Hygienic and nutritional habits in dental caries prevention in 5-year-old children from Biala Podlaska

Background. Preschool children are particularly susceptible to dental caries development. Due to the fact that deciduous teeth are less mineralised, they are more likely to be affected by this condition. Therefore, preschool age is a significant period in shaping positive health-oriented attitudes regarding dental caries prevention. Objective. The aim of this study was to analyse hygienic and nutritional habits in children aged 5 from Biala Podlaska in the context of dental caries prevention. Material and Method. The study included 454 preschool children (251 boys and 203 girls) from Biala Podlaska. Their hygienic and nutritional habits were examined with a diagnostic survey using the authors’ own anonymous questionnaire. Mean consumption of nutrients (calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D) was estimated on the basis of average daily consumption calculated as a mean from three 24-hour interviews (conducted by the authors in a kindergarten or at children’s houses). A nutritional value of a daily portion was calculated with the use of "Dieta 5.0" software (National Food and Nutrition Institute). Results. Research results revealed that in the case of only one in three children, parents began toothbrushing within the first year of a child’s life. Approximately 90% of preschool children brushed their teeth at least twice a day. Half of the children under examination brushed their teeth for 1-2 minutes usually with a traditional toothbrush. Toothbrushing was supervised by 62.5% of the boys’ parents and 38.9% of the girls’ parents (p<0.05). Almost 66% of the parents took their children to a dentist for regular (once or twice a year) dental check-ups. Analyses of daily food rations revealed insufficient amounts of calcium (25%) and vitamin D (over 80%). Moreover, an excessive intake of phosphorus (twice as high as the norm) was noted. Conclusions. Developing appropriate hygienic and nutritional habits in children is an indispensable element in the prevention of lifestyle diseases, including dental caries.Wprowadzenie. Dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym są szczególnie podatne na rozwój próchnicy. Ze względu na fakt, że zęby mleczne są mniej zmineralizowane, istnieje większe prawdopodobieństwo, że dotknie ich ten stan. Dlatego wiek przedszkolny jest znaczącym okresem w kształtowaniu pozytywnych postaw prozdrowotnych dotyczących zapobiegania próchnicy zębów. Cel. Celem badań była analiza higienicznych i żywieniowych nawyków u dzieci w wieku 5 lat z Białej Podlaskiej w kontekście profilaktyki próchnicy. Materiał i metody. Badaniem objęto 454 dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym (251 chłopców i 203 dziewczynki) z Białej Podlaskiej. Nawyki higieniczne i żywieniowe dzieci zostały ocenione w badaniu diagnostycznym z wykorzystaniem anonimowego kwestionariusza autorskiego. Średnie spożycie składników odżywczych (wapnia, fosforu i witaminy D) oszacowano na podstawie średniego dziennego spożycia obliczonego jako średnia z trzech 24-godzinnych wywiadów (przeprowadzonych przez autorów w przedszkolu lub w domach dziecka). Wartość odżywczą dziennej porcji obliczono przy użyciu oprogramowania „Dieta 5.0” (National Food and Nutrition Institute). Wyniki. Wyniki badań ujawniły, że w przypadku tylko jednego na troje dzieci rodzice zaczęli myć zęby w ciągu pierwszego roku życia dziecka. Około 90% dzieci w wieku przedszkolnym myje zęby co najmniej dwa razy dziennie. Połowa badanych dzieci myła zęby przez 1-2 minuty, zwykle tradycyjną szczoteczką do zębów. Szczotkowanie zębów nadzorowało 62,5% rodziców chłopców i 38,9% rodziców dziewcząt (p <0,05). Prawie 66% rodziców zabierało swoje dzieci do dentysty na regularne (raz lub dwa razy w roku) wizyty kontrolne. Analizy codziennych racji żywnościowych wykazały niewystarczające ilości wapnia (25%) i witaminy D (ponad 80%). Ponadto odnotowano nadmierne spożycie fosforu (dwa razy wyższe niż norma). Wnioski. Rozwijanie odpowiednich nawyków higienicznych i żywieniowych u dzieci jest niezbędnym elementem profilaktyki chorób cywilizacyjnych, w tym próchnicy

Bone mineral content (bmc) and bone mineral density (bmd) in postmenopausal women formerly practising kayaking and fencing

The investigation was aimed at answering the following questions: 1) Can a prolonged career in sports associated with considerable training loads, in conjunction with other osteoporosis risk factors (both past and present), affect the bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the former female athletes in their postmenopausal period of life?, and 2) How does the present lifestyle of the tested women, including physical activity and diet (calcium intake), influence the preservation of the optimal bone mass in these subjects? The postmenopausal subjects recruited to the present study included 15 former athletes (ten kayakers and five fencers) and 11 women who never actively engaged in sports (control group). BMC (g) and BMD (g/cm2) were densitometrically determined in the lumbar segment (L2-L4) of the spine, and the bone stiffness coefficient was ultrasonically determined in calcaneus. The effects of the osteoporosis risk factors (both past and present) were estimated from individual replies to the questionnaire inquiries about the past career in sports, present physical activity, gonadal dysfunctions (dysmenorrhoea during the career and the present need for hormonal supplementary treatment), and the current dietary patterns. The results indicate that mean BMC and BMD values detected in the former athletes did not differ significant from those obtained in the non-athlete, control women: the BMC values equalled to 54.5±10.5, 52.6±14.6, and 46.5±3.2 g in the kayakers, the fencers, and the control women, respectively, while the respective BMD values were 1.05±0.45, 0.96±0.66, and 1.08±0.58 g/cm2. The questionnaire-based studies showed that neither the former female athletes nor the non-athlete controls exhibited in the past longer (i.e., lasting more than three months) periods of hormonal disorders (amenorrhoea). As assessed from the dietary intake, only in the former fencers the diet covered the demand for calcium in 100%. In conclusion, in the absence of such risk factors of osteoporosis as dietary and hormonal disorders, the prolonged career in sports associated with considerable training loads do not seem to adversely affect bone mineralisation and bone density in the former female kayakers and fencers

Imidazole-induced contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells in the presence of U-73122, ODQ, indomethacin and 7-nitroindazole

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of modulating factors on vascular smooth muscle cells reactivity. Vascular resistance was induced by the administration of increasing concentrations of imidazole. The experiments were performed on isolated and perfused tail artery of Wistar rats (weight 250 g – 350 g). Rats were been narcotized by urethane (intraperitoneal injection) at a dose of 120 mg/kg, stunned and then sacrificed by cervical dislocation. In the following investigation classical pharmacometric methods were used. Relationships between concentration-response curves (CRCs) for imidazole observed in the presence of ODQ [(1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one)], 7-nitroindazole and indomethacin were analyzed. Imidazole-induced contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells was independent from alpha-adrenergic receptors and PLC activity. Reactivity of VSMCsinduced by imidazole, was significantly changed in the presence of ODQ and 7-nitroindazole