Effects of back posture education on elementary schoolchildren’s back function

The possible effects of back education on children's back function were never evaluated. Therefore, main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of back education in elementary schoolchildren on back function parameters. Since the reliability of back function measurement in children is poorly defined, another objective was to test the selected instruments for reliability in 8-11-year olds. The multi-factorial intervention lasting two school-years consisted of a back education program and the stimulation of postural dynamism in the class. Trunk muscle endurance, leg muscle capacity and spinal curvature were evaluated in a pre-post design including 41 children who received the back education program (mean age at post-test: 11.2 +/- 0.9 years) and 28 controls (mean age at post-test: 11.4 +/- 0.6 years). Besides, test-retest reliability with a 1-week interval was investigated in a separate sample. Therefore, 47 children (mean age: 10.1 +/- 0.5 years) were tested for reliability of trunk muscle endurance and 40 children (mean age: 10.2 +/- 0.7 years) for the assessment of spinal curvatures. Reliability of endurance testing was very good to good for the trunk flexors (ICC = 0.82) and trunk extensors (ICC = 0.63). The assessment of the thoracic (ICC = 0.69) and the lumbar curvature (ICC = 0.52) in seating position showed good to acceptable reliability. Low ICCs were found for the assessment of the thoracic (ICC = 0.39) and the lumbar curvature (ICC = 0.37) in stance. The effects of 2 year back education showed an increase in trunk flexor endurance in the intervention group compared to a decrease in the controls and a trend towards significance for a higher increase in trunk extensor endurance in the intervention group. For leg muscle capacity and spinal curvature no intervention effects were found. The small samples recommend cautious interpretation of intervention effects. However, the present study's findings favor the implementation of back education with focus on postural dynamism in the class as an integral part of the elementary school curriculum in the scope of optimizing spinal loading through the school environment.     

新疆和田地区学龄儿童碘缺乏与听力关系的研究

本文使用日本MST-1N型听力计,于1989年9～10月间对新疆和田地区181名7～14岁学童进行了双耳纯音气导听力测定。测定对象共分4组(处于不同海拔高度上的3组缺碘学童及1组补碘对照组学童)。除测定听力外,还测定了智商、甲状腺吸~(131)I率、T_3、T_4、TSH、精神运动发育和骨龄等项指标。结果表明,缺碘地区学童平均听阈显著高于补碘对照组;听力损失在高频(8000Hz)及低频(1000Hz)最为严重;平均听阈与下列因素有显著负相关关系存在:海拔高度、性别、身高、体重、身高体重指数、敲击试验及智商。提示缺碘造成的听力障碍主要为高频(8000Hz)及低频(1000Hz)。采取补碘措施后,听力可有部分恢复,但不能完全恢复。平均听阈与甲状腺吸~(131)I率、T_3、T_4、TSH等指标无显著相关,故是一个较为独立的指标,把它作为亚临床克汀病的辅助诊断指标是合适的。     

Schoolchildren as BLS instructors for relatives and friends: Impact on attitude towards bystander CPR

Introduction

We investigated the impact of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instruction by children on the attitude of people to perform bystander CPR.

Methods

In 2012, children from primary and secondary school (age span 11–13 years) received a free individual CPR training package containing an inexpensive manikin and a training video. After a CPR training session by their class teacher, they were invited to teach their relatives and friends. After the training, the trainees of the children were invited to participate in a web survey, containing a test and questions about prior CPR training and about their attitude towards bystander CPR (BCPR) before and after the training. We measured the impact on the attitude to perform BCPR and the theoretical knowledge transfer by the children.

Results

A total of 4012 training packages were distributed to 72 schools of which 55 class teachers subscribed their students (n = 822) for the training programme for relatives and friends. After a validation procedure, 874 trainees of 290 children were included in the study. In comparison to trainees of secondary schoolchildren, trainees of primary schoolchildren scored better for the test as well as for a positive change of attitude towards future BCPR (P < 0.001). For every child-instructor 1.7 people changed their attitude towards BCPR positively.

Conclusions

Instructing schoolchildren to teach their relatives and friends in Basic Life Support (BLS) led to a more positive attitude towards BCPR. The results were more positive with trainees from primary schoolchildren than with trainees from secondary schoolchildren.     

学龄儿童尿中羟脯氨酸/肌酐值的周日节律

作者用对二甲基苯甲醛法和硷性苦味酸法观察到8岁儿童尿羟脯氨酸/肌酐值(HP/Cr)已稳定地建立起与成人相同的夜高昼低的周日节律,半年后追踪亦未发现此节律随年龄增长而变化;8岁半儿童尿HP/Cr 值已显示出女大于男的性别差异。建议收集上午7:00～10:00时段尿代替24小时尿测定HP/Cr值。     

Iron supplementation increases small intestine permeability in primary schoolchildren in Lusaka, Zambia

Elevated intestinal permeability, measured as an increased lactulose:mannitol (L:M) ratio, indicates injury of the small intestinal mucosa. As part of a randomized iron and multi-micronutrient (without iron) supplementation trial (Nchito et al., 2004), we determined intestinal permeability in a subgroup of schoolchildren at 10 months' follow-up to assess the effect of the interventions. Among 153 children (mean age 10.2 years and 53.6% girls) iron supplementation resulted in a higher L:M ratio compared with placebo (0.29 vs. 0.21, P=0.025). There was no effect of multi-micronutrient supplementation, and no interaction between the interventions. The finding could be one of the mechanisms explaining the negative effects of medicinal iron supplementation on morbidity found in some other studies.     

Epidemiology of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok,Thailand

Objective

To determine the prevalence of infestation with head lice in primary schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand.

Methods

The present study was to determine the head lice infestation (Pediculosis) levels in primary schoolchildren, during May, 2011 to July, 2011, A total of 3 747 schoolchildren aged 5-12 years old from 12 selected primary school of Ladkrabang district, the eastern area of Bangkok were examined for head lice. Pediculosis was defined as the presence of at least on living adult, nymph and viable egg.

Results

The overall head lice infestation rate was 23.32% and infestation rate was higher in girls (47.12%) than in boys (0%). The infestation rate among schoolchildren varied from 12.62% to 29.76%. The infestation rate among girls varied from 26.07% (12 years old group) to 55.89% (8 years old group).

Conclusions

Pediculosis is a common public health problem affecting primary schoolchildren in eastern area of Bangkok and those levels are epidemic importance.     

Efficacy and side effects of praziquantel in the treatment of Schistosomiasis mansoni in schoolchildren in Shesha Kekele Elementary School,Wondo Genet,Southern Ethiopia

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of praziquantel (PZQ) in the treatment of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, stool specimens were collected from randomly selected 299 school children in Shesha Kekele Elementary School, Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia, in April 2010. Stool specimens were examined using a single Kato-Katz thick smear for Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) ova. Children who were found positive for S. mansoni were treated with a single oral dose of PZQ at 40 mg/kg bw and interviewed for treatment-related symptoms 24 hours after drug administration. Four weeks post-treatment, stool specimens were collected from the same children and examined following the same procedure as in the pre-treatment. Drug efficacy was determined based on cure and egg reduction rates.

Results

Pre-treatment prevalence of S. mansoni infection was 74.9% with geometric mean egg count of 268. The evaluated generic PZQ produced an overall cure rate of 73.6% (P<0.000 1, OR: 8.33, CI: 5.3–13.1) and egg reduction rate of 68.2% (P=0.03, F=0.64). The cure rate showed significant association with age (χ²=11, P=0.004), the highest rate being observed in the 15–22 age group. 83% of S. mansoni infected children showed various treatment-related symptoms, the most frequent being headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. These symptoms were associated with age (P<0.001) and pre-treatment intensity of infection (P<0.05).

Conclusions

The present observations revealed relatively lower cure and egg reduction rates of the PZQ evaluated as compared to previous reports for other PZQ brands in Ethiopia. Hence, in depth studies are recommended to clarify whether the present relatively lower cure rate is the actual cure rate of the praziquantel evaluated, treatment failure, or reduced susceptibility of the parasite. Treatment-related side effects observed were transient and tolerable.     

¿Podemos enseñar la «cadena de supervivencia» jugando? Validación de la herramienta «Rescube»

PurposeTo validate the content and adequacy of the «Rescube» training material that includes adapted information from the chain of survival.Material and methodsThe study included three steps: (i) material development by 7 experts, following Delphi method; (ii) assessment of training material by 11 experts by means of a Likert score and calculation of content validity; and (iii) pilot study in two groups of 5 to 8 years-old: Rescube group (GR; n = 60) and Traditional group (GT; n = 60). GR was trained with Rescube and a Teddy bear, while GT was traditionally trained with a pediatric manikin. Participants were individually assessed at baseline, and one week and one month after training.ResultsAll content validity indexes calculated are above the recommended cut-off for analysis with more than 9 experts (≥ 0,80). Children's learning results were positive, with percentages equal or higher than 80% in all registered variables at the first (one week) evaluation and equal or higher than 67% when evaluated one month after training. No significant differences were detected between groups.ConclusionThe Rescube training tool based on infantile pictures is valid and useful to train young schoolchildren in the chain of survival.