FCTC implementation: the role of state or non-government organizations? An example of the Czech Republic.

Objectives: Smoking is the leading cause of premature mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to provide the first national description of organizational capacity and involvement in tobacco control (TC) measures outlined by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) within the Czech Republic.

Methods: Data were collected in a national cross-sectional survey of all 14 organizations engaged in TC activities within the Czech Republic.

Brand Awareness and Access to Cigarettes among Children 8-12 Years Old in the Czech Republic.

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess smoking behaviour, knowledge of cigarette brands and access to cigarettes among children 8-12 years old in the Czech Republic.

Method: Between 2009 and 2012, a cross sectional survey was conducted among 4,439 children aged 8-12 years attending 51 primary schools in Prague and Central Bohemia, Czech Republic. Data including age, gender, ever smoking, parental and sibling smoking, knowledge of cigarette brands, sources of cigarettes, and smoking frequency were collected.

Treatment of Tobacco Dependence, a Critical Gap in Czech Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Objective: Tobacco related comorbidities and treatment of dependence are relevant to clinicians of all disciplines. Clinicians should provide a brief intervention about tobacco use with smokers at each clinical contact (success rate of 5-10 %). Intensive treatment (success rate >30%) should be available to those who need it.

Continued Smoking in Lung Transplant Patients: A Cross Sectional Survey.

Introduction: Smoking is associated with a higher incidence of post-lung transplantation complications and mortality. Prior to inclusion on the lung transplant waiting list in the Czech Republic, patients are supposed to be tobacco free for at least 6 months. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of smoking, validated by urinary cotinine, among patients post lung transplantation and prior to inclusion on the transplant waiting list.

No difference in hypertension prevalence in smokers, former smokers and non-smokers after adjusting for body mass index and age: a cross-sectional study from the Czech Republic, 2010.

Background: Several hypotheses suggest a temporary increase in blood pressure following smoking cessation. This may be the result of endocrine changes (e.g.

Does the "healthy immigrant effect" extend to smoking in immigrant children?

The "healthy immigrant effect" may apply to lifestyle-related behaviors in immigrant children. In a cross-sectional study of 1,959 children aged 9-12 years, the number of years lived in Canada was related to an increased risk of smoking among immigrant children. Interventions may be needed for immigrant children to prevent the adoption of unhealthy behaviors prevalent in their new host environments.

Maintaining adequate nutrition, not probiotic administration, prevents growth stunting and maintains skeletal muscle protein synthesis rates in a piglet model of colitis.

Malnutrition and cytokine-induced catabolism are pervasive in children with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), however, the benefits of aggressive nutrition support or of probiotics on nutrient and functional deficiencies and growth remain unclear. Piglets with dextran sulfate (DS)-induced colitis consuming a 50% macronutrient restricted diet (C-MR) were compared with those receiving probiotics (C-MRP) or adequate nutrition (C-WN) and with healthy well-nourished controls (REF). C-WN versus REF had reduced growth (-34% chest circumference and -22% snout-to-rump length gain) and a tendency toward lesser weight gain, but no differences in skeletal muscle protein fractional synthesis rates (FSR) or initiation of translation via the mTOR pathway were observed.

Probiotics stimulate liver and plasma protein synthesis in piglets with dextran sulfate-induced colitis and macronutrient restriction.

Adequate nutrition and probiotics have each been shown to reduce the severity of colitis, but their impact on hepatic and gastrointestinal protein metabolism has not been studied. Our objective was to determine whether maintaining adequate nutrition compared with administering probiotics affected protein synthesis, colon histopathology, and oxidative stress in our macronutrient-restricted piglet model of colitis. Piglets (n = 8/group) receiving dextran sulfate to induce colitis were randomized to 3 treatment groups: macronutrient restricted (MR); macronutrient restricted with VSL #3 probiotics (MRP), or well nourished (WNC).