Seeking genetic determinants of selected metabolic disorders in women aged 45–60

Introduction and objective. The biochemical and anthropometric consequences of metabolic disorders exert an enormous effect on the functioning of people worldwide. The aim of this study is to assess relationships between biochemical and anthropometric parameters associated with metabolic syndrome, and the presence of the PPAR-γ rs1801282, the FTO rs9939609, and the MC4R rs17782313 polymorphisms in women aged 45–60. Materials and method. The study included 425 women, aged 45–59 years, from the general population of the West Pomeranian Province in north-west Poland. The research procedure involved a structured interview, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, biochemical analysis of serum, and genetic analysis. Results. The carriers of the A/A genotype of the FTO polymorphism had higher LDL levels than their counterparts with the T/T genotype (p=0.01). The carriers of the T/T genotype of the MC4R polymorphism had lower non-HDL levels than those with the C/C and C/T genotypes (p=0.019). Weight was related to the C/C and the C/G + G/G genotypes of the PPAR-γ gene polymorphism (p=0.046). The model of inheritance for the MC4R polymorphism had a significant effect on TG (p=0.039) and non-HDL (p=0.05) levels. Conclusions. The genotypes analyzed in the study had only a slight direct effect on the biochemical and anthropometric abnormalities typical of metabolic disorders. Nonetheless, the risk alleles (A allele of the FTO rs9939609 and the C allele of the MC4R rs17782313) were found to be related to lipid metabolism disorders in 45–60-year-old women

The effectiveness of virtual reality training in reducing the risk of falls among elderly people

Magdalena Sylwia Kamińska,1 Agnieszka Miller,2 Iwona Rotter,3 Aleksandra Szylińska,3 Elżbieta Grochans4 1Department of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland; 2Holistic Agnieszka Miller, 66-450 Bogdaniec, Poland; 3Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Clinical Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland; 4Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland Background: Virtual reality (VR) training using modern game consoles is an innovative rehabilitation method for fall-prone elderly people. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of VR training using the “Xbox 360 Kinect” in people over 60 years of age.Materials and methods: The study involved 23 people, including 19 women and 4 men (mean age 75.74±8.09 years). The following functional tests were employed as research instruments: the 6-minute walking test (6MWT), the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), the tandem stance test (TST), the tandem walk test (TWT), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A “spring hand dynamometer” was also used. The participants underwent 30-day VR training using an Xbox 360 Kinect. They trained 3 times a week, with each exercise lasting 30 minutes. Results: The 6MWT (P<0.001), the DGI (P=0.008), the TST (P<0.001), the TWT (P=0.002), and the BDI (P<0.001) outcomes were significantly improved. There were differences in the results for the strength of the “pressing muscles” in the right (P=0.106) and left (P=0.043) hands of the participants. Both participants under 80 years of age and those aged 80 years and over had visibly better results on the 6MWT (P<0.001 and P=0.008, respectively), the TST (P<0.001 and P=0.008, respectively), and the BDI (P=0.003 and P=0.012, respectively). Conclusion: Training based on VR increases the possibilities of motor training and can help reduce the risk of falls by improving the static and dynamic balance. Keywords: virtual reality, Xbox 360 Kinect, elderly people&nbsp

Influence of cigarette smoking on hormone and lipid metabolism in women in late reproductive stage

Małgorzata Szkup,1 Anna Jurczak,2 Beata Karakiewicz,3 Artur Kotwas,3 Jacek Kopeć,4 Elżbieta Grochans1 1Department of Nursing, 2Department of Clinical Nursing, 3Department of Public Health, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland; 4School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada Background: The aim of the study was to analyze lipid and hormone metabolism, body mass index (BMI), and age parameters in late reproductive stage women in relation to cigarette smoking.Methods: The study enrolled 345 healthy late reproductive stage women living in Poland; 13.33% were smokers. The first part of the study assessed lipid metabolism (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], and triglycerides) and hormone metabolism (estradiol [E2], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], and anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH] levels) in women in the early phase of the follicular menstrual cycle. The second part of study was carried out using the diagnostic survey method, with a standardized questionnaire (Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders [PRIME-MD]) and the authors’ own research tools.Results: The women were aged 42.3±4.5 years (mean ± SD). The BMI (24.8±4.04 kg/m2) did not differ significantly between the groups. The women who smoked cigarettes had a statistically significantly (p<0.05) lower level of HDL as well as higher LDL and triglyceride levels (p<0.05). Differences were also shown in hormone levels: non-smoking participants had statistically significantly higher levels of E2 and FSH (p<0.05). In the group of non-smoking women, age was a predictor exerting a significant positive impact on the levels of total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and AMH (p<0.05). BMI contributed to a decline in HDL and triglyceride levels. In the group of smoking women, age significantly positively influenced the level of E2, and negatively influenced AMH. BMI was associated with a significant decrease in the HDL level.Conclusion: Smoking cigarettes affects the physical health of women in late reproductive stage through negative influences on lipid and hormone metabolism, among other factors. Age is an unmodifiable factor adversely affecting both lipids and hormones. Higher BMI has a negative influence on lipid metabolism in both groups of women in this study. Keywords: smoking, cholesterol profile, gonadal steroid hormone

Diagnostic markers of insulin resistance to discriminate between prediabetes and diabetes in menopausal women

OBJECTIVE: Menopause is an important transition period in a woman’s reproductive life during which hormonal changes occur, resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we assessed the possibility of using surrogate measures of insulin resistance (IR) to predict the risk of insulin resistance in perimenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 252 perimenopausal women living in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The methods employed in this study were diagnostic survey based on the original questionnaire, anthropometric measurement, and laboratory tests performed to determine the levels of selected biochemical parameters. RESULTS: In the entire study population, the highest area under the curve was found for the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) showed a higher diagnostic value as a distinction tool between prediabetes and diabetes in perimenopausal women than the other markers. HOMA-IR significantly positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (r = 0.72; p = 0.001), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C, r = 0.74; p = 0.001), triglycerides (TG, r = 0.18; p < 0.005), and systolic blood pressure (SBP, r = 0.15; p= 0.021), and negatively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL, r = -0.28; p = 0.001). QUICKI negatively correlated with fasting blood (r = -0.051; p = 0.001), HbA1C (r = -0.51; p = 0.001), TG (r = -0.25; p = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL, r = -0.13; p= 0.045), and SBP (r = -0.16; p = 0.011), and positively with HDL (r = 0.39; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters were found to significantly correlate with IR markers. HOMA-beta, the McAuley index (McA), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation product (LAP) may be useful as predictors of pre-diabetes and diabetes in postmenopausal women

Ageing society – a review of strategies for action

It is expected that during 1980 – 2020 the population of older people worldwide will increase by 240%. The objective of the study was to review strategies undertaken in various countries in association with the ageing of society. This analysis may be used for the selection of actions, which are necessary for the construction and performance of social and health policy in Poland. A method of choice was an analysis of academic literature. The WHO specified health promotion as the most important goal of the policy for seniors. Individual countries adopt many varied strategies of action. In Poland, the introduction of nursing insurance and development of geriatric medicine are primarily proposed. In Japan, the emphasis is placed on enabling the elderly the longest occupational activity possible, and the development of primary health care. For the Swedish, the priority is guaranteed support for family caregivers, while in the United States - an increase in the accessibility of environmental care. There are many strategies developed on an international forum whose purpose is to provide care for the growing number of seniors. The strategies adopted by individual countries are much varied. The basic postulates are a development of geriatric medicine and integration of the systems of health services and social security. The literature lacks reports on the effectiveness of the implemented strategies