Eva Litavcová

TNFRSF11B gene polymorphisms, bone mineral density, and fractures in Slovak postmenopausal women

Osteoporosis is a common disease that is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), deterioration in bone microarchitecture, and increased fracture risk. Due to its important role in bone biology, the TNFRSF11B gene, coding for OPG, has been considered as a candidate gene for osteoporosis. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) A163G, T245G, and G1181C (rs3102735, rs3134069, and rs2073618, respectively) within the TNFRSF11B gene were studied for association with BMD and fracture incidence in a cohort of 327 postmenopausal Slovak women. Genomic DNA was extracted and purified from peripheral blood leukocytes by the commercial kit JetQuick (Genomed GmbH, Germany) using a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed using the Custom TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assays. The lumbar L1–L4 spine BMD (g/cm2) and T-score in the subgroup of Slovak postmenopausal women with osteoporotic fractures were significantly lower than those in the subgroup of women without fracture (p = 0.0025; p = 0.0009). We identified the T245G (rs3134069) polymorphism in the TNFRSF11B gene associated with osteoporotic fractures (vertebral fractures: p = 0.0320; non-vertebral fractures: p = 0.0005; all fractures: 0.0000). The polymorphism T245G (rs3134069) in the TNFRSF11B gene could be used together with other genetic markers to identify individuals at high risk of osteoporotic fractures. The results from the present study provided more evidence to reveal the role of TNFRSF11B gene polymorphisms in BMD and the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

Implementation of Du Pont Model in Non-Financial Corporations

In this paper, the practical application of the dynamic decomposition of the return on equity is used on the basis of the ratio indicators. These indicators are determined according to the absolute items taken from the Register of Financial Statements of the Slovak Republic and are obtained for individual non-financial corporations according to SK NACE 26 and SK NACE 27 for the period 2013- 2016. Du Pont decomposition of the return on equity allowed quantifying the impact of the financial indicators such as return on sales, total assets turnover ratio, financial leverage, and interest and tax profit reduction, which were linked by a multiplicative product interaction. Quantification of the factors impact was applied to a sample of 138 non-financial corporations using the equations valid for the application of the functional method. By applying the exploration data analysis, the impact of the factors is plotted graphically. The box plot shows that the obtained values are very varied and it follows that no clear conclusion can be deduced. There is potential for further exploration of the dynamic model.

Phenomenon of Poverty and Economic Inequality in the Slovak Republic

Abstract Todays period is affected by various crises either on domestic or foreign scene and the phenomenon of poverty is becoming its everyday part. The Slovak Republic belongs to the countries with the lowest risk of poverty in the European Union, but more and more of its economically active population is faced with this undesirable phenomenon. The paper focuses on characteristics of the current situation and describes the relationship of poverty with other indicators monitored at the state level, e.g. unemployment or migration of population. Using the described regression and correlation analysis in the methodological section is examined the dependence of these indicators with other indicators. Based on these results, the contribution identifies and provides opportunities respectively suggestions for improving the current situation.