Noonan Syndrome Growth Charts and Genotypes: 15-Year Longitudinal Single-Centre Study.

INTRODUCTION: Growth patterns in Noonan syndrome (NS) remain relatively unknown. The objective of this study was to provide growth reference curves for patients with NS and identify correlations between their growth, genotype, and clinical features. METHODS: This was a 15-year-long, monocentric, observational, retrospective, non-interventional study. Children with NS followed up between 2005 and 2022 at "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, Italy, were included and excluded if they had received growth hormone treatment. Comparison of growth curves of participants with NS versus the general Italian population and further genotypic analyses were performed. RESULTS: Overall, 190 eligible participants with NS were identified, with median (interquartile range) age of 14.01 (9.05-19.25) years (55.8% male). Cardiovascular anomalies were present in 85.3% of participants, most commonly pulmonary stenosis (52.6%) and atrial septal defects (36.8%); 48.1% of male participants had cryptorchidism. The most frequently detected mutations were in PTPN11 (66.3%) and SOS1 (13.9%). NS sex-specific centile curves for height, weight, body mass index, and height velocity were produced. For both sexes, the 50th percentile of height and weight for participants with NS overlapped with the 3rd percentile for the general Italian population. Both sexes with a PTPN11 mutation had a significantly lower height and weight than those with "other mutations" at 5 years old. No significant associations were observed between cardiac anomalies and PTPN11 mutation status. CONCLUSION: We present longitudinal data describing growth curves and trends, the natural history, and genotypes of the NS population, which provide a useful tool for clinicians in the management of NS.

Developmental Curves of the Paediatric Brain Using FLAIR MRI Texture Biomarkers.

Purpose: Analysis of FLAIR MRI sequences is gaining momentum in brain maturation studies, and this study aimed to establish normative developmental curves for FLAIR texture biomarkers in the paediatric brain. Methods: A retrospective, single-centre dataset of 465/512 healthy paediatric FLAIR volumes was used, with one pathological volume for proof-of-concept. Participants were included if the MRI was unremarkable as determined by a neuroradiologist. An automated intensity normalization algorithm was used to standardize FLAIR signal intensity across MRI scanners and individuals. FLAIR texture biomarkers were extracted from grey matter (GM), white matter (WM), deep GM, and cortical GM regions. Sex-specific percentile curves were reported and modelled for each tissue type. Correlations between texture and established biomarkers including intensity volume were examined. Biomarkers from the pathological volume were extracted to demonstrate clinical utility of normative curves. Results: This study analyzed 465 FLAIR sequences in children and adolescents (mean age 10.65 ± 4.22 years, range 2-19 years, 220 males, 245 females). In the WM, texture increased to a maximum at around 8 to 10 years, with different trends between females and males in adolescence. In the GM, texture increased over the age range while demonstrating a local maximum at 8 to 10 years. Texture had an inverse relationship with intensity in the WM across all ages. WM and edema in a pathological brain exhibited abnormal texture values outside of the normative growth curves. Conclusion: Normative curves for texture biomarkers in FLAIR sequences may be used to assess brain maturation and microstructural changes over the paediatric age range.

Argentine and World Health Organization head circumference standards: A comparison study. / Estándares de perímetro cefálico argentinos y de la Organización Mundial de la Salud: estudio comparativo.

Introduction. Several studies have shown population differences in head circumference (HC) that question the universal validity of the World Health Organization (WHO) standard to assess head growth. Objectives. To compare the Argentine reference charts for HC from 0 to 5 years of age with the WHO standards. Population and methods. The 3rd and 97th percentiles for HC based on the Argentine reference charts were compared with the corresponding WHO standard and the percentage of children classified as having microcephaly (HC < 3rd percentile of the WHO) and macrocephaly (HC > 97th percentile of the WHO) at specific ages between 0 and 5 years were estimated. Results. The comparison of the Argentine reference charts with the WHO standards shows that, in both males and females, at the 3rd percentile, the Argentine reference charts are below the WHO standards from 1 to 6 months of age, similar from 9 to 18 months of age, and then above until 60 months old. In relation to the 97th percentile, the Argentine reference charts are above the WHO standards from birth to 60 months in both boys and girls. Conclusions. The head size of Argentine children is different from that established by the WHO standards. The adoption of the WHO standards for our population increases the percentage of macrocephaly diagnosis at all ages.

Introducción. Diversos estudios han evidenciado diferencias poblacionales en el tamaño cefálico que cuestionan la validez universal del estándar de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para evaluar el crecimiento cefálico. Objetivos. Comparar las referencias argentinas de perímetro cefálico (PC) de 0 a 5 años con los estándares de la OMS. Población y métodos. Se compararon los percentiles 3 y 97 de PC de las referencias argentinas con los correspondientes del estándar de la OMS y se calcularon los porcentajes de niños clasificados como microcefálicos (PC < percentil 3 de la OMS) y macrocefálicos (PC > percentil 97 de la OMS) a edades específicas entre el nacimiento y los 5 años de edad. Resultados. La comparación de las referencias argentinas con los estándares de la OMS, muestra que ­en ambos sexos­ en el percentil 3, desde el primer mes y hasta los 6 meses, las referencias argentinas se encuentran por debajo de los estándares de la OMS, son similares entre los 9 y 18 meses, y luego se ubican por encima hasta los 60 meses. En relación con el percentil 97, las referencias argentinas se ubican por encima de los estándares de la OMS desde el nacimiento hasta los 60 meses en ambos sexos. Conclusiones. El tamaño cefálico de los niños y niñas argentinos difiere del de los estándares de la OMS. La adopción de los estándares de la OMS en nuestra población incrementa el porcentaje de diagnóstico de macrocefalia a todas las edades.

Brazilian growth charts for Williams-Beuren Syndrome at ages 2 to 18 years

Abstract Objective: To develop growth charts for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and body mass index (BMI)-for-age for both genders aged 2 to 18 years for Brazilian patients with Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS). Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective, and longitudinal study, data were collected from the medical records of boys and girls with a confirmed diagnosis of WBS in three large university centers in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Growth charts stratified by gender and age in years were developed using LMSchartmaker Pro software. The LMS (Lambda Mu Sigma) method was used to model the charts. The quality of the settings was checked by worm plots. Results: The first Brazilian growth charts for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age stratified by gender were constructed for WBS patients aged 2 to 18 years. Conclusion: The growth charts developed in this study can help to guide family members and to improve the health care offered by health professionals.

Infant growth by INTERGROWTH-21st and Fenton Growth Charts: Predicting 1-year anthropometry in South African preterm infants.

Post-natal growth influences short- and long-term preterm infant outcomes. Different growth charts, such as the Fenton Growth Chart (FGC) and INTERGROWTH-21st Preterm Post-natal Growth Standards (IG-PPGS), describe different growth curves and targets. This study compares FGC- and IG-PPGS-derived weight-for-postmenstrual age z-score (WZ) up to 50 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA50) for predicting 1-year anthropometry in 321 South African preterm infants. The change in WZ from birth to PMA50 (ΔWZ, calculated using FGC and IG-PPGS) was correlated to age-corrected 1-year anthropometric z-scores for weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), weight-for-length (WLZ) and BMI-for-age (BMIZ), and categorically compared with rates of underweight (WAZ < -2), stunting (LAZ < -2), wasting (WLZ < -2) and overweight (BMIZ > + 2). Multivariable analyses explored the effects of other early-life exposures on malnutrition risk. At PMA50, mean WZ was significantly higher on IG-PPGS (-0.56 ± 1.52) than FGC (-0.90 ± 1.52; p < 0.001), but ΔWZ was similar (IG-PPGS -0.26 ± 1.23, FGC -0.11 ± 1.14; p = 0.153). Statistically significant ΔWZ differences emerged among small-for-gestational age infants (FGC -0.38 ± 1.22 vs. IG-PPGS -0.01 ± 1.30; p < 0.001) and appropriate-for-gestational age infants (FGC + 0.02 ± 1.08, IG-PPGS -0.39 ± 1.18; p < 0.001). Correlation coefficients of ΔWZ with WAZ, LAZ, WLZ and BMIZ were low (r < 0.45), though higher for FGC than IG-PPGS. Compared with IG-PPGS, ΔWZ < -1 on FGC predicted larger percentages of underweight (42% vs. 36%) and wasting (43% vs. 39%) and equal percentages of stunting (33%), while ΔWZ > + 1 predicted larger percentages overweight (57% vs. 38%). Both charts performed similarly in multivariable analysis. Differences between FGC and IG-PPGS are less apparent when considering ΔWZ, highlighting the importance of assessing growth as change over time, irrespective of growth chart.

Argentine reference charts for head circumference from birth to 19 years of age. / Referencias argentinas de perímetro cefálico desde el nacimiento hasta los 19 años.

Introduction. Head circumference (HC) is an indicator of brain growth; growth charts are necessary to determine normal or pathological variations. Objectives. To present the first Argentine HC reference charts between birth and 19 years of age and to compare them with the Nellhaus charts, which have been used in our country to date. Population and methods. These references were developed based on combined data from the National Survey on Nutrition and Health of 2018 and cross-sectional studies conducted between 2004 and 2007 in the provinces of Buenos Aires and La Pampa, which included 8326 healthy children and adolescents. Growth curves were adjusted using the LMS method. To assess the differences between these reference charts and the Nellhaus charts, at different ages, the 2nd, 50th, and 98th percentiles were plotted. Results. HC showed a variable increase in size with age, which was greater in the first years of life, and a slight increase at puberty. The values for the 98th percentile of the Argentine reference charts werehigher than those of the Nellhaus charts at all ages. The values for the 2nd percentile of the national reference were lower than those of the Nellhaus charts during the first 2 years of life, similar between 3 and 7 years of age, and higher after this age. Conclusions. The Argentine curves adequately describe the growth pattern of HC. The differences found with the Nellhaus charts may be attributed to secular changes.

Introducción. El perímetro cefálico (PC) es un indicador del crecimiento cerebral y es necesario contar con referencias de crecimiento que permitan determinar variaciones normales o patológicas. Objetivos. Presentar las primeras referencias argentinas de perímetro cefálico entre el nacimiento y los 19 años, y compararlas con las referencias de Nellhaus, utilizadas en nuestro país hasta la actualidad. Población y métodos. Para la construcción de estas referencias, se combinaron datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición y Salud 2018 y estudios transversales realizados entre 2004 y 2007 en las provincias de Buenos Aires y La Pampa, que incluyeron 8326 niños, niñas y adolescentes sanos. Las curvas de crecimiento fueron ajustadas con el método LMS. Para evaluar la magnitud de las diferencias entre estas referencias y las de Nellhaus, a diferentes edades, se graficaron los centilos 2, 50 y 98. Resultados. El PC mostró un incremento de tamaño variable con la edad, de mayor magnitud en los primeros años de vida, y un ligero incremento en la pubertad. Los valores del centilo 98 de las referencias argentinas fueron mayores que los de Nellhaus en todas las edades. Los valores del centilo 2 de la referencia nacional fueron menores que los de Nellhaus durante los primeros 2 años de vida, similares entre los 3 y 7 años, y mayores a partir de esta edad. Conclusiones. Las curvas argentinas describen adecuadamente el patrón de crecimiento del PC. Las diferencias halladas con la referencia de Nellhaus pueden atribuirse a cambios seculares.

Significant differences in the length and weight measurements of Jordanian infants compared to the World Health Organization 2006 growth standards.

BACKGROUND: In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced new growth standards based on data derived globally from optimally nourished breastfed infants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of implementing WHO growth standards on the growth patterns of Jordanian infants. In addition, it was to ascertain the necessity of establishing country-specific growth standards and charts tailored to Jordanian infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 102,846 infants (50.1% boys, 49.9% girls) aged 0-24 months, from 115 primary healthcare centers across the country were retrieved from a National E-health Program. Weight and length measurements were analyzed, and age- and sex-specific z-scores were calculated relative to the WHO growth standards. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to determine significant differences between the measurements for boys and girls in terms of age, length, and weight. RESULTS: Jordanian infants exhibited significantly shorter length-for-age measurements than WHO standards with mean z-scores of -0.56 and -0.38, for boys and girls, respectively. Weight-for-age measurements showed a good fit and were comparable to the WHO growth standards for boys (mean z score = -0.05) and girls (mean z score = 0.04). Notably, Jordanian infants displayed higher weight-for-length measurements, with mean z-scores of 0.51 for boys and 0.47 for girls. CONCLUSION: The availability of Jordanian-specific growth standards will improve the accuracy of assessing infant growth and enhance the monitoring and evaluation of their health and development.

Mortality Risk in US Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Infants by Birth Size Classifications Comparing Three Growth Curves.

INTRODUCTION: Three widely referenced growth curves classify infant birth anthropometric measurements as small (SGA), appropriate (AGA), or large (LGA) for gestational age (GA) differently. We assessed how these differences in assignment affect the identification and prediction of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) mortality risk in US preterm infants. METHODS: Birth data of infants admitted to NICUs from the Pediatrix Clinical Data Warehouse (2013-2018) were analyzed. Birth weight, length, and head circumference of 46,724 singleton infants (24-32 weeks GA) were classified as SGA, AGA, or LGA using the Olsen, Fenton, and INTERGROWTH-21st curves. NICU mortality risk based on birth size classification was analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression stratified by GA. RESULTS: Odds of mortality were increased with SGA classification at all GAs, size measurements, and curve sets, compared with AGA infants. LGA classification for weight was associated with lower mortality risk at 24 weeks GA and higher risk at 30 weeks GA. Odds of mortality did not differ significantly across curve sets. Classification of size at birth alone had relatively low predictive ability to identify mortality risk, with unadjusted AUCs near 0.5 for all analyses. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences across curve sets in predicting mortality. Classification of size at birth is a relatively imprecise method to identify infants at risk for NICU mortality.

Fetal Biometric Parameter Reference Charts of a Central Anatolian Turkish Population.

PURPOSE: The assessment of fetal biometry using ultrasound provides accurate pregnancy dating and also screening of fetal growth. Fetal biometry, which is common practice in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, is fetal morphometry, which involves taking measurements of the different anatomical body parts. These fetal dimensions vary on ethnicity. The aim of this study is to demonstrate fetal biometric parameters measurement results of the Central Anatolia Turkish population with detailed percentile tables and graphs to screen fetal growth more accurately. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on a total of 1132 fetuses (47% girl, and 53% boy) between 15 and 40 weeks of gestation. Biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL) measurements are performed in a standardized manner every gestational week. BPD and HC were measured at the level of the thalami on the horizontal plane of the fetal head. HC was measured using the ellipse method. AC measurement was taken at the circular cross-section of the upper fetal abdomen. FL was measured along with the ossified diaphysis of the femur. All measurements were taken in millimeters. RESULTS: Pregnant women's mean age was 27.58 (17-43), and the mean body mass index was 27.68 (15.06-50.78) as demographic data. 38.13% of women had their first, 29.74% had their second, and 32.13% had three or more gestations within our study. Percentile data of fetuses for each parameter (BPD, HC, AC, and FL) and for each week were shown as tables and percentile graphics. Fetal 50th percentile measurements were compared between our study and other studies from different countries. The Kruskal-Wallis test results showed that BPD (p = 0.827), HC (p = 0.808), AC (p = 0.846), and FL (p = 0.725) values have a statistically similar mean in all studies. Hierarchical cluster analysis results showed that our results for BPD, HC, AC, and FL percentile curves have been found closer to Italian population results. However, our results were statistically different from Asian, Nigerian, non-Hispanic American, and Brazilian populations for each of the different parameters. CONCLUSION: The specialization of fetal biometric charts for a particular population can ensure a more accurate assessment of fetal growth rate. We showed fetal biometric percentile tables and graphics of the Central Anatolian Turkish population in this study. These results may provide a valuable contribution to obstetrical practice. Further studies can be conducted in different regions of Turkiye, thus comparisons could be possible over the country.

How do Age at the Surgery and Birth Weight Influence Post-Operative Anthropometric Parameters in Infants with Surgical Closure of Large Ventricular Septal Defects? A Prospective Cohort Study from a Lower-Middle-Income Country.

Closure of the large ventricular septal defects (VSD) in infancy can lead to normalization of growth, but data are limited. Our study is done to assess the growth pattern in different age groups of children and lower birth weight babies after shunt closure. This is a prospective observational study that included infants with isolated large VSD operated in infancy. Anthropometric data were collected at baseline and at follow-up, and growth patterns were analyzed. 99 infants were included in the study. The mean age and weight at the time of surgery were 6.97 ± 2.79 months and 5.07 ± 1.16 kg, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was 8.99 ± 2.31 months. The weight for age (W/A) was the most adversely affected parameter preoperatively, and there was significant improvement noted in the mean Z score for W/A after shunt closure (- 3.67 ± 1.18 vs. - 1.76 ± 1.14, p = 0.0012). There was improvement in Z-scores for length for age (L/A) and weight for length (W/L), although it was not statistically significant. The infants from all the age groups had statistically significant growth in the anthropometric parameters. The rate of weight gain was maximum in the infants operated below 8 months of age (2-4 months = 3588 g, 5-6 months = 3592 g, 7-8 months = 3606 g, 9-10 months = 2590 g, 11-12 months = 2250 g). Low birth weight and normal birth weight infants had similar Z-scores at the time of surgery and at follow-up in all 3 anthropometric parameters, and birth weight did not affect pre- as well as post-operative growth parameters. Suboptimal improvement in weight and length was seen in 40 and 20% of babies even after successful surgical repair, respectively. Growth failure in infants with a large VSD can be multifactorial. Early surgical closure of the shunt can lead to early normalization of growth parameters and faster catch-up growth. Few babies may fail to demonstrate a positive growth response even after timely surgical correction, and may be related to intrauterine and genetic factors or faulty feeding habits.

Peso al nacer en el noroeste argentino. Comparación con una referencia nacional y un estándar internacional / Birth weight in the Northwest region of Argentina. Comparison with a national reference and an international standard

Introducción. El tamaño al nacer se encuentra sujeto a influencias genéticas y ambientales; la altura geográfica es muy influyente. El peso al nacer (PN) es el indicador más utilizado para evaluarlo; existen diferentes estándares y referencias. Debido a la variabilidad de la distribución del PN en relación con la altura en la provincia de Jujuy (Argentina), este trabajo analiza la distribución percentilar del PN para tierras altas (TA) y tierras bajas (TB) jujeñas según edad gestacional (EG) y sexo, y su comparación con una referencia nacional y el estándar internacional INTERGROWTH-21st (IG-21). Población y métodos. Se analizaron los registros de 78 524 nacidos vivos en Jujuy en el período 20092014. Utilizando el método LMS, se estimaron los percentiles 3, 10, 50, 90 y 97 de PN/EG por sexo, para TA (≥2000 msnm), TB (<2000 msnm) y el total provincial, y se compararon gráficamente con la referencia poblacional argentina de Urquía y el estándar IG-21. La significación estadística se determinó mediante la prueba de Wilcoxon. Resultados. El PN en Jujuy presentó distribución heterogénea, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p <0,05) entre TB y TA. Al comparar con la referencia nacional y el estándar IG-21, se observaron diferencias por altitud, principalmente en los percentiles 90 y 97 para ambas regiones, y en los percentiles 3 y 10 en TA comparados con el estándar. Conclusiones. Se observó variabilidad de la distribución del PN asociada a la altura geográfica, por lo que, para evaluar el crecimiento intrauterino, resulta fundamental incluir la EG y el contexto donde transcurre la gestación.

Introduction. Size at birth is subject to genetic and environmental influences; altitude is highly influential. Birth weight (BW) is the most widely used indicator to assess size at birth; different standards and references are available. Due to the variability in BW distribution in relation to altitude in the province of Jujuy (Argentina), the purpose of this study is to analyze the percentile distribution of BW in the highlands (HL) and the lowlands (LL) of Jujuy based on gestational age (GA) and sex and compare it with a national reference and the INTERGROWTH-21 st (IG-21) international standard. Population and methods. The records of 78 524 live births in Jujuy in the 2009­2014 period were analyzed. Using the LMS method, the 3 rd, 10 th, 50 th, 90 th, and 97 th percentiles of BW/GA by sex were estimated for the HL (≥ 2000 MASL), the LL (< 2000 MASL), and the total for Jujuy, and compared with the Argentine population reference by Urquía and the IG-21 standard using growth charts. The statistical significance was established using the Wilcoxon test. Results. BW in Jujuy showed a heterogeneous distribution, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the LL and the HL. When compared with the national reference and the IG-21 standard, differences in terms of altitude were observed, mainly in the 90 th and 97 th percentiles for both regions and the 3 rd and 10 th percentiles in the HL compared with the international standard. Conclusions. BW distribution varied in association with altitude; therefore, to assess intrauterine growth, it is critical to include GA and the environment in which the pregnancy takes place.

Novel growth reference ImaGrow differed from existing charts for preterm children aged 0-2 years.

AIM: This study aimed to address the critical need for more accurate growth reference charts for preterm infants, with a particular focus on low- and very low-birth-weight infants. METHODS: The subjects were recruited at a single tertiary centre. The cohort comprised singleton and twin infants born before 37 weeks of gestation, with data collected from 2000 to 2016. Standardised measurements of body parameters were recorded in this mixed longitudinal survey. LMS method was utilised for data analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics Version 21. The validation with another new cohort was executed. RESULTS: A total of 1781 infants (52.5% boys) met the inclusion criteria. The median gestational age at birth was 30 weeks, with a median birth weight of 1350 grams. The main findings included the construction of ImaGrow charts for low- and very low-birth-weight infants and significant differences in growth trajectories compared to Fenton+WHO charts. CONCLUSION: Our comprehensive growth references, ImaGrow, are based on a long-term auxological assessment of preterm infants and differ from charts derived from size-at-birth standards or charts for term babies. These charts have significant implications for clinical practice in monitoring and assessing the growth of preterm infants.

Normative reference data for intracranial volume in children: The results of CT volumetry.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial volume (ICV) is an important indicator of the development of the brain and skull in children. At present, there is a lack of ICV growth standards based on large infant and children samples. Our aim was to assess the normal range of the ICV variation in Russian children using a modern automatic system for constructing the endocranial cavity (Endex) and to provide growth standards of the ICV for clinical practice. METHODS: High-resolution head CT scans were obtained from 673 apparently healthy children (380 boys and 293 girls) aged 0-17 years and transformed into the ICV estimates using the Endex software. The open-source software RefCurv utilizing R and the GAMLSS add-on package with the LMS method was then used for the construction of smooth centile growth references for ICV according to age and sex. RESULTS: We demonstrated that the ICVs estimates calculated using the Endex software are perfectly comparable with those obtained by a conventional technique (i.e. seed feeling). Sex-specific pediatric growth charts for ICV were constructed. CONCLUSIONS: This study makes available for use in clinical practice ICV growth charts for the age from 0 to 17 based on a sample of 673 high-resolution CT images.

Brazilian growth charts for Williams-Beuren Syndrome at ages 2 to 18 years.

OBJECTIVE: To develop growth charts for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and body mass index (BMI)-for-age for both genders aged 2 to 18 years for Brazilian patients with Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS). METHODS: This is a multicenter, retrospective, and longitudinal study, data were collected from the medical records of boys and girls with a confirmed diagnosis of WBS in three large university centers in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Growth charts stratified by gender and age in years were developed using LMSchartmaker Pro software. The LMS (Lambda Mu Sigma) method was used to model the charts . The quality of the settings was checked by worm plots. RESULTS: The first Brazilian growth charts for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age stratified by gender were constructed for WBS patients aged 2 to 18 years. CONCLUSION: The growth charts developed in this study can help to guide family members and to improve the health care offered by health professionals.

Autopsy-Based Growth Charts May under-Detect Fetal Growth Restriction at Autopsy.

Background: Accurate identification of fetal growth restriction in fetal autopsy is critical for assessing causes of death. We examined the impact of using a chart derived from ultrasound measurements of healthy fetuses (World Health Organization fetal growth chart) versus a chart commonly used by pathologists (Archie et al.) derived from fetal autopsy-based populations in diagnosing small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth in perinatal deaths. Study Design: We examined perinatal deaths that underwent autopsy at BC Women's Hospital, 2015-2021. Weight centiles were assigned using the ultrasound-based fetal growth chart for birthweight and autopsy-based growth chart for autopsy weight. Results: Among 352 fetuses, 30% were SGA based on the ultrasound-based fetal growth chart versus 17% using the autopsy-based growth chart (p < 0.001). Weight centiles were lower when using the ultrasound-based versus autopsy-based growth chart (median difference of 9 centiles [IQR 2, 20]). Conclusions: Autopsy-based growth charts may under-classify SGA status compared to ultrasound-based fetal growth charts.

Development of disease-specific growth charts for Korean children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an epigenetic overgrowth syndrome. Despite its distinctive growth pattern, the detailed growth trajectories of children with BWS remain largely unknown. We retrospectively analyzed 413 anthropometric measurements over an average of 4.4 years of follow-up in 51 children with BWS. We constructed sex-specific percentile curves for height, weight, and head circumference using a generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape. Males with BWS exhibited greater height at all ages evaluated, weight before the age of 10, and head circumference before the age of 9 than those of the general population. Females with BWS showed greater height before the age of 7, weight before the age of 4.5, and head circumference before the age of 7 than those of the general population. At the latest follow-up visit at a mean 8.4 years of age, bone age was significantly higher than chronological age. Compared to paternal uniparental disomy (pUPD), males with imprinting center region 2-loss of methylation (IC2-LOM) had higher standard deviation score (SDS) for height and weight, while females with IC2-LOM showed larger SDS for head circumference. These disease-specific growth charts can serve as valuable tools for clinical monitoring of children with BWS.

Prediction of deciduous teeth eruption in Brazilian children: A cross-sectional study nested in a prospective birth cohort (BRISA).

BACKGROUND: Dental eruption is part of a set of children´s somatic growth phenomena. The worldwide accepted human dental eruption chronology is still based on a small sample of European children. However, evidence points to some population variations with the eruption at least two months later in low-income countries, and local standards may be useful. So, this study aimed to predict deciduous teeth eruption from 12 months of age in a Brazilian infant population. METHODS: We developed a cross-sectional study nested in four prospective cohorts - the Brazilian Ribeirão Preto and São Luís Cohort Study (BRISA) - in a sample of 3,733 children aged 12 to 36 months old, corrected by gestational age. We made a reference curve with the number of teeth erupted by age using the Generalized Additive Models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS) technique. The explanatory variable was the corrected children´s age. The dependent variable was the number of erupted teeth, by gender, evaluated according to some different outcome distributional forms. The generalized Akaike information criterion (GAIC) and the model residuals were used as the model selection criterion. RESULTS: The Box-Cox Power Exponential method was the GAMLSS model with better-fit indexes. Our estimation curve was able to predict the number of erupted deciduous teeth by age, similar to the real values, in addition to describing the evolution of children's development, with comparative patterns. There was no difference in the mean number of erupted teeth between the sexes. According to the reference curve, at 12 months old, 25% of children had four erupted teeth or less, while 75% had seven or fewer and 95% had 11 or fewer. At 24 months old, 5% had less than 12, and 75% had 18 or more. At 36 months old, around 50% of the population had deciduous dentition completed (20 teeth). CONCLUSION: The adjusted age was an important predictor of the number of erupted deciduous teeth. This outcome can be a variable incorporated into children's growth and development curves, such as weight and height curves for age to help dentists and physicians in the monitoring the children's health.

Predictive ability of fetal growth charts in identifying kindergarten-age developmental challenges: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommends defining fetal growth restriction as an estimated fetal weight or abdominal circumference <10th percentile of a population-based reference. However, because multiple references are available, an understanding of their ability to identify infants at increased risk due to fetal growth restriction is critical. Previous studies have focused on the ability of different population references to identify short-term outcomes, but fetal growth restriction also has longer-term consequences for child development. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the association between estimated fetal weight percentiles on the INTERGROWTH-21st and World Health Organization fetal growth charts and kindergarten-age childhood development, and establish the charts' discriminatory ability in predicting kindergarten-age developmental challenges. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study linking obstetrical ultrasound scans conducted at BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada, with population-based standardized kindergarten test results. The cohort was limited to nonanomalous, singleton fetuses scanned at ≥28 weeks' gestation from 2000 to 2011, with follow-up until 2017. We classified estimated fetal weight into percentiles using the INTERGROWTH-21st and World Health Organization charts. We used generalized additive modeling to link estimated fetal weight percentile with routine province-wide kindergarten readiness test results. We calculated the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve and other measures of diagnostic accuracy with 95% confidence intervals at select percentile cut-points of the charts. We repeated analyses using the Hadlock chart to help contextualize findings. The main outcome measure was the total Early Development Instrument score (/50). Secondary outcomes were Early Development Instrument subdomain scores for language and cognitive development, and for communication skills and general knowledge, as well as designation of "developmentally vulnerable" or "special needs". RESULTS: Among 3418 eligible fetuses, those with lower estimated fetal weight percentiles had systematically lower Early Development Instrument scores and increased risks of developmental vulnerability. However, the clinical significance of differences was modest in magnitude (eg, total Early Development Instrument score -2.8 [95% confidence interval, -5.1 to -0.5] in children with an estimated fetal weight in 3rd-9th percentile of INTERGROWTH-21st chart [vs reference of 31st-90th]). The charts' predictive abilities for adverse child development were limited (eg, area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve <0.53 for all 3 charts). CONCLUSION: Lower estimated fetal weight percentiles on the INTERGROWTH-21st and World Health Organization charts indicate increased risks of adverse kindergarten-age child development at the population level, but are not accurate individual-level predictors of adverse child development.

Birth weight in the Northwest region of Argentina. Comparison with a national reference and an international standard. / Peso al nacer en el noroeste argentino. Comparación conuna referencia nacional y un estándar internacional.

Introduction. Size at birth is subject to genetic and environmental influences; altitude is highly influential. Birth weight (BW) is the most widely used indicator to assess size at birth; different standards and references are available. Due to the variability in BW distribution in relation to altitude in the province of Jujuy (Argentina), the purpose of this study is to analyze the percentile distribution of BW in the highlands (HL) and the lowlands (LL) of Jujuy based on gestational age (GA) and sex and compare it with a national reference and the INTERGROWTH-21st (IG-21) international standard. Population and methods. The records of 78 524 live births in Jujuy in the 2009-2014 period were analyzed. Using the LMS method, the 3rd, 10th, 50th, 90th, and 97th percentiles of BW/GA by sex were estimated for the HL (≥ 2000 MASL), the LL (< 2000 MASL), and the total for Jujuy, and compared with the Argentine population reference by Urquía and the IG-21 standard using growth charts. The statistical significance was established using the Wilcoxon test. Results. BW in Jujuy showed a heterogeneous distribution, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the LL and the HL. When compared with the national reference and the IG-21 standard, differences in terms of altitude were observed, mainly in the 90th and 97th percentiles for both regions and the 3rd and 10th percentiles in the HL compared with the international standard. Conclusions. BW distribution varied in association with altitude; therefore, to assess intrauterine growth, it is critical to include GA and the environment in which the pregnancy takes place.

Introducción. El tamaño al nacer se encuentra sujeto a influencias genéticas y ambientales; la altura geográfica es muy influyente. El peso al nacer (PN) es el indicador más utilizado para evaluarlo; existen diferentes estándares y referencias. Debido a la variabilidad de la distribución del PN en relación con la altura en la provincia de Jujuy (Argentina), este trabajo analiza la distribución percentilar del PN para tierras altas (TA) y tierras bajas (TB) jujeñas según edad gestacional (EG) y sexo, y su comparación con una referencia nacional y el estándar internacional INTERGROWTH-21st (IG-21). Población y métodos. Se analizaron los registros de 78 524 nacidos vivos en Jujuy en el período 2009-2014. Utilizando el método LMS, se estimaron los percentiles 3, 10, 50, 90 y 97 de PN/EG por sexo, para TA (≥2000 msnm), TB (<2000 msnm) y el total provincial, y se compararon gráficamente con la referencia poblacional argentina de Urquía y el estándar IG-21. La significación estadística se determinó mediante la prueba de Wilcoxon. Resultados. El PN en Jujuy presentó distribución heterogénea, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p <0,05) entre TB y TA. Al comparar con la referencia nacional y el estándar IG-21, se observaron diferencias por altitud, principalmente en los percentiles 90 y 97 para ambas regiones, y en los percentiles 3 y 10 en TA comparados con el estándar. Conclusiones. Se observó variabilidad de la distribución del PN asociada a la altura geográfica, por lo que, para evaluar el crecimiento intrauterino, resulta fundamental incluir la EG y el contexto donde transcurre la gestación.

Growth charts of Brazilian youngs: 20-years data of 95,000 children and adolescents from "Projeto Esporte Brasil" / Curvas de crescimento de jovens brasileiros: dados de 20 anos com 95.000 crianças e adolescentes do "Projeto Esporte Brasil"

Abstract This article aims to present growth curves for height, weight, and BMI of 95,000 Brazilian youths aged 6 to 17 years, including the five regions of the country, the Amazon region, and indigenous populations, and compare them with the World Health Organization (WHO) growth references. The final sample consisted of 52,729 boys and 42,731 girls from the "Projeto Esporte Brasil" database. Body mass and height information were used to derive the curves. The generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape was employed. In this study, we present smoothed weight-for-age, height-for-age, and BMI-for-age curves for boys and girls. Differences were observed between the results of the Brazilian curves and the WHO growth references. The developed curves will be valuable for professionals in medicine, public health, nutrition, physical education, and other related fields, regarding the assessment of physical growth in Brazilian children and adolescents and monitoring the nutritional status of this population. Additionally, these curves will facilitate the identification of individuals or subgroups at risk of diseases and delayed growth, with a greater focus on specific country-related factors.

Resumo O objetivo do artigo é apresentar curvas de crescimento de altura, peso e IMC de 95.000 jovens brasileiros com idades entre 6 e 17 anos, incluindo as cinco regiões do país, a região da Amazônia e os povos indígenas, e comparar com as referências de crescimento da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). A amostra final foi composta por 52.729 meninos e 42.731 meninas provenientes do banco de dados do "Projeto Esporte Brasil". As informações de massa corporal e estatura foram utilizadas para derivar as curvas. O modelo aditivo generalizado para localização, escala e forma foi usado. neste estudo, apresentamos as curvas suavizadas de peso-idade, altura-idade e IMC-idade para meninos e meninas. Foram observadas diferenças entre os resultados das curvas brasileiras e as referências de crescimento da OMS. As curvas desenvolvidas serão úteis para profissionais da medicina, saúde pública, nutrição, educação física, entre outros, no que diz respeito a avaliação do crescimento físico de crianças e adolescentes brasileiros e para monitorar o estado nutricional desta população. Além disso, essas curvas permitirão a detecção de indivíduos ou subgrupos em risco de doenças e crescimento retardado, com um foco maior em fatores específicos do país.