Bone mineralization and physical development of children

A cross-sectional study of BMD and physical development values in children of various age-specific groups was carried out. In all, the study included 357 children (194 boys and 163 girls) aged from 5 to 16 years. The study did not include children with inherited or acquired diseases of the musculoskeletal system, chronic diseases of the liver or kidneys, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis or malabsorption syndrome or professional athletes. BMD values were estimated by dual X-ray absorbtiometry (DXA) of the lumbar part of the spine (L2-L4) using a "DPX-MD+" device equipped with a "child" software program. Out of all the examined children, 58.9% had harmonic physical development, and 13.1% had a decreased body height and body mass. It was revealed that BMC and BMD values in the lumbar part of the spine intensively increased with age. BMC closely correlates with body height (r = 0.8; p < 0.000) and body mass (r = 0.7; p < 0.000). BMD also correlates with anthropometric parameters. The lowest BMC and BMD values and Z-score as well can be found in children with a low body height and body mass (<10th percentile).     

芜湖市284名小学生生长发育的追踪研究

本文报道了1992年10月— 1997年10月对芜湖市284名 6—11岁汉族小学生生长发育的追踪调查结果。调查指标为身高、体重、胸围、脉搏和肺活量。对形态发育指数进行了分析。分析了男女间的差异。并与汉族 1985和1986年均值和日本人数据进行了比较。对当前儿童少年生长发育加速趋势也进行了讨论。     

Numerical study on amelioration of water quality in Lakes Shinji and Nakaumi: a coastal brackish lagoon system

Aiming at estimating the effect of an amelioration scheme for water quality in a highly eutrophicated and strongly enclosed estuary, especially placing emphasis on the alleviation of a oxygen-depleted water body, a three-dimensional (3-D) time-dependent coupled physical and ecological model was applied to Lakes Shinji and Nakaumi, a typical coastal brackish lagoon system in Japan. First, the model was run to reproduce the seasonal variation in water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other ecological constituents during the period from April 1998 to March 1999. The daily change regimes of the observed sea surface winds, tidal elevation at the open boundary, river discharges, and meteorological parameters were incorporated into the forcing variables of the ecosystem model. Next, as a numerical experiment, a scenario simulation was carried out under four premises to alleviate the oxygen-depleted water body. The model results agreed fairly well with the field measurements obtained through the regular environmental monitoring in the lagoon system. It was found that an oxygen-depleted water body appears in the eastern part of Lake Nakaumi in early May and develops to cover the whole lagoon in midsummer to leave it almost anoxic. The scenario simulation revealed that each amelioration scheme has a considerable effect in alleviating this hypoxic water body. It was found from the model results and the additional flux analyses that the oxygen concentration will improve as a result of (1) change in the flow field by cutting the dikes built up during lake reclamation and (2) decrease in benthic oxygen consumption by filling up deep holes once created by dredging activities. An erratum to this article is available at .     

体能训练对宜昌市西陵区儿童体质发育的影响

目的:评价体能训练对儿童体质发育的影响,探索能促进儿童体质发育的训练模式。方法:整群随机抽取宜昌市西陵区4所幼儿园,将儿童随机分成试验组和对照组,最终纳入试验组312人,对照组301人。试验组儿童进行为期1年的各项体质训练干预,对照组儿童给予常规教学。比较训练前后儿童各项体质指标、出勤率及近视率。结果:经过1年干预训练后,两组各年龄组儿童在身高、体重形态指标上无显著性差异(P0.05);素质指标中,与对照组相比,试验组各年龄组儿童在10 m折返跑、立定跳远、网球掷远、双脚连续跳、坐位前体屈5个项目上组间差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05);而在走平衡木项目上,只有7岁年龄段组间差异有统计学意义(P0.05);试验组出勤优秀率显著高于对照组(P0.05);两组近视率在干预前后差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:开展儿童体质训练能够促进儿童体质发育,应在各幼儿园广泛推广。     

Assessment of the physical development and physical fitness of children and youths with simple body height deficiency

The aim of this work is an analysis of the process of growth and an assessment of the physical fitness of children and youths with short stature. The material contains results of a long-term investigation of the growth of boys and girls with the diagnosis: simple body height deficiency (hypostatura simplex). The investigation was carried out in Swietokrzyskie Province, Poland, in the years 1980-1997. It comprised 471 individuals: 143 girls aged 5-18 years and 328 boys aged 5-19 years. A different degree of the skeleton age is connected with a different dynamic of growth of short-stature girls and boys. Pubescent increase in the rate of growth occurs in individuals with a considerable retardation of the bone age later, particularly among boys. The growth process lasts longer in them, therefore, the final body height is achieved later and it is greater in individuals whose bone age is concordant with the calendar age. The level of physical working capacity of short-stature children does not show any significant difference in comparison with that in individuals with correct body height, and relative values of the indicators of physical fitness, related to body mass, are even higher in short-stature children. Individuals with a greater body height deficiency are characterised by a lower level of physical fitness.     

Influence of some socio-economic factors on growth and development of the boys in the Tuzla region (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The impact of certain exogenous factor (socio-economic, ecological) has been investigated with special attention paid to the parents' living standard, and number of family members on some anthropometric parameters like: body height, body mass, chest circumference, upper leg circumference, upper arm circumference, sitting height, arm length, leg length, pelvis width, shoulders width, lenght of head and with of head on the sample of 698 boys aged 11 to 16 (17) years in the Tuzla region (the northeastern Bosnia, Western Balkan peninsula). Anthropometric measurements have been carried out using methodology proposed by the International Biological program (IBP). The results of these investigations have shown that there is a certain impact of the socio-economic conditions on the growth and development of boys. Children from families that have better living standard are, as a rule, taller, which is indicated by the statistical significant differences (P > 0.01). This trend indicates also value of Body Mass Index (BMI), which is in younger children from the families with lower living standard 16, while in the same category in the children from the families with better living standard it has value 18.5. The real impact of living conditions on the dynamics of development could be the best seen in the period of puberty. The number of children in the family has negative relationship with anthropometric features. Statistically significant differences (P > 0.001) have been detected in numerous analysed features in families with one or two children in comparison with families with three, four, or five children. Therefore, BMI has been significantly lower (16) in children from families with several children, while in the families with one child in the same growth class (11 years) it was significantly higher (17.4). Similar value of BMI (17.9) have children from the families with five children and which are 17 years old. Besides socio-economic conditions, high level of environmental pollution which is typical for Tuzla region for a long time, has also significant impact on the growth and development of children.     

Altering Developmental Trajectories in Mice by Restricted Index Selection

A restricted index selection experiment on mice was carried out for 14 generations on rate of early postnatal development (growth rate from birth to 10 days of age) vs. rate of development much later in ontogeny (growth rate from 28 to 56 days of age). Early rate of development (E) approximates hyperplasia (changes in cell number) and later rate (L) reflects hypertropy (changes in cell size). The selection criteria were as follows: E+L0 was selected to increase early body weight gain while holding late body weight gain constant; E-L0 was selected to decrease early body gain while holding late gain constant; E0L+ was selected to increase late gain holding early gain constant; and E0L- was selected to decrease late gain holding early gain constant. After 14 generations of selection, significant divergence among lines has occurred and the changes in the growth trajectories are very close to expectation. The genetic and developmental bases of complex traits are discussed as well as the concept of developmental homoplasy.     

The change of skeletal robustness of 6-12 years old children in Brandenburg (Germany)--comparison of body composition 1999-2009

Overweight as a global problem is a challenge to the health systems today and in the future. Detailed information about the development of body composition in children can help to design preventive measures to stop this trend. In the present study 1397 German children aged 6-12 complete years were investigated with anthropometric methods (i.e. height, weight, BMI, skeleton robustness, and percentage of body fat) in 2008/09. The results were compared with a 10 years old identical study. Today, the investigated children are a little bit smaller and the range of BMI and percentage of body fat is increasing. The large decrease of the skeletal robustness especially in the 10th and 3rd percentile is important. Decrease of physical activity as the most important reason for shrinking skeletal robustness is discussed.     

Does physical education modify the body composition?--results of a longitudinal study of pre-school children

The aim of the study is the analysis of body composition, motor development and cardiovascular parameters of preschool-children. In 2001/2002 a longitudinal study started in 17 nursery schools in Berlin. A total of 160 children out of the 264 children participated in a regular exercise programme. After 24 months of training significant differences of body composition, motor skills and cardiovascular parameters between 5 complete year old children of the intervention and the control group were observed. The results show that such an exercise programme is successful as a preventive measure to decrease the risk of obesity.     

青藏高原生态资产空间差异及其价值化潜力

科学合理地开发生态资产、促进其价值转化,是发展生态经济、推动生态文明建设的重要举措,对于促进生态敏感地区人与自然和谐共生、保障高质量可持续发展具有现实意义。以青藏高原为研究区,基于土地利用类型及其质量,从资源实物和生态服务两个类别开展生态资产评估和空间分布研究,融合生态产品供给-需求理论评价生态资产价值化潜力,进而解析生态资产及其价值化潜力的空间匹配关系,提出促进生态资产价值化的科学建议。结果表明:青藏高原生态资产类型多样,空间集聚特征明显,生态资产综合指数热点区主要分布在中部的羌塘、青南和川西藏东等地区,冷点区则分布在南部的山地灌丛及周边地区;生态服务类资产指数与生态资产综合指数呈现类似的空间分布格局,资源实物类资产指数的格局随地形地貌和气候气象的不同而有所差异;生态资产价值化潜力受到区位交通、资源禀赋、经济社会发展条件等多重因素影响,川西藏东、青东祁连的东部边缘地带价值化潜力更高、热点区更为集聚。基于生态资产禀赋及其价值化潜力划分为高资产-高潜力、高资产-低潜力、低资产-高潜力、低资产-低潜力四种分区类型,针对性提出了加大生态保护力度、合理开发生态资源、完善交通和服务设施、差异化开发生态产品等政策建议。     

Morphofunctional parameters and adaptation capabilities of students at the beginning of the third millennium

On the basis of comprehensive anthropometrical observation of 1st and 2nd year students from different faculties of Moscow State University (MSU) carried out in 2002-2003, functional characteristics of the cardiovascular system (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate) were investigated in 205 young men and 327 young women along with traditional morphological parameters. In comparisons of contemporary young men and women with their peers, whose characteristics were obtained in the course of investigations carried out over the period 1920-1990, secular trends towards an increase of body length and a worsening of strength indices were detected. Evaluation and comparative analysis of adaptation capabilities of students were carried out based on screening and assessment of adaptation potential using the Bayevsky method (1987). It was shown that the parameters of physical development and the level of adaptation of an organism to environmental conditions can be used as additional markers for determination of the health status of contemporary students for early prevention of some diseases, improvement of their physical status and increase of adaptation potentials.     

Drivers of macrophyte development in rivers in an agricultural area: indicative species reactions

The ecological drivers of macrophyte development in a lowland agricultural area were tested based on a 2008 survey on the Wkra River catchment. Our survey was carried out in the rivers of an agricultural area with relatively high concentrations of both nitrates and phosphates in the water. By using the Polish macrophyte method, we were able to calculate several botanical metrics. Canonical ordination analyses used to relate biological data to environmental variables such as physical and chemical parameters of water, surface water velocity or river width, were carried out using CANOCO for Windows. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that pH and alkalinity were the parameters best correlated with the distribution of macrophytes and values of macrophyte indices. The recorded values of the Macrophyte Index for River in the Wkra River and its tributaries reflected their good and moderate ecological status (the Water Framework Directive scale). Despite the fact that nutrient concentrations in the water were relatively high and that most of the sites represented eutrophic conditions, the results of this survey showed that non-nutrient parameters may play an important role in explaining aquatic plant occurrence in rivers that have been subjected to eutrophication.     

The interrelation between the number of deciduous teeth and the morphological maturity of a child

The process of the first dentition is part of a very short period during human development characterised by an extraordinary intensity of growth processes. The main purpose of the present study is to provide information on the relationship between three criteria of biological maturity of children: body height, body weight and the number of milk teeth. The present study is based on a cross-sectional material collected in 30 nurseries in ?ód? (Poland). The analysis was carried out on 1901 children (981 boys and 920 girls) aged from 2 to 36 months. All coefficients of Pearson correlation and partial correlations between the analysed variables are statistically significant at the 0.01 level. The highest value of coefficient correlation was noticed for the relation between dental and chronological age, as well as between dental and morphological age based on body height (about 0.90 and 0.85, respectively). Through an analysis of regression (backward) equations for predicting the number of teeth from chronological age, body weight and body height were calculated. These mathematical equations were confirmed in practice in about 80% of the children. Coefficients of determinations between the analysed variables are high for boys and girls (about 72% and 74%, respectively). This observations demonstrate conclusively that there exists a highly significant relation between deciduous tooth age and morphological age.     

Physical training reverses the increased activity of the hepatic ketone body synthesis pathway in chronically diabetic rats

This study was designed to examine whether the training-induced improvement in the plasma concentration of ketone bodies in experimental diabetes mellitus could be explained by changes in the activity of the hepatic ketone body synthesis pathway and/or the plasma free fatty acid levels. Diabetes mellitus was induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg), and training was carried out on a treadmill. The plasma concentration of beta-hydroxybutyric acid was increased (P < 0.001) in sedentary diabetic rats, and this was partly reversed by training (P < 0.001). The plasma concentration of free fatty acids was increased (P < 0.001) in sedentary diabetic rats, and this was reversed to normal by training (P < 0.001). Diabetes was also associated with an increased activity of the hepatic ketone body synthesis pathway. When the data are expressed as per total liver, physical training decreased the activity of the hepatic ketone body synthesis pathway by 18% in nondiabetic rats (P < 0.05) and by 22% in diabetic rats (P < 0.01), the activity present in trained diabetic rats being not statistically different from that of sedentary control rats. These data suggest that the beneficial effects of physical training on the plasma beta-hydroxybutyric acid levels in the diabetic state are probably explained in part by a decrease in the activity of the hepatic ketone body synthesis pathway and in part by a decrease in plasma free fatty acid levels.     

Assessing ecological quality of shallow lakes: Does knowledge of transparency suffice?

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that all aquatic ecosystems in their member states should reach ‘good’ ecological quality by 2015. To assess ecological quality, the WFD requires the definition of reference conditions using biological, physical and chemical indicators and the assignment of each water body to one of five quality classes using these indicators. Elaborate assessment schemes using large sets of variables are now being developed. Here we address the question whether all this is really needed and what the simplest assessment approach would be for the case of shallow lakes. We explore the relationships between the quality class assigned to a lake by experts in shallow lake ecology and a rich set of biological, physical, and chemical data. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were carried out based on data from 86 shallow lakes throughout Europe that were sampled in 2000 and/or 2001. Ecological quality of shallow lakes judged by experts was strongly correlated to physical and chemical variables associated with light regime and nutrients and much less to biological variables.Our regression model showed that ecological quality of this set of shallow lakes judged by experts could be predicted quite well from water transparency expressed as Secchi depth and that other variables did not contribute to it significantly. According to the WFD, lakes should at least have a ‘good’ ecological quality. Quality judged by experts and predicted quality were similar for 78% of the lakes with respect to meeting this standard. As a cautionary note we stress that Secchi depth alone will be a less useful indicator if effects of stressors other than eutrophication (e.g. lake acidification and toxic pollution) are to be considered.     

Morphofunctional development of Tyvan and Russian schoolchildren

The specific features of the physical development and functional capacity of the cardiorespiratory system of young schoolchildren living in the Republic of Tyva (formerly, Tuva) as dependent on the sex, ethnicity, and social conditions were studied. Acceleration processes in the physical development of Tyvan children aged 8–11 years during the past 35 years were identified. It was shown that morphological adaptation to climatic conditions was more obvious in schoolchildren of both ethnic groups living in the countryside as compared to those in urban areas: they had a smaller total body size, stronger physique, and better developed chest. Analysis of the functional capacity of the cardiorespiratory system showed that Tyvan children had higher reserves of the cardiorespiratory system as estimated by the vital index, pulmonary capacity, stroke volume, and cardiac output than Russian children of the same age. Sex-dependent differences in the morphofunctional development of children of both ethnic groups become evident beginning from the age of nine years.     

Obesity and Blood Pressure in children

Estimates of relationships between blood pressures and anthropometric structure or body composition were made on a total sample of 414 children, taking age and sex into account. A subsample of 250 children was formed from obese (or slightly obese) subjects. A different pattern in anthropometric structure and body composition resulted in relation to a different degree of obesity. A canonical correlation analysis was carried out for each sex, in which a multivariate measure of the linear association between heart-circulatory functionality parameters, on the one hand, and all the anthropometric traits and body composition parameters, on the other, was computed. This association resulted statistically significant in both sexes, also if a difference was observed as concerns the traits that most heavily contributed to the relation-ships between sets of variables, with an evident sexual dimorphism also in infancy. The necessity of preventive measures and sanitary screening also during infancy was pointed out.     

X-ray fluorescence determination of the loss of chosen electrolytes in the urine of children with a congenital cyanotic heart defect and after heart transplantation

In this paper results of the analysis of urine samples of healthy children and children with a congenital cyanotic heart defect and after heart transplantation are presented. The analysis of urine samples was carried out by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with wavelength dispersion and using CRM urine Seronorm as a reference. It was found that for patients with a congenital cyanotic heart defect the loss of electrolytes like Na, Cl and K was increased. Moreover, urine samples of children from areas of different degree of environmental pollution were analysed. We observed (as expected) higher concentrations of heavy metals in the urine of children from ecological polluted areas.     

Growth,behaviour, and educational achievement of Jamaican children with sickle-cell trait.

A longitudinal study of the mental and physical development of 200 children with normal haemoglobin and 21 with the sickle-cell trait was carried out in a small rural community in Jamaica. At about 2 and 10 years of age heights and weights showed no significant differences. At about 10 years of age classroom behaviour, sociability, and educational achievement were similar. The results suggest that the sickle-cell trait does not affect growth and mental development.     

Recent sedimentation in a freshwater reservoir in SW-Finland: The diatomological and chemical evidence of sediments on the development of the water body

A freshwater reservoir was dammed from the Baltic Sea in 1965. The recent sediments and the processes of accumulation in the reservoir have been investigated. The physical, chemical and diatom analyses of the sediments were carried out at 5 sampling points in order to dinstinquish the freshwater sediments from the underlying brackish sediments as well as to date the freshwater sediments. The pattern of sedimentation in the reservoir is described on the basis of these results and conclusions are drawn regarding the development of the water body. In interpretating the diatomological and the chemical results from the recent sediments certain common features are highlighted.