Smoking differences between university faculties in Tartu, Estonia, and Oulu, Finland, after the disruption of communism

Objectives  

To provide information on smoking differences between university faculties.     

Participation of children on the autism spectrum in home,school, and community

Background

Children on the autism spectrum participate less frequently, and in a narrower range of activities, than their nonautistic peers, but little is known about exact participation patterns across contexts or how this is perceived by caregivers. This study aimed to document patterns of participation and caregiver views with regard to frequency and intensity of activities.

Method

Caregivers of children on the spectrum aged 5 (n = 90) and 9–10 years (n = 128) completed the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth for home, school, and community. Caregivers reported on frequency of child's participation, level of involvement, and caregivers' desire for change in participation patterns.

Results

Item‐level analyses revealed similar patterns of participation across home, school, and community for both cohorts with some small age‐appropriate differences. Caregivers generally desired increased diversity, frequency, and involvement in activities but a decreased use of electronics (computers, games, TV, and DVDs).

Conclusion

The possibility of autism‐specific participation patterns could inform future interventions aimed at enhancing social inclusion. This warrants further investigation through multiinformant designs that seek the perspectives of the child and caregivers.     

Associations between psychological distress, workplace accidents, workplace failures and workplace successes

Purpose  

This study investigates associations between psychological distress and workplace accidents, workplace failures and workplace successes.     

The Pregnancy,Arsenic, and Immune Response (PAIR) Study in rural northern Bangladesh

Background

Arsenic exposure and micronutrient deficiencies may alter immune reactivity to influenza vaccination in pregnant women, transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies to the foetus, and maternal and infant acute morbidity.

Objectives

The Pregnancy, Arsenic, and Immune Response (PAIR) Study was designed to assess whether arsenic exposure and micronutrient deficiencies alter maternal and newborn immunity and acute morbidity following maternal seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

Population

The PAIR Study recruited pregnant women across a large rural study area in Gaibandha District, northern Bangladesh, 2018–2019.

Design

Prospective, longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort.

Methods

We conducted home visits to enrol pregnant women in the late first or early second trimester (11–17 weeks of gestational age). Women received a quadrivalent seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine at enrolment. Follow-up included up to 13 visits between enrolment and 3 months postpartum. Arsenic was measured in drinking water and maternal urine. Micronutrient deficiencies were assessed using plasma biomarkers. Vaccine-specific antibody titres were measured in maternal and infant serum. Weekly telephone surveillance ascertained acute morbidity symptoms in women and infants.

Preliminary Results

We enrolled 784 pregnant women between October 2018 and March 2019. Of 784 women who enrolled, 736 (93.9%) delivered live births and 551 (70.3%) completed follow-up visits to 3 months postpartum. Arsenic was detected (≥0.02 μg/L) in 99.7% of water specimens collected from participants at enrolment. The medians (interquartile ranges) of water and urinary arsenic at enrolment were 5.1 (0.5, 25.1) μg/L and 33.1 (19.6, 56.5) μg/L, respectively. Water and urinary arsenic were strongly correlated (Spearman's ⍴ = 0.72) among women with water arsenic ≥ median but weakly correlated (⍴ = 0.17) among women with water arsenic < median.

Conclusions

The PAIR Study is well positioned to examine the effects of low-moderate arsenic exposure and micronutrient deficiencies on immune outcomes in women and infants. Registration : NCT03930017.     

Paediatricians knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding immunizations for infants in Italy

Background  

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether paediatricians have appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding vaccinations for infants in Italy.     

Socioeconomic,health, and dietary determinants of multivitamin supplements use in Belgium

Objective  

This study aimed at investigating the use of multivitamin supplements in relationship to dietary pattern, socio-economic conditions and some health indicators.     

Use of television, videogames, and computer among children and adolescents in Italy

Background  

This survey determined the practices about television (video inclusive), videogames, and computer use in children and adolescents in Italy.     

Glucocorticoid treatment,immobility, and constipation are associated with nutritional risk

Purpose  

The hypothesis of this clinical study was to determine whether glucocorticoid use and immobility were associated with in-hospital nutritional risk.     

Patterns, distribution, and determinants of under- and overnutrition among women in Nigeria: a population-based analysis

Objective  

To determine the patterns and determinants of nutritional status among women in Nigeria.     

The interrelationships among albumin,nutrient intake,and inflammation in elderly recuperative care patients

Objectives  

To examine the interrelationships among low serum albumin, nutritional depletion, and ongoing inflammation in older patients recovering from illness.     

Knowledge,attitude and practice of El-Minia university students towards pandemic H1N1, Egypt, 2009

Aim  

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of El-Minia university students regarding H1N1 and its preventive measures.     

BMI,waist circumference,and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese adults

Objective  

To examine whether the association between waist circumference (WC) and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors varies with obesity (BMI) status.     

Physical activity,quality of life,weight status and diet in adolescents

Purpose  

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between quality of life (QoL), physical activity (PA), diet and overweight status in children 11 to 15 years old.     

The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised,double‐blind,placebo‐controlled clinical trial

Background

Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder of childhood, affecting 3–5% of school‐age children. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of soy‐derived phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid, improves ADHD symptoms in children.

Methods

Thirty six children, aged 4–14 years, who had not previously received any drug treatment related to ADHD, received placebo (n = 17) or 200 mg day^–1 PS (n = 19) for 2 months in a randomised, double‐blind manner. Main outcome measures included: (i) ADHD symptoms based on DSM‐IV‐TR; (ii) short‐term auditory memory and working memory using the Digit Span Test of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; and (iii) mental performance to visual stimuli (GO/NO GO task).

Results

PS supplementation resulted in significant improvements in: (i) ADHD (P < 0.01), AD (P < 0.01) and HD (P < 0.01); (ii) short‐term auditory memory (P < 0.05); and (iii) inattention (differentiation and reverse differentiation, P < 0.05) and inattention and impulsivity (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other measurements and in the placebo group. PS was well‐tolerated and showed no adverse effects.

Conclusions

PS significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short‐term auditory memory in children. PS supplementation might be a safe and natural nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young children suffering from ADHD.     

Filipina American women's breast cancer knowledge,attitudes, and screening behaviors

Background  

Filipino Americans are the fastest growing Asian minority group in the United States. There is limited knowledge about their breast cancer knowledge, screening practices and attitudes.     

Findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – smoking initiation, prevalence of tobacco use and cessation

Objectives  

To show selected findings from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.     

Racial differences in smoking abstinence rates in a multicenter,randomized, open-label trial in the United States

Background  

This study evaluates differences in smoking abstinence between white and minority smokers using pharmaceutical aids.     

The longitudinal effects of behavioral,health, and socio-demographic factors on body mass index among older Chinese adults

Objectives  

To examine the effects of behavioral, health, and socio-demographic factors on being overweight or obese among older Chinese adults.     

Investigating socio-economic-demographic determinants of tobacco use in Rawalpindi,Pakistan

Background  

To investigate the socio-economic and demographic determinants of tobacco use in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.     

Nutritional status and associations with falls,balance, mobility and functionality during hospital admission

Objectives  

To explore associations between nutritional status, falls and selected falls risk factors amongst older hospitalized people. Lengths of stay amongst fallers and the malnourished were assessed.