Factors associated with support for social enforcement of smoke-free policies in Georgia and Armenia.

Introduction: Armenia's and Georgia's high rates of smoking and secondhand smoke and recent implementation of smoke-free laws provide a timely opportunity to examine factors that increase compliance, like social enforcement and support for governmental enforcement.

Methods: Using 2022 data from 1468 Armenian and Georgian adults (mean age=42.92 years, 48.

Meeting statement: Call to action for step-change in health behaviours.

Background: Enabling, supporting and promoting positive health-related behaviours is critical in addressing the major public health challenges of our time, and the multifaceted nature of behaviours requires an evidence-based approach. This statement seeks to suggest how a much-needed enhanced use of behavioural and cultural science and insights for health could be advanced.

Study Design And Methods: and methods: Public health authorities of Europe and Central Asia and international partner organizations in September 2023 met in Copenhagen, Denmark, to discuss the way forward.

Examining local smoke-free coalitions in Armenia and Georgia: context and outcomes of a matched-pairs community-randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Local coalitions can advance public health initiatives such as smoke-free air but have not been widely used or well-studied in low-income and middle-income countries.

Methods: We conducted a matched-pairs community-randomised controlled trial in 28 communities in Armenia and Georgia (N=14/country) in which we helped establish local coalitions in 2019 and provided training and technical assistance for coalition activity promoting smoke-free policy development and enforcement (2019-2021). Surveys of ~1450 households (Fall 2018, May-June 2022) were conducted to evaluate coalition impact on smoke-free policy support, smoke-free home adoption, secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe), and coalition awareness and activity exposure, using multivariable mixed modelling.

Associations Between Pro/Anti-Tobacco Media and Messaging Exposure and Knowledge and Support of Smoke-Free Policy Among Adults in Armenia and Georgia.

Context: Despite high smoking rates, Armenia and Georgia recently adopted smoke-free policies (2022 and 2018).

Objective: We examined associations between exposure to pro-tobacco media (news opposing smoke-free policies; cigarette, e-cigarette, heated tobacco product [HTP] advertisements) and anti-tobacco media (media, community-based action) and (1) knowledge that the policies applied to alternative tobacco products (ATPs), and (2) support for the policies applying to ATPs and various settings.

Design: We analyzed 2022 survey data.

AWARENESS OF CANCER SCREENING AMONG GEORGIAN PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS.

Despite the development of new diagnostic and treatment tools, cancer remains one of the leading public health challenges of developed and developing countries. According to the National Center for Disease control and Public Health (NCDC), incidence of all cancer cases in 2018 was 258.6 per 100.

Psychosocial Factors, Smoke-Free Restrictions, and Media Exposure in Relation to Smoking-Related Attitudes and Behaviors among Adults in Armenia and Georgia.

Background: Perceived harm, social influences, smoke-free policies, and media exposure have been understudied in relation to tobacco-related attitudes/behaviors in aggregate or in low and middle-income countries; thus, this study examined these factors collectively in relation to smoking-related outcomes among Armenian and Georgian adults.

Methods: Using 2018 cross-sectional survey data (n = 1456), multivariable regression analyses examined these factors in relation to smoking status, perceived harm among nonsmokers, and readiness to quit and past-year quit attempts among smokers.

Results: Significant predictors ( < 0.

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Road Traffic Fatalities in Women of Reproductive Age in the Republic of Georgia: Evidence from the National Reproductive Age Mortality Study (2014).

Purpose: Globally and in the European region, the road traffic injuries (RTI) have emerged as a major public health and development problem, killing the most productive adult members of a population, including women. This study aimed to identify the key socio-demographic determinants of premature and avoidable RTI mortality in reproductive-aged women (15-49 years) in Georgia.

Materials And Methods: The study employed verbal autopsy data from the second national reproductive age mortality survey (RAMOS 2014).

Smokers' and Nonsmokers' Receptivity to Smoke-Free Policies and Pro- and Anti-Policy Messaging in Armenia and Georgia.

Garnering support for smoke-free policies is critical for their successful adoption, particularly in countries with high smoking prevalence, such as Armenia and Georgia. In 2018, we surveyed 1456 residents (ages 18-64) of 28 cities in Armenia ( = 705) and Georgia ( = 751). We examined support for cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)/heated tobacco product (HTP) smoke-free policies in various locations and persuasiveness of pro- and anti-policy messaging.

The burden of non-communicable diseases and their related risk factors in the country of Georgia, 2015.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mainly cardiovascular diseases, are a substantial cause of mortality in the country of Georgia, accounting for approximately 93% of all deaths (standardized mortality rate 630.7 deaths per 100,000 persons per year) and an important threat to health security. We conducted a nationally representative survey examining the prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors as part of a 2015 Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) serosurvey.

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Mortality from Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases in Women of Reproductive Age in the Republic of Georgia: Evidence from the National Reproductive Age Mortality Study (2014).

Purpose: Worldwide, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of premature death of women, taking the highest toll in developing countries. This study aimed to identify key socio-demographic determinants of NCD mortality in reproductive-aged women (15-49 years) in Georgia.

Materials And Methods: The study employed the verbal autopsy data from the second National Reproductive Age Mortality Survey 2014.

Examining smoke-free coalitions in Armenia and Georgia: baseline community capacity.

Local coalitions can advance public health initiative but have not been widely used or well-studied in low- and middle-income countries. This paper provides (i) an overview of an ongoing matched-pairs community-randomized controlled trial in 28 communities in Armenia and Georgia (N = 14/country) testing local coalitions to promote smoke-free policies/enforcement and (ii) characteristics of the communities involved. In July-August 2018, key informants (e.

Perceived Effectiveness of Differing Health Warning Label Messaging Strategies among Adults in the Republic of Georgia: One Size Does Not Fit All.

: While pictorial health warning labels (HWLs) are evidence-based, the different messaging strategies are understudied. : We analyzed 2014 national survey data from 1163 Georgian adults to examine: (1) perceived effectiveness of pictorial vs. text-only HWLs; (2) pictorial HWL themes; and (3) correlates of perceived effectiveness of different pictorial themes.

Tularemia transmission to humans: a multifaceted surveillance approach.

Tularemia has sustained seroprevalence in Eurasia, with estimates as high as 15% in endemic regions. The purpose of this report is to characterise the current epidemiology of Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica in Georgia. Three surveillance activities are summarised: (1) acute infections captured in Georgia's notifiable disease surveillance system, (2) infectious disease seroprevalence study of military volunteers, and (3) a study of seroprevalence and risk factors in endemic regions.

Leading causes of death of women of reproductive age in the Republic of Georgia: findings from the National Reproductive Age Mortality Survey (2014).

Purpose: An understanding of women's health problems during the reproductive years, based on reliable cause-of-death data, is of critical importance to avoid premature female mortality. This study aimed to investigate mortality levels, cause-specific patterns, and trends in women of reproductive age in Georgia.

Materials And Methods: The National Reproductive Age Mortality Survey (2014) was conducted to identify all causes of death for women aged 15-49 years in 2012.

ROTAVIRUS VACCINE IMPLEMENTATION IN GEORGIA - IMPACT OF KNOWLEDGE, APPROACH, AND PRACTICES OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

Rotavirus (RV) is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children worldwide. RV causes approximately half a million deaths each year among children aged <5 years. According to WHO estimates for 2008, there were approximately 10 to 50 deaths annually in young children due to rotavirus diarrhea in Georgia.

CHANGES OF LIPOPEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDATIVE ENZYMES DURING CRUSH-SYNDROME MODELLING.

Crush-syndrome (CS) is characterized by numerous pathological deviations due to the soft tissue damage and their further reperfusion. The aim of the study was to investigate pro- and antioxidative processes during different regimens of crush syndrome. The experiment was carried out on randomly selected 200-250gr.

Reactions to smoke-free public policies and smoke-free home policies in the Republic of Georgia: results from a 2014 national survey.

Objectives: We examined receptivity to public smoke-free policies and smoke-free home status among adults in the Republic of Georgia.

Methods: In Spring 2014, we conducted a national household survey of 1163 adults.

Results: Our sample was on average 42.

Smoke-Free Public Policies and Voluntary Policies in Personal Settings in Tbilisi, Georgia: A Qualitative Study.

Georgia has limited tobacco control policies, particularly in the area of smoke-free public policies, which may influence the adoption of smoke-free home rules. We qualitatively examined knowledge about and reactions to public and personal smoke-free policies among Tbilisi residents. In Spring 2014, we conducted six focus groups among 47 total participants--two among male smokers, one among male nonsmokers, two among female smokers, and one among female nonsmokers.

Associated factors for recommending HBV vaccination to children among Georgian health care workers.

Background: Most cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and subsequent liver diseases can be prevented with universal newborn HBV vaccination. The attitudes of health care workers about HBV vaccination and their willingness to recommend vaccine have been shown to impact HBV vaccination coverage and the prevention of vertical transmission of HBV. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the factors associated with health care worker recommendations regarding newborn HBV vaccination.

Nosocomial infections in Tbilisi, Georgia: a retrospective study of microbiological data from 4 major tertiary care hospitals.

The study aimed to evaluate epidemiology of nosocomial pathogens and their resistance patterns at four major tertiary care centers in Tbilisi, Georgia. Out of 3452 samples included in the study 1607 positive culture results were documented (46.6%).

[The role of apoptosis in the development of virus hepatitis].

In present review hepatocyte apoptosis is presented as universal defensive reaction of liver, to the damages. Hepatocyte apoptosis may be caused by hepatotropic virus's direct affection, or by the immune reactions initiated by viruses. Apoptosis development caused by virus direct affection varies and contains at lest two mechanisms: production of specific proteins: B virus - X protein and C virus - core-protein; expression of the receptors leading the induction of this process on the hepatocyte membrane, for example, increasing of Fas-receptor and cell sensation to apoptosis stimulus.

[Clinical value of changes in red blood cell ultrastructure and energy metabolism in children with cystic fibrosis].

In 42 patients of various age (from 1 month to 14 years) with cystic fibrosis were analyzed ultra structure, level of adenylnucleotides and activity ATP-ase of erythrocytes, in order to characterize their membrane and energy metabolism. The studies revealed the changes in erythrocytes in the cases of cystic fibrosis. In the cases of broncho pulmonary form of cystic fibrosis were detected I and II row echinocytes, cone-shaped erythrocytes, also erythrocytes with reach-through hole in center.

Barriers to hepatitis B vaccine coverage among healthcare workers in the Republic of Georgia: An international perspective.

Background: While the Republic of Georgia has a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (3.4% of blood donors tested positive for HBV surface antigen [HBsAg]), relatively few healthcare workers (HCWs) are thought to be immunized.

Objective: To measure rates of HBV vaccination coverage and identify predictors of vaccine acceptance among HCWs.

[Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis].

Apoptosis is the vital issue of Biology and Medicine. Recent concept of molecular and cellular mechanisms of apoptosis--a well-controlled form of cell death was reviewed. The aim of a review was to broaden knowledge of apoptosis mechanism and to reveal molecular targets for the modulation of these processes.

[The role of changes in tissue redox-status in mechanism of paraneoplasia].

To specify mechanisms of paraneoplastic alterations of redox-status of tissues in experimental malignant tumor growth, we investigated electronic paramagnetic centers of blood, skeletal muscle and liver with electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. We also studied the concentration and activity of antioxidant enzymes. Our experiments on adult white male rats of mixed population with sarcoma C-45 and mice with Ehrlich carcinoma have shown that malignant tumor growth leads to enhanced lipid peroxidation (LPO): production of potent LPO promoters - Fe2+, Mn+2+, NO, ubiquinone; depression of antioxidant defence - reduced production of total ceruloplasmin, elevated blood levels of oxidized ceruloplasmin and enhanced catalase activity.