Vitamin D level in cord blood and neonatal outcomes in a birth cohort study in Shanghai / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To detect the cord blood vitamin D level in neonates and to determine the association between the cord blood vitamin D level and neonatal outcomes. Methods A total of 223 eligible mother-and-singleton-offspring pairs were recruited. The information of mothers' pregnancy was collected by questionnaires. The weight, length, and head circumference of neonates were measured. The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood of neonates and in blood of late pregnancy mothers were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 20.7 nmol/L, and 82.1% of neonate had vitamin D deficiency, and 12.1% had severe vitamin D deficiency (0.05). After the variables of sex, gestational age and birth season are controlled, the birth weight and head circumference were significantly different in neonates with different concentrations of 25(OH)D in cord blood (P<0.05). Conclusions The concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood in term neonates was generally lower. The vitamin D status in neonates was consistet with that in their late pregnancy mothers. Cord blood 25(OH) D levels were associated with neonates' birth weight and head circumference, but it should be confirmed by larger sample size in the future.

Investigation of dose-dependent association between bedtime routines and sleep outcomes in infants and toddlers / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the current bedtime routine among Chinese children less than 3 years of age and explore its dose-dependent association with sleep duration and sleep quality.@*Method@#Healthy full-term born children aged 0-35 months were selected by stratified cluster random sampling method from 8 provinces in China following the "Hospital of Province-City-County" sampling technical route during 2012-2013.Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire(BISQ) was used to assess sleep conditions of these children.Children′s personal and family information was obtained by Shanghai Children′s Medical Center Socio-demographic Questionnaire.Both of these questionnaires were filled in by parents. The effects of bedtime routine on children′s sleep duration and quality were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance.@*Result@#The children′s average age was(12±10) months(n=1 304), of whom 689 were males (52.8%, 689/1 304). There were 48.5%(632/1 304)of the parents reported that their children had not established regular sleep routines. There was a consistent dose-dependent association between bedtime routine and sleep duration, as well as other indicators for sleep quality (all P<0.05). The more regular the sleep routines, the longer the sleep duration, the earlier the children went to sleep, the shorter the sleep onset latency, the fewer the nighttime wakeup and the shorter the nighttime waking.The nighttime sleep duration was significantly longer for those with a bedtime routine 'every night’ than those who 'never’ had a bedtime routine (9.5(95%CI: 9.4-9.6)vs. 8.9(95%CI: 8.6-9.3)h, t=3.345, P=0.001). Compared with children who never had bedtime routines, children with regular bedtime routines had fewer night wakeup (1.3(95%CI: 1.2-1.4) vs. 2.4( 95%CI: 2.0-2.9), t=3.182, P=0.001) and shorter night waking duration(16.6(95%CI: 14.6-18.8) vs. 59.2 (95%CI: 47.0-72.7)min, t=6.383, P<0.01).@*Conclusion@#The percentage of children who have established regular bedtime routine is low in China. There is significant dose-dependent association between regular bedtime routine and sleep outcomes, especially sleep quality. The more regular the sleep routines, the better the sleep quality.

Multi-center study on the effects of television viewing on sleep quality among children under 4 years of age in China / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the current television viewing situation among children less than 4 years of age in our country and investigate effects of television viewing on sleep quality.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>According to the"Hospital of Province-City-County"sampling technical route, a total of 1 046 full term healthy children at the age of 4-48 months were sampled by stratified cluster random sampling method from 8 provinces in China from 2012-2013. The information of television viewing and family and personal information was investigated by Shanghai Children's Medical Center Socio-demographic Questionnaire. Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) and Brief Child Sleep Questionnaire (BCSQ) were employed to assess the sleep behaviors of children 0-3 years old and over 3 years old respectively.The effects of television viewing on sleep quality were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The children's average age was (20±13) months, with boys accounted for 53.3% (558/1 046). The percentage of children who viewed television was 70.3% (735/1 046). Moreover, 58.7% (408/695) of infants and young children under the age of 2 viewed TV per day, and 19.9% (70/351) of 2 years and older infants and young children viewed television ≥2 hours per day. With the increase of age, the percentage of children who viewed television time gradually increased (P<0.001). Child sex, geographic area, paternal education, and family structure were not associated with television viewing time among children aged 4-48 months. However, the presence of a bedroom TV(χ(2)=13.682, P=0.001) and maternal employment (χ(2)=15.053, P=0.005) were commonly correlated with long screen-watching time among children. After adjusting for age, gender, mother' education level, and working state, it was revealed by multiple linear regression analysis that television viewing was not only positively correlated with later bedtime (t=5.49, P<0.001) and shorter night sleep duration (t=-3.49, P=0.001) but also significantly associated with longer sleep onset latency (t=2.63, P=0.009).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The percentage of children under 4 years of age who viewed television is very high in our country, and many infants under 6 months of age exposed to TV environment. Bedroom TV and mother full-time job were associated with higher proportion of children viewing TV. In early childhood, television viewing was positively correlated with later bedtime, shorter sleep duration and longer sleep onset latency. There is a need for parents and pediatricians to pay more attention to the behavior of children viewing TV and improve sleep quality.</p>

The association between night waking and infant cognitive development / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the role of night waking in the cognitive development of infants and young toddlers. Method A total of 116 infants aged 2 to 30 months were randomly selected in Yiwu, Zhejiang from December 2011 to February 2013. Social-demographic factors were investigated through questionnaire;sleep information were collected via the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ);Cognitive development was assessed in all infants using Baley development scale. Results The mean age was 12.99 month-old. 50.86%(59/116) were males. Ocassional night waking was reported in 5.26%, one night waking in 29.82%, multiple night waking accounted in 64.91%of children under one year old. Ocassional night waking was reported in 32.20%, one night waking in 45.76%, multiple night waking in 22.03%of children over one year old. The frequency of night waking was signiifcantly different between children under one year old and children over one year old (P<0.01). The average duration of waking was 0.49±0.31 h in children under one year old, and 0.31±0.48 h in children older than one year old, and the difference was signiifcantly different (Z=4.35, P<0.001). In children over one year old, the more frequent night waking, the lowered MDI scores (F=3.98, P=0.024). The waking duration was negatively correlated with MDI scores in children over one year old (r=-0.26, P=0.035). Neither night waking duration nor night waking frequency had signiifcant correlation with MDI scores in children under one year old. Multivariable linear regression conifrmed that night waking was an independent inlfuential factor of MDI and PDI scores in children over one year old. Conclusions Persistent night waking should warrant attention.

Multi-center study of premature thelarche and gynecomastia in Chinese infants and toddlers / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The term "premature thelarche" refers to isolated breast development before 8 years of age in female, without any other signs of sexual maturation, while "gynecomastia" is the presence of breast tissue in males. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of premature thelarche and gynecomastia in Chinese infants and toddlers, identify the potential risk factors, and explore the influence of early breast development on physical growth, mental development and psychomotor development.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A total of 1 510 full term and healthy children at the age of 0-48 months were sampled by stratified cluster random sampling method from 8 provinces from 2011-2012. Weight, height and breast development were assessed by senior primary pediatricians, while Bayley Scale of Infant Development-I (BSID-I) was used to measure the mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) for children aged 2-30 months. Social-demographic Questionnaires were completed by the caregivers.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The combined prevalence of premature thelarche and gynecomastia was 1.6% (23/1 475), girls 2.2% (15/695), boys 1.0% (8/780), all within 2 years of age. The birth weight, feeding patterns in first 4 months, delivery mode, weaning time and social economic status were not significantly associated with the breast development. However, lower father's education level (OR = 3.632, 95%CI = 1.565-8.432) as well as smoking mother (OR = 18.960, 95%CI = 1.590-226.304) were significantly related to breast development even after adjusting for potential confounders. Lower weight (-0.479 ± 0.648 vs. 0.005 ± 0.987, P < 0.05) and height (-0.602 ± 1.042 vs. 0.008 ± 0.986, P < 0.05) Z score were found in breast development group, even after adjusting for age, gender and father' education level. Neither mental development (t = -0.082, P > 0.05) nor psychomotor development (t = 1.054, P > 0.05) was associated with breast development.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We showed a similar prevalence of premature thelarche with the data reported in similar studies reported from other countries. Among the 0-48 months old infants and toddlers, Father's education level and smoking mother were both related to breast development. Breast development was significantly associated with physical growth, but had no correlation with the mental or psychomotor development.</p>

Finite element analysis of thoracolumbar fracture following varying fixations / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:A selection of treatment for thoracolumbar fracture is very important.OBJECTIVE:To develop and validate three-dimensional finite element models of human thoracolumbar fracture using varying fixation methods,and to compare biomechanical characteristics of fixation method.DESIGN TIME AND SETTING:A contrast observation was performed at the Mechanical Experiment Center of Tongji University from August to October 2008.MATERIALS:64-slice spiral CT (Siemens,Germany) was used to scan T_(11)-L_1 segments of an adult male,and the slice thickness was 0.6 mm.based on Boolean operation,the lower half of T_(12) segment was resected,and the structure of posterior part was reserved to establish finite element model of thoracolumbar fracture.METHODS:There were five groups in this study,including 4 pedicle screws+2 rods (group 1),5 pedicle screws+2 rods at one side (group 2),6 pedicle screws+2 rods at both sides (group 3),anterior fixation (group 4),and anterior plus posterior fixation (group 5).Forces of axial compressive,anterior bending,posterior extension,left bending,and right rotation were loaded to compare the biochemical characteristics.MAIN OUTCOM MEASURES:vonMises stress and displacement at different directions.RESULTS:The stresses of all the fixation screws increased from the anterior part to posterior part in all movement tests,and the strongest stress was measured in the joint position.The stress of proximal screw was stronger than that of the distal screw.Additionally,the stress in group 1 was significantly stronger than in groups 2,3,and 5 (P<0.01).The group 5 was the most stable,but the group 1 was the poorest.CONCLUSION:T_(12) bursting fracture models were established using varying fixation methods,and the results verified that short segment plus fracture vertebral segmental fixation has more superior biomechanics.

Short segment fixation in combination of pedicle screw fixation with bone graft of vertebral body via pedicle for thoracolumbar fractures / 中国矫形外科杂志

[Objective]To assess the clinical outcome of pedicle screw fixation plus bone graft of vertebral body via pedicle for thoracolumbar fractures.[Method]Ninety-six patients treated from 2003-2007 were reviewed.Twenty-eight were treated by short segment fixation(group1).Sixty-eight were treated by short-segment pedicle instrumentation combined with trans-pedicular intracorporeal bone grafting and fixation at the level of the fracture(38 artificial bone as group 2,30 autogenous bone as group 3).Preoperative TLISS(thoracolumbar injury severity score) was evaluated.Radiological evaluation was made for measuring Cobb′s angle,the percentage of the anterior and posterior height of injured vertebra and SI after operation and during the follow-up.[Result]All the patients achieved fracture union during the follow-up with a mean period of 16.8 months(range 12-20 months).All of the fractures were reduced satisfactorily.The height of the injured vertebra,Cobb′s angle correctivity were better in group 2 and 3.There was no difference between those of group 2 and 3.[Conclusion]Short segment plus fracture vertebral segmental fixation can restore the height of vetebra.It is an effcient method for thoracolumbar fracture.