Central European Region Research Articles

Effect of forest structures and tree species composition on common tick (Ixodes ricinus) abundance—Case study from Czechia

Tick-borne diseases are a significant health problem worldwide and have become even more pervasive in Europe due to the increasing abundance of tick species, especially the common tick (Ixodes ricinus L.). Moreover, in recent years, there have been changes in tick geographical distribution, the occurrence of new tick species, and an expansion in abundance driven by changes in forest management and climate change. Therefore, this paper’s objective is to determine the effect of tree species composition and forest structure on the abundance of I. ricinus in various forest stands in Czechia. Altogether, we analyzed 4195 collected ticks on 56 monitored research plots, of which 4182 individuals were I. ricinus, 4 individuals were Dermacentor reticulatus Fabricius, and 7 individuals were Haemaphysalis concinna C. L. Koch. The average density reached 1.21 ticks per 10 m2. The highest I. ricinus abundance was observed in coniferous stands (especially in Scotch pine—Pinus sylvestris L.) and forest edges with a high incidence of wild ungulate habitat signs. Contrarily, the lowest tick numbers were in clear-cut biotopes and mixed stands. Increasing vertical structure had a significant (p < 0.05) negative effect on I. ricinus abundance, similar to tree species diversity (richness, evenness, heterogeneity) and complex stand diversity on nymph stage abundance. Close-to-nature silviculture of mixed forests, which are resistant to climate extremes, could reduce the tick abundance, as well as the presence of tick-borne diseases compared to standard coniferous monocultures, which are receding now due to climate change. Based on this knowledge, it should be possible to predict the I. ricinus abundance under changing environmental conditions in the Central European region.

Analysis of the relationship between yield in cereals and remotely sensed fAPAR in the framework of monitoring drought impacts in Europe

Abstract. This study focuses on the relationship between satellite-measured fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) and crop yield cereals in Europe. Different features of the relationship between annual yield and multiple time series of fAPAR, collected during different periods of the year, were investigated. The two key outcomes of the analysis are the identification of the period: (i) from March to October as the one having the highest positive correlation between fAPAR and yield and (ii) from February to May as the period characterised by most of the estimated negative correlation. While both periods align well with the commonly assumed dynamic of the growing season, spatial differences are also observed across Europe. On the one hand, the Mediterranean regions report the highest correlation values (r&gt;0.8) and the longest continuous periods with positive statistically significant results (up to 7 months), covering most of the growing season. On the other hand, the central European region is characterised by the most limited positive correlation values, with only 2 months or less showing statistically significant results. While marked differences in the overall capability to capture the full dynamic of yield are observed across Europe, fAPAR anomalies seem capable of discriminating low-yield years from the rest in most of the cases.

Virulence Diversity of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. Tritici in Common Wheat in Russian Regions in 2019–2021

Yellow (stripe) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a major disease of common wheat worldwide. Disease epidemics in Russia have been frequent and destructive, mostly in the North Caucasus. However, over the last 5 years, the significance of Pst has markedly increased in other Russian regions. Therefore, the Pst virulence diversity was investigated in Triticum aestivum in six geographically distant regions of the European (North Caucasus, North-West, Low Volga, Central Black Earth region, and Volga-Vyatka) and Asian (West Siberia) parts of Russia, with strongly different climates, environmental conditions, and growing wheat genotypes. Seventy-nine virulence pathotypes among 117 isolates were identified using the 12 Avocet Yr gene lines (Yr1, Yr5, Yr6, Yr7, Yr8, Yr9, Yr10, Yr15, Yr17, Yr24, Yr27, and YrSp) and eight supplemental wheat differentials (Heines VII, Vilmorin 23, Hybrid 46, Strubes Dickkopf, Carstens V, Suwon 92/Omar, Nord Desprez, and Heines Peko). Only four pathotypes occurred in two or more regions. High variability was detected within Pst populations from Dagestan, Central, North-West, and West Siberia that postulated to form an intrapopulation subdivision of each of them into several subgroups. Most regional virulence groups of pathotypes were closely related, except for several small subgroups of pathotypes from West Siberia, Dagestan, North-West, and Central European regions. All Pst isolates were avirulent in lines with Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, and Yr24 genes. Virulence to Yr17 was detected for several isolates of two pathotypes, one each from the North-West and Low Volga regions. Variation in virulence frequency was observed in other differential lines.

Abstract 15258: An Unobvious Benefit of the Coexistence of Arterial Hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation - Results of Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study From Central and Eastern Europe

Introduction: Poland represents the region of Central and Eastern Europe with high cardiovascular risk and a rapidly aging population with an ever-increasing prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Our study describes the epidemiology of these conditions and factors associated with AF in the elderly. Methods: In a representative sample of 3014 Poles aged 65 years and over (mean age 77.5 years old, 49.1% women) questionnaire data, blood pressure measurements and blood samples were taken. Hypertension was defined as mean SBP ≥140mmHg or DBP ≥90mmHg or treatment of hypertension. Each patient was screened for AF by continuous ECG monitoring for up to 30 days using a validated ECG vest. Results: Overall prevalence of AH was 80.9% and overall prevalence of AF was 19.2%. Both conditions coexisted in 16.7% of participants and AF with no AH was observed in only 2.5% of participants. Hypertension was significantly more common in patients with AF than in these without AF (87.1% vs 79.4%, p&lt;0.05). Mean systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly lower in the AF population (139.7 mmHg vs 142.6 mmHg, p&lt;0.05, 61.3 mmHg vs 63.9 mmHg, p&lt;0.05 respectively). In hypertensive patients the AF was more often paroxysmal than persistent/permanent (11.9% vs 8.8%, p&lt;0.05), but the episodes of paroxysmal AF lasted longer than in patients without AH (14.9 hours vs 7.6 hours in men, p&lt;0.05; 11.2 hours vs 3.5 hours in women, p&lt;0.05). Participants with coexisting AF and AH were more often aware of both AF (79.9% vs 69.2%, p&lt;0.05) and AH (88.9% vs 84.1%, p&lt;0.05). Significant factors associated with AF occurrence in hypertensive patients were heart failure (OR 2.91), male gender (OR 1.94), elevated NT-proBNP level (OR 1.73), diabetes (OR 1.44), hyperthyroidism (OR 1.44), obesity (OR 1.34), chronic kidney disease (OR 1.32), ischemic heart disease (OR 1.31) and age (OR 1.04). Conclusions: Hypertension and atrial fibrillation are widespread in the elderly population and coexist in one in six people aged 65 years and older. This coexistence is associated with better blood pressure control and disease awareness.

Європейська торгівля з арабським Сходом у VIII–Х ст.: роль слов’ян і Русі

The purpose of the study is to analyze written and archaeological sources on early medieval international trade and to clarify the role of the Slavs and Kyiv Rus in the development of European and transcontinental trade relations. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, interdisciplinarity as well as on general historical methods of historiographical and source analysis, historical-genetic and comparative methods. Scientific novelty. Based on sources and historiographical research, an attempt has been made to find out the role of the Slavs and Kyiv Rus in Europe’s early medieval trade with the Arab East, and to identify possible routes for international trade including the Vikings to the Greeks route. Conclusions. As a result of the Arab conquests, there were significant changes in the geography of international trade routes. They shifted from the Mediterranean basin to the north and passed through the Slavic-populated regions of Central and Eastern Europe and Ruthenia. The new system of water and land routes connected the European Frankish West, the Slavic Baltic Pomerania, the Danube and the Ruthenian East of the continent. With the development of trade with the Arab East, the Way from the Vikings to the Greeks was formed and began to function, connecting the lands of the Baltic Wagri Slavs with Kyiv and Constantinople. It ran through the trade centers of the Pomeranian Slavs in the Baltic, across the Vistula, Western Bug, Pripyat, Dnieper and to the Black Sea coincided with the route of the transcontinental highway between Europe and the Arab East, which passed further east through the Sea of Azov, Don, Volga and the Caspian Sea. According to Arab authors, the main goods of Arab imports, including fur, honey, wax, and Frankish swords, came to the east from the Slavic lands and Ruthenia. The earliest and largest treasures of Arab dirhams, found in the lands of the Baltic Slavs, also indicate that the main counterparts of Arab trade in Europe were the Slavs and Ruthenia. The active participation of Ruthenian state in international trade is also evidenced by the construction of a network of stone fortresses in the upper Seversky Donets, Oskol and the Middle and Lower Don, which were not only border outposts of Ruthenia, but also trading posts.

Exploring the relations between sequential droughts and stream nitrogen dynamics in central Germany through catchment-scale mechanistic modelling

Like many other regions in central Europe, Germany experienced sequential summer droughts from 2015 to 2018. As one of the environmental consequences, river nitrate concentrations have exhibited significant changes in many catchments. However, catchment nitrate responses to the changing weather conditions have not yet been mechanistically explored. Thus, a fully distributed, process-based catchment Nitrate model (mHM-Nitrate) was used to reveal the causal relations in the Bode catchment, of which river nitrate concentrations have experienced contrasting trends from upstream to downstream reaches. The model was evaluated using data from six gauging stations, reflecting different levels of runoff components and their associated nitrate-mixing from upstream to downstream. Results indicated that the mHM-Nitrate model reproduced dynamics of daily discharge and nitrate concentration well, with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency ≥ 0.73 for discharge and Kling-Gupta Efficiency ≥0.50 for nitrate concentration at most stations. Particularly, the spatially contrasting trends of nitrate concentration were successfully captured by the model. The decrease of nitrate concentration in the lowland area in drought years (2015–2018) was presumably due to (1) limited terrestrial export loading (ca. 40 % lower than that of normal years 2004–2014), and (2) increased in-stream retention efficiency (20 % higher in summer within the whole river network). From a mechanistic modelling perspective, this study provided insights into spatially heterogeneous flow and nitrate dynamics and effects of sequential droughts, which shed light on water-quality responses to future climate change, as droughts are projected to be more frequent.

Strategic Awareness and Digitalization in the Supply Chains of the Agricultural and Food Industry

The purpose of our research is to study the factors characterizing strategic awareness and digitalization in the supply chains of the agricultural and food industry in the Central and Eastern European region. In the article, the authors assess the conditions and preparedness of corporate strategy, structural changes, and strategic awareness when aiming for digital transformation as a key objective that provides a competitive edge. The article is founded on a questionnaire that was developed specifically for this research as the basis of Gergely Ulechla’s PhD dissertation. The results reveal the most important motivating factors and differences in the diverse approaches to the process of strategy formulation.&#x0D;

Vegetative Characteristics of Three Apricot Cultivars Grafted on Six Different Rootstocks

The continuous innovation in the aspect of apricot cultivars and rootstocks requires comparative trials, which can be evaluated by precise and repeated measurements. An experiment is established, initiated from the recent trends for the Central-European region. Our aim was to evaluate the characteristics of the observed rootstock-scion combinations during their non-bearing period under irrigated conditions. ‘Montclar’, ‘Myrobalan 29C’, ‘Wavit’, ‘Rootpac R’ and ‘Fehér besztercei’ were used as rootstock, in addition to the apricot selected seedling. Evaluation of rootstocks was carried out in combination with ‘Bergarouge’, ‘LilyCot’, and the traditional Hungarian cultivar called ‘Gönci Magyar kajszi’. The control combination was ‘Gönci Magyar kajszi’ grafted on apricot selected seedling. The experiment was established in spring of 2018 with 3 × 5 m spacing. The results showed strong influence of rootstock on the vigor of grafted scions. The regression relationships between the total height of trees and the canopy diameter, and the shoot length were linear. Furthermore, relationships between the trunk cross-section area and the total height of trees, the canopy diameters, the shoot lengths, as well as the canopy volume were positive and non-linear.

Comparative diversity of vascular plants in black alder floodplain and swamp forests of Central European biogeographical regions.

Plant species diversity of black alder-dominated forests was studied in three biogeographical regions (Alpine, Continental and Pannonian) of Central Europe. They were represented by regions of the Polish Plain (Continental), the High Western Carpathians and Matricum of the Western Carpathians (Alpine) and the Pannonian lowland (Pannonian). We analysed 35 plots per region in order to identify: i) local alpha (α) diversity defined as the counted number of plant taxa occurring in a single sampling plot, ii) amongst-site beta (β) diversity, iii) regional (γ) diversity defined as the total species richness of all sampling plots and iv) zeta diversity (ζ) as a generalisation of beta diversity. We recorded a total of 432 vascular plant taxa in all bioregions; more than 13% were alien plants. Statistically significant differences in species richness (α) of both native and alien plants were found between assemblages of the regions. The High Western Carpathians showed the highest native and the lowest alien plant species richness. Total β-diversity was high in all regions, but significantly differed amongst regions only for alien plant species. Cumulative native and alien species richness (γ) was the highest and lowest in the High Western Carpathians and Matricum of Western Carpathians, respectively. Our results identified the High Western Carpathians as a hotspot for diversity of native plants in Central European black alder-dominated forests.

Spatial scaling of pollen-plant diversity relationship in landscapes with contrasting diversity patterns

Mitigating the effects of global change on biodiversity requires its understanding in the past. The main proxy of plant diversity, fossil pollen record, has a complex relationship to surrounding vegetation and unknown spatial scale. We explored both using modern pollen spectra in species-rich and species-poor regions in temperate Central Europe. We also considered the biasing effects of the trees by using sites in forests and open habitats in each region. Pollen samples were collected from moss polsters at 60 sites and plant species were recorded along two 1 km-transects at each site. We found a significant positive correlation between pollen and plant richness (alpha diversity) in both complete datasets and for both subsets from open habitats. Pollen richness in forest datasets is not significantly related to floristic data due to canopy interception of pollen rather than to pollen productivity. Variances (beta diversity) of the six pollen and floristic datasets are strongly correlated. The source area of pollen richness is determined by the number of species appearing with increasing distance, which aggregates information on diversity of individual patches within the landscape mosaic and on their compositional similarity. Our results validate pollen as a reconstruction tool for plant diversity in the past.

PECULIARITIES OF THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BUCHAREST NINE COUNTRIES IN TERMS OF THE RUSSIAN THREAT

The article considers the peculiarities of the current security environment for the countries of the Bucharest Nine (B-9) in the context of the long-term Russian threat in the region. The study is based on using such research methods as a systematic approach for making a comprehensive analysis of the region of Central and Eastern Europe as a separate strategic space; a comparative method for identifying similar and different patterns in the assessments of current security challenges and threats by the Bucharest Nine states; and a content analysis of strategic documents, declarations and statements based on the results of meetings and summits of the B-9 countries and NATO member states. Within the framework of the article, the general role and significance of the Bucharest Nine format for regional security is characterized; the peculiarities and key aspects of the security threat from the Russian Federation for the B-9 countries are defined; the positions of the Bucharest Nine states on ensuring security in the region are determined depending on the internal and external contexts. In addition, the article considers the new realities of regional security for the B-9 countries with the beginning of a full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, as well as new approaches to responding to the threat from regional security actors (in particular, the North Atlantic Alliance).

Distribution and population systems of Water Frogs (the &lt;i&gt;Pelophylax esculentus&lt;/i&gt; complex) in Northwestern Russia

Peculiarities of distribution and population systems of water frogs of the Pelophylax esculentus complex in the northwest of Russia were studied using cytogenetic (genome size) and external morphological characters (439 specimens from 101 localities). We registered three species: P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, and P. esculentus of a hybrid origin. All frogs, including hybrids, were diploid. The first species was prevailing (82% localities); the second species was revealed in 18% localities and hybrid frogs in 13% localities. All species reach the northernmost limits of their distribution. Pelophylax lessonae is widely spread through Pskovskaya and Novgorodskaya oblast’s, as well as in southern Leningradskaya oblast’, preferring forest habitats. Pelophylax esculentus is found in Pskovskaya oblast’ (forest and agricultural biotopes) in co-existence with P. lessonae only. Pelophylax ridibundus, which was introduced since the 18th century, is distributed in St. Petersburg City and Leningradskaya oblast’ along southern coast of the Gulf of Finland and Narva River on the Estonian border. All populations of the species were usually observed in open water bodies and rivers that flow down on cultivated, urban or barren lands and were allopatric in relation to P. lessonae and P. esculentus. Water frogs of northwestern Russia form three types of population systems only: so called pure single-species (L or R) systems and a mixed (L – E) system; no type with unisexual hybrids was revealed. Thus, their diversity is lower than in other regions of central and eastern Europe.

Emotional difficulties, coping strategies, and help-seeking patterns among Czech perinatal women

ObjectiveTo understand both, women´s perception of emotional difficulties in perinatal period and their related coping strategies. Further, we mapped and analysed help-seeking patterns utilized by these women to overcome their emotional difficulties. This study serve as an important piece of information for women-centred innovations in perinatal mental health care in Czechia, and more broadly in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. DesignA qualitative study with an exploratory and descriptive approach using thematic analysis. SettingOnline survey consisting of open-ended questions mapping women´s perception of emotional difficulties in perinatal period and their related coping strategies and help-seeking patterns. ParticipantsTwo hundred women self-reporting emotional difficulties in perinatal period, from whom 108 (54 %) stated that they had sought professional help with their emotional difficulties. FindingsTwo themes were identified in the analysis of women´s perception of emotional difficulties including Experience of symptoms of mental disorders, and Mother-child relationship. Three themes were identified in the analysis of women´s coping with these difficulties (Personal resources, External resources, and No coping strategy used). Four themes were identified in the analysis of help seeking patterns utilized by study participants (Mental health specialists, Physicians of the first line of contact, Midwifes, and Peer consultants). Key conclusionsEmotional difficulties of perinatal women stemmed in both, general symptoms of mental disorders and specific concerns connected to mother-child relationship. Therefore, the perinatal mental health services should cover both topics, preferably by a multidisciplinary team. Women search information about perinatal mental health, so thus, easy to reach valid resources are needed. Finally, Czech perinatal women experiencing emotional difficulties utilize various help-seeking patterns. Some of them naturalistically utilize integrated stepped care even when it is not systematically established.

Carp Breeding in the Carpathian Basin with a Sustainable Utilization of Renewable Natural Resources.

In the Central European region, there is a long tradition of breeding fish in artificially constructed ponds. As the area belongs to the temperate zone, farmed fish need to survive cold winter periods. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), which is an omnivorous, bioturbating species, is well adapted to warm and cold periods and the alluvial water environment. Since the Middle Ages, a large scale, efficient carp farming methodology has been developed in the region, where production is based on natural resources (protein and fatty acid sources) of renewable water ecosystems. This summary aims to present this well-developed breedi:ng method through discussing aspects of hydrobiology and energy transfer through the food chain as well. Capabilities and effects of agro-technical treatments such as liming and organic manuring, zooplankton management and possible supplementary feedings are also reviewed. Analysing chemical processes of waters uncovers that biological production has no carbon footprint; no carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. In contrast, gaseous carbon dioxide diffuses into pond water containing calcium and/or magnesium, then it accumulates in algae production and, through energy migration to upper trophic levels, increases carp production. Thus, it can be declared that pond-farmed carp provides an environmentally friendly, delicious meat among products of animal origin.

‘Kresy’ as the heart of darkness: Reading Polish and Belgian colonialisms

‘Kresy’ [ borderlands/outskirts] is a sentimental term used by Poles to denote the lands of today’s Western Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. The Polish rule in that region has rarely been discussed in terms of colonialism. In this article, I employ the framework of postcolonial theory within the context of Polish rule in ‘Kresy’. The article juxtaposes anthropologist Józef Obrębski’s ethnographic writings about Polesia region (a part of ‘Kresy’ that was polonised in the most extreme manner) with Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad – a Polish-British author born and raised in ‘Kresy’, that during his time was subjugated by Russian Empire. The figure of Conrad, whose ambivalent relationship with colonialism was pointed out by many postcolonial scholars starting with Chinua Achebe, becomes a point of departure to think about what Maria Janion describes as ‘the paradoxical Polish postcolonial mentality’: the ambivalence of being a colonised coloniser. The article is an attempt of contribution to the ongoing debate about identity and dependence in the East Central Europe region.

Projected changes in mean annual cycle of temperature and precipitation over the Czech Republic: Comparison of CMIP5 and CMIP6

The multi-model ensembles like CMIP5 or CMIP6 provide a tool to analyze structural uncertainty of climate simulations. Currently developed regional and local climate change scenarios for the Czech Republic assess the uncertainty based on state-of-the-art Global Climate Model (GCM) and Regional Climate Model (RCM) ensembles. Present study focuses on multi-model spread of projected changes in long-term monthly means and inter-annual variability of monthly mean minimum, mean and maximum daily air temperature and monthly mean precipitation. We concentrate in more detail on the simulation of CNRM-ESM2-1, the driving GCM for the convection permitting ALADIN-Climate/CZ simulation contributing to the local scenarios in very high resolution. For this GCM, we also analyze a mini-ensemble with perturbed initial conditions to evaluate the range of internal climate variability. The results for the Czech Republic reveal minor differences in model performance in the reference period whereas quite substantial inter-generation shift in projected future change towards higher air temperature and lower summer precipitation in CMIP6 comparing to CMIP5. One of the prominent features across GCM generations is the pattern of summer precipitation decrease over central Europe. Further, projected air temperature increase is higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring, implying increase of thermal continentality of climate. On the other hand, slight increase of winter precipitation and tendency towards decrease of summer precipitation lead to projected decrease of ombric continentality. The end of 21st century projections also imply higher probability of dry summer periods, higher precipitation amounts in the cold half of the year and extremely high temperature in summer. Regarding the CNRM-ESM2-1, it is often quite far from the multi-model median. Therefore, we strictly recommend to accompany any analysis based on the simulation of nested Aladin-CLIMATE/CZ with proper uncertainty estimate. The range of uncertainty connected to internal climate variability based on one GCM is often quite large in comparison to the range of whole CMIP6 ensemble. It implies that when constructing climate change scenarios for the Central Europe region, attention should be paid not only to structural uncertainty represented by inter-model differences and scenario uncertainty, but also to the influence of internal climate variability.

Is There “a Chinese Effect” On EU-15 Foreign Direct Investment in Central and Eastern Europe?

This paper aims to empirically verify the possible existence of “a Chinese effect ”, that is, a substitution effect between the Chinese and the EU-15 investment in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, which has been recently involved in the Belt and Road and 17+1 Initiatives. Such an effect can result from the strengthened political orientation of several CEEauthoritarian populist and illiberal elites towards China, which can, in turn, discourage the EU-15 from investing in the CEE region. Despite intensified Sino-CEE political relations, the results of the analysis conducted on 15 CEE countries during 2010–2018 suggest that the Chinese FDI does not substitute for investment from the EU-15 market since the expectations regarding the FDI cooperation between China and the CEE region have not been met. Moreover, most of the Chinese investment has been made via mergers and acquisitions, and not via greenfield FDI, which may lead to exaggerations of the relatively weak Chinese influence in the CEE region.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Foodborne Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Europe, 1980-2021.

Abstract Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection of the central nervous system that occurs in many parts of Europe and Asia. Humans mainly acquire TBE through tick bites, but TBE occasionally is contracted through consuming unpasteurized milk products from viremic livestock. We describe cases of TBE acquired through alimentary transmission in Europe during the past 4 decades. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 410 foodborne TBE cases, mostly from a region in central and eastern Europe. Most cases were reported during the warmer months (April–August) and were associated with ingesting unpasteurized dairy products from goats. The median incubation period was short, 3.5 days, and neuroinvasive disease was common (38.9%). The clinical attack rate was 14% (95% CI 12%–16%), and we noted major heterogeneity. Vaccination programs and public awareness campaigns could reduce the number of persons affected by this potentially severe disease.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Nephrology Care in People Living with HIV in Central/Eastern Europe and Neighbouring Countries-Cross-Sectional Analysis from the ECEE Network.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Central and East Europe (CEE) region consists of countries with highly diversified HIV epidemics, health care systems and socioeconomic status. The aim of the present study was to describe variations in CKD burden and care between countries. The Euroguidelines in the CEE Network Group includes 19 countries and was initiated to improve the standard of care for HIV infection in the region. Information on kidney care in HIV-positive patients was collected through online surveys sent to all members of the Network Group. Almost all centres use regular screening for CKD in all HIV (+) patients. Basic diagnostic tests for kidney function are available in the majority of centres. The most commonly used method for eGFR calculation is the Cockcroft–Gault equation. Nephrology consultation is available in all centres. The median frequency of CKD was 5% and the main cause was comorbidity. Haemodialysis was the only modality of treatment for kidney failure available in all ECEE countries. Only 39% of centres declared that all treatment options are available for HIV+ patients. The most commonly indicated barrier in kidney care was patients’ noncompliance. In the CEE region, people living with HIV have full access to screening for kidney disease but there are important limitations in treatment. The choice of dialysis modality and access to kidney transplantation are limited. The main burden of kidney disease is unrelated to HIV infection. Patient care can be significantly improved by addressing noncompliance.

The Slovak Constitution as a path to national sovereignty and liberal democracy

This text presents a brief look into the history of the creation of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, which recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. The author primarily focuses on the connection between the constitution-making and the disintegration of the Czechoslovak federation. From historical observations, he concludes that in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, the ethnic-cultural conception of the nation is still more preferred than the civic one. Then he considers whether the new Slovak Constitution was the work of political elites rather than the nation. In contrast to the contemporary Slovak constitutional theory, the author concludes the role of the nation in constitution-making was virtually non-existent, and yet, it is the nation which bears the ultimate responsibility for the constitution’s protection.