Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny最新文献

Background: Thai farmers are directly exposed to pesticides, which may result in adverse effects including cognitive impairment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between occupational pesticide exposure and cognitive decline among adult farmers in northern Thailand.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional study included 303 pesticide-using farmers over the age of 50 from Doi Tao District in Chiang Mai Province. Pesticide exposure score was calculated using an algorithm that considered personal protective equipment (PPE) scores and exposure intensity scores, as well as lifetime application days. The scores were classified as high or low exposure based on their median. The Thai version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used to assess cognitive function.

Results: The mean age of adult farmers was 58.74 years. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 93.7%, with an average score of 19.6. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient showed that the MoCA score was adversely correlated with lifetime application days (r_s = -0.145), PPE score (r_s = -0.163), exposure intensity score (r_s = -0.184), and pesticide exposure score (r_s = -0.225). Linear regression revealed that high exposed farmers had significantly lower MoCA scores than low exposed farmers, as measured by PPE score (B = -0.75; 95% CI: -1.46, -0.05), exposure intensity score (B = -0.97; 95% CI: -1.66, -0.27), and pesticide exposure score (B = -0.77; 95% CI: -1.47, -0.06), after controlling for sex, age, education, income sufficiency, and body mass index.

Conclusions: Thai farmers are at risk of cognitive impairment linked to occupational pesticide exposure, depending on their PPE use and exposure intensity. There is still a critical need for action to reduce the risk of negative health effects from pesticide exposure among Thai farmers.

Background: Women of reproductive age (WRA) are one of the vulnerable population mostly impacted by anemia and iron deficiency (ID) worldwide.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia, ID, and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among WRA in Morocco.

Material and methods: This study included a representative sample of 2,012 non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years covering the entire territory of Morocco. Data collection encompassed socio-demographic information, anthropometric measurements, along with blood samples. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, serum ferritin (SF), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been analyzed.

Results: The median of SF for the entire population was 27 μg/mL (Interquartile Range (IQR): 12-50 μg/mL), and the mean of Hb was 12.2 ± 1.5 g/dL. Significant differences were observed between urban and rural areas: urban SF median was 24 μg/mL (IQR: 11-45 μg/mL) versus rural 31 μg/mL (IQR: 15-55 μg/mL, p < 0.001), and urban Hb mean was 12.2 ± 1.5 g/dL compared to rural 12.4 ± 1.5 g/dL (p = 0.02). Furthermore, the prevalence of anemia, ID and IDA are consistently high; 34.3%, 29.8%, and 16.4%, respectively, with a significant difference in favor of urban areas.

Conclusions: Our findings from this national survey reveal that despite over a decade of implementing flour fortification strategy using electrolytic iron to address iron deficiency in Morocco, anemia, ID, and IDA remain widespread among WRA. Exploring alternative strategies or adopting a different form of iron for fortification could be beneficial in reducing or even eradicating iron deficiency among Moroccan women.

Background: Healthy lifestyle is a key factor in improving health and quality of life at any stage of ontogenesis.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between of the health quality of diet and the level of functional fitness as well as quality of life among older women.

Material and methods: The study was conducted among 201 women aged 60-85 who signed up for the "Active Healthy Senior" project (at the University of Physical Education in Kraków). In the research, the following were used: 1) Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN); 2) Fullerton Functional Fitness Test; and 3) WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Relationships between the variables were evaluated using Spearman's R signed rank correlation coefficients in the IBM SPSS 21 program.

Results: In the study, it was demonstrated that along with an increase in the pro-healthy diet index (pHDI-8), agility increased, and with an increase in the non-healthy diet index (nHDI-8), agility and dynamic balance decreased (p < 0.01). When there was an increase in pHDI-8, the general perception of quality of life and all domains of quality of life: somatic, psychological, social and environmental, increased (p < 0.01). On the other hand, along with the increase of nHDI-8, the psychological domain regarding quality of life experienced a decrease (p < 0.01). However, the strength of the demonstrated relationships was low.

Conclusions: Significant (but weak) correlations were found between the health quality of the diet and indicators of functional fitness and quality of life among older women. Thus, health quality of a diet can be one of the predictors of functional fitness and quality of life in elder women.

Background: Emotions and moods are important regulators of food intake. While initially excessive intake, especially of unhealthy foods, was associated with negative emotions, now the emphasis is also on positive ones.

Objective: The aim of the work was to evaluate the emotional behavior of a selected group of the Slovak population in relation to nutritional behavior, as well as in relation to body composition, and to identify correlations between emotional eating and body composition.

Material and methods: One hundred and eighty volunteers were involved in the study. To assess the emotional aspects of eating, we used a questionnaire developed within the EATMOT project. Body composition was analyzed using a bioimpedance device InBody 970 (multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance/MF-BIA).

Results: The results showed that participants who relieve stress by eating had significantly the lowest values of parameters related to muscle mass (SLM, FFM, SMM, BMR). Participants who consume food that corrects their body weight had significantly the lowest values of fat parameters and in most cases the highest values of parameters related to muscle mass. The analysis showed a strong correlation between question Q₁ and Q₆ (r = 0.649; P < 0.001), Q₈ (r = 0.636; P < 0.001) and Q₉ (r = 0.651; P < 0.001). The questions mentioned form block 1, in which food represents a form of escape. A strong correlation was also confirmed between Q₆ and Q₈ (r = 0.658; P < 0.001) and a moderate one with Q₇ (r = 0.488; P < 0.001). A strong correlation was also found in the case of Q₈ and Q₉ (r = 0.575; P < 0.001) and a moderate one with Q₅ (r = 0.491; P < 0.001). We did not find any significant differences between block 1 and block 2 (positive emotions) (P > 0.05). The values of anthropometric parameters in block 1 were significantly different from the values corresponding to question Q₂. As expected, participants in Q₂ had lower values of fat parameters and higher values related to muscle mass than participants in block 1.

Conclusions: Emotional eating has a significant impact on body composition. However, it should be clearly pointed out that emotional eating is not only associated with negative feelings, but also with positive ones. We can eat not only stress and depressive states, but also feelings of happiness and well-being. The results showed that the values of anthropometric parameters did not differ significantly between those who associate food with negative emotions and those who associate its consumption with positive emotions. However, it was clearly confirmed that those who choose food consciously in relation to the sustainability of adequate body weight also achieved the most optimal values of anthropometric parameters.

The accelerating global use of lanthanides in modern consumer goods has introduced a new source of environmental pollution and potential health hazards. Evaluating risk for human exposure to these rare earth elements (REE) is hampered by limited occurrence data in foods, partly because reliable, sensitive and accurate determination is challenging. An objective of this work was to critically review lanthanide occurrence in fruiting bodies (mushrooms) of edible wild terrestrial (epigeic) and subterranean (hypogeic) macrofungi and their soil substrates, while also assessing the reported data for analytical quality. Given the paucity of information, all available literature on lanthanides in wild mushrooms was considered. Key requirements for credible REE determination in fungal biomass include avoiding cross contamination from substrates, exclusion of spectral/non-spectral interferences through robust purification and selective, sensitive measurement procedures, inclusion of the full range of lanthanides and strict quality control. In general, both high and lower resolution ICP-MS techniques were evidentially able to provide more reliable outcomes if these requirements were followed. A second objective was to propose a rational approach to assess data reliability by combining the above methodological attributes with the characteristics of lanthanide occurrence in mushrooms: (i) adherence to Oddo-Harkins order, visualised as a descending sawtooth pattern - a result of unfractionated uptake and accumulation of lanthanides from soils and other substrates (ii) typical individual concentration ratios (e.g., La/Sm, Ce/Nd, Ce/Sm) that indicate reliable determination, (iii) bio-exclusion of lanthanides by wild fungi (bioconcentration factors < 1). Data from studies that met these requirements confirmed typically low concentrations (0.07 μg kg-1 of Lu in Suillus luteus to 940 μg kg-1 of Ce in Cantharellus minor) with patterns corresponding to Oddo-Harkins order across reported fungal types, maintaining the unfractionated REE substrate patterns. However, given the upward trend in REE usage, the continued monitoring of macrofungi is prudent.

Background: Despite the extensive literature focusing on identifying novel antimicrobials of plant origin, little work has been undertaken to examine the antimicrobial activity of wild edible plants.

Objective: The current research aimed to determine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of some common wild edible plants.

Material and methods: Disc diffusion and broth micro dilution methods were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of extracts of Mercurialis annua, Ziziphys lotus, Rubia peregrina, Origanum vulgare, Papaver rhoeas, Foeniculum vulgare, and Dysphania ambrosioides against known human microorganisms' pathogens.

Results: The result indicated that most of the extracts exhibited a range of in vitro growth inhibitory action against all bacterial strains and yeasts tested with inhibition zones ranging from 11 mm to 32 mm, MIC value ranging from 0.048 to 50 mg/ml and MBC and MFC values ranging from 0.048 to 100 mg/ml. Among the seven plant extracts tested, O. vulgare was the most effective showing high antimicrobial activity against all tested microbial strains. All plant extracts exhibited bactericidal activities against all the tested bacteria strains except for those of R. peregrina, P. rhoeas and F. vulgare which showed a bacteriostatic activity against E. coli and Pseudomonas sp. Antifungal activity was shown only by O. vulgare, F. vulgare and D. ambrosioides against both C. albicans and C. neoformans.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of wild edible plants to control human pathogenic microbes and demonstrate that these plants could be used as starting points for the development of novel antimicrobial compounds.

Background: Orthorexia nervosa (ON), or the obsessive desire to eat only healthy foods, is closely linked to eating behaviors. Among adolescents, the risk of developing ON and its consequences, including weight loss and malnutrition, can be particularly significant due to the crucial impact of eating behaviors on an individual's psychophysical development.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the eating behaviors of high school students and the risk of ON.

Material and methods: Observational study was conducted using the PAPI method among 514 students aged 14-19, of which 59.3% (N=305) were female. The research tool was a proprietary, validated questionnaire that included the ORTO-15 test (cutoff score=35) and the BSQFVF. The questionnaire was used to assess the frequency of consumption of selected food products, the level of dietary fiber intake, the quantity and regularity of meals consumed, as well as other eating behaviors of the participants. The individual responses were then analyzed according to the risk of ON using correlation coefficients.

Results: The prevalence of ON risk was found to be 32.1% (N=165). The percentage of individuals at risk of ON was higher among vegetarians. The results regarding the frequency of consumption of animal protein sources, dietary fiber intake, the number of meals and their regularity were similar in both the group at risk of ON and the group not at risk. Over 80% of individuals who never consumed bars, gummies, and candies were at risk of developing ON.

Conclusions: The risk of ON was higher among vegetarians. Individuals who excluded highly processed foods from their diet were more susceptible to developing ON.

Background: Despite its benefits, the Mediterranean diet (MD) is abandoned or not adopted by the younger generations in most Mediterranean countries.

Objective: The aim here was to examine some factors determining adherence to MD in Moroccan school-age adolescents.

Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a school setting among 386 students (148 boys and 238 girls), aged 14 to 18 years, randomly selected and from different socioeconomic strata. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle data. Physical activity was assessed using the short French version of the IPAQ questionnaire. The KIDMED test was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured according to WHO standards. Body mass index (BMI) and waist�to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Statistical ANOVA test was used for to compare multiple means, Student's t-test for independent samples, Chi² test for categorical variables and multinomial logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with adherence to the MD amongst adolescents sample.

Results: Adherence to the MD in this population was very low, with nearly 53% having poor adherence and only 7.7% reporting optimal adherence. Multinomial regression analyses showed that poor adherence is correlated with female gender (p=0.042), low paternal education (p=0.004), limited number of meals (p=0.006), advanced age (p=0.005) and inadequate sleep duration (p=0.027). In contrast, better adherence appears to be correlated with a high number of meals per day (p<0.001) and a better socio-professional class of the father (p<0.001).

Conclusions: This study revealed a low prevalence of good adherence to MD confirming a transition of the study adolescents towards a Westernized diet. Targeted nutritional intervention programs should be implemented to improve adherence to the MD among Moroccan adolescents, by promoting healthy eating habits.

Background: Environmental pollution, including exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), poses serious health risks, particularly through oxidative stress, which may lead to neurodegenerative damage. Antioxidants, especially those found in natural products, show potential in mitigating these toxic effects. Pomegranate juice (PJ), rich in bioactive phytochemicals, has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of PJ on neurotoxicity induced by CCl4 in rats, assessing specific markers of oxidative stress, enzymatic activity, and apoptotic cell death.

Material and methods: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Control, CCl4, PJ, and CCl4+PJ. The CCl4 group received intraperitoneal injections of CCl4 (0.2 ml/100 g) twice weekly for six weeks, while the PJ group received PJ orally (4 ml/kg) daily for 30 days. The CCl4+PJ group received both treatments in sequence. Brain tissues were analysed for malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and carboxylesterase (CaE) activity. Apoptotic cell death was assessed using TUNEL staining.

Results: CCl4 exposure resulted in a marked increase in MDA levels and AChE activity in brain tissue (p<0.05), alongside a significant decrease in reduced GSH levels and GST activity (p<0.05). Treatment with PJ significantly lowered MDA levels and AChE activity in the CCl4+PJ group compared to the CCl4 group (p<0.05). However, GSH levels and GST activity showed no significant changes in the CCl4+PJ group. TUNEL staining indicated a reduction in apoptotic cells in the CCl4+PJ group versus the CCl4 group, suggesting reduced cellular damage with PJ treatment (p<0.05).

Conclusions: PJ demonstrates neuroprotective potential against CCl4-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in rats by reducing oxidative markers and apoptosis. These findings suggest that PJ could serve as a natural protective agent against neurodegenerative risks associated with environmental pollutants like CCl4.

Background: High-protein yoghurts, are recommended by dieticians as a valuable source of wholesome protein. Consumers' expectations of yoghurts are intrinsically linked to the perceived quality and health benefits of these products.

Objective: The aim of this research study was the sensory analysis and evaluation of consumer preferences towards commercially available high-protein natural yoghurts. The study was designed to identify which quality and nutritional characteristics are crucial for dietetics students when choosing such products. Moreover, the factors influencing the purchasing decisions of this group were analysed, which can provide valuable information for food producers and dieticians.

Material and methods: The research study was conducted among 65 students of dietetics at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. The examination included the sensory evaluation of eight high-protein yoghurts by means of a five-point rating scale and the analysis of consumer preferences based on a proprietary questionnaire, which consisted of questions concerning the characteristics of the study group and questions assessing consumer preferences and dietary habits.

Results: Among the surveyed students of dietetics, 35.4% declared to consume high-protein yoghurts several times a week, mainly due to 'positive health benefits'. In the conducted sensory evaluation, yoghurts of brands 'A', 'C' and 'E' scored highest, while the plant-based alternative of brand 'D' scored lowest.

Conclusions: The high-protein yoghurts of brands 'A', 'C' and 'E' outstand in terms of taste and texture, which makes them the most popular products among consumers. Products from 'A', 'C' and 'B' brands are also widely available on the market, which favours their popularity. Taste proved to be a key factor in the decision to re-purchase. The largest number of respondents stated their willingness to purchase 'A' brand yoghurt again, while 'D' and 'F' brand products were the least popular, which may be due to differences in taste preferences and the availability of these products on the market.