SCREENING ANALYSIS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF PRIMARY PUPILS AT SCHOOL

Currently, research on possible psychological and socio-psychological problems of children and adolescents during the period of their education is becoming increasingly important. Extensive use of short screening tests-questionnaires allows to identify possible deviations in the psychosocial functioning of ordinary children and adolescents, children with somatic diseases, victims of violence. The aim of the study was to increase the effectiveness of determining psychosocial dysfunction in children of primary school age by analyzing the results of a screening study. Using «Pediatric Symptom Checklist» methodology, including child (Y-PSC) and parent (PSC) versions in Ukrainian adaptation, 263 primary schoolchildren and 228 parents were examined by filling out a paper version or an online version. Statistical processing of the data was performed using t-test and one-way analysis of variance in a licensed SPSS Statistic v.20 software suite. With the help of adapted version of the methodology, it was determined that general average level of psychosocial functioning of primary pupils, according to Y-PSC, was exceeding the established norm, particularly during 2nd and 3rd study years; this fact can be the evidence of some stress in mechanisms of psychosocial adaptation during that period. According to the child version, critically high indicators were observed in 12.9% of cases – by attention subscale, in 33.1% – by internalization subscale, in 21.7% – by externalization subscale. According to parent version (PSC), critically high indicators were observed in 18.9% of cases – by attention subscale, in 7.9% – by internalization subscale, and in 32.9% – by externalization subscale. By one-way analysis of variance, it has been established that psychosocial state is affected by sex, grade and method of survey. For example, attention and externalization subscale indicators were higher in online data. In girls, there was a higher level of internalization, while in boys, veraciously – of externalization, according to both parent and child versions. Indicators by attention and externalization subscale have been significantly higher in first-graders, while the level of internalization – in students of 2nd and 3rd grade. Therefore, obtained results can be utilized as groundwork for further study of various age groups of schoolchildren and adolescents. Additionally, dynamic observation of risk group children while employing psychologists, primarily school psychologists, for support, psychological interventions, and psychoeducational programs, can produce certain reasonable activities for overcoming and deactualization of present deviations at a prenosological level.

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Ratio of spleen height to left kidney height in children and adolescents according to intravital imaging data

Курский научно-практический вестник «Человек и его здоровье» ◽

10.21626/vestnik/2021-2/03 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 21-26

Author(s):

Sergey V. Chemezov ◽

Andrey S. Lozinskiy

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Left Kidney ◽

Age Groups ◽

Statistical Processing ◽

Mean Value ◽

Intravital Imaging ◽

Imaging Data ◽

Gender Patterns

Objective: to establish age and gender patterns of changes in the ratio of spleen height to left kidney height in children and adolescents of Orenburg region according to the data of intravital imaging. Materials and methods. Abdominal CT scans of 75 children without visible pathology were examined. The surveyed were divided into 4 age groups: early childhood, first childhood, second childhood, adolescence. The study was performed on 16-slice computed tomographs with the determination of the height of the spleen and the left kidney and calculation of the ratio of these parameters. The obtained data were subjected to variation-statistical processing with the determination of the mean value (M), standard error (m) and the reliability of differences according to the Student's t-test. Results. It was found that the indicator of the height of the spleen among all the examined changed from 7.1±0.3 cm in the 1st group to 10.2±0.3 cm in the 4th group (p=0.001). The height of the left kidney in the 1st group was 7.6±0.1 cm and increased by the 4th group to 10.2±0.1 cm (p=0.001). The smallest value of the ratio of the height of the spleen to the height of the left kidney among girls and boys was found in children of early childhood and was 0.90±0.10 and 0.93±0.04. The maximum value of the indicator among girls was 1.05±0.08 in children of the second childhood, and among boys, 1.05±0.07 in children of first childhood. Conclusion. There are no significant differences between the indicators of the ratio of spleen height to left kidney height, depending on age, and there are no gender differences within the group.

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TO STUDY THE DYNAMICS OF IMMUNITY IN BLACK-AND-WHITE COWS DEPENDING ON AGE

Molochnoe i miasnoe skotovodstvo ◽

10.33943/mms.2020.33.88.011 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 49-52

Author(s):

М.В. ДОВЫДЕНКОВА

Keyword(s):

Bactericidal Activity ◽

Phagocytic Activity ◽

Physiological State ◽

Age Groups ◽

Statistical Processing ◽

Natural Resistance ◽

Black And White ◽

Feeding Methods ◽

High Degree ◽

The Relationship

Проведена статистическая обработка сформированной базы данных показателей неспецифической резистентности MS «Excel» с целью изучения динамики иммунитета по параметрам бактерицидной, лизоцимной и фагоцитарной активности у крупного рогатого скота черно-пестрой породы разных возрастов. Было установлено, что средние значения показателей лизоцимной и бактерицидной активности у телят в 6 мес были ниже (47,89% и 49,09%, соответственно), чем у животных в 3—4 года (53,75% и 52,81%). Выведено уравнение регрессии, описывающее взаимосвязь между средними показателями фагоцитарной активности и возрастом при высокой степени достоверности (R2=0,90). Изменения лизоцимной и бактерицидной активности в зависимости от возраста были недостоверными (R2=0,58 и R2=0,49, соответственно). Установлена высокая корреляция между бактерицидной и лизоцимной активностью. Отмечена динамика изменения неспецифического иммунитета у коров различных возрастных групп. Создание баз данных и постоянный мониторинг основных показателей естественной резистентности в зависимости от различных факторов (породы, возраста, стадий лактации, кормления, способов содержания), которые влияют на данные показатели, необходимо для оценки физиологического состояния организма животных и их устойчивости к болезням. Statistical processing of the generated MS "Excel" on indicators of non-specific resistance database was carried out with the aim of studying the dynamics of the development of immunity in terms of bactericidal, lysozyme and phagocytic activity in black-and-white cattle of different ages. It was found that the average values of indicators of lysozyme and bactericidal activity in calves at 6 months were lower (47.89% and 49.09%, respectively) than in animals at the age of 3—4 years (53.75% and 52.81%). The equation of regression was derived, it describes the relationship between the average indicators of phagocytic activity and the age with a high degree of reliability (R2=0.90). The changes in lysozyme and bactericidal activity depending on age were dubious (R2=0.58 and R2=0.49, respectively). The high correlation between bactericidal and lysozyme activity was established. It was noticed that the cows of different age groups experienced the dynamics of changes in nonspecific immunity. The creation of databases and constant monitoring of the main indicators of natural resistance, depending on various factors (breed, age, stages of lactation, feeding, methods of keeping) that affect these indicators, is necessary for assessing the physiological state of the animals’ body of and their resistance to diseases.

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Religion: Interrelationships and Opinions in Children and Adolescents. Interaction between Age and Beliefs

Religions ◽

10.3390/rel12050357 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 357

Author(s):

Rafael López Cordero ◽

Francisca Ruiz Garzón ◽

Lourdes Medina Martínez ◽

María del Carmen Olmos-Gómez

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Current Trend ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Experimental Methodology ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Younger Age ◽

Religious Issue ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Quantitative Descriptive

The current trend of secularization seems to be leading to a gradual withdrawal of religion from public spaces. However, in an increasingly internationalized world, it is becoming more and more important to study the roles of religion and religiosity and their potential in relation to dialogue and social conflicts and tensions. Education is a vital field within which to address this religious issue and create an educational dialogue in order to promote coexistence. By following a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study, based on a quasi-experimental methodology with a social–analytical character, our aim is to assess the existing connections between religion, interrelation and opinion in Spanish children and adolescents. Special attention is paid to the interaction between age and beliefs. We carried out our study with the use of a questionnaire distributed to eleven secondary schools, with students aged between 11 and 16 years old, in three regions of southern Spain (Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla) characterized by high religious diversity and multiculturalism. The multivariate analysis carried out in this study identifies the effects of variance on the influence of age and religion, highlighting the interaction between the two. It is observed that the youngest students are those who express their opinions about religion the least, while those belonging to younger age groups and majority religions are those who express a greater religious coexistence, with Muslims externalizing their religious condition the most.

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A Search for Causes of Rising Incidence of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Children and Adolescents after Chernobyl and Fukushima: Comparison of the Clinical Features and Their Relevance for Treatment and Prognosis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073444 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3444

Author(s):

Valentina Drozd ◽

Vladimir Saenko ◽

Daniel I. Branovan ◽

Kate Brown ◽

Shunichi Yamashita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer ◽

Age Groups ◽

Distant Metastases ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Radiation Doses ◽

Related Factors ◽

Fukushima Accident ◽

Tumor Stages

The incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is steadily increasing globally. Epidemiologists usually explain this global upsurge as the result of new diagnostic modalities, screening and overdiagnosis as well as results of lifestyle changes including obesity and comorbidity. However, there is evidence that there is a real increase of DTC incidence worldwide in all age groups. Here, we review studies on pediatric DTC after nuclear accidents in Belarus after Chernobyl and Japan after Fukushima as compared to cohorts without radiation exposure of those two countries. According to the Chernobyl data, radiation-induced DTC may be characterized by a lag time of 4–5 years until detection, a higher incidence in boys, in children of youngest age, extrathyroidal extension and distant metastases. Radiation doses to the thyroid were considerably lower by appr. two orders of magnitude in children and adolescents exposed to Fukushima as compared to Chernobyl. In DTC patients detected after Fukushima by population-based screening, most of those characteristics were not reported, which can be taken as proof against the hypothesis, that radiation is the (main) cause of those tumors. However, roughly 80% of the Fukushima cases presented with tumor stages higher than microcarcinomas pT1a and 80% with lymph node metastases pN1. Mortality rates in pediatric DTC patients are generally very low, even at higher tumor stages. However, those cases considered to be clinically relevant should be followed-up carefully after treatment because of the risk of recurrencies which is expected to be not negligible. Considering that thyroid doses from the Fukushima accident were quite small, it makes sense to assess the role of other environmental and lifestyle-related factors in thyroid carcinogenesis. Well-designed studies with assessment of radiation doses from medical procedures and exposure to confounders/modifiers from the environment as e.g., nitrate are required to quantify their combined effect on thyroid cancer risk.

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Secular Trends of Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity in Children and Adolescents from Ukraine

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063302 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3302

Author(s):

Katarzyna Dereń ◽

Justyna Wyszyńska ◽

Serhiy Nyankovskyy ◽

Olena Nyankovska ◽

Marta Yatsula ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Age Groups ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

The Body ◽

World Health ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

Health Organization ◽

Obesity In Children

Overweight and obesity, as well as underweight in children and adolescents, pose a significant public health issue. This study aimed to investigate the secular trend of the incidence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in children from Ukraine in 2013/2014 and 2018/2019. The studies were conducted in randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Ukraine. In total, 13,447 children (6468 boys and 6979 girls) participated in the study in 2013/2014 and 18,144 children (8717 boys and 9427 girls) participated in 2018/2019. Measurements of body weight and height were performed in triplicate. Underweight, overweight, and obesity were diagnosed according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). In the group of girls, a significant difference between 2013/2014 and 2018/2019 measurements was found only among 7-year-olds. The percentage of girls at this age exceeding the body mass index (BMI) norm was lower in the 2018/2019 study. In boys, a significant difference was also found in 7-year-olds, and, as in girls, a lower share of overweight and obesity was found in 2018/2019. But for the ages of 12, 13, and 15, the significant differences had a different character—more overweight or obese boys were found in the 2018/2019 study. The proportion of underweight children was similar for the majority of age groups in both genders and did not differ in a statistically significant way.

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Blood pressure and resting heart rate in 3-17-year-olds in Germany in 2003–2006 and 2014–2017

Journal of Human Hypertension ◽

10.1038/s41371-021-00535-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Giselle Sarganas ◽

Anja Schienkiewitz ◽

Jonas D. Finger ◽

Hannelore K. Neuhauser

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Selection Rule ◽

Age Groups ◽

Resting Heart Rate ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

National Examination ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Analysis Measurement

AbstractTo track blood pressure (BP) and resting heart rate (RHR) in children and adolescents is important due to its associations with cardiovascular outcomes in the adulthood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine BP and RHR over a decade among children and adolescents living in Germany using national examination data. Cross-sectional data from 3- to 17-year-old national survey participants (KiGGS 2003–06, n = 14,701; KiGGS 2014–17, n = 3509) including standardized oscillometric BP and RHR were used for age- and sex-standardized analysis. Measurement protocols were identical with the exception of the cuff selection rule, which was accounted for in the analyses. Different BP and RHR trends were observed according to age-groups. In 3- to 6-year-olds adjusted mean SBP and DBP were significantly higher in 2014–2017 compared to 2003–2006 (+2.4 and +1.9 mm Hg, respectively), while RHR was statistically significantly lower by −3.8 bpm. No significant changes in BP or in RHR were observed in 7- to 10-year-olds over time. In 11- to 13-year-olds as well as in 14- to 17-year-olds lower BP has been observed (SBP −2.4 and −3.2 mm Hg, respectively, and DBP −1.8 and −1.7 mm Hg), while RHR was significantly higher (+2.7 and +3.7 bpm). BP trends did not parallel RHR trends. The downward BP trend in adolescents seemed to follow decreasing adult BP trends in middle and high-income countries. The increase in BP in younger children needs confirmation from other studies as well as further investigation. In school-aged children and adolescents, the increased RHR trend may indicate decreased physical fitness.

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Firearm Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.89.4.788 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 89 (4) ◽

pp. 788-790

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Pediatric Population ◽

Age Groups ◽

Unintentional Injury ◽

The United States ◽

Male Adolescents ◽

Firearm Injuries ◽

Group 2 ◽

Developed Nations

In the United States approximately 30 000 people die from firearm injuries each year. Many more are wounded. In the mid 1980s, more than 3000 of the dead were children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years.1 In 1989 nearly 4000 firearm deaths were among children 1 to 19 years of age, accounting for 12% of all deaths in that age group.2 All of these deaths or injuries affect other children because the victims who are killed or wounded are frequently relatives, neighbors, or friends. Comparison data for childhood age groups demonstrate that in 1987, 203 children aged 1 to 9 years, 484 children aged 10 to 14 years, and 2705 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years died as a result of firearm injuries.1 Firearm deaths include unintentional injuries, homicides, and suicides. Among the 1- to 9-year-olds, half of the deaths were homicides and half were unintentional. Among the 10- to 14-year-olds, one third of the deaths were homicides, one third were suicides, and one third were unintentional. Among the 15- to 19-year-olds, 48% were homicides, 42% were suicides, and 8% were unintentional.1 Firearm homicides are the leading cause of death for some US subpopulations, such as urban black male adolescents and young adults.3 Table 1 indicates how firearms contributed to the deaths of children and adolescents (homicides, suicides, and all causes) in 1987. Table 2 illustrates the unusual scale of firearm violence affecting young people in the United States compared with other developed nations.4 Firearm injuries are the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury deaths to children younger than 15 years of age in the US.5

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Executive Functions: Influence of Sex, Age and Its Relationship With Intelligence

Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto) ◽

10.1590/1982-43272562201512 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (62) ◽

pp. 383-392

Author(s):

Larissa de Oliveira e Ferreira ◽

Daniela Sacramento Zanini ◽

Alessandra Gotuzo Seabra

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Perceptual Organization ◽

Age Groups ◽

Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽

Discriminative Power ◽

Speed Of Processing ◽

Intelligence Scale ◽

Tower Of Hanoi

AbstractThe Tower of Hanoi is a tool used to evaluate executive functions. However, few studies describe what functions are evaluated in this test. This study investigates the executive functions, evaluated by the Tower of Hanoi (ToH), and the influence of gender, age and its relationship with intelligence. We evaluated 55 children and adolescents, between the ages of ten and 16, without diagnosed neuropsychiatric disorders. The results showed that the performance and time in to complete the Tower of Hanoi have no discriminative power when comparing age groups and sex; there was also no significant correlation found between the ToH and the execution quotient of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third Edition (WISC III), perceptual organization and the speed of processing. Only the subtest coding were positively related to the ToH, demonstrating that these instruments may be measuring related aspects of intelligence and executive functions, namely intelligence and working memory.

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Low body weight/thinness, overweight and obesity of children and adolescents from a Brazilian region of low economic status

Revista Paulista de Pediatria ◽

10.1590/s0103-05822013000400004 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 437-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dartagnan Pinto Guedes ◽

Francisléia Nascimento Almeida ◽

Jaime Tolentino M. Neto ◽

Maria de Fátima de M. Maia ◽

Thatiana Maia Tolentino

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Task Force ◽

Economic Status ◽

Age Groups ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

The Body ◽

Obesity Prevalence ◽

Chi Square ◽

Weight Excess

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of low body weight/thinness, overweight and obesity in a representative sample of children and adolescents from a Brazilian region with low economic development. METHODS: A total of 982 girls and 986 boys, aged seven to 17 years old and assisted by Segundo Tempo Program, from Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were included in the study. Low body weight/thinness, overweight and obesity were defined based on body mass cut-off indexes recommended by the International Obesity Task Force. The prevalence of the nutritional status according to sex and age was compared by chi-square test. RESULTS: In girls, the frequency of low body weight/thinness, overweight and obesity was 4.1, 18.4 and 3.8%, respectively; in boys, these percentages were 6.3, 13.2 and 2.9%, respectively. The low body weight/thinness for girls raised from 2.7% (7-10 years old) to 5.5% (15-17 years old); the body weight excess (overweight and obesity) decreased from 30.1 to 16.2% for the same age groups. In boys, the corresponding trends were from 3.2 to 9.4% for low body weight/thinness, and from 23.4 to 9.2%, for body weight excess. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that, even in a region with low economic status, the body weight excess was the main problem associated with nutritional health. The high overweight and obesity prevalence rates indicate the need of public policies for promoting healthy feeding behaviors and physical activity.

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Prevalence of Brucellosis in Dairy Cattle in Organized and Smallholder Farms in Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Journal of Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.3329/bjvm.v12i2.21280 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 167-171

Author(s):

MAS Sarker ◽

MS Rahman ◽

MT Islam ◽

AKMA Rahman ◽

MB Rahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Ring Test ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Smallholder Farms ◽

Three Samples ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Confirmatory Tests

Brucellosis causes a great economic loss to the livestock industries through abortion, infertility,birth of weak and dead offspring, increased calving interval and reduction of milk yield and it is endemic in Bangladesh. In this study we collected milk and blood samples simultaneously from533 cows of Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm, Savar, Dhaka and different Upazilas of Gaibandha and Mymensingh District. Five hundred thirty three samples were examined for antibodies to Brucella using the Milk Ring Test (MRT) and Rose Bengal Test (RBT). Overall 2.62 % of milk samples were positive according to MRT, while2.06 % of the serum samples were positive to the RBT. Only 6 (1.13 %) of the samples were positive for both test (MRT and RBT). Out of 312 samples only 10 (3.20 %) were positive to MRT while 8(2.06%) were positive to RBT in Holstein Friesian cross (p>0.05) on the other hand out of 221 samples only 4 (1.80%) were positive to MRT while 3(1.35%) were positive to RBT in Sahiwal cross. The prevalence of brucellosis was significantly higher in the age group of > 5 years than other age groups (p?0.01) on both test (MRT 2.75%and RBT 2.25%).Based on parity, significantly higher prevalence (MRT 2.93% and RBT 2.44%) of MRT and RBT were obtainedin parity 3-5in comparison to other parity group (p?0.01). It is, however, obvious that although the MRT is 1st-line screening tests for brucellosis in cows in some countries, their lack of specificity is of concern. Therefore, the requirement for other confirmatory tests that are more specific should be used for the diagnosis of the disease, especially in Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v12i2.21280 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2014). 12 (2): 167-171

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