Biomedical subjects

A Siniarska

Publications and source records attributed to A Siniarska.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Gender differences in body build and physiological functions in the adult population of Yucatan, Mexico.

This study, conducted in 1994-95, evaluates differences in body build, blood pressure and respiratory functions between sexes and age groups of low socioeconomic strata individuals living in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The cross-sectional sample includes 344 males and 320 females, 20-98 years of age divided into six age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+ years) by sex. Differences between age cohorts in height, weight, fatness, systolic blood pressure, and most respiratory variables (excluding expiratory reserve volume, minute ventilation and respiration rate) are greater among women than in men. The more marked secular trend in stature and bigger biological differences between age cohorts in women might have its beginning in 19th century when living conditions of women were worse than those of men. Only since the last decades of 20th century, migrations and improvements in living conditions might caused more drastic changes in women of low social strata than in men. Results of regression analysis show a greater relationship between studied variables in women than in men what confirms that women are less sensitive to environmental factors. A pattern of changes in minute ventilation (MV) with rising age of the cohorts differs between men and women (smaller differences appear in the women's cohort) Also a different pattern (MV) is seen in European populations. The latter may suggest existence of some adaptational phenomena to the local environment.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Seasonal rhythm of menarche as a sensitive index of living conditions.

The paper is focused on the seasonal pattern of birth and occurrence of menarche in different populations. The material collected in 1988/89 consists of 522 girls and their 249 mothers from schools of Merida, and of 135 girls and their 66 mothers from Progreso (Yucatan, Mexico). Occurrence of a biorhythm due to which girls matured in the month of their birth more frequently than by chance, was found. A shift of the maturation to an earlier or later month is caused by stress acceleration up or delaying maturation. Seasonal differences in menarche occur in different climates, but they depend on seasonal differences in the life style, occupation, and the like, rather than on climate itself. Typically menarche occurs in the extreme periods in terms of climate, diet, hard work, stress, etc., that is, in summer and/or in winter. The age of mother's maturation is correlated with that of daughter's. Month of daughter's maturation is correlated with that of mother's. Correlation exists between the month of woman's birth and the month of her maturation. No correlation exists between the month of daughter's birth and that of mother's, and between the month of daughter's maturation and the month of mother's birth.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1992

Socio-economic conditions of the family and somatic and physiological properties of parents and offspring.

This paper discusses problems related to the formation of the somatic and physiological traits of the human body seen against a social and economic background. Source material for the study was collected upon the examination in 1975-1982 of a group of 1,108 families (altogether 3,830 persons including 1,756 men) from urban, rural and industrial areas of Poland. Their biological status was described by fourteen somatic and nineteen physiological traits. Social standing and material well-being were defined by four factors: culture, living conditions, genetic factor of mother and the same factor of father. These formed the criteria for a division of the families into sixteen types. It was only within such sub-groups that biological development of individual family members was assessed. In every type of family and in every one of its members we can distinguish positively and negatively developed traits. In couples where both spouses were tall, the biological development of the majority of traits was rather satisfactory. In the cases where husband and wife differed in stature (mother taller than father in categories specific for each sex), then blood properties of offspring had higher values than in the reverse type of mating. Analysis of traits unrelated to body height showed fathers more sensitive to family environment factors than mothers, while their offspring showed a much weaker sensitivity than either parent.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1992

Biological status of Jastarnia, Szczawnica and Krościenko populations as an effect of adaptation to seaside and low mountain conditions.

The material consists of the families from Krościenko and Szczawnica examined in 1983 (309 men and 256 women) and of the families from Jastarnia examined in 1987 (163 men and 192 women). In addition to 43 biological traits (somatic, physiological, and psychomotor), also socio-economic conditions of families were analyzed, along with basic demographic data for the study areas. It has been found that migrations of people and marital radius were higher in Jastarnia than in Pieniny, and at the same time infant mortality was higher in Jastarnia, although living conditions were better there (more rooms and more opportunities for additional income). Children and youth of both areas were characterized by a medium-strong body build. Stature, body weight, and adipose tissue were higher in Jastarnia than in Pieniny. Moreover, the inhabitants of Pieniny were europrosopus and hyperbrachycephalic, whereas the inhabitants of the seaside areas were leptoprosopic and brachycephalic. The vascular-respiratory system of the seaside population was characterized by lower mean hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit index as compared with those in the low-mountain population. Most of the respiratory traits (VC, Ap, VE, MVV, FEV1), however, were higher in Jastarnia, only the frequency of respiration (f) being higher in Pieniny. A comparison of psychomotor traits showed no difference in the static strength and muscular explosive power between the two populations, but agility traits were higher in Jastarnia, whereas the body balance and musculatory endurance were better in the Pieniny population.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1992

Changes in biological status of the Jastarnia population over the last 20-year period.

The objective of this paper is to analyze changes in the biological condition of the inhabitants of Jastarnia (Hel Peninsula), who were examined three times during 1963-87. A total of 1791 persons of both sexes, aged from 3 to 80 years were under study. A total of 20 somatic and physiological traits were considered. According to the data of the Central Statistical Office (available from 1976) the birth rate in Jastarnia increased in 1987 but mortality increased even at a higher rate so that the increase of the population (per 1000 inhabitants) was reduced from 6.8 in 1976 to 3.7 in 1987. A factor analysis, used to estimate socio-economic conditions of two generations of this town, has shown that the apartment size and income of a family (factor 1) explained the highest percentage of the variance of the traits considered. Education of parents was on the second position (factor 2). The next factor (3) represented biological properties of parents measured by their stature. The last one (factor 4) characterized family size in the second generation, for the first generation this trait being related with factor 2 (culture). A tendency to slim body was observed in children and youth. However, the ratio of chest circumference to stature (Marty index) did not change, which can be explained in terms of the adaptation to maritime climate. The content of adipose tissue increased in children and youth, and also the vital capacity of lungs in relation to stature (Ziemssen index) increased in children. Blood pressure at rest was reduced in 1987, but systolic blood pressure at work was increased. An increase in the minute respiration rate and reduction of chest extension in the contemporary youth seem to be rather unfavorable.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1992

The effect of culture and genotype on motor development of parents and their children.

The study is based on the observation of 3995 individuals aged from 3 to over 80 years from five habitat types of Poland, ranging from agricultural villages to a large industrial city. We used a set of motor tests described elsewhere and examining the static and explosive muscular strength, agility, coordination and persistent fitness. The study objects were the generations of parents and their children (because of age-dependent differences, the traits of the latter were expressed in T-scores). Factor analysis with rotation Varimax was used to examine family traits. Four latent factors characterizing families were identified. Factor 1 (F1) was related with culture (consciousness). It explained 26% of the variance. F2 described living conditions and explained 22% of the variance. F3 (maternal-genetic) explained 12% of the variance, and factor 4 (father's genetic factor) explained 11% of the variance. These factors have a stronger effect on the motor traits of parents than on those of their children. The two generations were more similar with respect to such traits as the static strength, flexibility, spatial orientation and persistence. They were little similar with respect to explosive power and running agility. A moderate similarity occurred for throw accuracy and body balance. The most important factor in the parental generation is the consciousness (culture level) co-occurring with fitness (only for throw accuracy these were living conditions). The most important factors in the descendant generation were usually beyond the examined family traits. The present results show that in parallel to genetic and maternal factors also cultural factors related to traditional customs and social practices determine motor traits of children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Urbanization and industrialization versus biological status of human populations.

The paper concerns the biological status of the Polish population. A comparison was made for inhabitants of towns, villages, and areas under different levels of industrialization and environmental pollution. It has been found that urban populations as compared with rural ones were characterized by a smaller number of children within a family, higher natural abortion rate, and higher infant mortality (estimated during the first 24 hours of life). An analysis of birth rate in three groups of birth weight has shown that rural habitats were more suitable for prenatal development than urban habitats, as a higher proportion of newborns had optimum body weight at birth in villages. It has been observed that the biological status of fetus (estimated as the body weight at birth) depended on the socio-economic conditions (a relatively high birth rate with optimum body weight in the first half of the 1970s, and a low birth rate in the years of the social crisis in Poland in 1981-82). Moreover, it has been found that in agricultural areas relatively little polluted (the Suwałki region), birth rate and total mortality were high, respiratory traits reached highest values, and blood pressure was low as compared with values of these traits in other areas of Poland. The inhabitants of industrial centers (Puchaczów, Bukowno) were exposed to heavier environmental pollution than the rural population, and at Puchaczów they were characterized by a short stature and low body weight. The seaside region (Jastarnia) was over-crowded and also affected by the pollution of the Puck Bay. Both these factors could account for a high mortality and emigration rate. Inhabitants of the areas being industrialized (Bełchatów) were characterized by a low total mortality, below average for infants, poor development of the respiratory system, but a high psychomotor fitness. In the city of Lódź and in Strzemieszyce, environmental pollution was very high, which was combined with a very high total mortality, and in Lódź also with a high infant mortality. In Strzemieszyce, the values of some physiological traits such as Hb and HR were increased.

Birth Weight↗

PubMed1983

Environment and secular changes in modern man.

The secular trend of human traits has so far been investigated mostly with respect to the morphological traits, mainly stature and body weight. However, some studies of changes in the physiological and psychomotor traits have also been published. The intergenerational changes concern changes in the development rate, magnitude of traits and sequence of symptoms of development. These changes are mainly due to changes in the environmental conditions, particularly of the living conditions. Another factor--though increasingly less expressed in present-day man--consists of genetic determination (especially survival). Migrations changing the gene frequency in populations represent the third factor. In the major part of economically developed countries interpopulational changes continue; in highly industrialized countries no further acceleration of sexual maturation takes place. Some studies from India and certain African countries point to a regression of physical development in children. Since stature and body weight are positive indices of health, they are important from the epidemiological standpoint and should be closely analyzed. This paper describes the findings obtained hitherto in studies performed in Poland or resulting from an analysis of materials from various countries.

Adolescent↗