Good-looking vs. Obedient, Which Would You Rather Take Home? Appearance and Behavioral Predictors Affecting the Adoption of Shelter Dogs in Slovakia.

The aim of the study was to investigate the key factors influencing the successful adoption of dogs from dog shelters in Slovakia. The study covered the following factors in relation to individual dogs: time spent at the shelter, age, body weight, sex, coat color, length of the coat, and behavior (specifically intraspecific aggression, aggression toward humans, activity, and fear-related behavior). The survey was conducted in three shelters in the territory of the Slovak Republic. The online and on-site questionnaires of about 162 successfully adopted dogs were collected and were filled in by the shelter staff, those who accepted dogs into the shelter. Non-parametric statistics (Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons test with correction) confirmed that the most important factors influencing the decision-making process of potential adopters were the age of the dog and its weight. However, we found that the length or color of the coat and sex had no effect on early adoption. While behavior is important during the prospective adopter/owner's interaction with the dog, it is still not the most important criterion in making a decision.

Body mass, plasma leptin, glucose, insulin and C-peptide in offspring of diabetic and non-diabetic mothers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), plasma leptin, glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels in the offspring of diabetic mothers (DM) and non-diabetic healthy mothers (HM). DESIGN: Seventy-two offspring (37 girls and 35 boys, age 4-20 years) of DM were investigated in a prospective study. Those 14-16 years old (Tanner stage II-IV) were compared with age-matched offspring of HM (33 girls and 33 boys). RESULTS: BMI strongly correlated with plasma leptin concentration in the offspring of both DM and HM children. There were higher BMI and plasma leptin and glucose levels in DM than in HM children. There was no difference in plasma insulin or C-peptide levels between HM and age-matched DM children. There was a highly significant positive correlation between plasma leptin and C-peptide in boys of DM. CONCLUSIONS: The higher plasma leptin found in the offspring of DM reflects their higher BMI. A moderately high but still normal glycemia might be a preclinical sign of insulin resistance or other disturbance of glucoregulation.

Relationship between the duration of the breast-feeding period and the lipoprotein profile of children at the age of 13 years.

Selected parameters of lipid metabolism were studied in a group of 76 children aged 12-13 years. The children were divided into 4 subgroups according to the duration of neonatal nutrition (no breast feeding, breast feeding for 3, 6 or more than 6 months). We studied the concentration of total serum cholesterol, its distribution into lipoprotein fractions, the concentration of serum triacylglycerols and apolipoproteins A1 (Apo A1) and B (Apo B). Atherogenic indexes were calculated from the data obtained. The highest cholesterol levels (5.20+/-0.15 mmol x l(-1)) were found in children who had been breast-fed for more than 6 months, while the highest concentrations of Apo B (0.80+/-0.07 g x l(-1)) and Apo A1 (1.76+/-0.06 g x l(-1)) and the highest Apo B/Apo A1 ratio (0.45+/-0.04) were found in children with the shortest period of breast-feeding. No significant sex-related differences in total, VLDL, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerols and apolipoproteins were observed.

[Lactose intolerance in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in children]. / Intolerancia laktózy v diferenciálnej diagnostike bolestí brucha u detí.

In the period from 1990 to 1992 542 children aged 0-15 years were examined by the breath hydrogen test for abdominal pain and chronic nutritional disorder. The results of lactose tests were pathological in 107 children with abdominal pain and 95 with chronic nutritional disorder. The authors followed 107 children with abdominal pain and directed their attention to its relationship to lactose intolerance. It was confirmed to be the only cause of abdominal pain in twenty-six children (24.3%). In spite of the well known pathogenetic mechanism of lactose intolerance leading to abdominal pain and metheorism and loose stools, an atypical clinical course was observed in these patients. There were no complaints associated with the intake of milk in history, the abdominal pain being the leading symptom in all patients but four who had loose stools. There was an improvement of clinical symptoms after the low-lactose diet.

[24-hour measurement of pH and its significance in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in children]. / 24-hodinová pH-metria a jej význam pre diagnostiku gastroezofageálneho refluxu u detí.

During 1987-1989 the authors examined 57 patients; reflux disease was detected in 33 (i.e. 57.89%). In the group of patients where the indication for examination was based on symptomatology typical for respiratory diseases, they found a higher rate of positive findings--62%. The authors draw attention to some methodological problems of 24-hour pH-metry. They explain the advantages of the mentioned examination method in relation to the subsequent therapy.