Basic Anthropometric Parameters Research Articles

Assessment of the risk of developing cardiovascular pathology in medical university students

Diseases of the cardiovascular system (hypertension, coronary heart disease, and heart failure) occupy leading places in the overall pathology structure. A specific feature is a growing share of young people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the total population. This is facilitated by physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, elevated stress levels as well as genetic predisposition. Identification of leading risk factors at the latent stage can make for timely diagnostics of cardiovascular pathology in young people. This, in its turn, allows implementing relevant prevention as well as adjusting therapies thereby improving quality of life of each individual patient. Given that, the aim of this study was to assess risk factors causing CVDs in medical university students; to determine severity of existing cardiovascular disorders as well as their relationships with factors that may have caused them. Eight hundred and seventeen students participated in the study. They all took part in a survey to identify risks of developing CVDs with certain adjustments made to an applied questionnaire to adapt it for use among students. Also, the study involved assessing basic anthropometric parameters (height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)), hypertension in family case history, physical activity, time spent with gadgets (use of smartphone), and alcohol consumption. The study revealed that 30 % of the examined people had overweight; more than 54 % abused alcohol; 53 % of the respondents mentioned elevated stress levels. All this creates significantly elevated risks of cardiovascular diseases as well as their complications for young and middle-aged people. The study results clearly indicate elevated risks of cardiovascular pathology and this requires correction of risk factors at an early stage.

Оценка риска развития сердечно-сосудистой патологии у студентов медицинского вуза

Diseases of the cardiovascular system (hypertension, coronary heart disease, and heart failure) occupy leading places in the overall pathology structure. A specific feature is a growing share of young people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the total population. This is facilitated by physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, elevated stress levels as well as genetic predisposition. Identification of leading risk factors at the latent stage can make for timely diagnostics of cardiovascular pathology in young people. This, in its turn, allows implementing relevant prevention as well as adjusting therapies thereby improving quality of life of each individual patient. Given that, the aim of this study was to assess risk factors causing CVDs in medical university students; to determine severity of existing cardiovascular disorders as well as their relationships with factors that may have caused them. Eight hundred and seventeen students participated in the study. They all took part in a survey to identify risks of developing CVDs with certain adjustments made to an applied questionnaire to adapt it for use among students. Also, the study involved assessing basic anthropometric parameters (height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)), hypertension in family case history, physical activity, time spent with gadgets (use of smartphone), and alcohol consumption. The study revealed that 30 % of the examined people had overweight; more than 54 % abused alcohol; 53 % of the respondents mentioned elevated stress levels. All this creates significantly elevated risks of cardiovascular diseases as well as their complications for young and middle-aged people. The study results clearly indicate elevated risks of cardiovascular pathology and this requires correction of risk factors at an early stage.

Screening for Sleep Disordered Breathing in Three Distinct Neurological Diseases in the Bulgarian Population

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is a common medical problem in the general population. Neurological disorders such as ischemic stroke (IS), myasthenia gravis (MG), or multiple sclerosis (MS) seem to be of higher risk of SDB. Nevertheless, the implementation of screening for SDB in such disorders has not been well studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore screening parameters for SDB in IS, MG and MS, in our region. We included prospectively patients with diagnosed IS, MG and MS. Psychometric tools such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the STOP-BANG, and the Berlin questionnaire were implemented. For the respiratory screening portable recording device was used. Seventy-two patients, 25 with IS (mean age 66.3 years), 24 with MG (mean age 47.9 years), and 23 with MS (mean age 40.1 years) were enrolled. Basic anthropometric parameters such as BMI, neck and waist circumference were higher in IS than in MG and MS ($$p<0.001$$). The ESS scores were 5.5±3.2 for IS, 5.6±3.3 for MG, and 5.9±4.5 for MS, but without significant difference between the groups. Contrariwise, STOP-BANG scores in IS were 4.8±1.3, significantly higher ($$p<0.0001$$) than both MG (2.1±1.4) and MS (1.2±0.9). A high risk for OSA in BQ was calculated in 68% of IS, much higher ($$p<0.0001$$) than in MG (33.3%) and in MS (13%). In the respiratory screening, the mean apnea-hypopnea index in the IS group (20±18.3) was statistically higher than in MG (8.1±12.7, $$p<0.005$$), and in MS patients (2.3±4.9, $$p<0.001$$). Oxygen desaturation index in IS (19.3±19) differed statistically from the one in MG (8.1±12.9, $$p<0.005$$), and in MS (2.6±5.5, $$p<0.001$$). The oxygen saturation (SO2) showed difference only between IS and MS in all three measured values – baseline SO2 ($$p<0.001$$), median SO2 ($$p<0.05$$) and lowest SO2 ($$p<0.05$$). IS, MG and MS, as distinct neurological entities, show different clinical profiles with respect to screening for SDB. These should be taken into consideration in the individual evaluation for sleep disordered breathing.

Diet Inflammatory Index among Regularly Physically Active Young Women and Men.

Recently, special attention has been paid to the relationship between diet and inflammation in the body. A factor that influences both diet and inflammation is physical activity. The aim of this study was to assess the inflammatory potential of the diets of young people engaging in regular physical activity. The participants were physical education students (n = 141 men and n = 151 women). The measurements included basic anthropometric parameters and a 4-day nutritional history from which the dietary inflammatory index (DII) was calculated. The average DII for female students was 2.09 ± 1.52, and that for male students was 0.21 ± 1.69. Consumption of all macro- and micronutrients was significantly higher among women and men with the lowest DII value (corresponding to an anti-inflammatory diet). The female and male students consuming anti-inflammatory diets were characterized by greater lean body mass (LBM), and, for the male students, a lower body fat content, compared to those whose diets were pro-inflammatory. Young and regularly physically active people are also exposed to the pro-inflammatory nature of their diets, whose long-term effects may lead to health problems.

Sublingual microcirculation in healthy pediatric population using the sidestream dark-field imaging method.

The sidestream dark-field imaging method is used to study microcirculation. Normal values of sublingual microcirculation parameters in healthy children of different age and gender categories are unknown. The study's main goal was to determine normal values of selected parameters of sublingual microcirculation in healthy children of different age and gender categories. 40 healthy children were measured, ten aged 3-5.9 years, ten aged 6-10.9 years, ten aged 11-14.9 years, and ten aged 15-18.9 years. After recording the basic anthropometric parameters and vital functions, each volunteer had their microcirculation measured using an SDF probe placed sublingually. Three video clips were recorded and processed offline, and the three best and most stable parts of each were analyzed. Total vascular density, small vessel density, proportion of perfused small vessels, perfused vessel density, perfused small vessel density, and DeBacker's score were significantly higher in females than in males. There were no differences between age groups in microcirculation parameters except MFI. Age does not influence normal values of microcirculatory parameters. Female gender was associated with higher vessel density, perfused vessel density, and DeBacker's score. A suggestion of the normal range of microcirculatory parameters in healthy children is provided.

Polysomnographic profile in children diagnosed with celiac disease before starting on a gluten free diet

Study aimsThe study assessed the presence of sleep abnormalities in children who had recently been diagnosed with celiac disease (CD) and not started a gluten free diet (GFD). The children's polysomnographic profiles were also characterized and further compared with healthy children of the same age. MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional study involved 46 pediatric subjects (aged 1–19 years) who had recently been diagnosed with CD and not started a GFD. The control group consisted of 32 healthy children (aged 2–17 years). All children underwent anthropometric measurement, laboratory testing and standard overnight observation with in-laboratory video-PSG. The study and control group were divided into subgroups according to the subjects’ median ages (8.1 years): celiac children aged less than 8.1 years (n = 23) and more than 8.1 years (n = 23), healthy children less aged than 8.1 years (n = 16) and more than 8.1 years (n = 16). ResultsNo significant differences in the basic demographic and anthropometric parameters between the celiac and control group were observed. Significantly prolonged sleep latency (SOL) was evident in the celiac subjects (21.89 ± 20.77 min. vs. 10.99 ± 7.94 min, p = 0.02), with a probability of prolonged SOL of 4.23-fold greater (OR = 4.23; 95 % CI 1.1–16.22) than the healthy controls, especially in the subgroup of older celiac patients. No significant differences in the sleep period time (SPT), total sleep time (TST), wake during sleep (WASO), sleep efficiency (SE) and sleep stage distribution and cyclization were found. The respiratory rates during sleep indicated a significantly greater incidence of the central apnea-hypopnea index (CAHI) (0.54 ± 0.78 vs. 0.18 ± 0.24, p = 0.03) with a 3.16-fold greater probability of pathological CAHI (OR = 3.16; 95 % CI 1.02–9.77) than the control group. An increased incidence of CSA in the subgroup of younger celiac patients compared to younger healthy controls was especially evident. ConclusionsThe findings of our study suggest a difference in sleep architecture and an increased incidence of CSA in children with untreated CD, but additional research is required to verify the results.

Establishment of hypertension risk nomograms based on physical fitness parameters for men and women: a cross-sectional study.

This study aims to establish hypertension risk nomograms for Chinese male and female adults, respectively. A series of questionnaire surveys, physical assessments, and biochemical indicator tests were performed on 18,367 adult participants in China. The optimization of variable selection was conducted by running cyclic coordinate descent with 10-fold cross-validation through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The nomograms were built by including the predictors selected through multivariable logistic regression. Calibration plots, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), decision curve analysis (DCA), clinical impact curves (CIC), and net reduction curve plots (NRC) were used to validate the models. Out of a total of 18 variables, 5 predictors-namely age, body mass index, waistline, hipline, and resting heart rate-were identified for the hypertension risk predictive model for men with an area under the ROC of 0.693 in the training set and 0.707 in the validation set. Seven predictors-namely age, body mass index, body weight, cardiovascular disease history, waistline, resting heart rate, and daily activity level-were identified for the hypertension risk predictive model for women with an area under the ROC of 0.720 in the training set and 0.748 in the validation set. The nomograms for both men and women were externally well-validated. Gender differences may induce heterogeneity in hypertension risk prediction between men and women. Besides basic demographic and anthropometric parameters, information related to the functional status of the cardiovascular system and physical activity appears to be necessary.

Региональные особенности возрастной динамики антропометрических показателей детей и подростков г. Магадана в период онтогенеза 10–17 лет

Introduction. Physical development of younger generation is considered to be important part of age biology issues. This research aimed to conduct the assessment study on physical development of modern children and adolescents born and permanently living in extreme conditions of the North-East of Russia, and compare it to the 2001 survey. Materials and methods. Four thousand two hundred and seven schoolchildren aged 10–17, both males and females, participated in the 2019 monitoring. Basic anthropometric parameters were measured for each student: Body Length, Body Mass, Chest Circumference in pause, and Body Mass Index was calculated. We comparatively analyzed the age dynamics of the studied anthropometric indicators and the rate of change in these indicators during the year within each age group, as well as differences between the same age groups of the 2001 and 2019 surveys. Results. Modern adolescents tend to be higher in somatometric indices as compared to those of previous years. Modern boys exhibited higher BM within the age of 13–16 (p<0.05), BL within the age of 11–16 (p<0.05), and CC at the age of 17 (p<0.05). They experience the active increase in their BM, BL, and CC starting at 12–13 while the boys from the 2001 survey demonstrated the comparable increase (p<0.05), they are higher in BM at the age of 12–15 (p<0.05), and CC at ages of 11 and 13–14 (p<0.05). Modern girls show the active increase in their BM, BL, and CC starting at 11–13, while it lasted until the age of 14 in the girls from the 2001 survey. The BMI variables proved to increase towards overweight and obesity: boys gained 2.2 kg and 5.4 kg, and girls 9.5 kg and 5 kg, respectively. Conclusion. We found the shift of the growth leaps in BL, BM, and CC to younger ages as characteristic of the modern adolescents. In general, higher variables of the studied indicators are evidence of the ongoing acceleration processes in physical development. @ 2023. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

A Comprehensive Look at the -13910 C>T LCT Gene Polymorphism as a Molecular Marker for Vitamin D and Calcium Levels in Young Adults in Central and Eastern Europe: A Preliminary Study.

Intolerance to dairy products resulting from the abnormal digestion of milk sugar (lactose) is a common cause of human gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to show that the -13910 C>T LCT gene polymorphism, together with genotypes of selected VDR gene polymorphisms and diet and nutritional status parameters, can impact the prevalence of vitamin D and calcium deficiency in young adults. This study was conducted on a group of 63 people, which comprised 21 individuals with primary adult lactase deficiency, and a control group of 42 individuals with no hypolactasia. The LCT and VDR gene genotypes were assessed using PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. A validated HPLC method was used to determine serum concentrations of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine calcium levels. Their diets (self-reported 7-day estimated food record), estimated calcium intakes based on the ADOS-Ca questionnaire and basic anthropometric parameters were assessed. The CC genotype associated with hypolactasia was found in 33.3% of the subjects. The presence of the CC variant of the LCT gene polymorphism in the study group of young Polish adults was found to be associated with significantly lower milk (134.7 ± 66.7 g/d vs. 342.5 ± 176 g/d; p = 0.012) and dairy product consumption (78.50 ± 36.2 g/d vs. 216.3 ± 102 g/d; p = 0.008) compared with lactase persistence. At the same time, people with adult-type primary intolerance were found to have statistically significant lower serum levels of vitamin D and calcium (p < 0.05). There was a higher chance of vitamin D and calcium deficiency and a lower intake in the group exhibiting lactase non-persistence (OR > 1). The AA variant of the VDR gene's BsmI polymorphism present in people with hypolactasia may further contribute to an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Exclusion of lactose from the diet, combined with impaired vitamin D metabolism, may also lead to inhibited calcium absorption by the body. Further research should be carried out on a larger group of subjects to clarify the relationship between lactase activity and vitamin D and calcium levels in young adults.

Nutritional Status and Its Detection in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Malnutrition is an important issue in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). It is caused by altered digestion and absorption within the small bowel, inadequate food intake, and drug-nutrient interactions in patients. Malnutrition is an essential problem because it is related to an increased risk of infections and poor prognosis in patients. It is known that malnutrition is also related to an increased risk of postsurgery complications in IBD patients. Basic nutritional screening involves anthropometric parameters with body mass index (BMI) and others (fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio, muscle strength), medical history concerning weight loss, and biochemical parameters (including the Prognostic Nutritional Index). Besides standard nutritional screening tools, including the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Nutritional Risk Score 2002 (NRS 2002), and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), specific nutritional screening tools are used in IBD patients, such as the Saskatchewan Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Nutrition Risk Tool (SaskIBD-NR Tool and IBD-specific Nutritional Screening Tool). There is a higher risk of nutrient deficiencies (including iron, zinc, magnesium) and vitamin deficiencies (including folic acid, vitamin B12 and D) in IBD patients. Therefore, regular evaluation of nutritional status is important in IBD patients because many of them are undernourished. An association between plasma ghrelin and leptin and nutritional status in IBD patients has been observed. According to some authors, anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNFα) therapy (infliximab) can improve nutritional status in IBD patients. On the other hand, improvement in nutritional status may increase the response rate to infliximab therapy in CD patients. Optimization of nutritional parameters is necessary to improve results of conservative and surgical treatment and to prevent postoperative complications in patients with IBDs. This review presents basic nutritional screening tools, anthropometric and laboratory parameters, dietary risk factors for IBDs, common nutrient deficiencies, associations between anti-TNFα therapy and nutritional status, selected features regarding the influence of nutritional status, and surgical outcome in IBD patients.

Comparison of performance and anthropometric parameters in paediatric competitive athletes during COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic.

In 2020, measures against the spread of COVID-19 were adopted, including nationwide school closures, restrictions on the free movement of persons and leisure time sports activities. The aim was to assess the impact of COVID-19-associated restrictions on the performance of paediatric and adolescent competitive athletes by comparing basic anthropometric and performance parameters. The sample comprised 389 participants (115 girls, 274 boys). All participants were examined during regular preventive sports health checks from September to November 2019 and a year later. At the initial examination, the mean age of the entire sample was 12.2 ± 2.7 years (median 12.0, minimum 7.0; maximum 17.0). The examination consisted of a complete medical history and physical examination including maximal exercise testing on a leg cycle ergometer. In the entire sample, as well as in the boy and girl subgroups, body height, weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, and power output significantly increased according to a percentile graph for boys and girls in 2020. A reduction in power output (W/kg) was found. By 2020, W/kg dropped in 56.4% of the youngest participants (7-13 years), 75% of those aged 14-16 years and 64.9% of the oldest individuals (16-17 years). The percentage of the youngest children with power output reductions was statistically significantly lower than the percentages of the other age subgroups (p = 0.007). There were no significant differences in results between genders. Performance and anthropometric parameters worsened especially among older children. This should be reflected when planning epidemic measures in case of any similar situation in the future.

Altered baroreflex sensitivity at rest and during Valsalva maneuver in healthy male offspring of hypertensive patients

A family history of hypertension puts young adults at a higher risk of developing hypertension, that too, at an earlier age than their parents. Recent studies suggest that the baroreflex mechanism, which takes care of the short-term regulation of blood pressure (BP), also plays a role in the long-term regulation of BP. Studies have reported decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in hypertensives. Reduced BRS is shown to herald the future occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and helps in risk stratification AIM: Toassess BRS at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver among apparently healthy male offspring (age 18-35 years) of hypertensive patients. We recruited 37 participants whose parents (either/both) were hypertensive in the study group and whose parents (both) were not hypertensive in the control group. We measured basic anthropometric parameters (height, weight, waist circumference), cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and BP), short-term heart rate variability, and BRS (at rest and during Valsalva). We found that BRS at rest and BRS during the Valsalva maneuver were reduced among healthy male offspring of hypertensive parents than in healthy male offspring of non-hypertensive parents. Further, HRV indices and Valsalva ratio showed a sympathovagal imbalance in the form of decreased vagal and increased sympathetic activity. The reduced BRS and sympathovagal imbalance in male offspring of hypertensive parents reveal the early risk of developing hypertension in the future.

The value of combining the simple anthropometric obesity parameters, Body Mass Index (BMI) and a Body Shape Index (ABSI), to assess the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BackgroundBody mass index (BMI) and A Body Shape Index (ABSI) are current independent risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to explore the value of combining these two most common obesity indexes in identifying NAFLD.MethodsThe subjects in this study were 14,251 individuals from the NAfld in the Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis (NAGALA) cohort who underwent routine health examination. We integrated BMI with WC and with ABSI to construct 6 combined obesity indicators—obesity phenotypes, the combined anthropometric risk index (ARI) for BMI and ABSI, optimal proportional combination OBMI+WC and OBMI+ABSI, and multiplicative combination BMI*WC and BMI*ABSI. Several multivariable logistic regression models were established to evaluate the relationship between BMI, WC, ABSI, and the above six combined indicators and NAFLD; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to compare the ability of each obesity indicator to identify NAFLD.ResultsA total of 2,507 (17.59%) subjects were diagnosed with NAFLD. BMI, WC, ABSI, and all other combined obesity indicators were significantly and positively associated with NAFLD in the current study, with BMI*WC having the strongest correlation with NAFLD in female subjects (OR per SD increase: 3.13) and BMI*ABSI having the strongest correlation in male subjects (OR per SD increase: 2.97). ROC analysis showed that ARI and OBMI+ABSI had the best diagnostic performance in both sexes, followed by BMI*WC (area under the curve: female 0.8912; male 0.8270). After further age stratification, it was found that ARI and multiplicative indicators (BMI*WC, BMI*ABSI) and optimal proportional combination indicators (OBMI+WC, OBMI+ABSI) significantly improved the NAFLD risk identification ability of the basic anthropometric parameters in middle-aged females and young and middle-aged males.ConclusionIn the general population, BMI combined with ABSI best identified obesity-related NAFLD risk and was significantly better than BMI or WC, or ABSI. We find that ARI and the multiplicative combined indicators BMI*WC and BMI*ABSI further improved risk prediction and may be proposed for possible use in clinical practice.

The Predictive Role of the Upper-Airway Adipose Tissue in the Pathogenesis of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

Simple SummaryObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an underdiagnosed disorder from which many patients are suffering, and may lead to severe complications. The adipose tissue near the upper airways is essential in upper-airway collapses and OSA severity. The present investigation aimed to determine the correlations between upper-airway adipose tissue MRI parameters and OSA, using artificial intelligence to analyse the pathophysiology of OSA and predict obstruction location. Including anthropometric and MRI adipose tissue parameters, OSA and upper-airway obstruction can be predicted with high precision. Artificial intelligence can effectively be used in OSA diagnostics as it can analyse non-linear correlations; thus, it can be helpful for undiagnosed OSA cases.This study aimed to analyse the thickness of the adipose tissue (AT) around the upper airways with anthropometric parameters in the prediction and pathogenesis of OSA and obstruction of the upper airways using artificial intelligence. One hundred patients were enrolled in this prospective investigation, who were divided into control (non-OSA) and mild, moderately severe, and severe OSA according to polysomnography. All participants underwent drug-induced sleep endoscopy, anthropometric measurements, and neck MRI. The statistical analyses were based on artificial intelligence. The midsagittal SAT, the parapharyngeal fat, and the midsagittal tongue fat were significantly correlated with BMI; however, no correlation with AHI was observed. Upper-airway obstruction was correctly categorised in 80% in the case of the soft palate, including parapharyngeal AT, sex, and neck circumference parameters. Oropharyngeal obstruction was correctly predicted in 77% using BMI, parapharyngeal AT, and abdominal circumferences, while tongue-based obstruction was correctly predicted in 79% using BMI. OSA could be predicted with 99% precision using anthropometric parameters and AT values from the MRI. Age, neck circumference, midsagittal and parapharyngeal tongue fat values, and BMI were the most vital parameters in the prediction. Basic anthropometric parameters and AT values based on MRI are helpful in predicting OSA and obstruction location using artificial intelligence.

Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Tongue in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

To examine the geometrical parameters of the tongue in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) based on sex, age and BMI parameters and ultrasound (US) and MRI. The presence of OSA and tongue-based obstruction can be predicted using these parameters. Of 100 patients, 64% were diagnosed with OSA according to overnight polysomnography. MRI and US devices were used to measure tongue parameters. The location of the obstruction was identified using drug-induced sleep endoscopy. Statistical analysis was performed using the quadratic discriminant analysis. Men presented higher tongue volumes and axial diameter during Müller’s maneuver (MM) of US and coronal diameter of the MRI. In women, all examined MRI parameters were significantly correlated with apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI). A stronger correlation between BMI and AHI parameters was observed in women than in men. Using our algorithm, which includes tongue parameters and anthropometric values, the presence of OSA could be predicted in 91% with US and 82% with MRI. The detection of tongue-based obstruction was successful in 89% using US and 87% using MRI, whereas tongue-based obstruction was successful in 70% using US. Using MRI and US of the tongue combined with basic anthropometric parameters, the presence of OSA and tongue-based obstruction can be identified with high precision.

Sports activity and changes in physical fitness of Polish children and adolescents: OSF study.

Physical activity promotion programs for children and adolescents should constitute the basis of any national health policy aiming to improve physical fitness, which is a significant health indicator in children, adolescents, adults as well as elderly persons. The study included 1,230 children and adolescents aged 8-16 years (60.1% of girls) from Poland. Five hundred and twenty-seven persons covered by the survey (42.8%) participated in physical activity promotion called "Athletics for All!" (AFA) as an experimental group and 703 peers not participating in any forms of physical extra-curricular activities as a control group. Participants were measured for basic anthropometric parameters and body mass indices were calculated: Body Mass Index (BMI) and Ponderal Index (PI). Evaluation of physical fitness was made using the OSF Test (3 × 10 m shuttle run, standing broad jump, 1 kg medicine ball overhead throw, 4-min run). Comparative analysis between the experimental and control groups was carried out using the T-test for independent samples. Analysis of correlations between quantitative variables was performed with Pearson's r coefficient. Statistically significant differences in all the tests were noted between the experimental group (AFA) and the control group in favor of the former one. Taking into account reference ranges of BMI created according to the latest Polish norms, statistically significant differences were noted between the subgroups in all physical fitness tests. As far as PI is concerned, in the AFA group significant differences were noted in all physical fitness tests between subgroups created in accordance with the aforementioned norms. The findings of our study show that it is necessary to introduce physical activity promotion programs for children and adolescents. Such programs should constitute the basis of national health policy aiming at improving physical fitness among young people.

Analysis of Selected Nutritional Parameters in Patients with HPV-Related and Non-HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer before and after Radiotherapy Alone or Combined with Chemotherapy.

Simple SummaryThe aim of this study was to assess and compare the nutritional status (NS) of patients with HPV-related (HPV+) and non-HPV-related (HPV-) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) before and after radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The analysis included 127 patients with OPC who underwent radiotherapy (RT) alone, or in combination with chemotherapy (CRT). In both groups, a significant decrease in all analyzed nutritional parameters was noted after RT/CRT. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly better in patients with a higher BMI in the HPV- group; DFS was significantly better in patients with total lymphocyte count (TLC) >1.28/mm3 in the HPV+ group. Higher NRS 2002 was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS and DFS in HPV-, but not in the HPV+ group. Regardless of HPV status, patients with OPC can develop malnutrition during RT/CRT. Therefore, nutritional support during RT/CRT is required in patients with HPV- and HPV+ OPC.Background: Radiotherapy plays an essential role in the treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC). The aim of this study was to assess and compare the nutritional status (NS) of patients with HPV-related (HPV+) and non-HPV-related (HPV-) OPC before and after radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods: The analysis included 127 patients with OPC who underwent radiotherapy (RT) alone, or in combination with chemotherapy (CRT), in the I Radiation and Clinical Oncology Department of Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Poland. Patients were divided according to HPV status. Confirmation of HPV etiology was obtained from FFPE (formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) tissue material and/or extracellular circulating HPV DNA. Basic anthropometric and biochemical parameters before and after RT/CRT were compared between the HPV- and HPV+ groups. The effect of NS on survival was also analyzed. Results: In both groups, a significant decrease in all analyzed nutritional parameters was noted after RT/CRT (p < 0.01). CRT caused significant weight loss and decreases in BMI, albumin, total lymphocyte count (TLC), and hemoglobin concentration, as well as an increase in the Nutritional Risk Score (NRS) 2002, in HPV- and HPV+ patients. A significant decrease in prealbumin levels after CRT was noted only in HPV+ patients. RT caused a significant decrease in hemoglobin concentration and TLC in HPV- patients. There were no significant differences regarding other nutritional parameters after RT in either group. RT did not have negative impact on body mass index (BMI), weight, NRS, CRP, Alb, Prealb, or PNI. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly better in patients with a higher BMI in the HPV- group (OS, p = 0.011; DFS, p = 0.028); DFS was significantly better in patients with C-reactive protein (CRP) < 3.5 g/dL in the HPV- (p = 0.021) and HPV+ (p = 0.018) groups, and with total lymphocyte count (TLC) >1.28/mm3 in the HPV+ group (p = 0.014). Higher NRS 2002 was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS and DFS in HPV-, but not in the HPV+ group. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that both OS and DFS were significantly better in HPV- patients with lower NRS 2002 scores. However, this relationship was not observed in the HPV+ group. Conclusions: Regardless of HPV status, patients with OPC can develop malnutrition during RT/CRT. Therefore, nutritional support during RT/CRT is required in patients with HPV- and HPV+ OPC.

Показники розвитку дітей шкільного віку, які проживають в умовах йодного дефіциту

У статті наведені результати дослідження показників розвитку дітей, які проживають у місцевості з дефіцитом йоду. Визначено основні антропометричні показники (довжина та маса тіла, окружність грудної клітки), проведено оцінку інтелектуального розвитку 819 дітей 7–16 років, які проживають за умов йодного дефіциту легкого (472 особи) та середнього (347 осіб) ступеня тяжкості. Обстежені діти були стандартизовані за основними факторами впливу на розвиток. Антропометричні виміри проводилися за стандартними методиками. Сформованість інтелектуальної функції визначали за допомогою фрагмента тесту Р. Кеттела, показники розумової діяльності — за допомогою коректурної проби в поєднанні з перевіркою швидкості читання. Всім дітям проводилося визначення добової йодурії (реакція Sandell — Kolhoff), пальпація щитоподібної залози, визначення її розмірів та структури за допомогою ультразвукового дослідження. Визначено, що харчовий раціон дітей характеризується дефіцитом продуктів, багатих на йод. Йодовану сіль використовує тільки 1 родина із 50. Діти, які мешкають за умов йодного дефіциту середнього ступеня, у всіх вікових підгрупах мають нижчі показники фізичного розвитку. Третина дітей, які мешкають у місцевості йодного дефіциту, мають дисгармонійний фізичний розвиток. 13,8 % дітей із зони йодного дефіциту мають зміни за більшістю досліджуваних когнітивних функцій. Як провідні відхилення по всій групі дітей зареєстровано порушення пам’яті та дрібної моторики. Рівень інтелектуальної сформованості, продуктивність та точність виконання роботи знижуються в міру наростання ступеня йодного дефіциту.

Medium-term Results of Body Balance Trainings in Primary School-Aged Children with Generalized Joint Hypermobility and Symptomatic Mobile Flat Foot: Cohort Study

Background. Mobile flat foot etiology and its correlations with postural imbalance remain topical issues for now, especially in children with generalized joint hypermobility. Additionally, it is poorly known that complaints prevail in children with mobile flat foot and joint hypermobility, and whether existing complaints are associated with foot deformation.Objective. The aim of the study is to estimate medium-term effects of body balance trainings on the height of longitudinal arch of the foot and on the complaints structure in primary school-aged children with generalized joint hypermobility.Methods. The study included 114 primary school-aged children (7–11 years old) with mobile symptomatic flat foot who were divided into four groups: I — control group of children who did not perform training; II — children who performed standard complex of rehabilitation exercises recommended for flat foot; III — children who performed a specially designed complex of exercises for body balance training; IV — children exercised on unstable platform. The foot examination included: clinical assessment of feet shape and position (FPI-6 scale), visual and manual mobility tests, computer scanning with calculation of anthropometric indices (basic anthropometric parameters were calculated from scanned foot images). Clinical evaluation of balance was carried out according to the BESS (Balance Error Scoring System) scale and computer pedobarometry. Assessment of complaints structure was carried out according to the Oxford Child Foot Condition Questionnaire.Results. Children of control group significantly increased the number of errors in performing tests compared to the baseline data (p = 0.034) according to the BESS scale. No statistically significant changes were obtained in children of the second group (p = 0.08). Total number of errors committed by children of third and fourth groups on unstable platform decreased by 2.9 times and 3.4 times, respectively (p = 0.022 and p = 0.044). Decrease in partial load on medial longitudinal arch of foot in step cycle in average by 2.0–3.5 times compared to baseline parameters was revealed in children of third and fourth groups. Moreover, children of third and fourth groups have shown improvement in parameters regarding the shape and position of the feet by average of 1.3–1.7 times higher compared to the parameters of the feet of children performing standard complex of rehabilitation exercises (p = 0.036).Conclusion. This study has shown the efficacy of body balance training in increasing the height of longitudinal arch of the foot and good dynamics in the structure of complaints in primary school-aged children with generalized joint hypermobility and symptomatic mobile flat foot.

Jumping performance and take-off efficiency correlation with the basic anthropometric parameters in female volleyball players

Background: Vertical jump height and body height are almost universally recognised as determinant factors in elite volleyball performance. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between basic anthropometric parameters (body height and body weight) and jumping performance in a group of 16 female volleyball players (age 19.14 &#177; 5.52 years, height 1.80 &#177; 0.06 m, weight 69.81 &#177; 6.85 kg) and in a control group of 15 female university students (age 22.90 &#177; 0.83 years, height 1.70 &#177; 0.05 m, weight 61.70 &#177; 8.23 kg). Methods: The Quattro Jump 9290BA force platform system (Kistler, Winterthur, Switzerland) was used to test jumping performance in single vertical jumps (squat jump, countermovement jump) and 45-s continuous jumps. In single jumps, jump height was analysed and during the 45-s continuous jumps the maximal and mean jump height, the average contact time and the fatigue index were evaluated. The efficiency of the conversion of mechanical work into mechanical energy at the moment of take-off was calculated. Results: No significant influence of body height and body weight was found in the jumping performance in the squat jump and countermovement jump. In continuous jumps, a significant correlation was found between body height and fatigue index in the volleyball players. In the control group, in most of the tests moderate correlation between body height and jump height was observed. In the volleyball players, rather low values of efficiency of take-off (23.67 &#177; 2.64%) were calculated. The values in the control group were even lower. Conclusions: Nowadays, many volleyball coaches choose individuals mainly according to body height, but it is important that the talent identification process should also consider jumping abilities in the simple jumps and in continuous jumps. All these parameters should help coaches choose the right players for the appropriate position and role in the team.