Effect of pivotal response training for children with autism spectrum disorder： a systematic review / 四川精神卫生

The purpose of this article is to systematically review the effectiveness of pivotal response training （PRT） for children with autism spectrum disorder （ASD）， so as to provide evidence-based guidance for the implementation of effective PRT for children with ASD. Randomized controlled trials （RCTs） investigating the effectiveness of PRT for children with ASD were collected， and the methodological quality of the trails was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for risk of bias assessment. A total of 6 RCTs were included in this review. Then the empirical findings including the implementation of PRT and the role of PRT in improving general social skills and verbal communication skills of children with ASD were elaborated. And its limitations and possible future research directions were also summarized. ［Funded by Special Project for Construction of Innovation Environment in Autonomous Region： Construction of Science and Technology Innovation Base （number， PT2306）］

Effects of early postnatal immune activation on autism-like behaviors and glial cells in mice / 中国儿童保健杂志

【Objective】 To observe the effects of early postnatal immune activation (EPIA) on social behaviors of male and female mice, and to explore the possible role of the functional state of astrocytes and microglia in this process. 【Methods】 Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced EPIA mice as study subjects, mice were divided into the male-control, male-model, female-control, and female-model groups, each containing 10 mice (n=10). Behavioral tests were performed at 25 - 32 days of age, and the social behavior ability of mice was evaluated by open field test, three-chamber sociability test, and marble burying test. The expression levels of GFAP, IBA-1, TLR4, and NFκB p65 in the cortex and hippocampus were detected by Western blot (n=3). 【Results】 In behavioral tests, social index significantly decreased in LPS treatment group (F=14.907, P<0.05). The interaction effect between treatment and sex was significant in the residence time (F=5.260, P<0.05) and the number of buried marbles (F=7.788, P<0.05). LPS treatment decreased the retention time of the central region in male mice (F=4.261, P<0.05), and increased the number of buried marbles in males (F=20.645, P<0.05). Western blot results showed that LPS treatment increased the expression of GFAP protein in the hippocampus (F=50.443, P<0.05) and cortex (F=30.116, P<0.05), as well as the expression of IBA-1 protein (F=21.844. P<0.05) and TLR4 protein (F=6.215, P<0.05) in the cortex. The results of NFκB p65 showed a significant interaction between treatment and sex in the cortex (F=6.558, P<0.05), and LPS increased the expression of NFκB p65 protein in the cortex in female mice (F=16.317, P<0.05). 【Conclusions】 EPIA is sufficient to induce sex-specific autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like behavior and enhance astroglial and microglial reactivity in mice. ASD-like behavior induced by EPIA may be related to the TLR4/NFκB signaling pathway in the cortex.

Analysis of the correlation between stigma and coping styles and social support among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders / 四川精神卫生

BackgroundThe incidence of autism spectrum disorders （ASD） is showing an upward trend， and the treatment and training process for children with ASD is lengthy， placing a heavy burden on their families. Such fact results in parents being prone to feelings of stigma. However， there exists a lack of research studying on the stigma among parents of children with ASD. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between stigma and coping styles and social support of parents with ASD， and to provide references for practices of reducing stigma level and taking targeted interventions in this group. MethodsThis study involved parents of children diagnosed with ASD and admitted to the children's health clinic of a tertiary hospital in Urumqi between January 2021 and May 2022. General information questionnaire， Affiliate Stigma Scale （ASS）， Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire （SCSQ） and Social Support Rating Scale （SSRS） were employed to conduct investigation. Pearson correlation analysis was used analyze the correlation between stigma， coping styles and social support. ResultsThe ASS total score of parents of children with ASD was （52.40±11.22）. Correlation analysis results showed that the ASS total score of parents was positively correlated with the score of negative coping dimension in SCSQ （r=0.787， P<0.01）， and negatively correlated with the score of positive coping dimension in SCSQ and SSRS total score （r=-0.565， -0.795， P<0.01）. The result of regression analysis suggested that stigma among parents of children with ASD was affected by coping style and social support （∆R2=0.768， F=114.931， P<0.01）. These two factors could explain 76.80% of the total variance. ConclusionParents of children with ASD have stigma of moderate to high level， and coping styles and social support are two important factors influencing the stigma. ［Funded by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Science and Technology Program Resource Sharing Platform Construction Project （number， PT2215）］

A survey on nutritional status among infants at ages of 6 to 24 months / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the nutritional status and examine its association with feeding among infants at ages of 6 to 24 months in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, so as to provide the evidence for improving malnutrition among infants.@*Methods@#Infants at ages of 6 to 24 months participating in physical examinations in Urumqi City and Moyu County from January to December 2021 were enrolled. Participants' gender, age, birth status, place of residence and maternal education level were collected through questionnaire surveys, and infants' feeding was evaluated using Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI). Age-specific height and body weight and height-specific body weight were calculated, and nutritional status was evaluated using Z score. The association between ICFI and malnutrition was evaluated using a multivariable logistic regression model.@*Results @#A total of 1 013 infants were surveyed, including 557 boys (54.99%) and 456 girls (45.01%). The participants included 545 infants at ages of 12 to 24 months (53.80%), 969 full-term infants (95.66%), and 617 infants with qualified ICFI scores (60.91%). The prevalence of malnutrition was 8.59% among participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that infants with qualified ICFI score had a lower risk of malnutrition (OR=0.538, 95%CI: 0.327-0.883) after adjustment for age, birth status, place of residence, maternal education level and monthly household income.@*Conclusion@#The prevalence of malnutrition is low among infants at ages of 6 to 24 months in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and infants with qualified feeding have a reduced risk of malnutrition.

Assessment of the nutritional status of 6-36-month-old infants in Xinjiang and analysis of the influencing factors.

The health of infants is not only related to family happiness, but also to the future and development of the country. Therefore, it is still a very important public health problem to pay attention to the nutritional health level of infants. This article explores the nutritional health levels of infants and reveals the related risk factors. Stratified and multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select 3949 infants and young children in Xinjiang for the study. Survey staff conducted face-to-face questionnaire surveys to investigate their demographic characteristics, complementary food feeding, and related risk factors affecting their nutritional status. Study results showed that compared with the Han nationality, the Uygur and other nationalities were independent risk factors for malnutrition, as odds ratio (OR) values were 2.456 and 1.747, respectively (P < 0.05). When the feeders were not maternal, and their educational background was junior high school or below, OR values were 2.122 and 1.810, respectively (P < 0.05). The scores for non-breastfeeding and feeding behaviors were independent risk factors, and OR values were 1.983 and 2.709, respectively (P < 0.05). When infant minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet were unqualified, these indices were independent risk factors, and OR values were 2.281, 2.315, and 1.865, respectively (P < 0.05). The healthy growth of Han infants is better than that of other ethnic groups, which may be related to varying living environments, customs, social/economic development levels, educational levels, and other factors. In the future, the focus of our work should be to cooperate with the superior health organization to strengthen and improve the nutritional health level of infants.

Serum levels of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D in severe early childhood caries / 口腔疾病防治

Objective @#The serum levels of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D in severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) patients were investigated and analyzed to provide reference for primary prevention and diagnosis of S-ECC children.@*Methods @#A total of 184 children were enrolled in the Children Health Department of Xinjiang Medical University Health Management Center from June 2018 to June 2019. They were divided into the caries-free (CF) group (n=89) and S-ECC group (n=95). The contents of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D were detected.@* Results@# The serum iron content of the CF group and S-ECC group was (8.36 ± 0.42) mmol/L and (8.13 ± 0.44) mmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.50, P < 0.001); the serum content of zinc was (83.18 ± 7.28) μmol/L and (79.23 ± 6.38) μmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.92, P < 0.001); the serum content of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was (86.72 ± 15.83) nmol/L and (77.75 ± 11.38) nmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.42, P < 0.001). The serum copper content of CF group and S-ECC group was (20.18 ± 4.84) μmol/L and (19.49 ± 4.62) μmol/L, but the difference was not statistically significant (t=0.97, P=0.33).@*Conclusion@#The contents of iron, zinc and vitamin D in the serum of S-ECC patients are low, suggesting that iron, zinc and vitamin D supplementation should be emphasized in the prevention and treatment of S-ECC.

Risk factors for simple obesity in preschool children from four kindergartens of Urumqi City / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the incidence of simple obesity and risk factors for the development of this disorder in preschool children from Urumqi City.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1730 children at ages of 3-7 years sampled randomly from four district kindergartens of Urumqi City were enrolled in this study. Their heights and weights were measured. Risk factors for the development of simple obesity were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overweight occurred in 229 children (13.2%). One hundred and twenty-two children were diagnosed with simple obesity (7.1%). The 5 years old group children showed the highest incidence of obesity (9.5%), more than the other age group children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family history of obesity, high body mass index of the mother, little physical activity of the father, and bad diet habits and low educational levels of parents were risk factors for the development of simple obesity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The incidence of simple obesity of preschool children from Urumqi City is higher than the reported data. The risk of childhood simple obesity is multifactorial. The prevention of simple obesity should begin at the preschool stage.</p>