Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials (IICTs): A Systematic Search in Registries to Compare the Czech Republic and Portugal in Terms of Funding Policies and Scientific Outcomes.

Objectives: Clinical trials provide one of the highest levels of evidence to support medical practice. Investigator initiated clinical trials (IICTs) answer relevant questions in clinical practice that may not be addressed by industry. For the first time, two European Countries are compared in terms of IICTs, respective funders and publications, envisaging to inspire others to use similar indicators to assess clinical research outcomes.

The Current Status of European and National Financial Sources for Clinical Research and Their Impact on Paediatric Non-commercial Clinical Trials: A Case Study of the Czech Republic.

Introduction: Paediatric non-commercial interventional clinical trials (NICTs) are crucial for healthcare provision. In spite of the fact that current regulations and initiatives try to enhance the quantity and quality of paediatric NICTs, there are still shortcomings that need to be addressed in order to accelerate the conduct of relevant clinical trials in children. To improve the current landscape of paediatric clinical research, it is necessary to identify and analyse the main trends and shortcomings, along with their impact on national performance in paediatric NICTs and this is the aim of this work.

The atherogenic index of plasma is increased by hormonal contraception.

Background/aims: Oral contraceptives are known to induce secondary dyslipidemia. The aim of this study was to determine if hormonal contraceptives affect the new atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) = log[triglycerides (TG)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] together with the total cholesterol/HDL-C (TC/HDL-C) and the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (apoB/apoA1) ratios.

Design And Methods: This study included 43 healthy women.

[Risk of smoking for the cardiovascular diseases starts even before the birth].

Many proofs have confirmed that prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke is the important risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in later life. Such exposure influences on many CVD' determinants: obesity and adiposity, disturbances in glucose and blood lipids metabolism, hypertension, hypokinesis, blood vessel structure and heart reactivity. Expectant mothers have high moral motivation for the changes of their life style.