Introdução: O transplante autólogo de células progenitoras hematopoéticas é indicado para tratamento de várias doenças neoplásicas e não-neoplásicas, tais como linfoma, mieloma múltiplo e doenças autoimunes. Para isso, é imprescindível coletar as células progenitoras hematopoéticas (CPHs), em geral mobilizadas para o sangue periférico, por meio de equipamentos de aférese e acesso venoso adequado, seja de veia periférica seja de veia central quando a primeira não for adequada. Usualmente, o acesso periférico se dá por veia da fossa cubital. Entretanto, a veia jugular externa também poderia ser uma opção em pacientes em que a veia cubital não proporcionar fluxo sanguíneo adequado, uma possibilidade ainda muito pouco explorada nesse contexto. Objetivos: Avaliar a viabilidade de coletar CPHs pela veia jugular externa em pacientes que não tem acesso por meio da veia da fossa cubital.Métodos: Trata-se de estudo observacional do tipo transversal, com coleta retrospectiva dos dados por meio da análise das fichas médicas arquivadas no Hemonúcleo do Hospital de Câncer de Barretos. A amostra foi composta de 26 indivíduos, sendo que 13 (50%) dos participantes tiveram a punção da veia jugular externa e os outros 13 (50%) foram extraídos aleatoriamente do conjunto de 913 pacientes que tiveram a punção da veia da fossa cubital para equilíbrio numérico das amostras, no período de 2007 a 2014. Resultados: Dos 26 participantes do estudo, 19 (76,9%) foram do sexo masculino e 7 (23,1%) do sexo feminino. Entre as doenças, o mieloma foi a mais prevalente, não houve diferença quanto ao diagnóstico entre os dois grupos fossa cubital e jugular. As médias de células CD34+ coletadas no grupo fossa cubital e no grupo jugular foram de 10,0 x 106/kg e 5,1 x 106/kg, respectivamente (p=0,20). As volemias processadas foram de 4,2 e 4,4 para os grupos fossa cubital de jugular (p=0,12). O fluxo médio de aspiração do sangue foi de 69±17 mL/minuto e 62±17 mL/minuto (p=0,29). Conclusão: Há viabilidade da coleta de CPH por via jugular externa / Introduction: Autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation is indicated for the treatment of various neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases, such as lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and autoimmune diseases. For this, it is essential to collect the hematopoietic progenitor cells (CPHs), usually mobilized into the peripheral blood, by means of apheresis devices and adequate venous access, either peripheral vein or central vein when the former is not adequate. Usually, the peripheral access is by the ulnar fossavein. However, the external jugular vein could also be an option in patients where the ulnar vein does not provide adequate blood flow, a possibility still very little explored in this context. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of collecting CPHs through the external jugular vein in patients who do not have access through the ulnar fossa vein. Methods: It is an observational cross-sectional study, with retrospective data collection through the analysis of the medical records filed at the Barretos Cancer Hospital. The sample consisted of 26 individuals; 13 (50%) of the participants had external jugular vein puncture and the other 13 (50%) were randomly extracted from a set of 913 patients who had ulnar fossa vein puncture to numerical equilibrium of the samples from 2007 to 2014. Results: Of the 26 participants in the study, 19 (76.9%) were male and 7 (23.1%) were female. Among the diseases, myeloma was the most prevalent; there was no difference in diagnosis between the two groups of ulnar and jugular fossa. The mean CD34 + cells collected in the cubital fossa group and in the jugular group were 10.0 x 106/kg and 5.1 x 106/kg, respectively (p=0.20). The blood volumes processed were 4.2 and 4.4 for the jugular fossa group (p=0.12). The mean blood aspiration flow was 69 ± 17 mL/min and 62 ± 17 mL/min (p=0.29). Conclusion: there is viability of the collection of CPHs by external jugular vein

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2004. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

abstract: The effects of iron and chromium blood concentrations have been linked to blood glucose control in diabetics. It is suggested that iron causes oxidative stress in the beta cells of the pancreas and adipocytes creating insulin insufficiency and resistance. Chromium is believed to increase the action of insulin through its biologically active molecule chromodulin. Both of these mechanisms are not clear. This 20 week case study tests the feasibility of combining iron depletion therapy followed by chromium supplementation to improve insulin sensitivity. This single case study followed a protocol of two blood donations separated by eight weeks followed by chromium supplementation of 250 µg of chromium picolinate once a day four weeks after the second blood donation. Fasting blood draws were taken at baseline, post blood draws and pre and post chromium supplementation. Results were not promising for the first hypothesis of lowering HbA1c, but the results were promising for the second hypothesis of improving insulin sensitivity by lowering the HOMA score. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Nutrition 2015

Introdução: O transplante autólogo de células progenitoras hematopoéticas é indicado para tratamento de várias doenças neoplásicas e não-neoplásicas, tais como linfoma, mieloma múltiplo e doenças autoimunes. Para isso, é imprescindível coletar as células progenitoras hematopoéticas (CPHs), em geral mobilizadas para o sangue periférico, por meio de equipamentos de aférese e acesso venoso adequado, seja de veia periférica seja de veia central quando a primeira não for adequada. Usualmente, o acesso periférico se dá por veia da fossa cubital. Entretanto, a veia jugular externa também poderia ser uma opção em pacientes em que a veia cubital não proporcionar fluxo sanguíneo adequado, uma possibilidade ainda muito pouco explorada nesse contexto. Objetivos: Avaliar a viabilidade de coletar CPHs pela veia jugular externa em pacientes que não tem acesso por meio da veia da fossa cubital.Métodos: Trata-se de estudo observacional do tipo transversal, com coleta retrospectiva dos dados por meio da análise das fichas médicas arquivadas no Hemonúcleo do Hospital de Câncer de Barretos. A amostra foi composta de 26 indivíduos, sendo que 13 (50%) dos participantes tiveram a punção da veia jugular externa e os outros 13 (50%) foram extraídos aleatoriamente do conjunto de 913 pacientes que tiveram a punção da veia da fossa cubital para equilíbrio numérico das amostras, no período de 2007 a 2014. Resultados: Dos 26 participantes do estudo, 19 (76,9%) foram do sexo masculino e 7 (23,1%) do sexo feminino. Entre as doenças, o mieloma foi a mais prevalente, não houve diferença quanto ao diagnóstico entre os dois grupos fossa cubital e jugular. As médias de células CD34+ coletadas no grupo fossa cubital e no grupo jugular foram de 10,0 x 106/kg e 5,1 x 106/kg, respectivamente (p=0,20). As volemias processadas foram de 4,2 e 4,4 para os grupos fossa cubital de jugular (p=0,12). O fluxo médio de aspiração do sangue foi de 69±17 mL/minuto e 62±17 mL/minuto (p=0,29). Conclusão: Há viabilidade da coleta de CPH por via jugular externa / Introduction: Autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation is indicated for the treatment of various neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases, such as lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and autoimmune diseases. For this, it is essential to collect the hematopoietic progenitor cells (CPHs), usually mobilized into the peripheral blood, by means of apheresis devices and adequate venous access, either peripheral vein or central vein when the former is not adequate. Usually, the peripheral access is by the ulnar fossavein. However, the external jugular vein could also be an option in patients where the ulnar vein does not provide adequate blood flow, a possibility still very little explored in this context. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of collecting CPHs through the external jugular vein in patients who do not have access through the ulnar fossa vein. Methods: It is an observational cross-sectional study, with retrospective data collection through the analysis of the medical records filed at the Barretos Cancer Hospital. The sample consisted of 26 individuals; 13 (50%) of the participants had external jugular vein puncture and the other 13 (50%) were randomly extracted from a set of 913 patients who had ulnar fossa vein puncture to numerical equilibrium of the samples from 2007 to 2014. Results: Of the 26 participants in the study, 19 (76.9%) were male and 7 (23.1%) were female. Among the diseases, myeloma was the most prevalent; there was no difference in diagnosis between the two groups of ulnar and jugular fossa. The mean CD34 + cells collected in the cubital fossa group and in the jugular group were 10.0 x 106/kg and 5.1 x 106/kg, respectively (p=0.20). The blood volumes processed were 4.2 and 4.4 for the jugular fossa group (p=0.12). The mean blood aspiration flow was 69 ± 17 mL/min and 62 ± 17 mL/min (p=0.29). Conclusion: there is viability of the collection of CPHs by external jugular vein

No description available.

Bakgrund: Som grundutbildad sjuksköterska kan du möta barn inom olika verksamheter utanför den typiska barnsjukvården. Venpunktion är en smärtsam procedur och ett vanligt förekommande moment i sjukvården. Smärtan kan lindras och förebyggas med farmakologiska och icke-farmakologiska metoder, exempelvis aktiva och passiva distraktionsmetoder. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att kartlägga effekten av olika distraktionsmetoder för att minska smärta hos barn (6-12 år) vid venpunktion. Metod: En kvantitativ litteraturstudie med sammanställning av 11 interventionsstudier identifierade i PubMed och Cinahl. Resultat: Nio studier visade på statistiskt signifikant smärtlindrande effekt för åtta av elva distraktionsmetoder. Tre av sex studier som undersökte dess effekt på ångest visade på statistiskt signifikant effekt. Två studier presenterade i respektive studie en distraktionsmetod med bättre effekt, en av dessa presenterade att aktiv distraktion gav bättre effekt än passiv distraktion. Konklusion: Distraktionsmetoder kan antas ha både smärtlindrande och ångestdämpande effekt vid venpunktion på barn 6-12 år. Distraktionsmetoder bör vara aktuella att integrera i rutinen för venpunktion på barn inom svensk sjukvård. Det finns dock behov av vidare forskning inom området för att stärka dess evidens. Aspekter som distraktion som tillägg till topikal anestesi, effekt på ångest samt distraktion anpassat till barnets behov och förmågor bör studeras ytterligare. / Background: A registered nurse can meet children in different healthcare departments besides the pediatric department. Phlebotomy is a common painful procedure in healthcare. This pain can be relieved and prevented with pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, for example, active and passive distraction methods. Aim: The study aimed to collect an overview of the effects of different distraction methods to reduce pain during phlebotomy in children 6-12 years. Methods: A quantitative literature study identified and compared 11 intervention studies collected from PubMed and Cinahl. Results: Nine studies presented a statistically significant pain-relieving effect for eight of the total eleven distraction methods. Three out of six studies presented a statistically significant effect on anxiety. Two studies each presented one distraction method with better effect, one of these presented active distraction to be better than passive. Conclusion: Distraction methods present pain-relieving and anxiety-reducing effects during phlebotomy in children 6-12 years and could therefore be appropriate to integrate into the Swedish phlebotomy routine for children. There is further need for research in the field to strengthen its evidence. Aspects such as distraction in addition to topical anesthesia, the effect on anxiety and distraction based on the child's needs and abilities need further research.

Bakgrund: För barn är vård- och sjukhusmiljö ofta en okänd miljö där okunskap tillsammans med sociala och fysiska förväntningar kan orsaka osäkerhet samt rädsla. Barn kan reagera olika vid medicinska procedurer men nästan alla upplever oro och rädsla vid venpunktion. Syfte: Att beskriva effekten av interventioner som används vid venpunktion på barn. Metod: Beskrivande litteraturstudie med kvantitativ design baserad på tolv artiklar framsökta i databasen PubMed. Undersökningsgruppen var barn mellan fyra och tolv år. Temaanalys användes för att analysera data. Huvudresultat: Aktiva distraktionsmetoder såsom ballongblåsning, hostmetoder och bollklämning minskade signifikant smärta och rädsla. TICK-B minskade signifikant smärta och ångest. Flippits minskade signifikant smärta. Bubbelblåsning hade ingen signifikant effekt på smärta men minskade signifikant rädsla. VR minskade signifikant smärta, rädsla och ångest. Gällande passiva distraktionsmetoder minskade Buzzy signifikant smärta och rädsla. Aromaterapi hade ingen signifikant effekt på smärta eller rädsla. Kalejdoskop och serietittande via VR minskade signifikant smärta och ångest medan serietittande via surfplatta hade ingen signifikant effekt. Akupressur minskade signifikant smärta men påverkade inte ångest. Läkemedlet Jet Lidokain hade ingen signifikant effekt på smärta eller rädsla. Slutsats: Det finns flera olika interventioner, både passiva och aktiva distraktionsmetoder, som minskar smärta, rädsla och ångest hos barn vid venpunktion. Utifrån resultatet kan sjuksköterskor, oavsett arbetsplats, få en bättre förståelse för hur barns vårdupplevelser kan förbättras vid venpunktion. Interventionerna var enkla att använda, kostnadseffektiva samt gav inga bieffekter och borde därför användas av sjuksköterskor för att skapa en bättre vårdupplevelse för barn. / Background: Care- and hospital environment are often an unknown environment for children where lack of knowledge together with social and physical expectations can cause uncertainty and fear. Children can react differently to medical procedures but almost everyone experience worry and fear in connection with phlebotomy. Aim: To describe the effects of interventions used on children undergoing phlebotomy. Method: A descriptive literature review with a quantitative design based on twelve articles searched through the database PubMed. Study group were children between four and twelve years old. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Main result: Active distraction methods such as balloon blowing, cough methods and ball squeezing significantly reduced pain and fear. TICK-B significantly reduced pain and anxiety. Flippits significantly reduced pain. Bubble blowing showed no significant effect on pain but significantly reduced fear. VR reduced pain, fear and anxiety significantly. When it comes to passive distraction methods Buzzy significantly reduced pain and fear. Aromatherapy did not have a significant effect on pain and fear. Kaleidoscope and watching cartoons through VR significantly reduced pain and anxiety while watching cartoons on a tablet did not have a significant effect. Acupressure reduced pain significantly but didn’t have an effect on anxiety. The pharmacological Jet Lidocaine did not have a significant effect on pain or fear. Conclusion: There are several different interventions, both passive and active distraction methods, that reduce pain, fear and anxiety in children undergoing venipuncture. Based on the result nurses can, no matter their workplace, get a better understanding on how the children’s phlebotomy experience can improve. The interventions were easy to use, cost effective and didn’t give any side effects and should therefore be used by nurses to create a better care experience for children.

Background Venous blood tests constitute an important part in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. However, test results are often viewed as objective values rather than the end result of a complex process. This has clinical importance since most errors arise before the sample reaches the laboratory. Such preanalytical errors affect patient safety and are often due to human mistakes in the collection and handling of the sample. The preanalytical performance of venous blood testing in primary health care, where the majority of the patients contact with care occurs, has not previously been reported. Aims To investigate venous blood sampling practices and the prevalence of haemolysed blood samples in primary health care. Methods A questionnaire investigated the collection and handling of venous blood samples in primary health care centres in two county councils and in two hospital clinical laboratories. Haemolysis index was used to evaluate the prevalence of haemolysed blood samples sent from primary health care centres, nursing homes and a hospital emergency department. Results and discussion The results indicate that recommended preanalytical procedures were not always followed in the surveyed primary health care centres. For example, only 54% reported to always use name and Swedish identification number, and 5% to use photo-ID, the two recommended means for patient identification. Only 12% reported to always label the test tubes prior to blood collection. This increases the possibility of sample mix-up. As few as 6% reported to always allow the patient to rest at least 15 minutes before blood collection, desirable for a correct test result. Only 31% reported to have filed an incident report regarding venous blood sampling, indicating underreporting of incidents in the preanalytical phase. Major differences in the prevalence of haemolysed blood samples were found. For example, samples collected in the primary health care centre with the highest prevalence of haemolysed samples were six times (95% CI 4.0 to 9.2) more often haemolysed compared to the centre with the lowest prevalence. The significant variation in haemolysed samples is likely to reflect varying preanalytical conditions. Conclusions This thesis indicates that the preanalytical procedure in primary health care is associated with an increased risk of errors with consequences for patient safety and care. Monitoring of haemolysis index could be a valuable tool for estimating preanalytical sample quality. Further studies and interventions aimed at the preanalytical phase in primary health care are clearly needed.

Background: About 60%–80% of decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment are based on laboratory test results. Low adherence to venous blood specimen collection (VBSC) guidelines may lead to erroneous or delayed test results, causing patient harm and high healthcare costs. Educational intervention programs (EIPs) to update, improve and sustain VBSC practices are seldom evaluated. After testing a self-reported venous blood sampling questionnaire, the overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the impact of a large-scale EIP on healthcare personnel’s VBSC practices. Methods: The study settings were primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in northern Sweden. Participants were VBSC personnel. Data consisted of a VBSC questionnaire of self-reported practices, records of low-level haemolysis index in serum samples (specimen quality indicator), and interviews reflecting VBSC practices. First, experts on questionnaires and VBSC were consulted, and test-retest statistics were used when testing the VBSC questionnaire for validity and reliability. Thereafter, we evaluated the impact of a short, large-scale EIP with a before-after approach comparing self-reported VBSC questionnaire of two county councils. The personnel of the county councils (n = 61 PHCs) were divided into an intervention group (n = 84) and a corresponding control group (n = 79). In order to test changes in blood specimen quality we monitored haemolysis in serum samples (2008, n = 6652 samples and 2010, n = 6121 samples) from 11 PHCs. Finally, 30 VBSC personnel from 10 PHCs reported their experiences. The interview questions were open-ended with reflective elements and the interviews were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: The VBSC questionnaire was found to be valid and could be used to identify risk of errors (near misses) and evaluate the impact of an EIP emphasising VBSC guideline adherence. The intervention group demonstrated several significant improvements in self-reported practices after the EIP, such as information search, patient rest, test request management, patient identification, release of venous stasis, and test tube labelling. The control group showed no significant improvements. In total, PHCs showed minor differences in blood specimen quality. Interviews summarized VBSC personnel experiences in the overall theme: education opened up opportunities for reflection about safety.   Conclusion: This thesis is, to our knowledge, the first to evaluate the impacts of a large-scale EIP on VBSC practices. The VBSC questionnaire and monitoring for low-level haemolysis reflected VBSC practices. The frequently occurring near-miss markers made it possible to compare and benchmark VBSC practices down to the healthcare unit and hospital ward. The short, general EIP opened up opportunities for reflection about safety and improved VBSC practices in PHCs with larger deviations from guidelines. EIPs that provide time for reflection and discussion could improve VBSC further. Directed EIPs focused on specific VBSC flaws might be more effective for some near misses in VBSC practices, while some near misses must be changed at a different level in the system. Clinical relevance: Our results indicate that monitoring and counteracting the near misses in VBSC practices is a well-functioning preventive action. We propose that the VBSC monitoring instruments (VBSC questionnaire & haemolysis index) we used and the EIP strategy proposed should be tested in additional countries with different healthcare settings. It is suggested that a national program intended to identify near misses and prevent VBSC errors be developed in the healthcare system. General e-learning programs may be cheaper than, and as effective as, the EIP program and may be performed everywhere and any time. Systematic planning, useful for reflection and with focus on the specific elements in a skill, together with VBSC guidelines, could probably increase improvements. Our studies have led to deeper and extended knowledge of the impact of an EIP on VBSC practices. Our results can be used when considering future VBSC practice interventions. Using a model for practical skills in nursing to describe VBSC in a more holistic and less technical way might highlight VBSC as a practical nursing skill. / Bakgrund: Av kliniska beslut angående diagnostik och behandling baseras 60%–80% på laboratorieresultat. Därför är det helt nödvändigt att laboratorieresultat är tillförlitliga. Låg följsamhet till provtagnings anvisningar kan leda till felaktiga och fördröjda analysresultat, förorsaka skada och lidande för patienter och utgöra en stor kostnad för hälso- och sjukvården. Felaktiga provsvar beror till stor del på felaktig provtagning och provhantering och går oftast att undvika. Interventioner som avser att uppdatera och säkra korrekt venprovtagning kan leda till förbättringar men genomförda interventioner har sällan utvärderats. Efter att en enkät för självrapporterad venprovtagning testats för validitet och reliabilitet genomfördes ett omfattande interventionsprogram som utvärderades med hjälp av den testade enkäten och andra utvärderingsmått. Det övergripande syftet var att utvärdera i vilken utsträckning interventionsprogrammet påverkade provtagande personals praktiska utförande av venprovtagning. Metoder: Studierna i denna avhandling omfattade provtagande personal vid hälsocentraler i norra Sverige. För datainsamling användes en enkät som mäter självrapporterad venprovtagning, förekomst av låggradig hemolys (indikator på blodprovets kvalitet) och intervjuer. Initialt testades enkätens förmåga att mäta vad som avsetts (validitet) och testades enkätens förmåga att vid upprepade mätningar vara tillräckligt stabil (reliabilitet) för att användas i interventionsstudier. Därefter utvärderades ett kort men storskaligt interventionsprogram i preanalys inkluderande venprovtagning med före och efter mätningar. Vi jämförde provtagande personal från två landsting vid 61 hälsocentraler. Landstingens personal delades upp i en interventionsgrupp (n=84) och en motsvarande kontrollgrupp (n = 79). För att mäta kvaliteten av blodproverna extraherades uppgifter om hemolys i serumprover (2008, n = 6652 blodprov) och (2010, n = 6121 blodprov) från elva hälsocentraler i ett landsting. Slutligen, intervjuades 30 provtagande personal från 10 hälsocentraler efter att de deltagit i interventionsprogrammet. Intervjuerna var öppna och genererade korta berättelser och analyserades med innehållsanalys. Resultat: Venprovtagningsenkäten befanns vara valid och kan användas för att utvärdera personalens följsamhet till provtagningsanvisningar i venprovtagning och identifiera riskhändelser. Interventionsgruppen visade flera signifikanta förbättringar i självrapporterat utförande av venprovtagning såsom förbättrad informationssökning, vila inför provtagning, remissförfarande, kontroll av patientidentitet, användning av stas och etikettering av provrör. Kontrollgrupen visade inga signifikanta förbättringar. Blodprovskvaliteten visade små skillnader. Provtagande personals erfarenheter från intervjuerna sammanfattades i ett övergripande tema; utbildningsinsatsen öppnade upp möjligheter för reflektion om säkerhet.   Slutsats: Avhandlingen är så vitt vi vet den första att utvärdera effekten av ett storskaligt interventionsprogram med hjälp av självrapporterat utförande av venprovtagning och blodprovers kvalitet (låggradig hemolys). Med dessa metoder ökar andelen riskhändelser så att jämförelser kunde göras även på enhetsnivå och avdelningsnivå. Utbildningsprogrammet öppnade upp för reflektioner om säkerhet och förbättrade utförande av venprovtagning vid enheter med större brister. Utbildningsprogram som öppnar upp för reflektion och diskussion kan leda till ökad patientsäkerhet i hälso- och sjukvården. Trots utfallet av resultaten, är riktade utbildningsinsatser för sjukvårdsenheter som uppvisar specifika brister troligtvis mer effektiva än breda utbildningsinsatser. Klinisk betydelse: Interventionsprogram avseende preanalys och venös provtagning förbättrade personalens praktiska utförande. Monitorering av och åtgärder för att minska riskhändelser är väl fungerande preventiva åtgärder. Instrumenten (självrapporterande enkät och hemolys) bör också testas i andra kontexter inom hälso- och sjukvården. Ett externt nationellt program för att identifiera och förebygga riskhändelser bör utvecklas i hälso- och sjukvården. Interventioner i form av e-lärande kan då vara ett alternativ som är billigt och effektivt. Dessutom kan systematisk planering och genomförande med fokus på reflektion av specifika delar i en färdighet vara effektivt för att uppnå förbättringar. Våra studier har bidragit till en djupare och utökad kunskap om effekten av ett interventionsprogram på utförande av venprovtagning. Resultaten kan användas vid framtida planering av utbildningsinsatser. Modeller för praktiskt färdighetsutövande inom omvårdnad kan beskriva venprovtagning ur ett helhetsperspektiv och synliggöra venprovtagning som en viktig praktisk färdighet inom omvårdnad. / Preanalys

Iatromathematics in medical discourse of early modern era: Czech lands before 1620 Mgr. Jakub Žytek, M.Phil. Abstract: This dissertation examines iatromathematics, or astrological medicine, in the early modern medicine of the Czech lands before 1620 (sources ranging from 1491 to 1619). It seeks to both comprehensively outline this specific and then quite standard medical doctrine as well as assess the role and significance of iatromathematics for the practice of the early modern physician and its position within the system of contemporary humoral medicine as a whole. Within the Czech study of the history of medicine, such a systematic treatment of the topic of iatromathematics is unprecedented. Having defined the historical framework of astrology in European cultural history and the concept of astrologia naturalis in the contemporaneous philosophy of nature, the thesis maps the tradition of iatromathematics in medieval sources of Czech origin and the development of the discipline in the early modern era. Then, employing textual analyses and interpretations, it examines various medical sources (books of prognostica, bloodletting booklets, almanacs, treatises on plague, phlebotomic instructions, health regiments) that focused on the influence and action of the heavenly bodies on human health. The thesis...