Perinatal characteristics of newborns relinquished at birth

Demographic, perinatal, and newborn characteristics of single mothers relinquishing their newborns for adoption (N = 111) were compared with randomly selected and matched groups of mothers keeping their infants. Relinquishing mothers were younger, more apt to be Caucasian, Catholic, primiparous, and economically independent of government assistance, less likely to plan their pregnancies, and later starting prenatal care. In general, their pregnancies and infants were at no higher neonatal risk than those of other single mothers.     

32例新生儿胃肠道穿孔的临床分析

目的探讨新生儿胃肠穿孔的诊断和治疗方法。方法32例胃肠穿孔新生儿经X线、彩超及腹腔穿刺等明确诊断,胃肠穿孔一经确诊后均采取手术治疗。结果治愈17例,死亡15例,治愈率53．13％。死亡病例与早产低体质量儿,延期诊断,误诊,合并感染、休克、多脏器损害等因素有关。结论早期诊断、重视术前处理、合理选择术式、术后常规应用全静脉营养支持、加强术后呼吸循环管理等综合治疗是提高疗效的关键。     

Chemical characterization of Bulgarian bottled mineral waters

Bulgaria is one of the countries in the world richest in mineral waters of natural origin, unique composition and drinking qualities. According to the National Register of the Ministry of Health (2019) 22 companies bottle natural mineral waters in Bulgaria.Although the quality of drinking water depends to a large extent on its microelement composition, only limited data are available about trace element content in Bulgarian bottled mineral waters.In this study, 17 Bulgarian and eight imported mineral water brands purchased from commercial Bulgarian network have been studied. Using ICP-MS, a simultaneous determination of macro- and microcomponents in bottled mineral waters has been performed. The water samples were analyzed for 69 chemical elements, most of which are not considered by Bulgarian and/or European legislation with no data available so far.Multivariate statistical analysis (cluster and discriminant) grouped the water samples according to their type in three clusters HCO₃-Ca-Mg-SO₄ type; HCO₃-Na type; HCO₃-Na-SO₄ and HCO₃- Na-Si-SO₄ types and an outlier is HCO₃-Na-Ca-Si type with CO₂.Concentration cadasters were used to present the element distribution of the studied Bulgarian brands, which allows easy comparison among the studied waters.     

3000例足月新生儿感染性疾病临床特征及其影响因素

目的 分析足月新生儿感染的疾病谱、主要并发症、高危因素、致病微生物、结局等。方法 为回顾性描述性、双盲研究;收集2012年4月-2020年10月在中国人民解放军总医院儿科医学部新生儿科住院的3 000例符合入选要求的病例作为研究病例,收集临床数据采用SPSS 25.0软件分析。结果 疾病谱分析中肺炎占93.57%、败血症占8.53%、腹泻病占2.97%、脐炎占2.23%、脑膜炎占1.63%、坏死性小肠结肠炎(NEC)占0.23%。主要并发症排在前三位的是病理性黄疸占29.70%、贫血占15.20%、低钙血症占11.53%,排在最后的是急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)占3.37%。接触感染、羊水污染、孕期感染、胎膜早破、呼吸支持是足月新生儿感染的高危因素,构成比依次为4.60%、4.53%、4.17%、3.63%、1.17%。培养出致病微生物306株,革兰阳性菌182株占59.48%,革兰阴性菌114株占37.25%,真菌10株占3.27%。常见致病菌为表皮葡萄球菌,其次为肺炎克雷伯菌、人葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、溶血性葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌。真菌为白假丝酵母和近平滑假丝酵母。迟发组治愈率高于早发组(P<0.05),早发组好转率较高(P<0.05)。结论 足月新生儿感染性疾病以肺炎最常见,黄疸为其最常见并发症,羊水污染、呼吸支持、胎膜早破、孕期感染是早发型感染的主要高危因素,接触感染是迟发型感染的主要高危因素。     

HPLC determination of carotenoids in Bulgarian berries

Carotenoids are bioactive substances in foods with powerful antioxidant activity. Based on the health benefits from berries, more information on the content of bioactive substances such as carotenoids is required. The aim of the present study was to determine lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and β-carotene content in berries, which form part of the Bulgarian diet. Study covered six different berry species: strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant and red currant. For each berry five individual samples were analyzed. An HPLC gradient elution system with monomeric C₁₈ column and UV detection at 450 nm were used for separation and quantification of the carotenoids. Lycopene was not detected in any of these fruits. Blackberry had the highest levels of carotenoids. Strawberry had the lowest carotenoid content. Lutein was present in raspberry in higher levels (317.0 μg/100 g), followed by blackberry (270.1 μg/100 g). The highest zeaxanthin levels were found in blackberry (29.0 μg/100 g), followed by blueberry (14.0 μg/100 g). Blackberry has the highest value of β-cryptoxanthin (30.1 μg/100 g). α-Carotene was present in highest levels in raspberry (23.7 μg/100 g). Blackberry had the highest β-carotene content (101.4 μg/100 g), followed by black currant (61.6 μg/100 g). Our data will be included in the Bulgarian National Food Composition Database.     

Basic principles of Bulgarian folk dietary traditions.

Bulgarian folk dietary tradition is one of the most ancient traditions in the world. Its origin can be traced back to prehistoric times. The contribution of ancient Thracians to it, for instance, with respect to some major foods, preparation of foods, practices and customs, is so deeply ingrained in it that to a large extent it determines its overall character. And this is actually an all-European legacy. The Proto-Bulgarian legacy in the field of nutrition is also considerable. Of particular importance here is the correlation of meals with time and with the so called good and bad periods of time. In the present study we have attempted to formulate some of the important principles of the Bulgarian folk dietary tradition. They are only a small part of the vast realm of principles concerning the diet of Bulgarians. All Bulgarian customs, rules and bans in the field of nutrition are based on them. Until quite recently they have had an obligatory character. They have coded in them the thousand-year-long experience of the Bulgarian people. All important rational aspects repeatedly verified in real life under different conditions and situations have been included in them. Thus a complete system of rules and norms of behaviour have been obtained giving exhaustive answers to all questions related to nutrition. It is designed to help people and future generations to avoid risk situations and prevent catastrophes resulting from malnutrition.     

Between-birth intervals in newly married Bulgarian families

An essential component of the family planning of a newly married couple is determining not only the number of children but also the spacing of births. AIM: To study the preferences of newly married couples of Bulgarian ancestry from Plovdiv for between-birth intervals and factors that have effect on them. METHODS: The present transversal study was designed to investigate family planning in young families of Bulgarian origin from the town of Plovdiv at the time of submission of documents for state registration of marriage. The primary sociological information was gathered by a direct individual inquiry of 384 families. The data were compared with data from a similar study performed in 1995. RESULTS: Only one third of the women are willing to have a child immediately after marriage. Men prefer this to happen 1.61 +/- 0.07 year after the marriage while women favour longer protogenetic interval--1.84 +/- 0.06. The opinion of the spouses inquired about the age of women at last birth shows that there is statistically significant increase in this variable from 34.89 +/- 0.29 years in 1995 to 36.33 +/- 0.32 years in 2000. No statistically significant difference was found between the protogenetic intervals of 2000 and 1995. CONCLUSIONS: The increased age at marriage, the postponement of childbirth and increase in the anticipated age of last birth supports the thesis that the Bulgarian family type has undergone changes towards the family type characteristic for the countries in Western Europe.     

Adapting smoking cessation programming to the Bulgarian context

Tobacco control efforts are among Bulgaria's leading health priorities, although enforcement of policies translated from other regions is challenging due to the high national smoking prevalence, especially among health professionals and school personnel. This article reviews the sociocultural and economic background relevant to health policy change and smoking cessation initiatives. Recommendations are made for effective Bulgarian tobacco control.     

Assessing Employment Needs of Bulgarian Youths with Intellectual Impairments

This paper illustrates how the Model of Human Occupation provided a conceptual framework to inform the development of a work-related program for Bulgarian youths with intellectual impairments who are also socially disadvantaged. The paper describes the process of conducting a needs assessment guided by this model. Information was gathered on participants from the target group to create a holistic profile of their strengths and challenges/barriers. This information, in turn, was used to identify key needs which will guide next steps in program development.     

Anthocyanins and Color Variables of Bulgarian Aged Red Wines

The main sensory parameter for the quality of red wines is their color. Twenty-one Bulgarian red wines from five different grape varieties were analyzed (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Melnik, Mavrud and Gamza) in order to determine color variables and evaluate pigment matter. The results show highest proportion of red color in Cabernet-Sauvignon (dA%=59.2–46.9%), followed by Merlot, Mavrud, Melnik and Gamza (dA%=48.1–34.4%). Total anthocyanins reach maximal level for Cabernet-Sauvignon-1998 (274mg/L) and minimal value for Melnik-1998 (22mg/L), and correlate with dA% value. The age index, polymeric anthocyanins/monomeric anthocyanins, increases from 32.6% for Cabernet-Sauvignon-1998 to 87.5% for Gamza-1994 as the polymeric pigment forms have displaced the monomeric anthocyanins during aging process.