization, there are 1.25 milliard smokers worldwide; two thirds of them live in developing countries. There are a number of advanced countries, where at least two thirds of adults are smokers. The smokers mainly include people with low income and low level of education. The assessment of real effects of smoking on asthmatic patients is thus complicated. Trials, which did not exclude smoking asthmatic patients from the research, supported a strong association with the non-atopic type of asthma bronchiale. Smoking of pregnant women increased the rate of occurrence of the asthma development in their children by a factor of 2.5 compared to non-smoking mothers. Active as well as passive smoking also affects the diagnostics and management of the asthma treatment. For example, it causes a reduction in nitrogen oxide (NO) in the air expired. Reduced concentrations of eosinophilous cationic protein in the sputum, increase in neutrophils, macrophages and CD8+ cells in the broncho-alveolar lavage liquid and increased counts of neutrophils, alveolar macrophages, mastocytes and eosinophils in the airway wall were also observed. Smoking modifies inflammatory manifestations typical for asthma. It causes changes in the theophylline metabolism (reduction) and development of corticoresistance. The mechanism of the resistance to corticosteroids has not yet been explained, but it can be caused by a damage to phenotypes of inflammatory cells in the airways, changes in the expression of glucocorticoid receptors (for example enhancement of the glucocorticoid ß-receptor expression) and increase in the activation of inflammatory transcription factors (for example nuclear κB-factor) or reduction in the activity of histone deacetylase. Asthmatic symptoms and their frequency can be thus worsened and the general management of the bronchial asthma treatment becomes more complicated and expensive in smokers. |
How to compensate families for the VAT unification: to reduce tax in employed people or to increase allowances in the poorest ones?Health and Social Sciences - ReviewPetr Janský, Klára KalíškováKontakt 2012, 14(3):340-352 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.036 Social and tax policies in the Czech Republic are interconnected in a number of dimensions including the redistribution and thus, they considerably participate in the measure of the redistribution. In the article presented here, we analyze particular interactions between social and tax policies with a regard to changes in the measure of the redistribution and with putting emphasize on planned changes in the value added tax (VAT) and policies aimed at supporting families and children. In the main part of the article, we estimate impacts of compensations for the VAT unification in families with children to be of 17.5% and evaluate an increase in the tax reduction by 150 CZK per child monthly since 2012 and possible alternatives. In this way, we present an extension and continuation of estimates of impacts of the VAT unification at 17.5% in IDAE studies at CERGE-EI, which will reduce realistic incomes of households on average by about 0.8%, i.e. 200 CZK monthly during a long-term period. According to our estimate, compensatory provisions of the government would reduce the proportion of households negatively affected by the VAT unification from 80 to 65% and the drop in realistic incomes would be essentially compensated in families with children (households with children would lose 35 CZK monthly on average). However, the increase in the tax reduction does not sufficiently compensate the poorest families, since it mainly helps families with employed parents. The main advantage of this mechanism is, however, the fact that it affects a great proportion of households with children in general. We furthermore analyze the increase in children's allowances as an alternative form of the compensation of families with children. It would more positively affect the poorest families, but it exerts impacts on a lower percentage of families with children. A combination of the increase in the tax reduction per child by 120 CZK and increase in children's allowances by 115 CZK makes it possible to combine advantages of the two compensatory mechanisms without changing costs paid from the state budget compared to the governmental proposal of the increase in the reduction in tax per child by 150 CZK. This combined proposal at least partially compensates 99% of all the families with children and sufficiently protects even the poorest families. |
Parents' awareness of children rightsHealth and Social Sciences - Original articleJana StejskalováKontakt 2012, 14(3):362-368 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.038 The article acquaints the reader with the theme of the parents' awareness of children rights in the sense of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The article describes a research, in which parents of children attending the primary school answered questions related to the theme of children rights - whether they have participated in activities associated with this theme and how they implement rights of children in certain model situations. The parents expressed the measure of satisfaction with the child education and with possibilities of the cultural and sport enjoyment at their place of residence too. In addition, the article brings a comparison of results with a study implemented in Italy and Spain. This comparison suggests that Czech respondents more frequently completely agree with a statement that children can rightfully express their opinions. In the question concerning the child independence, the parents most frequently agree that their children can choose their friends based on their own consideration, write privately their diary, make phone calls without parent control and fulfil home tasks. |
It is very helpful that they do not understand our language: suggestive and manipulative elements in behaviour of medieval physiciansHealth and Social Sciences - Original articleZdeněk ŽaludKontakt 2012, 14(4):475-484 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.047 History of medicine cannot be understood as history of "progress" only, but also as history of persisting stereotypes, particularly in the relationship morals of the physician - morals of the patient. In the Middle Age, there was no uniform legal environment, which could warrant standards of the medical profession; there was an enormous competition between physicians educated at universities and further medical practitioners. Rulers usually did not interfere with this condition and the protection of patients was provided to a certain extent by medical faculties only based on the principle of guilds. Graduated physicians purposefully established their position of experts not only based on their knowledge and medical skill but also by psychological techniques including the lie, suggestions and manipulations. In this way, they fulfilled the expectation of patients to a certain extent (they created their medical charisma), but first of all, they intended to make good impression and gain the trust of patients and sometimes also necessary information on their clients. This can be documented in medieval documents focused on medical deontology. One of them is an essentially harmless text of an unknown physician from Salerno: About coming of a physician to his patient. To prevent threatening the medical authority by a client, texts of warning or social-preventive nature termed cautelae (preventive provisions) were written. In the present article, I discuss a treatise of preventive nature by Nicolao Bertrucio named Ten preventive medicinal provisions, in which we can find several clearly suggestively focused directions; the physician's fees are also discussed there. As to the number of suggestive and manipulative elements, there are, however, prominent preventive provisions by Arnald de Villanova aimed at a person who brings to the physician the urine for uroscopy. The physician should obtain from this person as much information concerning the patient as possible with the help of tricks, lies and suggestions. There is an important medical superiority over noneducated people, prevention of deception (other liquid can be submitted instead of the urine) and systematic strengthening of the authority, even on account of degradation of clients. There is a question concerning the usual nature of this behaviour during uroscopy and how much these authoritative attitudes of educated physicians affected the public and the competition from other medical practitioners. |
Methods of detection and identification of mouldsBiomedicine - ReviewVlastimil Dohnal, Daniel JunKontakt 2012, 14(4):497-504 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2012.049 Fibrous micromycetes (moulds) can negatively affect the human or animal health, either as parasites or organisms producing toxic secondary metabolites or due to reducing the nutritional quality of the food contaminated. These facts call for necessary development of new rapid detection techniques, which will be able to reveal the presence of moulds at just the right time. |

