Recent research on the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy / 中国当代儿科杂志

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscular weakness and atrophy. SMA, as an inherited disease, is the leading cause of death in infants and young children. Rapid progress has been made in the research field of SMA in recent years, and some related treatment drugs have been successfully approved for marketing. This article reviews the recent research advances in the treatment of SMA.

Impact of early health status on the risk of developing child overweight and obesity / 上海预防医学

Objective To investigate the impact of early health status on the risk of developing child overweight and obesity so as to provide evidences for preventive measures against child overweight and obesity.Methods Three schools were randomly selected from primary schools in Shanghai, and another three schools were randomly selected from 9-year schools in Shanghai.Retrospective surveys were conducted for 1 511 pupils selected from all the Grade One and Grade Two students of the above selected schools, the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the early risk factors for child overweight and obesity.Results The results of univariate logistic regression analyses showed that for the children with relatively high birth weights, asthma, allergic constitution, histories of chronic diseases, relatively good appetite, relatively high ages that had been notified of their overweight and obesity, the detection rate of overweight and obesity was higher (P<0.05).The results of multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that birth weights(OR=2.699, 95%CI=1.097~6.644), allergic constitution(OR=1.498, 95%CI=1.044~2.149), histories of chronic diseases(OR=2.486, 95%CI=1.327~4.659) and appetite(OR=22.011, 95%CI=8.861~54.673) were the risk factors influencing child overweight and obesity (P<0.05).Conclusion Attention still needs to be paid to the body mass control of the children with relatively high birth weights, allergic constitution and histories of chronic diseases.Scientific and reasonable feeding at early stages as well as cultivating good eating and drinking habits may help prevent and control child overweight and obesity.

Discussion on the relationship between central obesity and asthma of pupils / 上海预防医学

Objective To explore the relationship between central obesity and asthma of 7-to 9-year-old pupils, and to make clear the direction of research for the next stage.Methods By cluster sampling, 6 primary schools in Shanghai were randomly selected;the parents of all the Grade One and Grade Two pupils thereof were surveyed, and physical examinations were made for these pupils.Rates were compared using the chi-square test, and the numerous factors for the central obesity and asthma of school-age children were analyzed by using the logistic regression analysis model.Results The obesity rate of these pupils was 9.40%, the rate of central obesity thereof was 16.41%, and the rate of pupils who had suffered asthma was 4.37%.The body mass index (BMI) was used in the univariate analysis to assess the nutritional status of pupils.The difference in terms of the rate of asthma between the obesity group and the non-obesity group had no statistic significance.However, the assessment based on waist circumferences showed that excess waist circumferences were related to asthma.However, multivariate regression analyses showed that masculinity, aging, little weekend sleep, good appetite, having no preference for foods, big appetite and fast eating were the risk factors for central obesity.In the model, a history of asthma was an risk factor for central obesity.Conclusion Central obesity is related to asthma for 7-to 9-year-old pupils.It is necessary to continue the follow-up study for factors influencing obesity, and to probe into the relationship between obesity and asthma, thereby providing more evidences for public health practices.