This dissertation serves as a report on the qualitative exploration of best practices in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with children. The aim of the study was to explore and describe best practices in the field of AAT with children in the Western Cape. The research made use of the case study design, which offered the researcher the opportunity to interact with a small number of individuals and look for patterns in the research participants’ words and experiences. Four participants, who were trained mental health professionals and had offered AAT to children, were selected to participate in the research. A literature review of animal-assisted therapy and best practice provided a theoretical basis for the research. The history of AAT, the uses and benefits of AAT and the animals incorporated in AAT were explored. The term “best practice” and its application in mental health and AAT were also discussed. The verbatim transcriptions of the audiotaped data were analysed and interpreted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and an AAT conceptual framework (brought about by the literature review). Themes were developed from the empirical data and substantiated by the literature review. Five main themes emerged as a result of the analysis. The first theme, Training of the animal-assisted therapist, focused on both the mental health training and the AAT training of the therapist. The second theme, Training of animals incorporated in animal-assisted therapy, revealed the importance of training the animal to be included in AAT. The third theme, Different client populations in animal-assisted therapy, looked at which populations should be included, excluded or included and carefully managed during AAT. The fourth theme, Ethical considerations in animal-assisted therapy, revealed the importance of considering both the child’s and the animal’s welfare. The fifth theme, Regulation of animal-assisted therapy, gave a more in-depth description of the current regulation of AAT in the Western Cape and provided suggestions for the regulation of AAT. Based on the findings of the five themes, recommendations were made for best practice in AAT with children in the Western Cape. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The main theme of my work is finding the locomotive load in selected professions and build a compensation program for professionals with a sedentary job. When selecting this topic for me was the decisive topicality of the selected topic, I see especially in the ever-growing problems with musculoskeletal system of persons employed in sedentary occupations, which are one of the consequences of their employment. The first theoretical part of the thesis includes a detailed analysis of the issues examined based on theories that describe the anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system. I characterize also the sedentary lifestyle and sedentary employment in general and describe workplace ergonomics professionals selected for the needs of my thesis. In theory there need explaining motion compensation modes based on medical aspects of the workforce in selected professions sedentary jobs. The practical part of the thesis was to determine the quantitative research on a sample of probands peace musculoskeletal load in connection with the exercise of their profession. Results of the research were my starting point to build a compensation programs that would positively affect the quality of life of current probands. To meet the targets I have been primarily assisting methods of quantitative research using questionnaires. The reason for choosing this method is smooth and straightforward data collection enabling the rapid analysis and processing. The research group of people that was chosen includes professions that are characterized by their sedentary job: professional driver, an office worker and painter Christmas decorations. I observed the objectivity of the research questions musculoskeletal load in selected professions, I firmly establish the criteria on the basis of purposive sampling was assembled group of three professionals with a sedentary job. During the research, I pay attention to individual cases, carried out their detailed descriptions and subsequently proposed compensatory exercises by the parties for some time applied. After this time was collected by new data and a qualitative comparison with the data starting. I am convinced that the results of my research work can help all persons working in occupations with a sedentary job, provided the inclusion of adequate compensatory exercises in his career, but also leisure life.

Title: Comparison of educational and compensation exercise programmes for ankylosing spondylitis patients Objective: The objective of the research was to determine the effect of two educational and compensation exercise programmes on the mobility of the axial system, the functional status and disease activity (including inflammatory process activity) in individuals with ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: The research group included men and women (average age of 35.42 ± 7.15 years), all out-patients of the Institute of Rheumatology in Prague. This characteristic sample (n ═ 38) consisted of respondents who were randomised into three groups: The first experimental group (n ═ 13) attended an educational and compensation exercise programme in a group setting in a gym (twice a week) and an educational and compensation exercise programme in the form of a group exercise in a pool - hydrokinesiotherapy (once a week); the second experimental group (n ═ 13) attended the same educational and compensation exercise programme in a group setting in a gym (twice a week); the control group educational and compensation exercise programme in a group setting in a gym (twice a week) received no exercise intervention but its members were allowed to use "passive" physiotherapeutic procedures (e.g. hydrotherapy or...

Title: Effect comparison of educational-movement therapy "stabilization function"of a trunk and traditional rehabilitation therapeutic approach for patients with nonspecific low back pain. Nonspecific low back pain is a main cause of disability and the principal cause for injury-related lost work-days. The various therapies for nonspecific low back pain have been elaborated in many studies. The recommended therapeutic guideline for primary care of patients with nonspecific low back pain is early mobilization combined with a specific rehabilitation therapeutic approach. One such specific rehabilitation therapeutic approach is "trunk stabilization" therapy. The objective of this dissertation is to compare a therapeutic approach involving "stabilization exercises" with the traditional clinical approach that has been clinically proven to be most efficacious for patients with acute nonspecific low back pain. This study compares the effects of the prescribed therapies on 24 patients with non- specific acute low back pain. The test subjects (men and women with an average age 41.2 years) were allocated into two simple randomized subgroups. The test subjects received 2 outpatient therapy sessions per week for 4 weeks. Pre-test and post-test spine shape and range of motion examination were determined using...

This thesis is dedicated to the topic of the nerve agents with special emphasis on antidotal treatment utilizing application of the auto-injectors. Two methods were used ? literature research and quantitative research. Since this topic covers plenty of information as regards chemical warfare agents and in particular nerve agents these issues were addressed in the theoretical part of the thesis. In the chapter on current status based on literature resources a summary of evolution of the auto-injector is presented; from firsts notes until the situation today. Practical part of the thesis is concentrated on University of Southern Bohemia in ČeskéBudějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Studies students' knowledge in the area of nerve agents. The results of the research were acquired by the method of quantitative research ? questionnaires with 18 questions. With respect to each of the questions a selection of the 2 to 7 answers was offered to the students, whereas in every case only 1 answer was correct. The results were analyzed both with reference to each of the questions and with reference to each of the students. By this method it has been discovered that the respondents have a good knowledge in the area of nerve agents. Furthermore, the practical part of the thesis included an experiment concerning speed with which the respondents were able to apply antidotum with a training auto-injector by themselves with no prior instructions in comparison to how quickly they were able to do the same after being instructed. By this method were tested the quality of the instructions provided to the auto-injectors and its ergonomic qualities (intuitiveness of its application). Recorded times were statistically analyzed and the results, although materially different, were assessed as satisfactory.

Given the ageing of the population, it is desirable to develop a concept of a long-term residential care system for the elderly, the integral part of which is to provide activation. Activities and therapies implemented in a retirement home have an irreplaceable role not only in the complex care for seniors but also in the context of community based rehabilitation in old age. The aim of the thesis was to find out what activities and therapies are provided in the retirement homes. The objectives were to find out: 1. What types and forms of activities and therapies are provided in the retirement homes; 2. What terminology is used in connection with providing activation; 3. Whether a concept or model of care is used in the retirement homes; 4. Whether the retirement homes have been awarded the Quality Score in Social Services of the Association of Social Services Providers of the Czech Republic; 5. Who in the retirement home is responsible for coordinating activation; 6. The position and education level of the staff providing activation; 7. Whether there is a sufficient number of activation workers in the retirement homes; 8. Whether the retirement homes have sufficient funds for activation; 9. Whether the retirement homes have a methodology for providing activation; 10. The difficulties related to the provision of activation and therapies in the retirement homes from the point of view of the staff. The objectives set were achieved through a quantitative research strategy. The polling method with the help of a questionnaire of own construction were selected for date collection and the heads of the retirement homes and the staff providing activation were addressed. The mathematical and statistical method was used to evaluate the empirical material. The result of quantitative research based on the deductive method is the description and analysis of activities and therapies in the retirement homes in the Czech Republic. The research has shown a statistically significant dependence between the founder and the provision of a concept or the model of care in the retirement homes. A statistically significant correlation was found between the number of animal-assisted therapies provided in the retirement homes and the certification of facilities by the so-called Quality Score in Social Services. A statistically significant relationship between the seniority of the head of the retirement home and the availability of funding for activation has been demonstrated. There was a statistically significant dependency between the type of the founder and the provision of a concept or the model of care in the retirement homes. A statistically significant correlation between the seniority of the head of the retirement homes and the development of a methodology for providing activation has been demonstrated. The thesis provides a comprehensive view of the issue of activities and therapies implemented in the retirement homes in the Czech Republic. The acquired knowledge will be used as a basis for the preparation of materials and the concept of animal-assisted therapy in the area of care for seniors, on which the author of the thesis would like to participate in the following years in cooperation with non-profit organizations engaged in practicing animal-assisted therapy in the Czech Republic. The results of the thesis will be presented to the Association of Social Service Providers of the Czech Republic, as a professional organization associating providers of social services, in order to use the obtained results in the update and review of the activation documents. The results may be useful for the staff of the retirement homes in the development of the methodology of educational, training and activation activities in the context of community based rehabilitation. The results obtained will be passed on to the workers in social services and social workers through the author's publication and lecture activities as well as in the provision of supervision.

(EN) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) represents a disease of mature-like B-cells. Due to failed apoptosis but also due to enhanced proliferative signals, the leukemic B-cells accumulate in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen. The clinical course of B-CLL is very heterogeneous; in some patients B-CLL progresses very rapidly into an aggressive form. Such patients need therapy sooner while in other patients with indolent B-CLL the onset of therapy takes years. Several standard prognostic and disease progression markers are used for disease staging and monitoring, however a reliable marker that will suggest when to start therapy is unknown. Expression of small, non-coding microRNAs is often deregulated and represent important prognostic markers in variety of cancers including leukemia. Hence in our study we concentrated to miR-155, an important molecule regulating differentiation of hematopoietic cells, inflammation process and antibody production. Its aberrant expression was described in Hodgkin`s as well as in non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma, including indolent lymphoproliferations like B- CLL. Our results confirmed elevated levels of both, primary miR-155 transcript and mature form of miR-155 in our B-CLL patient samples (N=239). The aberrant expression of miR-155 in B-CLL samples...

Introduction: The inflammation plays the essential role in the bone loss in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Proinflammatory cytokines and also glucocorticoids (GCs) may activate bone resorption by osteoclasts. Simultaneously, bone formation can be attenuated, especially by inhibitors of proteins, which control the osteoblast differentiation. The aim was to verify the hypothesis that in patients with highly active JIA, reduction of bone formation via Wingless (Wnt) proteins inhibitors - Dickkopf 1 (Dkk-1) and sclerostin could be found. Except the densitometry measurements of bone and lean mass, we assessed markers of disease activity, bone metabolism and remodeling in young adult patients with JIA before and during 2 years of anti TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α) treatment, which decreases disease activity. Results: In patients with JIA before antiTNFα treatment, bone mineral density (BMD, g/cmš) was significantly reduced compared to controls. Values of BMD and body composition in JIA significantly depended on disease duration and GCs treatment. Serum concentration of sclerostin was significantly elevated in JIA compared to values in healthy controls. Values of the other monitored markers did not differ between JIA and controls. In patients with JIA, Dkk-1 correlated positively with C-reactive...

The aim of the thesis was development of an innovative treatment of bone defects. Human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) play a crucial role in bone healing. Clinical applications of MSC require large amount of cells, which could be obtained by autologous expansion of MSC harvested from bone marrow. As a first step, the standard protocol of MSC expansion based on αMEM medium and fetal bovine serum (FBS) was used. Experiments replacing FBS by pooled human serum (HS) in the culture medium concluded in patenting of a new MSC cultivation protocol (EU 1999250, CR 301141). This one-step cultivation protocol and xenogeneic protein-free cultivation medium is based on CellGro® for Hematopoietic Cells' Medium, HS, human recombinant growth factors, dexamethasone, insulin and ascorbic acid. The preclinical in vitro and in vivo experiments with MSC from both expansion protocols were carried out. Fibrillar polylactic scaffolds were seeded with MSC, cultured, differentiated and implanted in immunodeficient mice (NOD/LtSz-Rag1-). Bone-like mineralized tissue containing vessels was observed. The MSC cultured according to patented method were classified as Advanced-therapy Medicinal Product and has to fulfil the European Medicines Agency regulations to enter the clinical trials. Nevertheless the use of MSC seems...

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY Background: The clinical efficacy of tamoxifen therapy may be modified by the drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporting molecules involved into the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of CYP2D6, ABCB1 polymorhisms and comedication with efficacy and safety of tamoxifen treatment. Methods: Totally 258 women with hormonal positive breast carcinoma were retrospectively evaluated in relation to CYP2D6, ABCB1 polymorphisms and comedication. Results: CYP2D6 polymorphisms or co-medication affecting CYP2D6 activity demonstrated no statistically significant effect on the efficacy of tamoxifen therapy or adverse event incidence; there was only a trend towards shortening the time to event (TTE) in CYP2D6 poor metabolizers. ABCB1 polymorphism rs2032582 was not associated with clinical outcomes, while a trend towards an increase of TTE in variant allele carriers was noted. The ABCB1 polymorphism rs1045642 demonstrated statistical significance in premenopausal patients (p = 0.0012, HR 0.69 (95% CI 0.21 to 2.31), and its significant association was noted with gynaecological /vasomotor adverse events (p = 0.0221, HR = 1.0588), with no evidence of the influence on the incidence and onset of venous complications. Conclusions: Although this work did not show...