The Dark Triad of Personality in the Context of Health Behaviors: Ally or Enemy?

The main aim of this manuscript was to present a preliminary verification of the relations between the Dark Triad of personality traits and health-oriented behaviors in university students. The study involved 143 healthy students (94 female and 49 male) from the Silesian Voivodeship (Poland). The diagnosis of the elements of the Dark Triad of personality was carried out using a psychological examination based on the following tests: TriPM-41, Mach IV, NPI. The intensity of the health behaviors was examined using the Health Behavior Inventory developed by Z. Juczynski. The Health Behavior Inventory is positively correlated with narcissism and its self-sufficiency component and negatively with psychopathic disinhibition. For the Health Behavior Inventory's subscales, a positive relationship was observed between Positive Mental Attitude and narcissism, most of its components, and psychopathic boldness. The analysis of correlations with the division of the subjects into the Dark Triad traits ≤Me and >Me revealed that a significant positive correlation between the general intensity of the health behaviors and the intensity of narcissism mainly concerns university students with a lower level of this trait and its components. Therefore, it can be presumed that narcissism, although considered as a socially aversive trait, is associated with pro-health behaviors.

Enjoyment and Intensity of Physical Activity in Immersive Virtual Reality Performed on Innovative Training Devices in Compliance with Recommendations for Health.

The aim of the study is to assess the enjoyment and intensity of physical exercise while practicing physical activity (PA) in immersive virtual reality (IVR) using innovative training devices (omni-directional Omni treadmill and Icaros Pro flight simulator). The study also contains the results of subjective research on the usefulness of such a form of PA in the opinion of users. In total, 61 adults (10 women and 51 men) took part in the study. To assess the enjoyment level (EL) Interest/Enjoyment subscale of Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was used. Exercise intensity was assessed during 10-min sessions of active video games (AVGs) in IVR based on heart rate (HR). The average enjoyment level during physical exercise in IVR on the tested training devices was high (Omni 5.74 points, Icaros 5.60 points on a 1-7 Likert scale) and differed significantly in favor of PA on Omni. In the opinion of the majority of participants, AVGs in IVR on the tested devices constitute a sufficiently useful form of PA to meet the needs of leisure time activities, and they can even replace some forms of physical effort performed in a classic way. The intensity of PA during games on training devices was at the level recommended for health benefits for 80.55% (Omni) and 50.77% (Icaros Pro) of its duration. Based on the conducted research, it can be assumed that AVGs in IVR using a multi-directional treadmill and a flight simulator can be an effective tool for increasing participation in health-oriented PA.

Exergaming Can Be a Health-Related Aerobic Physical Activity.

The purpose of the study was to assess the intensity of aerobic physical activity during exergame training sessions with a moderate (MLD) and high (HLD) level of difficulty of the interactive program "Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012" for Xbox 360 Kinect in the context of health benefits. The study involved 30 healthy and physically fit students. During the game, the HR of the participants was monitored using the Polar M400 heart rate monitor. The average percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax) and heart rate reserve (%HRR) during the game was calculated and referred to the criterion of intensity of aerobic physical activity of American College of Sports Medicine and World Health Organization health recommendations. During the MLD training, the participants achieved on average 69.6 ± 8.7% HRmax and 57.0 ± 11.9% HRR (moderate intensity), while performing HLD exercises, they achieved 78.9 ± 8.1% HRmax and 70.2 ± 11.3% HRR (vigorous intensity). The time spent in recommended moderate-to-vigorous intensity during 15-min exergame session was 14.6 min (97,1%) for MLD and 14.8 min (99%) for HLD. The intensity of aerobic PA during exergame "Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012" both medium and high level of difficulty almost all the training sessions was at the level recommended for health benefits. Active video games, especially exergames, containing an element of physical activity, can be used to increase the weekly dose of PA in the direction recommended for health benefits.

Compliance with physical activity health recommendations in members of non-governmental organizations promoting active lifestyle.

INTRODUCTION: A vital role in health maintenance and the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases is played by an adequate level of physical activity. In recent decades, numerous guidelines have been developed to determine the criteria of physical activity levels that are essential to obtain overall health benefits. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the presented study was evaluation of the physical activity of adult members of non-governmental organizations promoting active lifestyle, in compliance with recommendations of the World Health Organization and the American College of Sport Medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study examined 95 adult members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting an active lifestyle in the Silesian Province of Western Poland. In order to make a comprehensive physical activity evaluation (including all criteria of most complex health-recommendations), both an objective tool (ActiGraph GT3X) and a subjective tool (Daily Physical Activity Log) were used. RESULTS: Compliance with a weekly total time of moderate to vigorous aerobic efforts were observed in 47% of women and 44% of men with regard to WHO guidelines, and in 29% of women and 23% of men, respectively, regarding ACSM guidelines. The criterion for the frequency of strength exercises was met by 24% of women and 15% of men. Flexibility exercises level was adequate in 35% of women and 28% of men. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent cause of non-meeting the criteria of the above- mentioned organisations were insufficient frequency of the weekly resistance (strength) exercises and flexibility exercises. There is a need to create public health programmes based on the complex physical activity recommendations, including all types of physical efforts (aerobic, strength, flexibility), and to emphasise the fact that meeting all of them is essential to obtain overall health benefits.

Physical Activity of Working-Age People in View of Their Income Status.

OBJECTIVE: The study examines relationships between physical activity levels and income status of working-age city residents. METHODS: The study was carried out in the years 2014 and 2015 in Wroclaw, Poland. The study sample comprised 4332 participants (2276 women; 2056 men) aged 18 to 64 years. Respondents' habitual physical activity levels were measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), while their income status was assessed with author's own Socio-Economic Status of Working-Age People Questionnaire (S-ESQ). RESULTS: The results revealed positive correlations between the level of physical activity and income status of male and female working-age residents of Wroclaw. The highest physical activity levels were noted among respondents with a steady income, as well as among respondents with the highest income and savings and with no debts. The odds for respondents' above average physical activity levels were the greatest in women with the highest income and with savings and in debt-free men and women. CONCLUSION: Effective actions should be developed aimed at improvement of physical activity levels of people in an adverse financial situation.

[Congenital epulis of a newborn twin--a case report]. / Nadziaslak u noworodka z ciazy blizniaczej--opis przypadku.

We present a case of a female neonate, born at 36 weeks of gestation from a monochorionic, diamniotic spontaneous twin pregnancy with congenital epulis, 2.5 cm in size, protruding from the oral cavity. Histopathology revealed a typical granular cell lesion. The other twin, also female, was prenatally diagnosed with congenital heart defect: pulmonary stenosis. The tumor was typically located in the maxillary alveolar ridge and unidirectional. The child underwent a successful surgery on the first day after birth. The course of the procedure and recovery was uneventful.

[Congenital laryngeal stridor - an interdisciplinary problem]. / Wrodzony stridor krtaniowy­ problem interdyscyplinarny.

UNLABELLED: The most common causes of laryngeal stridor are laryngomalacia (60%), vocal cord paralysis (VCP) (10 %) and subglottic laryngeal stenosis. Majority of cases of VCP are idiopathic, less frequently it is the effect of abnormalities in central nervous system (Arnold - Chiari syndrome, hydrocephalus, neonatal hypoxia). Differential diagnosis should also include anomalies of aortic arch and its branches (vascular rings). The authors present two cases of neonatal congenital laryngeal stridor. In the first case the girl presented with VCP of unknown etiology. The perinatal period was normal, ultrasound of central nervous system and neurologic examination revealed no abnormalities. Due to sustained VCP in control laryngeal ultrasound examinations, tracheostomy was performed in the third month of life. In the second case, stridor was caused by laryngomalacia and subglottic laryngeal stenosis of first grade according to Meyer-Cotton scale (larynx lumen diameter <4 mm). The diagnosis was established by laryngotracheobronchoscopy. In both children angiotomography was performed and vascular ring was diagnosed (aberrant right subclavian artery). Vascular anomaly was suspected in barium X-ray. In both cases echocardiographic examination did not visualize the fourth vessel of the aortic arch. Chest X- rays were normal. Both children had no symptoms caused by vascular ring. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of congenital laryngeal stridor is an indication for complete evaluation to establish the cause of the airway obstruction. The differential diagnosis should include laryngomalacia, vocal cord paralysis, subglottic laryngeal stenosis, congenital anomalies of large vessels and abnormalities of the central nervous system.

Dysfunction of peripheral blood granulocyte oxidative metabolism in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections.

Granulocytes play a key role in the defence against bacterial infections. Their dysfunction may both predispose to and result from infections. The oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes was studied in 50 children aged from 1 to 10 years, with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and/or tonsillar hypertrophy. Four groups of patients were recruited: 15 healthy controls, seven patients with idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy, 12 patients with upper respiratory tract infections and 16 patients with upper respiratory tract infections with concurrent tonsillar hypertrophy. The ability of granulocytes to produce reactive oxygen species was assessed by nFMLP-induced chemiluminescence. Both increased and depressed granulocyte activity was observed in all studied groups, with the exception of controls. Altered granulocyte function was observed in 30% of patients in the idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy group. In children with recurrent infections abnormal chemiluminescence results were found in from 75% to nearly 90% of patients. This preliminary study demonstrates the possible relationship between recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, tonsillar hypertrophy and impaired peripheral blood granulocyte chemiluminescence.