Body weight gain as the major risk factor of cholelithiasis in women and an important risk factor in man.

PURPOSE: The power of correlation was assessed between chosen risk factors of cholelithiasis in order to establish the ranking of these factors in Podlasie inhabitants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 169 patients hospitalized due for cholelithiasis (study group) and 202 patients without cholelithiasis (control group). Previous exposure of patients of both groups to the chosen risk factors of cholelithiasis was evaluated (based on a history questionnaire designed by the authors of the study). Two models of logistic regression were prepared (for men and women) for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The ranking of the risk factors of cholelithiasis was established by analysing multiple correlation coefficients for the two models of logistic regression and their significance was determined with Wald's test. The significant risk factors for women included: overweight and obesity, age, diabetes, use of contraceptive pills, while for men these were: age, serum triglycerol level, obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of risk factors of cholelithiasis in our population is the essence of health promoting actions. Obesity is the major risk factor in women and statistically significant in men. Promotion of appropriate eating habits can result in body mass reduction and may thus indirectly decrease other risk factors of cholelithiasis (incidence of type II diabetes and serum triglycerol level).

[Evaluation of protein, fat and carbohydrate contents in daily dietary allowance of overweight and obese students from the Medical Academy in Bialystok]. / Ocena zawartosci bialka, tluszczów i weglowodanów w dziennej racji pokarmowej studentów Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku z nadwaga i otyloscia.

The major causes of primary obesity include dietary errors (e.g. high-fat, high-energy diets) and low physical activity. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the quantitative evaluation of daily dietary allowances of students with overweight and obesity in the Medical Academy of Bialystok. Questionnaire investigations were conducted in the years 1997-1999 and included 1050 students (701 women and 349 men). Basing on BMI overweight was revealed in 22 women (3.14%) and 82 men (23.5%). Obesity was found in only 2 women (0.3%) and 4 men (1.2%). The 24-hour dietary history of the preceding day was the method used for quantitative analysis. Low physical activity and low-energy food intake (below the recommended safe norm) were the characteristic features found in the majority of students with overweight or obesity. Their daily dietary allowances showed high protein content (above the safe norm in 75% of women and 87.2% of men) and low content of carbohydrates (below the safe norm in over 70% of those examined). Fat content above the safe norm was found in approximately 55% of men with overweight and obesity, the rest consumed low-fat foods. The incidence of overweight or obesity was higher in young men than women studying in the Medical Academy of Bialystok. In some of them, this may be caused by a disturbed proportion in the consumption of the major food components (protein, fat, carbohydrates).

[Content of selected bioelements in complete daily food rations of students at the Bialystok Medical Academy]. / Zawartosc wybranych biopierwiastków w calodziennej racji pokarmowej studentów Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku.

The aim of the study was to evaluate calcium and iron content in a daily food ration of students of Bialystok Medical Academy. The analysis was correlated with the consumption of product groups being the main source of these bioelements in the diet (milk, meat and their products). The study involved 492 students (66% women and 34% men) aged 19-25 years. Quantitative analysis was carried out using the 24-hour recall method. Calcium and iron content in the diet were estimated according to Kunachowicz et al. The results were compared with the standards accepted by the Institute of Food and Nutrition in Warsaw, for people with moderate physical activity. The mean calcium content in the diet of female students was 582.9 mg, while in the diet of male students 802.2 mg. Daily diet calcium content covered 53% and 73% of the safe norm in women and men respectively, the recommended norm being 49% and 67%. Calcium content in a daily food ration of the Bialystok Medical Academy students was too low, which was caused by insufficient intake of milk and its products. Mean iron intake in a daily food ration of female students was 10.1 mg/day and of male students 15 mg/day. The difference was statistically significant. Iron supply in men, s diet covered the recommended norm in 100%, while the safe norm in 136.4%. In women iron in diet covered the safe norm in 72.1% and the recommended norm in 56.1%. Differences in iron content in a daily food ration of the students examined are associated with differentiated consumption of meat and its products (high intake was noted in men studying at Bialystok Medical Academy).

[Usefulness of polysaccharide and glycoprotein fractions of Trichomonas vaginalis in the serodiagnosis of Trichomonas infections]. / Przydatnosc frakcji polisacharydowej i glikoproteidowej Trichomonas vaginalis w serodiagnostyce rzesistkowicy.

It has been shown that glycoprotein and polysaccharide fractions obtained from T. vaginalis cells can be employed as antigens in serodiagnosis of trichomoniasis. This refers especially to the polysaccharide fraction because of its easy availability, solubility in aqueous solutions, high diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. It has been stated that the diagnostic value of polysaccharide antigen of T. vaginalis, in occult trichomoniasis in men particularly, is higher than the effect of the secretion examination by means of culture, even after the prostatic gland massage.