Obesity in children and adolescents in Cyprus. Prevalence and predisposing factors

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in Cyprus and define possible associated risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a representative sample of children 6-17 y of age performed during October 1999 to June 2000. METHODS: Anthropometric data were taken using standard methods, from 2467 children. Certain diet and physical activities as well as other socioeconomic family parameters were assessed with the aid of a questionnaire. Obesity and overweight were defined using both the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) I definition and the newer International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) definition. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the influence of various parameters. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity in males was 10.3% and in females 9.1% using the NHANES I definition and 6.9 and 5.7%, respectively, using the IOTF definition. The percentages presented a decreasing trend with age. There were an additional 16.9% of males and 13.1% of females defined as overweight with the NHANES I definition and 18.8 and 17.0%, respectively, using the IOTF definition. The most significant associated factor for obesity was parental obesity status. The odds ratio for offspring obesity when both parents were obese ranged from 11.34 (95% CI 1.83-75.50) in females 6 to 11-y-old to 18.09 (95% CI 2.06-158.81) for males 12 to 17-y-old. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity was estimated for the first time in a representative sample from Cyprus, and this rate is comparable to that observed in North America. These results indicate the need for individual and population measures for the treatment and prevention of pediatric obesity. The rate of obesity differs significantly depending on the method of estimation.     

Potential benefits of early nutritional intervention in adults with upper gastrointestinal cancer: a pilot randomised trial

Purpose

This study aimed to test whether a very early nutrition intervention delivered over the telephone was feasible and could improve outcomes amongst patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer.

Methods

Participants with a histologically proven new diagnosis of primary oesophageal or stomach cancer and who were to undergo surgery and/or chemotherapy were randomised to receive either standard nutrition care (SC) or early and intensive nutrition intervention (NI) over the telephone/face-to-face. Participants were followed for 6 months. The primary outcome was quality of life (QoL), assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Global Quality of Life questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the European Quality of Life Instrument (EQ-5D) tool; secondary outcomes were nutritional status and survival.

Results

Twenty-one participants were recruited (11 SC and 10 NI). At baseline, the prevalence of malnutrition was 90 %. Compared with SC, the NI group had a significantly higher EORTC global QoL score at the first mid-study follow-up (coefficient (95 % CI) 21.0 (12.1, 29.9) adjusted for baseline, p?p?p?p?p?=?0.06). The mean time spent with a dietitian per contact was significantly less for the NI group compared with SC (16(3) vs 40(6) min per dietetic contact, p?Conclusions This pilot study has shown the potential of a novel telephone-based early and intensive dietetic model of care for newly diagnosed upper gastrointestinal cancer patients.     

Experimentelle Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Verbindungsbahnen des Kleinhirns und des Verlaufs der Funiculi graciles und cuneati

Ohne ZusammenfassungZum Schluss erübrigt mir, Herrn Director Forel für die Freundlichkeit, mit der er mir die Präparate zur Untersuchung überliess, insbesondere auch für die Hülfe und die Rathschläge bei der Bearbeitung meines Themas den besten Dank auszusprechen.     

Diagnosis of toxoplasma infection in cardiac transplant recipients using the polymerase chain reaction.

Cardiac biopsy samples taken from transplant recipients around the time of primary toxoplasma infection were investigated by conventional histology and amplification of the P30 gene of Toxoplasma gondii by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Toxoplasma was detected more frequently by PCR than histology which may reflect the enhanced sensitivity of the former technique. Further studies are required to determine the optimal amount of tissue which should be examined by each technique and to develop a PCR assay capable of distinguishing between quiescent infection and active toxoplasmosis.