Factors influencing sex ratio at birth in Krosno, Poland.

The secondary sex ratio (SSR) is a widely used descriptor that reflects the living conditions and health status during pregnancy. The aim of study was to assess the impact of maternal factors, season of birth, and air pollution with the heating season on the sex ratio at birth in the Subcarpathian population from the Krosno district, Poland. A retrospective study involving 11,587 births was occurred at the John Paul II Podkarpackie Province Hospital in Krosno between 2016 and 2020. Sex of the newborn, the season of their birth, as well as the maternal age, birth order, the interval between births, and the season of birth were analysed. Furthermore, the relationship between the SSR and the level of air pollution during the heating season was investigated. To determine the significance of differences in sex ratios, chi-square analysis and multifactorial regression were used, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. At the chi-square level, all the studied factors indicated a statistically significant relationship with the SSR. However, the regression model used shows that maternal age and birth order were the most important factors in shaping the SSR in the study group.

Influence of body build on hand grip strength, simple reaction time and strength of the abdominal muscles in prepubertal children.

The aim of the study was to assess whether the body build has an impact on hand grip strength, muscle endurance and time reaction in children. The material of the research were 376 children from 6.78 to 11.82 years old in 2018. Body weight, height, waist, hip and mid-upper-arm circumferences, triceps and subscapular folds were measured. The BMI, body fat and AHtR (arm-circumference-to-height ratio) were calculated. The hand grip strength, simple reaction time (Quickstick) and strength of the abdominal muscles (endurance) were tested. Two-way ANOVA and correlation analyses with significance level p < 0.05 were used. Children with normal BMI values are characterized by better simple reaction time than their obese peers, while overweight and obese children estimated on the basis of BMI, AHtR and body fat perform were better in hand grip strength. In the case of strength of the abdominal muscles, there were no differences in children with different body build. The normal build and body weight promotes the proper development of children, which also is reflected in the results of motor performance and fitness tests.

The Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on the Body Characteristics, Proportion, and Health Behavior of Children Aged 6-12 Years.

BACKGROUND: The research aimed to determine how socioeconomic factors influence the body structure and health behaviors of children in a suburban commune. METHODS: Data from 376 children aged 6.78 to 11.82 years from Jablonna, Poland, were analyzed. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding the socioeconomic status and dietary habits of these children, and physical measurements such as height, weight, pelvic width, shoulder width, chest, waist, hip, and arm circumferences, and three skinfolds were taken. Hip index, pelvi-acromial index, Marty's index, BMI (body mass index), WHR (waist-hip ratio), and the sum of three skinfolds were calculated. One-way analysis of variance, Student's t-test, and X2 test with p < 0.05 were used. RESULTS: The size of the family and the level of education and occupation of the fathers had a significant impact on the body proportions of the children. Children from larger centers with more educated parents were seen to have healthier eating habits and higher levels of physical activity, and their parents were less likely to smoke cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the development environment of the parents, such as their level of education and profession, play a more important role than the size of birthplace.

Body structure, muscular strength and living conditions of primary school children in Warsaw.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the living conditions of school children affects their body structure and muscular strength. Data were taken from 400 girls and 341 boys aged 7-15 years attending nine primary schools in Warsaw in 1997. A questionnaire was completed, anthropological measurements made and two muscular strength tests conducted. The questionnaire asked questions on the children's level of education, their parents' professions and monthly incomes, the number of persons in the family and the number of rooms in the family's apartment/home. Body height, body weight, chest and arm circumferences, grip strength and vertical jump height were measured and used to calculate body mass index, Marty's Index and the Sargent Vertical Jump Index. Statistical tests included Student's t-test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and multiple regression analysis. Body height, chest circumference, Sargent Vertical Jump Index and grip strength were significantly greater in the boys than the girls. Two factors, namely 'socioeconomic status' (F1) and 'family size' (F2), describing living conditions, were isolated after PCA. Boys from bigger families (F2) were shorter, with lower weights and BMIs, smaller chest and arm circumferences and greater grip strengths than those from smaller families, whereas girls from families of lower socioeconomic status (F1) weighed less and had greater BMIs and arm circumferences than those from higher socioeconomic status families. The results suggest that boys seem to be more 'ecosensitive' than girls.

Socio-economic determinants of the somatic development and reaction time of vegetarian and non-vegetarian children.

Introduction: Vegetarian diet is increasingly used in both adults and children. Study aim: The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the body build and reaction time of vegetarian and non-vegetarian children on the background of socio-economic factors. Material and methods: The material consisted of 218 children, including 47 vegetarians (25 boys and 22 girls) and 171 non-vegetarians (93 boys and 78 girls) from 3 to 15 years. The research consisted of a survey and measurements. The survey included questions such as date of birth, child's birth parameters (length, weight, Apgar scores), child's diet (vegetarian/non-vegetarian), mother's diet during pregnancy (vegetarian/non-vegetarian), breastfeeding (yes/no), number of months of breastfeeding, mother's diet during lactation (vegetarian/non-vegetarian), maternal and parental education level (elementary / trade/ college / university), living conditions and the number of siblings. The height and body mass, skin-fat folds on the abdomen, shoulder and arm (sum of 3 skinfolds) were measured, BMI was calculated and the reaction time was assessed using the Quickstick ruler. The General Linear Model, Wald's test, U-Mann-Whitney test and Principal Components Analysis were applied. Results: The results showed that vegetarian children who came from families with a higher socio-economic status than non-vegetarian were significantly longer breastfed. The somatic build of vegetarian children, including height, BMI and the sum of three skinfolds significantly differed from non-vegetarian children. The vegetarian children were shorter, with lower BMI and lower sum of the three skinfolds, as well as their reaction time was longer. Conclusions: Vegetarian diet affects the height, BMI and body fatness, as well as the reaction time in children at the age of 3-15.

Influence of socioeconomic factors during adolescence on the menarcheal age in Central Poland girls.

The purpose of the project was to indication the environmental factors that may influence on the menarcheal age in girls of Central Poland. The study was conducted in Warsaw and Lodz between 2016 and 2017 among subjects of randomly selected high schools, schools for adults, and workplaces. The material included 752 subjects between the ages of 16.00 and 29.23 years (mean age was 20.99 years). The questionnaire form provided information on the place of residence, parents' educational level, living conditions, and the number of children in the family. All questions concerned the period of adolescence. Studied subjects also were asked about their participation in sports in and outside the school, the level of stress at school and at home, smoking habits, and their age at menarche. To find the relation between the age at menarche and the socioeconomic status and living condition, the Generalized Linear Model with link function logit analysis and t-test were used. The statistically significant difference in the age at menarche was found based on the place of residence during adolescence and father's educational level. The girls from larger cities, whose fathers have higher education seem to mature earliest.

Age at maturation, body structure and their relationship with socioeconomic factors.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to identify the differences in body structure between early, average, and late maturing girls, taking into account family characteristics assessing socio-economic and living conditions. Methods: This study was conducted in the years 2003 and 2013 in Warsaw, Poland and comprised 788 girls in the age group of 11-19 years. The data were collected using a questionnaire which included parental education and profession, girls' date of birth, age at menarche, and lifestyle characteristics. The measurements included height; weight; skinfolds on arm, under scapula, and on abdomen; arm circumference; and body mass index (BMI). The girls were divided into three groups: early, average, and late maturing. To eliminate the age differences, for each of the examined somatic variable, a "z" score was calculated. We analysed the combined data of both years (2003 and 2013) due to the lack of difference in the mean age at menarche. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between somatic body structure and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors among early, average, and late maturing girls. Results: Early maturing girls possessed higher body weight and BMI. In families with only one child, the age at menarche was found to be the earliest than in families with more than one child. Body weight, BMI, arm circumference, and fatfold thickness was found to be reduced in case of girls whose parents had better education and profession than their peers. Higher levels of stress were associated with higher body mass, greater BMI, arm circumference, and skinfolds in early maturing girls. The associations between body structure with physical activity and family was mainly correlated with body weight and BMI. Conclusion: Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors may be helpful in some levelling of differences in the body structure between girls differing in the age at menarche, especially the level of stress and the education and profession of parents.

Meeting Report: Growth and Social Environment. Proceedings of the 25th Aschauer Soiree, held at Krobielowice, Poland, November 18th 2017.

Twenty-two scientists met at Krobielowice, Poland, to discuss the impact of the social environment, spatial proximity, migration, poverty, but also psychological factors such as body perception and satisfaction, and social stressors such as elite sports, and teenage pregnancies, on child and adolescent growth. The data analysis included linear mixed effects models with different random effects, Monte Carlo analyses, and network simulations. The work stressed the importance of the peer group, but also included historic material, some considerations about body proportions, and growth in chronic liver, and congenital heart disease.

Supplementation of vitamin D after birth affects body size and BMI in Polish children during the first 3.5 years of life - an analysis based on two cohorts measured in the years 1993-1997 and 2004-2008.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether the time of vitamin D supplementation after birth, season of birth and the type of feeding affected current body weight, body height and BMI among children aged 3-56 months from two cohorts. Additionally, it was analysed whether birth weight and birth length correlated with current BMI, body height and body weight in both cohorts of children. Methods: The study material included 1930 children from the two cohorts, measured in two following periods: 1993-1997 and 2004-2008. Finally 849 healthy individuals aged 3-56 months were included in the analysis. Multiple stepwise regression model was applied to find the group of the most important variables explaining current body weight, body height and BMI. Moreover generalized linear models for two way interactions were used. Results: The season of birth, time of supplementation of vitamin D, but also birth weight and length might affect current body weight. Individuals' height could be associated with birth length and the season of birth. BMI value was probably regulated by birth length and weight. Furthermore, interactions between the time of vitamin D supplementation and season of birth and also between the time of vitamin D supplementation and type of feeding resulting in variation of body weight and BMI in the first years of life were also observed. Conclusions: The study underlines the importance of a supplementation of vitamin D, season of birth and birth weight and length in current weight, height and body proportion in the first 3.5 years of life.

Comparison of short-term head and body growth in an infant, preschool children, and adolescent girls

SUMMARY: Introduction: The aim of the present longitudinal study was to compare short-term growth in height, the circumference of the head, chest, and hips, biacromial width, as well as bi-iliac breadth in one infant, two preschool children, and seven adolescent girls. Methods: The studied characteristics were measured four times a week. Stature was observed during 83-130 days and the other measures during 60 days. Intra-observer technical error was calculated (TEM), and smoothing techniques using combined repeated median/median hybrid filter (CRMMH) were applied. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to estimate statistical significance of differences between mean values of length, as well as the number of stasis periods and steep changes. Results: Steep changes, continuous growth, and stasis periods were found in the studied individuals. The highest number of steep changes and the largest steep changes were noted for stature (0.85 cm). The longest period of stasis was 48 days for head circumference. There were no statistically significant differences between period length and number of stasis periods or steep changes in any of the measures of children. Conclusion: Growth curves for stature and head circumference were similar, which may suggest a common pattern of growth, different from that for thoracic bones. Steep changes in body width measures were observed in the absence of increments in both stature and head circumference.

Primary tooth emergence in Polish children: timing, sequence and the relation between morphological and dental maturity in males and females.

The purpose of the present study was an assessment of differences between boys and girls in the process of emergence of primary teeth. This paper also provides updated data on the timing and sequence of primary tooth emergence in Polish children. The research were conducted in the years 2004-2008, and covered 865 children (437 boys and 428 girls) aged 3 to 36 months from all nursery and randomly selected "Healthy Child Clinics" in Lodz (central Poland). The first and last primary tooth emerged, on average: in boys at 6.24 months and 24.75 months respectively; in girls at 7.07 months and 24.21 months respectively. All incisors and the first upper molars erupted significantly earlier in boys. Typical order of teeth emergence--central incisor, lateral incisor, first molar, canine, second molar--was observed in 86.36% of boys and in 89.47% of girls. The interdependence between the morphological and the dental criterion of biological maturity during the completion of primary teeth was very strong in both sexes (stronger in boys). The regression equations for the estimation of the number of erupted primary teeth based on child's chronological age, body height and body mass were proposed separately for boys and for girls.

Pattern of dental caries in the historical human population of Kujawy in the Polish lowland (north-central Poland).

The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries rates in the skeletal human population who lived in north-central Poland in modern times (16th-18th century). The material consisted of 297 skeletons (4,783 permanent teeth) from the archeological site of K. Compared material was coming from two different sites located in the same region: early mediaeval Kolonia--39 skeletons and Swiety Duch (dating to the same historical period as K population)--417 skeletons. All three series are part of the osteological collection of the Department of Anthropology. For each skeletal sample, caries rates were calculated by individual (frequency index) and by tooth count (intensity index). Dental caries was scored also according to a procedure in which the initiation sites are recorded. The highest frequency of dental caries was observed in Swiety Duch (70%) and the lowest in the early mediaeval sample (almost 59%). The intensity of caries fluctuated from above 8% observed in Kolonia to 22% observed in the sample from Swiety Duch. However, in all three samples the caries initiation site was most often noticed on fissure and pits (type 1) the K population was characterised by a different caries pattern (chi2=17.88, p<0.05 when compared with that of Kolonia; chi2=218.73, p<0.01 when compared with that of Swiety Duch), which could be the effect of diet (high frequency of CEJ caries probably means starch-rich plant food diet), oral hygiene, fluoride level, economic status or genetic factors (resistance/sensitivity to cariogenic bacteria).