<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Biofeedback is a therapeutic method of obtaining better awareness of physiological functions based on principles of operant conditioning and learning in general. While patient observes changes in physiological parameters in real-time (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate variability, temperature, electrodermal activity, etc.), he/she learns how to manipulate them at will. By means of this technique, individuals can improve their mental, emotional, and physical health. Clinical biofeedback training becomes popular for treating a variety of medical conditions, manage ment of disease symptoms, and improvement of overall health through training of stress management. There is no center or group to systematically deal with biofeedback methods in Slovakia, except the Slovak Institute of CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) that teaches biofeedback as a therapeutic method. However, biofeedback and its opportunities have a relatively long history of exploration and practice, which is the best precondition for positive changes in this area. The review article aims to provide an insight to biofeedback training as a non-pharmacological therapeutic tool in stress management and stress-related diseases and disorders. The article also describes biofeedback modalities and efficacy on various medical conditions.
</abstract>

Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Biofeedback – A Promising Non Pharmacological Tool of Stress – Related Disorders

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Asthma is a heterogenous disease which pathophysiology is still poorly understood. Asthma was traditionally divided into allergic (extrinsic) and non-allergic (intrinsic) types, while patients with allergic type responded better to corticosteroids. Since 2013 the definition of asthma has changed. Recently, better insight into clinical consi -derations and underlying inflammatory phenotypes has been gained. Defining these phenotypes has already led to more specific clinical trials and, therefore, to more personalized and successfully targeted therapy. For future, much more effort is put in identifying new phenotype-specific biomarkers which could be helpful in stratification of heterogeneous patients with asthma.
</abstract>

Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Bronchial Asthma: Current Trends in Treatment

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Introduction:</bold> <italic>Clostridium difficile</italic> infection (CDI) is the most common infectious cause of diarrhoea in hospitalised patients. It is a severe issue with increasing incidence in healtcare facilities and commmunities. Early and appropriate testing of CDI is very imortant. There are many different approaches that can be used in the CDI laboratory diagnostics. Recently performed studies evaluated diagnostic algorithms to optimize laboratory CDI diagnostics. The aim of the work was to implement an optimal algorithm of testing methods in CDI diagnostics.
<bold>Materials and methods:</bold> The retrospective analysis of patients’ samples suspected on CDI was carried out in 2017. The data was analysed from the Laboratory Klinicka Biochemia in Zilina. The application of ESCMID re -commendation criteria for algorithm of testing, together with procedures in laboratory practice was carried out.
<bold>Results:</bold> The analysis of the data showed that the applied algorithm or testing in CDI and highlighted the importance of preanalytic phase, and the evaluation of testing methods and results, together with clinical findings. Two- and three- step algorithm together with cultivation methods were applied. 87,6% of samples could be eva -luated with positive or negative results according to the 2-step algorhitm. Further samples were assessed and tested by ELISA test or PCR method.
<bold>Conclusion:</bold> CDI represents a significant burden in healthcare facilities. An early diagnostics and interpretation helps to start the early treatment and helps in surveillence of the infection.
</abstract>

Department of Microbiology and Imunology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

New Approaches to Diagnostics of <italic>C.Difficile</italic> Infection

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Safety climate consists of individual dimensions that might be assessed using specific instruments, e.g., the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS). Establishing the safety climate in healthcare facilities leads to improvements in patient safety.
<bold>Aim:</bold> To assess the safety climate at university hospitals in the Slovak Republic from the nurses’ perspective and to determine the relationship between organisational variables and the particular components of the safety climate.
<bold>Methods:</bold> The study has a cross-sectional design. Data were collected using the HSOPS between December 2017 and July 2018. Two university hospitals participated in the study and overall 280 respondents were included. Respondents were recruited through the purposive sampling method. Data were analysed by descriptive and inductive statistics in the statistical programme SPSS 25.0.
<bold>Results:</bold> Results indicate that in the university hospitals there is a low-level of safety climate. The significant relationship was proved between organisational variables such as the experience in the current position, leaving intention, overtime, perception of staff adequacy, unit type, nurse-patient ratio, and the particular components of the safety climate.
<bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our findings may help hospital management to raise the awareness of the safety climate and to gain a sophisticated overview of the particular components of the safety climate. Adding new organisational variables may help to assess the safety climate from multiple perspectives and, thus, identify areas contributing to patient safety.
</abstract>

Department of Nursing, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Department of Nursing, 2nd Faculty of Medicine

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences

Assessment of the Safety Climate at University Hospitals in the Slovak Republic from the Nurses’ Perspective

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Malignancies in the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) area are mostly manifested by dysphagia, dysphonia, dyspnea, throat swelling, and other “traditional” head and neck symptoms. Sporadically, a primary tumor or metastasis can reach such a size and it can be localized in such an area in which it can cause the pathology of the brachial plexus. If this appears first, differential diagnosis may be more difficult.
In this article the authors review current literature knowledge and present the case of this unusual sign of a head and neck cancer at the Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, and Martin University Hospital, Martin, Slovakia.
</abstract>

Comenius University in Bratislava, and Martin University Hospital

Department of Pathological Anatomy, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin

Brachial Plexopathy as an Unusual First Sign of a Head and Neck Cancer: Case Report

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 24 (2024): Issue 1 (April 2024)

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 3 (December 2023)

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 2 (August 2023)

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 1 (April 2023)

Volume 22 (2022): Issue 3 (December 2022)

Volume 22 (2022): Issue 2 (August 2022)

Volume 22 (2022): Issue 1 (April 2022)

Volume 21 (2021): Issue 3 (December 2021)

Volume 21 (2021): Issue 2 (August 2021)

Volume 21 (2021): Issue 1 (March 2021)

Volume 20 (2020): Issue 3 (December 2020)

Volume 20 (2020): Issue 2 (August 2020)

Volume 20 (2020): Issue 1 (April 2020)

Volume 19 (2019): Issue 3 (December 2019)

Volume 19 (2019): Issue 2 (August 2019)

Volume 19 (2019): Issue 1 (April 2019)

Volume 18 (2018): Issue 3 (December 2018)

Volume 18 (2018): Issue 2 (August 2018)

Volume 18 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 17 (2017): Issue 3 (December 2017)

Volume 17 (2017): Issue 2 (August 2017)

Volume 17 (2017): Issue 1 (April 2017)

Volume 16 (2016): Issue 3 (December 2016)

Volume 16 (2016): Issue 2 (August 2016)

Volume 16 (2016): Issue 1 (April 2016)

Volume 15 (2015): Issue 3 (December 2015)

Volume 15 (2015): Issue 2 (September 2015)

Volume 15 (2015): Issue 1 (May 2015)

Volume 14 (2014): Issue 2 (September 2014)

Volume 14 (2014): Issue 1 (May 2014)

Volume 13 (2014): Issue 3 (February 2014)

Volume 13 (2013): Issue 2 (November 2013)

Volume 13 (2013): Issue 1 (March 2013)

Volume 13 (2013): Issue Supplement-1 (March 2013)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue Supplement-1 (February 2012)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue 3 (December 2012)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue 2 (August 2012)

Volume 12 (2012): Issue 1 (March 2012)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue Supplement-1 (March 2011)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue 3 (December 2011)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue 2 (August 2011)

Volume 11 (2011): Issue 1 (March 2011)

Acta Medica Martiniana

 Acta Medica Martiniana is a medical scientific journal, first published in print form in December 2001. It is a continuation of the journal / almanac Folia Medica Martiniana (1971 - 1996). The journal‘s owner is the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Slovakia. The aims and scope of the AMM:   Dissemination of research results and scientific knowledge from all areas of medicine and nursing.  Stimulation, facilitation and supporting of publication activity for the young medical research and clinical generation. The contributions of young novice authors (PhD students and post-doctorials) are particularly welcome.   Acta Medica Martiniana (AMM) publishes, and here only in English, high quality original papers (in extenso and short-rapid communications), case reports as well as review articles.  Acta Medica Martiniana is an open-access journal, with a periodicity of publishing three times per year (Apr/Aug/Dec). It covers a wide range of basic medical disciplines, such as anatomy, histology, biochemistry, human physiology, pharmacology, etc., as well as all clinical areas incl. preventive medicine, public health and nursing. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary manuscripts, including papers from all areas of biomedical research, are welcome.  All articles are submitted to a peer-review process. They are peer-reviewed anonymously (double blind) by external experts pursuant to the standard evaluation criteria. Based on the reviewers opinions, the Editorial Board will decide whether a paper is to be included in the journal.  Rejection Rate:   15-30%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Acta Medica Martiniana

Volume 20 (2020): Issue 1 (April 2020)

Biofeedback – A Promising Non Pharmacological Tool of Stress – Related Disorders

Bronchial Asthma: Current Trends in Treatment

New Approaches to Diagnostics of C.Difficile Infection

Assessment of the Safety Climate at University Hospitals in the Slovak Republic from the Nurses’ Perspective

Brachial Plexopathy as an Unusual First Sign of a Head and Neck Cancer: Case Report

Cerca

Tutti i volumi ed i numeri in questa rivista