Assessment of nutritional status of selected group of children living in urban and rural areas in Upper Silesia, in the intervening five years.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the paper is to assess changes in nutritional status of a selected group of children from urban and rural environment in Upper Silesia in the intervening 5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted twice - in 2003 and during the school year 2008/2009, and involved children from the town of Bytom and from the village Boronów. To assess the nutritional status, the following measurements were used - weight, height and thickness of subcutaneous fold. Body Mass Index (BMI) was also calculated. The results obtained were referred to the appropriate percentile charts. Measurement values, which were located below the 10th percentile or above the 90th percentile were treated as incorrect. Statistical analysis included only those children who participated in the I and II survey. The frequency of the anthropometric measurements and BMI exceeding the accepted limits of norms in both studied environments and between them, 5 years after the previous evaluation, were compared. RESULTS: In both environments, the number of pupils whose body mass exceeded the value of the 90th percentile increased. The number of pupils whose body mass was lower than the 10th percentile also increased in the city, but decreased in the country. Considering BMI, the percentage of children located above the norm increased as well in comparison to the first study. In addition, it was also found that the thickness of subcutaneous skin-fold difference between the studied communities was significant in both the first (p = 0.020) and the second survey (p = 0.015), as well as in each environment, after 5 years since the previous evaluation (Bytom: p = 0.001; Boronów: p = 0.32). CONCLUSION: In 5 years (2003-2008), the incidence of overweight of pupils increased in both groups. The percentage of pupils who weighed less than 10th percentile increased to a greater extent in urban environment than in rural areas.

Atherosclerosis risk factors in young patients formerly treated for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

UNLABELLED: A total of 30 patients (ten female/20 male), 9 years to 22 years old (mean age 17.3 years) and 30 healthy teenage controls (mean age 16.4 years) were included in our study. The patients had steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) and had completed steroid therapy 4 years to 15 years ago. Height and weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition, and intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined, as were levels of total cholesterol (TCh), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Ch), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Ch), triacylglycerols (TAGs), homocysteine (HCY), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). We did not observe any differences between the study and control groups in IMT (0.47 +/- 0.1 vs 0.46 +/- 0.1 mm) and body composition (fat tissue and water content). Differences in HDL-Ch and hsCRP levels between groups were not significant. In the study group we found significantly higher TCh levels (187.6 +/- 57.2 mg/dl vs 158.8 +/- 25.7 mg/dl; P = 0.012), LDL-Ch (115.9 +/- 63.7 mg/dl vs 79.4 +/- 25.4 mg/dl; P = 0.005), HCY (12.3 +/- 7.7 micromol/l vs 7.6 +/- 1.6 micromol/dl; P < 0.001), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (113.6 +/- 30.0 mg/dl vs 78.7 +/- 13.6 mg/dl; P < 0.001) and ApoA1 (203.5 +/- 50.8 mg/dl vs 156.5 +/- 12.4 mg/dl; P < 0.001) levels. Multi-factor analysis of the influence of independent factors (number of recurrences, duration of remission, age, gender, and BMI) on the parameters under investigation indicated a positive correlation between IMT and the number of recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Patients treated for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in the past should undergo regular laboratory tests of atherosclerosis risk factors, including not only cholesterol and its fractions, but also ApoA1, ApoB and HCY. 2. It is necessary to continue systematic check-ups of the intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries among young patients with anamnesis of INS, especially among patients who suffered from numerous relapses of this disease.

[Some aspects of the influence of television on children in early adolescence]. / Wybrane aspekty oddzialywania telewizji na dzieci w okresie wczesnej adolescencji.

Television is treated not only as a carrier of information, but first of all as a source of entertainment. From the other sites, it also carries many threats to young spectator. It is known already today, that many remittances are full of aggression. In what way does this special group of audience uses the TV remittances? This problem is analyzed in presented study. Diagnosis of problem was conducted among children attending to secondary schools. An investigative tool was a questionnaire of inquiry which included following questions: quantity of time spent in front of television set, influence of television on functioning of a child, rules of using the television at home, what kinds of televisions' offers children use, influence of television on social functioning of child (contacts with peers, with family) and influence of television on intellectual functioning of a child.

[Rehabilitation of patients after lower limb amputation as a basic element of adaptation to normal life]. / Rehabilitacja pacjentów po amputacji konczyny dolnej jako podstawowy element przystosowania do normalnego zycia.

Amputations of bottom limbs are serious problem. Loss of leg causes always heavy psychical injury, it makes life more difficult, as well as moving and self-service. The change of appearance and shape of body demands adaptations of patient and his neighbourhood. Every amputation is not only heavy physical injury but also violent and long-lasting psycho-emotional and social stress. Most of patients are afraid of unknown, so it's necessary to decrease their fear, they expect our help in solving their social and domestic problems. The aim of investigations is to show the process of adapting to normal life of people after amputation of bottom limb on example of their rehabilitation. The following investigative methods were used: steered observation, interview, Polish version of questionnaire RNL (reintegration to normal living) in small modification and inquiry. Investigations were conducted in two hospital wards and the rehabilitation centre. The group consisted of 82 patients--59 men (72% of group) and 23 women (28%). The numerous group (43%) were people between 50-69 years old. Only a few patients after amputation go to special out-patients' department. The main reason of it is the lack of rehabilitation centre in the neighbourhood. 1/5 of the group regularly uses rehabilitation at expert, however most patients over 70s do not use any rehabilitation. Frequent form of activity at studied people is morning exercises and easy exercises of stump. Lack of physical activity is typical for 1/3 of group. Physically active are only 12 patients (15%). Near half of the group uses artificial limbs, but 1/5 of group does not want to have it. Most of them is over 70 years old. Results of investigation show the need of opening the larger quantity of rehabilitation centres to make the rehabilitation more common and accessible. Essential meaning has also bigger motivation of patients to physical activity as well as using artificial limbs, which do facilitate functioning in everyday life and improve the mood of patients after amputation.

[Problem of violence in family in the opinion of health service workers]. / Problem przemocy w rodzinie w opinii pracowników sluzby zdrowia.

UNLABELLED: Violence in family is an intentional physical abuse of a family member, frequently a child, violating the victim's rights and causing suffering and damages. Helping the child demands integrated efforts of many experts as well as making the society more sensitive to the problems of children. The aim of this work is to present the opinions and social attitudes of Health Service workers concerning the problem of child abuse. The authors have undertaken the problem of abusing children, to become acquainted with opinions of people working with children on different aspects of treating children by their parents. A questionnaire was used to study the interfamily relations and to answer the following questions: should we intervene and help the victims of violence, do we use too severe punishment in Polish families, is child abuse common in Polish families, is beating a child recognized as an educational method. The study group included Health Service workers--nurses and doctors as well as academic teachers and students of the Medical University of Silesia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: investigations are continued.