Significant differences in parameters of glucose metabolism in children of hypertensive and normotensive parents.

INTRODUCTION: In the recent years, alterations in the carbohydrate metabolism, including insulin resistance, are considered as risk factors in the development of hypertension and its complications in young age. Hypertension is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The onset of pathology responsible for the development of hypertension, as well as levels of biomarkers specific for early stages of atherosclerosis are poorly understood. AIM: To compare a group of children whose parents have a history of hypertension (study group) with a group of children with normotensive parents (reference group), with consideration of typical risk factors for atherosclerosis, parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, anthropometric data and new biomarkers of early cardiovascular disease (hsCRP, adiponectin, sICAM-1). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consists of 84 children. Of these, 40 children (mean age 13.6±2.7 years) had a parental history of hypertension, and 44 aged 13.1±3.7 yrs were children of normotensive parents. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and measurements of blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose and insulin levels were carried out. The insulin resistance index (HOMA IR) was calculated. Levels of hsCRP, soluble cell adhesion molecules (sICAM) and adiponectin were measured. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in anthropometric parameters (body mass, SDS BMI, skin folds) between groups. Values of systolic blood pressure were statistically significantly higher in the study group (Me 108 vs. 100 mmHg, p= 0.031), as were glycaemia (Me 80 vs. 67 mg/dl p<0.001) and insulinaemia levels (Me 8.89 vs. 5.34 µIU/ml, p=0.024). Higher, statistically significant values of HOMA IR were found in the study group (children of hypertensive parents) (Me 1.68 vs. 0.80 mmol/l × mU/l, p=0.007). Lower adiponectin levels (Me 13959.45 vs. 16822 ng/ml, p=0.020) were found in children with a family history of hypertension. No significant differences were found in the levels of sICAM, hsCRP, and parameters of lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Family history of hypertension is correlated with higher values of systolic blood pressure and higher values of parameters for carbohydrate metabolism in children. Hypertension in parents is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in their children.

Choice and perception of the nursing profession from the perspective of Polish nursing students: a focus group study.

BACKGROUND: Although previous quantitative studies provide important information on the factors which influence the choice of nursing as a career, qualitative analysis makes it possible to study the subject more thoroughly. The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the reasons why Polish students choose nursing as a profession and their later perception of the job based on experiences acquired during the nursing course. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was designed. We organized 8 focus group discussions with third-year nursing students. A total of 76 students participated in the study. RESULTS: Several reasons why students had chosen the nursing profession were identified: desire to help others, family tradition, desire to work abroad, failure to get into another course, pure chance, and low admission requirements (relative to medical studies). The participants' views of the nursing profession were based on their own personal experiences or observations of nurses at work. Often these observations were superficial, concerning only selected fragments of nursing work. The participants also identified reasons for there being low regard for the nursing profession. CONCLUSION: The decision about choosing nursing is mainly determined by practical aspects, e.g., the opportunity for employment. Although young people are aware of the low prestige of the nursing profession in Poland, they believe it is possible to improve its image and enhance its prestige.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and respiratory tract infections in pre-school children - a cross-sectional study in Poland.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Knowledge of the harmful influence of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has a positive impact on changing social behaviours worldwide. In many homes smoking is totally prohibited; in some others, partial limitations of tobacco consumption have been introduced. OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between the adopted rules of tobacco use in homes of 3-year-olds, and the kind and frequency of acute respiratory system infections within a 6-month period of attending pre-schools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed among children attending municipal pre-schools in Bialystok, Poland. The data was collected by anonymous questionnaires completed by the parents of 302 children aged 3 years chosen randomly from 1,200 children attending 51 pre-schools. The exposure of children to tobacco smoke was measured by determining cotinine to creatinine ratio (CCR) in urine. RESULTS: In the 150 families of children who were surveyed, 210 were smokers. Every day, the smokers consisted of fathers (37.3%) and mothers (23.6%). The 3-year-old children were divided into 3 groups according to smoking habits in their homes: 28.5% of the children under examination came from homes where tobacco smoking was forbidden (mean CCR - 15.21 ng/mg, SD=11.86), 26.2% came from homes where tobacco was smoked in separate rooms (mean CCR - 65.75 ng/ml, SD=81.51), 45.4% lived in homes where no rules connected with smoking had been established (mean CCR - 61.75 ng/ml, SD= 70.29). During the analyzed period of 6 months, 85% of the children had at least 1 respiratory tract infection (60% - upper, 16.9% - lower, 16.5% - upper and lower, 7.1% - otitis media). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the 3-year-old children who had lower respiratory tract infections required antibiotics and hospitalization. Living in a home where no tobacco rules were established may cause an increase of respiratory tract infections.

Pedometer assessed physical activity of people with metabolic syndrome in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is a contemporary disease of civilization, an effect of lack of healthy behaviour, a consequence of lifestyle devoid of physical activity, eating poor quality food rich in calories and excessive stress. Apart from a proper diet, physical activity remains an important part of metabolic syndrome management. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the work was to evaluate the physical activity of an adult population of patients with metabolic syndrome. materials and method. Adults aged 35-70 fulfilling the criteria of metabolic syndrome according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) were included. New Lifestyles NL-2000 pedometers were used to assess locomotive physical activity during an entire week. RESULTS: In the group of 100 subjects, as many as 61 people (61%) represented low or sedentary activity, while nearly one fourth of the respondents - 23 (32%) represented the negligible activity type. Average weekly physical activity of those in the study was 6,743 steps/day (in 100 individuals) and ranged from 1,781-15,169. A great diversity was found in the study group, since the highest number of steps per day was 23,347 and the lowest - 409. No significant differences in the number of steps on weekdays and at weekends were observed (mean: 6,676/day and 6,913/day, respectively). A statistically significant negative correlation (r = -0.29) was observed between age and physical activity, between the average daily number of steps in the week and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) (r = 0.201), as well as between the average daily number of steps in the week and Body Mass Index (BMI) (r = 0.226). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of people with metabolic syndrome represent a low or sedentary activity type and decrease of physical activity corresponds to increasing age, BMI and WHR. No significant differences in physical activity are observed between working days and free days (weekends).

[The assessment of glucose and lipid parameters in children with a positive family history of hypertension]. / Ocena parametrów przemiany weglowodanowej i lipidowej u dzieci z dodatnim wywiadem rodzinnym w klerunku nadcisnienia tetniczego.

UNLABELLED: Arterial hypertension in adults is often associated with excess body weight, and lipid or carbohydrate disorders. The incidence of hypertension in children is growing, although its connection with metabolic disorders and family history of hypertension has not been previously understood. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the relationship between a family history of hypertension and metabolic parameters (carbohydrate and lipid metabolism) and anthropometric measurements in children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consists of 40 children (mean age 13.6 years +/-2.7 years) with a positive family history of hypertension, and a comparative group of 44 children with a negative family history of hypertension. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, plasma insulin, glucose, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistants (HOMA IR), and lipid profiles were determined in all children. RESULTS: Body weight, BMI, WHR, and measurements of skinfolds did not differ significantly between the groups. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the study group (108 vs. 100 Me mmgHg, p = 0.031) Significant differences were observed in the levels of glucose (80 vs. Me. 67 mg/dl, p < 0.001), and insulin (8.89 vs. Me. 5.34 microIU / ml, p = 0.024). The HOMA index showed values significantly higher in the study group (1.68 vs. 0.80 Me p = 0.007). Children with a positive family history of hypertension were characterized by insignificantly higher values of total cholesterol, TG, LDL-cholesterol, and lower HDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: A positive family history of hypertension correlates with higher systolic blood pressure and changes in carbohydrate metabolism parameters in the direction of the development of insulin resistance in children.

[Evaluation of the risk of alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking among 6th year students of the Faculty of Medicine]. / Ocena ryzyka spozycia alkoholu oraz palenie tytoniu wsród studentów VI roku Wydzialu Lekarskiego.

Implementing the National Health Program assumed in Poland for the years 2007 2015, family doctors in their everyday work try to contribute to reducing the popularity of tobacco smoking as well as reducing and changing the structure of alcohol consumption, whose aim is to reduce the negative health effects caused by those substances [9]. Non smoking personnel and prohibition of smoking in health care centres are the basis for effective anti-tobacco counsel. The same dependence occurs in the case of alcohol abuse. The aim of the work was to evaluate the knowledge of the effects of alcohol abuse among students of the 6th year of the Faculty of Medicine of UMB (Medical University of Bialystok), as well as to analyze the structure of drinking and smoking among the prospective doctors. The study material was collected by means of anonymous surveys carried out before classes belonging to the family medicine subject block. The obtained data showed that the students had only superficial knowledge of the negative health effects of alcohol abuse and tobacco smoking. 26% of female students and 12% of male students smoke regularly. The results of the shortened Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), so-called AUDIT-C, showed that 50% of prospective female doctors and 61.1% of prospective male doctors drink alcohol in a risky way.

Prevalence of HBsAg among residents of social assistance homes in Podlaskie Province (northeastern Poland).

Residents of stationary long-term care institutions may be at increased risk for hepatitis B virus infection. The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of HBsAg among residents of social assistance homes, to identify risk factors for HBV transmission and to assess the need for prevaccination screening for HBV.

[Preparatory training of primary health care nurses for handling health education regarding prophylaxis of circulatory disorders]. / Przygotowanie pielegniarek podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej do prowadzenia edukacji pacjentów w zakresie profilaktyki chorób ukladu krazenia w opinii badanych.

Circulatory disorders (CD) exhibit high incidence rate. At the same time the increasing number of data indicate that most of these disorders can be prevented. Prophylaxis is one of the professional functions of nurses. The preventive tasks included in this function are of special importance in achieving the goals of the National Health Programme and international CINDI WHO Programme--a model programme for the prophylaxis of chronic diseases and health promotion. The necessity exists to enhance the preventive actions, of which health education is an integral part. Therefore, it seems essential to prepare the nurses to conduct health education in the field of circulatory disorders. The aim of the study was to answer the following questions: 1. Do the primary health care nurses think that they are sufficiently prepared to conduct health education among their patients on the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders? 2. What sources do they use to obtain the knowledge about the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders? 3. Do they understand the need of getting and additional training in the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders and to what extent? The research problem was to determine whether there is a difference in responses between two groups: 1. nurses with secondary education and specialization and 2. nurses without specialization. The study involved all the nurses employed in the primary health care centres in Bialystok. Questionnaire was the research tool. 172 questionnaire forms were distributed, of which 146 were properly filled in. The study shows that the nurses with secondary education and specialization declared preparation to conduct education concerning the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders significantly more often than the nurses with secondary education without specialization. Worth noting is the fact, that the nurses with secondary education without specialization uttered a smaller need of additional training than those with secondary education and specialization. Nurses should be made aware of the necessity to enrich the knowledge in the field of methods, didactic materials and interpersonal communication in order to make health education more effective.