Percentile distributions of waist circumference for 7-19-year-old Polish children and adolescents.

The aim of the study was to develop waist circumference (WC) percentiles in Polish children and youth and to compare these with the results obtained in other countries. The study comprised a random group of 5663 Polish children aged 7-18 years. Smoothed WC percentile curves were computed using the LMS method. The curves displaying the values of the 50th (WC(50)) and the 90th (WC(90)) percentile were then compared with the results of similar studies carried out in children from the UK, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Cyprus, Canada and the USA. WC increased with age in both boys and girls and in all observed age periods the boys were seen to dominate. For 18-year-old Polish boys and girls the values of WC(90) were 86.5 and 78.2, respectively, and were lower than the current criteria developed by the International Diabetes Federation. Both WC(50) and WC(90) were higher in Polish boys and girls compared with their counterparts in the UK, Turkey and Canada and significantly lower than in children from the USA, Cyprus and Spain. The percentile curves for Polish children and youth, which were developed here for the first time, are base curves that can be applied in analysing trends as well as making comparisons with results of similar studies performed in other countries.

[Tic disorders in children and youth - part I]. / Zaburzenia tikowe u dzieci I mlodziezy--czesc I..

The authors present the latest approach to the problem of etiopathology of tic disorders: the role of neurotransmitters and dopamine as well as the role of genetic and immunological factors. They present a classification of tic disorders according to American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edn. (1944) APA Washington. A general description of the clinical picture is given. Preliminary results of own investigations are discussed. Chronic tics were diagnosed in more then 50% of children under study whereas symptoms of Tourette syndrome were observed in 25% of patients. Children under treatment demonstrated the motoric tics which appeared independently or together with vocal ones. Tics were often associated with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorders and with school problems.

[Secular growth trends in children and youth of Warsaw in the last twenty years]. / Trend sekularny wzrastania dzieci i mlodziezy warszawskiej w ciagu ostatnich dwudziestu lat.

The aim of the study was to preliminarly evaluate the secular trend in Warsaw children and youth during the last 20 years. Mean values of body height, weight and chest circumference and weight to height percentile curves of children and youth aged I month to 18 years, examined in Department of Growth and Development of Children and Youth of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw in 1976-80 and 1996-99, were compared. Secular changes in body height and weight and especially in chest circumference were observed in the studied population during the last 20 years. In children and youth growth acceleration occurred, but in infants a deceleration was observed. At all ages a slight tendency toward slimness was visible. The changes in the values of anthropometric growth indices, which occurred during the last 20 years have shown that there is a need for prospective growth monitoring and upgrading of growth standards.

[Somatic development of asthmatic children and youth]. / Rozwój somatyczny dzieci i mlodziezy z astma oskrzelowa.

UNLABELLED: Systemic diseases especially the chronic ones, causing substance and oxygen insufficiency may lead to disturbances in growth, in the nutritional status and slowing of the maturation processes. Bronchial asthma is the most frequent inflammatory chronic disease of the respiratory system and it is estimated, that 5-10% of the population in the development period suffers from it. Somatic development retardation, disturbances in the nutritional status and maturation may be caused by respiratory insufficiency leading to anoxia, improper nutritional habits, recurrent or chronic infections, long-term physical and mental stress, limited physical activity and also pharmacological therapy. THE AIM of this work was to conduct, in children with bronchial asthma, the evaluation of: somatic development, body proportions, nutritional status, sexual maturation depending on the duration and degree of severity of the disease. The second aim was to assess whether the assumed standard for complex treatment depending on the severity of the diseases may lead to normal somatic development. MATERIAL: In the research comprised 508 children (3 1 5 boys and 93 girls) between 7 and 1 5 years of age, treated for bronchial asthma in the Paediatric Department of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Rabka. Due to the multiplicity of factors influencing the course of development, the following were observed in the studied groups: birth weight and length, average height of parents (selected genetic factors); place of domicile and educational level of the parents (social-economic factors). The study concerned children born with normal birth weight and length. Evaluation of the impact of genetic factors, was based on the analysis of parent's height; it did not differ in the studied groups with regard to the women's or men's height in the average population. The majority of the studied children lived in towns, every third child lived in the country. Parents of the studied children suffering from asthma had a higher educational level than the Polish population. METHODS: The level of somatic development and body proportions were evaluated with reference to direct anthropometric measurements: body height and weight, head and chest circumference, length of trunk, width of shoulders and hips, width and depth of the chest, and indexes of the trunk length, shoulder-hip and chest. The nutritional status was evaluated by the following anthropometric measurements, according to WHO/FAO recommendations: circumference of the arm and thigh, subscapular and abdominal skinfold thickness, BMI and the arm muscle circumference, according to Frisancho. All the above anthropometric measurements and indices were analyzed in groups of children depending on the severity and duration of the disease (classification according to the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention NHLBI/WHO, NIH Publication, 1998) group I -- episodic and mild asthma (I and II degree) duration up to 3 years, group II -- moderate and severe asthma (III and IV degree) duration up to 3 years, group III -- episodic and mild asthma (I and II degree) duration over 3 years group IV -- moderate and severe asthma (III and IV degree) duration over 3 years. The obtained results were compared with data for healthy Warsaw population. In order to compare the level and variation of different somatic measurements and indices in children at different ages measurement results were transformed to standard normal distribution with a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1. Moreover, in order to evaluate the variation of features with normal distribution within the groups and between the studied groups, analysis of variance ANOVA was used (acc. to the STATISTICA programme). This enabled the comparison of anthropometric measurements and indices in children with bronchial asthma in the four studied groups. To determine the statistical significance between the arithmetical means of the studied features in children with bronchial asthma and in healthy children, the t-Student test for independent samples was applied. These differences between selected groups depending on the degree of severity of the disease and its duration and between the four groups, based on the severity of the disease and its duration, on one hand and healthy children on the other were evaluated. The features and anthropometric indexes with naturally skewed distribution of measurement results were evaluated using centile values and medians. The subscapular and abdominal skinfold thickness after calculating centile values, were estimated on centile charts for this feature in the Warsaw population. The value of the skinfold thickness in centile intervals in isolated groups depending on severity of the illness and its duration and in the four groups, considering severity and duration of illness, was also analyzed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

[Growth and maturation of children of normal short stature in the light of selected auxological determinants]. / Wzrastanie i dojrzewanie dzieci z prostym niedoborem wysokosci ciala w swietle wybranych determinantów auksologicznych.

In longitudinal complex auxological studies of healthy short stature children in the first decade of life the authors analyse the dynamics of height velocity and growth rate of 11 somatic patterns with skeletal maturation of the hand and wrist as well as the influence of some genetic, paragenetic and biological determinants (morbidity). They find that the degree of stature deficit is on the same level during the period of observation (5-10 years) with slow growth rate in some of the analysed anthropological parameters. The delay of skeletal maturation typical for children under study is coexistent with a number of minor anomalies of hands and wrists which are more frequent than in healthy normal children. These minor anomalies are more frequent in boys than in girls. The analysed paragenetic determinants seem not to be significant, however there exists a strong association between the short stature of mothers and children under study. Moreover a higher morbidity of respiratory tracts is observed in short stature children than in general population.

[Level and characteristics of the psychosomatic development of children from nurseries]. / Poziom i trendy rozwoju psychosomatycznego dzieci wychowywanych w zlobkach.

The authors describe the results of longitudinal complex investigations carried out in the years 1976-80 for estimating the psychomotor development, somatic development and health status of 370 children aged 12-36 month in Warsaw's cr eches . The level of psychomotor development exept language was good in children under study and depended on the psycho-educational level of personnel. The analysis of anthropological traits showed the higher value of children under study as compared with standard values (secular trend). High morbidity were also found in children from cr eches .

[Auxological analysis of children with normal short stature]. / Analiza auksologiczna dzieci z zespolem prostego niedoboru wysokosci ciala.

Auxological investigations involved 123 children aged 5 and 7 years, who were observed for the period of two years. They included pediatric, anthropometric and social examinations. The authors concluded that socio-economic conditions were not so different, so that they could influence the level of development of children under study. The tendency for increasing deficit of stature with age and for changes in type of body built were also observed.

[Physical development of preschool children from rural areas living under favorable socioeconomic conditions]. / Rozwój fizyczny przedszkolnych dzieci wiejskich z dobrych warunków socjalno-bytowych.

The authors describe the results of auxological investigations of 980 preschool children from rural areas, born and brought up in good socioeconomic conditions (in state farms--PPGR selected according to best achievements in agricultural production). The somatic development of the analysed children was higher than that of rural children in the whole country, but lower than that of urban children. The health status of examined children should be considered as good, but a higher percentage of various types of traumas and increased caries of the first dentition are observed.

[Psychosomatic development and morbidity of 12-month-old infants in Warsaw nurseries]. / Rozwój psychosomatyczny i chorobowosc niemowlat 12-miesiecznych wychowywanych w zlobkach warszawskich.

In 1976 longitudinal investigations of psychomotor and physical development and of the health status of infants brought up in nurseries were undertaken by the Department of Development of Children and Youths of NRI ric. The group of 370 healthy 12-months old from 44 nurseries in Warsaw was studied. It was compared psychomotor and physical development of this infants with those brought up in families. The analysis showed that although psychomotor development level of infants from nurseries was normal--it was lower than the level of psychomotor development of infants brought up in the family. The authors found no considerable differences in length and weight body, head and chest circumference between the infants from children under study. Analysis of present results and similar, earlier results, allows to state advantageous changes of psychosomatic developmental factors. The biggest morbidity was observed among infants brought up in nurseries in 3-th quarter of their life. It's in accordance with average of age enrollment to nurseries. The highest percent of infants were ill in the first month after enrollment to nurseries. Among other diseases the diseases of the respiratory system, especially infections of upper breathing apparatus are in the first place. Presented work is first part of longitudinal and complex investigations.