Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in children with autism spectrum disorder / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their association with the core symptoms of ASD.@*METHODS@#A total of 150 ASD children aged 2-7 years (ASD group) and 165 healthy children matched for age and sex (control group) who were recruited at the outpatient service of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children were enrolled as subjects. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used to evaluate the core symptoms of the ASD children. Chemiluminescence was used to measure the serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in both groups.@*RESULTS@#The ASD group had a significantly lower serum level of IGF-1 than the control group (P<0.05). The children with severe ASD had significantly lower serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 than those with mild-to-moderate ASD (P<0.001). For the children aged 2-3 years, the ASD group had a significantly lower serum level of IGF-1 than the control group (P<0.05). Boys had a significantly lower serum level of IGF-1 than girls in both ASD and control groups (P<0.05). The serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were negatively correlated with the total score of CARS (r=-0.32 and -0.40 respectively, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The reduction in serum IGF-1 level in early childhood may be associated with the development of ASD, and the serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 are associated with the core symptoms of ASD children.

A prospective study of the development of nocturnal sleep patterns in infants / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the development of nocturnal sleep pattern in infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty healthy full-term newborns born in Chongqing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital were chosen for a prospective longitudinal study. A non-invasive sleep monitor, Actiwatch, was used to monitor infants' 12 sleep parameters on the 10th day, 28th day, the first Tuesday at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th and 12th month after birth, each monitoring time lasting 60 hours. All sleep parameters were analyzed by two-level mixed effect model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-two boys and 25 girls completed the whole follow-up study. From birth to the 12th month after birth, the nocturnal sleep onset latency (NSOL) decreased by about 48% at 3 months of age and by 83% at 6 months of age. The nocturnal sleep efficiency (NSE%) increased from 66% to 87%, the nocturnal total sleep time (NTST) increased from 416 minutes to 517 minutes, and the longest nocturnal continuous sleeping time (L-NCST) increased from 197 minutes to 327 minutes. NSE%, NTST and L-NCST increased with age (P<0.01). The 3rd to 12th month ratios of NSE%, NTST and L-NCST were 86%, 84% and 72%, respectively, and the 6th to 12th month ratios of those were 97%, 91% and 94%, respectively. The nocturnal total wake time (NTWT) and longest nocturnal continuous waking times (L-NCWT) decreased with age (P<0.01). The decline speeds in the first half year were 5-6 times of those in the second half year after birth (P<0.05). NTST, nocturnal continuous sleeping ability and NSE% in boys were lower than those in girls (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Infantile nocturnal sleep patterns develop rapidly during the first 6 months, especially within the first 3 months after birth. Partial infantile sleep parameters are related to gender.</p>

Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among infants in Chongqing urban area / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among infants in Chongqing urban area, and to provide a basis for early intervention in cases of childhood obesity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 2139 infants aged one month were selected by stratified cluster sampling. They underwent growth monitoring and evaluation at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after birth. Meanwhile, related factors were investigated using a standardized questionnaire. The data was subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the risk factors for overweight and obesity among infants aged 18 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The detection rate of overweight and obesity increased rapidly after birth, reaching 26.04% at six months, and then decreased gradually, reaching 15.89% at 18 months. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed nine variable factors that were significantly correlated with overweight and obesity among infants aged 18 months, including nutritional status of the father, nutritional status of the infants at birth and at 6, 9 and 12 months after birth, feeding patterns at 3 months, frequency of vegetable intake at 12 months, frequency of sweet beverage addition at 18 months, and bedtime at 18 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Overweight and obesity are prevalent among infants in Chongqing urban area, and these conditions are affected by multiple factors. Early comprehensive intervention is recommended to curb prevalence.</p>

Effect of eating behavior intervention on infants in the urban area of Chongqing, China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate how to establish good eating behavior and correct bad eating habits in infants by means of the child health care outpatient clinic and to promote the growth and development of infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Infants aged 0-3 months, who were randomly selected from the urban area of Chongqing, were divided into intervention and control groups. The infants in the intervention group received all intervention measures in the study, while those in the control group received conventional health care. Both groups were subjected to regular monitoring of eating behavior indices including time of introduction of foods, frequency of adding complementary foods and intake frequency of unhealthy foods to analyze the effect of intervention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the intervention group, foods were introduced at a reasonable time (P<0.01). Compared with those in the control group, the children aged 9 and 12 months in the intervention group had a significantly higher intake frequency of meat, vegetables and fruits (P<0.01) and a significantly lower intake frequency of sweet drinks (P<0.05), children aged 18 and 24 months in the intervention group had a significantly lower intake frequency of sweet drinks (P<0.01), and the children aged 24 months in the intervention group had a significantly lower intake frequency of ice cream (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Eating behavior intervention can promote the proper introduction of foods and regular addition of supplementary foods, as well as decrease the intake frequency of unhealthy foods such as sweet drinks and ice cream, thus improving the eating behavior of infants.</p>

Comparison of Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children in Chongqing City with Different References / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To compare the prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban children in Chongqing city with 3 different refe-rences and find the appropriate reference for obesity-related study in children.Methods A cross-sectional study including 12 534 urban children aged 2-18 years old was performed.The data were selected from 3 districts in Chongqing city by multistage random cluster sampling.Children′s body height and weight were measured with unique method by trained doctors.Body mass index (BMI,kg/m2) was calculated for each child.Overweight and obese children were defined according to WHO weight-for-height reference values of urban children (1995,standard 1), International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age-and gender-specific BMI cut-offs (2000,standard 2),and National Center for Health Statistics / Center for Disease Control and Prevention(NCHS/CDC)age-and gender-specific BMI cut-offs(2000,standard 3),respectively.Results The prevalence of overweight in all children was 13.0%,9.8%,and 9.8%,and the prevalence of obesity in all children was 9.8%,2.9%,and 6.0% by using the standard 1,standard 2 and standard 3,respectively,which showed significant differences between the references (Pa

Prognoses of food allergy in infancy / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Food allergy as one of social health problems has gained more attention of people. However, few reports on prognosis of food allergy, the relation between infant food allergy and other allergic diseases, and factors affecting prognoses of infant food allergy in China. The present study was designed to investigate the evolution of infancy food allergy and to explore predicting factors of the tolerance to these foods and factors of other allergic diseases to provide a clue for managing children with food allergy reasonably and to improve their prognoses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 119 children with food allergy during infancy, who were diagnosed in the Department of Primary Child Care, Children's Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences from January 2000 to June 2003, were studied retrospectively by analyzing the follow-up data before March 2004. The occurrence of food tolerance and other allergic diseases were counted. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to calculate the cumulative tolerance probability. And the predicting factors of persistent food allergy and influential factors of other allergic diseases were analyzed by unconditional Logistic regression models.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cumulative tolerance probabilities of cow's milk and egg were 42% and 31% one year after diagnosis respectively, 63% and 62% 2 years later, 77% and 80% 3 years later, and 100% after 4 years. And the severity of skin prick test reactions to cow's milk and egg was the predicting factor for persisting hypersensitivity to cow's milk and egg (OR = 2.535, 95% CI: 1.159-5.543; OR = 2.654, 95% CI: 1.302-5.410, P < 0.05). Thirteen cases presented with hypersensitivity to other foods (15.6 +/- 6.1) months after the diagnosis was confirmed, and the risk factor was the long-lasting hypersensitivity to egg (OR = 6.109, 95% CI: 1.818-20.527, P < 0.05). After 4 cases and 15 cases were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and asthma, respectively, (16.8 +/- 8.3) months after diagnoses and the risk factors were the long-lasting hypersensitivity to egg and the respiratory symptoms (OR = 3.596, 95% CI: 1.429-9.045; OR = 4.235, 95% CI: 1.152-15.563, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>At least 75% of children with egg or cow's milk allergy could develop tolerance to egg or cow's milk within 3 years after diagnoses; 10.9%, 12.6% and 3.4% of children with food allergy suffered from other food allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis. Strengthening the screening and management of children at high risk for persistent food allergy will contribute to improvement of the prognoses of food allergy.</p>