Factorial validity of Stephen's Social Behavior Assessment.

Conducted exploratory factor and item analyses of the Social Behavior Assessment (SBA), using teacher ratings of 301 elementary school pupils from regular classes (mean age 9.4 yrs), 39 learning disabled students (mean age 9.1 yrs), and 62 emotionally disturbed children (mean age 10.1 yrs). It was found that a 5-factor oblique solution was the most reasonable. Factors obtained from item analysis explained more of the variance than factors based on subcategory scores. A shorter revised instrument is proposed that consists of 71 items based on 4 underlying factors—Social Participation/Conversation, Academic Responsibility, Self-Control, and Consideration for Others. This revised SBA discriminated between Ss in regular classes and those enrolled in special education programs. Emotionally disturbed Ss had the most deviant scores on each of the 4 factors. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Limitation of therapeutic activity in elderly critically ill patients. Project for the Epidemiological Analysis of Critical Care Patients

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether the age of patients admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) influences the amount of therapy received. DESIGN: Observational, prospective, multicenter study. SETTING: Eighty-six multidisciplinary ICUs in Spain, including coronary patients. PATIENTS: The patients (n = 8,838) were studied during a 6-month period between 1992 and 1993. Patients < 16 yrs of age and patients dying within the first 6 hrs were excluded from the study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We collected data on age, gender, type of diagnosis at the time of admission, severity level by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and III, quality of life survey score, therapeutic activity during the first 24 hrs by Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System, and ICU and hospital mortality rates. In the sample of patients, 12.5% were > 75 yrs of age. Compared with younger patients, these patients had higher APACHE II (18.41 +/- 0.23 vs. 15.14 +/- 0.09 points, p < .001) and APACHE III (65.8 +/- 0.81 vs. 53.32 +/- 0.33 points, p < .001) scores, a higher quality of life survey score (i.e., worse quality of life, 7.19 +/- 0.19 vs. 3.86 +/- 0.05 points, p < .001), and a greater ICU mortality rate (21.9% vs. 15.3%, p < .00001) and hospital mortality rate (30.8% vs. 19.3%, p < .00001). However, patients > 75 yrs had a lower Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System score (19.83 +/- 0.28 vs. 21.17 +/- 0.12 points, p < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that once severity, need for mechanical ventilation, diagnostic group, and mortality rate were taken into account, there was less therapeutic activity in patients > 75 yrs of age. CONCLUSIONS: Patients > 75 yrs of age represent a large proportion of patients in Spanish ICUs. Although their mortality rate and severity scores were higher than those values in younger patients, patients > 75 yrs of age received less therapy.     

Reproductive biology knowledge, and behaviour of teenagers in East, Central and Southern Africa: the Zimbabwe case study

Sexuality in the teenager is often complicated by unplanned/unwanted pregnancy, abortion and the risks of STDs including AIDS. There is therefore a need for improved understanding of factors affecting adolescent sexuality and the implementation of programmes designed to improve their knowledge, risk awareness and subsequent behavioural outcomes. A multicentre study of reproductive health knowledge and behaviour followed by a health education intervention was undertaken amongst teenagers in selected countries of East, Central and Southern Africa. Reported here are findings at baseline derived from the Zimbabwe component on reproductive biology knowledge and behavior. A self-administered questionnaire was used among 1 689 adolescent pupils drawn from rural, urban, co-education, single sex, boarding and day secondary schools in Zimbabwe. Correct knowledge on reproductive biology as measured by the meaning and interpretation of menstruation and wet dreams varied by school from 68 pc to 86 pc, with a significant trend (p < 0,01) based on level of education at baseline. The reported mean age at which menarche took place was 13,5 years +/- 1,3 (mean +/- SD). First coitus was reported to have taken place at the mean age of 12 years for boys and 13,6 years for girls. Seventeen pc of the adolescent pupils reported that they were sexually experienced and 33,2 had relationships. There were misconceptions reported on menstruation with 23 pc reporting that it was an illness. Peers, followed by magazines were the first sources of information on various aspects of reproductive biology, both of which might not provide the correct first information. Among pupils reporting that they were sexually experienced, the largest proportion (56 pc) had unprotected sex. The findings point to the need for targeting the adolescent pupils for information on reproductive biology and increased awareness on the risks of pregnancy, STDs and HIV.     

High school pupils' attitude and experience with drugs in Holon, Israel

Five hundred and eight high school pupils filled out questionnaires concerning their attitudes and experience in the use of drugs: 3.15% had used drugs at least once. The beginning age was 14.36 +/- 1.55. Boys consumed more than girls (68.75 vs 31.25%). Pupil's permissive attitudes were in significant correlation with the following: controversy with parents (p < .05); breaking rules (discipline and property) (p < .05); drug consumption (p < .001); and positive parents' and friends' attitude toward drugs (p < .003). According to the pupils, the three main motives for beginning to take drugs were curiosity, peer influence, and existence of personal difficulties and/or seeking pleasure. The pupils' knowledge in the topic of drugs came from TV (92.5%, newspapers and periodicals (77.5%), and school (75%).     

Myklebust's cognitive structure hypothesis for 91 dyslexic students of Delft University of Technology.

Investigated various aspects of dyslexia in persons over age 15. A study of all spelling mistakes in written work of 626 secondary school pupils resulted in a diagnostic criterion. Data from 91 dyslexic college students, analyzed over 7 yrs, show that intelligence test profiles differed markedly, making possible a classification as dyslexic or nondyslexic with a certainty of 80%. Marked differences in intercorrelation patterns between subtests were found between the successful dyslexic students, dropouts, and engineers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microcephaly in a normal school population

Heights, weights, and head circumferences were obtained on 1,006 students, ages 5 to 18 years, attending regular classes in four schools in a suburban Seattle school district. From the 1,006 students initially examined, 19 (1.9%) had a head circumference two or more standard deviations below the mean for age and sex. Intelligence quotients and academic achievement scores were obtained on these children and compared with normal controls. No significant difference was found between mean IQs of the study subjects and the controls (99.5 vs. 105), but mean academic achievement scores were significantly lower in the study subjects (49 vs. 70; P less than .001). In addition, although mean IQs were not significantly different between those subjects whose head circumference was proportional and those whose head circumference was relatively small, mean academic achievement scores were significantly higher (60 vs 39; P less than .02) in those subjects whose head size was proportional.     

The immediate effect of activator vs. meric adjustment on acute low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the immediate effects on pain of Meric and Activator adjustments in patients with acute low back pain (LBP). DESIGN: Adjustments were compared using a randomized, controlled clinical trial for relative effectiveness. SETTING: The study was conducted at a private chiropractic clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. PATIENTS: Thirty consecutive established patients presenting with acute LBP were studied. Sixteen subjects were randomly assigned to the Meric group and 14 to an Activator group. The mean (SD) age was 53.5 (9.5) for the Activator group and 51.8 (10.3) for the Meric group. INTERVENTION: The subjects received either a single Meric or Activator adjustment to the posterior joints involved. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Before and immediately after the adjustments, subjects rated their pain intensity on a visual analog pain scale. RESULTS: The mean reduction in pain for the Activator group was means = 22.2, SD = 21.7; for the Meric group means = 21.8, SD = 21.5. The results indicate that there is no significant difference between Meric and Activator adjustments in reducing acute LBP (F = .005, df = 2, 27, p = .941). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated no advantage of one procedure over the other for the reduction of pain.     

Determinants of survival in pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis (histiocytosis X). Groupe d'Etude en Pathologie Interstitielle de la Société de Pathologie Thoracique du Nord

The course of pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis (pulmonary LCG) is variable, difficult to predict and ranges from spontaneous remission to progressive respiratory insufficiency and death. To identify the determinants of survival, we performed a survival analysis on 45 patients with pulmonary LCG. The patients were aged 28 +/- 10 yrs (mean +/- SD) (range 12-62 yrs), 32 males and 13 females, almost exclusively current smokers (96%), and 78% presented symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Diagnosis was made by lung biopsy in 25 patients (56%) and by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis in 20 patients (44%). The patients were followed for a median period of 6 yrs (range 1-29 yrs) after the diagnosis. During the period of observation, 33 (73%) patients survived (median follow-up period = 5.8 yrs; range, 1-29 yrs) and 12 (27%) died or underwent lung transplantation (median follow-up period = 8.4 yrs; range 1.4 - 16.1 yrs). The median survival was approximately 13 years. A univariate analysis demonstrated that diminished survival was significantly associated with: an older age at diagnosis (p = 0.0001); a lower forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio at diagnosis (p = 0.005); a higher residual volume/total lung volume (RV/TLC) ratio at diagnosis (p = 0.02); and steroid therapy during follow-up (p = 0.03). Additional predictive information on mortality was: age > 26 yrs (sensitivity 83%, specificity 64%); FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.66 (sensitivity 75%, specificity 86%); and a RV/TLC ratio > 0.33 (sensitivity 75%, specificity 63%). In multivariate Cox analysis, the combination of factors which gave the best prognostic value was FEV1/FVC ratio and age (p < 0.01). The present findings suggest that adverse prognosis factors at diagnosis in pulmonary Langerhans' cell granulomatosis include older age, lower FEV1/FVC ratio and higher RV/TLC ratio, with additional predictive information on mortality if aged > 26 yrs, FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.66, and RV/TLC ratio > 0.33.     

An investigation of the relationship between low back pain and lumbar posteroanterior stiffness

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between low back pain (LBP) and lumbar posteroanterior (PA) stiffness. DESIGN: A repeated-measures design was used to measure lumbar posteroanterior stiffness on two occasions in subjects with and without LBP. SUBJECTS: Twenty-five subjects with acute or subacute LBP and twenty-five pain-free subjects participated. Pain subjects reported pain on the application of a manual PA force to the lumbar spine and had no contraindication to PA stiffness testing. Pain-free subjects reported no history of LBP requiring treatment, and obtained a score of 0 on the McGill Pain Questionnaire. METHODS: PA stiffness was measured in subjects with LBP when (a) they first presented with pain and (b) when pain had resolved by more than 80%. Pain-free subjects, matched with pain subjects on gender, age, vertebral level to be tested and time between tests, were also measured on two occasions, to control for the effects of repeated stiffness testing and the passing of time. RESULTS: In subjects with low back pain stiffness decreased by 1.21 N/mm between test 1 and test 2. A paired t test found a significant difference between the tests (t = 3.04, df = 24, p = .006). In subjects without pain, there was an increase in stiffness of 0.74 N/mm between test 1 and test 2; a paired t test found no significant difference between the tests (t = -1.673, df = 24, p = .107). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with LBP showed increased PA stiffness compared with when they had little or no pain, whereas pain-free subjects showed unchanged PA stiffness over time.     

Regional differences in age-related decrements of the cutaneous vascular and sweating responses to passive heating

This study was performed to evaluate prognostic factors in ADPKD progression to ERSF. Previously reported negative factors (male gender, age, hypertension, palpable kidneys and UTI) as well as the extra-renal presence of cysts and proteinuria, were analysed in a group of 45 ADPKD patients (Male/Female, 25/20; Age = 40.1 +/- 19.7 yrs, range 21-69). Palpable kidneys were associated with higher serum creatinine values (955 +/- 689 vs 743 +/- 504 umol/l, p < 0.001) but not with a greater prevalence of renal failure. Renal failure (100% vs 60%), higher creatinine values (981 +/- 495 vs 778 +/- 654 umol/l) and hypertension (50% vs 18%) were related to a higher prevalence of extra-renal cysts (p < 0.05). Older patients (> 40 years) had a greater prevalence of renal failure (96% vs 32%, p < 0.001). Also, subjects with palpable kidneys, and those with extra-renal cysts, were significantly older (52.8 +/- 10.3 vs 30.5 +/- 20.6 yrs, p < 0.025; and 42.1 +/- 21.9 vs 38.1 +/- 18.2 yrs, p < 0.025). Patients with renal failure and those with extra-renal cysts had a greater prevalence of proteinuria (65% vs 0%, p < 0.001; and 100% vs 24%, p < 0.001). No correlation was seen for male gender, hypertension or UTI with any known complications of ADPKD. The extrarenal presence of cysts, older age, proteinuria and palpable kidneys were associated with a worse renal outcome, but for this Romanian population we can't confirm previous reports suggesting a role for male gender and early onset of disease.     

Essential promoter elements are located within the 5'' untranslated region of human insulin-like growth factor-I exon I

The connection between work-related exposures and the onset of back injury or pain is complex and not clearly understood. This paper raises design issues related to the planning and conduct of cohort studies of industrial low back pain (or injury)(LBP), with care given to definition and measurement of exposure and outcome events. These issues include sample size, outcome definition, study biases, and practical considerations when seeking and maintaining company collaboration with a research effort. Without resolving these issues, the authors conclude: (1) cohort studies of worksite-based LBP are needed to elucidate the causal associations between work tasks and LBP onset, (2) both acute and cumulative exposures should be assessed as risk factors for low back injury or pain, and (3) attention should be paid to the planning of such studies and minimization of potential biases that can limit the validity of the results. These design issues will benefit researchers and companies engaged in the planning and conduct of cohort studies of industrial LBP.     

Hysteria scale elevations in low back pain patients: A risk factor for misdiagnosis?

Examined the nature of elevations on the Hysteria scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in low back pain patients by comparing Harris-Lingoes subscale elevation patterns in 53 female (average age 43.2 yrs) and 40 male (mean age 33.5 yrs) low back pain patients and 61 female (average age 31.1 yrs) and 41 male (average age 31.4 yrs) normal controls. Subscales reflecting somatic complaints were more powerful predictors of diagnostic status than subscales with nonsomatic context. Both overlapping and nonoverlapping items on the Hysteria and Hypochondriasis subscales contributed significantly to the discrimination between patients and controls. However, nonoverlapping items were less notable contributors to the discriminant function in women than in men. The data suggest that more evidence than a Conversion V profile is required for the diagnoses of hysterical dynamics in association with somatic complaints. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship of hope in the future and perceived school climate to school completion.

This study examined the impact of hope in the future and school climate as protective factors in school dropouts and graduates. Participants consisted of 97 students (males and females, aged 14-21 yrs) at risk for not completing school in an urban area. At-risk status was determined by student assignment to a continuation high school, a special placement for students who had had numerous infractions at regular high schools. Retrospectively, dropouts rated perceived school climate significantly lower than graduates, and graduates rated the importance of attending college significantly higher than dropouts. Dropouts and graduates who left school after the study was conducted did not report differences on the risk factors measured, nor did they differ on perceived school climate or the importance of attending college. However, hope in the future significantly predicted dropout versus graduate status for these participants. Results are discussed as describing differences in retrospective versus prospective reports, and as evidence of the utility of the risk/resilience paradigm in school completion research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological reevaluation of handicapped children: A survey of practitioners and policymakers.

To assess the practice and perceived importance of school psychological reevaluations of handicapped children, questionnaires were sent to 100 school psychologists (mean age 38 yrs), 53 state consultants for school psychological services (mean age 42 yrs), and 16 state directors of special education (mean age 43 yrs). Findings indicate that reevaluation practices were nearly identical to initial evaluation practices although there was a reduction in total activity during the reevaluation. Changes in either diagnosis or placement of a reevaluated student were rare, yet the reevaluation process was perceived as very important. Two alternative processes to the current reevaluation procedure are presented that involved rereferring students as needed, and increased participation in the annual review of the individual educational program. Data are also presented concerning the frequency with which different measures were used with learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, and mentally handicapped children. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

La réputation sociale de l'enfant en milieu scolaire.

Studied the social reputations of elementary school children. Ss were 76 2nd-grade (mean age 7.5 yrs), 71 3rd-grade (mean age 8.5 yrs), and 83 4th-grade students (mean age 9.7 yrs). Using the peer nomination technique, Ss were assessed collectively on 8 dimensions requiring both social and academic judgments. A cluster analysis was performed to identify groups with different sociometric profiles. Correlations between peer evaluations and teacher evaluations of Ss' social reputations were determined. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anti-HCV serology for screening, diagnosis and surveillance of hepatitis C: role of the immunoblot

Smoking is a major health hazard. Most cigarette smokers start by the age of 18 years. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of the intention to smoke among the students of a metropolitan compared to a non-metropolitan high school. The influence of age, sex, demographic and socio-economic variables, and the role of smoking models of family members and friends, were examined. Nine hundred forty-five students (529 males and 416 females; mean age 15.8 +/- 1.5 years) attending a high school in Naples and 442 students (223 males and 219 females; mean age 16.1 +/- 1.6 years) in Capua, a small town 40 Km distant from Naples, filled in an extensive questionnaire on smoking. The prevalence of intention to smoke was 10.4% in Naples and 9.3% in Capua. It was related to age (p < 0.01) in Naples, but not in Capua. The prevalence of smokers was 24.2% in Naples (males 21.6%, females 27.6%; p = 0.038) and 24.1% in Capua (males 29.2%, females 19%; p = 0.017). As expected, in both cities intention to smoke was associated (p < 0.001) with the strength of existing smoking habit. Students smoking over 21 cigarettes/week were more likely to continue than students smoking less 21 cigarettes/week, both in Naples and in Capua. More than half of smoking students, in both cities, were irresolute about their habit in the subsequent year. In Naples, intention to smoke of male students was associated with mother's (p = 0.02) and siblings' (p < 0.0001) smoking habit; in female students intention to smoke was associated with father's (p = 0.02), mother's (p < 0.001), parents' (p < 0.01) and siblings' smoking habit (p = 0.0002). In Capua an association was evident, in male students, between intention to smoke and paternal smoking habit (p = 0.04); in female students, intention to smoke was associated with siblings' smoking habit (p = 0.03). In Naples and in Capua, for both sexes, intention to smoke was related to smoking habits of the best friend of the same sex (p < 0.0005), the best friend of the opposite sex (p < 0.00005) and friends (p < 0.00001). Multivariate analysis showed, in Naples, an independent relation between adolescent intention to smoke and age (p = 0.01), smoking status of student (p < 0.0001) and friends' smoking habit (p = 0.01). In male students intention to smoke was associated with age (p = 0.003), smoking habit of student (p < 0.0001), mother's (p = 0.02) and friends' (p = 0.02), whereas in females it was associated with smoking behavior of student (p < 0.0001). In Capua student intention to smoke was related to the smoking status of the student (p < 0.0001) and of the best friend of the opposite sex (p < 0.04); in male as in female students, intention to smoke was associated with smoking habit of the student (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, prevalence of adolescents' intention to smoke is similar in two distinct populations of high school students of a city and a small town. Smoking is at higher prevalence among females in the city and among males in the small town. Intention to smoke increases with age, in the great city, and is related to student's existing habit and peer models. More than half of smoking students, in both cities, were irresolute about their habit in the subsequent year. This study has identified some variables associated with adolescents' intention to smoke; we feel that these findings may contribute to a better understanding of smoking behavior among adolescents and may have preventive implications.     

Changes in muscle morphology, electromyographic activity, and force production characteristics during progressive strength training in young and older men

Effects of a 10-week progressive strength training program composed of a mixture of exercises for increasing muscle mass, maximal peak force, and explosive strength (rapid force production) were examined in 8 young (YM) (29+/-5 yrs) and 10 old (OM) (61+/-4 yrs) men. Electromyographic activity, maximal bilateral isometric peak force, and maximal rate of force development (RFD) of the knee extensors, muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps femoris (QF), muscle fiber proportion, and fiber areas of types I, IIa, IIb, and IIab of the vastus lateralis were evaluated. Maximal and explosive strength values remained unaltered in both groups during a 3-week control period with no training preceding the strength training. After the 10-week training period, maximal isometric peak force increased from 1311+/-123 N by 15.6% (p <.05) in YM and from 976+/-168 N by 16.5% (p <.01) in OM. The pretraining RFD values of 4049+/-791 N*s(-1) in YM and 2526+/-1197 N*s(-1) in OM remained unaltered. Both groups showed significant increases (p < .05) in the averaged maximum IEMGs of the vastus muscles. The CSA of the QF increased from 90.3+/-7.9 cm2 in YM by 12.2% (p <.05) and from 74.7+/-7.8 cm2 in OM by 8.5% (p <.001). No changes occurred in the muscle fiber distribution of type I during the training, whereas the proportion of subtype IIab increased from 2% to 6% (p < .05) in YM and that of type IIb decreased in both YM from 25% to 16% (p < .01) and in OM from 15% to 6% (p < .05). The mean fiber area of type I increased after the 10-week training in YM (p < .001) and OM (p < .05) as well as that of type IIa in both YM (p < .01) and OM (p < .01). The individual percentage values for type I fibers were inversely correlated with the individual changes recorded during the training in the muscle CSA of the QF (r=-.56, p < .05). The present results suggest that both neural adaptations and the capacity of the skeletal muscle to undergo training-induced hypertrophy even in older people explain the gains observed in maximal force in older men, while rapid force production capacity recorded during the isometric knee extension action remained unaltered during the present mixed strength training program.     

Confined placental chimerism: prenatal and postnatal cytogenetic and molecular analysis, and pregnancy outcome

The aim of the present study was to compare the mental capacity changes in school teachers, depending on age and type of school. 120 teachers drawn from the secondary and technical schools of Sofia were divided into two groups of younger (mean 31.5 yrs) and older (mean 47.5 yrs) age. They were given two monotonous visual tasks, which differed in complexity: of discrimination and of categorization. The behavioral measures of performance revealed lower efficiency in categorization due mostly to the so-called "premature" or "impulsive" reactions. Significant positive correlations were found between age and within-individual variability of reaction time, suggesting an earlier onset of the aging processes in the investigated population. The decrease in performance efficiency which was age-related was most expressed in the secondary school teachers. It was concluded that the changes of mental capacity can be regarded as an indirect indicator of the occupational stress of the school teachers.     

Improved method for serological testing in celiac disease--IgA anti-endomysium antibody test: a comparison between monkey oesophagus and human umbilical cord as substrate in indirect immunofluorescence test

To clarify the importance of the duration from the onset of a urinary abnormality until a biopsy is actually performed (UA-Bx time) in making a renal prognosis, we investigated 496 patients with IgA nephropathy (male/female: 222/274, mean age: 33.0 +/- 13.7 yrs, mean follow-up period: 10.8 +/- 4.3 yrs). All patients were found to have a urinary abnormality, including both hematuria and proteinuria, at clinical onset while demonstrating a normal renal function, and showing a serum creatinine level of < or = 1.2 mg/dl or a creatinine clearance level of > or = 80 ml/min. The UA-Bx time was divided into 3 groups: < 1 yrs (S-G), 1 < or = < 3 yrs (M-G), > or = 3 yrs (L-G). The severity of glomerular damage was divided into 5 groups based on the occupational rate of segmental sclerotic glomeruli. Based on a multivariate analysis of independent prognostic factors relating to renal death, the severity of glomerular damage was the most independent factor, while the UA-Bx time showed no risk for renal death. However, based on a multivariate analysis of the UA-Bx time regarding the timing of a renal biopsy, patients in L-G, which had the most glomerular damage, showed twice the hazard ratio as those in S-G or M-G and the difference was significant. These results thus indicate that because the glomerular damage is able to progress for 3 yrs or longer after the clinical onset of renal disease, a renal biopsy should therefore be performed within 3 yrs from the clinical onset in patients demonstrating both hematuria and proteinuria when such patients are also suspected of having IgA nephropathy.     

Smoking in secondary school students in Zagreb

Prevalence of smoking was studied in two secondary schools in Zagreb. Data were collected from 637 pupils by questionnaires. Depending on school, between 31 to 45% pupils smoke. Different trends were observed in boys and girls. In boys from the families of a higher parental education prevalence is 28%; in those from lower 42% (p < 0.02). Smoking in girls still increases: in both populations girls surpassed boys (p < 0.001): observed frequencies are 47% in lower and 40% in a group with higher parental education. Higher frequency of smoking was observed in smoking families (p < 0.001). A majority of smokers begin smoking in the last grade of primary school, mostly because of peer group pressure and curiosity. Approximately 50% of regular smokers smoke more than half a pack daily. They comprise 12% of the surveyed population. Smokers do not assign low risk to smoking any more, but knowledge about diseases connected with smoking is insufficient. To reduce smoking among adolescents it is necessary to create negative attitude toward smoking and social-resistance skills during primary school education.