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Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Published reports suggest that some adverse health impact may be related to noise exposure, and motor vehicle traffic is considered to be the main source of environmental hazard of noise. The aim of this study has been to assess an association between occurrence of sleep and attention disorders with exposure to the noise generated by motor vehicle traffic in the case of a large group of children living in an urban environment.Material and Methods: The data was obtained using a cross sectional study design in Bytom (Silesia, Poland) from 2003-2007 for a selected group of 7-14 year olds (N = 5136). The geographic information system was used for assessing the exposure to noise generated by the motor vehicle traffic. The association between occurrences of sleep disturbances or attention disorders and exposure to the traffic noise was examined by means of multivariable logistic regression.Results: Sleep disturbances and attention disorders were found to be statistically significantly associated with exposure to the traffic noise. The multivariable logistic regression results suggest that sleep disturbances and attention disorders were more likely to occur in the case of children living in the area with higher traffic density, the odds ratio (OR) = 1.44 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-1.97) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.03-1.86), respectively.Conclusions: The results of the study have confirmed that the exposure to the traffic noise could be a significant risk factor for sleep disturbances and attention disorders among children. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(3):511-520. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional food is a key element in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. The ingredients it contains, such as phytosterols that lower cholesterol, also have a preventive effect on type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and heart attack. Phenolic compounds have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Xylo-oligosaccharides control insulin levels, and fibre lowers blood pressure, potentially reducing insulin resistance. These beneficial properties mean that there is an increasing interest in this kind of food., Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the state of knowledge and behaviour regarding functional food among adults and to answer the question whether there are differences between the state of knowledge and behaviour of women and men., Material and Methods: The survey was conducted among 301 people, including 181 women and 120 men. The research tool was an original survey questionnaire., Results: The definition of functional food is known to 42.5% of people (47.5% of women and 35% of men), while the definition of prebiotic is known to 41.9% of people (43.1% of women and 40.0% of men). For 56.2% of respondents, the factor encouraging the consumption of functional food was a healthy lifestyle, and for 54.7% of them, the product composition was the main purchase criterion. Among functional products, cereals or muesli were most often consumed for breakfast by 35% of men and 55.8% of women, 42.5% of men and 33.7% of women were eaten oils for lunch. For dinner they most often consumed fruit teas, herbal teas, herbal mixtures, this answer was given by 25.8% of men and 29.8% of women., Conclusions: Knowledge of functional foods is unsatisfactory, and no differences in the knowledge of women and men have been observed. Consumption of functional food is generally low, and no differences in consumption have been observed between women and men., (National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute.)

Introduction: Due to the high level of urbanization and industrialization, Silesian Voivodeship remains a region with the poorest quality ambient air, especially in the winter season in which alarm levels are constantly being exceeded. However, in the summertime, there are observed short-term episodes of high ozone concentrations for which their impact on the population health is poorly documented. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of daily respiratory health problems related to an increased pollutants concentration typical for photochemical smog., Material and Methods: In the ecological type of study, secondary epidemiological data were used. They were obtained from the National Health Fund (NFZ) in Katowice and included the number of outpatient visits in primary health care and hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases (J00-J99) and selected acute respiratory incidents registered between 01/01/2016 and 31/08/2017 in the Silesian Voivodeship., Results: In the summertime of both years (2016 and 2017), there were observed short-term episodes of photochemical smog in the study region. Obtained results show a significant increase in the risk of outpatient visits due to total respiratory diseases, and also due to acute pharyngitis, acute laryngotracheitis, bronchitis, and asthma in response to the increase in ozone concentration. Similarly, a significant increase in the risk of hospitalization for all respiratory diseases was found, however, it appeared with a delay of at least two to three weeks. In the case of hospitalization due to bronchitis statistically significant risk was observed 2-4 days after the increase in exposure., Conclusions: The occurrence of registered respiratory incidents was confirmed in response to the increase in ozone concentration, characteristic of the summertime in the Silesian Voivodeship., (© National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute.)

Introduction: The association between changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical symptoms in patients with low back pain (LBP) is unclear., Aim: To evaluate correlations between combined MRI findings of the lumbar spine (LS) and pain intensity, depressive and anxiety symptoms and quality of life in patients with LBP., Material and Methods: 200 subjects (93 men and 107 women; mean age 51.42 ± 13.21 years) with LBP referred for MRI were enrolled in the study. All patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Quality of Life Scales (EQ-5D, EQ-VAS) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). MRI scans were assessed according to a scoring system prepared by the authors, and the total MRI score was calculated., Results: The mean total MRI score was 11.59 ± 6.73 points (range 0-50 points) and was higher in men than in women (p = 0.015). A correlation was observed between total MRI score and age (p < 0.001) and between total MRI score and BMI (p = 0.005). An association was found between total MRI score and EQ-5D (p = 0.012) and HADS-D results (p = 0.003). VAS and HADS-A results did not correlate with MRI score. When multivariate analysis was done, the total MRI score was only significantly related to age and BMI, and association between the total MRI score and EQ-5D or HADS-D results was not confirmed. Decreased quality of life was associated with increased intensity of pain and depressive and anxiety symptoms., Conclusions: Combined MRI changes in LS do not correlate with pain intensity, depressive and anxiety syndromes or quality of life in patients with LBP.

Objective: Introduction: Literature data concerning the association between the back pain syndrome and the quality of sexual life are rare, especially in the Polish literature. There are also no reports on the association between magnetic resonance (MRI) results and sexual satisfaction in patients with low back pain (L-S). The aim: To assess the association between the severity of degenerative-discopathic changes in the MRI of L-S spine and the quality of sexual life in patients with low back pain., Patients and Methods: Materials and methods: The study involved 200 patients (107 women and 93 men), referred for MRI of the L-S spine due to the back pain syndrome. The assessment of satisfaction with sexual life at present and before the disease was made by the self-constructed questionnaire and with the use of the Question No. 8 of the Oswestry Questionnaire (ODI). In addition, the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was used. MRIs were analyzed based on the author's scoring scale, assessing selected radiological changes at levels L1-S1. The total score was in the range of 0-50 points., Results: Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the quality of sexual life (8.9 points vs 6.3 points) (<0.001). Back pain did not affect sexual life only in 36.9% of respondents. 26.5% patients were sexually inactive, 7.5% of them declared that pain was the reason for this. There was no statistically significant correlation between the intensity of radiological changes and satisfaction with sexual life., Conclusion: Conclusions: Back pain affects the patients' sexual life. There was no association between the severity of degenerative-discopathic changes assessed in the MRI and the quality of sexual life in patients with L-S back pain syndrome.