Epidemiological investigation of tic disorders among pupils in the Shunde Longjiang area, and their relationship to trace elements / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of tic disorders (TD) among pupils in the Shunde Longjiang area, and their relationship to trace elements.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional study of 4062 children aged 6-12 years, who were selected from the Shunde Longjiang area by stratified cluster sampling to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of TD, was conducted, and blood concentrations of trace elements in children with TD were determined. Forty normal children were selected as controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall prevalence rate of TD was 2.98%; the prevalence rates of transient tic disorder, chronic motor or vocal tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome were 3.62%, 2.39% and 1.21% respectively. Boys had a significantly higher prevalence rate of TD than girls (3.92% vs 1.96%; P<0.05). There were no significant differences in blood copper, manganese and magnesium levels between children with TD and normal children (P>0.05), however, children with TD had a significantly increased blood lead level and significantly decreased blood zinc and iron levels compared with the normal children (P<0.05). No significant differences in trace elements were found between children with different subtypes of TD (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TD is common in children aged 6-12 years and more prevalent in boys than in girls. High blood lead level and zinc and iron deficiencies may be one of the causes of TD, and thus should be considered during therapy.</p>

Value of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody in diagnosis of Kawasaki disease / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the value of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum ANCA was detected in 30 children with typical Kawasaki disease (TKD) and in 16 with incomplete Kawasaki disease (IKD) in the acute and the recovery phases respectively. Twenty-five healthy children were randomly selected as a control group. An ultrasonic cardiography (UCG) was performed on children with KD in the acute phase.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean positive rate of serum ANCA in the acute phase in KD children was 65%, with 69% in IKD children and 63% in TKD children, which were obviously higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The positive rate of serum ANCA in the recovery phase in KD children was significantly lower than that in the acute phase (33% vs 65%, P<0.05). The positive rate of serum ANCA in the acute phase in children with KD was significantly higher than that detected by UCG (P<0.01). The incidence rate of coronary artery lesions in children with positive ANCA was obviously higher than that in children with negative ANCA (43% vs 13%; P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum ANCA may be used as a reference index for early diagnosis of KD and secondary coronary artery lesions in children.</p>

Serum levels of 25-(OH)D3 and immunoglobulin in children with bronchiolitis / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes in the serum levels of 25-(OH)D3 and immunoglobulins in children with bronchiolitis, and the clinical significance of these changes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum levels of 25-(OH)D3 were measured using ELISA in 35 children with bronchiolitis in the acute and recovery phases and 20 healthy children. Serum levels of immunoglobulins were determined by rate nephelometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the healthy children, serum 25-(OH)D3, IgG and IgA levels in children with bronchiolitis in the acute phase were significantly lower and, in contrast, serum IgE levels were significantly higher (P<0.05). Serum 25-(OH)D3 levels increased and serum IgE levels decreased significantly in the recovery phase compared with the acute phase in children with bronchiolitis (P<0.05). However, compared with the healthy children, serum 25-(OH)D3 and IgA levels were significantly lower and serum IgE levels were significantly higher in children with bronchiolitis in the recovery phase (P<0.05). Serum 25-(OH)D3 levels in children with bronchiolitis in the acute phase were positively correlated with serum IgG (r=0.36, P<0.05) and IgA levels (r=0.63, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with serum IgE levels (r=-0.72, P<0.01). A negative correlation was found between serum 25-(OH)D3 and IgE levels in children with bronchiolitis in the recovery phase (r=-0.34, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum 25-(OH)D3 levels decrease and there is immunoglobulin level imbalance in children with bronchiolitis, suggesting that 25-(OH)D3 and immunoglobulins may play important roles in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis.</p>