0000000000195137
AUTHOR
Ingrīda Rumba-rozenfelde
Comparison of breast milk composition among lactating women in Latvia
Abstract Although benefits of breast-feeding have been known for a long time and breast milk is considered as ideal nutrition for infants, the composition of breast milk is still being studied, since breast milk differs among mothers and populations, as well as during different times of lactation. Further, no study has been performed among lactating women in Latvia during recent years. The objective of the study was to determine the breast milk composition and influencing factors among lactating women in Latvia in different lactation periods, as well as to compare the results with data from other countries. Fifty breast milk samples were obtained from 44 mothers (on the 5th-7th and 11th-28t…
Quality of Life in Healthy Children in Latvia
Abstract In Latvia, no studies on the quality of life (QoL) of healthy children have been conducted. Determining the quality of life of children is an essential part of evaluating the health status of children. The subjective assessment of the individuals about their quality of life provides an opportunity to evaluate the quality of life of the population in the public health sector. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the quality of life of healthy children and adolescents in Latvia in the age group from 8 to 18, as well as to compare the answers between children and their parents living in Latvia. This study also gave an opportunity to compare the results of children and…
Quality of Life in Pediatric Obesity in Latvia
Abstract The aim of the retrospective case-control study was to determine if the health-related quality of life of overweight and obese children is lower than for children with optimal weight, using the KIDSCREEN-52 survey of health-related quality of life. The study examined differences in health-related quality of life assessments between children with optimal weight, and obese and over-weight children, as well as evaluated parental assessments of the quality of life of their children. In total, 200 children aged 8 to 18 years and their parents participated in the study. The results of the study showed that the total quality of life of obese (p < 0.0001) and overweight (p = 0.008) chil…
711 Pancreatic Exocrine Function in Allergic Children
Background and aims: The concentration of human pancreatic elastase1 in faeces reflects exocrine pancreatic function. Patients with allergy may have damaged intestinal mucosa or inflammation within the duodenal mucosa that could be associated with pancreatic dysfunction and disturbed digestion of allergens (that are mainly of protein origin). The aim of the study was to compare pancreatic function in allergic patients and children without allergy. Methods: The total patient sample consisted of 109 children, aged 1-10 yrs (mean age 5.2): 49 children were having allergy while 60 were healthy children or children with minor health problems. Faecal samples were gathered and the activity of huma…
258 Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Allergic Children
Background and aims: Studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection could be considered as a protective factor against development of allergic illnesses. The goal of our study was to compare the prevalence of H. pylori infection in allergic patients and children without allergy. Methods: The total patient sample consisted of 147 children aged 1-10 yrs (mean age 5.2): 58 children had allergy diagnosis and 89 were healthy children or children with minor health problems. Parents were asked to bring a faecal samples of the child and to fill out a questionnaire (demographic data, socio-economical factors). Presence of active H. pylori infection was detected by stool antigen…
Territorial Differences in Infant Mortality in Latvia in the First Decade of the Third Millennium
Objective: Infant and child mortality are some of the most substantial indicators of country welfare. Infant mortality (IM) in Latvia is constantly the highest among 25 Member States of the European Union. Since the regaining of independence in 1991, IM has decreased by almost 50%, however, it is still high enough to cause concern that the country will not be able to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals to decrease IM in Latvia by 2015. The Medical Faculty at the University of Latvia has conducted several studies identifying correlations between IM and GDP, total expenditure on health, unemployment and GINI coefficient. It is necessary to identify all IM causes and relationships which h…
Dominating taxonomic composition of the early life gut microbiota and influencing factors in infants up to seven months of age in Latvia
Abstract It has been hypothesised that the establishment of stable adult microbiota is programmed in infancy, and therefore early life gut colonisation may lead to a lifelong microbiota pattern with significant effects on health. The aim of the study was to analyse the composition of gut microbiota and influencing factors in infants up to seven months of age in Latvia. A cross-sectional study was performed at primary healthcare centres. The parents of healthy infants filled out a questionnaire and brought the child’s faecal sample. 16 rRNS gene sequencing was performed to identify the bacterial taxonomic units. The composition of gut microbiota was compared between children with different r…
Pathogenic Escherichia coli Among Asymptomatic Children and Associated Factors
Abstract Although Escherichia coli is a part of the commensal flora of the gastrointestinal tract, pathogenic types of E. coli can cause diarrhea, especially in children. Pathogenic types are found also in healthy individuals, but prevalence of pathogenic E. coli among asymptomatic children varies and has not been studied in Latvia. The aim of the study was to determine prevalence of pathogenic E. coli among asymptomatic children and identify factors associated with presence of bacterium. Children (aged 0.5–8 years) without acute gastrointestinal symptoms were included in a cross-sectional study. Parents were asked to answer a questionnaire (demographic data, parental education, type of del…
Association Study of Genetic Variants in the 14q11 - 14q13 Proteasomal Genes Cluster with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in Latvian Population
Association Study of Genetic Variants in the 14q11 - 14q13 Proteasomal Genes Cluster with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) in Latvian Population The possible role of proteasomes in the development of autoimmune diseases was hypothesised after discovery of the involvement of proteasomal LMP2 and LMP7 subunits in antigene processing. The objective of this study was to determine the association between allelic variants of the genes encoding proteasomal proteins PSME1, PSME2 and PSMA6 and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the Latvian population. One Indel G-4543 CA-4544 →GA and four SNPs related to the PSMA6 gene (A-2486 →G and C-1910 →T, upstream promoter, C-110 →A of promoter, and C-8…
Inflammatory Cytokine IFNγ, IL-6, and IL-10 Association with Childhood Obesity
Abstract Childhood obesity carries a high risk of serious life-threatening cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood, which are associated with low-grade inflammation. The aim of the present study was to measure serum cytokine concentrations in obese children recruited during endocrinology consultations and compared to lean control the results. Blood serum concentrations of interferon gamma (IFNγ), IL-1β, Interleukin 6 IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α were analysed applying Luminex xMap technology with Millipore reagent kits. Statistical analyses were performed using t-test comparisons and Spearman correlations. Obese children had highly significant increased levels of circulating IFNγ (p < 0.0001), I…
Level of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Pediatric Arthritis Patients
Abstract Vitamin D deficiency is common and widespread globally. Vitamin D has an immunomodulatory effect, but it is still unclear whether its deficiency is associated with higher disease activity. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the serum concentration of vitamin D in children with paediatric arthritis (juvenile idiopathic arthritis and reactive arthritis). Prevalence of hypo-vitaminosis D among 98 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and reactive arthritis was determined and association between serum concentration of vitamin D and disease activity markers was found. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children included in this study was 69.07%. Children wi…
1440 Child Mortality Under Five in Latvia, Causal Relationship and Reduction Possibilities in An International Context
Background and aims: To identify the reasons of the continuously highest infant and under five mortality (U5M) rates in Latvia (since restoration of independence) within EU - 25, in order to find solutions to minimize the mortality rate in accordance with Millenium Development Goals (MDG). Methods: Analytical study of statistical data bases was performed by monitoring reports, private publications to find causal relationship in international aspect between U5M in Latvia and following factors: GDP, health budget per capita, Gini coefficient, medical service availability, etc. Results: Structure of U5M in Latvia differs from EU-25, being 2 to 10 times higher by reason of external causes of de…