Observation of catch-up growth in height within two years of birth in 294 infants with intrauterine growth retardation / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe catch-up growth in height within two years of birth in infants of different sexes, gestational ages, and birth weights with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Follow-up was performed on 294 IUGR infants and 300 healthy full-term infants at 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 months after birth to measure the height, calculate the height increase and compare the two groups with respect to height increase.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The success rates of catch-up growth in height were 72.2% in male infants and 71.5% in female infants (P=0.90), and were 77.4% in preterm small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants and 68.6% in full-term SGA infants (P=0.11). Success rates of catch-up growth in height in infants with birth weights between 1500-2499 g was higher than in those with birth weights of <1500 g and ≥2500 g (P<0.01). The male infants showed significant catch-up growth at 4, 6, 18, 21 and 24 months after birth, while significant catch-up growth was found in female infants at 4, 6, 9, 12 and 21 months after birth. Of the male infants, preterm SGA infants showed significantly greater height increase than the full-term SGA infants at 6 and 9 months after birth. Of the female infants, preterm SGA infants showed significantly greater height increase than the full-term SGA infants at 4 and 18 months after birth. For both male and female infants, height increase at 4 months after birth was significantly greater in those with birth weights of <1500 g than in those with birth weights of ≥2500 g. For male infants, height increases at 4, 6, 18, 21 and 24 months after birth were significantly greater in those with birth weights of 1500-2499 g than in those with birth weights of ≥2500 g. For female infants, height increases at 4, 6, 9, 12 and 21 months after birth were significantly greater in those with birth weights of 1500-2499 g than in those with birth weights of ≥2500 g.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The catch-up growth in height within two years of birth in infants with IUGR occurs mainly in the first year after birth in female infants, but can be seen in the first six months and the second year after birth in male infants. Preterm SGA infants better catch-up growth than full-term SGA infants, and infants with birth weights of below 1500 g and between 1500-2499 g show better catch-up growth than those with birth weights of ≥2500 g.</p>

Clinical and Molecular Epidemiological Characteristics in Children with Measles / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical and molecular epidemiology in children with measles in Shanghai and identify the clinical characteristics and the prevalent genotype of measles virus.Methods The clinical features of measles-such as ages of onset,crowds and epidemiological data were retrospectively analyzed in 39 children with measles from Nov.2005 to Jun.2006 in Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University.Results of blood routine test,liver function test and chest X-ray were also included.Sputum examinations were carried out on the ones who had bronchitis or bronchopneumonia.Throat swab specimen within 3 days of the onset of rashes were collected and were sent to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of Shanghai to isolate measles virus,then the genotypes of the isolated viruses were determined subsequently in CDC of China.Results Twenty-nine cases out of the 39 children were from foreign provinces (74.36%).Among of them,24 cases were younger than (or as young as) 9 months old.Among the 39 cases,35 children had never been inoculated with measles vaccine,and to speak of the ones who were younger than 8 months,the ratio was 57.14%.Five cases out of the 39 children had contacted with measles sufferers.Clinical manifestation were fever,rashes,Koplik spots and catarrh.Twenty-three cases were co-infected with respiratory system and only 8 cases were identified as infection with bacteria or other viruses.The genotype of all analyzed measles viruses belongs to H1a.Conclusions There are also some changes in age groups and endemic distribution,such as younger age and more immigrants except for the typical clinical manifestation of fever,rashes,Koplik spots and catarrh.The predominant genotype is still H1a as in most parts of China.There is no evidence to demonstrate any relationship between the raised morbidity of measles and the genovariation of measles virus.