Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4)

Smoking and Alcohol Drinking During Pregnancy The Reliability of Retrospective Maternal Self-reported Information

Czeizel A.E., Petik D., Puhó E.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):179-183  

Background: The reliability of retrospective maternal self-reported information regarding smoking and alcohol drinking during pregnancy seemed necessary to be checked.Methods: Two groups of congenital abnormalities were selected for the study from the population based Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry. The prevalence of smoking and drinking during the study pregnancy was measured in the mothers of 81 cases affected with isolated orofacial cleft and 537 cases with congenital limb deficiencies, and in their matched control pairs without any defect by maternal self-reported retrospective information through a mailed structured questionnaire....

Effectiveness of School Programs in Tobacco Control

Baška T., Straka Š., Bašková M., Maďar R.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):184-186  

The authors reviewed published data dealing with the effectiveness of school programs in tobacco control. Most of the evaluated school programs showed at least partial effect including namely improved knowledge level, decreased prevalence of smoking initiation and continuation. Less successful was achieving of behavioural changes and social resistance. Effect of the school programs can be significantly amplified by combination with other interventions such as mass media campaigns, parent involvement and extracurricular activities.The main problem of the studies in this field is a relatively short follow-up time not allowing considering findings...

The Level of Nickel in Smoker's Blood and Urine

Stojanović D., Nikić D., Lazarević K.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):187-189  

General population is exposed to nickel from various sources. Smoking presents a significant form of exposure. The research was conducted in period 2000-2003 in Institute of Public Health in Nis. The samples of tobacco and cigarettes (127 samples) were both domestic and imported, and samples of biological material (123 blood samples and 147 urine samples) were taken from occupationally unexposed persons (smokers and non-smokers). The analyses were performed by electrothermal atomization technique, by Perkin Elmer AAS M-1100.The results obtained, revealed a high content of nickel in cigarettes (2.32-4.20 mg/kg) and in tobacco (2.20-4.91 mg/kg) regardless...

Tobacco Industry Efforts to Erode Tobacco Advertising Controls in Hungary

Szilágyi T., Chapman S.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):190-196  

Objective: To review strategies of transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) at creating a favourable advertising environment for their products in Hungary, with special regard to efforts resulting in the liberalisation of tobacco advertising in 1997.Method: Analysis of internal tobacco industry documents relevant to Hungary available on the World Wide Web. Transcripts of speeches of members of the Parliament during the debate of the 1997 advertising act were also reviewed.Conclusions: The tobacco companies not only entered the Hungarian market by early participation in the privatisation of the former state tobacco monopoly, but also imported...

HIV Infection and Risk Behaviour of Commercial Sex Workers and Infecting Drug Users in Slovakia

Staneková D., Jírešová K., Habeková M., Wimmerová S., Cuitti M., Vavrinčíková L., Valachovičová M., Kovačič V., Mayer V.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):197-200  

Introduction: Aim of the study was to determine risk behaviour and HIV prevalence among commercial sex workers (CSWs) and intravenous drug users (IDUs) in streets of Bratislava and B. Bystrica, SR.Methods: HIV antibodies were tested from saliva using ELISA test. Anonymous questionnaire was completed.Results: 121 persons (61 men and 60 women) were involved in the sociological study. Mean age of the participants was 21.9 years. 185.1% of subjects were from Bratislava. 108 participants were tested for the presence of HIV-antibodies, one was confirmed HIV-positive (0.82%). In the past 47.9% of participants and 22.3% of their partners were tested...

Epidemiology of AIDS Determining Conditions in Greece

Masgala A., Nikolopoulos G., Tsantes A., Paraskeva D.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):201-206  

Objective: To examine the secular trends of all AIDS opportunistic infections to occur first (OIs) in Greece, by year, by gender and by mode of transmission. Methods: The study included all AIDS defining conditions reported among Greek residents diagnosed with AIDS from 1981 to June 2003 and notified to the Hellenic Centre of Infectious Diseases Control. The analysis of trends in AIDS defining conditions in Greece has been performed only for the period 1993-2003. Results: From 1981 to the first six months of 2003, 2,394 AIDS cases, 2,361 adults and 33 children, have been reported. HIV wasting syndrome was the most frequent OI to occur first followed...

Prevalence of Self-reported Myocardial Infarction in a Greek Sample: Findings from a Population-based Study in a Urban Area (Medical Express 2002)

Gikas A., Sotiropoulos A., Panagiotakos D.B., Pappas S.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):207-210  

During the 1970s and 1980s, Greece was known as a country with low prevalence and incidence of coronary heart disease, compared to Western populations. However, during the past decades, the Greek population has experienced marked but uneven socio-economic development, as well as change in lifestyle habits. We assessed the prevalence of self-reported myocardial infarction (MI) in a sample of the general population, aged 20-94 years. The overall prevalence of self-reported MI was 4.1% (6.3% in men and 1.9% in women). The age-adjusted prevalence was found to be 3.6%, showing a threefold increase compared to 1980s.Age, gender (male), low educational...

Functional Ability after Hip Fracture among Patients Home-Dwelling at the Time of Fracture

Nevalainen T.H., Hiltunen L.A., Jalovaara P.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):211-216  

The aim of the study was to assess the change in function and residential status four months after hip fracture in patients over 50 years of age and living independently at home at the time of fracture. All consecutive hip fracture patients treated at Oulu University Hospital during 1989-1999 were followed up. Data collection was done on standardized hip fracture forms, which were filled in at admission and at four months postoperatively. The forms included demographic data, place of residence, locomotor ability, use of walking aids, data on the fracture and its treatment, hospital stay, place of discharge and pain.At four months, 16.0% of the...

Homocysteine and its Nutritional Determinants in Two Ethnic Groups of Slovakia

Krajčovičová-Kudláčková M., Blažíček P., Ginter E., Valachičová M.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):217-219  

Determinants of total homocysteine involve demographic (age, sex, ethnic origin), genetic (enzymatic defects of metabolic homocysteine pathways) and acquired factors (deficiency of B-group vitamins, state of health, lifestyle).Plasma levels of total homocysteine and serum levels of vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin B6 were measured in adult apparently healthy Romany minority subjects (n=119) and compared with those levels in apparently healthy subjects of majority Slovak population (n=146).Mean homocysteine level was similar in both groups (9.92 µmol/l in the Romany vs. 9.61 µmol/l in majority group). Hyperhomocysteinemia was only...

Determination of N-methylcarbamates in Foods

Borkovcová I., Janoušková E., Řehůřková I., Ruprich J.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):220-223  

The multiresidue method using multisolvent extraction, SPE cleanup of the extract, HPLC with the use of OPA post-column reaction and fluorescence detection for the determination of N-methylcarbamate pesticides in food products was used.A matrix solid phase dispersion method of the isolation and extraction of carbamates was alternatively applied. In the introductory study 44 items of the food basket for the Czech Republic were analysed.In the major part of the studied samples, the considerable part of which was culinary treated, the concentration of the target carbamates was below the limit of the used detection method. In the concentration...

Emergency Medical Service in Poland - Current State and a Need of Reform

Krajewski-Siuda K., Romaniuk P.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):224-227  

The article focuses on the question of reorganisation of Emergency Medical Service in Poland. First part of the paper contains a short description of a project of the Integrated Rescue System, which have been included in the National Emergency Medical Service Act enacted by Parliament in 2001. Considering to the fact, that implementation of this reform has been stopped after general elections in autumn 2001, in the second part of the paper some arguments supporting the postulate of urgent realisation of this project are discussed. The arguments refer to five spheres: epidemiological, social, political, legal and economical. The conclusions of the discussion...

Obesity in Byzantine and in Modern Era, from a Public Health Perspective

Polychronopoulos E., Eftychiades A., Panagiotakos D.B., Chrysohoou C., Toutouzas P., Marketos S.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):228-230  

Obesity is one of today's most serious and amplified public health problems. Surprisingly, obesity constituted a health problem through the Byzantine Empire (3rd to 15th century AD) as well; the extent of the problem was then very much alike to that one seen in modern industrialized and developing countries of today. In this report we perform an historical throwback in Byzantine years in order to explore the link regarding the aspects of obesity in these years and in modern era.

Global Disease Eradication: the Race for the Last Child

Jindřich Jíra

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):233  

Praktische Tropen und Reisemedizin. Patientenberatung und Empfehlungen zur Diagnose und Therapie von Tropenkrankheiten

Jindřich Jíra

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):234  

Zellbiologie

Jindřich Jíra

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):235  

News and Notes

Suicide huge but preventable public health problem, says WHO. World suicide prevention day--10 september.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):196, 200, 206  

World Health Organization launches new initiative to address the health needs of a rapidly ageing population.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):210, 216  

Who publishes new guidelines on preventing mother to child transmission of HIV.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):223  

Second International Conference on the Quality of the Indoor Environment in Hospitals. Prague, 6-7 October 2005

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):231-232  

AIDS epidemic poses serious threat to Europe. Unaids and WHO call on governments to turn policy into action.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2004, 12(4):236