Comunicación asertiva, estado nutricional y desarrollo físico en adultos mayores / Assertive Communication; Nutritional Status and Physical Development in Aged Adults

Introducción: La asertividad es una herramienta comunicacional que puede contribuir de manera positiva en que los adultos mayores interpreten correctamente la necesidad e importancia de realizar acciones que permitan mantener un adecuado desarrollo físico y estado nutricional durante la tercera edad. Objetivo: Describir cómo la implementación de la comunicación asertiva puede ayudar a la incorporación de los adultos mayores al programa de actividades físicas del adulto mayor. Métodos: Se realizó una investigación básica, no experimental y descriptiva en una población de 157 adultos mayores, de los cuales 113 formaron parte de la muestra de investigación. Se aplicó la comunicación asertiva para lograr la incorporación de estos al programa de actividades físicas del adulto mayor. Resultados: El miedo al contagio con COVID-19 fue la principal causa referida para no participar en las actividades (17,70 por ciento). Predominaron los adultos mayores con nivel de conocimiento bajo sobre la importancia de las actividades físicas en los adultos mayores. Después de aplicar la comunicación asertiva se logró que el 64,60 por ciento de los ancianos se incorporaran al programa. Conclusiones: La asertividad, con sus técnicas y acciones, facilitó la incorporación de adultos mayores al programa de actividades físicas. Su aplicación se basó en la preparación y la capacidad de negociación con las personas de la tercera edad para poder lograr su incorporación a las actividades físicas del programa del adulto mayor(AU)

Introduction: Assertiveness is a communicational tool that can contribute positively to aged adults' correct interpretation of the need and importance of performing actions that allow them to maintain adequate physical development and nutritional status during older age. Objective: To describe how the implementation of assertive communication can help the incorporation of aged adults to the physical activity program for the elderly. Methods: A basic, nonexperimental and descriptive research was conducted with a population of 157 aged adults, of which 113 were part of the research sample. Assertive communication was applied to achieve their incorporation into the physical activity program for the elderly. Results: Fear of infection with COVID-19 was the main reported cause for not participating in the activities (17.70 percent). Aged adults with a low level of knowledge about the importance of physical activities for the elderly predominated. After applying assertive communication, 64.60 percent of the older adults could become part of the program. Conclusions: Assertiveness, with its techniques and actions, facilitated the incorporation of aged adults to the physical activities program. Its application was based on the preparation and the ability to negotiate with older adults in order to achieve their incorporation to the physical activities of the program for the elderly(AU)

Effects of assisted reproductive technology on physique and autistic behavior of children： a 3-year longitudinal follow-up study / 四川精神卫生

BackgroundAssisted reproductive technology is increasingly mature and widely used in clinic. As more and more newborns are born with assisted reproductive technology， the health problems of these newborns also need more attention. ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of assisted reproductive technology on newborn physique and autistic behavior， and to raise the attention of autistic behavior of assisted reproductive children. MethodsFrom the medical record information system， 588 assisted reproduction newborns （assisted reproduction group） born in the obstetrics department of Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2018 to August 2019 were selected as the study objects. From the medical records information system， 600 newborns born naturally in the obstetrics department in the same period of time were selected as the control group. The basic information of all newborns was collected， including the mother's age and years of education， sex， gestational age， birth weight and birth length， and they were assessed by the Clancy Autism Behavior Scale （CABS） at 3 years of follow-up. ResultsThe educational years of mothers in assisted reproduction group were longer than those in control group ［（12.04±1.96） years vs. （11.34±2.90） years， t=-4.887， P<0.01］， gestational age and birth weight of assisted reproduction group were lower than those of control group ［（38.68±2.56） weeks vs. （39.53±2.91） weeks， t=5.315， P<0.01； （3 273.27±720.39） g vs. （3 158.29±701.74） g， t=2.792， P<0.05］. There was no significant difference in birth length between the two groups ［（49.97±5.94） cm vs. （50.07±6.08） cm， t=-0.287， P>0.05］. At the age of three， the weight and height of the assisted reproduction group were both lower than those of the control group ［（16.16±2.53）kg vs.（16.96±1.67）kg， t=6.393， P<0.01， （95.81±4.50）cm vs.（97.47±7.49）cm， t=4.626， P<0.01］. Respectively， 6 （1.00%） and 15 （2.55%） children with autism were detected in the control group and assisted reproduction group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ2=4.113， P<0.05）. ConclusionAssisted reproductive technology may affect the physical and neurological development of children. ［Funded by Outstanding Young Talents Support Program of Anhui Education Department （number， gxyqZD2022022）］

Adaptation to university studies affects on functional state of freshmen

According to different researches, 30% of university graduates have a low level of health, and studying at university is one of the factors of its deterioration, besides the first year is considered critical. The purpose of research is to study the dynamics of physical development, physical fitness and functional state of young men during the first year of university studies. For the survey we used standard measurements and index calculations for 11 indicators of physical development, 9 indicators of physical fitness and 15 indicators of functional status. We calculated the arithmetic mean (M), the standard error of the mean (m), then evaluated differences by the Student criterion (t) for independent samples and considered them as reliable atр < 0.05. It is shown that during the first year of studies, young men have an increase in the Erismann index, the corpulence (Rohrer's) index, the body mass index and a decrease in the Pignet index. There is also an increase in the coefficient of endurance, adaptive capacity and diastolic pressure, while vital capacity of the lungs, the vital index, time of hanging on the bar and the speed of running 1000 m decrease. The dynamics of physical development is expressed in a change in mass-growth indices and indicates an increase in body weight. The dynamics of physical fitness is expressed in a decrease of the time of hanging on the bar and the speed of running 1000 m. The dynamics of the functional state is expressed in a decrease of vital capacity of the lungs, vital index, increase in the coefficient of endurance, adaptive capacity and diastolic blood pressure.

Epidemiological investigation and analysis of influencing factors on intelligence, movement and physical development of 2-month-old infants / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the intelligence, movement and physical development of 2-month-old infants, and to explore the influencing factors of early infant development.Methods:A total of 203 infants aged 42 days who underwent physical examination in the Department of Neonatology of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from May to December 2021 were selected as subjects. At the age of 2 months, 184 infants were followed up for their intelligence, movement and physical development. The intelligence and movement development of infants were evaluated with the intelligence development scale. Their body length, weight, and head circumference were measured, and physical development was assessed by Z-score method. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of intelligence, movement and physical development of 2-month-old infants.Results:The median mental developmental index (MDI) of 184 2-month-old infants was 101; the median psychomotor developmental index (PDI) was 89; the body length was (59.3 ± 2.0) cm, the body weight was (5.8 ± 0.6) kg, and the head circumference was (38.9 ± 1.1) cm. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of MDI were maternal delivery age and infant gestational age [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.849, 0.463, P < 0.05]; the influencing factors of PDI were maternal prenatal education and average sleep time per night during pregnancy ( OR = 0.512, 0.666, P < 0.05); the influencing factor of body mass index (BMI) was maternal iodine supplements during pregnancy ( OR = 2.858, P = 0.018); the influencing factor of length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) was maternal prenatal education during pregnancy ( OR = 0.265, P = 0.026); the influencing factors of weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) included maternal average sleep time per night, the frequency of sleeping time exceeding 12 am and the average weekly exercise duration during pregnancy ( OR = 0.277, 1.106, 0.990, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Maternal delivery age, prenatal education, sleep duration, intake of iodine supplements, exercise duration during pregnancy, and infant gestational age are factors affecting the intelligence, movement and physical development of 2-month-old infants, which should be paid attention to and measures should be taken to improve the population quality.

Association between heavy metal exposure level and physical development indicators among school-age children / 环境与职业医学

Background Heavy metals are widely present in the environment, difficult to degrade, and bioaccumulative. Children's physical development are not mature, and exposure to heavy metals which may cause irreversible harm to them. However, the current research conclusions are still inconsistent. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the impact of heavy metal pollutants on physical development. Objective To detect the level of heavy metal exposure of school-age children in Laizhou Wan, Shandong Province, and to explore the relationship between heavy metal exposure level and physical development indexes of school-age children. Methods The subjects of this study were 318 children born to pregnant women recruited from Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort in Shandong Province from September 2010 to December 2013. The school-age children at age 7 were followed up from July to September 2019. Their urine samples were collected and the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in urine were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). At the same time, the height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat percentage of the children were evaluate to analyze the relationship between the four heavy metals in children's urine and the indicators related to children's physical development. Results Among the 318 school-age children with an age (\begin{document}$\bar x \pm s $\end{document}) of (7.77±0.67) years, the median (P25, P75) levels of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg in urine were 73.98 (44.81, 124.61), 0.40 (0.27, 0.58), 1.20 (0.71, 1.72), and 2.38 (1.32, 4.80) µg·g−1 (of creatinine), respectively. The children’s urinary Cd level was positively correlated with their weight, BMI, and waist circumference (P<0.05), and corresponding regression coefficients (b) and its 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 0.99 (0.14-1.83), 0.43 (0.06-0.81), and 1.35 (0.27-2.42), respectively; while the other heavy metals were not related to the above physical development indicators (P>0.05). After sex stratification, it was found that boys’ urinary Cd level was positively correlated with their height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference (P <0.05) with associated b (95%CI) of 1.73 (0.53-2.93), 2.03 (0.60-3.47), 0.75 (0.11-1.38), and 2.66 (0.85-4.47), respectively; such associations were not found in girls. After further stratification of boys’ BMI according to normal, overweight, and obesity, it was found that a higher urinary Cd level was correlated with an increased risk of obesity in boys (P<0.05), and the associated b (95%CI) was 2.34 (1.02-5.36). Conclusion The level of urinary Cd exposure of boys in Laizhou Wan, Shandong Province is positively correlated with their height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference, and may be related to obesity in boys.

Physical, intellectual and genetic characteristics of 53 neonates with phenylketonuria / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the physical and intellectual development and mutation characteristics of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene among 53 newborns with phenylketonuria (PKU), so as to provide insights into the management and genetic counseling of PKU@*Methods@#The medical records of 54 children with definitive diagnosis of PKU and standardized therapy until 2 years at the Center for Neonatal Disease Screening of Shanxi Children' s Hospital from 2018 to 2021 were collected. Newborns' body weight and height developments were evaluated using the World Health Organization growth chart (2006 version), and the intellectual development was assessed using the national criteria of Development Behavior Assessment Scale among Children at Ages of 0 to 6 Years (WS/T 580-2017). The gene mutations were detected among neonates and their children, and the physical, intellectual developments and genetic characteristics of neonates with PKU were descriptively analyzed.@*Results@#The 53 PKU cases included 29 male children and 24 female children, 36 cases with classic PKU and 17 cases with mild PKU, and 30 cases from rural areas and 23 cases from urban areas. The study subjects had a median age of 30 (10) d at initial therapy, and a mean blood phenylalanine concentration of (1 507±685) μmol/L at definitive diagnosis. There were 52 cases with normal height developments (98.11%), and all cases had normal weight and intellectual developments. The mean developmental functional quotient (DFQ) was significantly greater among urban children with PKU than among rural children [(94.92±8.57) vs. (87.65±6.57); t=-3.498, P=0.001], and the mean DFQ was significantly higher among children with mild PKU than among those with classic PKU [(95.55±8.76) vs. (88.57±7.11); t=-3.095, P=0.003]. There were 37 mutations detected in the PAH gene, which were mainly distributed in exons 3, 6, 7, 11, 12 and intron 4. Three high-frequency mutation sites were detected, including c.728G>A, c.611A>G and c.1197A>T, including three novel mutations (c.674C>G, c.1316-2A>C and c.1069T>C).@*Conclusions@#Following standardized treatment, the children with PKU have comparable physical and intellectual developments as compared to normal children. c.728G>A, c.611A>G and c.1197A>T were predominant mutations in the PAH gene among these 53 children with PKU, and three novel mutations were identified, including c.674C>G, c.1316-2A>C and c.1069T>C.

Physical and neuropsychological development of children with Citrin deficiency / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the physical and neuropsychological development of children with Citrin deficiency (CD).@*METHODS@#A total of 93 children, aged 1.9-59.8 months, who were diagnosed with CD by @*RESULTS@#For the 93 children with CD, the incidence rate of failure to thrive was 25% (23 children) and the proportion of small for gestational age was 47% (44 children). For the 100 cases of CD, the incidence rates of growth retardation, underweight, emaciation, overweight, and microcephalus were 23% (23 cases), 14% (14 cases), 4% (4 cases), 8% (8 cases), and 9% (9 cases), respectively. The incidence rate of neuropsychological developmental delay was 25% (25 cases), and the incidence rates of development delay in the five domains of adaptability, gross motor, fine motor, language, and social ability were 7% (7 cases), 15% (15 cases), 7% (7 cases), 9% (9 cases), and 7% (7 cases), respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Physical and neuropsychological developmental delay can be observed in children with CD, and physical and neuropsychological development should be regularly assessed.

Follow-up study of preterm infants with thyroid dysfunction after medication / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the effect of levothyroxine sodium tablets on the growth and development and thyroid function in preterm infants with thyroid dysfunction.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed for 82 preterm infants who were born in the Department of Obstetrics of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017, and these infants were hospitalized after birth in the Department of Neonatology of the hospital. They were regularly followed up to observe growth and development and thyroid function at the outpatient service of the Department of Neonatology. According to thyroid function test results, they were divided into an abnormal thyroid function group (observation group; @*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences in physical development indices (body length, body weight, and head circumference) between the observation and control groups at various gestational ages after follow-up to the corrected age of 12 months (@*CONCLUSIONS@#Early diagnosis and reasonable treatment can reduce the impact on growth and development in preterm infants with thyroid dysfunction. Most preterm infants tend to have transient thyroid dysfunction, while those with positive results of neonatal screening are more likely to develop permanent thyroid dysfunction.

Relationship between catch-up growth pattern and neuropsychological development in small-for-gestational-age(SGA) infants / 上海预防医学

Objective To explore the relationship between the catch-up situation of physical development and neuropsychological development in 2-year-old SGA children. Methods A longitudinal follow-up observation was conducted in 185 SGA children who were recruited between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017.The height, weight, head circumference and other physical development indicators were measured by unified methods at the age of 24 months.Gesell development scale was used to evaluate the neuropsychological development of catch-up and non-catch-up children. Results In 179 out of 185 SGA children who received physical development examination 56.98%(102/179) had achieved catch-up growth.The rate of abnormal/suspected-abnormal neuropsychological development in the full-term SGA children without Shanghai household registration was higher(P < 0.05).After adjusting the factors of household registration and gestational age, there was no significant difference in neuropsychological development between the catch-up and non-catch-up children(P>0.05). Conclusion SGA children, whose physical development did not reach the catch-up growth at the age of 2 years are not obviously backward in neuropsychological development.Catch-up growth for the children with intrauterine growth retardation mainly shows the positive significance in height and weight.The significance of catch-up growth in neuropsychological development remains to be studied.

Dose-response relationship between maternal thyroid hormones in the first twenty weeks and physical and neuropsychological development of infants: A prospective cohort study in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the dose-response relationship between maternal thyroid hormone levels in the first twenty weeks of pregnancy and the infant physical and neuropsychological development.Methods In this prospective cohort study,a total of 945 women and their children were included.Maternal serum samples during first half of the pregnancy were collected and analyzed for levels of thyroid hormones by using the electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay.Maternal social demographic information was collected by using the a self-administered questionnaire.Physical measurements of newborns and neuropsychological evaluation of infants were performed by doctors of maternal and child health care.Results The differences in newborns' birth length and head circumference were significant among the newborns of mothers with different percentiles of maternal serum (thyroidstimulating hormone,TSH) levels (P＜0.05).Newboms with maternal TSH level ≥P95 or ＜P5 had significantly lower birth length and birth head circumference,compared with the newborns with maternal TSH level between P25-P75 (P＜0.05).Newborns' birth head circumferences showed an inverted U-shaped association with maternal serum TSH level (Y=33.940 + 0.003X-0.109X2,F=4.685,P=0.009).The difference in mental development index (MDI) of the infants at 18-30 months were significant among the infants of mothers with different percentiles of maternal serum TSH level (P＜0.05).Infants with maternal TSH level ≥P90 showed lower MDI (6.39,95％CI:2.29-10.49,P=0.002) compared with the infants with maternal TSH level between P25-P75.Infant's MDI at 18-30 months also showed an inverted U-shaped association with maternal serum TSH level (Y=103.249-1.524X-0.939X2,F=6.616,P=0.001).Conclusions Maternal TSH level was associated with newborn's birth length,birth head circumference and infant's MDI at 18-30 months.Newborn's birth head circumference and infant's MDI at 18-30 months showed an inverted U-shaped association with maternal serum TSH-Z score.

The physical development and associated factors of ninth grade students in China / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To analyse the status and related factors of physical development of ninth grade students in China,so as to provide reference and scientific basis for the development of adolescent’ physical health promotion programs.Methods Multiple linear regression and binomial Logistic regression models were used to analyse the data from 7 840 ninth grade students in the 2016 China Education Panel Survey.Results There were differences in the distribution of height and weight between urban and rural and between boys and girls.From the age of 14 to 16,boys were taller and heavier than girls(height cm：171.69±6.95 vs 161.54±5.58, weight kg：60.43±13.19 vs 53.21±11.69), and urban students were taller and heavier than rural students(height cm：167.93±8.16 vs 165.80±7.94；weight kg：58.18±13.16 vs 55.94±12.78). The rate of physical fitness of boys was lower than that of girls(51.8% vs 87.8%), and that of urban boys was lower than that of rural boys(45.7% vs 58.9%), and that of urban girls was higher than that of rural girls(92.0% vs 84.6%). The average age of first spermatorrhea was 13.62±1.23 years for boys and 12.87±1.07 years for girls. Sexual development of urban students appeared earlier than rural students. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that height and weight were related to bring single-child and sleep time. Height was also related to parents’height, nationality, family economic level and exercise time, weight was also related to parents’ weight (all P<0.05). Binomial Logistic regression analysis showed that physical fitness level was related to gender, nationality, nutritional status, weight, high calorie intake, exercise time, etc (all P<0.05). Correlative factors of male first spermatorrhea were nationality, urban residence, singleton , sleep time, physical fitness level, while female menarche was related to exercise time, lunch spot and nutritional status (all P<0.05). Conclusions Comprehensive efforts and cooperation are needed to promote the normal development and physical health of the students.

Dose-response relationship between maternal thyroid hormones in the first twenty weeks and physical and neuropsychological development of infants: A prospective cohort study in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the dose-response relationship between maternal thyroid hormone levels in the first twenty weeks of pregnancy and the infant physical and neuropsychological development.Methods In this prospective cohort study,a total of 945 women and their children were included.Maternal serum samples during first half of the pregnancy were collected and analyzed for levels of thyroid hormones by using the electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay.Maternal social demographic information was collected by using the a self-administered questionnaire.Physical measurements of newborns and neuropsychological evaluation of infants were performed by doctors of maternal and child health care.Results The differences in newborns' birth length and head circumference were significant among the newborns of mothers with different percentiles of maternal serum (thyroidstimulating hormone,TSH) levels (P＜0.05).Newboms with maternal TSH level ≥P95 or ＜P5 had significantly lower birth length and birth head circumference,compared with the newborns with maternal TSH level between P25-P75 (P＜0.05).Newborns' birth head circumferences showed an inverted U-shaped association with maternal serum TSH level (Y=33.940 + 0.003X-0.109X2,F=4.685,P=0.009).The difference in mental development index (MDI) of the infants at 18-30 months were significant among the infants of mothers with different percentiles of maternal serum TSH level (P＜0.05).Infants with maternal TSH level ≥P90 showed lower MDI (6.39,95％CI:2.29-10.49,P=0.002) compared with the infants with maternal TSH level between P25-P75.Infant's MDI at 18-30 months also showed an inverted U-shaped association with maternal serum TSH level (Y=103.249-1.524X-0.939X2,F=6.616,P=0.001).Conclusions Maternal TSH level was associated with newborn's birth length,birth head circumference and infant's MDI at 18-30 months.Newborn's birth head circumference and infant's MDI at 18-30 months showed an inverted U-shaped association with maternal serum TSH-Z score.

Effects of prenatal stress on the physical development of neonatal / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To observe the effect of adverse factors on neurodevelopmental development of neonates during pregnancy. Methods The prenatal stress mothers were selected by the Life Event Scale and their neonatal were as the prenatal stress group. The newborns of normal mothers were as the control group. Results The NBNA scores of the prenatal stress group were significantly lower than those in the control group(33.16±2.35 vs 38.36±2.13,t=-9.724,P<0.01),specialty in light and tone habit. Gender and mode of delivery had no effect on NBNA scoring. Conclusion Prenatal stress can result in a reduction in neonatal NBNA scores and is independent of the mode of delivery and gender.

Sampling follow-up study of anthropometry in medical selection for a teenager aviation school / 军事医学

Objective To observe the physical development indexes of students from a teenager aviation school and to find out about the trainees′characteristics of physical development in order to advise on medical selection of teenager flying cadets and improve the present training programs .Methods Four hundred and thirty six students Grade 2015 were selected as subjects .The data of their physical examinations between school selection examination and annual examination were compared via matched-pair design.Physical growth and development of students in the aviation school were analyzed . Results The height, relative body mass and body mass index (IBM) of the students changed significantly (P<0.05) after one-year training in the youth aviation school .The proportion of students whose body mass accounted for 85% to 120%of standard weight was increased from 84.40%to 93.12%.94.74%of the increase came from students who used to be underweight .The qualified rate of students who reached the 70%-79% of the standard relative body mass in school selection examination was 57.14%.The reached qualified rate of students who reached the 80%-84% of the standard relative body mass in school selection examination was as high as 95.65%.The average height growth of the students was about 2.0 cm in the previous year .Conclusion The relative body mass of students who reached the 70%-85% of the standard relative body mass in school selection examination improved obviously ,suggesting that we should revise the weight standard to less than 30% of the standard weight , which conforms to the objective law of growth and development of adolescents .The rate of development of adolescent height requires further follow-up observation .All the students of a teenager aviation school should pay attention to a reasonable diet , take more physical exercise and monitor body mass .

Comparison in physical and neurological development between two types of children born small for gesta-tional age / 国际儿科学杂志

Almost 3% of newborns are diagnosed as small for gestational age(SGA)worldwide.Born SGA is one of the important causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality,and is also associated with metabolic diseases in adulthood.Low birth weight by itself is insufficient to characterize growth restriction,as it does not include information about the neonate’s body proportionality.Depending on the origin,timing and severity of in-sult,small for gestational age infants are classified into two types:proportionate or symmetric growth restriction (SGR)and disproportionate or asymmetric growth restriction(AGR).There may be differences in physical and neurological development of these two types.This study compares three classification indexes,and to find differ-ences in postnatal growth of these two types.

Post-natal development of rats` offspring treated with the ethanol extract of Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) during pregnancy and lactation / Desenvolvimento pós-natal de proles de ratas tratadas com o extrato etanólico das folhas de nim (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) durante a gestação e lactação

Teratogenicity and developmental abnormalities in the offspring of female rats that ingested ethanol extract of Neem plants during pregnancy and lactation period were assessed. Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly distributed in control group and in three experimental groups and treated during the 4th, 5th, and 6th day of pregnancy. After birth, the lactating females received, by gavage, 65, 135 and 200 mg kg-1 of Neem ethanol extract, during 15 days. Results show, there was no significant difference in body mass index of neonatal rats in the 4 groups evaluated, whereas mean rate of offspring survival was 79.4%. Hair growth, incisor teeth eruption, ear detachment, eyelid opening, and spontaneous ambulation were similar for all groups. Likewise, physical development and development of motor activity, ambulation, and postural reflexes were similar for all groups. The administration of Neem ethanol extract did not cause any reproductive or systemic toxicity in animals. Results show that, Neem ethanol extract safe at doses 65, 135 and 200 mg kg-1 in pregnant or lactating rats.

Teratogenicidade e anormalidades no desenvolvimento de proles de ratas que ingeriram o extrato etanólico de folhas de nim durante a gestação e lactação foram avaliadas. Vinte e quatro ratas Wistar foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em um grupo controle e três grupos experimentais tratados no quarto, quinto e sexto dias de gestação. Após o nascimento, as fêmeas lactantes receberam através de gavagem, o extrato etanólico de nim nas doses de 65, 135 e 200 mg kg-1 durante 15 dias. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi observada em relação ao índice de massa corpórea das fêmeas em lactação nos grupos em todos os momentos e a taxa média de sobrevivência dos filhotes foi de 79,4%. O tempo de crescimento piloso, erupção dos dentes incisivos, descolamento de orelha, abertura palpebral e deambulação espontânea foram semelhantes em todos os grupos. O desenvolvimento físico e da atividade motora, deambulação e reflexos posturais foram semelhantes em todos os grupos. A administração não resultou em toxicidade reprodutiva ou sistêmica. Os resultados mostraram que o extrato etanólico do nim é seguro para uso nas doses de 65, 135 e 200mg kg-1 em ratas prenhes ou em lactação.

The clinical effect of early intervention on very low birth weight premature infants / 实用医学杂志

Objective To explore the influence of early intervention on physical and intelligent development of premature infants with very low birth weight. Methods Selected 32 premature infants of very lowbirth weight treated in neonatal intensive care unit during November 2011 to October 2012 as the intervention group. To avoid the violation of medical ethics, we select another 32 premature infants with very low birth weight who were born before November 2011and aged between 9 to 15 months as the control group. The intervention group was treated with early intervention, including regular physical development evaluation, neuromotor examination and test of intelligence. The intervention group was followed-up until correction age of 1 year and the control group was only at the year of correction age of 1 year. Results The physical development in the intervention group was better than the control group at the age of 1, the mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) significantly higher than those of the control group as well. The incidences of low intelligence and cerebral palsy were lower than those of the control group. The differences were statistically significant. Conclusion Early intervention is obviously effective in promoting the physical and intelligent development of very low birth weight premature infants, reducing the incidence of low intelligence and cerebral palsy, and improving the long-term living quality of the survivors. Still, the method centers on family, and therefore, is feasible and effective. So the doctors for children′s care from basic hospitals should vigorously promote the method.

Distribution of blood pressure in children aged 7 to 12 in Zhengzhou / 临床儿科杂志

ObjectiveTo understand the feature of blood pressure in children aged 7 to 12 years in Zhengzhou.Methods According to stratiifed cluster random sampling method, children aged 7 to 12 years in ifve schools from three urban and two suburban counties in Zhengzhou were analyzed. The height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured and analyzed.Results The survey included total 6460 children aged 7 to 12 years, 3206 urban children (49.63%), 3254 suburban children (50.37%), 3525 boys (54.57%) and 2935 girls (45.43%). SBP in boys [(117.86±18.18) mmHg] was signiifcantly higher than that in girls [(113.82±13.11) mmHg (t=3.16;P=0.002). The incidence of hypertension in children in Zhengzhou was 7.52%. The blood pressure in boys was higher than that in girls (χ2=9.66,P=0.002). The blood pressure in urban boys and girls was higher than that in suburban boys and girls respectively (χ2=24.15, 14.39;P=0.000). The SBP and DBP had positive correlation with age, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference in boys (P<0.01). The SBP had positive correlation with age, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference in girls (P<0.01). Conclusions The blood pressure is higher in boys than in girls, which also is higher in urban children than in suburban children in Zhengzhou. The SBP is related to the age, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference.

Balance and Motor Skills among Preschool Children Aged 3 to 4 Years Old

Balance and motor skills are essential prerequisites for physical development of a child. The aims of this study were to measure anthropometrics, postural balance and motor skills; and examine their correlation among healthy preschool children. Forty nine healthy preschool children aged between 3 to 4 years old participated from PERMATA preschool organization. Pediatric Balance Scale and Peabody Development Motor Scale-2nd Edition (PDMS-2) were administered to measure balance skills for both fine and gross motor skills respectively. Mann-Whitney U test demonstrated that there was no significant difference in balance (p=0.72) and motor skill (p=0.33) between boys and girls. Spearman correlation coefficient demonstrated that there was significant correlation between balance skills with height (r=0.45, p=0.001) and body mass index(r=0.47, p=0.001). No significant correlation was found between balance skills and motor skills (r=0.11, p=0.44). The present study suggests that balance skills in healthy preschool children aged 3-4 years old are correlated with their physical growth such as height and weight but not motor skills.

Analysis of screening and therapeutic effect of congenital hypothyroidism in Zhongshan / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To summarize screening and therapeutic effects of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Zhongshan. Methods The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration in dried heel blood samples on iflter paper was detected using time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay. The cases of positive screening tests were called back for further examination of venous blood TSH concentration using chemiluminescence method. Fifty-four children with permanent CH treated routinely for 2 years (CH group) and 120 age-gender matched health children (control group) were recruited. The physical development (height, body weight) was monitored. The neurodevelopment and temperament type were tested using Pediatric Nneuropsychological Development Assessment and Children's Temperament Scale respectively at 6 and 24 months after birth. Results Two hundred eight-five thousand two hundred forty-two neonates were screened. One hundred and forty cases were confirmed and the incidence rate was 1/2037. There was no statistical difference in length-for-age z score (LAZ) and weight-for-age z score (WAZ) between CH and control group (P>0.05). The neurodevelopment in CH group was normal, but gross motor development was worse than that in control group (P<0.05). The temperament type and distribution had statistical difference between CH and control group (P<0.05). The percentage of the dififcult type and central dififcult type was increased in CH group as compared to control group, especially in the activity, adaptability, reaction intensity and perseverance (P<0.05). Conclusions The physical and neurodevelopment are nearly normal in patients with CH after early supplementation, but the psychological behavior problems need to be focused on in the process of intervention.