[Assessment of the effect of meteorological factors on the health of a group of patients in the city of Iaşi]

Analyzing the meteorological factors influence perception on state of health and evaluation of the awareness of how they act.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was carried out between 2010-2011 on a sample of 75 patients from of a cabinet of family medicine in the city of Iasi. The lot included randomly selected persons with age between 18-74 years. They answered a questionnaire with 25 items. The questionnaire Included demographic date (age, education, social, financial situation, the belonging religious) and questions on personal perception and evaluation of the influence of climate and weather conditions on individual state of health, degree to promote beneficial climatic factors in maintaining health and quality of life.

RESULTS

The istribution of Cases in function of perception implication in meteorological factors in health reveals the following aspects: they showed significantly morecases meteoro-sensibili from urban areas (45.3%) and meteoro dependentecases from rural areas (10.7%) in our group has revealed several casesmeteorosensibile both females (36%) and the male ones (14.7%) Distribution in the study group depending on the class of diseases revealed predominant rheumatic diseases (36%) and heart disease (33.3%), haematological (20%) mental illness (14.7%) digestive (12%),respiratory diseases and neurological (10.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Meteorological facts does not represent etiological but the favoring or triggering factors in some pathological conditions. Important weather newsletters in informing and educating patients about the risks of meteorological sesnsibili requires that a necessity for maintaining health andquality of life.

[Study of the nutritional status and eating habits on a group of patients in primary health care]

AIMS

Evaluation of medical and biological status of the study group; analyzing the nutritional status and the way of eating by food investigation; and evaluation of the knowledge about eating behavior and the role of physical activity in health.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted from 2010-2011 on a sample of 375 patients aged 18-74, patients within a family medicine cabinet in our town. The questionnaire included demographic data (age, education, social, financial situation, the belonging religious) and questions about nutrition on food groups and questions about rational knowledge about nutrition, eating behavior and the role of physical activity.

RESULTS

In the study group by gender distribution was 225 women (60%) and 150 men (40%) with a ratio F/M = 1.5/1 Evaluation of the nutritional status and somatometric exam revealed the following issues: 105 cases (28%) with, 103 cases (27.46%), 52 cases (13.86%) 72 (19.2%) and 43 cases (11.46%). Most patients were overweight normo and 27.46% respectively 28% and is followed by those with grade II obesity (19.2%), obesity grade I (13.86%) and final grade III obesity (11.46%).The food investigation on food groups showed no significant differences between the two years of study configuring same eating behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolic and nutritional diseases became increasingly aggressive in recent decades and obesity is a widespread disease in the population with a multifactorial etiology and with a chronic evolution. The family doctor been in the forefront of the health system can contribute to increasing the quality of life that heis monitoring the implementation of educational programs related to food and eating behavior.

[Relashionship between the mother's educational level and child feeding in a series of preschool children in Bacau Town]

Child growth and development are decisively influensed by feeding. This depends on parent's financial resources and food habits, most often tradition-related.

AIM

To determine how important mother's educational level is in this respect.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was carried out on a series of 153 preschool children from two kindergartens in Bacău town. Their parents filled out a questionnaire on the frequency of weekly food consumption.

RESULTS

64.5% of the mothers of the children included in this study had a higher education. Most children had milk 4-7 times a week, cheese 2-3 times a week, eggs and chicken 2-3 times a week, and fruits 4-7 times a week. The diffrences in feeding provided by mothers with higher education and those less educated were statistically insignificant, food habits being quite similar.

CONCLUSIONS

A good knowledge of food habits in a poplation is essential for developing programs aimed at changing the unhealthy ones.

[Comparative study concerning food intake in a group of people with dyslipidemias vs. a control group in the Targu Neamt area]

The aim of the study was to find a correlation between the consumption frequency of the main food groups and the presence of dyslipidemia as compared to a control group without dyslipidemias.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

For this study we have considered a number of 678 people, divided in two groups: 339 with dyslipidemias and 339 without dyslipidemias, each of the two groups comprising 137 subjects from the rural area and 201 from the urban area, through the questionnaire method.

RESULTS

The involved people have been questioned about the consumption of milk and related products (cheese), meat and related products (beef and pork), fish and related products and fruits. Regarding the fruit consumption, in the urban area, we have found slightly increased values in the witness group of the percentages of those who eat them daily and 4-6 times a week as compared to the group with dyslipidemias.

[Aspects of morbidity in institutionalized adults]

In the last decades, the lifespan at elderly persons increased significantly, so they have the tendency to develop much comorbidities. In this situation, a correct and early assessment of the comorbities, that complicates the management of the medical case, may represent an efficient approach.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This study intended to evaluate the present health status of a group of 74 institutionalized adults, mainly elderly (3 quarters) and women (52.7%) assisted in a special elderly institution from Suceava County.

RESULTS

Most of the institutionalized elderly come from countryside and they suffer from different degrees of disability (43.24%). The average period of institutionalization is 6 years and 5 months and nine major categories of diagnostic were identified by the measurement of comorbidity, using ICD-10-AM. Between man and women were not identified significant statistical differences regarding the disabilities distribution and the average length of stay in institution. Assisted men are affected more, by comparison with the women, just from respiratory disease (p = 0.0049). There are no significant differences between the number of assisted men and women with different levels of comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

At special elderly services appeal especially women from countryside, which last in the institution more than women from urban area, and are less affected of respiratory disease than men.

[Comparative analysis of two different methods of nutrition assessment in the institutionalized elderly]

A nutrition assessment is an evaluation of both objective and subjective data connected to an individual's food intake, lifestyle and medical record. In this study we've tried to assess, by two distinct methods, the nutrition of elderly persons, and to reveal some differences that result from the accuracy of each method in part.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study focused on a group of 195 elderly institutionalized persons from Galaţi city, living in three different locations (A, B, C), along a period of 5 years. The quality of their nutrition was assessed by 60 standard nutritional inquiries, and by applying an individual questionnaire regarding to their subjective perception of the same aspect. Statistical analysis of the results was performed with programs EpiInfo 3.3 and SPSS 16.0.

RESULTS

On a subjective perspective (data collected from questionnaires) there are no significant differences between all these three groups of elderly persons about the quality of their food, the adequacy to their age requirements and about the misbalances observed in structuring the meals. Also, the majorities from every group appreciate that their nutrition registered an improvement since they were accepted in the institution. If we analyze retrospective the quality of the received food, in location A an elderly receives significantly more vegetables with 5% carbohydrates (both p < 0.001) and fruits (both p < 0.001) than in locations B and C. In the second location elderly menus contains significantly more milk (both p < 0.001) and fish (both p < 0.001) than in locations A and C. Comparative with the first two locations, in the third one menus excel in meat (p = 0.004 and p = 0.0026) and potatoes (both p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Even we've identified significantly differences between the average daily intakes elderly don't perceive them, as a consequence of their age and health status. Summarizing, the assessment of nutrition quality at elderly persons, should be compulsory an objective one.

[Comparative study of the anthropometric parameters in a group of people with dyslipidemias and a control group]

The aim of the article was to study comparatively the variation of the anthropometric indexes (BMI - body mass index, waist circumference) in a group of people with and without dyslipidemias.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The data (age, sex, location, weight, height, waist) was obtained through the inquiry method, within the statistical processing, using the Pearson Chi-Square Test. A group of 678 people, out of which 339 people with dyslipidemias and 339 without dyslipidemias, was included in the study, the two groups being chosen so as to have an equal number of participants, according to age and sex. Each of the two groups was made up of two sub-groups: one from an urban area and one from a rural area.

RESULTS

The hypotesis regarding the existence of a higher percentage of people suffering from I degree obesity (24.5%) was confirmed in the case of the group with dyslipidemias as compared to the control group (5%), the percentage of the people with normal weight being much smaller in the case of the dyslipidemic people (20.6%) as compared to the normal ones (45.7%).

[Comparative study of the intake of energy nutrients by elderly institutionalized people from Galaţi city]

In this study we have analyzed, by comparison, the quality of nutrient intake at different groups of elderly institutionalized persons, in order to identify if there are significant differences between the nutrition provided in these institutions.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The nutrition of 313 elderly persons was analyzed retrospective, along a period of 5 years (2002-2006), in three different locations from Galati city, using the standardized nutritional inquiry protocol. Statistical assessment was realized with program EpInfo 3.3 by univariate analysis, using descriptive statistical indicators; the significance was assessed with t-Student test.

RESULTS

In two of three institutions (A and C) are assisted persons over 71 yrs. old compared to the third locations where are mainly persons over 61 yrs. old. In location A we've identified major overcomes (percentage variation over 20%) for all the nutrients, with a special mention for animal proteins and vegetal fats intake. In locations B and C the founded results indicates the same major overcome for all the nutrients, with the most serious situation for vegetal fats. If we analyze the absolute values of the nutrient intake, between all these types of nutrition are significant differences. In location B an elderly receives (on average) significant more energetic nutrients than in location C (p < 0.001) and in location A (p < 0.001) with a single exception, for animal proteins. In location A an elderly receives (on average) significant more vegetal proteins (p = 0.00018) and significant less vegetal fats (p = 0.0000277) than in location C. By consequence, in all analyzed locations, with a special mention for location B, elderly persons are confronted regularly with a hyper caloric meal.

CONCLUSIONS

In all the analyzed institutions elderly persons receive an unbalanced and hyper caloric nutrition (especially women), composed mainly by nutrients provided by cheap food groups. All the differences are indicating the lack of attention for structuring the daily meal according to RDAs in persons with a high health risk profile.

[Assessment of the impact of psycho-social environment on toddlers' physical and neuropsychic development]

Psycho-social environment is influencing directly toddler's development, with a major impact in the first three years of life. Family is the first social environment for the infant, and later for toddler, and depending to the quality of this relation will evolve the adult.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of psycho-social environment on the toddler's development.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We have analyzed by using a questionnaire a number of 200 families, in order to assess their level of environmental risk and to correlate it with the toddlers' development.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The highest risk scores were obtained by families who sent the toddler in a foster home, followed by the families who use a day care center, and at last by the families where toddler remains in the family's home till he is 3 years old. 51.66% of the toddlers who goes in a day care center and 85% of the toddlers who are sent to foster home are exposed to a relative risk lower by 2.7 times to be retarded compared to the situation of remaining in the natural home. On the other hand, in family environment with a mild risk there are significant more disharmonic children than in the families with a lower risk score (p = 0.0452). The toddler's chances to evolve, by physical perspective, negatively in institutional environment are significantly higher if he comes from a family with mild risk score than in a family with a lower risk score (p = 0.0157).

CONCLUSIONS

In every life environment where lives a toddler, confronted with specific problems, should take immediate action the general practitioner, the child development specialist and the environmental health expert, in a coordinate manner, to identify and correct all the aspects who may disturb the normal evolution of the toddler's growth and development.

[Food intake patterns in a mentally disabled children's community]

AIM

To asses the food intake in a closed community of mentally disabled school children.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The dietary survey was performed according to the ongoing romanian regulations, taking into account 11 food groups.

RESULTS

Each of the four dietary surveys showed that certain food groups are present in the diet in very small quantities (such as fish, milk, animal fat, eggs, fruits) and other are present in excess (potatoes, cereals, oils, dry vegetables), not regarding the season of the dietary survey. Even if the energy requirements are met, there is no interest in providing the children with a balanced diet.

CONCLUSION

Changes are needed in order to improve the food intake patterns and a more carefully menu planning is required.

[Physical development and health status in mentally disabled school children]

Mentally disabled children represent about 3% from the children population.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

102 children with mental disabilities were investigated using physical and somatometric examination.

RESULTS

The mental disabilities are associated with different diseases, in most cases correlated in intensity with de degree of mental disorder. The physical development is considered to be with average values for the majority of children; the presence of harmonic development is predominant, but we met cases in which the values for height and weight are small or even pathologic.

CONCLUSION

Mentally disabled school children physical development and health status raise many problems for the medical staff and the management of these children implies permanent monitoring.

[The medical and social impact of the gross domestic product on the life expectancy and infantile mortality in Romania]

In this study we have analyzed the correlations between the GDP reported on every inhabitant and the life expectancy respective the infantile mortality rates. Analysis cover 11 countries, divided in four categories: three former countries members of EU (France, Italy, Sweden), three countries recently admitted (2004) in E.U. (Poland, Slovenia, Hungary), two countries which will join E.U. in 2007 and other three countries none located in Europe (Canada, Japan, USA). In the countries that invest a lot in health care system the life expectancy at birth is bigger that in other countries, but this relation is not a linear one. Infantile mortality in modern society is strongly influenced by the socio-economic status.

[Current issues regarding organic food]

Destruction and pollution of soil and ground water resources is probably the most important ecological problem facing the next generation. Checkable standards which certify healthy food products are required by the regulation on organic farming of the EU and should also be applied for conventional food production. Ecological food contains at least 95% of ingredients from an organic farming environment, without interference from pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or other chemicals and it is totally different from dietary, functional, enriched, fortified, probiotic food. Ecological food is tastier and contains more essential amino-acids, vitamin C, and micro-nutriments than usual food. Two major effects generated by choosing ecological food are the environmental protection and human' health improvement. Buying an ecological product represents the effect of a certain attitude. Children's nutrition starts with the most genuine ecological product: breast milk. Every parent should give to his child healthy and tasty food, for proper development. Decreasing artificial chemicals in the diet and the environment represents the first step to a healthier life.

[Specifics of food intake by schoolchildren in the rural areas of Moldova]

149 schoolchildren, 14-15 years old, from 4 rural communities pending on 4 different Moldova counties have been investigated using the one day questionnaire technique. From the entire studied group, only 7.4% are do not eat breakfast before attending school. 35.5% of the schoolchildren consider their sugar intake to be excessive, without taking into account the sugar major role in nervous cell function. The average daily intake for fresh fruits, vegetables and milk is in most cases adequate, but significant differences are present between the communities, related with the socio-economic status of the families and, also, with nutritional.

[Drug residues in food of animal origin]

This paper reviews literature data on the stability of drug residues in food of animal origin. It was investigated the most important antibacterial, antihelminthic and sedative drugs and growth promoters used in food/producing animal treatments. The effects of storage (at -20 degrees C, 4 degrees C and temperature room) and a range of cooking processes (boiling, frying, roasting, grilling, microwaving) on residues was studied. The results are summarized in tables and showed that degradation and biological activity were varied between 0 and 100%.

[Nutrition and old age]

The cellular and extracellular degenerative changes that take place simultaneous with aging in elderly will determine changes in the life style. In order to reach the ideal age, the elderly must have a balanced diet, sufficient physical activity and to quit smoking and drinking. In addition to this requirements, the society must provide the economic means, that will allow the elderly a decent life, and free access to medical services.

[Oxidative stress and antioxidants in the diet in pathological processes at the level of the cardiovascular system]

After a short review of the data on the free radicals occurring in the human body (hydroxyl radical, superoxide, nitric acid, peroxynitrite), the possible effects of these radical upon the cardiovascular system are presented. The preservation of the oxidants-antioxidants balance is highly important for preventing the cardiovascular diseases. Endogenous antioxidants are not 100 per cent effective, reason why for the individuals with atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease antioxidant supplements (tocopherols, carotenes, vitamin C, selenium) are essential especially during the seasons when diets are deficient in fruits and vegetables.

[The problems of self-image formation in children with motor deficiencies]

Self-image is a representation that each person has on its own body. The personality of an individual develops through progressive knowledge of its own body. Children with motor deficiencies have a modified self-image. For the evaluation of self-image a 1 to 10 self-assessment scale for three items (smart, resourceful, beautiful), and two time periods (now and in the future) was used. As to the dynamic components, the area "locus of control" showed significant positive differences between present and future situations (an increase from 22.1% to 56.5% for smart item, from 35.9% to 65.5% for resourceful item and only a small variation from 30.5% to 37.4% for handsome item, regarding the high marks self-assentiment).

[The extra-auditory effects of noise]

Noise affects not only the ear, but the body as a whole. Noise exposure can trigger a series of functional changes related or not with hearing loss, consisting mainly in sleep disturbances, blood pressure increases, changes in the amplitude and frequency of the respiratory movements, decreases in the visual function and psychological disorders.

[Current trends in nutrition]

The energy delivered by food is involved in the maintaining of the homeostasis and in the electromechanical activities that define life. The energy expenditure include basal metabolism, thermogenesis and the energy required for the physical activity. Functional food extends over providing the nutrients into playing important physiological roles into the organism. The recommendations are to increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in order to reduce the risk for degenerative diseases and cancer.

[An evaluation of interpersonal dependency in physically handicapped children]

In assessing the problems of handicapped persons, the social relations represents an important element. The emotional thrust in other persons put in evidence the need for assistance, only 25.1% of the subjects having normal affective relations. The lack of self-thrust and a choosing of a model from the closed community is met in 70.1% of the cases. The expression of the autonomy depends on the degree of motor handicap; 36.1% consider themselves as dependent, but a part of them have only a physical dependence.

[The cutaneous manifestations in food allergies]

A study on cutaneous signs in food allergies was perform on a number of patients admitted in the dermatology clinic. The clinical diagnosis is based on a critical anamnesis on the alimentary origin, laboratory findings and therapeutical test. The different alimentary behavior in the urban areas, in association with stress, generates a higher frequency of food allergies in these areas, comparative with the incidence in the rural areas. The dietary structure in the 3rd and 4th trimester, with an abundance of meat and meat products, sugar products and alcoholic's drinks, is an explanation for the higher incidence of food allergies in this period of the year. These foods are on the origin of 45.3% of all the food allergies and the middle age group (36-40 years) is most affected. The majority of patients (59%) had a very short time between ingestion of food and the debut of symptomatology, but the evolution was favorable.

[The confirmation of a correlation between atmospheric air pollution with sedimentation dusts and pediatric morbidity]

The obtained results support the data in the literature on the correlation of air pollution with morbidity in general and with the infantile one, particularly by respiratory diseases in urban areas of Iaşi district. The maintenance of the pollutants under the minimum admitted concentration by corresponding measures at the level of pollution source together with increasing the general resistance of the population are necessary.