Retrospective Child Feeding Practices and Obesity Risk among Young adults

@#Introduction: Early environmental factors play a major role in shaping the health of an individual. Dietary preference and habits shaped by parental feeding practice during childhood are likely to persist into adulthood which further determines body weights status. This study aimed to determine the retrospective child feeding practices associated with obesity risk in young adults. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study with 176 university students in Kuala Lumpur. Data of maternal age, gestational age and feeding practices were collected retrospectively using Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ). Subject’s current socio-demographic data was collected and anthropometric measurements were taken using standard protocol. Results: Around 22% of the subjects were overweight/ obese. No significant association was found between child feeding practices with maternal age. A significant association (p<0.05) was found between pressure to eat with gestational age, in which parent with preterm (<37 weeks gestation) and full-term subjects were more likely to pressure their child to eat as compared to post-term subjects (>42 weeks gestation). Obesity risk in young adults was higher among parents who viewed themselves as overweight (aOR=2.783; CI=1.631-4.749) and who viewed their child as overweight from birth to primary school (aOR= 1.512; CI=1.080-2.116). Young adults that were pressured by their parents to eat during childhood were less likely to be obese (aOR=0.785; CI=0.621-0.992). Conclusion: Parental influences on child feeding practices were linked to obesity risk in young adulthood. Parent education on child feeding practices is needed to maintain healthy weight status of their child from young to later life.

Management of Lower Limb Deformities in Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) often leads to severe lower limb (LL) deformities due to recurrent fractures that significantly hamper ambulation. We describe our management experience of correction of LL deformities in four children with OI. Medical management consisted of peri and postoperative pamidronate therapy, calcium supplementation and rehabilitative care. Deformities were corrected with multiple osteotomies and intramedullary fixation by titanium elastic nails. At a mean follow-up of 30 months, all children have significantly reduced fracture incidence and have no evidence of recurrence of deformities with improved ambulatory status. We emphasize the importance of combined medical and surgical therapy for these patients.

Outcome of Live Donor Liver Transplantation in Indian Children with Bodyweight <7.5 kg.

This case-series analyzed the outcome of live donor liver transplantation (LT) performed in children <7.5kg from January 2008 to June 2009 at our center. Five patients (3 males, 2 females, mean age, 8.2 ± .4 months; mean weight 6.8 ± 0.4 kg) underwent LT. The indications of LT included biliary atresia (3) and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis (2). Postoperative complications included acute rejection (1), portal venous thrombosis (1), bile leak (1), severe hypertension (1) and bacterial sepsis (4). There were no donor related complications. The median follow-up duration is 11 months with patient and graft survival rates of 100% each, respectively.

Seckel syndrome with chromosomal 18 deletion.

Four case records of patients with Seckel Syndrome (SS) were retrieved. Typical of bird headed dwarfism was seen in all. Chromosome 18 deletion was seen in one child with SS. MRI abnormalities were detected in 3 patients. Cytogenetic studies and neuroimaging is likely to provide important diagnostic and prognostic information.

Fulminant candida infection in an infant with acrodermatitis enteropathica.

Acrodermatitis Enteropathica (AE) is an important nutritional disorder of children affecting both innate and cell mediated immunity. It predisposes to secondary bacterial and candida superinfections. We describe an infant with typical features of AE who had candida infection with a fulminant course. Need of early recognition and prompt initiation of therapy for fungal infection in AE is emphasized.