Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1)

Role of Retinoids and their Cognate Nuclear Receptors in Breast Cancer Chemoprevention

Július Brtko

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):3-6 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3412  

Retinoids are natural and synthetic compounds related to retinoic acid that act through interaction with two basic types of nuclear receptors: retinoic acid receptors (RARα, RARβ and RARγ) and retinoid X receptors (RXRα, RXRβ and RXRγ) as ligand-activated, DNA-binding, transacting, transcription-modulating proteins involved in a general molecular mechanism responsible for transcriptional responses in target genes. Function of retinoids in organisms affecting broad spectrum of various biochemical and molecular biology reactions is unimaginable without fully functional nuclear receptors - retinoid inducible transcription...

Infant Mortality in Gynaecological and Unemployment Aspects in Opole Province, Poland

Andrzej Tukiendorf, Michał Łasocha, Grzegorz Krasowski, Ewa Orska, Aleksandra Porębska

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):7-12 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3395  

In the study the results of the relation between infant (neonatal + post-neonatal) mortality and the gynaecological and unemployment factors are presented. The findings are based on Bayesian modelling and indicate the possible influence of the unemployment situation on mortality, whereas no correlation was found as regards access to the availability of gynaecological health care. The main conclusion is that elevated unemployment which could be referred to a poor socioeconomic situation (amongst other factors) may force pregnant women to pay more attention to improving their life conditions, than to sufficient medical controlling.

Alterations of Human Immune System Functions in Relation to Environmental Contamination, Gender and Alcohol Consumption Intensity

Birute Kazbariene, Julius Kalibatas, Aurelija Krikstaponiene, Danguole Zabulyte, Elena Monceviciute-Eringiene

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):13-17 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3404  

Environmental contamination and use of alcohol may be a cause of immune system disturbances and various diseases.The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of different alcohol consumption intensity on the immune condition of women and men living in a district contaminated with industrial siftings (Trakai) and in a relatively clean district (Širvintos).The immune system parameters were investigated in 282 Trakai district inhabitants (127 males and 155 females) and in 282 Širvintos district inhabitants (129 males and 153 females). Due to gender and alcohol consumption intensity the immune system functions were evaluated in the following groups:...

Long Term Correlation between Cancer and Cardiovascular Deaths According to Various Trends in Slovak Districts 1994-2003

Mária Letkovičová, Hana Zach, Martin Letkovič, Alexander Martin Čelko

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):18-22 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3376  

The aim of the article was to point out recorded cardiovascular deaths did not copy the real number of cardiovascular deaths, but may also include other causes of deaths. We evaluated all death notifications reported to the Statistical Office of the Slovak republic during the 10-year period, that is 519,680 cases in total. We analysed the year of death, location of death and the cause of death. The causes of deaths were split into three groups: cancer deaths, cardiovascular deaths (CVD) and other deaths. We used the fuzzy c cluster analysis and the basic epidemiological and statistical methods for the evaluation. We uncovered some Slovak districts...

Dietary Intakes, Physical Activity, and Predictors of Child Obesity among 4-6th Graders in the Czech Republic

Lenka Humeníková, Gail E. Gates

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):23-28 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3413  

The prevalence of child obesity in the Czech Republic has increased in the last several years, especially among school-aged children. While obesity trends are closely monitored in the Czech Republic, very little is known about the dietary habits and exercise behaviors of Czech children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nutrient intakes and physical activity, as well as identify predictors of BMI-for-age in a sample of Czech school-aged children. Ninety-seven fourth, fifth and sixth graders and their parents from two large Czech cities participated in the study. Two 24-hour recalls provided total amount of energy, fat, percentage of energy...

Increasing Trends of Tobacco Use in Medical Students in Slovakia - A Reason for Concern?

Tibor Baška, Martina Bašková, Henrieta Hudečková, Štefan Straka, Rastislav Maďar

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):29-32 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3402  

Objective: The article analyses changes in tobacco use in medical students in Slovakia in 1995, 1999 and 2004.Methods: Questionnaire survey in 448 students of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Martin, Slovakia, was carried out in October and November 2004. Data were compared with similar surveys carried out in 1995 and 1999.Results: Prevalence of daily smoking in men increased from 11.1 in 1995 to 21.8% in 2004. In women, within 1995-2004, daily smoking increased from 5.2% to 12.3%, occasional smoking from 11.6% to 19.8%. Also proportion of women initiating smoking during their university study increased. In both genders...

Incidence and Nature of Farm-related Injuries among Children Aged 6-15 during a 10-year Period in One Region in Poland

Stefania Sosnowska, Tomasz Kostka

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):33-37 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3400  

The health risks among children in "new" and "old" members of the European Union seem to be different. Farms are the most frequent place of injuries among children living in rural areas in Poland. Our aim is to present data on the farm-related injuries conditions among children aged 6-15 in one large region in Poland. The analysis has been made on the basis of information collected from the Farmers' Insurance Fund in Włocławek, which registers all farm-related injuries reported within the Włocławek Province. Over the 10-year study period 449 injuries were recorded (1.29 injuries per 1000 person-years). Among all victims there were 132 girls (29.4%...

First Confirmation of Bordetella pertussis Occurence in Slovakia by Using Real-time PCR

Lucia Maďarová, Cyril Klement, Desana Kohútová, Katarína Tináková, Ľudmila Krajčíková, Margita Obernauerová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):38-43 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3401  

By application of the real-time PCR we manage to confirm the diagnosis and occurrence of a disease, which is caused by Bordetella pertussis - pertussis. Using this method we have proven the presence of DNA of Bordetella pertussis in the biological materials (nasopharyngeal swabs). The presence of IS481 genome sequence of Bordetella pertussis was confirmed. This method of detection of pathogens seems to be very rapid, simple, and specific. In the case of adequate technical laboratory equipment it may become very suitable and important supporter in explanation and confirmation of the occurrence of bacterial infections.

Book Reviews

Jindřich Jíra

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):46-48  

Lodi Declaration on Healthy Villages

Cent Eur J Public Health 2007, 15(1):44-45