Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3)
Outcome of Antiretroviral Treatment in Patients with AIDS Monoinfection and Those Co-infected with Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Tuberculosis in Ukraine
Olga M. Radchuk, Nelly P. Chentsova, Sergii V. Tukaiev
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):143-146 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3850 
Antiretroviral therapy reduces AIDS morbidity and mortality as well as decreases HIV transmission by reducing the viral load (VL). We aimed to determine the rate of immunological and virological failure that reflects antiretroviral treatment (ART) effectiveness among the patients of the Kyiv City AIDS Centre and may lead to ART switch in the future. In 59% of patients the prescribed ATR regimen was regarded as successful, in 37% as unsuccessful and 4% of patients were excluded for lacking sufficient follow-up time. Among the cases of unsuccessful ART, the largest part of patients was experiencing secondary immunological failure, on the second place...
Monitoring of Congenital Anomalies in Latvia
Irisa Zīle, Anita Villeruša, Mika Gissler
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):147-152 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3893
Objective: This study provides a description and analysis of characteristics of the monitoring system for congenital anomalies at birth and prevalence trends in Latvia using retrospective analysis of congenital anomalies at birth with cross-sectional data on prevalence (national data from Latvia, 2000-2010). Methods: There are three main monitoring systems on congenital anomalies among newborns and infants: the Medical Birth Register with data on live births with one or more congenital anomalies at birth, the Register on Congenital Anomalies with genetically approved cases for live births and the National Causes of Death Register with...
Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in a Sample of Romanian Women
Cristian I. Meghea, Ioana A. Rus, Răzvan M. Cherecheş, Nicolae Costin, Gabriela Caracostea, Alexandra Brînzaniuc
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):153-158 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3947
Smoking during pregnancy is causally associated with reduced birth weight and is strongly related to preterm birth. Smoking cessation in early pregnancy seems to reduce these risks, although the research evidence is limited. In a sample of Romanian women, differences in birth outcomes were assessed between non-smokers and women who continued to smoke during pregnancy and non-smokers and women who stopped smoking when they found out about the pregnancy. Pregnant women were recruited in two urban clinics (N=474). A baseline questionnaire collected information on their smoking status, depressive symptoms, stress, demographics, and other characteristics...
Combined Effect of Selected Mineral Fibres and Tobacco Smoke on Respiratory Tract in Rats
Marta Hurbánková, Dominika Hrašková, Milan Beňo, Silvia Černá, Soňa Wimmerová, Štefánia Moricová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):159-163 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3894
The rats were inhaling amosite and wollastonite fibres at two concentrations (30 and 60 mg/m3) one hour every second day and cigarette smoke of 3 cigarettes per day (with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays). They were sacrificed after 6 month of exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and selected inflammatory and cytotoxic parameters were examined. Amosite: inflammatory parameters were the most changed after 60 mg/m3 in both groups with or without smoking; the cytotoxic parameters were strongly influenced by smoking. Wollastonite (asbestos substitute) inhalation confirmed lower inflammatory and cytotoxic effects...
Factors Affecting the Success of Influenza Laboratory Diagnosis
Renáta Kissová, Marek Svitok, Cyril Klement, Lucia Maďarová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):164-169 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3906
Influenza is one of the most common human infectious diseases, and has profound health and economic consequences. The laboratory diagnosis of influenza virus infections plays an important role in the global surveillance of influenza. Therefore, there is a growing demand for highly sensitive and rapid methods for detecting influenza. The performance of particular diagnostic methods is affected by various factors. In this study, we assess the effects of patients' age and time to diagnosis on the probability of detecting influenza using four diagnostic methods (virus isolation, rapid test, RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR). We examined 3,546 samples from central...
Fighting Obesity Campaign in Turkey: Evaluation of Media Campaign Efficacy
İnci Arıkan, Kağan Karakaya, Mustafa Erata, Hakan Tüzün, Emine Baran, Levent Göçmen, Harika Kökalan Yeşil
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):170-174 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3882
Aim: This study aims to determine the frequency of behaviour change and related factors generated in the population through the "Fighting Obesity Campaign" of the Turkish Ministry of Health. Methods: Twelve statistical regions from NUTS-1 and 18 provinces were selected for the study sample. At least one province from each region was randomly selected, and strata were defined as urban or rural. Of the sample selected, 2,038 respondents completed a face-to-face survey. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Changing behaviour as result of the campaign was defined as the dependent variable. Behaviour change was defined...
Secondary Prevention of Acute Coronary Syndrome. Socio-economic and Lifestyle Determinants: A Literature Review
Venetia Notara, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Christos E. Pitsavos
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):175-182 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3960
Although cardiovascular disease mortality rates seem to decline, especially among middle-aged people in developed countries, the prevalence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) increases, representing the most common cause of morbidity in both developed and developing countries and generating large economic burden. It is estimated that one fifth of the ACS patients die suddenly and half of them belong to a fast growing population age-group, i.e., those between 70 and 80 years. A substantial number of these deaths has been attributed to various lifestyles, modifiable factors; therefore, it can be prevented. However, factors such as dietary habits and behaviours,...
Medical Doctors in Hungary: 30 Years after Graduation. Data on Lifestyle, Morbidity, Demography and Differences between Specialties
Imre Rurik, Endre Szigethy, Zoltán Langmár
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):183-188 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3910
There are few studies from East and Central European countries on health-status, lifestyle and social circumstances of medical professionals. We evaluated data of a cohort of physicians who had graduated 30 years ago in Hungary and compared the data of their professional carrier, life style, health outcomes, and medical specialties. Questionnaires compiled by an expert group and filled in by 208 physicians (83 men and 125 women) were analysed. Men mostly work as surgeons, women were mostly employed as primary care specialists. Women changed their specialty and/or place of work more often than men. Male primary care physicians had more children than...
Prevalence of Unintentional Injuries and Related Risk Factors among University Students in Canakkale City, Western Turkey
Coşkun Bakar, Sibel Cevizci, Duru Gündoğar, Handan Işın Özışık Karaman
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):189-196 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3974
Objective: We examined the prevalence of unintentional injuries and associated risk factors among university students in Canakkale city, Turkey. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007-2008. A total of 4,762 students completed the questionnaire. Risk factors associated with the rate of accidents were assessed by chi-square analysis and effects of these factors on unintentional injuries were described by logistic regression analysis. Results: The rate of unintentional injuries among university students was 14.9% during the previous 12 months. The most reported injuries occurred on the road (43.8%), at home (33.2%)...
Epidemiological Data and Cancer Risk Assessment: Cessation Lag and Lingering Effect Concepts
Vladimír Bencko, Chao Chen
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):197-200 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3940
Cessation lag and lingering effect are two important aspects of risk assessment, and have potential applications to dose-response analysis in risk assessment. In addition to providing insight into biological mode of action, the concept of cessation lag is useful for economic benefit analysis. Concept of effect lingering can be used to analyze epidemiological data by uncovering the hidden biological implications related to disease endpoints, thereby advancing current efforts to characterize and reduce risk assessment uncertainties. Multicentre study design is proposed as a way to increase study size and to mitigate criticism of meta-analysis of independent...
Empirical Evidence of the Efficiency and Efficacy of Fat Taxes and Thin Subsidies
J. Stephen Clark, Ludwig O. Dittrich, Qin Xu
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):201-206 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3933
This study summarizes the empirical literature on fat taxes and thin subsidies to assess their efficiency and efficacy as instruments of public policy to control obesity. Three specific types of taxes are studied in the literature: food group taxes; nutrient taxes; and nutrient index taxes. A number of studies use food expenditure data to assess the impact of various taxes on obesity and therefore only indirectly measure the impacts of taxes and subsidies on obesity. These studies generally conclude that food group taxes, nutrient taxes and nutrient index taxes have a small impact on the purchases of food and the nutrients purchased. Other studies...
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever: Case Fatality Rate 90%?
Mohamed Farouk Allam
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):207 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4070
News and Notes
WHO targets elimination of TB in over 30 countries.
Chiara Ippoliti
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):158, 163
Member states commit to reduce preventable deaths from heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and lung disease.
Dan Epstein
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):196
World heart day 2014: salt reduction saves lives.
Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(3):206