Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Volume Measurements in Normal Children Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

PURPOSE: To measure retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) volume in normal children using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: This study included 79 eyes of 54 normal children between 4 and 15 years of age evaluated from February 2012 to November 2012. All participants underwent ocular examination and 3D-disc scanning using SD-OCT. RNFL volume was calculated between 2.5 and 5 mm diameter circles using the length, width, and height of each pixel derived from the RNFL thickness map with Matlab software. The relationship between RNFL volume and thickness was analyzed. RESULTS: The RNFL volumes of the mean total, superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal areas were 1.48 ± 0.09 mm3, 0.45 ± 0.04 mm3, 0.29 ± 0.04 mm3, 0.46 ± 0.03 mm3, and 0.29 ± 0.04 mm3, respectively. Comparing RNFL volume and conventional circumpapillary RNFL thickness measured using built-in software, a strong correlation between mean total, superior, and inferior areas (R = 0.980, 0.953 and 0.932, respectively) and a moderate correlation between the nasal and temporal areas were observed (R = 0.545 and 0.514, respectively). The negative correlations between RNFL thickness and RNFL volumes of the mean total, superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal areas and age were not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study reports RNFL volume measured from RNFL thickness map analysis in normal children. These data regarding RNFL volume of normal children may provide useful information for diagnosis and monitoring of pediatric glaucoma.

The Breathing Characteristics in Speaking for Normal Children / 听力学及言语疾病杂志

Objective To study breathing characteristics of normal children of 6～7 years old when speaking in a normal manner.Methods RM 6240 physiological signal collection and processing system and Hx 100 respiratory transducer were used to collect the average peak expiratory pressure,inspiratory valley pressure,respiratory rate,respiratory depth from 160 normally speaking children.Results When speaking,the average peak expiratory pressure,inspiratory valley pressure,respiratory rate and respiratory depth of chest were all significantly increased (P<0.01);while that of abdomen was all reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01)except for respiratory rate(P<0.05)which was increased.In both respiratory conditions,all the data of abdomen were significantly larger than thaf of chest(P<0.01);all the data of boys were larger than that of girls(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion When speaking,it involves thoraco-abdominal breathing,and the increase of chest activity will increase the volume of inhaled air.The increase of abdominal activity is for better control of respiratory airflow.Abdominal breathing plays a main role in normal speaking.Boys'respiratory muscles,respiratory organs are developed better than girls.

Factors Mediating Effects on the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Normal Children

PURPOSE: The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) was measured in normal children using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the effect of various factors on the RNFL thickness was examined. METHODS: From April 2006 to January 2007, the RNFL thickness of 74 normal children (148 eyes) between the ages of 4 and 17 years old was measured by OCT, and the effect of factors such as age, gender, refractive error, C/D ratios, cooperation, and laterality on the peripapillary RNFL thickness was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 10.2 years (4~17 years), and the mean peripapillary RNFL thickness was 106.3+/-12.8 micrometer. As to the thickness of the different peripapillary locations, the superior side was thickest (135.3+/-20.6 micrometer), followed in order by the inferior side (130.9+/-23.0 micrometer), the temporal side (86.3+/-18.9 micrometer), and the nasal side (71.9+/-20.8 micrometer). The refractive error was correlated positively with RNFL thickness (r=0.277, p=0.001), and age correlated negatively with RNFL thickness (r=-0.194, p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: RNFL thickness in normal children increases as the refractive error becomes hyperopic and decreases with age. The data about RNFL thickness of normal children obtained in this study may provide useful information for an early diagnosis of pediatric neuroophthalmologic disease and for monitoring its progression.

Trace element concentrations profiles in the hair of normal children living in the northern area of Seoul / 소아과

PURPOSE: The reliability of hair mineral analyses regarding nutritional status, environmental exposure or diseases is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the normal reference range of hair mineral concentration of Korean children. METHODS: We examined hair mineral concentrations of 223 children(3-12 yrs old, 110 boys, 113 girls, mean age 8.8+/-2.2 yrs old) living in the northern area of Seoul. The trace elements including six toxic elements(Al, As, Cd, Ba, Hg, Pb) and 11 nutritional elements(Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se) were analyzed by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). RESULTS: The mean concentrations of Ca and Mg were higher in girls than in boys. The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cr were higher in boys than girls. The Zn, Ca, Mg, Cu and Hg levels in hair samples were positively correlated with increasing age. The Zn levels of the Korean children's hair samples appear to be lower than that of other countries' reference values. CONCLUSION: There are considerable differences in hair mineral concentrations by age, sex and race. Additional research is needed to establish Korean reference values, and to evaluate the usefulness of hair mineral analyses as a screening tool for nutrition- and environment-related childhood diseases.

Study of gait footprint parameters of children and its value in diagnosis and treatment of cerebral palsy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To study the gait footprint parameters of the normal children and the cerebral palsy (CP) children, and to explore its clinical value. Methods A total of 2 800 normal children aged 3 to 10 years and 139 spastic CP children aged 3 to 5 years were recruited in this study. The normal children were divided into seven groups with one year interval, and were measured with regard to the length of foot and step, step width and foot angle of footprint of every age group with self made oil printed carpet. The footprint of the CP children were measured and compared with that of the normal children at the same age. Results It was revealed that there was significant difference between the normal and the CP children ( P

Scoring of Norms of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) in Normal Children

OBJECTIVE: We performed to obtain the normal values of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) in normally developed children. We designed this study to inform the degree of gross motor functional disability or delay in children with cerebral palsy, comparing with score values of GMFM in normal children. METHOD: One hundred-sixteen normally developed children who were in the age of 12 to 47 months were recruited. Their GMFM tests were performed by a pediatric physical therapist. They were grouped by age of 6 months and the scores were compared with all of each groups. Results: The GMFM scores in normal children increased with ages. The rates of increment in scores were fast till 35 months of age and inter-individual differences of GMFM scores were greater in younger age groups (less than 36 months of age) than older groups. Even the means of GMFM scores were higher in the girls than boys, the differences between sexes were insignificant statistically. CONCLUSION: Norms of GMFM obtained in normally developed children who were in the age of 12 to 47 months. It would be helpful to assess the degree of motor functional disabilities or delay in children with physical disabilities.

Age Related Reference Ranges for Lymphocyte Subsets in Healthy Korean Children

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the age related changes of lymphocyte subset values in healthy Korean children. METHODS: Eighty healthy children were divided into four groups: group A(less than 1yr, n=20), group B(from 1 to 211/12 yr, n=20), group C(from 3 to 511/12 yr, n=20), group D(more than 6 yr, n=20). Their blood were examined for the proportions of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ lymphocytes utilizing monoclonal antibodies and flowcytometry. RESULTS: 1) The percentage of CD19+ lymphocytes was significantly decreased with age. 2) The percentage of CD3+ lymphocytes was relatively constant, irrespective of age. 3) The percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes was significantly decreased with age. 4) The percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes was increased with age, but the changes were not significant. 5) The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells was significantly decreased with age. 6) The absolute numbers of total lymphocytes, CD19+, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were significantly decreased with age. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, as in previous other studies1-6), the results suggest that there are specific changes in proportions of lymphocyte subsets with age, independent of total lymphocyte count. There were similar trends of changes in many studies, but the reference ranges were somewhat differnt from one another. We thought that it is desirable for each individual laboratory to research its own age related normal reference ranges.

Serum Colloid Oncotic Pressure in Normal Children in Korea / 대한마취과학회지

We measured serum colloid oncotic pressure(COP) in ll3 children in good physical state (ASA class 1), admitted to Seoul National University Children's Hospital for elective operations. After adequate NPO time for each age group, they were transferred to the operating room. Immediately after induction of anesthesia, we sampled 4 to 5 ml of blood from femoral artery and measured serum COP. The mean COP was 20.4+/-2.2 mmHg. No significant difference were found between male and female. Compared with Previous Kims report, COP in children under 12 years old was lower than that of adults, The younger the children are, the lower the COPs are(Key Words: COP, normal children, Korea).