Effects of screen exposure on language skills in children / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To investigate the association between screen exposure and language skills in children aged 2-5 years. Methods: There were 299 children aged 2-5 years, recruited by convenience sampling from those who visited the Center of Children's Healthcare, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics for routine physical examination from November 2020 to November 2021. Their development status were evaluated by the children neuropsychological and behavioral scale (revision 2016). A self-designed questionnaire for parents was conducted to collect demographic and socioeconomic information and screen exposure characteristics (time and quality). One-way ANOVA and independent sample t test were applied to compare the differences in language development quotient of children with different screen exposure time and quality. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the correlation between screen exposure time and quality with language developmental quotient. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk of language underdevelopment in children with different screen exposure time and quality. Results: Among 299 children, 184 (61.5%) were boys and 115 (38.5%) were girls, with the age of (3.9±1.1) years. The number of children with daily screen time <60, 60-120 and>120 min was 163 children (54.5%), 86 children (28.8%) and 50 children (16.7%), respectively, with the language development quotients of 94±13, 90±13, 84±14, respectively, demonstrating a statistically significant difference (F=8.92, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that screen exposure time of 60-120 and >120 min per day were both risk factors for children's language developmental quotients (OR=2.28, 95%CI 1.00-5.17, P=0.043; OR=3.96, 95%CI 1.86-9.17, P<0.001), and co-viewing and exposure to educational programs were both protective factors for children's language developmental quotients (OR=0.48, 95%CI 0.25-0.91, P=0.024, OR=0.36, 95%CI 0.19-0.70, P=0.003). Conclusions: Excessive exposure screen time and inappropriate screen exposure habits are associated with children's poorer language development. Screen exposure time should be limited and screen use should be rational to promote children's language skills.

Association between serum trace elements and core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder: a national multicenter survey / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the association of serum levels of trace elements with core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).@*METHODS@#From September 2018 to September 2019, an investigation was performed for 1 020 children with ASD and 1 038 healthy children matched for age and sex in the outpatient service of grade A tertiary hospitals and special education institutions in 13 cities of China. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used to assess the core symptoms of the children with ASD. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure serum levels of trace elements magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc.@*RESULTS@#The children with ASD had significantly lower serum levels of magnesium, copper, and zinc than the healthy children (@*CONCLUSIONS@#The serum levels of magnesium and zinc may be associated with core symptoms in children with ASD, which requires further studies. The nutritional status of trace elements should be monitored for children with ASD in clinical practice.

Effects of somatostatin in a rabbit model of abdominal compartment syndrome induced by prolonged intra-abdominal hypertension / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a rabbit model of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) induced by prolonged intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and evaluate the therapeutic effect of somatostatin on ACS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve New Zealand rabbits were randomized equally into normal saline (NS) group and somatostatin group. ACS model was established by intra-abdominal bleeding (IAB) and intra-abdominal infusion with nitrogen gas to achieve an intra-abdominal pressure of 15 mmHg. The hemodynamics (SP, HR, CVP), hepatic function (ALT), renal function (BUN), antioxidation level (SOD, MDA) and blood electrolyte level (pH, [Na(+)], [Cl(-)], [CaNa(2+)], [KNa(+)]) of the rabbits were recorded 1-6 h after establishment of IAH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Prolonged IAH caused decreased hemodynamic functions and antioxidation level as well as hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia (P<0.05), but these changes showed no significant differences between NS group and somatostatin group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prolonged IAH causes cardiovascular function damages in rabbits possibly related to acidosis, electrolyte disturbances, and oxidative damage due to tissue ischemia and hypoxia. Somatostatin produces no obvious protective effects against the occurrence and progression of ACS.</p>

Role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency rickets / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the early diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency rickets.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Concentrations of serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured in normal control (n=73), suspected rickets (n=45) and confirmed rickets groups (n=65). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum 25(OH)D for rickets.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum 25(OH)D levels in the suspected and confirmed rickets groups were 83±30 and 72±31 nmol/L respectively, which was lower than in the normal control group (112±37 nmol/L) (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the suspected and confirmed rickets groups (P>0.05). Vitamin D deficiency rates in the suspected and confirmed rickets groups were higher than in the control group (P<0.01). The ROC curve area of serum 25(OH)D for the diagnosis of rickets was 0.760 (95%CI 0.692-0.820, P<0.01), and the optimal operating point was 90.70 nmol/L (sensitivity 68.49%, specificity 72.73%). There was no significant difference in levels of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase between the three groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum 25(OH)D levels in infants with suspected and confirmed rickets are significantly reduced and this may reflect vitamin D deficiency . Therefore, it may be useful to check serum 25(OH)D levels in screening for rickets.</p>

Relationship between α-actinin and cardiac function in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between α-actinin content and cardiac function in rats during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two rats were randomized equally into sham-operated group, 30 min ischemia group, 1 h ischemia group, and 1 h ischemia with 2 h reperfusion group. Acute myocardial ischemia was induced in the 3 ischemia groups by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and the cardiac functions were evaluated. The myocardial contents of α-actinin was measured by immunohistochemistry, and phospholipase C (PLC) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) contents were determined by ELISA after the operations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), +dp/dt max, and -dp/dt max tended to decrease during myocardial ischemia, and increased after reperfusion, and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) showed reverse changes. The levels of α-actinin decreased with prolonged ischemia, showing a significant difference in 1 h ischemia group from those in the other 3 groups. PI3K and PLC contents were significantly increased with prolonged myocardial ischemia. Stimulation by LY-294002 and U-73122 caused enhanced contraction of single cardiomyocytes, and also increased the fluorescence intensity of α-actinin in the cardiomyocytes compared with that in 1 h ischemia group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cardiac dysfunction during acute ischemia-reperfusion in rats may be related with the changes of myocardial α-actinin content, which are probably a result of increased PI3K and PLC contents in the ischemic myocardium.</p>

Role of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in lipopolysaccharide-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possible mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes cultured in vitro were stimulated with 100 µg/L LPS for 1, 4 or 8 h and scanned by atomic force microscopy (AFM) for measurement of the two-dimensional area, three-dimensional surface area and volume of each cell. The total proteins and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the cardiomyocytes were determined. The same measurements were also carried out in neonatal rat cardiomyocyte cultures stimulated by 0.5 µmol/L ouabain for 8 h and the total protein levels were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Following a 8-hour stimulation with LPS, the two-dimensional area, three-dimensional surface area and volume of the single cardiomyocyte became enlarged and the total cellular proteins increased significantly as compared with those in the normal control cells (P < 0.05). LPS treatment for 4 and 8 h resulted in significantly decreased activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the cardiomyocytes (P < 0.05). In the cells treated with ouabain for 8 h, the two-dimensional area, three-dimensional surface area, volume of the single cardiomyocyte and the total cellular proteins increased significantly in comparison with the normal control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LPS can result in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in rats possibly in relation to lowered Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the cardiomyocytes after LPS exposure.</p>

Changes in the mRNA expressions of myocardial cytoskeletal proteins in endotoxemic rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes of the mRNA expressions of myocardial cytoskeletal proteins in endotoxemic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-seven Wistar rats were randomized into two groups with injection of 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or normal saline through the femoral vein. The cardiac function of the rats was monitored continuously for 24 h, and the morphological changes of the cardiac myocytes were observed with HE staining and electron microscope. The mRNA levels of myocardial cytoskeletal proteins including actin, tubulin and desmin were determined by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was found in the number of CD3(+)T lymphocytes in the TILs between different groups. After the immunotherapy, the peLPS injection resulted in significant impairment of the cardiac function and myocardial microstructure of the rats with reduced heart rate and left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP). The mRNA expression of actin in the cardiac myocytes measured by fluorescence optical density was reduced significantly 8 h after LPS injection, and that of tubulin was decreased significantly 24 h after LPS treatment; desmin mRNA expression showed no significant variation after LPS injection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LPS can significantly impair the cardiac function of the rats possibly by inducing damages of the myocardial cytoarchitecture and causing changes in the mRNA expressions of such cytoskeletal proteins as actin and tubulin.</p>

Features of ischemic myocardial contracture after asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the features of ischemic myocardial contracture after asphyxial cardiac arrest in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Asphyxial cardiac arrest was induced in 8 Wistar rats, and the length and width of the heart were measured at the different time points after cardiac arrest.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Obvious ischemic myocardial contracture occurred after the cardiac arrest, reaching the maximal contracture at 4-6 min after the arrest.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ischemic myocardial contracture induced by asphyxia may be an important factor affecting the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.</p>

Influence of Feeding Styles in Early Stage on Children′s Weight in Different Stages / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the influence of feeding styles in early stage on children′s weight in different stages.Methods A complete record of 918 healthy infants was selected and then divided into 3 feeding groups:breast feeding, mixed feeding and artificial fee-ding, according to the way of feeding in the first 6 months after birth. Their weights and heights were measured in the 3rd,5th,8th,12th,18th,24th,60th month to conduct the Z score of weight for age (WAZ), weight for height (WHZ) and the body mass index (BMI) of 60-month-old infants.An investigation on the time of adding auxiliary food was conducted.Results The heavier,WAZ and WHZ of breast feeding group in the 3rd month were higher than the other groups,and the differences were statistially significant(F=4.12, 5.66, 5.79 Pa

Effect of Seasonal Variation on Blood Lead in Health Children / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore effects of seasonal variation on blood lead in children.Methods Anodic stripping voltammetry(ASV) was used to detect blood lead level in children.The enrolled children were divided into 4 groups as follows:young children(ages 1 month to 3 years);preschool(ages 3 to 6 years);school(ages 6 to 12 years);teenagers(ages 12 to 18 years),and children′s blood lead level and lead poisoning rates were analyzed in the light of seasonality.Results Total 13 233 children were observed,aged from 1 month to 18 years old,8315 males,4918 females.The average blood lead levels were 60 ?g/L,the 5~(th) and 95~(th) percentage was 19,138 ?g/L.The rate of lead poisoning in children was 14.8%,with the majority of low-grade(?~2=116.3125 P