Background: Human colostrum and milk contain components that influence development. Our aim was to use a protein array to determine the cytokine profile of human lacteal secretions and changes that occur during the early postpartum period. Methods: We collected 17 samples of colostrum during the first 2 days postpartum and a 2nd group of 5 sets of 2 to 3 sequential colostrum or milk samples (at 20-to 30-h intervals). We analyzed the samples with array membranes consisting of 42 or 79 antibodies directed against cytokines. Results: In most samples, we detected the previously described cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8)/CXCL8, epidermal growth factor (EGF), growth-related oncoprotein (GRO)/CXCL1-3, angiogenin, transforming growth factor ␤-2, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1/ CCL2). In addition, we found 32 cytokines that have not been described before in colostrum. Cytokine concentrations differed among mothers, and the spectrum of cytokines changed with time after delivery. A significant decrease occurred in IL-12 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1␦/CCL15 and a significant increase in MCP-1/CCL2. The production of angiogenin, vascular endothelial growth factor, GRO/CXCL1-3, EGF, and IL-8/CXCL8 remained high throughout. The concentrations of 2 selected cytokines measured with the array technique and ELISA showed moderate to strong correlation (r ‫؍‬ 0.63 for EGF and r ‫؍‬ 0.84 for IL-8/CXCL8). Conclusion: Despite the lack of precise quantification, the protein array might be suitable for cytokine screening. It allows simultaneous detection of a broad spec-

The objective of the presented article is to analyze Czech agricultural trade as a whole and primarily trade in relation to the six key trade partners, with an emphasis on the identification of changes in its structure and competitiveness that occurred within the period of the years 2008–2011. On the basis of the results of the conducted analyses, it may be stated that the problematic period of the years 2008–2011 did not affect the development of Czech agricultural trade in an especially negative manner (commodity and territorial structure did not change significantly), whether in relation to the analyzed partner countries (In the case of individual countries within the analyzed period, the value of export and import increased as follows: Germany: 1.5% per year and 0.1% per year respectively, Austria: 2.9% per year and −0.01% per year respectively, the Netherlands: −1.1% per year and −6.3% per year respectively, Italy: 8.7% per year and 7.3% per year respectively, Slovakia: 6.1% per year and −3.2% per year respectively, Poland: 3.5% per year and 11.1% per year respectively.), or in relation to the overall agricultural trade of the Czech Republic (Agricultural trade was able to face the stagnation of the global economy relatively very well. Only in the year 2009, there was a slight year-on-year decline in the value of agricultural export by approximately 5%, but, nevertheless, within the years 2010 and 2011, the value of agricultural trade increased year-on-year by approximately 3.6% and 14.8%, respectively.). Growth in the area of the development of the value of export as well as import remained preserved. The comparative advantage of Czech export remained preserved in the case of key aggregations. The strong aggregations of Czech agricultural export generally include CN 01, CN 04, CN 10, CN 11, CN 12, CN 13, CN 17, CN 21, CN 22 and CN 24.

After accession of the czech republic to the EU in 2004, the volume of agricultural foreign trade (AFT) in the cr increased significantly. in the past two years, the trend has changed under the influence of the global economic crisis affecting the European area. The first part of the paper is focused on the overall development in the period of [2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009]. To assess the competitiveness of agrarian commodities in foreign markets in [2008][2009], an analysis was carried out with the use of the Balassa rcA indicator (revealed comparative Advantage) and also Michaely index, which indicates a certain degree of specialization in exports. A logarithmic method, which allows determining the influence of prices and quantities on the change in net exports during these years, has also been used.

World trade underwent a signifi cant shock within the recent years, which caused a decline in the world economy primarily in the year 2009. Within the following years (2010 and 2011), the high rate of growth from the years preceding the crisis could not be restored. Th e crisis had an impact on all segments of the merchandise trade, whereby the trade in agricultural and food products was aff ected the least by the crisis. In the case of the Czech Republic, the crisis of the global and national economy was refl ected in the case of agricultural trade primarily by the way of a decline in the rate of the growth of export, which was very high in the period prior to the crisis. As far as the territorial structure and commodity structure of agricultural trade is concerned, their development in the years 2008-2011 was not aff ected in any largely signifi cant manner. In relation to the main objective of this article, which was to identify the eff ects of the crisis on the competitiveness of Czech agricultural trade, it may be stated that the crisis itself did not worsen the competitiveness of agricultural trade in any signifi cant manner.