The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility and reliability of the KomPAN questionnaire among two groups of university students from Germany and Slovakia.
A total of 422 individuals (mean ...age 21.4 years, SD 4.0), including 197 from Slovakia (men 26.2%) and 225 from Germany (men 22.3%), were tested using the self-administered (SA-Q) version of the KomPAN questionnaire and then retested two weeks later. A cross-classification analysis, kappa coefficients, Cronbach's ɑ coefficients, and a test-retest result comparison were conducted separately for each group of students to assess the reproducibility and reliability of the questionnaire.
The cross-classification values were higher than 46.2% among the German students and higher than 55.8% among the Slovakian students. The kappa coefficients ranged from 0.21 to 0.90 in the German students and from 0.38 to 0.94 in the Slovakian students. Cronbach's ɑ ranged from 0.58 to 0.78.
The questionnaire displayed a moderate to very good reproducibility, which was slightly higher in the Slovakian group than in the German group. Therefore, the questionnaire can be recommended for further analysis and comparison of the dietary habits among Germans and Slovakians on a larger scale.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate retinal and choroidal microvascular alterations with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in COVID-19 patients hospitalized because of bilateral ...pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. The vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) of 63 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia who had positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and who recovered after receiving treatment and 45 healthy age- and gender-matched controls were evaluated and compared using OCTA in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). The VD was also estimated in both groups in the choriocapillaris (CC). In COVID-19 patients, there was a statistically significant difference between the patients and a control group in both superficial (FAZs) and deep (FAZd) avascular zone (p = 0.000). The VD was significantly lower in the foveal area in choriocapillaris (p = 0.046). There were no statistically significant changes in the VD in the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants in superficial and deep plexus, or in the choriocapillaris. The VD was not significantly lower in the foveal area in superficial or deep plexus. COVID-19 may affect the retinal vasculature, causing ischemia, enlargement of the FAZ, and lowering of the VD in the choriocapillaris area. Routine ophthalmic examination after SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered in the course of post-infectious rehabilitation.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the persistent changes in microvascular parameters based on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 ...bilateral pneumonia. The case-control prospective study was carried out among 49 patients with COVID-19 and 45 healthy age- and gender-matched 2 and 8 months after hospital discharge. We found a significantly decreased vessel density (VD) in superficial capillary plexus (SCP) in COVID-19 patients. Significantly decreased vessel density (VD) in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), the deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC), with significantly increased vessel density observed in the choriocapillaris in the foveal area (FCC). The foveal avascular zone in DCP (FAZd) was significantly increased in the COVID-19 group. We found differences between OCTA parameters according to gender. The foveal VD in SCP and DCP was significantly decreased in women compared to men. The FAZ area in SCP (FAZs) and superior VD in the choriocapillaris (SCC) were significantly increased in women. In conclusion, we noticed persistent changes in the ocular parameters of OCTA in COVID-19 patients. At the second follow-up visit, we observed a widened FAZ zone in SCP and decreased VD in some regions of the retina and choroid.
Tomato plants of two cultivars: Roma - sensitive and Robin - tolerant to heat stress were grown in greenhouse up to the flowering stage and then under controlled environmental conditions. The ...partitioning of recently fixed 14CO2 by mature tomato leaves was examined as a posteffect of 24-h heat stress (38/25°C day/night) with the interaction of growth regulators (GR) sprayed on the flowers with solution of β-naphthoxyacetic (NOA) and gibberellic (GA3) acid (denoted as NG), or Zeatin + NOA + GA3 (denoted as ZNG). In both cuitivars GR strongly stimulated fruit growth and transport of 14C-photosynthates to the clusters at the expense of vegetative organs. Heat stress decreased export of 14C-phoiosynthates from the blades in plants not treated with GR, but even more in cv. Roma. In Roma plants not treated with GR (with very small fruitlets and fruits) the heat stress retarded 14C-transport just in the petioles, diminishing the 14C-supply to the fruits. Reduction of the current photosynthate supplied to the fruits seems to be causally connected with inhibition of the specific activity of acid invertase in that organ. Growth regulators reduced the negative effect of high temperature - they alleviated depression of 14C-export from the blades and increased invertase activity. 14C-photosynthate transport to the fruits, presumably owing to their higher sink strength, was less affected by heat stress. In Robin plants (which had bigger fruits during the experiment) high temperature depressed 14C-fruit supply only in the NG-series, in contrast to enhacement of 14C-Movement to that sink in the control and ZNG-series. In spite of these facts, after heat stress, the specific activity of acid invertase decreased in all the experimental series, but much less in the GR-treated series. Therefore, in the Robin cv. there was no relation between invertase activity and 14C-mobilization by fruits, as was observed in Roma plants. The possible explanation of the different response of the two cultivars with contrasting sensitivity to heat stress; with special reference to the role of GR; diminishing injury of the plants by high temperature is discussed.
The study aims to examine the relationship between school functioning, physical activity (PA), sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), age, and resilience in Ukrainian children who migrated to Poland due to the ...war. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022, focusing on 248 children aged 10-15 years. The findings suggest that school environment, including enjoyment of school and strong support from teachers, plays a significant role in building resilience in children. PA enhanced the resilience of girls, whereas a higher BMI negatively impacted it. A child-friendly school environment that encourages PA and provides social support could be a promising approach for the mental health of Ukrainian refugee children.
Level of physical fitness is related to the functional status of most of the bodily functions and so it appears to be very important to identify perinatal factors influencing physical fitness.
The ...purpose of this study was to determine the influence of birth weight on the level of physical fitness in children 6–7years of age.
Physical fitness was assessed using EUROFIT tests in 28,623 children, aged 6–7years, from rural areas in Poland. Children below the 10th percentile for birth weight for gestational age were defined as small for gestational age (SGA). The influence of birth weight on parameters of fitness was assessed by means of covariance analysis.
With the controls of age, sex and body size, children of low birth weight have shown significantly lower levels of body flexibility and running speed. The leg strength of children with SGA turned out to be significantly lower only in 7-year-old boys.
This study has revealed the significant influence of birth weight on physical fitness. The results suggest the importance of early intervention and its possible benefits for developing and maintaining the proper level of physical fitness further in life.
•Children small for gestational age show a relationship with components of physical fitness at the age of 6-7 years•Lumbar flexibility and running speed in all children were poorer for those born SGA•The explosive power of lower limbs was poorer in boys born SGA
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