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[Problems concerning pupil's and students' hygiene from the point view of Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations and National Institute of Hygiene].

Based on the status of buildings and conditions to keep them clean, the situation in all types of schools has been investigated within seven years interval (1995-2001). Observed dynamics of changes was related to the background of political system transformations. In the primary schools, improvement was observed within each of the following analyzed aspects: sanitary conditions, use of unadjusted buildings, technical conditions of the buildings, access of pupils to sanitary arrangements. These positive changes in primary schools should be related to the communes self-governments care in running them for several years (instead of the state as it was previously), as well as with phenomenon of size reduction of the least schools (due to the demographic depression, shortening of education time from 8 to 6 years), which were operating in the worst conditions. In the upper secondary the improvement has been noticed within the sanitary conditions and use of the unadjusted buildings. In the same time stagnation in buildings technical condition and students insufficient access to sanitary arrangements were stated. It is a challenge for new hosts of secondary schools--self-government of powiats (which overtook them from the state in January 1, 1999). As results from the study, the functioning conditions of lower secondary schools established in September 1999 are similar to those of primary schools, although they intended to be examples of excellence with modern equipment. A dozen or so percent of pupils and students used in schools desks unadjusted to their height. This situation has to be improved. Data from sanitary-epidemiological stations concerning keeping proper standards of hygienic conditions of educational process in schools should find broader employment, they should be helpful in creating national education policy.

Adolescent↗

The influence of brace on quality of life of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Traditionally, the effectiveness of brace treatment on adolescents with IS is based on curve magnitude and to some extent on vertebral rotation and rib hump. QoL has been introduced in the recent years in order to evaluate the effectiveness of brace treatment. The aim of the study is to determine the influence of brace on quality of life (QoL) of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS).Thirty-six patients with a mean age of 13,9 (range 12-17) years old, a mean Cobb angle 28,2 degrees (range 19-38 degrees and a mean angle of trunk inclination (ATI) 7,8 degrees (range 4 degrees -17 degrees) who were treated conservatively with a modified Boston brace for a minimum of 2 years, filled the form of Brace Questionnaire (BrQ). BrQ is a validated, disease specific instrument, its score ranges from 20 to 100 and higher BrQ scores mean better quality of life. Correlations were determined by the Pearson correlation coefficient, with p<0.05 considered significant. Mean overall score of BrQ was 73,8 (SD 15. 8). Lower scores were observed in physical functioning (55,4, SD 15,9) and vitality (55, SD 25,9). School activity (98, SD 4,4) was affected less. The Cobb angle correlated significantly only with school activity (p<0,02). The ATI correlated significantly with social functioning (thoracolumbar ATI, p<0.038; lumbar ATI, p<0.035). There were no significant correlations between either Cobb angle or ATI with BrQ overall scores. Cobb angle and ATI significantly influenced school activity and social functioning respectively, but not general health perception, physical functioning, emotional functioning, vitality, bodily pain and self-esteem and aesthetics.

Adolescent↗

Effect of cadmium body burden on immune response of school children.

The effects of cadmium on measures of immune-system function were determined from a health survey of school children in heavily polluted regions of eastern Germany. A representative sample of 842 students, aged 5-14 y, was included in logistic regression analyses in which the relationship between urinary cadmium content and blood immunoglobulin levels was examined. Investigators further evaluated a subsample of 807 students to determine cadmium's effect on the immediate hypersensitivity reactions elicited by skin-prick challenges with 12 common aeroallergens. Several potentially confounding factors were controlled for, after which investigators found that increasing body burdens of cadmium were associated consistently with dose-dependent suppression of immediate hypersensitivity and of immunoglobin G, but not immunoglobulins M, A, or E levels. The immunoglobulin pattern observed in exposed children led investigators to suggest that secondary humoral responses were impaired by cadmium.

Adolescent↗

A study of the high school principal's role in health education.

The role of the principal in secondary school health education is explored in this paper. Using the social process theory, the ideal role is developed through a review of current literature and the actual role through a survey of high school principals and health education teachers in Chicago. A consensus regarding the role functions of the principal related to school health education as perceived by principals, health education teachers and authorities in school administration was revealed. The principal's role is one of leadership related to curriculum and instruction. The physical education teacher was responsible for health education in all the schools. No consensus emerged regarding the priority of health education within the school.

Administrative Personnel↗

Money versus mission at an African-American medical school: Knoxville College Medical Department, 1895-1900.

Knoxville College Medical Department (KCMD) was, to all appearances, a missionary medical school established in 1895 by a small black Presbyterian college in the Tennessee mountains to train African-American physicians. In reality, it functioned as a proprietary medical school organized and operated by a group of local white physicians who were more interested in making money than in furthering the school's mission of educating black Christian physicians. KCMD limped along until 1900 when the college's new president reported to the trustees about the white faculty's greed, irreligious behavior, poor teaching, and bad medical reputation, and about how the presence of the medical school on campus undermined the college's overall mission. KCMD graduated two students before closing its doors in 1900. A group of faculty then reopened the school off-campus as the Knoxville Medical College. That school closed in 1910.

Black or African American↗

A win-win model for an academic nursing center: community partnership faculty practice.

A number of schools of nursing have established community nursing centers to provide faculty practice sites, student learning experiences, and a service to the community, most often to a poor underserved population. The current literature concludes that these centers provide a quality clinical service and improve access to health care, and they also provide an avenue for research, training, and faculty practice. Acquiring necessary financial support and the ability to achieve financial independence appear to be the most common difficulties for these centers. Most of the current literature includes an examination of issues relating to funding. The model presented in this article focuses on organizational variables that include both the center and its placement in relationship to other functions and programs in the school and a broadening of the meaning of fiscal responsibility to include an awareness of the broad spectrum of benefits that the community nursing center brings to the entire school. Efforts to coordinate and integrate the needs and functions of several groups are described. Establishing goals and priorities that simultaneously meet the needs of all or most of these groups has been an important outcome. The activities of the center have become an integral part of the everyday life of the school. Achieving financial independence and being fiscally aware and responsible is not the same thing.

Community Health Centers↗

Respiratory allergy and the relationship between early childhood lower respiratory illness and subsequent lung function.

In a study of 159 school-age children whose histories of outpatient visits for lower respiratory illness (LRI) had been documented from early infancy, we observed lower mean levels of small airway function in boys who had experienced two or more episodes of wheezing-associated LRI before 6 yr of age. To determine whether allergy was an important factor influencing this result, we examined relationships among the results of RAST tests for seven common inhalant allergens and concurrent lung function in 126 subjects who consented to venipuncture. Increasing values for the sum of scores for the seven RAST tests were associated with progressively lower mean levels of small airways function in boys with histories of recurrent wheezing LRI during the preschool years. The association of allergy with lower levels of lung function was largely accounted for by dust mite allergy. RAST results were not correlated with lung function in boys who had experienced zero or 1 wheezing LRI before 6 yr of age or in girls. A history of recurrent wheezing LRI during the preschool years was also associated with significantly lower mean levels of small airways function in boys who had negative RAST tests. A subset of 49 boys was reevaluated after an average interval of 4 yr with RAST tests, spirometry, and methacholine challenge. Dust mite allergy was associated with an increased prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity independent of early childhood wheezing LRI history.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Adverse effects of the indoor environment on respiratory health in primary school children.

Exposure to various factors from the indoor environment on respiratory health of 470 Dutch primary school children was studied. We investigated which of the factors, such as home dampness, passive smoking, unvented kitchen geysers, or pets, affected children's respiratory health the most, and whether airway sensitivity to these indoors exposures differed between boys and girls. Information on respiratory morbidity and characteristics of the housing was obtained by a written questionnaire, completed by the parents of the children. Lung function of the children was measured at school, by forced oscillation technique (FOT) and spirometry. In boys, all investigated lung function parameters were significantly affected by exposure to passive smoking during the child's entire life. Although mostly nonsignificant, all of the reported asthma-like symptoms were related especially to maternal smoking, with a trend of a dose-response relationship. Furthermore, damp stains (P < 0.05) and mold growth (ns) were associated with chronic cough and with small but significant impairments in part of the lung function parameters. No consistent patterns were observed with unvented kitchen geysers and pets. Although passive smoking (cumulative dose) in girls was also associated with lung function impairments, the effects were smaller than those in boys and not all significant. Associations between the asthma-like symptoms and the dose of maternal and paternal smoking also were less consistent. Furthermore, no associations were found with the dampness indicators and with pets, but unvented kitchen geysers were significantly related to impairments in some of the impedance indices. This study shows detrimental effects of several indoor factors on the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function in children, which are most pronounced for passive smoking, and somewhat less pronounced for dampness and the presence of unvented kitchen geysers. Airway sensitivity to these exposures appeared to be higher in boys than in girls.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

Total salivary IgA, serum C3c and IgA in obese school children.

Studies of the immunologic function in adult obese humans and experimental models indicate that excess adiposity is associated with impairments in host defense mechanisms. The aim of this work was to analyze the secretory and humoral immune system in obese children (n = 105, 55 boys, 50 girls ), between 6 and 13 years of age. Samples of non-stimulated saliva and whole blood were collected from fasting patients. Total salivary IgA (IgAsal), serum C3 complement (C3c) and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) were determined by quantitative radial immunodifussion on agar gel layers ( Diffu-plate, Biocienti;fica SA ). Results, expressed as mg/dl, were compared to laboratory reference values from healthy children of either sex in the same range of age that belong to the same socioeconomic class (n = 60). Data (Mean +/- 1 SD) of the whole population were: IgAsal: 11.4 +/- 4.8 vs 14.8 +/- 6.9; C3c: 190.7 +/- 53.1 vs 126.3 +/- 45.5; IgA: 194.5 +/- 101.5 vs 157.2 +/- 19.9. Data distribution showed higher frecuencies near the zone of the highest reference values for serum C3c; when results of IgA and IgAsal were expressed as percentage of the mean reference value, 51% and 48.6% of the whole studied population presented data lower than 100% and 75% respectively. These results show a compromised secretory immune system without incidence of clinical symptoms and infections, whereas humoral immunity might not be profoundly affected.

Journal Article↗

Cannabis use in adolescents: the impact of risk and protective factors and social functioning.

The study uses a school-based sample to test the social and familial risk and protective factors relating to cannabis use. Based on a self-completion survey of 2078 14-16-year-olds (mean age of 15 years) attending seven standard state-run secondary schools in south London, an assessment was made of rates and risk factors for cannabis use. Twenty-four per cent of the total sample had ever used cannabis, with 15% having done so in the month prior to assessment. In addition to greater likelihood of illicit drug use, lifetime cannabis users were less likely to spend time regularly with both their mothers and fathers, but more likely to spend free time with friends who smoked, drank alcohol and used illicit drugs, and with friends involved in criminal activities. Among those who had ever used cannabis, frequency of cannabis use was predicted (using linear regression) by two onset factors (earlier initiation of drinking and cannabis use were both linked to more frequent use) and two social factors (more time spent with drug-using friends and less time spent with the mother). Overall, the study showed that early onset, itself predicted by social networks, is linked to more frequent use of cannabis and that this appears to be sustained by less time spent with parents and more with drug-using peers.

Adolescent↗

School injury trends.

This article presents data gathered between 1985 and 2000 from nine public schools in a Midwestern suburban school district. Data were compiled from routine documentation on health office logs and incident reports when students entered the health offices with a first-aid need. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the value of the collection and analysis of injury data as a part of the school nurse's role and provide some samples of injury data that can be used for comparison purposes. First aid is the most frequent reason to see the school nurse and is an important function. Student injuries can cause absenteeism that interferes with student academic success. Whether the school nurse delegates or directly provides first aid, it is important to collect and analyze information about school injuries to plan injury prevention strategies when appropriate.

Accidents↗

Lung function growth and ambient ozone: a three-year population study in school children.

We followed a cohort of 1,150 children for 3 yr to investigate long-term effects of ambient ozone. Nine study sites were selected on the basis of air-quality data to represent a broad range of ozone exposure. In 1994, 1995, and 1996 lung function was recorded biannually, always before and after summertime. The effect of ozone was analyzed with regression analyses and study-site, a child's sex, atopy, passive smoking, baseline lung function, and increase in height were considered as confounding variables. A negative effect of summertime ozone on the pre- to post-summer-time change in FEV(1) (ml/d) was present in 1994 (beta = -0.019 ml/d/ppb; p < 0.01) and in 1995 (beta = -0.017 ml/d/ ppb; p < 0.05), but not in 1996 (beta = 0. 004 ml/d/ppb; p = 0.6); corresponding estimates for FVC were in 1994: beta = -0.022 ml/d/ppb, p < 0.005; 1995: beta = -0.018 ml/d/ppb, p < 0.05; and 1996: beta = 0.006 ml/d/ppb, p = 0.46. When all three study years were considered simultaneously, i.e., the changes in lung function between each of two subsequent surveys being the dependent variable, summertime ozone was associated with a lesser increase in FEV(1) (beta = -0.029 ml/d/ppb; p < 0.001), FVC (beta = -0.018 ml/d/ppb; p < 0.001), and MEF(50) (beta = -0.076 ml/s/d; p = 0.001). No consistent associations were observed for lung function and NO(2), SO(2) and PM(10). Long-term ambient ozone exposure might negatively influence lung function growth.

Air Pollutants↗