Health of Roma children in Vilnius and Ventspils.

According to the literature data, Roma health and living conditions in Central and Eastern Europe are poorer than of the rest of population. However, the more detailed information about Roma health is lacking. The aim of the study was to evaluate morbidity, health self-assessment, and prevalence of addictions among Roma children in Vilnius and Ventspils and to compare with health indicators of non-Roma children. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS. A descriptive epidemiological study was carried out, anonymously questioning all volunteer Roma children - 59 in Vilnius (Lithuania) and 31 in Ventspils (Latvia) schools. Results were compared with identical study, carried out in five Vilnius schools (reference group, 640). RESULTS. The appliance rate of Roma children to doctor did not differ from reference group - half of all questioned children visited doctor 1-3 times during the last year. However, more Roma children (74.6% from Vilnius and 64.6% from Ventspils) considered their health as poor and very poor as compared to reference group (4.3%). The proportion of children indicating somatic symptoms often and very often did not differ statistically significantly among groups with exception of vomiting and nausea, which was most prevalent among Vilnius Roma and Ventspils Roma. The proportion of children indicating emotional symptoms often and very often differed significantly in all groups and was the biggest in Ventspils Roma group. The proportion of daily alcohol, drug users, and smokers was higher in Vilnius Roma and Ventspils Roma groups, although the differences among all three groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION. Although the morbidity of Vilnius Roma and Ventspils Roma groups did not differ from reference group, essential discrepancy was found in health self-assessment - more Roma children considered their health as poor and very poor.

The association between cytomegalovirus infection and aging process.

UNLABELLED: Analysis of published scientific data suggests that cytomegalovirus infection has an effect on aging process in human, in particular on immunosenescence, resulting in an increased incidence of infectious diseases and consequent mortality in elderly individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between cytomegalovirus infection and a character of aging (premature, physiological, and slow). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In accordance with special criteria of the assessment of biological age, 146 healthy elderly women aged 60-90 years were divided into three groups: Group 1--slow aging group (37 women, 25.4%); Group 2--physiological aging group (58 women, 39.7%); Group 3--premature aging group (51 women, 34.9%). Immune response to cytomegalovirus was studied using methods of enzyme immunoassay and indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Comparing immune response to cytomegalovirus in different aging groups, highest titres of both IgG antibodies against early antigens and IgA antibodies against late structural antigens were found in premature aging group. Results showed that premature aging was associated with an increased level of IgA antibodies characteristic for cytomegalovirus symptomatic infection and its frequent reactivations. CONCLUSION: Cytomegalovirus infection is associated with an increased risk of premature aging (OR=9.8; P<0.01).