Polish adaptation of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA-PL).

BACKGROUND: Emerging adulthood refers to a new phase in life that is related to the transition period from adolescence to adulthood. The concept spread around the world and has been examined in various cultural contexts. This article aims to introduce a Polish adaptation of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA-PL) developed to assess attitudes toward emerging adulthood among young people. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: In total, 1,414 randomly assigned emerging adults aged between 18 and 29 took part in this study. Participants were asked to describe the extent to which they considered their current life as a time of identity exploration, experimentation/possibilities, negativity/instability, self-focused, feeling in-between, and other-focused. Responses were given on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). RESULTS: The results were analyzed in two steps: via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to check the underlying structure of the measure and via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the model fit. The EFA results showed that the IDEA-PL items loaded onto the originally dedicated six factors; however, some achieved low loadings and/or cross-loadings. In the second step of the analysis, the problematic items were eliminated and the CFA results showed that a five-factor solution with 15 items achieved satisfactory parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, we introduce a Polish adaptation of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA-PL). These results add value to the existing literature and scholars and clinicians can use this questionnaire for research and practice purposes.

The structure of child temperament as measured by the Polish versions of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire and the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire: insight from the network psychometrics approach.

BACKGROUND: The model proposed by Rothbart is one of the most frequently used models to describe children's temperament. However, the structure of temperamental traits in children is not unambiguous. We examine this structure in children from 3 to 10 years of age using two different measures in a less often studied cultural context (i.e., central Europe), and using a recently developed and still less common approach to study the internal structure of scales (i.e., network psychometrics). PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: This paper examines the structure of temperamental dimensions in children using two different measures - the Children's Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) and the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire (TMCQ) - in two studies conducted on children aged 4-7 years (N = 178; CBQ) and aged 7-10 years (N = 189; TMCQ). We verified the structural validity of these measures with a bootstrapped exploratory graph analysis, which represents the network psychometric approach. RESULTS: Network psychometric analysis supported differentiation of three factors of temperamental traits in both groups of children. In addition, the construct validity of these instruments was supported through correlations of the temperament factors measured by the CBQ and the TMCQ with Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Shyness scales measured with the EAS Temperament Survey; and through confirmation of expected gender differences in the CBQ and TMCQ factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support a three-factor solution of temperamental traits in children representing Negative Affectivity, Effortful Control, and Surgency.

[Parameters of lipid peroxidation and low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the course of hyperthyroidism]. / Wykladniki peroksydacji lipidów i oksydacji lipoprotein malej gestosci (LDL) w przebiegu nadczynnosci tarczycy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of hyperthyroidism on lipid peroxidation and oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL). Twenty patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease or toxic multinodular goitre and 17 healthy subjects as the control group were investigated. Lipid peroxidation was measured by the serum level of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal (MDA+4-HNE) whereas the oxidative modification of LDL was determined by measuring the serum levels of antibodies against oxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL). Ratios, which were evaluated as proportions of lipid peroxidation products level or anti-oxLDL level to the LDL-cholesterol level (LDL-C) were also determined: MDA+4-HNE/LDL-C and anti-oxLDL/LDL-C. The patients with hyperthyroidism displayed a significant elevation of the MDA+4-HNE/LDL-C ratio. The level of anti-oxLDL and anti-oxLD/LDL-C ratio were positively correlated with FT4 level and inversely correlated with HDL-cholesterol. These data suggest that the intensification of lipid peroxidation and oxidative modification of plasma lipoprotein is affected by changes in the level of thyroid hormones.

Gastric bypass is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in patients with clinically significant obesity.

BACKGROUND: We have demonstrated that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in 60% of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. A study was conducted to determine whether weight loss following bariatric surgery ameliorates OSA. METHODS: All 100 consecutive patients with symptoms of OSA were prospectively evaluated by polysomnography before gastric bypass. Preoperative and postoperative scores of Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI), and other parameters of sleep quality were compared using t-test. RESULTS: Preoperative RDI was 40 +/- 4 (normal 5 events/hour, n = 100). 13 patients had no OSA, 29 had mild OSA, while the remaining 58 patients were treated preoperatively for moderate-severe OSA. At a median of 6 months follow-up, BMI and ESS scores improved (38 +/- 1 vs 54 +/- 1 kg/m2, 6 +/- 1 vs 12 +/- 0.1, P < 0.001, postoperatively vs preoperatively). To date, 11 patients have completed postoperative polysomnography (3-21 months) after losing weight (BMI 40 +/- 2 vs 62 +/- 3 kg/m2, P < 0.001). There was significant improvement in ESS (3 +/- 1 vs 14 +/- 2), minimum O2 saturation (SpO2 86 +/- 2 vs 77 +/- 5), sleep efficiency (85 +/- 2% vs 65 +/- 5%), all P < 0.001, postop vs preop; and RDI (56 +/- 13 vs 23 +/- 7, P = 0.041). Regression analysis demonstrated no correlation between preoperative BMI, ESS score and the severity of OSA; and no correlation between % excess body weight loss and postoperative RDI. CONCLUSION: Weight loss following gastric bypass results in profound improvement in OSA. The severity of apnea cannot be reliably predicted by preoperative BMI and ESS; therefore, patients with symptoms of OSA should undergo polysomnography.