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Journal Article 2016; 37(Suppl 1): 33-37 PubMed PMID: 28263528 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Czech Republic, Environmental Pollution:legislation & jurisprudence, Metals, Heavy, Military Personnel, Risk Assessment, Rivers, Trout, Water Pollutants, Chemical,.   

OBJECTIVES: This study to assess the environmental pollution status in streams (Loutecky, Spicak, Olsina, Trebovicky, Polecnicky and Luzny) from the Boletice area.

DESIGN: Were determined of some metal (Hg, Pb, Cd) concentrations in the muscle and correlations among selected metals as well as standard length and total weight in brown trouth - Salmo trutta morpha fario.

RESULTS: The contents of the analyzed metals in muscles were Hg 0.19-0.72, Pb 0.01-0.6 and Cd 0.020-0.083 mg/kg wet weight basis and these concentrations did not exceed the limits admissible in the Czech Republic.

CONCLUSIONS: The Czech republic permissible limit for Hg (0.5 mg/kg to omnivors, 1 mg/kg to predators), Pb (0.3 mg/kg) and Cd (0.05 mg/kg) defined in the Codex Alimentarius for safe human consumption exceeded in 6%, 3%, and 0% of analyzed samples for Hg, Pb and Cd respectively. On an average, the order of metal concentrations in the fish muscle was: Hg>Pb>Cd.

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Journal Article 2014; 35(1): 58-63 PubMed PMID: 24625912 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Anxiety:etiology, Biomarkers:blood, Blood-Brain Barrier:metabolism, Cell Membrane Permeability:physiology, Depression:etiology, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Inflammation:etiology, Interleukin-6:blood, Male, Military Personnel, Rest:physiology, S10.   

BACKGROUND: Experimental data suggest stress-related cognitive dysfunction may be associated with increased blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability secondary to immune activation.

METHODS: We investigated the relationship between prolonged and intense physical and psychological combat-training stress, immune activation and blood-brain-barrier permeability in 37 healthy male army medical rapid response troops.

RESULTS: Soldiers during intense combat training showed greater self-reported stress, anxiety and depression levels than at rest, as assessed by specific questionnaires. S100B, a marker of BBB permeability, as well as serum cortisol, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations, were significantly increased in soldiers during combat training compared to rest (all p<0.05). Serum S100B correlated negatively with morning serum cortisol in soldiers during combat training, but not during the rest period (r=-0.387, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: We conclude that combat training inducing significant levels of stress, depression and anxiety is accompanied by evidence of increased blood-brain barrier permeability and by increases in systemic pro-inflammatory mediators....

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Journal Article 2013; 34(8): 814-820 PubMed PMID: 24522024 Citation  Keywords:  Body Height, Body Mass Index, Humans, Male, Military Personnel:statistics & numerical data, Obesity:epidemiology, Poland:epidemiology, Prevalence, Retrospective Studies, Rural Population:statistics & numerical data, Thinness:epidemiology, Urban Population.   

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate secular trends in body mass index among the young military population. This involved a comparison of changes in the body mass index (BMI) and height among 19-year-old males from 11 successive birth cohorts.

DESIGN: Samples of a total of 37,934 conscripts between 2000 and 2010 were examined using the BMI defined as weight (kg)/ height (m2).

SETTING: The analysis included each medical record for all recruits reporting for examination between 2000 and 2010 to the Military Headquarters in south-east of Poland. Underweight, overweight and obesity were estimated according to World Health Organization criteria. Means of the BMI, body mass and height were calculated for the following three subgroups: (1) rural resident; (2) urban resident (towns with population of 10,000+); and, (3) urban resident (cities with populations of 100,000+).

RESULTS: Secular trends in body mass index have changed significantly between 2000 and 2010. A statistically significant increase in both the prevalence of overweight (10.5% to 15.6%) and obesity (2.5% to 3.8%) were observed. However, the prevalence of underweight also increased from 8.3% to 10.2%.

CONCLUSIONS: Secular trends in BMI have been unfavourable for the military population over the last 10 years studied and, therefore, the need for promotion of health among recruits is very important....

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Journal Article 2012; 33(2): 224-235 PubMed PMID: 22592206 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Estrogens:blood, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Intelligence:physiology, Intelligence Tests:statistics & numerical data, Male, Memory:physiology, Mental Disorders:blood, Military Personnel:psychology, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales:statist.   

BACKGROUND: Cortisol, along with other hormones of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, belongs to one of the main factors influencing psychological and pathognomic factors, intelligence, and memory.

METHODS: The aim of our study was to review a large battery of psychological, performance, IQ and memory tests as to their relation with cortisol, testosterone and estrogen levels in groups of 100 men and 93 women who attended the Central Military Hospital in Prague for regular entrance psychological examinations for military personnel.

RESULTS: In men, we detected positive correlations between cortisol and emotional lability, and negative correlations with impulsivity, while in women hypochondria and psychopathology were negatively correlated, and aggression measured with the Meili selective memory test had a positive relation to cortisol level. Testosterone correlated positively with emotional liability and negatively with impulsivity in men, and negatively with hypochondria and psychasteny, indirect aggression, irritability and paranoia in women. Estradiol correlated positively with psychopathology in men, and negatively with phobia. It was positively correlated with negativism in women. No clear correlation was observed between the concentration of steroid hormones and psychomotor performance or intelligence.

CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of steroid hormones correlate with results of several psychological tests, the sign and magnitude of these correlations, however, very often differ in military men and women....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(Suppl 2): 120-123 PubMed PMID: 21187818 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Ascorbic Acid:blood, Carotenoids:blood, Czech Republic, Diet, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Military Personnel, Nutritional Status, Vitamin A:blood, Vitamins:blood, alpha-Tocopherol:blood, beta Carotene:blood,.   

OBJECTIVES: The work objective was to monitor nutritional habits in the observed group of professional soldiers with the focus on eating food with the content of antioxidant carriers. Then to show present state of health and nutrition in the group on the basis of anthropometric measurements and biochemical examinations and finally to observe the level of antioxidant vitamins in the observed group of professional soldiers.

METHODS: The group included 171 healthy individuals, 152 men and 19 women. Their average age was 34.2±7.9 years. The venous blood was taken for biochemical examinations in all individuals on a fast. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, caliperation, waist circumferences), blood pressure and pulse were taken continually in all individuals. Simple questionnaires were administered to all participants for the complete evaluation of present health and for the registration of eating habits of the observed persons.

RESULTS: The study results show that retinol and a-tocoferol levels in the observed group were within a normal range. The average concentration of vitamin C in this group was 54 mmol/l and reached nearly the values given in other European countries. But concentrations of β-caroten and lycopen in serum were up to 50% lower in comparison with concentrations in population in the countries of West Europe. Higher vitamin C and β caroten serum levels were found in individuals who respond in a questionnaire they eat fruit and vegetables or supplements of vitamin preparations every day. Statistically lower levels of vitamin C, β karoten and lycopen in the group of obese people (compared with the group of normal weight people) show decreased level of antioxidant protection of the organism and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that it is necessary to ensure optimal food not only with an energetic diet value but also with a proper input of antioxidant carriers in the form of fresh vegetables and fruit every day....

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Clinical Trial 2003; 24(3-4): 197-202 PubMed PMID: 14523357 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Anxiety:physiopathology, Blood Pressure:physiology, Conflict (Psychology), Heart Rate:physiology, Hemodynamics:physiology, Hormones:blood, Human Growth Hormone:blood, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, MMPI, Military P.   

OBJECTIVES: Pilots are exposed to the "stress of flight" and the chronically activated stress response may play an important role in circulatory system disease progression. We studied the effect of an experimental mental stress on cardiovascular and neuroendocrine activity, in Air Force Academy cadets, before and after one month intensive course.

DESIGN: Nine cadets were submitted to a psychometric evaluation before Stroop test (ST), including Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI X1 and X2 form) and Reaction Scheme Test. After ST, subjects completed a STAI X1 form. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were monitored and serum prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol levels were determined, during ST. The protocol was repeated at the end of the course.

RESULTS: No significant differences were evident in PRL, GH and ACTH levels. Cortisol concentrations were significantly higher before the course. ST did not modify hormone secretion. ST induced a significant and reproducible elevation of HR and SBP. Basal HR, SBP and DBP values were significantly elevated after the course. Two subjects presented a particular psychometric profile, a different cardiovascular response to ST and did not pass the course.

CONCLUSIONS: acute mental stress significantly activated cardiovascular response without modifying endocrine responses, in relation to the psychological profiles. A significant increase of cardiovascular parameters was present after the course, with enhanced dichotomy between the endocrine and sympathetic system, suggesting a careful evaluation and follow-up for circulatory system diseases in cadets....

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