Family composition and age at menarche: findings from the international Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study

This research was funded by The University of St Andrews and NHS Health Scotland.Background Early menarche has been associated with father absence, stepfather presence and adverse health consequences in later life. This article assesses the association of different family compositions with the age at menarche. Pathways are explored which may explain any association between family characteristics and pubertal timing. Methods Cross-sectional, international data on the age at menarche, family structure and covariates (age, psychosomatic complaints, media consumption, physical activity) were collected from the 2009–2010 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. The sample focuses on 15-year old girls comprising 36,175 individuals across 40 countries in Europe and North America (N = 21,075 for age at menarche). The study examined the association of different family characteristics with age at menarche. Regression and path analyses were applied incorporating multilevel techniques to adjust for the nested nature of data within countries. Results Living with mother (Cohen’s d = .12), father (d = .08), brothers (d = .04) and sisters (d = .06) are independently associated with later age at menarche. Living in a foster home (d = −.16), with ‘someone else’ (d = −.11), stepmother (d = −.10) or stepfather (d = −.06) was associated with earlier menarche. Path models show that up to 89% of these effects can be explained through lifestyle and psychological variables. Conclusions Earlier menarche is reported amongst those with living conditions other than a family consisting of two biological parents. This can partly be explained by girls’ higher Body Mass Index in these families which is a biological determinant of early menarche. Lower physical activity and elevated psychosomatic complaints were also more often found in girls in these family environments.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Development of clean coal and clean soil technologies using advanced agglomeration techniques

Three major topics are discussed in this report: (1) Upgrading of Low Rank Coals by the Agflotherm Process. Test data, procedures, equipment, etc., are described for co-upgrading of subbituminous coals and heavy oil; (2) Upgrading of Bituminous Coals by the Agflotherm Process. Experimental procedures and data, bench and pilot scale equipments, etc., for beneficiating bituminous coals are described; (3) Soil Clean-up and Hydrocarbon Waste Treatment Process. Batch and pilot plant tests are described for soil contaminated by tar refuse from manufactured gas plant sites. (VC

Respiratory function, physical activity and body composition in adult rural population

objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate functioning of the respiratory system and to estimate the correlation between the function parameters of the respiratory system and the level of physical activity and body composition in the adult rural population. The study involved a group of 116 people from rural population aged 35–60 years, staying on 3-week rehabilitation camps. They were divided into two groups: men (29) and women (87). The somatic features: body height, body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and body copmposition were analysed, on the status of smoking and declared level of physical activity (PA) was checked. For the evaluation of the functional parameters of the respiratory system the pattern of flow volume curve was used. The following parameters were determined: vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), MEF50 (maximum expiratory flow at 50% of VC) and Tiffenau index. Hand grip and maximum torque of the knee join flexor and extensor muscles was measured. As expected, men had significantly higher levels of respiratory parameters. In analyzing the status of smoking cigarettes, it can be stated that the majority of subjects are smokers. conclusions. The values of functional parameters of the respiratory system were suitable for the age they were within the norm and did not show lung ventilation disorder. Most subjects of the study declared low physical activity which may be due to manual work on the farm. Smoking cigarettes significantly lowered the value of such parameters as FEV1, PEF and MEF50 only in the male group but the values did not indicate ventilatory disorder. Parameters of the respiratory system show the highest correlations with the parameters of muscle strength. Significant correlations with body compositions parameters (FFM, water) have been noticed too

Analysis of the relationships between edentulism, periodontal health, body composition, and bone mineral density in elderly women

Zofia Ignasiak,1 Malgorzata Radwan-Oczko,2 Krystyna Rozek-Piechura,3 Marta Cholewa,4 Anna Skrzek,5 Tomasz Ignasiak,6 Teresa Slawinska1 1Department of Biostructure, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland; 2Department of Periodontology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 3Department of Physiotherapy and Occupation Therapy in Internal Diseases, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland; 4DENTARAMA Dentistry Center, Walbrzych, Poland; 5Department of Physiotherapy and Ocupation Therapy in Motor-System Dysfunction, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland; 6Karkonosze State Higher School in Jelenia Gora, Jelenia Gora, Poland Objective: The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and tooth loss in conjunction with periodontal disease is not clear. The suggested effects include alteration in bone remodeling rates as well as the multifaceted etiology of edentulism. There is also a question if other body-related variables besides BMD, such as body composition, may be associated with tooth number and general periodontal health. The aim of this study was to evaluate if tooth number and marginal periodontal status are associated with body composition and BMD in a sample of elderly women. Materials and methods: The study involved 91 postmenopausal women. Data included basic anthropometric characteristics, body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis, and BMD analysis at the distal end of the radial bone of the nondominant arm via peripheral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A dental examination was performed to assess tooth number, periodontal pocket depth (PD), and gingival bleeding. Results: In nonosteoporotic women, a significant positive correlation was found between BMD and lean body mass, total body water, and muscle mass. The indicators of bone metabolism correlated negatively with PD. Such relationships did not appear in osteoporotic women. In both groups, basic anthropometric characteristics and body composition were significantly and positively correlated with PD and bleeding on probing. Conclusion: The results suggest that body composition and BMD are not significantly correlated with tooth number and gingival bleeding. Keywords: tooth number, bone mineral density, fat mass, lean body mas

Drgania na stanowisku kierowcy ciągnika rolniczego podczas koszenia łąki z zastosowaniem wysokowydajnych kosiarek dyskowych

The paper concerns the subject of vibrations influence on driver body, generated by high efficient disc mowers while mowing and during transport on public roads and dirt roads. Information about accelerations of the head and the seat of machine operator were collected. Then these data were converted to the characteristics, which were compared with the limit values specified in ISO 2631. Allowable exposure times of the human body to the vibrations were defined and assessment of the risk of loss of control over the machine by vibration was performed.W artykule podjęto tematykę wpływu wibracji na organizm kierowcy, generowanych przez wysokowydajne kosiarki dyskowe, podczas realizacji procesu technologicznego koszenia oraz podczas przejazdów transportowych po drogach publicznych i polnych. Zgromadzono informacje o przebiegach przyspieszeń głowy oraz siedziska operatora agregatu. Dane te poddano następnie przekształceniom i uzyskano charakterystyki, które skonfrontowano z wartośćiami dopuszczalnymi określonymi w normie ISO 2631. Zdefiniowano dopuszczalne czasy ekspozycji na drgania dla organizmu człowieka i dokonano oceny narażenia na niebezpieczeństwo utraty kontroli nad prowadzonym zespołem w wyniku wibracji

The structure of physical activity in seniors from Lower Silesia

Background. Physical activity is considered to be one of the most important determinants of human health. Many authors emphasize the benefits of physical activity for elderly people – its positive influence on the functioning of many organs and systems, development of greater mobility, slowdown of the involution processes, and counteracting the effects of civilization diseases. Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the structure of physical activity in older adults from the Lower Silesian region. Material and method. The data was collected as part of the PolSenior national program. The subjects were selected randomly in three stages. The analysis was performed on the data from questionnaires filled out by 192 men and 164 women over the age of 65 years living in the Lower Silesian region. The answers were analyzed in categories such as: age (3 groups: 65-74 years, 75-84 years and over 85 years), gender, place of residence (communities up to 20 000 and over 20 000 inhabitants) and social-occupational status (blue-collar and white-collar workers). The survey results were shown in percentage form and concerned the different types of physical activity performed, the most frequent reasons for undertaking physical activity, sports and recreational physical activity during the respondents youth, between 30 and 60 years of age and at present, as well as the constraints and reasons that prevent an active lifestyle. Results. With age the percentage of people who spend their free time actively decreases. In each age group of elderly people men declared a greater need for physical activity than women. The subjects also differed with the urban factor and socialoccupational status. Moreover, the results showed that the larger community, the better the condition created for recreation of older adults and the people whose previous profession was not connected with physical work tried to be physically active in various forms more often than ex-manual laborers. It is probable that education significantly influences an active attitude towards one’s health and proper lifestyle. Conclusions. Physical activity of seniors as a one of the basic elements of lifestyle is clearly connected with the environment in which older people live.Wprowadzenie. Aktywność ruchowa jest postrzegana jako jeden z bardzo istotnych czynników zdrowia człowieka. Wielu autorów podkreśla korzyści płynące z aktywności ruchowej osób starszych – pozytywny wpływ na pracę wielu narządów i układów, rozwinięcie większej mobilności, spowolnienie procesów inwolucyjnych i przeciwdziałanie chorobom cywilizacyjnym. Cel. Celem niniejszej pracy jest analiza struktury aktywności ruchowej osób starszych z Dolnego Śląska. Materiał i metoda. Badania zostały wykonane w ramach ogólnopolskiego programu PolSenior. Dobór badanych miał charakter losowy, trzystopniowy. W pracy wykorzystano dane ankietowe 192 mężczyzn i 164 kobiet po 65 roku życia, mieszkańców Dolnego Śląska. Wyniki analizowano w kategoriach wieku (3 grupy: 65-74, 75-84, powyżej 85 lat), płci, wielkości osiedla (do 20 tys. i powyżej 20 tys. mieszkańców) i statusu społeczno-zawodowego badanych (pracownicy fizyczni i niepracujący fizycznie). Wyniki przedstawione zostały w postaci wartości odsetkowych i dotyczyły form podejmowanej aktywności ruchowej, najczęstszych przyczyn podejmowania aktywności ruchowej, aktywności sportowo-rekreacyjnej w młodości, między 30 a 60 rokiem życia i obecnie, oraz powodów i ograniczeń uniemożliwiających aktywny styl życia. Wyniki. Wraz z wiekiem zmniejsza się odsetek osób spędzających czas wolny w sposób aktywny. W każdej wydzielonej grupie wieku osób starszych mężczyźni niż kobiety częściej wykazywali potrzebę ruchu. Różnicują także badanych pozostałe czynniki: urbanizacyjny oraz status społeczno-zawodowy. Wyniki badań wskazują, że większe osiedle stwarza korzystniejsze warunki rekreacji dla seniorów oraz że osoby, których praca zawodowa nie wiązała się z wysiłkiem fizycznym, częściej niż pracownicy fizyczni uprawiali ćwiczenia fizyczne w różnej formie. Być może zadziałał tutaj czynnik wykształcenia związany wyraźniej z aktywnym podejściem do własnego zdrowia i właściwego stylu życia. Wnioski. Aktywność fizyczna seniorów będąca jednym z podstawowych elementów stylu życia jest wyraźnie związana ze środowiskiem bytowym badanych