Intrauterine growth status of twin neonates with a gestational age of 27-40 weeks / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the intrauterine growth curve of twin neonates, and to investigate the intrauterine growth status of twin neonates.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cross-sectional cluster sampling was performed for an on-the-spot investigation of 1 296 live twin neonates who were born in two hospitals in Shenzhen between April 2013 and September 2015. The Lambda-Mu-Sigma method was used for the curve fitting of body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The means and 3rd-97th percentile intrauterine growth curves for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length were obtained for the 1 296 twin neonates with a gestational age of 27-40 weeks. The curve values of the 1 296 twin neonates for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length were all lower than those of singleton neonates in Shenzhen that had been reported, and the difference increased with increasing gestational age.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The intrauterine growth curves for body weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, and crown-rump length of twin neonates with a gestational age of 27-40 weeks in Shenzhen obtained in this study can provide a reference for evaluating the intrauterine growth status of twin neonates among the current population in Shenzhen.</p>

Kaup index in 16 887 singleton neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks in Shenzhen, China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the Kaup index (KI), an index used to evaluate body burliness and nutritional status, of neonates with a gestational age (GA) of 27-42 weeks at birth, and to establish the percentile curves of KI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cross-sectional cluster sampling was performed from April 2013 to September 2015 to select 16 887 singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks in two hospitals in Shenzhen, China. Body weight and body length were measured to calculate KI. The percentile curves of KI were plotted in these neonates.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean KIs and corresponding standard deviations were obtained for singleton neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks (in male, female, and mixed groups), and the 3rd-97th percentile curves of KI were plotted. The singleton neonates with a GA of 27 weeks had the lowest 50th percentile value of KI, and KI gradually increased with GA. Boys had a higher 50th percentile value of KI than girls in each GA group. In all groups except the 33-week GA group, boys had a higher mean KI than girls, and there was a significant difference in the mean KI between boys and girls in the GA groups of 34 and 36-40 weeks (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>KI of neonates at birth increases with GA, suggesting that body density and body burliness increase with GA. Boys have better body burliness than girls at birth. The percentile curves of KI plotted for singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks (in male, female, and mixed groups) can provide a reference for evaluating the body burliness and nutritional status of neonates at birth in Shenzhen.</p>

A study of Ververck index in 16 865 singleton neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks in Shenzhen, China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Ververck index (VI) reflects thoracic development, body type, and nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the VI of singleton neonates with a gestational age (GA) of 27-42 weeks at birth, and to establish percentile curves of VI of the neonates.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cross-sectional cluster sampling was performed between April 2013 and September 2015. Body weight, body length, and chest circumference were measured for 16 865 singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks in two hospitals in Shenzhen, China. VI was calculated and the percentile curves of VI were plotted for the neonates.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean VIs were obtained for singleton neonates with a gestational age of 27-42 weeks (in three groups of male, female, and both sexes), and related 3rd-97th percentile curves were plotted. As for the 50th percentile curve, the singleton neonates with a GA of 27 weeks had the lowest 50th percentile value of VI, which gradually increased with the increase in GA. The singleton neonates with a GA of 42 weeks had the highest 50th percentile value of VI. Girls had a slightly higher 50th percentile value of VI than boys in all GA groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>VI of neonates increases with the increase in GA. Female neonates may have a slightly better thoracic development, body type, and nutritional status than male neonates at birth. The percentile curves of VI plotted for singleton neonates with a GA of 27-42 weeks (in three groups of male, female, and both sexes) can provide a basis for evaluating thoracic development, body type, and nutritional status of neonates at birth in Shenzhen, China.</p>