The role of animal-assisted programs in physical health improvement of children and adolescents with special education needs - a systematic review.

Programs involving animals in therapeutic programs are becoming increasingly prevalent. These programs can vary greatly in their approach, scope, and objectives, and they can significantly impact the development of healthy children and those with various disorders. In this systematic review, we sought to investigate the psychological ramifications of animal-assisted activities (AAA), therapies (AAT), and interventions (AAI). We searched for relevant studies using the EBSCO Discovery Service search engine across 85 databases, utilising appropriate keywords. Our search generated 262 results, of which 21 were selected for inclusion after title and abstract screening, as well as full-text analysis. Our findings indicate that dogs and horses are animal-assisted programs' most commonly used animals. Additionally, autism, cerebral palsy, and ADHD were found to be overrepresented in these programs. Furthermore, the length of sessions and overall program duration exhibited considerable variation, regardless of patient age or disease type. The principal measures centred on the physiological variables related to the nervous system and motorium-related indicators. The studies were generally of exceptional methodological soundness. Frequently, the studies narrowed their scope to a single segment or just the child or adolescent, but the outcomes lacked contextual interpretation. Expanding the range of studies by comparing psychological and physiological indicators and conducting follow-up analysis with a longitudinal design would be beneficial.

Local laboratory-run donor-derived cell-free DNA assay for rejection surveillance in heart transplantation-first six months of clinical experience.

INTRODUCTION: Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) is a blood biomarker detecting graft injury with high negative predictive value. While non-invasive strategies for heart transplant (HTx) rejection surveillance are widely adopted in the United States with centralized testing, data on the feasibility of dd-cfDNA assay at the local level are lacking. Here, we report the first 6 months of experience with a local laboratory-run dd-cfDNA assay in the routine clinical surveillance setting. METHODS: Twenty-six HTx patients with stable graft function were transitioned from endomyocardial biopsy-based (EMB) to dd-cfDNA-led rejection surveillance using a commercially available next-generation sequencing-based assay. RESULTS: In the 90 samples analyzed, dd-cfDNA fraction remained continuously low in most patients, thus 88% of surveillance EMBs could be safely avoided. In the case of ≥.25% dd-cfDNA, EMB was performed. There was no missed rejection. CONCLUSION: Our data show the feasibility to analyze dd-cfDNA at the local level and successful implementation of this non-invasive surveillance method into clinical practice, thus considerably reducing the frequency of invasive surveillance EMBs.

Perinatal, neonatal, developmental and demographic predictors of intelligence at 4 years of age among low birth weight children: a panel study with a 2-year follow-up.

INTODUCTION: Childhood intelligence is an important predictor of later outcomes in life such as socioeconomic status or health. Hence, a deeper understanding of predictors of child intelligence should suggest points of intervention for children facing adversities. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the predictive value of demographic, perinatal and neonatal variables after birth and developmental characteristics at age 2 for 4-year intelligence as outcome among low birth weight children. METHODS: We designed a panel study with a 2-year follow-up with 114 child-mother pairs. The outcome variable was IQ intelligence quotient at 4 years of age of LBW low birth weight children measured by the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scales of Intelligence. Potential predictors were maternal education, family wealth, ethnic identity; sex, twin pregnancy, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores, maternal smoking during pregnancy; diagnosis of intravetricular haemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia after birth and cognitive, language and motor development at age 2 measured by one composite score of the three Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development aggregated. RESULTS: Stepwise backward regression was carried out including significant variables from the bivariate analysis. The best model included 4 predictors which accounted for 57% of the variance of the full IQ intelligence at 4-years of age. Maternal higher education was significant positive, below average family wealth and neonatal diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia were significant negative predictors in the model after birth. 2-year developmental characteristics such as cognitive, motor and language skills were positive predictors of the IQ intelligence at age 4. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic assessment at birth and developmental assessment at two years of age are of crucial importance to recognize children at high risk for delayed cognitive development. High-risk children should be directed to supportive interventions and their development should be regulary monitored.

Blood-filled cyst of the tricuspid valve: Multiple cardiac disorders, one surgical case.

BACKGROUND: Intracardiac blood cysts are an exceedingly rare occurrence in adulthood. Detailed imaging modalities aid in the diagnosis of such incidental lesions and procedure planning. METHODS: We report the case of a 51-year-old male accusing dyspnea on exertion as a sole symptom which led to the discovery of multiple cardiac anomalies, namely, severe aortic valve insufficiency on a bicuspid aortic valve, ascending aortic aneurysm, a cystic mass on the tricuspid valve, patent foramen ovale, and an occluded right coronary artery. RESULTS: The disorders were managed in a single surgical intervention, the resected mass being confirmed as a blood cyst. CONCLUSIONS: Our case presents a unique association of cardiac disorders, including a highly uncommon intracardiac blood-filled cyst, and underlines the importance of multimodality imaging and interdisciplinary approach in the successful management of such complex cases.

Evaluation of the performance of a human D-dimer test in dogs with neoplasia.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the suitability of a commercially available D-dimer assay as a diagnostic tool for testing dogs. This assay is an immunoturbidimetric diagnostic test, capable of determining the D-dimer levels in human plasma by using 2B9 monoclonal antibody. Plasma samples of clinically healthy (n = 20) and tumour-bearing (n = 50) dogs were measured. The tumours were grouped on the basis of histological type and aggressiveness, and then the measured D-dimer concentrations of these groups were compared to those of the control group. The differences were analysed statistically. For benign tumours, we did not find alterations in the D-dimer levels. However, in the case of malignant tumours (lymphoma, sarcoma, and carcinoma) and in the presence of metastases, significantly elevated D-dimer levels were measured. The assay proved to be suitable for measuring the D-dimer levels in plasma samples of dogs. The calculated reference range for dogs was confirmed to be between 0.06 and 0.69 µg/mL fibrinogen equivalent unit.

[The influence of emotional state and coping ability on the outcome of the assisted reproductive technology among infertile couples].

INTRODUCTION: Infertility and its treatment impose significant physical and emotional burden on infertile couples. The most commonly used assisted reproductive technology is the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Approximately one third of the treatments results in pregnancy. The aim of our study is to explore psychosocial factors that have an influence on the chance of IVF treatment success. METHODS: 104 infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment participated in our research, of which 49 couples achieved pregnancy after treatment and 55 couples did not. The emotional state was assessed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The coping abilities were measured by the short form of the Ways of Coping Inventory, the Psychological Immune Competence Inventory and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The negative life events were assessed by the short and revised form of the Paykel's Life Events Scale. Data were collected at three occasions: at the beginning of the treatment (T1), before embryo transfer (T2), and before pregnancy test (T3). RESULTS: According to the most important results of the logistic regression analysis, the outcome of the treatment is negatively influenced by the female (p<0.01) and male age (p<0.05). For women, positive affectivity at T1, the Problem analysis coping strategy, the Sense of self-growth personality trait, the Personal competence and Tolerance of negative affect factors were found to be adaptive in respect of treatment success (p<0.05). For men, the IVF outcome was positively influenced by the lower level of depression at T1, the Problem analysis coping strategy and the Sense of control personality trait (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Emotional attitudes of couples towards childbearing and treatment and their coping mechanisms have an influence on the treatment outcome. Therefore, assessment and conscious shaping of these factors may increase the chance of successful treatment.

[Studying the health behavior of asthmatic children regarding the dimensions of media and internet usage and self-esteem]. / Asztmás gyermekek egészségmagatartásának vizsgálata a média- és internethasználat és az önértékelés dimenziói mentén.

INTRODUCTION: According to the literature, somatic and psychological factors are connected with asthma bronchiale. The health behavior of these patients can be influenced by the virtual world. AIM: We wish to analyze social media and internet usage, self-esteem and sociodemographic data connected to attachment. METHOD: For our research, the Facebook Intensity Scale, the Problematic Internet Usage Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire were used. We interviewed 175 asthmatic children from the age of 10 to 18 (92 boys, 83 girls). RESULTS: Asthmatic girls, children who went to daycare (under the age of 3) and who were not breastfed use Facebook more than boys, children who stayed at home instead of daycare and who were breastfed (p<0.01). There is no difference in their internet usage. Breastfeeding (even if it only lasted for 1-7 days) can strengthen attachment which is shown in our results regarding social media usage compared with children who were not breastfed (p<0.01). A negative relation with medium strength was found between the number of siblings (ρ = -0.400; p<0.01) and the self-esteem and Facebook usage (ρ = -0.475; p<0.01). There is a positive correlation between Facebook usage and the size of the place the children live in (ρ = 0.492; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Asthmatic youth use social media more frequently which provides social feedback to compensate their self-esteem, especially by girls. As protection factors, we can emphasize the existence of human relationships and the importance of an early mother-child bond. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(47): 1971-1980.

[Examination of psychomotor development in relation to social-environmental factors in preterm children at 2 years old]. / Koraszülött gyermekek kétéves kori pszichomotoros fejlodése társas-környezeti tényezok függvényében.

INTRODUCTION: The development of children born prematurely is an important aspect in public health, because preterm birth rates are not decreasing with the development of medical sciences. AIM: Description of psychomotor development of preterm children related to potentially influencing environmental factors. METHOD: Children born below 2.500 grams at the age of two (n = 75). Psychomotor development, quality of home environment, socio-demographic background were measured. RESULTS: Lower birth weight was associated with lower development quotients. Psychomotor development was also negatively affected by child deprivation, low levels of cognitive stimulation and maternal empathy, regardless of birth weight. Increased performance loss was found related to lower sociodemographic variables, such as low maternal education or ethnicity. CONCLUSION: Psychomotor development of 2-year-old premature children is affected by the examined social-environmental factors. We recommend the screening and developmental interventions for premature children as early as possible, thus preventing difficulties in mental and motor development in the future. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(1), 31-38.

[The connection between maltreatment and preterm birth - in the light of psychomotor development at 2 years old]. / A bántalmazás és a koraszülés összefüggései a kétéves kori pszichomotoros fejlodés tükrében.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm children' development and harmful affecting factors to development are important aspects of public health, because in our country the number of preterm birth is very high. AIM: Description of psychomotor development of preterm children (Brunet-Lézine; Bayley-III) and connection between psychomotor development and maternal abuse history (own questionnaire). METHOD: Extremely (<1000 g) and very low (1000-1500 g) birth weight preterm children at 23-30 months (n = 35) and their mothers' abuse history were measured. RESULTS: Lower birth weight was associated with lower psychomotor development quotients and higher development risk. Strong associations were found between maternal history of childhood abuse and the development quotients. CONCLUSIONS: We would like to draw attention to the importance of assessing preterm children, as well as to the importance of maltreatment and the severity of its consequences. With the early recognition of necessity for developmental interventions we can prevent problems in the future. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(25): 976-983.

[The investigation of attitudes toward health behaviour among high school and university students]. / Egészség-magatartással kapcsolatos attitudök vizsgálata középiskolás és egyetemista fiatalok körében.

INTRODUCTION: Health awareness plays an important role in our life, which contains attitudes as well behavioural components. Social factors influencing health awareness were the basis of many previous investigations, measuring the effect of demographical and psychological factors. However, investigation of these factors usually happened with separated questions. AIM: The aim of the present study is to test a new questionnaire, which measures health behaviour and attitudes related to health awareness. METHOD: In present study, the attention was drawn to the introduction of a new questionnaire related to health behaviour, attitudes toward health awareness and factors influencing those and measured on population in Debrecen (SHTE 2017; n = 256). RESULTS: the new measurement proved to be reliable based on Cronbach α analysis. This was created on the basis of focus content analysis of group conversations with 10 subscales and 35 items. CONCLUSIONS: It can be stated that gender, father's educational level, objective and subjective financial status has a significantly negative effect; while sport, subjective health and fitness as well as subjective religiosity have a significantly positive effect which reflects previous findings and confirm the reliability of our questionnaire. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(44): 1754-1760.

[Study of stutter originating from the frustrated clinging instinct and its relation to anxiety and self-esteem]. / A dadogással mint a frusztrált megkapaszkodás ösztönével összefüggo szorongás és önértékelés vizsgálata.

INTRODUCTION: The analytic and family therapeutic theories connected to the topic of stutter have to be actualized. AIM: The aim of this work was to point out connections which originate from the instinct of frustrated clinging, however, these can be interpretated in new ways these days. METHOD: Two questionnaires in 48 subjects suffering from stutter were used; Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale measured the children's self representation, while the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children measured the degree of their anxiety. At first the subjects had to anwser the questions as themselves, for the second time they had to anwser as an ordinary person without a speech disorder. RESULTS: The hypothesis of the authors was verified: stutterers attributed a significant role to the speech disorder of the subjects in connection with their self-esteem. According to this a significant amount of their anxiety is based on their deficit. An unexpected result was that girls and boys estimated ordinary people's level of anxiety similarly. There was no significant difference between boys and girls regarding the level of other's self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the thesis of evolutionary psychology, the adequate use of speech is more important to women who have a connecting role in the family. This results that they see stutter as a major problem.

[International comparative study on health condition of young people]. / Serdülok egészségi állapotának nemzetközi összehasonlító vizsgálata.

INTRODUCTION: The connection between physical condition, coping strategies and emotional intelligence is widely studied in the international literature, but comparative research data collected among Transylvanian and Hungarian adolescents are not available in contemporary psychological literature. AIM: The aim of the authors was to study health indicators, emotional intelligence and coping strategies among adolescents and analyse connections between these factors and physical condition as part of an international research. METHOD: The physical condition, coping strategies and emotional intelligence of 390 individuals, aged between 13 and 19 years living in Debrecen (Hungary) and Érmihályfalva (Romania) were observed. RESULTS: adaptive (i. e. problem-focused) coping strategies used in stressful situations resulted in lower depression rates, as well as better mental well-being than the maladaptive ones such as emotional clearing, self-punishment, distraction of attention. Adolescents showing higher emotional intelligence had lower depression levels and better mental well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Institutionally initiated emotional intelligence and coping strategy development for young people may prove to be an important preventive interventional public health programme. This may serve as a basis to assist health-consciousness and personality formatting.

The comparative study of chronically ill and healthy children and adolescents in the light of their general mental health.

Children's hospitalisation is difficult for the family and the immediate environment. In these cases, the provision of psychological support is particularly important. Chronically ill children who are regularly hospitalised are in a particularly difficult situation, often feeling vulnerable. Our research aims to explore and analyse in detail the psychological state, attitudes and mental health of chronically ill children and to compare patient groups (children receiving care in pulmonology, gastroenterology, onco-haematology and rehabilitation) to understand the interacting factors, which may be of great importance for quality patient care and for measures to improve patient care in the future. We studied chronically ill children (N = 107) aged 10 to 18 years (M = 14.3; SD = 2.0), cared for by the Department of Paediatric Rehabilitation, Paediatric Psychiatry and Psychosomatics of the University of Debrecen Clinical Centre, the second largest paediatric institution in Hungary. In our survey, sociodemographic questions, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Satisfaction With Life Scale, the Cantril Ladder, the Non-Productive Thoughts Questionnaire, the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire, the Drawing version of Pictorial Representation of Illness Self-Measure (PRISM-D), the Beck Depression Inventory-Shortened Scale, the Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire-Child Version and the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire were applied. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine differences between groups, and Pearson rank correlation analysis was used to measure the relationships between individual variables. The results show significant differences between patient groups in terms of resilience, depression, nonproductive thoughts, problematic internet use, anxiety and coping, but no consistent pattern in the development of scores. In addition, for some psychological correlates, the role of sociodemographic background also showed significant results. The practical utility of our study is that using questionnaire methods to map patient satisfaction, compliance, and patient attitudes will provide regarding the factors that influence the mental health status of children living with chronic illnesses. In the light of this, additional methods and tools can be included to improve the quality of healthcare and to develop a set of procedures that will serve the intended purpose.

Use of intraoperative haemoadsorption in patients undergoing heart transplantation: a proof-of-concept randomized trial.

AIMS: The aim of this trial was to compare the clinical effects of intraoperative haemoadsorption versus standard care in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). METHODS AND RESULTS: In a randomized, controlled trial, OHT recipients were randomized to receive intraoperative haemoadsorption or standard care. Outcomes were vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS), frequency of vasoplegic syndrome (VS) in the first 24 h; post-operative change in procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels; intraoperative change in mycophenolic acid (MPA) concentration; frequency of post-operative organ dysfunction, major complications, adverse immunological events and length of in-hospital stay and 1-year survival. Sixty patients were randomized (haemoadsorption group N = 30, control group N = 25 plus 5 exclusions). Patients in the haemoadsorption group had a lower median VIS and rate of VS (VIS: 27.2 [14.6-47.7] vs. 41.9 [22.4-63.2], P = 0.046, and VS: 20.0% vs. 48.0%, P = 0.028, respectively), a 6.4-fold decrease in the odds of early VS (OR: 0.156, CI: 0.029-0.830, P = 0.029), lower PCT levels, shorter median mechanical ventilation (MV: 25 [19-68.8] hours vs. 65 [23-287] hours, P = 0.025, respectively) and intensive care unit stay (ICU stay: 8.5 [8.0-10.3] days vs. 12 [8.5-18.0] days, P = 0.022, respectively) than patients in the control group. Patients in the haemoadsorption versus control group experienced lower rates of acute kidney injury (AKI: 36.7% vs. 76.0%, P = 0.004, respectively), renal replacement therapy (RRT: 0% vs. 16.0%, P = 0.037, respectively) and lower median per cent change in bilirubin level (PCB: 2.5 [-24.6 to 71.1] % vs. 72.1 [11.2-191.4] %, P = 0.009, respectively) during the post-operative period. MPA concentrations measured at pre-defined time points were comparable in the haemoadsorption compared to control groups (MPA pre-cardiopulmonary bypass: 2.4 [1.15-3.60] µg/mL vs. 1.6 [1.20-3.20] µg/mL, P = 0.780, and MPA 120 min after cardiopulmonary bypass start: 1.1 [0.58-2.32] µg/mL vs. 0.9 [0.45-2.10] µg/mL, P = 0.786). The rates of cardiac allograft rejection, 30-day mortality and 1-year survival were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative haemoadsorption was associated with better haemodynamic stability, mitigated PCT response, lower rates of post-operative AKI and RRT, more stable hepatic bilirubin excretion, and shorter durations of MV and ICU stay. Intraoperative haemoadsorption did not show any relevant adsorption effect on MPA. There was no increase in the frequency of early cardiac allograft rejection related to intraoperative haemoadsorption use.

[Specific quality of life factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease]. / Specifikus életminoség-jellemzok egészségpszichológiai szempontú vizsgálata gyulladásos bélbetegségben szenvedo betegek körében.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disease with a fluctuating course and unknown origin. Its two major forms are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. OBJECTIVE: The authors attempted to analyse the quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease as compared to healthy persons and patients with asthma in order to identify specific factors which most significantly affect the quality of life of these patients. METHOD: 269 subjects participated in the study (control group, 115 subjects; Crohn's disease, 67 patients; ulcerative colitis, 25 patients; asthma, 62 patients). The following methods were used: WHO-5, IIRS, SIBDQ and AQLQ(S) questionnaires and content analysis. RESULTS: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease had the worst quality of life with respect to both subjective well-being and burden of disease. The results obtained from questionnaires developed for the analysis of quality of life indicated that extraintestinal symptoms and emotional problems are the major factors which interfere with the quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. These findings were confirmed by content analysis of interviews with patients. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend that more attention should be paid to improving the quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and helping them to live with the illness, especially at the level of interpersonal relations.

A new perspective: Establishing developmental profiles of premature infants based on Bayley-III scores at age 2.

Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies in early childhood generally focus on different developmental areas separately. The aim of this study is to identify the most common developmental profiles regarding cognitive, language and motor skills among low birthweight (LBW) children. Our sample included 208 LBW children examined at 24-28 months. We used cluster analysis to identify developmental profiles based on the scores of the Bayley-III Cognitive, Language and Motor scales. We found three consistent profiles (High, Mildly Delayed and Severely Delayed) and three inconsistent, average profiles (with High Expressive Language, with Mildly Delayed Expressive Language and with Severely Delayed Language). Socioeconomic status, maternal education, in vitro fertilization, plurality and chronic morbidities were significantly related to the clusters. Cluster analysis might be an effective method to identify developmental profiles of preterm (and other at-risk) children, which might result in a more complex understanding of cognitive and psychomotor development in early childhood.

Effect of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) and pregnancy planning on Bayley-III Screening Test subscales in preterm infants at 12 months of corrected age: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The association between medically assisted reproduction and pregnancy planning on overall developmental outcomes of infants has been studied in relatively few studies. The availability of accurate tools for the early detection of developmental delays is a major issue. The purpose of this study is describing the average neurodevelopment of preterm infants and assessing the association between medically assisted reproduction, pregnancy planning and neurodevelopmental outcomes among Hungarian preterm infants. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of preterm infants with gestational age < 37 weeks (N = 171) who underwent developmental assessment using Bayley-III Screening Test (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test - Third Edition) in five developmental domains (cognitive, receptive and expressive language, fine and gross motor) at 12 months of corrected age. We examined the developmental pattern of infants and the potential associations between medically assisted reproduction, pregnancy planning and Bayley-III Screening Test subscales. Information on the mode of conception and pregnancy planning was obtained through parental anamnesis. RESULTS: Concerning the risk for developmental delay, the language and motor subscales were the most affected. Examination of the mode of conception and developmental outcomes revealed higher neurodevelopmental skills in infants who were conceived through medically assisted reproduction. Significantly lower cognitive, receptive and expressive language skills were found to be associated with unplanned pregnancies. Multi-way analysis of variance was conducted in order to assess the impact of the mode of conception and pregnancy planning on subscales. CONCLUSIONS: We cannot unambiguously conclude that MAR and pregnancy planning had a solely positive effect on the development of preterm infants at 12 months of corrected age, but our results are vital for the design and implementation of further research.

Cardiac sarcoidosis completely mimicking biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a chameleon of cardiology, and it can mimic different cardiac diseases; among them is arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). We admitted a 70-year-old female patient with heart failure symptoms in 2015, who fulfilled all major ECG and non-invasive imaging criteria of biventricular ACM. She was well with the recommended medications for 3 years, showing only isolated cardiac involvement, but in 2018, cervical and mediastinal lymphadenopathy appeared and cervical lymph node core biopsy histology, bronchoalveolar lavage flow cytometry strongly suggested extracardiac sarcoidosis. Therefore, our suspicion was that sarcoidosis is responsible for the cardiac involvement, which was not confirmed by PET-CT and gallium scintigraphy examinations. At the end of 2018, she died in septicaemia with multiorgan failure, and only autopsy verified her CS. A new ECG algorithm published in 2021 for the differential diagnosis of CS and biventricular ACM, when applied on her ECGs recorded in 2015, suggested the diagnosis of CS.

Adaptive Behavioral, Social-Emotional, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 2 Years of Age in Hungarian Preterm Infants Based on Bayley III.

AIM:  This study aimed to assess cognitive, language, and motor development as well as social-emotional and adaptive behavior skills of low birthweight (LBW) children. METHODS: Our cohort contained 305 two-year-old LBW children. Developmental functioning was assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition. RESULTS: Performance in language, particularly in expressive communication was the poorest. Extremely low birthweight (ELBW) children were found to be at increased risk of developmental delay: 12.73 times in motor (95%CI = 2.8-57.5), 9.81 times in cognitive (95%CI = 3.2-29.6) and 3.91 times in language (95%CI = 1.6-9.4), and social-emotional skills (95%CI = 1.6-9.5). Parents of children with lower birthweight reported poorer social and practical adaptive skills. Self-care domain seemed to be the least developed. CONCLUSION: Additionally, the screening for developmental delays, monitoring the adaptive behavior skills may also be useful - especially among ELBW children - in order to identify the specific areas, situations, and functions that are most in need of interventions. ABBREVIATIONS: AB: Adaptive Behavior; ABAS-II: Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II; BPD: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; BSID-III: Bayley Scales of Infant Development 3rd Edition; BW: Birthweight; CI: Confidence Interval; CS: Composite Score; ELBW: Extremely Low Birthweight; GA: Gestational Age; IVF: In Vitro Fertilization; IVH: Intraventricular Hemorrhage; LBW: Low Birthweight; NEC: Necrotizing Enterocolitis; OR: Odds Ratio; ROP: Retinopathy of Prematurity; SE: Social-Emotional Development; VLBW: Very Low Birthweight.

Factors Influencing Adherence Among Youth with Type-1-Diabetes Mellitus - The Hungarian Case.

Background and Introduction: Due to the increasing prevalence of type-1-diabetes, an increasing number of studies have drawn attention to its psychological effects and long-term consequences. As Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic, non-curable, yet maintainable condition, with the affected children and their families facing a lifelong challenge, our research focuses on the factors influencing adherence. METHODS: The adherence of youth was examined in a sample involving 114 patients treated in the Medical and Health Science Centre at the University of Debrecen by employing a new adherence questionnaire (DAQ abbreviated version, Munkácsi et al. 2019) (DAF 2017; N=114). The influence of socio- demographic variables and those related to the disease (age at the time of diagnosis, the time elapsed since diagnosis, method of treatment, the time elapsed since the use of the pump) was measured by linear regression. Furthermore, the between-group comparisons were made by independent sample t-tests and variance analysis. The investigation was carried out between September 2017 and May 2018. RESULTS: The effect of using insulin pump as therapy turned out to be significant and positive (0.36. p=0.045). It was observed that the adherence of the patients using insulin pump was higher while the effect of the age at the diagnosis had a significantly negative effect (-.247, p=0.035). Thus, earlier detection of the disease may lead to a higher level of adherence. The effects of the socio-demographic variables (gender, family structure, educational level, type of the settlement, owning sibling and birth order) were not significant (p>0.05). Regarding the between-group comparisons, a significant difference could be pointed out concerning the siblings and birth-order as the adherence of those with siblings was higher (p=0.044). Moreover, concerning insulin pump therapy, the adherence of patients using pump was significantly better (p=0.048). Also, regarding the age of the diagnosis, the adherence of those diagnosed before 12 was seemingly higher (p=0.039). Concerning the other socio-demographical and disease-related variables, no significant differences could be detected. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the treatment has an outstanding role in the adherence of the disease. Moreover, the role of the appropriate treatment, living conditions as well as the early diagnosis is relevant.