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Plaque-induced gingivitis is the most prevalent periodontal disease associated with pathogenic biofilms. The host immune system responds to pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their co-receptor cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14).This study investigated the association between the functional polymorphism in the CD14 gene and the dental plaque microbiota in children with gingivitis.A total of 590 unrelated children (307 with plaque-induced gingivitis and 283 controls, aged 13-15 years) were enrolled in this case-control study. Dental plaque was processed using a ParoCheckGingivitis was detected in 64.2% of boys and 35.8% of girls (P .001). Children with gingivitis had a significantly higher occurrence of dental caries (P .001). No significant differences in the CD14 -260C/T allele and genotype distribution among individuals with or without gingivitis in the whole cohort were found. Children with gingivitis and P gingivalis, however, were significantly more frequent carriers of the CT and TT genotypes than children with gingivitis without P gingivalis or healthy controls (P .05).The CD14 -260C/T polymorphism acts in cooperation with P gingivalis to trigger plaque-induced gingivitis in Czech children.

Prepubescent children need to be prepared for puberty in an appropriate manner including all related associations and contexts. Children should learn the required knowledge before its onset—when they are in primary school. Knowledge is gained in the process of learning and represents the level of awareness. The cognitive level of knowledge represents the amount and quality of relevant information. Adolescence is a broadly defined stage of life, in which the reproductive capacity culminates and physical growth is completed. In the period of adolescence, psychological and social changes take place along with biological changes. Puberty is a significant element of sexuality education in the global dimension. The objective of the present educational research study is to identify the level of knowledge concerning the definition and significance of puberty among primary school pupils in Croatia and in the context of other selected countries (Czech Republic, Sweden, China, Spain). The data were collected by means of a knowledge achievement test. The content of the nine test items focused on the following: concept of puberty; definition of puberty; puberty age range; knowledge about physical changes in boys and girls; knowledge about other changes that puberty induces; significance of puberty in human life. To identify any statistically significant differences in the pupils’ responses by countries, the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used. The results suggest that prepubescents do not have the right knowledge about puberty and do not consider relevant associations and contexts in a comprehensive way. The incomplete knowledge suggests that prepubescents do not think about the significance of puberty in a comprehensive perspective but rather in various combinations of the biological, psychological and social areas.

Puberty is an important element of sex education in the global dimension. The pre-pubescent needs to be adequately prepared in time for puberty, for all changes, relationships and contexts. The cognitive and informative level of puberty knowledge represents the level of learning and expresses the amount and quality of information or knowledge. Our pedagogical research realized the level of knowledge about changes in puberty shown by primary school pupils the Czech Republic, Sweden, China, Spain. We used the didactic knowledge test to determine knowledge about changes in puberty among primary school pupils. The level of knowledge about changes in puberty was verified by selected test tasks. We used descriptive statistics to describe the data. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to identify statistically significant differences in pupil responses across countries. The results pointed out that the pre-pubescent people did not have the right knowledge and did not comprehend the relationships and connections with the issue of puberty comprehensively. The prepubescent often do not realize the biological aspect and its importance for the future reproductive life of each person in the context of further changes. Puberty can be described as a fundamental hormonal process of physical changes. Early adolescence preparedness means that children should acquire the necessary knowledge about it before it starts, even when they are primary school pupils. Educational research conducted by us investigated the level of knowledge about changes in puberty shown by primary school pupils in selected countries.

Background Oral diseases, such as early childhood caries (ECC), have a complex etiology with common, behaviour-related risk factors. Appropriately targeted behavioural intervention using effective tools can help to eliminate risk behaviour leading to ECC. The aim of this study was to ascertain which visual stimuli with a supporting text evoke the strongest emotional response in infants’ mothers and, therefore, are suitable candidates for inclusion in behavioural interventions within the prevention of ECC. Methods Thirty-nine mothers of one-year-old children who filled out an originally designed electronic questionnaire, containing 20 visual stimuli with accompanying texts related to dental caries (10/10 with positive/negative intended emotional response), were included in this cross-sectional study. The emotional impact of each stimulus in the mothers was evaluated using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) technique, which represents three emotional dimensions: valence, arousal, and dominance. Results Each of the stimuli was assessed by the mothers of infants based on its emotional impact. The real emotional response (evaluated according to the median of valence) was in line with the primarily intended response in 90% of cases (p

Aim: We analyzed the VDR TaqI (rs731236) gene polymorphism in children with and those without dental caries. Methods: A total of 388 subjects, 153 caries-free (with decayed/missing/filled teeth [DMFT] = 0) and 235 children with dental caries (DMFT ≥1), were genotyped by the TaqMan method. Results: Although no significant differences in VDR TaqI allele and genotype frequencies between caries-free and caries-affected children were detected, a significant association between this polymorphism and gingivitis was found (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In contrast to previous studies from China and Turkey, the VDR TaqI gene variant cannot be used as a marker for identification of Czech children with increased dental caries risk.

The aim of this study was to compare the detection frequency of periodontal bacteria in dental plaque in children with early childhood caries (ECC) with and without gingival inflammation. A convenience sample of 25 preschool children (mean age 3.61 years, SD 1.42) was recruited. Dental plaque was taken from periodontal areas with and without visible signs of inflammation and processed using the StomaGene® (Protean s.r.o. Czech Republic) and ParoCheck® 20 (Greiner Bio-one GmbH, Germany) detection kits. The two sample t tests between percents for differences between inflammatory and healthy sites and kappa statistics for the agreement of both systems were used. At the inflammatory sites, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were significantly more frequently detected by StomaGene® while Fusobacterium nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, Tanarella forsythia and Prevotella intermedia were significantly more frequently identified by ParoCheck® test. The agreement between the two detection systems was substantial for A. actinomycetemcomitans and F. nucleatum in the samples collected from inflamed sites and only for F. nucleatum from clinically healthy sites. Therefore, we recommend that the same system should be used when the same patient is examined repeatedly.

Objective: Dental caries is a multifactorial, infectious disease where genetic predisposition plays an important role. Insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has very recently been associated with caries in Polish children. The aim of this study was to analyze ACE I/D polymorphism in a group of caries-free children versus subjects affected by dental caries in the Czech population. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 182 caries-free children (with decayed/missing/filled teeth, DMFT = 0), 561 subjects with dental caries (DMFT ≥1) aged 13-15 years and 220 children aged 2-6 years with early childhood caries (ECC, dmft ≥1) were included. Genotype determination of ACE I/D polymorphism in intron 16 was based on the TaqMan method. Results: Although no significant differences in the allele or genotype frequencies between the caries-free children and those affected by dental caries were observed, statistically significant differences between the children with DMFT = 0 and the subgroup of 179 patients with high caries experience (DMFT ≥4; p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) were detected. The comparison of DD versus II+ID genotype frequencies between the patients with DMFT ≥1 or DMFT ≥4 and healthy children also showed significant differences (31.5% or 35.6% vs. 23.6%, p < 0.05 or p < 0.01, respectively). A gender-based analysis identified a significant difference in the DD versus II+ID genotype frequencies only in girls (p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant association of ACE I/D polymorphism with ECC in young children was found (p > 0.05). Conclusions:ACE I/D polymorphism may be associated with caries in permanent but not primary dentition, especially in girls in the Czech population.

Objective: Dental caries is one of the most frequent multifactorial diseases. Among the numerous factors influencing the risk of caries, genetics plays a substantial role, with heritability ranging from 40 to 60%. Gene variants affecting taste preference and glucose transport were recently associated with caries risk. The aim of this study was to analyze two common polymorphisms in the sweet taste receptor (TAS1R2) and glucose transporter (GLUT2) genes in children with dental caries and healthy controls in the Czech population. Methods: A total of 637 unrelated Caucasian children, aged 11-13 years, were included in this case-control study. One hundred and fifty-five subjects were caries-free (with decayed/missing/filled teeth, DMFT = 0) and 482 children were caries-affected (DMFT ≥ 1). The TAS1R2 (Ile191Val, rs35874116) and GLUT2 (Thr110Ile, rs5400) genotypes were determined using the 5′ nuclease TaqMan® assay for allelic discrimination. Results: Compared with subjects with the common Thr allele, carriers of the Ile allele of GLUT2 had significantly more frequently dental caries (p < 0.05, OR = 1.639, 95% CI: 1.089-2.466). Similarly, children with the Val allele for the TAS1R2 Ile191Val polymorphism were more frequently affected by caries than children who carried the Ile allele (p < 0.05, OR = 1.413, 95% CI: 1.014-1.969). In contrast, no significant associations between GLUT2 and/or TAS1R2 polymorphisms and fillings were found, but allele frequencies of the TAS1R2 variant were marginally significantly different between children with DMFT = 0 and DMFT ≥1 (p = 0.053, OR = 1.339, 95% CI: 0.996-1.799). However, no significant interaction between both genes and risk of dental caries was found. Conclusions: In conclusion, GLUT2 and TASR1 polymorphisms may influence the risk of caries in the Czech population.

Mateřství je v dnešních západních společnostech vnímáno jako svobodná volba, nikoli nevyhnutelný ženský úděl. Ženy se v rámci svých možných životních stylů mohou a musí rozhodovat o tom, kdy a za jakých podmínek se chtějí stát matkami, případně jestli vůbec chtějí. Úplná kontrola nad reprodukcí je však jen zdánlivá. Ženy ve svém rozhodování zvažují řadu faktorů, které nemohou ovlivnit. Kromě individuální touhy po dítěti do hry vstupují sociálně a kulturně definované podmínky mateřství (načasování mateřství v životní dráze ženy, stabilní rodinné uspořádání, materiální zabezpečení atd.) a biologické limity reprodukce (omezená doba plodnosti ženy a rizika spojována s mateřstvím v určitém věku). Snaha o naplnění podmínek „správného mateřství“ vede k prodlužování období dočasně chápané bezdětnosti, které může vyústit v bezdětnost celoživotní. V našem výzkumu srovnáváme výpovědi dvou skupin žen, které jsou/byly nuceny v určité fázi svého života čelit situaci, kdy jejich touha po dítěti nebyla v souladu s jinými podmínkami mateřství. V prvním případě jde o ženy, které odkládaly mateřství z důvodu absence podmínky, kterou definovaly jako nezbytnou, ve druhém případě se realizaci rodičovství postavila do cesty fyzická překážka v podobě neplodnosti. Cílem výzkumu je zjistit, jak je utvářena norma správného mateřství a jak je redefinovaná v případě, že jí není možné naplnit.

Tento článek nabízí shrnutí toho, jak se náhled sociálních věd na rozvod a porozvodová uspořádání v posledních několika desetiletích proměňoval. Zároveň bychom rády upozornily na význam dítěte, nejen v procesu re-konstrukce rodin, ale i v obecnějším diskurzu nové sociologie dětství. Text lze rozdělit na dvě části: První část čtenáře seznamuje s demografickými daty indikujícími rozvodovost a existenci složených rodin v České republice. Věnuje se také způsobům, jakými tuto situaci reflektují čeští sociologové a jejich zahraniční kolegové. S cílem upozornit na roli dítěte v procesu utváření nových rodin se druhá část věnuje širším konceptuálním a metodologickým aspektům nového pojetí dětství v sociálních vědách. Aplikaci nového metodologického a tematického přístupu pak představujeme na několika výzkumech týkajících se tématu rozvodu.

Sociologicke teorie pracujici s konceptem individualizace předpokladaji mimo jine změny v životnim běhu, zejmena v casovani a výskytu demografických tranzic. Ackoliv neni snadne stanovit jednoznacnou definici individualizace, větsina badatelů pracuje ve vztahu k demografickým jevům s koncepty diferenciace a destandardizace. Pojimame-li tedy individualizaci jako strukturalni fakt a ponechavame-li stranou jeji subjektivni aspekt (individualizovana identita nemusi být nutně propojena se strukturalnimi změnami), musi se projevovat zaprve na agregovane urovni diferenciaci v životnich drahach – v rozdilnějsim casovanim tranzic. Jednotlivci napřiklad vstupuji do manželstvi v různem věku, maji děti v různem věku. Zadruhe se projevuje na individualni urovni ve formě destandardizace životniho běhu – tedy nejen proměnou casovani, ale i pořadi a realizace jednotlivých tranzic. Napřiklad porod nenasleduje nutně po sňatku. Nejedna se tedy pouze o posuny v casovani – ty jsou již v ceske demografii dostatecně prozkoumany, ale hlavně o relativni porovnani distribuci těchto demografických jevů. V nasi analýze pracujeme se dvěma životnimi tranzicemi – sňatkem a porodem prvniho ditěte – a na casových řadach od roku 1920 do roku 2004 zkoumame jak se proměňuje rozptyl casovani těchto tranzic během podstatne casti dvacateho stoleti. Na podrobnějsich datech z transformacniho obdobi po roce 1989 mame dale možnost zkoumat vedle rozptylu take změny ve vzajemne vzdalenosti sňatků a porodů a take vzdělanostni determinaci zkoumaných jevů. Klicovým indikatorem diferenciace životnich drah nam bude rozptyl v casovani sňatků a jeho vývoj ve 20. stoleti. Jako indikator destandardizace životni drahy v 90. letech minuleho stoleti použivame vzdalenost mezi sňatkem a prvnim porodem.

Rodičovství je podle představ mladých lidí realizováno ideálně v rámci stabilního partnerského vztahu a jako společné rozhodnutí obou partnerů. Partnerský vztah je považován za jednu z klíčových podmínek rodičovství a jeho absence může vstup do rodičovské fáze významně blokovat. Text je shrnutím části výsledků kvalitativního výzkumu zaměřeného na rozhodování o mateřství na příkladu žen, které porodily své dítě po třicítce nebo ve stejném věku zůstávají bezdětné. Problematika rozhodování o mateřství byla sledována z perspektivy partnerství a partnerských vztahů. Analýza ukázala, že vliv partnerských vztahů na rozhodování žen o mateřství je většinou spíše nepřímý: 1) partnerské preference se mění s věkem a s prioritami vztahujícími se k určitým životním obdobím, 2) důležitou součástí uvažování o vztahu je jeho genderová dimenze odrážející se zejména v rozdělení rolí v domácnosti a 3) celkové pojetí partnerského vztahu se odvíjí od mateřských preferencí žen.

A specific feature of Czech women today, who are timing the motherhood or staying childless after thirty, stems from their socialisation in a different political and demographical regime than they were in at the start of their reproductive period. The changes connected with the transformation of Czech society after 1989 affected their life courses. Instead of following the demographic behaviour of their mothers why do these women postpone motherhood to a later age or remain childless? What do the life courses and reproductive strategies of contemporary women over thirty look like? The qualitative research discussed in this article is based on in-depth interviews with primaparas over thirty and their childless peers conducted in order to examine the dynamics and character of their decision to become a mother. The research applied grounded theory and identified five different types of reproductive strategies: 'to have a child no matter what', 'to have a child with the right partner', 'waiting for the right time', 'hesitating over whether to have a child or not', 'not having a child'. Consequently the specific sources of these strategies were described. Background family experiences combined with the experiences from the period of childlessness in adulthood can lead to the development of an 'individualised habitus', which can block the transition to the motherhood phase. In the Czech context the development of an individualised habitus can be strengthened by the unequal distribution of gender roles in the family of origin as well as in partnerships in adulthood.

Výsledky realizovaného kvalitativního výzkumu, který využil metody zakotvené teorie, ukazují privatizaci náboženské zkušenosti uvnitř církevních organizací, zvláště na příkladu případové studie osmi mladých lidí, kteří se považují za aktivní členy římskokatolické církve. Všichni respondenti žili v čase realizace výzkumu v podobných podmínkách: byli finančně soběstační, stále nesezdaní a žijící sami, bez partnera. Z hloubkových rozhovorů s nimi vzešly tři ideální typy věřících, jež se zakládají na postojích dotyčných respondentů k církevní organizaci na straně jedné a jejich subjektivní víře na straně druhé. V prvním případě se jedná o subjektivní, intimní a individualizovanou náboženskou zkušenost, která předurčuje postoj věřícího k církvi, včetně jejích rituálů a pravidel. Ve druhém případě jsou subjektivní víra a členství v církvi neoddělitelně propojené. Do třetice se pak osobní náboženská zkušenost jeví být takřka zcela výsledkem internalizovaných náboženských norem a účasti na církevních obřadech.