Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4)
Prophylactic vaccines against cancers of non-infectious origin: a dream or a real possibility?
Vladimír Vonka, Ivan Hirsch
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):247-258 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7219 
The dramatic progress in tumour biology and immunology in the past several years has opened new avenues for the treatment and prevention of cancer. One of the great contributions of the immunotherapeutic approaches is an increasing understanding of the immunology of cancer, which is, gradually creating conditions for the development of prophylactic anti-cancer vaccines. Efficient vaccines have been developed and employed for the prophylaxis of two frequent cancers of viral origin, namely cervical cancer and liver cancer. The new knowledge on the interactions between the immune system and the malignant tumors seems to provide means for the development...
A questionnaire-based study to assess knowledge and attitudes to meningococcal disease and prevention among parents of children up to two years in Lithuania
Sigita Burokiene, Vitalija Mesceriakova, Agne Navickaite, Jonas Kairys, Vytautas Usonis
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):259-264 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6206
Objectives: In July 2018, vaccine against meningococcal B infection in Lithuania was added to the national vaccination calendar. However, vaccination rates were low. The aim of the study was to identify parents' attitudes towards meningococcal disease and vaccination. Methods: In the period from February to March 2019, a questionnaire survey was conducted; 483 parents of children aged up to 2 years participated. In the validated questionnaire respondents provided data on their gender, education, age and answered questions that helped to estimate knowledge and attitudes towards meningococcal disease and vaccination. Results: Parents with higher education...
Private wells as potential sources of heavy metal exposure: a pilot study in northwest Slovakia
Miroslava Sovičová, Tibor Baška, Stanislav Kuka, Mária Tatarková, Eliška Štefanová, Mária Marušiaková, Henrieta Hudečková
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):265-270 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6721
Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyse levels of selected heavy metals: chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb), and to recognize factors related to wells' stewardship. Methods: The pilot study was realized in May 2018 in three villages in northwest of Slovakia. We analysed 69 water samples from private wells. The data on wells and well owners were obtained by self-administered questionnaire. The samples were analysed by atomic absorption spectroscopy with graphite furnace GF AAS (AAS GBC XplorAA 5000 with GBC GF 5000) equipped with hollow cathode lamps. Levels of heavy metals were compared with parametric values...
Time trends in adolescent mental wellbeing in the Czech Republic between 2002 and 2018: gender, age and socioeconomic differences
Alina Cosma, András Költő, Petr Badura, Petr Winkler, Michal Kalman
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):271-278 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6717
Objectives: Recent literature indicates a decline over time in adolescent mental wellbeing but results are inconsistent and rely mainly on data from Western societies. This study investigates time trends in adolescent mental wellbeing (psychological and somatic complaints, life satisfaction) among Czech adolescents and explores the moderating role of gender, age and socioeconomic status. Methods: Nationally representative data from 29,376 Czech adolescents (50.8% girls, mean age = 13.43; SD = 1.65) across five Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018) were used. Hierarchical regression models estimated national...
Violent deaths among adolescents in Serbia: past, present and future
Konstansa K. Lazarević, Zana Ć. Dolićanin, Miodrag M. Stojanović, Dragan Č. Bogdanović, Saša R. Milićević
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):279-283 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6502
Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the trend and methods of violent deaths (suicide and homicide) in adolescents aged 15-19 years in Serbia. Methods: Mortality database was drawn from the Statistical Office of Serbia from the 1997-2019 period. To calculate the annual percentage change (APC) of mortality rate (MR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval we used join point regression analysis. Statistical analyses were also performed using the chi-square test and Spearman's rho correlation. Results: The average suicide rate was 3.65 per 100,000 and homicide rate was 1.36 per 100,000 adolescents. The boys to girls ratio was 4.2 for suicides...
Infant feeding practices and asthma in children aged 6 months to 5 years using a propensity score approach
Chukwuemeka E. Ogbu, Samuel Fongue, Stella C. Ogbu, Russell S. Kirby
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):284-289 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6770
Objectives: We examined the association between exclusive breastfeeding, early introduction of feeding formula, early weaning, and asthma in children aged six months to five years in a sample of non-institutionalized US children using a propensity score approach. Methods: Our study used data from the National Survey of Children's Health (2012-2018) of 3,820 children with physician-diagnosed asthma aged 6 months to 5 years. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to control selection bias with age, sex, race, birth weight, Federal Poverty Level, parent's education, and parent smoking history used as covariates in PSM. The total number in the matched...
Determinants of soft drink consumption among children and adolescents in developed countries - a systematic review
Sven Schneider, Laura Schilling, Nina Osenbrügge
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):290-300 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6755
Objectives: Soft drinks are a major component of daily caloric and sugar intake. This is especially true for children and adolescents. The WHO as well as many other institutions currently recommend to increase research on the determinants of soft drink consumption. We submit a current systematic review on this topic. Methods: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, we included all quantitative observational studies that comprise samples from developed countries in the age range 0-18 years and are listed in PubMed, Sociological Abstracts and the Social Sciences Citation Index. Publication...
Different trends of Cr, Fe and Zn contents in hair between obese, overweight and normal-weight men
Lenka Lokvencová, Ondřej Zvěřina, Jan Kuta
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):301-304 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6912
Objectives: Overweight and obesity are risk factors for many diseases, nutrition leading to these phenomena is not only a question of disbalance between energy intake and expenditure, but also the presence of micronutrients. In our study, we focused on measuring residues of chromium, zinc and iron in the hair of men with different BMI. Methods: Hair samples and anthropometric questionnaires were collected from 45 males. Numbers of subjects and age structure were comparable between the three BMI groups. The determination of metal levels was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after mineralization of the hair. Results: The hair...
Influence of individualized prevention recommendations after one year on the control of hypertension in 3,868 follow-up participants of the ELITE study
Bastian Schrader, Joachim Schrader, Michael Koziolek, Albrecht Elsässer, Anna-Maria Bünker, Berit Hillmann, Bernhard Vaske, Hermann Haller, Stephan Lüders
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):305-310 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6908
Objectives: The ELITE study (German acronym for "Nutrition, lifestyle and individual information for prevention of heart attack, stroke and dementia") prospectively collects data on hypertension, cardiovascular risk factors (RF), dietary habits, physical activity, cognitive function, and quality of life in North-West Germany, which will then be improved through targeted individual information. The aim of the study is to improve the health of the participants in the long term and to identify reasons for a lack of implementation of prevention measures. Methods: Of 4,602 included subjects, 3,868 could be studied so far at one-year follow-up. Blood pressure...
Cigarette smoking and its consequences on periodontal health in teenagers: a cross-sectional study
Ivana Šutej, Darko Božić, Kristina Peroš, Darije Plančak
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):311-316 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6671
Objectives: Smoking has been extensively investigated as a risk factor for periodontal disease and many studies have confirmed it. The aim of this study was to show data from Croatia on periodontal health among high school students, with the focus on association of tobacco use and oral hygiene habits, and the periodontal parameters. Methods: Pocket probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing, supragingival calculus, and oral hygiene habits were recorded for each examinee out of 517 high school students. PPD was measured at 4 interproximal sites on all first molars and central incisors (index teeth). Results: There were 34.6% smokers among subjects, who...
Oral health in a context of public health: prevention-related issue
Betty Berezovsky, Vladimír Bencko
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):317-321 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6940
This publication analyses current literary knowledge on selected topics in the fields of oral health and pathology, with a particular emphasis on the potential roles of the oral microbiome and preventative approaches to oral afflictions. An important association with floral dysbiosis has been documented in important oral conditions, sometimes as a predisposing factor and at other times as a result thereof. However, much remains to be elucidated regarding the specific mechanisms at play, as well as their meaning in clinical practice. Continued research into the pathophysiology of certain oral diseases is of particular importance considering how widespread...
Short communication
Unvaccinated child tetanus from nasal toy battery
Lukáš Homola, Josef Klučka, Jan Helešic, Zlata Jirsenská, Milan Kratochvíl, Petr Dominik, Milan Urík, Ondřej Horák, Petr Jabandžiev, Lenka Krbková, Petr Štourač
Cent Eur J Public Health 2021, 29(4):322-324 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6702
We present the case report of an unvaccinated Czech child with tetanus. The child had not received any vaccines due to its parent's refusal. The disease originated from the wound in the nose caused by a small flat battery. The typical onset of tetanus followed after two weeks, rapidly progressing to respiratory failure with the need for mechanic ventilation despite intensive treatment. The child spent five weeks in the hospital. Mild long-term sequelae persisted 5 months.