Secular trend of Kawasaki disease and its correlation with viral activity in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most important acquired heart disease in children. This study investigated annual incidence, seasonality, secular trend and the correlation of KD incidence with viral activity in Taiwan. METHODS: Through the national health insurance database, we identified KD during 2001-2020. The viral activity was obtained from nationwide surveillance database. We analyzed KD age-specific annual incidence, secular trends, seasonality and the correlation between KD incidence and common enteric or respiratory viral activity. RESULTS: The KD incidence of subjects younger than 18 years significantly increased from 2001 to 2020 (11.78 and 22.40 per 100,000 person-years, respectively), and substantially decreased with age. Infants younger than 1 year presented the highest KD annual incidence at 105.82 to 164.34 per 100,000 person-years from 2001 to 2020. For all KD patients, the most frequently occurring season was summer followed by autumn. The KD incidence of infants younger than 1 year had significantly positive correlation with enteric (r = 0.14) and respiratory (r = 0.18) viral activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the increasing trend of KD annual incidence and seasonality (more in summer and autumn) in Taiwan. The activity of common respiratory and enteric viruses was significantly correlated with KD incidence in infants.

"Secular trends (2001-2020) in physical fitness as a health component in physiotherapy students from Bydgoszcz (Poland)".

The aim of this study was to assess changes in the components of physical fitness that are conducive to the health of young people surveyed between 2001 and 2020. Hypotheses were formulated about an increase in the thickness of skinfolds, especially among women, the deterioration of the results of fitness tests and the lack of conditioning of the examined changes with socioeconomic factors. Every year, physiotherapy students at the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (Poland) were examined for body height and mass, skinfold thickness, flexibility, static strength, abdominal muscle strength, functional strength and endurance. The results were obtained from 1161 female students and 464 male students. Similar trends were observed for most of the studied characteristics in people of both sexes. In male students, secular trends towards a decrease in the thickness of biceps skinfolds (R2 = 0.455, p = 0.002) and lower leg skinfolds (R2 = 0.314, p = 0.015) were found. In female students, secular trends towards an increase in the body mass (R2 = 0.41, p = 0.003), a decrease in the thickness of skinfolds over the biceps (R2 = 0.477, p = 0.001) and decreased flexibility (R2 = 0.283, p = 0.023) were found. Male sex and the thickness of suprailiac skinfolds were frequent predictors of the, assessed motor abilities and socioeconomic factors did not significantly affect their maintenance. The obtained results, except for a few secular trend examples of the somatic features (male student's age and calf skinfold, female student's body mass, male and female student's biceps skinfold) and flexibility in women, showed their stability and the lack of conditioning by social factors and by the fitness test. Attention to the appropriate level of the observed components is justified, especially in light of the identified trend that showed their deterioration.

Incidence of fragility hip fracture across the Asia-pacific region: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to update fragility hip fracture incidences in the Asia Pacific, and compare rates between countries/regions. METHOD: A systematic search was conducted in four electronic databases. Studies reporting data between 2010 and 2023 on the geographical incidences of hip fractures in individuals aged ≥50 were included. Exclusion criteria were studies reporting solely on high-trauma, atypical, or periprosthetic fractures. We calculated the crude incidence, age- and sex-standardised incidence, and the female-to-male ratio. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020162518). RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies were included across nine countries/regions (out of 41 countries/regions). The crude hip fracture incidence ranged from 89 to 341 per 100,000 people aged ≥50, with the highest observed in Australia, Taiwan, and Japan. Age- and sex-standardised rates ranged between 90 and 318 per 100,000 population and were highest in Korea and Japan. Temporal decreases in standardised rates were observed in Korea, China, and Japan. The female-to-male ratio was highest in Japan and lowest in China. CONCLUSION: Fragility hip fracture incidence varied substantially within the Asia-Pacific region. This observation may reflect actual incidence differences or stem from varying research methods and healthcare recording systems. Future research should use consistent measurement approaches to enhance international comparisons and service planning.

Central precocious puberty in boys: secular trend and clinical features.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest that boys enter puberty at a younger age, and the incidence of male central precocious puberty (CPP) is increasing. In this study, we explore the incidence of male CPP and identify key clinical and auxological indicators for organic CPP (OCPP). DESIGN: A retrospective registry-based study. METHODS: The medical records of 43 boys treated with CPP at the Helsinki University Hospital between 1985 and 2014 were reviewed. Clinical, auxological, and endocrine data of the CPP patients were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Based on brain MRI, 26% of patients had OCPP. Between 2010 and 2014, the CPP incidence in boys was 0.34 per 10 000 (95% CI 0.20-0.60). Between 1990 and 2014, the male CPP incidence increased (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.10, P = .001). This increase was driven by rising idiopathic CPP (ICPP) incidence (IRR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05-1.19, P < .001), while OCPP incidence remained stable (P = .41). Compared with the patients with ICPP, the patients with OCPP were younger (P = .006), were shorter (P = .003), and had higher basal serum testosterone levels (P = .038). Combining 2 to 4 of these readily available clinical cues resulted in good to excellent (all, area under the curve 0.84-0.97, P < .001) overall performance, differentiating organic etiology from idiopathic. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated incidence of CPP in boys was 0.34 per 10 000, with 26% of cases associated with intracranial pathology. The increase in CPP incidence was driven by rising ICPP rates. Patients with OCPP were characterized by shorter stature, younger age, and higher basal testosterone levels, providing valuable cues for differentiation in addition to brain MRI. Utilizing multiple cues could guide diagnostic decision-making.

Trends in the Incidence of Renal Replacement Therapy due to Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis in Japan, 2006-2021.

Objective Patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) are at a high risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). The present study examined recent trends in the incidence of RRT due to RPGN in Japan. Methods The number of patients with incident RRT due to RPGN by sex from 2006 to 2021 was extracted from the Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy Registry. The incidence rates of RRT were calculated for four-year periods with the census population as the denominator. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and age-specific incidence rates were also calculated. Results From 2006 to 2021, the crude number of patients with incident RRT due to RPGN increased by 34% and 58% in men and women, respectively. The SIRs decreased significantly in 2010-2013 relative to the first period (2006-2009) for both men (0.90 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.85-0.96]) and women (0.92 [0.86-0.99]) but then increased to 1.01 (0.96-1.07) for men and 1.20 (1.13-1.27) for women in 2018-2021. In the older age groups (≥70 years old), age-specific incidence rates initially decreased in 2010-2013 but increased thereafter, peaking in 2018-2021. Conclusion From 2006 to 2021, the number of patients with incident RRT due to RPGN increased, with an increase in the age-specific incidence of RRT due to RPGN in the older age groups (≥70 years old), suggesting that the number of patients with incident RRT due to RPGN will continue to increase as the population ages in Japan.

Secular trends and regional pattern in body height of Austrian conscripts born between 1961 and 2002.

The human growth process is influenced not only by genetic factors but also by environmental factors. Therefore, regional differences in mean body heights may exist within a population or a state. In the present study, we described and evaluated the regional trends in mean body heights in the nine Austrian provinces over a period spanning more than four decades. Body height data of 1734569 male conscripts born in Austria with Austrian citizenship between 1961 and 2002 were anonymized and analyzed. From 1961 to 2002 birth cohorts, an overall increase in the mean body height of Austrian recruits was observed, although regional differences were evident. Regions with shorter body heights in the 1961-1963 birth cohorts showed a particularly pronounced increase in mean body heights. Meanwhile, the course of body height growth in the capital city, Vienna, was striking, where the highest body heights were documented for the 1961-1963 birth cohorts. In Vienna, mean body heights continued to decline until the 1984 birth cohort and increased again from the 1988 birth cohorts. In addition to economic factors, increased stress factors in an urban environment and a form of urban penalty are discussed as causes.

Secular Trends in Peak Bone Mineral Density: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2018.

Peak bone mineral density (BMD) is one of the most important factors influencing the development of osteoporosis. It was predicted that a 10% increase in peak BMD will delay the onset of osteoporosis by 13 years. However, changes in peak BMD over time are unknown. This study aimed to investigate secular trends in peak BMD among young adults in the United States. Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999-2018, 3,975 males aged 19-28 years and 2370 females aged 31-40 years were our target population for estimating peak lumbar spine BMD. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Generalized linear models adjusted for multiple covariates were used to examine the secular trends in peak BMD in males and females, respectively. Secular trends for peak lumbar spine BMD from 1999-2000 to 2017-2018 were not statistically significant in males or females (all Plinear and Pquadratic > 0.05). Similar results were observed in race/ethnicity subgroups (all Plinear and Pquadratic > 0.05). However, in stratified analyses by obesity category, peak lumbar spine BMD in obese males and females increased from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010 and then decreased until 2017-2018, while peak lumbar spine BMD in non-obese females decreased from 1999-2000 to 2005-2006 and then increased until 2017-2018 (all Pquadratic < 0.05). Peak lumbar spine BMD was greater in obese males and females than in non-obese males and females up to 2009-2010, but not from 2011-2012 onwards. Overall, there were no significant secular trends in peak lumbar spine BMD. However, secular trends differed between obese and non-obese groups.

Plant-Based Diets in Children: Secular Trends, Health Outcomes, and a Roadmap for Urgent Practice Recommendations and Research-A Systematic Review.

People are increasingly encouraged to reduce animal food consumption and shift towards plant-based diets; however, the implications for children's health are unclear. In this narrative review of research in high-income settings, we summarize evidence on the increasing consumption of plant-based diets in children and update an earlier systematic review regarding their associations with children's health outcomes. The evidence indicates that vegan, but not vegetarian, diets can restrict growth relative to omnivorous children and increase the risk of being stunted and underweight, although the percentage affected is relatively small. Bone mineral content is reduced in vegetarian and, in particular, vegan children, compared to omnivores. Both vegetarian and vegan children who do not use vitamin B12 supplements manifest with B12 deficiency; however, supplementation rectifies this problem. Both vegetarians and vegans have lower concentrations of 25(OH)D if unsupplemented, and lower body iron stores, but usually have normal iron metabolism markers. Both groups are at risk of iodine deficiency, and this might affect thyroid health. Children consuming a vegan diet have a more favorable lipid profile than omnivorous children; however, the results for a vegetarian diet are inconsistent and vary by outcome. Based on the same scientific evidence, national and international dietary recommendations are heterogeneous, with some countries supporting plant-based diets among infants, children, and adolescents, and others discouraging them. We offer a research roadmap, highlighting what is needed to provide adequate evidence to harmonize dietary recommendations for plant-based diets in children. A number of measures should urgently be introduced at international and national levels to improve the safety of their use in children.

Secular trends in sleep and circadian problems among adolescents in Hong Kong: From 2011-2012 to 2017-2019.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate secular trends in sleep and circadian problems in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. METHODS: This study analyzed cross-sectional data from two large-scale school-based sleep surveys conducted in 2011-2012 and 2017-2019. Sleep and circadian problems, including sleep-wake pattern, insomnia, chronotype, social jetlag, daytime sleepiness, and other sleep-related factors, were compared between two survey years. RESULTS: A total of 8082 adolescents (5639 students in 2011-2012 [Mean age: 14.4 years, 50.9% boys] and 2443 students in 2017-2019 [Mean age: 14.7 years, 54.0% boys]) were included in this 7-year study. The average time in bed of Hong Kong adolescents decreased from 8.38 hours to 8.08 hours from 2011-2012 to 2017-2019. There was a 0.28-hour delay in weekday bedtime, 0.54-hour advance in weekend wake-up time, and a 0.36-hour decline in average time in bed, resulting in increased trends of sleep loss (Time in bed <8h: OR = 2.06, 95%CI: 1.44-2.93, p < 0.01; Time in bed <7h: OR = 2.73, 95%CI: 1.92-3.89, p < 0.01), daytime sleepiness (OR = 1.70, 95%CI: 1.34-2.16, p < 0.01), and evening chronotype (OR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.08-1.48, p < 0.01). The increased trend in insomnia disorder, however, was insignificant when covariates were adjusted. CONCLUSION: A secular trend of reduced time in bed, delay in weekday bedtime, advance in weekend wake-up time, increase in evening chronotype and daytime sleepiness from 2011-2012 to 2017-2019 were observed. There is a timely need for systematic intervention to promote sleep health in adolescents.

Differences in femoral fracture localizations in men and women in Switzerland between 1998 and 2021-reversal of the secular trend?

Number and age-standardized incidences of femoral fractures by sex and localization were determined annually between 1998 and 2021 in subjects aged 45 years or older living in Switzerland. The number and incidences of femoral neck, pertrochanteric, subtrochanteric, and femoral shaft fractures followed distinct unexpected trend patterns. INTRODUCTION: Long-term incidence trends for femoral fractures by individual localizations are unknown. METHODS: Annual absolute number of hospitalizations and median age at hospital admission between 1998 and 2021 were extracted from the medical database of the Swiss Federal Office of Statistics by sex and 10-year age groups for the following 10th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes: femoral neck (ICD-10 S72.0), pertrochanteric (S72.1), subtrochanteric (S72.2), and femoral shaft fractures (S72.3). Age-standardized incidence rates (ASI) and corresponding trends were calculated. RESULTS: Over 24 years, the number of femoral neck fractures increased in men (+ 45%) but decreased in women (- 7%) with ASI significantly decreasing by 20% and 37% (p < 0.001 for trend for both), respectively. By contrast, the number of pertrochanteric fractures increased by 67% and 45% in men and women, respectively, corresponding to a horizontal ASI-trend in men (n.s.) and a modest significant decreasing ASI-trend in women (p < 0.001). The number of subtrochanteric fractures increased in both sexes with corresponding modest significant reductions in ASI-trends (p = 0.015 and 0.002, respectively). Femoral shaft fractures almost doubled in men (+ 71%) and doubled in women (+ 100%) with corresponding significant increases in ASI-trends (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Age at admission increased for all fracture localizations, more so in men than in women and more so for subtrochanteric and shaft fractures than for "typical" hip fractures. CONCLUSION: Incidence changes of pertrochanteric fractures and femoral shaft fractures deserve increased attention, especially in men. Pooling diagnostic codes for defining hip fractures may hide differing patterns by localization and sex.

Trends in age at menarche from 1943 through 1989 in Taiwan: A retrospective population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated a global decline in the age at menarche. Our study aimed to determine the age at menarche of Taiwanese women born between 1943 and 1989. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Taiwan Biobank. To view the trends in age at menarche, we analyzed data from 74,799 women. The mean, standard deviation, and annual percentage change in age at menarche were calculated for birth-year cohorts. RESULTS: The mean age at menarche of Taiwanese women born in 1943 was 14.85 years. The age at menarche decreased to 12.20 years for those born in 1989. The mean age at menarche declined by 2.65 years across the 47-year study period; hence, the reduction rate was 0.56 years per decade. This study demonstrated a downward secular trend in the age at menarche of Taiwanese women born between 1943 and 1989. This trend occurred in three stages of decline: fast (1943-1953), slow (1953-1965), and moderate (1965-1989). CONCLUSION: The age at menarche decreased by 2.65 years among Taiwanese women born in 1943 compared with those born in 1989. This decline occurred in three stages: fast (1943-1953), slow (1953-1965), and moderate (1965-1989). This significant downward secular trend in age at menarche reflects Taiwan's socioeconomic development.

Secular trends and age-specific distribution of blood pressure in Japanese adolescents aged 12-18 years in 2000-2019.

Adolescent blood pressure is a predictor of future risk for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, and therefore its status needs to be accurately determined. However, limited evidence is available regarding the secular trends and distribution of adolescent blood pressure. In the present study, we assessed the secular trends and age-specific distributions of blood pressure in Japanese adolescents aged 12-18 years by using data drawn from 20 years of annual health checkups conducted between 2000 and 2019. Participants underwent health checkups every year for three years at the same school and the data were divided into four 5-year cycles: 2000-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2019. From a total of 124,460 records (33,496 individuals) retrieved, 3000 records (3000 individuals) from each year-cycle were randomly selected to avoid duplicating data from the same individuals. In the study period, in males systolic blood pressure showed a decreasing trend over time, whereas in females diastolic blood pressure showed an increasing trend. Subgroup analyses by school category (junior/senior high school) and by obesity category showed similar blood pressure trends as in the overall analysis. Age-specific blood pressure values in Japanese adolescents increased with age in males but not in females. Thus, different patterns of change in blood pressure values over the past 20 years were observed between males and females. Age-specific blood pressure distributions are also presented. Together, these findings will be useful for understanding blood pressure trends among adolescents.

Secular trends in blood lead concentrations of school-age children in Montevideo, Uruguay from 2009 to 2019.

Lead exposure continues to be a public health problem globally, yet very few countries perform systematic biomonitoring or surveillance of children's blood lead levels (BLLs). Secular trends in children's BLLs have not been well characterized outside North America and Europe. In 2009-19, we conducted a series of non-representative cross-sectional surveys in Montevideo, Uruguay, enrolling children living in areas of the city with known or suspected lead contamination. Lead was measured with atomic absorption spectrometry on fasting venous blood samples. Of the 856 children representing independent (non-sibling) observations, 759 had BLL measures. Other missing data were imputed. Using linear and logistic regression models, we estimated the covariate-adjusted year to year difference in mean BLL and the likelihood of having BLL ≥5 and BLL ≥3.5 µg/dL. At the start of the study, mean ± SD BLL was 4.8 ± 2.6 µg/dL, and at the end 1.4 ± 1.4 µg/dL. The prevalence of BLL ≥5 and BLL ≥3.5 µg/dL also differed markedly between 2009 and 2019 (30.8% vs. 2.7% and 53.8% vs. 5.8%). Similarly, where 80.8% of children had BLL ≥2 µg/dL in 2011, in 2019 that number was 19.3%. The estimated year to year difference in BLL was ∼0.3 µg/dL. Despite this progress, pediatric lead exposure remains a problem in Montevideo. In years 2015-19, between 19 and 48% of school children had BLL ≥2 µg/dL, a level at which adverse neurobehavioral outcomes continue to be reported in the literature. Continued prevention and risk-reduction efforts are needed in Montevideo, including systematic surveillance of BLLs in all children.

Discordance in Secular Trends of Bone Mineral Density Measurements in Different Ages of Postmenopausal Women.

BACKGROUND: Age-adjusted bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women decreases in developed countries whereas incidence of osteoporotic fracture decreases or remains stable. We investigated secular trends of bone density from 2008 to 2017 among different age groups of postmenopausal women. METHODS: We analyzed BMD data obtained from health check-ups of 4,905 postmenopausal women during three survey cycles from 2008 to 2017. We divided them into 3 groups by age (50-59 years, 60-69 years, and 70 years or more) and observed the transition of lumbar and femoral BMD in each group, before and after adjusting for variables that may affect BMD. RESULTS: Age-adjusted BMD, bone mineral content (BMC), and T-score demonstrated a declining trend over the survey period at lumbar spine (-2.8%), femur neck (-3.5%) and total femur (-4.3%), respectively. In the analysis for the age groups, the BMD, BMC, and T-score presented linear declining trend (-6.1%) in younger postmenopausal women while women aged over 70 or more showed linear increasing trends (+6.3%) at lumbar spine during the survey period. Femoral neck and total femur BMD demonstrated a declining linear trend only in the 50-59 and 60-69 years groups (-5.5%, -5.2%, respectively), but not in the 70 years or more group. CONCLUSION: BMD in younger postmenopausal women has decreased considerably but has increased or plateaued in elderly women. This discordance of BMD trends among different age groups may contribute to decreased incidence of osteoporotic fracture despite a recent declining BMD trend in postmenopausal women.

Changes in Mature Human Milk Macronutrient Composition over 45 years in an Urban Population in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: With improvement in a population's welfare, its food consumption patterns may change, including those of nursing mothers. This, in turn, could influence their human milk composition. RESEARCH AIM: To investigate the secular trend in macronutrient composition of mature human milk from mothers of healthy, full-term infants in urban populations in Indonesia from 1974 and 2019. METHOD: We compared the macronutrient composition of mature human milk of healthy full-term infants from 1974 and 2019. The data from 2019 used the Human Milk Analyzer MIRIS to quantify the milk's carbohydrate, fat, and protein content, while the historical data used methods available at that time, that is, methods described by Benedict, Gerber and Kjeldahl, respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in carbohydrate, protein and fat content across categories of maternal nutritional status in the respective periods. However, the fat content of human milk from 2019 was significantly higher than that of 1974 (4.7 g/dl, SD = 1.7 g/dl vs. 3.3 g/dl, SD = 1.1 g/dl; p < 0.001), while its carbohydrate content was significantly lower (6.2 g/dl, SD = 2.1 g/dl vs. 7.1 g/dl, SD = 0.2 g/dl; p < 0.001). There was no difference in the protein content between the two periods (1.4 g/dl, SD = 0.5 g/dl vs. 1.6 g/dl, SD = 0.3 g/dl; p = 0.491). CONCLUSION: The mature human milk from 2019 has a higher fat and total energy content but lower carbohydrate content than those observed 4 decades ago. The protein content remained the same.

Secular trend in disease burden of leukemia and its subtypes in China from 1990 to 2019 and its projection in 25 years.

Leukemia and its subtypes impose a major public health challenge in China. Identifying the secular trend of leukemia burden is critical to facilitate optimal healthcare planning and improve the management of leukemia. The incidence rates of leukemia from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database according to the following: subtype (acute lymphocytic leukemia [ALL], acute myeloid leukemia [AML], chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL], chronic myelogenous leukemia [CML], and other leukemia subtypes), sex, and age group. The average annual percentage changes and relative risks were calculated using joinpoint regression and the age-period-cohort model, respectively. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was also applied to predict the future trend of the incidence of leukemia and its subtypes in the next 25 years. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) of leukemia slightly declined in males and females, which is similar to the trend of other leukemia subtypes. However, the four major leukemia subtypes, namely, ALL, AML, CLL, and CML, have been on the rise over the past three decades. The incidence rates of leukemia in children and the elderly were considerably higher than those in other age groups in males and females. Age effects were the most influential risk factor for leukemia incidence. Period effects showed that the risks of leukemia and its subtypes incidence increased with time. For cohort effects, the risks of leukemia and its subtypes were higher among the early-born cohorts compared with the late-born cohorts. The ASIRs of leukemia and its subtypes will continue to increase in the next 25 years. The burden of leukemia and its subtypes is expected to continue to increase in the next 25 years in males and females. A comprehensive understanding of the risk characteristics and disease pattern of leukemia and its subtypes is needed to formulate timely and effective intervention measures to reduce the leukemia burden in China.

What makes people grow? Love and hope.

BACKGROUND: Hope and love are popular themes of literature and art in many human societies. The human physiology of love and hope is less well understood. This review presents evidence that the lack of love and/or hope delays growth disturbs development and maturation and even kills. MAIN BODY: Love and hope intersect in promoting healthy human development. Love provides a sense of security and attachment, which are necessary for healthy physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Hope provides a sense of optimism and resilience in the face of adversity. Loving relationships can foster a sense of hope in individuals and in society by providing support systems during difficult times. Similarly, having a sense of hope can make it easier to form loving relationships by providing individuals with the confidence to connect with others. Hope and love are the fundamental basis of human biocultural reproduction, which is the human style of cooperation in the production, feeding, and care of offspring. Examples are given of the association between human growth in height with love and hope, including (1) the global "Long Depression" of 1873-1896, (2) "hospitalism" and the abuse/neglect of infants and children, (3) adoption, (4) international migration, (5) colonial conquest, and (6) social, economic, and political change in Japan between 1970 and 1990. CONCLUSION: Overall, this review suggests that love and hope are both critical factors in promoting healthy human development and that they intersect in complex ways to support emotional well-being.

Secular change in selected motor performance parameters and BMI in Swiss primary school children from 2014-2021: The Sportcheck+ study.

It is important to monitor secular trends in children's motor performance, as healthy and physically active children are more likely to become healthy and physically active adults. However, studies with regular and standardized monitoring of motor performance in childhood are scarce. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on secular trends is unknown. This study describes secular changes in balancing backwards, jumping sidewards, 20-m sprint, 20-m Shuttle Run Test (SRT) and anthropometric data in 10'953 Swiss first graders from 2014 to 2021. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to estimate secular trends for boys vs. girls, lean vs. overweight and fit vs. unfit children. The potential influence of COVID-19 was also analysed. Balance performance decreased (2.8% per year), whereas we found improvements for jumping (1.3% per year) and BMI (-0.7% per year). 20-m SRT performance increased by 0.6% per year in unfit children. Children affected by COVID-19 measures had an increased BMI and were more overweight and obese, but motor performance was mostly higher. In our sample, secular changes in motor performance show promising tendencies from 2014 to 2021. The effects of COVID-19 mitigation measures on BMI, overweight and obesity should be monitored in additional birth cohorts and follow-up studies.

Eleven years secular trend of the initiation of anti-osteoporosis medications and subsequent fractures in Taiwan: From 2008 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease that benefits from many newly developed anti-osteoporosis medications (AOMs). Reimbursement policies need to allocate medical budgets properly based on evidence-based data. This study aimed to investigate the 11-year secular trend, focusing on older age and males in this adjustment wave of the National Health Insurance reimbursement. METHODS: We adopted a nationwide cohort from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Patients undergoing newly initiated AOMs from 2008 to 2018 were included. The AOMs in this study included denosumab, zoledronate, ibandronate, alendronate, raloxifene, and risedronate. Patients <50 years, pathological fractures, missing data, and two AOMs prescribed were excluded. The real-world trends related to subsequent fragility fracture and death within 1 and 3 years were used to evaluate the potential effects due to revision of reimbursement policies. RESULTS: Of 393,092 patients, among them, 336,229 patients met the criteria, whose mean age ranged from 73.3 to 74.4 years, and nearly 80% were female. Further analysis showed a steady increase of AOMs from 5567 (17.1%) and 8802 (27.0%) in 2008-6697 (18.3%) and 10,793 (29.5%) in 2018 for males and 80+ years respectively. The subsequent fragility fracture within one and three years post AOMs initiation was 5.81% and 11.80% in 2018. CONCLUSION: This study showed an immediate drop in AOMs prescription after the implementation of a new stricter reimbursement policy. It took 5 years to return the annual prescription number.

The full distribution of adult height in Poland: Cohorts born between 1920 and 1996. The biological cost of the economic transition.

Body height often serves as a proxy for economic progress. In this paper, we investigate the evolution of average height and height dispersion in Poland based on full administrative data on body height (n = 36,393,246). Especially for the cohorts between 1920 and 1950, we discuss the caveat of shrinking. In the cohorts born between 1920 and 1996, the average height of men increased by 10.15 cm, while the average height of women rose by 8.18 cm. Height increase was fastest in the years 1940 - 1980. After the economic transition, body height stagnated. Post-transition unemployment had negative effects on body height. Height declined in municipalities where there were State Agricultural Farms. Height dispersion decreased in the first decades under investigation and increased after the economic transition.