Free toe transplantation in reconstructive hand surgery]

PURPOSE: Increased understanding of the early determinants of obesity is essential because of the increasing prevalence of obesity in many industrialized countries. METHOD: As part of the evaluation of a school-based heart health promotion intervention, we measured height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness at baseline in 2108 students aged 9-12 years (80.5% of eligible students) in 24 inner-city elementary schools located in multiethnic, low income neighbourhoods in Montreal, Canada. Data on student's socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics were collected in classroom-administered questionnaires, and parents completed an at-home self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, 35.2% of boys and 33.0% of girls were overweight (> or = 85th age and gender-specific percentiles from NHANES 11, for body mass index and triceps skinfold thickness); 15.1% of boys and 13.3% of girls were obese (> or = 95th age and gender-specific percentiles for body mass index and triceps skinfold thickness). Younger age, having lived all one's life in Canada, and being of European or Central American/Caribbean family origin were independent correlates of obesity in boys. Younger age, ever smoked, mother obese and father obese were independent correlates of obesity in girls. Girls of Asian family origin were protected. CONCLUSIONS: The very high prevalence of overweight students in this low income, multiethnic population suggests an important need for preventive intervention.     

Electromyographic response of the labial muscles during normal liquid swallows using a spoon, a straw, and a cup

PURPOSE: To determine if ethnic and gender differences in smoking (lifetime prevalence and 30-day prevalence) exist among a cohort of Asian, black, Hispanic, and white inner-city adolescents during the 3-year middle school period. METHODS: Students in 22 urban schools completed self-report questionnaires and provided carbon monoxide breath samples at three annual assessments. Chi-square analyses were conducted to test for associations between ethnic group (Asian, black, Hispanic, and white) and smoking and to test for gender differences in smoking within each ethnic group. Additional analyses examined differences in smoking between two Hispanic subgroups (Puerto Rican and Dominican). RESULTS: Ethnicity was associated with lifetime smoking prevalence at all three assessment points but was only associated with 30-day smoking prevalence at the 2-year follow-up. However, there were no differences in smoking between Puerto Rican and Dominican youth. Black girls reported higher lifetime smoking prevalence than black boys at all three assessments. At the 2-year follow-up, Asian boys reported higher lifetime smoking prevalence than Asian girls; Hispanic girls reported higher 30-day prevalence than Hispanic boys. CONCLUSIONS: White and Hispanic adolescents were at higher risk for smoking relative to Asian and black adolescents. With the exception of white youth, gender differences were found within each ethnic group.     

Hormonal events during female puberty in relation to breast cancer risk

Cigarette smoking among adolescents continues to be a major public health problem in the United States. Smoking trends from 1976-1977 to 1992-1994 were examined in the Bogalusa Heart Study, an investigation of cardiovascular disease risk factors among black and white, male and female adolescents in a semirural town in the southern United States. Age-race-sex specific chi 2 tests for trends over five survey periods were conducted. In almost every age group, black boys and girls were less likely to be current smokers or to have ever smoked or tried cigarettes, as compared with white boys and girls, respectively (P < 0.01). Within age groups, few significant trends in smoking status from 1976-1977 through 1992-1994 were observed among white boys and girls. Among black males and females, however, sharp decreases were observed among all age groups in the prevalence of having ever smoked or tried cigarettes (P = 0.0001) and among the older age groups in the prevalence of being a current smoker (P = 0.0001). Thus, substantial declines in the prevalence of smoking were observed among black children but not among white children. Further research is required to understand why these ethnic differences in smoking occurred so that public health programs may target further the smoking behaviors in children.     

Smoking among 11-15 year-old adolescents, 1984-1994]

The objectives are to describe smoking habits among 11-15-year olds in Denmark in the period 1984-1994 and to describe the association between smoking and social background factors. The article reports data about children at the age of 11, 13 and 15 years from four cross-sectional studies in 1984-1985, 1988, 1991 and 1994 (n = 678, 1667, 1860 and 4046) based on stratified random samples of schools. Data were collected by standardized questionnaires. Median age for first smoking experience changed from approx 12 years in 1984-1985 to approx. 14 years in 1994. The proportion of smokers among 15 year-olds is almost unchanged from 1984 to 1994. In 1994, the proportion of smokers is respectively 2% and 4% among 11 year-old girls and boys, 16% and 11% among 13 year-old girls and boys, and 33% and 25% among 15 year-old girls and boys. The proportion of girls and boys in the three age groups respectively who smoke every day is 0%, 1%, 3%, 4%, 17%, and 11%. In conclusion, smoking habits among children changed considerably from the 1950's to 1980's. The smoking habits have not changed much since the 1980's apart from a slight delay in first smoking-experience.     

Neighbors for a smoke free north side: evaluation of a community organization approach to promoting smoking cessation among African Americans

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated a community organization approach that emphasized involvement of audiences in program planning and implementation in promoting nonsmoking among African American residents of low-income neighborhoods. METHODS: The quasi-experimental design involved a 24-month intervention in 3 low-income, predominantly African American neighborhoods in St. Louis. Intervention neighborhoods were compared with comparable, untreated neighborhoods in Kansas City. RESULTS: The program was successful in engaging audience members in its governance and in instigating numerous and diverse neighborhood activities to promote nonsmoking. The prevalence of smoking declined from 34% to 27% in program neighborhoods but only from 34% to 33% in comparison neighborhoods. This difference was apparent within all demographically defined subsamples, indicating that observed changes were consistent and not attributable to confounding by demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: A community organization approach emphasizing local authority for program decisions and involvement of informal networks may have an appreciable impact on smoking among residents of low-income, African American neighborhoods.     

Bronchial asthma: do boys or girls have the highest incidence?

The aim of the study was to assess the gender related prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in schoolchildren. The survey was performed using standardized ISAAC questionnaire in two age groups: 6-7 yr. (n = 2281; girls 49.7%) and 13-14 yr. (n = 4849; girls 49.8%). It was revealed that in older group the prevalence of ever diagnosed asthma was lower in girls than in boys (2.0% versus 3.3%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.58; p = 0.004). But the prevalence of symptoms: wheeze ever (OR = 1.16; p = 0.056), current wheeze (last 12 mo) (OR = 1.26; p = 0.029), current exercise wheeze (OR = 1.40; p = 0.0008), current night cough (OR = 1.67; p = 0.0001) were higher in girls than in boys. However, in younger group of schoolchildren the prevalence of ever diagnosed asthma and asthma symptoms were higher in boys (5.1% male versus 3.5% female). The girls in comparison to boys revealed lower risk of ever asthma diagnosis (OR = 0.66; p = 0.056) and symptoms: wheeze ever (OR = 0.63; p = 0.0001), current wheeze (OR = 0.69; p = 0.003), current exercise wheeze (OR = 0.59; p = 0.008) and current night cough (OR = 0.70; p = 0.0003).     

Stressful events and individual beliefs as correlates of economic disadvantage and aggression among urban children.

Examined 3 factors that were hypothesized to increase risk for aggression among urban children: economic disadvantage, stressful events, and individual beliefs. Ss were 1,935 African American, Hispanic, and White elementary-school boys and girls assessed over a 2-yr period. Individual poverty (INP) and aggression were only significant for the White Ss, with significant interactions between individual and community poverty for the other 2 ethnic groups. A linear structural model to predict aggression from the stress and beliefs variables, INP predicted stress for African American Ss and predicted beliefs supporting aggression for Hispanic Ss. For all ethnic groups, both stress and beliefs contributed significantly to the synchronous prediction of aggression, and for the Hispanic children, the longitudinal predictions were also significant. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for preventive interventions in multiethnic, inner-city communities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enuresis: prevalence and associated factors among primary school children in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enuresis and the factors associated with it among primary school children. This is a cross-sectional population-based study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Six hundred and forty school children aged 6-16 years were selected randomly. Enuresis prevalence was 16.3% among boys and 13.8% among girls. The overall prevalence was 15%. Breastfeeding, first born children, family integrity and stability were found to be protective. Stressful life events before the age of 6 years, deep sleep, acute family psycho-social problems, recurrent urinary tract infection, constipation and congenital defects were found to be strongly associated with enuresis. Enuresis was also found to be associated with family history of enuresis. An important finding is that of the 83 children who had enuresis during sleep, 25 (30.1%) wet their beds during day time sleep (day sleep wetting). The importance of enuresis as a health problem has been affirmed and specific guidelines were suggested.     

Epidemiological study of wheeze, doctor diagnosed asthma, and cough in preschool children in Leicestershire

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cumulative prevalences of wheeze and doctor diagnosed asthma and the point prevalences of recurrent cough and wheeze in children aged 5 years and under. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey of population based random sample of children registered on regional authority's child health index for immunisation; questionnaire completed by parents. SETTING: Leicestershire. SUBJECTS: 1650 white children born in 1985-9 who were surveyed in 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative prevalences of wheeze and doctor diagnosed asthma and point prevalences of recurrent cough and wheeze by age and sex. RESULTS: There were 1422 replies (86.2%; 726 for boys, 696 for girls). Overall, 11.0% (95% confidence interval 9.4% to 12.6%) of children had formally been diagnosed as having asthma, the cumulative prevalence in boys (12.7%) being somewhat higher than in girls (9.2%) (age adjusted odds ratio 1.47, p = 0.03). As expected, the cumulative prevalence of asthma increased significantly with age (7.5% (13/173) in children under 1 year, 15.9% (61/383) in children of 4 years and over; p < 0.001). The cumulative prevalence of wheeze overall was 15.6% (13.7% to 17.5%), being higher in boys (17.6%) than in girls (13.5%) (odds ratio 1.38, p = 0.03). The overall prevalence of recurrent cough without colds was 21.8% (19.6% to 23.9%), with a non-significant excess in boys (23.1% v 20.4%). The overall prevalence of wheezing attacks during the previous 12 months was 13.0% (11.3% to 14.8%) with a non-significant excess in boys (14.5% v 11.5%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings are baseline results and emphasise the importance of studying the age group of interest rather than relying on the recall of parents of school age children.     

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.     

Ethnic and gender differences in risk factors for smoking onset.

The purpose of this investigation was to explore gender and ethnic differences in the prevalence of risk factors for smoking onset. As part of a larger study, 6,967 seventh graders completed a questionnaire measuring variables shown in previous research to predict cigarette smoking. The results indicated that at this age level, risk factors for smoking initiation are less prevalent among African Americans than European American youth and among girls relative to boys. These findings are consistent with the lower incidence of smoking among African Americans and girls at this young age. Future research should examine changes in risk factors over time to determine whether such changes accompany the rising smoking rate typically observed among girls and African Americans later in adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MRI high-signal intensity in the menisci of asymptomatic children

We reviewed retrospectively the MRI examinations of 108 knees of 80 children to identify the prevalence of a high signal in the menisci of those without symptoms. There were 51 boys and 29 girls with a mean age of 12.2 years (8 to 15). The prevalence of a high signal within the menisci was 66%, significantly higher than that in an adult group (29%). The prevalence decreased with age: grade-2 and grade-3 changes were observed in 80% of menisci at ten years of age, in 65% at 13 years and in 35% at 15 years. The prevalence of high signals also decreased with increased skeletal maturity at the knee. We emphasise the importance of awareness of the high prevalence of a high signal intensity in the menisci of children, especially in early adolescence.     

The interaction between impulsivity and neighborhood context on offending: The effects of impulsivity are stronger in poorer neighborhoods.

This research blends 2 traditions of theorizing on the causes of crime, one focused on the role of individual differences and the other focused on structural and contextual variables. Two related studies examined the relations among impulsivity, neighborhood context, and juvenile offending. The first, cross-sectional study uses a large sample of 13-yr-old inner-city boys, whereas the second, longitudinal study offers a conceptual replication using 17-yr-old inner-city boys who are a subset of the original sample. Across both studies, results indicate that the effects of impulsivity on juvenile offending are stronger in poorer neighborhoods. Furthermore, nonimpulsive boys in poor neighborhoods were at no greater risk for delinquency than nonimpulsive boys in better-off neighborhoods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlates of unhealthy weight-control behaviors among adolescents: Implications for prevention programs.

This study aimed to identify correlates of unhealthy weight-control behaviors in adolescents to guide the development of programs aimed at the primary prevention of disordered eating. A model explaining unhealthy weight-control behaviors was tested among 4,746 adolescents using structural equation modeling. Models fit the data well and explained 76% of the variance in unhealthy weight-control behaviors among girls and 63% among boys. Weight-body concerns were a strong correlate of unhealthy weight-control behaviors in both girls and boys. Models also emphasized the importance of weight-specific social norms within the adolescent's proximal environment. Findings suggest the importance of addressing weight-body concerns within prevention programs and extending interventions beyond classroom settings to ensure changes in weight-related norms among peer groups and family members. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Phase II trial of docetaxel (Taxotere) for untreated advanced colorectal carcinoma

The occurrence of allergic diseases in preschool children was studied on the basis of a questionnaire sent to the parents of 5,408 kindergarten students, 3 to 6 years of age, in Taichung City. The overall response rate was 81% and included 2311 (52.8%) boys and 2062 (47.2%) girls. Allergic diseases had been recognized in 34.6% of the children. The cumulative (lifetime) prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA), allergic rhinitis (AR), atopic eczema (AE), and urticaria were 9.4%, 26.4%, 6.6% and 6.8%, respectively. The current (past 12 months) prevalence of BA, AR, and AE was 6.7%, 14.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. BA and AR occurred more frequently in boys than in girls (P < 0.001); no significant difference was found between boys and girls in AE (P = 0.328). There were statistically significant relationships between positive family history and BA, AR and AE (P < 0.001). In conclusion, allergic diseases constitutes an important health problem for pre-school students in Taichung City.     

Social aspects of > 800 couples coming forward for gender selection of their children

The social characteristics of 809 couples attending a sex preselection clinic have been studied. Their ethnic origins were: Indian 57.8%, European 32.0%, Chinese 3.6% and others 6.8%. The average number of boys and girls per family was 0.09 and 2.70 respectively for couples wanting a boy, and 2.46 and 0.14 for those wanting a girl. The average age of the wives was 34.0 years. These figures were not significantly different in any ethnic subgroup. Out of all the couples, 80.6% stated that they would have had another baby even had sex preselection not been on offer; 37.5% of the couples interviewed have been treated so far. The figures among those treated are substantially the same as those for the whole group. Asian and Middle Eastern couples overwhelmingly wanted boys, whereas European couples showed a slight preference for girls. These results suggest that, given certain guidelines, sex selection is unlikely to lead to a serious distortion of the sex ratio in Britain and other Western societies, but may need careful monitoring in other parts of the world.     

The short-term effect of a smoking prevention program for the upper graders of elementary schools--the results of intervention study for two years with quasi-experimental design

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effect of a smoking prevention program for Japanese elementary school-children in the fifth and sixth grades. The program was developed with concepts found in the Know Your Body Program and the conclusions of a National Cancer Institute-convened Expert Advisory Panel, and focused on teaching about the short-term effects of smoking and on resistance to social pressures to smoke. The study was conducted with a quasi-experimental design. An intervention group (52 boys and 54 girls) received three sessions for both the fifth grade in 1992 and the sixth grade in 1993. Moreover, the intervention group received a pre-test before the first session and a post-test after the third session in each grade. A comparison group (102 boys and 91 girls) received the same tests at the same time as the intervention group, but did not receive any program on smoking prevention. The short-term effect of the program were evaluated using the results of the pre-test in the fifth grade and of the post-test in the sixth grade in both groups. The results were as follows: 1) Remarkable short-term effects of the intervention were seen in respect to awareness of the importance of not smoking in girls, and also in the knowledge of the short-term effects of smoking in both sexes. 2) The intervention was not effective with respect to intention to smoke at the age of 20 and self-efficacy of refusing to smoke in both sexes. 3) The short-term effects were not clear in the smoking behavior in both sexes because the rates of ever smokers and of monthly smokers were almost the same for two years between the intervention group and the comparison group. 4) The smoking behaviors of children, their parents and their best friends had little influence on the results of the post-test in the sixth grade.     

The role of exposure to community violence and developmental problems among inner-city youth

While research has well documented that urban youth are exposed to increasing rates of community violence, little is known about what increases risk for violence exposure, what protects children from exposure to violence, and what factors reduce the most negative outcomes associated with witnessing violence. This study expands on current research by evaluating the relations between exposure to violence, family relationship characteristics and parenting practices, and aggression and depression symptoms. Data were drawn from a sample of 245 African-American and Latino boys and their caregivers from economically disadvantaged inner-city neighborhoods in Chicago. Rates of exposure could not be predicted from family relationship and parenting characteristics, although there was a trend for discipline to be related. Exposure to community violence was related to increases in aggressive behavior and depression over a 1-year period even after controlling for previous status. Future studies should continue to evaluate the role of exposure to violence on the development of youth among different neighborhoods and communities. Implications for intervention and policy are discussed.     

Gender differences in abused children with and without disabilities

OBJECTIVE: Two questions were posed: (1) What are the proportions of boys and girls in various categories of substantiated child abuse? (2) Do the gender proportions differ for children with and without disabilities? METHOD: Data collected by previous researchers from a demographically representative sample of U.S. child abuse reporting districts was analyzed. This included 1,249 case files involving 1,834 children. The number of girls and boys who did and did not have disabilities was identified for three age categories and for several categories of abuse. Chi-square analyses were used to determine whether there was a relationship between disability and gender for the various age and abuse categories. RESULTS: More boys were physically abused and neglected, but more girls were sexually abused. Boys with disabilities, however, were over-represented in all categories of abuse. Moreover, gender proportions among abused children with disabilities differed significantly from those found among other abused children. Although slightly more than half of abused children without disabilities were girls, 65% of abused children with disabilities were boys. CONCLUSIONS: Boys represented a significantly larger proportion of physically abused, sexually abused, and neglected children with disabilities than would be expected from their respective proportion of abused and neglected children without disabilities. Several possible explanations for the observed gender and disability status interaction are discussed.