Association between time spent on digital devices and body weight overestimation in children and adolescents / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the association between digital devices usage and body weight overestimation in children and adolescents aged 7-18, in order to provide a scientific basis for body weight overestimation prevention in children and adolescents.@*Methods@#Based on the data of the Research Special Project for Public Welfare Industry of Health using stratified cluster sampling method in 2012, a tatal of 40 073 children and adolescents from 7 provinces with complete information were chosen. Ordinal multivariable Logistic regression model estimated the association between digital devices usage and body weight overestimation.@*Results@#A total of 4 276(11.8%) students with overestimation of body weight were detected, who spent >300 min/d time in digital devices(5.12%) than others (3.84%)( χ 2=19.14, P <0.01). Univariate analysis showed that students with time spent on digital devices >300 min/d had a higher risk in overestimation of body weight ( OR=1.36,95%CI=1.18-1.57,P <0.01) compared with students who spent on digital devices≤120 min/d. There was still a significant association after confounder adjustment ( OR=1.28, 95%CI= 1.10-1.48,P <0.05). Stratified analysis showed that the association between digital devices usage and overestimation of body weight were only observed in girls, 11-18 years old and non single child( P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The time usage of digital devices is associated with overestimation of body weight in children and adolescents. It may helpful for children and adolescents to prevent overestimation of body weight by reducing time spent on digital devices.

Procalcitonin guidance for reduction of antibiotic use in patients hospitalized with severe acute exacerbations of asthma: a randomized controlled study with 12-month follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with severe acute exacerbations of asthma often receive inappropriate antibiotic treatment. We aimed to determine whether serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels can effectively and safely reduce antibiotic exposure in patients experiencing exacerbations of asthma. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, a total of 216 patients requiring hospitalization for severe acute exacerbations of asthma were screened for eligibility to participate and 169 completed the 12-month follow-up visit. Patients were randomized to either PCT-guided (PCT group) or standard (control group) antimicrobial therapy. In the control group, patients received antibiotics according to the attending physician's discretion; in the PCT group, patients received antibiotics according to an algorithm based on serum PCT levels. The primary end point was antibiotic exposure; secondary end points were clinical recovery, length of hospital stay, clinical and laboratory parameters, spirometry, number of asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and need for corticosteroid use due to asthma. RESULTS: PCT guidance reduced antibiotic prescription (48.9% versus 87.8%, respectively; P < 0.001) and antibiotic exposure (relative risk, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 0.70; P < 0.001) compared to standard therapy. There were no significant differences in clinical recovery, length of hospital stay or clinical, laboratory and spirometry outcomes in both groups. Number of asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and need for corticosteroid use due to asthma were similar during the 12-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION: A PCT-guided strategy allows antibiotic exposure to be reduced in patients with severe acute exacerbation of asthma without apparent harm. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR-TRC-12002534 (registered 26 September 2012).

[The value of serum procalcitonin in treatment of community acquired pneumonia in outpatient].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) on antibiotic use in treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in outpatient. METHODS: From November 2006 to February 2008, a total of 127 patients with CAP in outpatient were randomly assigned into two groups: PCT group (n = 63) and control group (n = 64). PCT levels of all patients were measured after study admission. On the base of similarly normal treatment, the control group received antibiotics according to the attending physicians and the PCT group were treated with antibiotics according to serum PCT levels: antibiotic treatment was applied with PCT level > or = 0.25 microg/L and was discouraged with PCT level < 0.25 microg/L. Clinical efficacy, rate of antibiotics use, duration courses and costs of antibiotics were observed. RESULTS: Clinical efficacy of the PCT group was similar with the control group (92.1% vs 87.5%, P > 0.05); rate and costs of antibiotics use was lower, antibiotic duration of the PCT group was shorter than that of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PCT could be used in treatment of CAP for antibiotic use in outpatient, which may reduce antibiotic use, shorten antibiotic duration and lower costs of antibiotic.