Partner's smoking status and acute coronary syndrome: population-based case-control study in Tirana, Albania.
(41/90)
AIM: To assess the association between partners' smoking status and acute coronary syndrome in never smokers in Albania. METHODS: This population-based case-control study was conducted in Tirana in the period 2003-2006. It involved 467 consecutive patients with non-fatal acute coronary syndrome and 737 controls. Only married never-smokers (169 patients with acute coronary syndrome and 323 controls) were included in the analysis. Information on socioeconomic status, coronary risk factors, and partners' current smoking status was obtained by a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between partner's smoking status and acute coronary syndrome. RESULTS: Among patients with acute coronary syndrome, 49% of women and 25% of men had a partner who was a current smoker, as opposed to 44% of women and 16% of men in the control group. In age-adjusted models, non-smoking men with smoking partners had a greater acute coronary syndrome risk (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-3.18), while no association was found in women with smoking partners (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.48-2.30). After adjustment for socioeconomic characteristics, coronary risk factors, and psychosocial factors, the acute coronary syndrome risk in men was somewhat lower (1.68; 95% CI, 0.81-3.47), while for women it was somewhat greater but still non-significant (1.19; 95% CI, 0.25-5.64). Sex-pooled estimate of the risk was OR 1.64 (95% CI, 0.96-2.83). CONCLUSION: Partner's current smoking status was positively associated with a greater acute coronary syndrome risk in men but not in women, both before and after adjustment for socioeconomic characteristics and coronary risk factors. Programs aimed at reducing the exposure to passive smoking are need in countries with high prevalence of active smoking. (+info)
Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Albania.
(42/90)
AIM: To assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Albania. METHODS: Blood samples from 410 unselected schoolboys, 666 students, 500 military personnel, 1286 casual blood donors, 378 voluntary blood donors and 640 pregnant women (total 3880 non-vaccinated residents of rural and metropolitan areas from all over Albania; 2354 (60.7%) male and 1526 (39.3%) female; mean age of 26.3 years) were tested during 2004-2006 for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to hepatitis B virus (anti-HBs) by ELISA. RESULTS: The HBsAg and anti-HBs prevalence were 9.5% and 28.7%, respectively. The highest HBsAg prevalence was evident in the younger age group, such as in schoolchildren (11.8%) and the military (10.6%). Consequently, the anti-HBs prevalence increased with age, from 21.2% in schoolchildren (mean age: 15.7 years), to 36.3% in pregnant women (mean age: 26.3 years) and 29.7% in voluntary blood donors (mean age: 40.1 years). There were no significant differences between males and females. CONCLUSION: Despite the estimated two-fold reduction of HBsAg prevalence in the general population from about 18%-19% to 9.5%, Albania remains a highly endemic country (i.e. over 8% of HBsAg prevalence rate). (+info)
First insight into genetic diversity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Albania obtained by multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis and spoligotyping reveals the presence of beijing multidrug-resistant isolates.
(43/90)
(+info)
Genetic architecture of trout from Albania as revealed by mtDNA control region variation.
(44/90)
(+info)
Surveillance of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Albania.
(45/90)
This study presents the initial results derived from a collaborative project aimed at the surveillance of the toxoplasma infection in a population of 496 Albanian pregnant women. From October 2004 to March 2005, serum samples were tested to detect IgG, IgM and IgG avidity for toxoplasmosis. Of the 496 pregnant women examined, 241 (48.6% [range 44-53]; IC 95%). resulted positive for IgG, three of whom (1.3%) were also positive for IgM. As the preliminary results of our survey disclose the absence of an efficient pre-gravidic screening and counseling for the prevention of toxoplasmosis in Albania, we propose a health education program for all pregnant women, together with serological testing (screening) for those exposed to predictors of toxoplasmosis infection as an epidemiological support and financially sustainable alternative. (+info)
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in southeastern Europe.
(46/90)
(+info)
Geographical patterning of sixteen goat breeds from Italy, Albania and Greece assessed by Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.
(47/90)
(+info)
Analysis of TSHZ2 and TSHZ3 genes in congenital pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction.
(48/90)
(+info)