Biomechanical Aspects of the Foot Arch, Body Balance and Body Weight Composition of Boys Training Football

Urinary neonicotinoid insecticides and adiposity measures among 7-year-old children in northern China: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) are emerging synthetic insecticides used in various pest management regimens worldwide. Toxicology studies have indicated the obesogenic potential of NEOs, but their associations with adiposity measures are largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess urinary levels of NEOs/metabolites and their associations with children's adiposity measures, and to further investigate the potential role of oxidative stress.

METHODS

This study included 380 children who participated in the 7th year's follow-up of the Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort in northern China. Urinary levels of seven NEOs and two metabolites and a biomarker of lipid peroxidation named 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) were detected. A total of nine indicators of adiposity were measured. Body mass index (BMI) z-score ≥85th percentile was defined as overweight/obesity, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) ≥0.5 was considered as abdominal obesity. Multiple linear regression, binary logistic regression and mediation analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Six NEOs [imidacloprid (IMI, 99.7%), clothianidin (CLO, 98.9%), dinotefuran (DIN, 97.6%), thiamethoxam (THM, 95.5%), acetamiprid (ACE, 82.9%), thiacloprid (THD, 77.6%)] and two metabolites [N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (N-DMA, 100.0%), 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CINA, 97.9%)] exhibited high detection rates. Multiple linear regressions showed positive associations of waist circumference with urinary levels of IMI and THM, of WHtR with IMI and THM levels, and of body fat percentage with 6-CINA levels. In contrast, exposure to N-DMA was negatively associated with body fat percentage and fat mass index. Binary logistic regressions further revealed that higher IMI levels were associated with overweight/obesity (OR = 1.556, 95% CI: 1.100, 2.201) and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.478, 95% CI: 1.078, 2.026) in children. 8-iso-PGF2α demonstrated 27.92%, 69.52% and 35.37% mediating effects in the positive associations of IMI, THD and THM with WHtR, respectively. Sex modified the associations of DIN with body fat mass (p_int = 0.032), body fat percentage (p_int = 0.009), fat mass index (p_int = 0.037) and the overweight/obesity rate (p_int = 0.046), with negative associations in girls and nonsignificant positive associations in boys.

CONCLUSIONS

School-age children in northern China were widely exposed to NEOs/metabolites. Urinary levels of NEOs/metabolites were associated with adiposity measures through the mediating role of 8-iso-PGF2α. These associations were mixed, and a sex-specific effect might exist.

Dental Malocclusion in Mixed Dentition Children and Its Relation to Podal System and Gait Parameters

BACKGROUND

Dental malocclusion is an increasingly frequent stomatognathic disorder in children and adolescents nowadays. The purpose of this study was to confirm or deny the correlations between body posture and malocclusion.

METHODS

In the study, gait, distribution of foot pressure on the ground, and body balance were examined. The research group consisted of 76 patients aged 12-15 years. The research group was obtained from patients attending periodic dental check-ups at Healthcare Center Your Health EL who agreed to participate in the study. The patients were divided into two groups without malocclusion and with malocclusion, using Angle classification, which enabled determination of the anteroposterior relationship of the first molars. The pedobarographic mat was used to analyze the distribution of foot forces on the ground, the diagnostic system Wiva^® Science was used for gait analysis, and Kineod 3D was used for posture analysis. The Shapiro-Wilk test used for analysis showed inconsistency with normal distribution for all measurement parameters. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the analysis, and the significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

Examination of the relationship between stabilometric and gait parameters showed that the position of the mandible in relation to maxilla has an important effect on gait rhythm, gait cycle duration, and right step duration time. Patients diagnosed with malocclusion showed high-speed walking rhythm in comparison to patients with Angle's class I (p = 0.010). The duration of the whole gait cycle (p = 0.007) and the duration of right step (p = 0.027) were prolonged in students without orthodontic disorders compared to the other.

CONCLUSIONS

The conducted study proved that there is correlation between the presence of a stomatognathic disorder and gait cycle parameters. There is a statistically noticeable correspondence between the position of the mandible in relation to maxilla and walking rhythm, gait cycle duration, and right step duration time. Namely, students who presented malocclusion had a high-speed walking rhythm and decreased duration of the gait cycle and of the right step. On the other hand, students without disorders (Angle's class I) showed low-speed rhythm and increased duration of the gait cycle and of the right step in comparison to Angle's classes II and III.

Podiatric and Stabilographic Examinations of the Effects of School Bag Carrying in Children Aged 11 to 15 Years

Background: The issues raised in this study were inspired by the concern for the musculoskeletal status of school children. Carrying excess weight in the form of a school bag in this period of life affects the correct body posture of school children. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of school bags on the feet force distribution on the ground and postural balance in children of both sexes between 11 and 15 years of age. Methods: The study investigated the distribution of pressure forces on the sole of the foot and its arch. The center of pressure for both feet and the whole body was also examined. The participants were 100 students from primary schools in Gdańsk, aged 11 to 15, including 54 girls and 46 boys. The research used a podobarographic platform that measures the distribution of foot pressure to the ground. The examinations included two measurements: in the first, the children stood on the platform in a natural position. Then, a 5 kg backpack was put on and they stood on the platform again. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of the foot pressure on the ground in the left metatarsus (p = 0.000) and heel (p = 0.000) after putting on the backpack in both girls and boys. However, in the right foot, these differences concerned the metatarsal area (p = 0.001). The results of the balance tests were only statistically significant in the group of girls in the right foot sway area (p = 0.020). Conclusions: The school backpack load led to an increase in the values of the heel and metatarsal area measured in the students, causing its flattening.