ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of obesity has reached alarming levels in the European Union, including in Romania. Data on the prevalence of obesity is only available at the national populational level, but this may hide the increased levels in disadvantaged groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Roma population in Southern Romania. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This cross-sectional, epidemiological, non-interventional study was conducted from March 2014 to May 2017 in several settlements from Calarasi County. Screening procedures included interviews about medical history, lifestyle, anthropometric and clinical measurements and fasting capillary glucose. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 1120 adult subjects, of which 735 Roma. In Roma population group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 4.5% (n=33), 25% (n=184), 25.3% (n=186) and 45.2% (n=332) respectively. In Romanian Caucasians group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 2.3% (n=9), 20% (n=77), 33.8% (n=130) and 43.9% (n=169) respectively. Among the Romanian Caucasians significant predictors of obesity were a sedentary lifestyle and current smoking. The odds of being obese in Roma population were higher in sedentary lifestyle persons and lower in current smokers, with primary education, and in those living in rural settlements. The family history of obesity had a significant association with obesity only in Roma population. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the need to implement prevention programs in high-risk populations due to the double burden of malnutrition, lack of medical education and preventive healthcare, low socio-economic level.
ABSTRACT
Hand abnormalities, represented by Dupuytren's contracture, limited joint mobility, carpal tunnel syndrome, flexor tenosynovitis,occur in approximately 50% of the diabetic patients, affecting their activity and decreasing the quality of their life. Using specific methods, these can by detected long before they are observed by the patients. These disturbances have a high prevalence inthe persons with long diabetes mellitus duration, the prevalence increasing with the age. Smoking, usual hard activities, bad metabolic control and so on, can increase the severity of these disturbances. It is compulsory a careful examination of the patients' hands, because more abnormalities can be surgically rightened.
Subject(s)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/etiology , Diabetes Complications , Diabetes Complications/complications , Joint Diseases/etiology , Tenosynovitis/etiology , Diabetes Complications/physiopathology , Hand/physiopathology , Humans , Range of Motion, ArticularABSTRACT
The levels of urinary amino acids (cystine, amino acids with basic character, branched chain amino acids and phenylalanine) were determined in the 24 hr urines of 5,500 newborns and in 20 subjects ranging in age from 2.5 to 20 years, with a suspicion of metabolic diseases. Seven newborns have shown a biochemical pattern of cystinuria. The urinary cystine levels in the first days of life appeared to correlate with an increased risk of developing, at the adult age, metabolic mono- or bilateral urolithiasis.
Subject(s)
Cystinuria/complications , Urinary Calculi/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Amino Acids/urine , Child , Child, Preschool , Cystinuria/urine , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Urinary Calculi/urineABSTRACT
Assays of the branched chain amino acids, of those with basic character, of phenylalanine and glutamic acid were performed in the 24 hrs urines of 50 patients with psychic disorders, ranging in age from 0 to 20 years, and in 30 normal controls. Similar investigations were carried out in the patients' parents. Abnormal levels of urinary amino acids in some of the adults suggested the existence of mutant genes in one or both parents of one or two descendents with mental handicap. The levels of urinary amino acids correlated with the severity of the predominant psychic manifestations, which were more severe in the cases with a wide deviation from normal of aminoaciduria.
Subject(s)
Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/urine , Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/urine , Amino Acids, Essential/urine , Mental Disorders/urine , Adolescent , Adult , Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/genetics , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Glutamic Acid/urine , Humans , Infant , Male , Mental Disorders/genetics , Phenylalanine/urineABSTRACT
The lipid metabolism was evaluated using a new method for assay of the hair contents in unsaturated fatty acids. Determinations in various hair segments and in the blood serum were performed before and after a hypolipemic diet and drug therapy in hypercholesterolemic patients in comparison with a control group. The correlation factors between the levels of the oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in the serum and those in the hair were +0.967, +0.987 and +0.992, respectively. The method provides information on the therapy influence on the lipid metabolism variations within several weeks or months.
Subject(s)
Hair/chemistry , Linoleic Acids/analysis , Lipid Metabolism , Oleic Acids/analysis , alpha-Linolenic Acid/analysis , Adult , Aged , Chromatography, Paper , Female , Humans , Hypercholesterolemia/metabolism , Linoleic Acid , Lipids/analysis , Male , Middle Aged , Oleic AcidABSTRACT
Assays of glucose and proteic sulphur levels in the hair of patients with recently detected IDDM provided information on the preclinical stage of insulin secretion disorders, which was estimated at 6 +/- 2 months. Such investigations in subjects at high risk of developing an IDDM might reveal the period preceding the disease onset, thus enabling to start an early therapy.
