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Biomedical subjects

H Palti

Publications and source records attributed to H Palti.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Tracking of blood pressure over an eight year period in Jerusalem school children.

Tracking of blood pressure (BP) over an 8-year period between the age of 6 and 14 years and the effect of weight, height, BMI and weight gain has been studied in a population of school children in Jerusalem (n = 533). Pearson's correlation coefficients were 0.65 for weight, 0.61 for height, 0.32 for systolic BP and 0.29 for diastolic BP over an 8-year period. Children maintaining their percentile rank for weight or BMI showed higher correlations than those increasing or decreasing their percentile rank. Girls' menarcheal status did not have a significant effect on the level of BP at 14 years of age. The prevalence of significant and severe BP as defined by the NHLBI Task Force was 1% at 6 years and 0.4% at 14 years. The predictive value of the BP at 6 years for 14 years of age was low even for those with hypertension levels: for SBP 16-33% and for DBP 0-37%. Based on the present study and others, large scale screening of BP is not recommended, rather community based programs aimed at modifying health behaviour in order to prevent development of cardiovascular risk factors and associated morbidity and mortality should be introduced.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a structured breast-feeding promotion program integrated into a Maternal and Child Health service in Jerusalem.

A community program for promotion of breast-feeding integrated into the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services is presented and evaluated, using two quasi-experimental designs, comparison groups and time trends. The program, which began in 1981, included guidance from the 7th month of pregnancy to 6 months post-delivery. An increase in the percentage of breast-feeding mothers and the duration of breast-feeding was noted in the post-intervention cohorts (1981-82 and 1985) compared with the preintervention cohorts (1979-81). The comparison of the breast-feeding pattern of the 1985 birth cohort from the MCH service exposed to the program with a similar group receiving routine MCH care indicated that the percentage of mothers breast-feeding fully or partially was consistently higher among the intervention group compared with the control group at 4, 13 and 26 weeks (P = 0.0045), and the mean duration of full breast-feeding was 9.3 weeks compared with 7.0 weeks (P = 0.028). The program had a greater effect on mothers with a lower educational standard, thus closing the gap in the breast-feeding pattern by educational level in the intervention group. The evaluation indicates that a structured breast-feeding promotion program is more effective than the routine guidance received in the MCH service.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1987

Serum cholesterol (total, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), triglyceride levels, and fat consumption among Jerusalem Arab and Jewish schoolchildren.

As part of initial health screening for the "Know Your Body" Program-based comprehensive health education program, 841 Jerusalem first- and second-grade schoolchildren were tested for total serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. The same population, which included 643 Jewish (76.5%) and 198 Arab children (23.5%), had their nutritional habits evaluated by means of a parent-completed food-frequency questionnaire. Arab schoolchildren had significantly lower total, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and higher triglyceride levels than the Jewish children studied (total cholesterol: Arab mean, 153.1 mg/dl, Jewish mean, 170.3 mg/dl; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: Arab mean, 46.4 mg/dl, Jewish mean, 48.5 mg/dl; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: Arab mean, 90.7 mg/dl, Jewish mean, 108.5 mg/dl; triglycerides: Arab mean, 77.9 mg/dl, Jewish mean, 66.3 mg/dl). No significant differences in consumption level of foods high in saturated fats and/or cholesterol were found between populations, although the Arab children showed a tendency to eat more of these foods. Significant differences in total cholesterol values were also found among Jewish children of different origins, but no significant differences were found in consumption levels of saturated fats and cholesterol. Further studies are needed to determine the reasons for the differences in total cholesterol and lipoprotein levels found between Jewish and Arab schoolchildren.

Child↗
PubMed1987

Use of iron supplements in infancy: a field trial.

Iron-deficiency anaemia in infancy, which is an important public health problem even in countries where gross malnutrition is not prevalent, can be prevented by iron supplementation or by fortification of infant foods with iron. A programme of iron supplementation was carried out in two places in Israel through the Maternal and Child Health services in the course of their routine duties. Though 89% of the mothers complied and gave iron supplements to their infants for a period of 1-9 months, only 26% continued for the full 9 months. A stastically significant difference was found in the haemoglobin and mean erythrocyte volume levels between the iron-supplemented group and the controls. The results indicate that the use of a higher daily dose of iron for a shorter period might lead to better compliance and greater benefits.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1987

Use of the Israeli Standardized Denver Developmental Screening Test in the maternal and child health services--assessment of its predictive value.

The translated version of the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) for screening a total population of infants at 6 months of age was used in the Maternal and Child Health Services of the Department of Social Medicine. The failure rate was 18%. In subsequent birth cohorts, the Israeli Standardized Denver Developmental Screening Test (IDDST) was applied, and the failure rate was 3%. The results of 176 infants tested with the IDDST were transcribed on the DDST forms. Sensitivity and predictive values were appraised in relation to the developmental quotient (DQ) at age 2 as assessed by the Brunet-Lezine Developmental Test. Using a cutoff point of 2 SD below the mean DQ as the criterion, sensitivity and predictive value were 25 and 13%, respectively. The sensitivity and predictive value of the IDDST increased when the cutoff point was changed to -1 SD. The biserial correlation coefficient between the DDST at 6 months of age and the DQ score at 2 years was 0.37 and that between the IDDST and the DQ was 0.28. The predictive value of infant tests and the need for reevaluation of the IDDST for 6-month-old infants is discussed.

Child Development↗
PubMed1985

Familial aggregation of blood pressure, weight and height among sibling pairs at school entry.

Aggregation of blood pressure among sibling pairs of the same age and sex was studied. The children were of a restricted age group, 6-7 year olds, who entered school between 1976 and 1980 in a Western Neighborhood of Jerusalem. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 98.8 mmHg (SD 10.2), for the first sib of the pair and 97.3 mmHg (SD 9.7), for the second sib of the pair and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 63.0 mmHg (SD 9.6) and 60.1 mmHg (SD 9.2), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient for SBP was 0.18 (p less than 0.05) and for DBP 0.12 (p less than 0.05), for weight 0.46 (p = 0.001) and for height 0.46 (p = 0.001). Pearson's and intraclass correlations and regression coefficients were calculated. Comparison with other studies was made. The degree of the correlation was found to differ among the various studies. The lowest correlations were those of the present study. The factors affecting the strength of the correlations are discussed.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1985

Learning achievement and behavior at school of anemic and non-anemic infants.

In a prospective study the learning achievement and behaviour of second grade children who were anemic in infancy (n = 20) was compared with that of non-anemic children (n = 55). All children received preventive care and were under surveillance from birth at the Community Health and Research Center of Hadassah in Jerusalem. The anemic children had a hemoglobin level of less than 10.5 g/dl whereas the comparison group had more than 11.5 g/dl at 9 months of age. The learning achievement score was significantly lower in the anemic group 9.3 S.D. 3.8, than in the non-anemic group 11.5 S.D. 2.9 (P = 0.009). The positive task orientation was also significantly lower in the anemic group, though on additional behavior scores no differences were found. Differences remained significant even after controlling for maternal education and sex of child in a multivariate analysis. It is possible that an iron deficiency state which persists during the critical period of brain development in infancy has long-lasting effects on cognitive functioning. Prevention of iron deficiency may contribute to promotion of child development and better achievement.

Achievement↗
PubMed1985

Tea drinking and microcytic anemia in infants.

To evaluate the effect of tea drinking on the occurrence of microcytic anemia in infants, we studied 122 healthy infants who underwent routine blood counts at the age of 6-12 months. An overall high frequency of anemia (Hb less than 11 gm/dl-48.4%), microcytosis (MCV less than 70 Mm3-21.3%) and microcytic anemia (19%) was found in the whole group. The percentage of tea drinking infants with microcytic anemia (32.6%) was significantly higher than that of the non-tea drinkers (3.5%). The daily amount of tea drinking was 50-750 ml (median 250 ml). The tea drinkers had significantly lower mean levels of hemoglobin than that of the non-tea drinkers (10.5 +/- 1.2 gm/dl vs 11.2 +/- 0.8 gm/dl, respectively) and significantly lower mean levels of mean corpuscular volume than that of the non-tea drinkers (71.5 +/- 7.1 micron 3 vs 76.1 +/- 4.6 micron 3). There were no significant differences between the two groups in their sex distribution and in the duration of breast feeding. The two groups differed with regard to their ages and social class but a multivariate analysis had excluded the possible confounding effect of these differences on the hematological results. Based on our finding we do not recommend giving tea to infants whose main source of iron is from milk, grains, vegetables or medicinal sources.

Anemia↗
PubMed1984

Determinants of blood pressure in Jerusalem schoolchildren.

In 1982, 113 first- and second-graders attending an elementary school in West Jerusalem had their blood pressure (BP), height, weight, and resting pulse measured. Three successive BP readings were taken. The mean of the second and third readings was used for data analysis. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 98.30 +/- 8.51 mm Hg and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 67.63 +/- 6.85 mm Hg. An analysis of covariance was performed in order to determine the contribution of each independent variable (height, weight-for-height, sex, age, and resting pulse) to the variance in BP, while adjusting for all other independent variables. Height, weight-for-height, and resting pulse were all found to be significantly associated with both SBP and DBP. Children in the upper quartile of weight-for-height had a mean adjusted SBP that was 10.2 mm Hg higher than those in the lower quartile and a mean adjusted DBP that was 7.9 mm Hg higher. Children in the upper quartile of height (for age) had mean adjusted SBP and DBP that were 6.1 and 4.7 mm Hg higher, respectively, than those of children in the lower quartile. Sex and age showed no significant association with SBP. The associations between DBP and both sex and age were not statistically significant (P less than 0.10), but there was a trend for girls and older children to have a slightly higher DBP. In a subsample of 93 children who had both resting pulse and recovery index measured (using the Modified Harvard Step Test for children).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Advice from the obstetrician and other sources: do they affect women's breast feeding practices? A study among different Jewish groups in Jerusalem.

Breast feeding practices and the sources of advice that influenced them were studied in a sample of 276 women from North East Jerusalem. They were followed-up for 4 1/2 months and interviewed on 4 occasions during that period. It was found that 89.7% started breast feeding after parturition, 62.4% were breast feeding by 6 weeks, 40.3% were breast feeding after 3 months and 27.3% were still breast feeding by 4 1/2 months postpartum. Obstetrician's advice given at the 6 weeks postpartum examination was significantly associated with duration of breast feeding (P = 0.001). Other sources of guidance were not significantly related to duration of breast feeding when controlling for social class. Analysis of variance indicated that women of higher social classes breast fed more and for a longer period of time. There was no difference in the pattern of attendance at the obstetrician's examination by social class, although a very small proportion of women belonging to the lower social classes reported getting advice on breast feeding during that visit. There was a strong relation between advice of the obstetrician and percentage of women breast feeding 4 1/2 months postpartum. Country of origin of the women also affected breast feeding practices. Women of Western origin breast fed more and longer than women of Asian or North African origin. This might be explained by social movements that attempt a return to more natural life styles which are prominent in Western societies. The differential relationship between advice of obstetrician and women belonging to different social classes is discussed and key elements in the relation between obstetrician's advice and women's breast feeding practices are considered.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1984

Bacteriuria in pregnancy and growth and development of the infants.

In the framework of a community-oriented programme in a western neighbourhood in Jerusalem, screening for bacteriuria during pregnancy was introduced. Between the years 1972 and 1979, 30 cases were identified, an incidence of 1.7%. All women diagnosed as having bacteriuria received antibiotic treatment according to sensitivity of the organism. This report presents the pregnancy outcome as measured by physical growth and development of the offspring. Cases of bacteriuria were compared with individually matched nonbacteriuric controls. No statistically significant differences were found in mean birth weight, mean weight and length at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, and development quotient at 2 years. No low birth weight infants were found among the cases. The fact that no differences were found between cases and controls, the feasibility, validity, acceptability and low cost of the screening test, and the health benefits of the programme justify introduction of routine screening and treatment of bacteriuria in the preventive health services.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Long-term follow-up of children whose mothers used oral contraceptives prior to conception.

Anthropometric, psychometric and hematologic measurements were made at intervals in the first 3 years of life in a cohort of 732 infants, including 177 (24.2%) whose mothers used oral contraceptives (OC) prior to conception. Analysis of the data focused on weight and height measurements at 3, 9, 12, 24 and 36 months of age; hemoglobin and hematocrit at 9 months; development quotient (DQ) at 2 years and its components, posture, coordination, language and social; and intelligence quotient (IQ) at 3 years and its verbal and nonverbal components. Analyses were made for both sexes combined and males and females separately, by examining crude means, and means adjusted through linear multiple regression for birthweight, age of child at the time of examination, height of mother, mother's weight-for-height centile, birth-order, maternal and paternal education, and maternal smoking. No significant differences were found between the children whose mothers did or did not use oral contraceptives.

Adult↗