An Analysis of the Risk Factors for Postural Defects among Early School-Aged Children.

A considerable number of problems begin in childhood due to lifestyle changes, which include a transition from a previous period of extensive movement to prolonged hours of staying in a sitting position at school. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of back and side view postural defects in the study group of school-aged children and identify risk factors associated with the formation of postural abnormalities in the study group. METHODS: This study was conducted on a group of 141 children aged 7-10, attending the first to third grades at a primary school in Bialystok (northeastern Poland). This study involved measuring the children's height and weight, assessing the children's body posture based on the FITS method (Functional Individual Scoliosis Therapy) by Bialek and M'hango (the authors of this study), and administering a diagnostic survey addressed to parents and guardians of the children (n = 104) using a self-designed questionnaire. RESULTS: Almost all defects were more prevalent in boys, especially in the case of stature triangles (p = 0.0489) and knee alignment in the sagittal plane (p = 0.038). The age of the subjects differentiated the incidence of defects in the scapulae (p = 0.0037) and shoulder (p = 0.0129) alignment, correlating negatively with age. The risk of postural defects for knees (p = 0.0391) and abdominal arching (p = 0.0240) was significant with a higher BMI. The following lifestyle-related factors were significant: the seat for doing homework (stature triangles p = 0.0253), time spent in front of a computer (positioning of the scapulae in relation to each other p = 0.0233; vertical view of the intergluteal cleft p = 0.0324), and snacking between meals (feet p = 0.0003; shoulder positioning p = 0.0013; stature triangles p = 0.0186; positioning of the scapulae in relation to each other p = 0.0404). CONCLUSIONS: The body posture of the examined children was closed with the head pushed forward and drooped, rounded shoulders, hyperlordosis, and pelvic anteversion. Most exhibited various types of abnormalities related to the feet. The recognized risk factors for posture defects are overweight/obesity, the male gender, children who are older, lack of an adjustable work chair, 2 h a day or more spent using the computer, and snacking between meals.

EGFR and Bcl-2 in gastric mucosa of children infected with Helicobacter pylori.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of EGFR and Bcl-2 proteins as inhibitory markers of apoptosis in surface epithelial cells and gland cells of antral gastric mucosa in children infected with Helicobacter pylori according to the severity and activity of antral gastritis and to assess the correlation between the number of cells expressing EGFR and the number of cells expressing Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 44 children: 68.2% with chronic gastritis and positive IgG against H. pylori, and 31.8% with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and with normal IgG against H. pylori. The evaluation of EGFR expression in gastric mucosa was performed immunohistochemically using monoclonal mouse anti-EGFR antibody. The polyclonal antibody was used to determine the expression of anti-Bcl-2. RESULTS: A significant increase in the number of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 protein was found in the epithelial cells in severe as well as mild and moderate gastritis in the group of children infected with H. pylori. An increase in the number of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 protein was also found in the epithelial cells in group I according to the activity of gastritis. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the numbers of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children. CONCLUSION: Increased expression of EGFR and Bcl-2 proteins in the epithelial cells and a statistically significant positive correlation between the numbers of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children could suggest increased regeneration abilities of gastric mucosa.

[Selected eating habits and caries occurrence in adolescents]. / Wybrane zachowania zywieniowe a wystepowanie próchnicy U Mlodziezy.

INTRODUCTION: Normal nutrition is an important element of caries prophylaxis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of chosen bad eating habits on caries occurrence in adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination was carried out in the group of 367 (68.5% girls and 31.5% boys) pupils of the 3rd year of high schools in Bialystok in 2011. Own questionnaire was used for the evaluation of eating habits. Caries intensity (PUW) was assessed by dental examination. To verify statistic hypotheses, the level of significance was estimated at p < 0.05. All calculation was performed with the use of the Statistic programme Statistica 7.0 (StatSoft). RESULTS: It was stated that 5 meals a day were consumed by 29.4% of examined pupils, 4 meals were eaten by 33.2%, 3 meals--by 31.3%, 2 meals--by 5.4%, and one meal was consumed by 0.5% of pupils. There were 55.3% of pupils who had irregular meals while 24.3% did not eat breakfast and 62.9%--did not have elevenses. Eating between meals was stated in 96.7% of pupils. Sweets consumption was revealed as follows: 16.8% several times a day, 19%--once a day, 40.5%--several times a week, 18.5%--several times a month, 5.2%--rarely or never. "Fast food" was not consumed by 34% of examined pupils while 54.6% consumed such meals several times a month, 10.9%--several times a week, and 0.5%--once a day. Higher level of caries intensity was observed in girls (mean coefficient PUW = 11.3) than in boys (mean coefficient PUW = 10.8). Mean coefficient PUW = 11.5 concerned pupils with consumption of fast food several times a month while PUW = 11.0 in those who consumed it several times a week, and PUW = 10.7 in pupils who eat rarely or never such food. As far as eating sweets, PUW was higher than mean (12.4) in pupils who eat sweets several times a day. Persons who eat between meals were characterized by higher coefficient (PUW = 13.0) as compared to those who eat between meals rarely (PUW = 11.3) and those who do not eat between meals (PUW = 8.9). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Bad eating habits (irregular meals, skipping breakfast, eating between meals as well as overeating sweets) in the developmental age can be a significant caries coefficient in adolescents. 2. High mean coefficient PUW in the examined group of 18-year-old pupils, in relation to abnormal eating habits in the significant percentage of those pupils, indicates the necessity of health education as far as caries prophylaxis is concerned.