Daily primary school physical education: effects on physical activity during adult life.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to study the influence of a daily primary school physical education program on physical activity (PA) level, attitudes toward physical activity, and perceptions of barriers to physical activity during adulthood. METHODS: We compared two groups: 1) an experimental group of men and women (N = 147) who had received five physical education sessions per week throughout their 6 yr of primary school education in the early 1970s; and 2) a control group, drawn from the data bank of the Québec Health Survey, and matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic profile (N = 720). Experimental and control subjects filled out an identical questionnaire about their current physical activity level, their attitudes toward PA, and their perceptions of barriers to PA. The control group was stratified to obtain the same sociodemographic profile as the experimental group. RESULTS: Our principal results were: 1) a frequency distribution that showed a higher rate of physical activity in experimental women than in control women; 2) similar intentions to exercise and attitudes toward exercise in the experimental and control groups, with no differences in opportunities for exercising or in the support received from their family and friends; and 3) a lower prevalence of regular smokers in experimental men than in control men. There were also some differences in the types and frequency of physical activities selected between experimental and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that daily physical education at the primary school level has had a significant long-term positive effect on the exercise habits on women, despite similar perceived barriers, attitudes, and intention to exercise in the two groups. The program has also had a significant health effect in men, substantially reducing the risk of becoming a regular smoker. Because the program was not specifically designed to promote health, we hypothesize that a health-oriented physical education program could have an even stronger effect.

Urinary PC-1 activity in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance characterizes type 1 diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. The molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance are not completely understood. Recently some advances have been made in identification of transmembrane glycoprotein PC-1 as a potential factor of insulin resistance. METHODS: We measured urinary excretion of PC-1 (alkaline phosphodiesterase I), a potential factor of insulin resistance, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) in 62 type 1 diabetic patients with different damage to the kidney. RESULTS: In newly detected type 1 diabetes patients, before insulin therapy, urine PC-1 excretion was significantly increased (P<0.05) over the control level. However, in patients after 12.4 years of therapy, urinary PC-1 was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Decreased urine PC-1 activity (P<0.05) was found also in type 1 diabetes patients with microalbuminuria and manifest nephropathy, including those with renal failure. Urinary NAGA excretion was found to be significantly increased (P=0.001) in all but the group of type 1 diabetes patients without nephropathy. CONCLUSION: This study of urinary PC-1 in patients with type 1 diabetes shows increased excretion in newly detected patients with poor glycaemic control, but decreased excretion in patients with micro-/macroalbuminuria as well as in those without apparent kidney damage. In patients with primary glomerulonephritis, urinary excretion of PC-1 was significantly decreased and that of NAGA significantly increased compared with the excretion in healthy controls.

Cohort effects: A possible limitation to the interpretation of longitudinal studies.

The possible limitation that cohort effects could impose upon the interpretation of longitudinal research has been examined, taking data on the standing height and the maximal oxygen intake of 546 primary school students participating in the Trois Rivières mixed-longitudinal study of enhanced physical education programs (295 experimental and 251 control subjects of both sexes). Over the short period of the study (maximum intercohort time span of 4 years), no significant differences in standing height were observed. In the larger urban community of Trois Rivières (population about 100,000), where the program of additional physical education was very successful in augmenting the maximal oxygen intake of the experimental students, a statistically significant intercohort difference of aerobic power developed among control students over the span of 3-4 years. However, in Pont Rouge (population about 5,000), where the added physical education had a smaller impact upon the maximal oxygen intake of the experimental students, there were no significant intercohort differences. Among possible explanations of the intercohort difference seen in Trois Rivières, the most likely seems an indirect effect of the experimental physical education program upon the patterns of habitual physical activity in the control population. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Testing for inter-group contamination in a controlled longitudinal study of added physical education.

OBJECTIVE: This case report examines whether there was any cross-contamination between students enrolled in classes that received additional physical education, and their siblings who were enrolled in preceding and succeeding class-cohorts. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A controlled longitudinal study extending over 6 years of primary school. SETTING: An urban and a rural primary school in Québec. PARTICIPANTS: 546 primary students, comprising approximately equal numbers of boys and girls from the urban and the rural school. INTERVENTION: Entire class-cohorts were given and hour of additional physical education ach day throughout their primary schooling, with immediately preceding and succeeding class-cohorts serving as controls. MEASURES: The measured data included standing height, body mass, maximal oxygen intake (direct treadmill test) and PWC170. RESULTS: We found no evidence of cross-contamination between siblings in experimental and control class-cohorts. CONCLUSION: Although a theoretical possibility, cross-contamination between students in preceding and succeeding class-cohorts does not seem an important source of error in primary school students, presumably because such children prefer to play with friends from their immediate age cohort.

Elevated tumour markers in patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Balkan nephropathy (BEN) is commonly associated with urothelial cancer. Urothelial cancer is manifested in the advanced stage of disease. The aim of this study was to facilitate early detection of urothelial cancer in BEN patients and their family members living in an endemic region by using tumour markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), and a putative marker, ferritin. Fifteen BEN patients with normal renal function, 17 with renal failure (BEN-RF), 13 healthy members of their families (HFM), 14 patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) and 12 healthy controls (C) were studied. Serum CEA levels in BEN patients were within normal limits, however, in BEN-RF patients they were significantly increased over HFM (p<0.05). Serum TPA levels in BEN and BEN-RF patients were significantly higher than in the C and HFM groups (p<0.05). Urinary CEA was not significantly different between the groups studied. Urinary TPA levels in HFM (median 125 U/l, BEN (236 U/l) and BEN-RF (275 U/l) were significantly increased over C (30 U/l), however, TPA levels were increased also in GN patients (437 U/l). None of the BEN patients studied developed urothelial cancer during the ten years' follow-up. Markedly elevated urinary TPA-like levels in all patients studied (HFM, BEN, BEN-RF, GN) suggest that urinary TPA may not be a reliable tumour marker. However, the clinical relevance of high TPA levels in BEN patients should be evaluated.

Radionuclide voiding pattern in children with unstable bladder.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate bladder function parameters by means of quantitative radionuclide cystography (QRC) in anxious, irritable children with unstable bladder. METHODS: Quantitative radionuclide cystography was performed in 18 children aged between 8 and 12 years, without evidence of neurologic and nephrologic disorders. Findings were compared with those obtained in 10 healthy children aged between 7 and 10 years. The dynamics of the bladder emptying were studied after intravenous injection of 37 MBq/10 kg b.w. 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in the posterior views. Images of 90 frames every 2 sec. were stored in the 64 x 64 computer matrix during voiding. The patients voided into a container and the volumes were measured. RESULTS: The parameters evaluated were: functional bladder capacity (ml)--FBC, expected bladder capacity (ml)--EBC, percentage of EBC (%), voided urine volume (ml)--VV, residual urine (ml)--RU, voiding time (sec)--VT, average flow rate (ml/sec)--AFR and peak flow rate (ml/sec)--PFR. There was a statistically significant difference between controls and children with unstable bladder in the following parameters: FBC 288 +/- 33 vs. 244 +/- 27 ml (p < 0.001), % of EBC 99 +/- 6 vs. 82 +/- 6% (p < 0.0001), VV 265 +/- 37 vs. 202 +/- 35 ml (p < 0.0001), RU 22 +/- 11 vs. 48 +/- 19 ml (p < 0.007), AFR 13 +/- 5 ml/sec vs. 9 +/- 4 ml/sec. (p < 0.01) and PFR 19 +/- 2 vs. 13 +/- 3 ml/s (p < 0.0001), respectively. The VT obtained from the control group of 23 +/- 9 s did not differ significantly from the value of children with unstable bladder of 28 +/- 14 s. CONCLUSION: The results show that quantitative radionuclide cystography is a simple, noninvasive method, which allows a good separation of patients with unstable bladder from the children with normal voiding pattern.

[Comparison between the immunological and morphological classifications of malignant immunocytomas]. / Imunoloske i morfololoske klasifikacije malignih imunocitoma.

There was made a comparison in clinical utility of two types of malignant immunocytomas' classifications: immunological (Lukes-Collins, Lennert) and morphological (Rappaport) ones. The analysis included 92 cases of malignant immunocytomas diagnosed and treated on the Ward of Onco-Haernatology, Zvezdara KHC, Belgrade. It was concluded that immunological classifications of immunocytomas give data to the clinic, regarding diagnosis, and therapy comparing to the previous morphological classifications.

[Fixation of tubules with radioactive technetium dimercaptosuccinate in parenchymal diseases of the kidney]. / Fiksacija u tubulima dimerkaptosukcinata oblezenog radioaktivnim tehnecijumom u parenhimskim oboljenjima bubrega.

In order to evaluate tubular function 99mTc-DMS dynamic kidney scintigraphy and 99mTc-DMS uptake determinations were performed in 55 patients with endemic nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy and glomerulo nephritis. From 64-656th segment of computerized radiorenograms 99mTc-DMS uptake and curve slope were assessed and compared with the corresponding parameters of 20 healthy subjects. Both parameters were decreased in patients of all three groups. Tubular uptake of 99mTc-DMS measured during 60 sec. 4 hours after 99mTc-DMS administration, was decreased in endemic nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy, but without a significant difference in glomerulonephritic patients. The study of the relationship between 4 hour 99mTc-DMS tubular fixation and glomerular filtration rate, estimated by 99mTc-DTPA clearance, showed a positive correlation only in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Patients with renal failure from all three groups had more seriously impaired tubular handling of 99mTc-DMS, that correlated with reduction of the glomerular filtration rate. The present data showed more severe impairment of tubular function in patients with endemic nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy than in glomerulonephritic patients. The method was suitable for estimation of the tubular function.

[Incidence of lymphoma cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood in patients with non-Hodgkin's type lymphoma]. / Ucestalost limfomskih celija u kostnoj srzi i perifernoj krvi obolelih limfoma tipa non-Hodgkin.

The appearance of lymphomatous cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood in 120 patients with Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), was investigated. The presence of lymphomatous cells in the bone marrow was found in 56.6% ob patients and in the peripheral blood in 23.3% of individuals. Lymphomatous site in the bone marrow was proportionally frequent in the group of patients with the high grade aggressive NHLs in comparison to the low grade group. The finding of the peripheral blood occupation was reversible However no significant statistical difference was found. The results also suggest that lymphomatous invasion of the bone marrow does not obligatory predict the invasion of the peripheral blood. Reverse correlation between the frequent bone marrow and peripheral blood occupation by lymphomatous cells and the mean survival time which was significantly shorter in the patients who exhibited the invasion of any kind, was also found. This means that lymphomatous invasion of the bone marrow and peripheral blood might be a potentially useful parameter of the clinical aggressiveness and the course of the disease.

[Anti-Bg(HL-A) antibodies]. / Anti Bg (HLA) antitela.

The presence of specific anti-Bg hemaggluttinine in the sera of four patients, is shown. All our patients with anti-Bg antibodies had the antigen B27 on the HLA complex present. Anti-Bg antibodies were prooved by the Coombs technique.

The predictive value of 131I-hippurate clearance in the prognosis of acute renal failure.

The aim of this investigation was to study the validity of the radionuclide methods in the estimation of kidney function, for prognosis and follow-up of acute renal failure (ARF). In thirty-one ARF patients, the evaluation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by 99mTc-DTPA clearance and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) by 131 I-ortoiodohippurate (131I-OIH) clearance was performed within 7 days and after 6 months from ARF onset. All patients were divided in three groups according to 131I-OIH clearance values obtained within 7 days: group 1, under 150 mL/min; group 2, 150-250 mL/min; and group 3, over 250 mL/min. Seven days clearance values of both radiopharmaceuticals were found to be very low, however, GFR was found more severely impaired than ERPF. Clearance values obtained after 6 months demonstrated no recovery of renal function in the first group, partial recovery in the second and almost complete recovery in the third group. Patients with the lowest 131I-OIH clearance values at the ARF onset had no recovery of renal function, while in the other two groups recovery corresponded to initial 131I-OIH clearance values. In patients with ARF both, 99mTc-DTPA and 131I-OIH clearances were shown suitable for the follow up of renal function, however, only 131I-OIH clearance had a strong predictive prognostic value for renal function recovery in ARF.

[Treatment of renal insufficiency in patients with multiple myeloma]. / Terapija insuficijencije bubrega nastale kod bolesnika s multiplim mijelomom.

Multiple myeloma is the most frequent dysproteinaemica causing renal damage. Renal damage can be manifested as acute or chronic renal failure, Tubular disfunction, urinary tract infection, or as proteinuria. The aim of this study is to present our experience in the treatment of renal failure developed during multiple myeloma. Over a ten year period we treated 16 uraemic patients with multiple myeloma and renal failure. Most patients (75% or 12 of them) came to the nephrologic department because of acute renal failure provoked by multiple myeloma. Dialysis was applied to 9 patients. The average survival rate of these patients ranged from 6.2 +/- 9.2 months, while three patients lived for 23-24 months. The combination of chemotherapy and dialysis did not produce recovery of renal function in any case of acute renal failure. All deaths were related to the evolution of multiple myeloma and none to a complication of dialysis. In conclusion, dialysis treatment should be used even in cases of uraemia, if myeloma is not in the terminal phase.

Body dimensions of Québecois children.

The present study examined the impact of sociocultural factors upon the body dimensions of primary school children (age 6-12 years) living within a uniquely francophone region of Québec. Data was collected prospectively on 546 students, drawn in approximately equal numbers from the two sexes and from urban and rural environments. Habitual activity was modified by allocating a half of the sample to an experimental programme that incorporated an additional five hours of required endurance activity per week into the primary school curriculum. Body dimensions at any given age were less in rural than in urban Québec, probably because of continuing socio-economic constraints. However, an increase of habitual physical activity did not modify body size. Stature was comparable with Demirjian 's Montr eal sample of francophone children, but was less than for anglophone children. Our within-sample variance suggests that socio-economic factors could explain only a part of the discrepancy. Relative to Toronto students, other dimensions such as height were affected less than standing height.

The "unisex phantom," sexual dimorphism, and proportional growth assessment.

The "unisex phantom" tactic of Ross and associates attempts to examine proportional growth, expressing body measurements relative to a phantom created from arbitrary mean dimensions and the observed coefficients of variation for an arbitrary sample of adult men and women. Fundamental assumptions of the model are (1) that data treated in unisex fashion have the normal distribution required of Z-type statistics throughout the period of growth, and (2) that it is reasonable to consider anthropometric measurements in all populations (regardless of ultimate size) as growing toward the common height chosen for the phantom. The validity and possible usefulness of this approach has been tested using anthropometric data collected on 546 francophone primary school children from the Trois Rivières district who had been measured repeatedly from 6 to 12 years of age. Over this age range, the mixing of data for girls and boys does not create a bimodal distribution, and has only a marginal effect upon skewing and kurtosis; however, the requirement of a normal distribution is not satisfied by quite a number of common anthropometric measurements even at this age. Moreover, application of the unisex phantom procedure to the Trois Rivières sample does little to clarify anticipated sex-related differences in regional growth, and it is argued that univariate standardization against a power function of an arbitrary adult height may not provide the best method of examining the multivariate problem of growth. Comparison of results with data from Saskatoon, previously treated by unisex phantom methodology, reveals puzzling inconsistencies; it is suggested that interlaboratory differences of methodology rather than ethnic differences are responsible for apparent discrepancies in growth patterns. It is urged that interlaboratory validation of techniques and landmarks should precede the ascription of apparent differences in body build to constitutional factors.

[Bone maturity and physical performance]. / Maturité osseuse et performance physique.

We have examined the relation between physical performance (as measured with the CAHPER tests), bone age (Greulich and Pyl's wrist evaluation) and dental age (Garn's method). Our study included 164 boys and 149 girls aged from 7 to 11. In spite of interesting significant simple correlation between most of the CAHPER tests and bone age measurements for the pre-pubescent period, the latter remains of negligible value in predicting physical performance in the studied children when variables like chronological age, body height and body weight are already included in the prediction equation.