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PubMed2005

Alcohol addiction of adolescents and risk factors related to this habit.

UNLABELLED: Objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of alcohol use among schoolchildren and to determine its factors. The study was conducted in schools of Kaunas city and its region among schoolchildren of 7th, 9th and 11th grades--overall 410 pupils. Most of schoolchildren (93.4%) acknowledged that they had used some alcohol drinks; 37.6% of boys and 27.3% of girls (p<0.05) used alcohol especially large number of times (40 and more). Every second pupil, irrespective of his sex, stated being intoxicated with alcohol in the last month. Main motives that induced to use the alcohol were: wish to relax, curiosity, having nothing to do as well as wish to experience the state of intoxication, wish not to differ from group friends. The logistic analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relation between alcohol use and smoking, and positive point of view to drugs and people who use them. The summarized data could serve in planning well-founded prevention programmes. CONCLUSION: The alcohol addiction of schoolchildren at higher grades is very prevalent and correlates with smoking and drugs usage. Therefore, the implementation of effective health promotion programmes that include alcohol and drug prevention at school is urgently needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[The influence of smoking on oral health].

Smoking is a serious risk factor for many diseases. The determining of smoking as a harmful habit among young people is very important. We examined 618 (mean age 21+/-2.9 years) young Lithuanian men. The findings of our research showed that 70% of young men smoked. The analysis of the research findings showed that smoking had a negative effect on oral hygiene. Young men who smoke daily had significantly higher oral hygiene index than those who do not smoke (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S)=2.9(1.0) and OHI-S=2.2(1.2), respectively; p<0.001). Smoking is especially harmful to the periodontal tissues. The periodontal lesions were more prevalent and severe among young men who smoke. It is confirmed by the fact that smokers had significantly higher Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) than nonsmokers (CPITN=1.5(0.7) and CPITN=1.2(0.8), respectively; p<0.001). Our findings show that smoking increased the possibility of having decayed untreated teeth and this shows young men's careless attitude to their oral health. There was no difference in the prevalence of smoking among men who live in the countryside and those who live in the city. However, the men with poorer education smoked more frequently.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Association of metabolic syndrome with ischemic heart disease among middle-aged Kaunas population].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study was to estimate an association of metabolic syndrome with ischemic heart disease (IHD) in middle-aged Kaunas population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The epidemiological examination was carried out in Kaunas from 2001 to 2002. Health survey was carried out according to the MONICA study protocol. Analysis was performed in 1336 persons aged 35-64 years (603 men and 733 women). Metabolic syndrome was defined by the presence of three or more out of five components: central obesity (waist circumference >102/88 cm (men/women)); fasting plasma glucose > or =6.1 mmol/l; triglycerides > or =1.7 mmol/l; high density lipoprotein cholesterol <1.04/1.3 mmol/l (men/women); systolic/diastolic blood pressure > or =130 and/or 85 mmHg. IHD was diagnosed by the criteria: previous myocardial infarction, angina pectoris or ischemic changes of electrocardiogram. RESULTS: In the study population cohort prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 19.4% for men and 26.3% for women, prevalence of IHD--14.3% and 19.4%, respectively. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and IHD among men and women increased with age. Comparing prevalence of metabolic syndrome among persons with IHD and without IHD, in the groups of men and women aged 35-44 years metabolic syndrome was not associated with IHD; in the group of men with IHD aged 45-64 years rate of metabolic syndrome was 1.8 times higher than among persons without IHD (odds ratio: 2.25 (95% CI 1.24-4.06)); in the group of women with IHD aged 45-64 years the rate of metabolic syndrome was marginally higher (1.3 times) than among women without IHD (odds ratio: 1.55 (95% CI 0.99-2.43)). The highest rate of metabolic syndrome was determined for men diagnosed with angina pectoris (odds ratio: 3.39 (95% CI 1.36-8.41)). In conclusion, study data showed that metabolic syndrome was associated with IHD in men aged 45-64 years.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Peer reputation of adolescents: sociometric status differences].

Successful communication with peers, positive classroom acceptance influence psychosocial health of children, while social maladjustment in childhood has emerged as high risk predictor of later delinquency and conduct problems (dropping out of school, criminality, psychopathology). Though these issues have devoted increasing attention in recent years, but still there is a lack of studies analyzing peer relation of adolescents. The primary purposes of the present study were to examine sociometric status, peer reputation and peer relations of adolescents and reveal connections between these results. Data were obtained on 502 adolescents (mean age 13+/-0.03) attending secondary schools of Kaunas city. The findings revealed peer reputation connections with status and sex groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Links between profession and family in the community of Lithuanian pharmacists at the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th centuries].

Little research has been carried out in the sphere of the relations between a pharmaceutical career and family in the historiography of pharmacy history. A peculiar influence of family on the choice of the pharmaceutical way of life came into existence in the period of Lithuanian national revival at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. This article aims to reveal the relations between a Lithuanian family and pharmaceutical career, to analyze the influence of political, social, economic factors on these relations. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th the resistance of Lithuanian peasants against Russification, Polonification manifested in their objective to form Lithuanian intelligentsia. Priestly seminaries became the major centre for preparing new Lithuanian intelligentsia. It was prestigious to become a priest. Moreover, this profession guaranteed material wealth. Young people often left the seminary and started their work in pharmacies where they got a shelter and small 5 rubles earning of a pharmacy apprentice. Such runaways from parents settled in the university cities of czarist Russia and had a purpose to become self-dependent (i.e. to get education) without parents' support. The choice of a woman-pharmacist career, however, was greatly influenced by the profession of her husband. Some educated Lithuanian pharmacists encouraged their wives to choose the same specialty as theirs but such occasions were rare. Sometimes it happened so that pharmacists married, but there were only few Lithuanian women-pharmacists or assistants of pharmacists, and in the period of Lithuanian national revival the point of view on ethnically mixed families was negative. This article discusses about the career of women-pharmacists and the influence of family on the choice of a profession, as well as Lithuanian point of view on ethnically mixed families of pharmacists.

Career Choice↗
PubMed2005

Toxin producing micromycetes on imported products of plant origin.

Recently the food of people is profusely supplemented with vegetables and fruit imported from various regions. Investigations on the mycological state of imported foodstuffs revealed that the marketed vegetables, fresh, dried and frozen fruit are contaminated with propagules of various micromycetes. The obtained results allow the conclusion that vegetables and fruit can become a good substrate for mycotoxin producing micromycetes. The micromycetes develop on everyday products and can become the cause of slow toxicoses, which are characterized by a diversity of symptoms and are difficult to diagnose. Therefore, contamination of food products with micromycetes of the Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Alternaria, Paecilomyces, Trichotecium, Rhizopus genera should receive particular attention. It should be noted that a strain growing on a particular type of vegetable or fruit could synthesize and excrete different toxic secondary metabolites.

Food Microbiology↗
PubMed2005

[The need for creating a patient medication record system and characteristics of its application in community pharmacies].

UNLABELLED: The objectives of this study were to explore the need for an information system of patient's medication record in pharmacies, where pharmacists could find all information about patient's condition, diseases and used medicines; to find out internet and information technologies usage in pharmacies. METHODS: In order to evaluate the demand for a specialized information system the method of a questionnaire-based survey was used. RESULTS: Obtained answers indicated that an information system could be useful in pharmacies and information technologies would facilitate information exchange among different institutions directly responsible for the treatment of patients.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed2005

[Smoking habits, attitudes and smoking cessation among sixth-year medical students of Kaunas University of Medicine].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to assess trends of smoking and the relation between smoking behavior of undergraduate medical students and their attitudes towards smoking and treatment of tobacco dependence. METHODS: Data were collected from sixth-year medical students of Kaunas University of Medicine during ten consecutive years. A total of 1518 students completed the anonymous questionnaire; response rate was 83.5%. RESULTS: The daily smoking rate was 19.4% in males and 4.2% in females; 15.9% and 10.4% respectively were irregular smokers, never smoked 41.6% of males and 64% of females. 70% of smokers and 83% of nonsmokers agreed that tobacco smoking is one of the greatest health hazards of modern times; 97.1% of all students considered passive smoking as harmful. More nonsmokers (70%) than smokers (5l%) were aware of addictive nature of tobacco, but there was a little difference in their opinion about support to smokers for quitting: 83.2% of smokers and 87.1% of nonsmokers stated that medical doctors should help smokers to give up smoking and 68% of them thought that doctors had not enough knowledge how to help. Less smokers (55%) than nonsmokers (87%) believed that smoking should be banned in hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of smoking was significantly lower among medical students than in general population. There were no significant changes in smoking prevalence among male medical students during the period of 1995-2004. At the same time smoking prevalence among female medical students increased more than twice. Attitudes of smokers and nonsmokers were significantly different on most items of tobacco, but knowledge of tobacco problem in the undergraduate students was not sufficient. Teaching about tobacco and related issues remains essential in the undergraduate medical course.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2005

[Sixty-five years for the first Lithuanian manual of ophthalmology].

This review is dedicated to a famous Lithuanian professor, born 130 years ago, outstanding ophthalmologist of that time Petras Avizonis. In 1922-1923 he worked as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Lithuanian University, in 1924-1925 as Vice Rector, in 1925-1926 as Rector. He was the founder and chief of the Department and Clinic of Ophthalmology. The first Lithuanian study of ophthalmology called "Manual of Ophthalmology" was written by Petras Avizonis 65 years ago. This work remains significant not only for the medical science but also for the science of the Lithuanian language and has retained its value till now. It is known that Petras Avizonis created over 250 Lithuanian medical terms. The terms created by him play an important role in the modern Lithuanian terminology of medicine; and his linguistic work made a huge impact on the Lithuanian language and the national culture as a whole.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of risk factors and risk of mortality in relation to occupational group.

The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of risk factors in different occupational groups of Kaunas men and women aged 35-64 years, and to assess the prognostic value of occupation on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk. The four random samples of Kaunas men and women (3,293 men and 3,561 women) aged 35-64 years from the Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) study (1983-2002) were examined using the standard epidemiological methods. The participants of the first three surveys were followed-up, in terms the end points reached, from the beginning of each survey until January 1, 2004. A multivariate Cox model was used for the analysis. In 1983-1984, the proportion of manual workers was greater than proportion of non-manual workers among both men and women. Twenty years later, the proportion of female manual workers decreased twice to 26.2%. The prevalence of majority risk factors showed no difference in manual and non-manual workers among both men and women. The risk of death from cardiovascular diseases among manual workers was 1.5 times greater than among non-manual workers. The different prognostic value of various variables has been determined on all-cause mortality risk in groups of manual and non-manual workers.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Prevalence of cataract in 35-64 years old Kaunas city population].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of lens opacity among 35-64 years old Kaunas population as well as to evaluate the stage and type of age-related cataract and its distribution in the groups of age and gender. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material of our study was Kaunas city population aged 35 to 64 years who participated in the scientific Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA-4) study during 2001-2002 in the Laboratory of Population Researches, Institute of Cardiology of Kaunas University of Medicine. During this study random sampling method was used for grouping of 1354 persons according to the age and gender (596 males and 759 females). A total of 2708 lens were examined using the Lens Opacity Classification System (LOCS III) after dilatation of pupils. All the investigated persons were divided into decade age groups: 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years. All of them were divided into two groups: with cataract and without. Those who had cataract were divided into three groups according to the three stages of disease. All lenses were divided into seven groups: clear lens, posterior subcapsular, nuclear, cortical and mixed cataract, aphakia and pseudophakia. RESULTS: The lens opacities were present in 106 (17.8%) males and 141 (18.6%) females. The lens opacities of both eyes were observed in 91.3% of investigated persons. In all groups with cataract, the 1st stage comprised 71.6%, 2nd--22.5% and 3rd--6.0% of cases. The prevalence of cataract in decade aged groups according to the stages, respectively in men and women was: among 35-44 years old--1st stage cataract 4.0% and 3.5%, 2nd--unidentified in both groups, 3rd stage--1.0% and unidentified; 45-54 years old--1st stage 9.7% and 9.7%, 2nd--1.0% and 1.1%, 3rd--1.5% and 0.4%; among aged of 55-64 years--the 1st stage as 23.8% and 26.0%, 2nd--9.9% and 11.8%, 3rd--2.0% and 1.5%. In both groups the nuclear cataract dominated (68.2%); in male group--72.4% and female--65.0%. Mixed type comprised 18.3% of cases, respectively 17.9% in males and 18.6% in females, cortical--10.7%, respectively--7.7% and 12.9%; posterior subcapsular--2.8%, respectively--2.8% and 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The lens opacities were found in 17.8% of males and 18.6% of females among investigated 35-64 years old population of Kaunas city. In the groups of both genders domination of nuclear cataract and the 1st stage of all forms of cataract was observed. The incidence of cataract increases significantly with age.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Comparative analysis of nourishment of Lithuanian and Latvian seafarers at sea].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the nourishment of Lithuanian and Latvian seafarers at sea. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present pilot study was comprised of 997 Lithuanian and 993 Latvian seafarers applying for obligatory medical examination. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire consisting of 44 questions. The questionnaire helped to obtain information on general data (age, education, position on ship, work record, types of ship, number of crew on ship, months of work on ship per year), medical care and health, smoking habits, usage of alcohol, weight, height, physical activity on ship, harmful factors at sea, nourishment on ship. RESULTS: At sea Latvian seafarers more often than Lithuanian seafarers took boiled and roast potatoes, porridge or flakes, cheese, curd cheese, meat, chicken, sound fruits and vegetables, eggs, coffee and juice. Every fourth seafarer drank coffee without sugar, every third put one teaspoonful, and every third--two teaspoonfuls of sugar into the cup. Twice more Lithuanians than Latvians drank tea without sugar (40.6 and 23.9%, respectively). About one-third of Lithuanian (32%) and less than a half of Latvian (40%) seafarers drank tea and coffee with two teaspoonfuls of sugar; 4-5% of seafarers put three and more teaspoons of sugar into their cup of coffee or tea. Latvian seafarers at the average consumed more white (2.1 slices) and French bread (1.9 slices) per day than Lithuanians (1.6 and 1.2 slices, respectively). Consumption of brown bread was almost the same--approximately 2.3 slices. More than a half (57.2%) of Lithuanians and 11% more of Latvians (68.2%) added salt to the food served on board. Approximately 2% of Latvian and 1.5% of Lithuanian seafarers added salt prior to tasting the food. CONCLUSIONS: At sea Latvian seafarers more often than Lithuanian seafarers took boiled and roast potatoes, porridge or flakes, cheese, curd cheese, meat, chicken, sound fruits and vegetables, eggs, coffee and juice. On the average Lithuanian seafarers took less sugar than Latvian seafarers. Latvian seafarers consumed more white and French bread than Lithuanian seafarers. Latvian seafarers consumed more salt than Lithuanian seafarers.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2005

[The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged in Kaunas population].

AIM: To assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Kaunas population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 433 (192 males and 241 females, mean age 38.8+/-0.3 years) asymptomatic individuals have been investigated. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using International Diabetes Federation definition criteria - central obesity (the waist circumference > or =94 cm for men and > or =80 cm for women) plus any two of the following four factors: elevated triglycerides (Tg) (> or =1.7 mmol/L), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (<1.0 mmol/L for men and <1.3 mmol/L for women), blood pressure (BP) of 130/85 or higher (systolic pressure >130 mmHg or a diastolic pressure >85 mmHg) or hyperglycemia (> or =5.6 mmol/L). RESULTS: The metabolic syndrome was present in 21.7% (28.1% among males and 16.6% among females) of individuals. Furthermore, 41.1% had an increased waist circumference, 56.4% had elevated BP (130/85 or higher), 31.2% had elevated plasma glucose concentration, 19.9% had low HDL-C cholesterol values and 14.1% had increased Tg values. Significantly higher concentration (1.16 mg/L, alpha<0,001, beta<0.001) of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein has been established in individuals with the metabolic syndrome. An increased concentration (>3 mg/L) of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was more prevalent (17.3%) in the cohort with metabolic syndrome. Concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein directly correlated with the waist and hips circumference, body mass index, concentration of Tg, glucose and BP. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Kaunas residents was 22%. Metabolic syndrome and central obesity correlated with elevated concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Moderately (1-3 mg/L) and severely (>3 mg/L) elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels increase the chance of metabolic syndrome by 4.15 and 7.39 times, respectively (p=0,000). An innovative approach towards cardiovascular risk assessment integrating traditional cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values could improve the risk stratification in asymptomatic middle-aged population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physician workforce planning and the transition to primary health care in former socialist countries.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, countries in Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States inherited a physician workforce that was often too large, dominated by specialists, and poorly prepared for the transition to primary health care and the addition of the family/general practice specialty. We examine attempts in selected countries to plan the future physician workforce, while attempting to reduce the size of the workforce and train physicians to lead the transition to primary health care (PHC). We look the impact these efforts have had on the current workforce and will have on the future physician workforce. With few exceptions, the first move after independence was to reduce the inputs into the physician workforce in an attempt to reduce the size of the workforce, considered large by western standards, in 1990 between 350 and 400 per 100, 000 population compared to the EU average of 299. These reductions often did not result from planning and ignored the lengthy physician training process, leading to concerns for the future supply of physicians and the conclusion that many other factors were influencing the number of physicians. At the same time, two methods were being employed to rapidly prepare physicians for PHC, retraining of existing physicians for the short-term and the establishment of training programs in the faculties of medicine to train family/general practitioners (GPs) for the long-term. GPs per 100,000 population remained at about 102 throughout the period in the original EU countries, but in the new EU countries went from 51 in 1991 to 63 in 2002. The success of the programs was varied and often depended on the overall organization of the physician workforce, the status of the new family physician within the workforce and the commitment at the national level to the transition to PHC. After over a decade of independence, there is still a struggle to have a physician workforce with the right numbers, the right specialty mix, and practicing in the right locations.

Education, Medical, Graduate↗
PubMed2005

[Trends in poststroke survival].

AIM: To analyse trends in survival of 25-64-year-old poststroke patients living in Kaunas in 1986-1996. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study covered all 25-64-year-old citizens of Kaunas affected by the first stroke. All the patients were divided into three groups: those who had stroke in 1986-1989; in 1990-1993; in 1994-1996. All the patients were followed up to December 31, 1997. The survival was analysed by Kaplan-Meier method, probability to survive after stroke was analysed using the method of logistic regression. RESULTS: The data is available for 2864 patients (58.6% males and 41.4% females). Probability to die during the first poststroke year for males in 1994-1996 was by 30% less (p = 0.02) and in females by 27% less (p = 0.1) than in males and females affected by stroke in 1986-1989. Comparison of males and females affected by the first stroke who survived 28 days for 1986-1989 vs 1994-1996 showed that probability of death in the first year was 0.62 (95% CI being 0.37-1.08; p = 0.2) and 0.69 (95% CI 0.31-1.52; p = 0.07), respectively. The same trends were found for 2, 3 and 4 years. In 1986-1989 four-year survival for men was 71.9%, in 1994-1996--81.7% (p = 0.02). In women--83.6 and 86.3% (p = 0.05), respectively. Of men with stroke in 1986-1989 and alive for 28 days, 4-year survival was 71.3%, of those with stroke in 1994-1996--80.6% (p = 0.02). Relevant survival in women was 83.5 and 87.5% (p > 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Short- and long-term survival after the first stroke in 25-64-year-old Kaunas citizens improved.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Body weight satisfaction and weight loss attempts in fitness activity involved women.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the attitude of women involved in fitness physical activity (PA) towards weight loss and to find out factors that may possibly lead to weight loss behaviors. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 352 women involved in recreational PA in health and fitness clubs. Participants filled a questionnaire that was designed to assess weight related aspects of body image, dieting prior to PA, PA motivation, exercise experience, frequency and instructor's encouragement to go on diet. The relative incidence of weight loss behavior and emotional weight related state across age (<22 years, 22-31 years, >31 years), body mass index (BMI), exercise experience groups (>2 years, <2 years) was tested by use of c2 analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the dependence of variables that can trigger the drive to lose weight. RESULTS: The greater dissatisfaction with the body weight was related with the younger age, while younger age did not predicted current dieting. Higher than normal BMI predicted overeating behavior. Lowest BMI (less than 18.5) was related with higher overestimation of body weight. PA experience was related with higher body shape satisfaction. Weight control related dieting prior to PA predicted negative feelings about weight gain and current weight related dieting. Obligatory body shape improvement motivation was related to more negative feelings of weight control. Sport instructor's encouragement to go on diet predicted dieting and overeating. CONCLUSIONS: The strongest predictors of weight loss behavior were obligatory motivation to improve body shape through exercising, dieting prior to PA and instructors' encouragement to go on a diet.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Micromycetes, producers of toxins, detected on stored vegetables.

In 2003-2004, investigations of mycological contamination of stored and newly harvested vegetables were carried out. The aim of the study was to detect fungal species able to synthesize toxic metabolites, which are spread on vegetables under various conditions. For mycological investigations, samples of carrots, onions and cabbage were taken from storehouses with different storage periods and conditions. Penicillium expansum, P. nalgiovense, Mucor silvaticus and Penicillium verrucosum were more frequently detected on carrots, Penicillium expansum - on onions and Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Mucor hiemalis, Penicillium funiculosum and Penicillium expansum - on cabbages. Storing conditions of vegetables influenced distribution of different fungal species. Primary screening using CYA and YES test-media showed that 46.7 % of tested strains may be evaluated as toxin producers. The ability of fungi to produce mycotoxins depends on their growth substrata. According to Rf and fluorescence in the UV of compounds comparing with standards, such toxins as patulin, cytochalasin and penitrem were identified. The ability of Penicillium expansum Sv-168-1 growing on different foodstuff and especially potato to produce patulin was confirmed quantitatively.

Animals↗