Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4)

Association between Overweight/Obesity and Academic Performance in South Korean Adolescents

Jong-Hyuck Kim, Wi-Young So

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):179-183 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3853  

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between academic performance and obesity/overweight among South Korean adolescents. Our data set included 72,399 adolescents in grades 7-12 who had participated in the 5th Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-based Survey (KYRBWS-V) in 2009. We assessed the association between academic performance and body mass index (BMI), using multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for covariates such as age, parents' education level, economic status, mental stress experienced, sleep duration, frequency of muscle-strengthening exercises, smoking and drinking behaviour, and vigorous and moderate...

The Level of Neighborhood Walkability in a Place of Residence and its Effect on Body Composition in Obese and Overweight Women

Tereza Sofková, Miroslava Přidalová, Josef Mitáš, Jana Pelclová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):184-189 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3849  

A neighborhood environment allows defining typical features for physically active or inactive lifestyle. An accelerated pace of life and higher availability of an unhealthy lifestyle increase obesity rates. An analysis of body composition can be used as a predictor for assessment of current somatic conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the dependence of selected body composition parameters on neighborhood walkability in 167 women aged 20-60 years attending weight-loss programme called STOB-courses. A multifrequency bioimpedance analysis InBody 720 was used to determine the body composition of respondents. Further, ANEWS questionnaire was...

Long-term Effects of 4-year Longitudinal School-based Physical Activity Intervention on the Physical Fitness of Children and Youth during 7-year Follow-up Assessment

Gregor Jurak, Ashley Cooper, Bojan Leskošek, Marjeta Kovač

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):190-195 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3823  

Many school-based physical activity (PA) interventions have been developed, but only a few have assessed their long-term effects. A PA intervention taking place in the first four years of some Slovenian primary schools entails an enhanced physical education (PE) curriculum, including two extra lessons of PE per week, a wider selection of PE content, and additional outdoor education delivered by both a specialist PE teacher and a general teacher. The effects of the intervention on children's physical fitness (motor tasks and anthropometry) were evaluated within a quasi-experimental study. In total, 324 children from nine Slovenian primary schools either...

Association of Obesity with Periodontitis, Tooth Loss and Oral Hygiene in Non-smoking Adults

Jelena Prpić, Davor Kuiš, Irena Glažar, Sonja Pezelj Ribarić

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):196-201 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3829  

Background: Periodontitis was found to be significantly related to obesity as well as the number of missing teeth and oral hygiene. However, the studies addressing these relationships often included smokers and diabetics, and none was performed in Eastern European patients. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate associations between obesity and periodontitis, oral hygiene, and tooth loss in a sample of non-smoking Croatian subjects aged 31-75 years. Methods: A total of 320 patients were recruited by convenient sampling at the Dental Clinic, Clinical Hospital Centre in Rijeka, Croatia. Periodontal examination and data...

Impact of Family Level Factors on Alcohol Drinking in Primary School Children

Veronika Rehorčíková, Eva Nemčovská, Zuzana Sklenárová, Andrej Kállay, Daniela Kállayová, Alexandra Bražinová, Miriam Slaná

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):202-206 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3913  

Objective: The aim of our study was to identify and analyze selected factors influencing alcohol use among primary school children aged 8 to15 years in the academic year 2009/10. Methods: The sample consisted of children from 28 primary schools. Data of this cross-sectional study were collected using questionnaires. Chi-Square test was used to test differences in proportions of observed phenomena between boys and girls. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the influence of selected factors on the variable "child's alcohol drinking per week". Results: The sample consisted of 2,494 respondents (52% of boys,...

Health-related Quality of Life in Soldiers in Croatia: Relationship with Combat Readiness and Psychological Dimensions

Davorka Perić, Darije Plančak, Martina Bulj, Vedrana Tudor, Stjepan Špalj

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):207-212 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3862  

Health status of soldiers affects their quality of life and combat readiness. The aim of the research was to explore the differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between combat ready und unready soldiers and to what extent are clinically assessed combat readiness and psychological dimensions related to self-reported HRQoL. The study included 402 consecutively selected soldiers aged 21 to 54 (mean age 35.3±6.0) who were classified on the basis of a regular health examination as combat ready (N=327) and unready (N=75). HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form-8 Questionnaire and psychological dimensions using the Brief Symptom Inventory....

Naturally Occurring Substances and Their Role in Chemo-protective Effects

Miroslava Bilecová-Rabajdová, Anna Birková, Peter Urban, Kristína Gregová, Eva Ďurovcová, Mária Mareková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):213-219 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3886  

Cancer chemoprevention is defined as the use of natural, synthetic or biological chemical agents to reverse, suppress or prevent carcinogenic progression of invasive cancer. Carcinogenesis is a complex multi-step process; therefore, it is necessary to attack cell proliferation, stimulate apoptosis and inhibit angiogenesis. There have been more than 60 randomised trials using chemopreventive potential agents. The success of several recent clinical trials in preventing cancer in high-risk populations suggests that chemoprevention is a rational and appealing strategy. In this review, we describe the conceptual basis for the chemoprevention of cancer,...

Quality of Life of Key Caregivers of Schizophrenia Patients and Association with Kinship

Branka Aukst Margetić, Miro Jakovljević, Zvjezdana Furjan, Branimir Margetić, Vlatka Boričević Maršanić

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):220-223 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3918  

Introduction: Reports on the quality of life (QOL) of family caregivers of schizophrenia patients are uncommon. Relations of different degree of kinship to caregivers' QOL are unexplored, but may be relevant. The purpose of this study was to assess the subjective QOL of caregivers of stable outpatients with diagnosis of schizophrenia compared with controls, and to assess factors associated with QOL in this population. Methods: Responses of 138 schizophrenia outpatient' family caregivers to the Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (QLESQ-SF) were compared with those of a sex- and age-matched control group. Patients...

Hybrid Ascaris Suum/Lumbricoides (Ascarididae) Infestation in a Pig Farmer: a Rare Case of Zoonotic Ascariasis

Moreno Dutto, Nicola Petrosillo

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):224-226 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3798  

We present a case of the 42 year old pig farmer from the province of Cuneo in Northwest Italy who was infected by the soil-transmitted nematode Ascaris sp. In November 2010 the patient found one worm in his stool, subsequently identified as female specimen of Ascaris sp. After a first anthelmintic treatment, another worm was found in his stool, that was later identified as male Ascaris sp. Blood tests prescribed by the patient's family physician, as suggested by a parasitologist, found nothing abnormal. A chest x-ray was negative for Loeffler's syndrome and an ultrasound of the abdomen was normal with no evidence of hepatic problems....

Skin Cancer Prevention among School Children: a Brief Review

Vinayak K. Nahar

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):227-232 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3864  

In many countries the incidence of melanoma has been doubling in every 10 years. Since 1930, the rate of melanoma has increased over 1,800% and researchers are expecting this trend to continue and increase for the next 10 to 20 years. Primary prevention and early detection of skin cancer in childhood is important to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Primary prevention programmes are more beneficial and effective in children, not only due to the particular importance of sunlight exposure during this period, but because this is when individuals are more open to changes and adopt new attitudes and behaviour. The purpose of this...

Regional Advisory Board Position Statement on Optimal Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults. Update to 2011 Consensus on Adult Pneumococcal Disease: Update on Optimal Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults

Endre Ludwig, Serhat Ünal, Miron Bogdan, Roman Chlíbek, Yavor Ivanov, Roman Kozlov, Hartmut Lode, Zsófia Mészner, Roman Prymula, Galia Rahav, Anna Skoczyńska, Ivan Solovič, Abdullah Sayıner

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):233-236 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3959  

Background: An important development in the field of adult pneumococcal vaccination since the last Consensus Statement, published by the Expert Panel of Central and Eastern Europe and Israel (the Region) in September 2012, was the licensure of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) for adults aged 50 years and older. Discussion: The Expert Panel has developed this Position Statement as an update to its previous Consensus to address the following topics which are likely to be on the agenda of national scientific societies during the ongoing updates of vaccination recommendations in the Region: the availability of a pneumococcal...

New malaria vaccines roadmap targets next generation products by 2030. Partners agree approach for developing vaccines capable of reducing malaria cases by 75%, and to enable malaria elimination.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):206  

Adolescents falling through gaps in HIV services. For World Aids Day 2013, who launches new HIV recommendations to increase testing, counselling, treatment and care for this neglected group.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):232  

Gains in tuberculosis control at risk due to 3 million missed patients and drug resistance. Progress in TB control can be substantially accelerated by addressing these challenges.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2013, 21(4):236-237