Adiposity is not beneficial to bone mineral density in 0–5 year old Chinese children: The Jiangsu bone health study

ObjectiveData on obesity in relation to bone mineral density(BMD) in infants and preschool children were sparse in China. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between body mass index (BMI) and BMD.Subjects and methodsThis was a large population-based multicenter study in which the representative children aged 0–5 years were recruited from 13 Children’s Health Care Centers by a stratified cluster random-sampling method in Jiangsu Province, China. BMD was measured by using quantitative ultrasound. The association of BMD with BMI and obesity were evaluated using multiple linear regression and logistic regression analysis taking into account the effects of confounders. The relations between age, weight, height, BMI and BMD were analyzed by using Pearson’s correlation and further tested using partial correlation in the additive model.ResultsA total of 5,289 children (2786 boys and 2503 girls) were recruited. The BMD was positively linear relation with age, length/height, and was inversely linear relation with BMI (r = 0.711, P < 0.001; r = 0.727, P < 0.001; r = −0.318, P < 0.001, respectively). The BMD gradually increased when the weight was in the range within 21.2 kg, but started to gain slowlyand even decreased when the weight was over 21.2 kg. After adjusting for confounders, compared with control group, children with obesityhad higher odds of low BMD (OR 95%CI: 2.73 (1.57, 4.76), P < 0.001), the speed of sound (SOS)value in children with obesity was lower 47.45 (β = −47.45, 95%CI = −85.07, −9.83, P = 0.013).ConclusionsAdiposity was not advantageous for bone mineral density in 0-5-year-old Chinese children.     

本院出生和外院转运早产儿视网膜病发病情况的对比研究

目的探讨广东省妇幼保健院出生和外院转运早产儿视网膜病(ROP)的发病及诊治情况。方法回顾性分析2013年1月至2015年12月收入广东省妇幼保健院新生儿重症监护室并诊断为ROP的755例早产儿的临床资料。本院出生组239例,外院转运组516例。收集2组患儿的胎龄、体质量、性别、ROP病变程度及手术治疗等资料。结果外院转运组ROP早产儿出生体质量[(1290.64±392.87)g]低于本院出生组[(1586.21±512.74)g],差异有统计学意义(P<0.001);外院转运组ROP早产儿诊断胎龄[(35.53±2.81)周]高于本院出生组[(34.51±2.17)周],差异有统计学意义(P<0.001);外院转运组严重ROP[如病变Ⅰ区、急进性后部型早产儿视网膜病(AP-ROP)、合并Plus病变]所占比例高于本院出生组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.001);外院转运组ROP早产儿行激光光凝术、玻璃体注药术、二者联合术、补激光术治疗所占比例均高于本院出生组[60.1%(310/516例)比20.9%(50/239例);10.9%(56/516例)比2.5%(6/239例);8.1%(42/516例)比1.7%(4/239例);4.5%(23/516例)比1.3%(3/239例)],差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.001)。结论外院转运ROP早产儿出生体质量较低,ROP病变较重,手术干预率高。提高基层医院早产儿ROP筛查水平,及时诊断和高效转运可有效防止ROP进一步恶化,提高早产儿生活质量。     

Oxygen saturation target ranges and alarm settings in the NICU: What have we learnt from the neonatal oxygenation prospective meta-analysis (NeOProM)?

The Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis combined the individual participant data of 4965 extremely preterm infants. They had been randomly assigned in 5 trials to arterial oxygen saturations of 85%–89% or 91%–95% using modified oximeters to mask the treatment allocation. The primary outcome of death or disability did not differ significantly between the groups. Assignment to the higher target range reduced the risks of death and severe necrotizing enterocolitis but increased the risk of treated retinopathy. Trade-offs between the benefits and risks of higher or lower saturation targets should be informed by the local patient risks and institutional rates for outcomes that may be affected by a policy change. Features of the oximeter masking algorithm introduced unanticipated artifacts into the saturation display that are not seen in routine care. NeOProM provides little guidance on where to set the oximeter alarms and how to respond to them.     

Effectiveness of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against radiographic pneumonia among children in rural Bangladesh: A case-control study

BackgroundPneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) effectiveness against radiographic pneumonia in South Asia is unknown. Bangladesh introduced PCV10 in 2015 using a three dose primary series (3 + 0). We sought to measure PCV10 effectiveness for two or more vaccine doses on radiographic pneumonia among vaccine-eligible children in rural Bangladesh.MethodsWe conducted a matched case-control study over two years from 2015 to 2017 using clinic and community controls in three subdistricts of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Cases were vaccine eligible 3–35 month olds at Upazila Health Complex outpatient clinics with World Health Organization-defined radiographic primary endpoint pneumonia (radiographic pneumonia). Clinic controls were matched to cases within a one week time window by age, sex, and clinic and had an illness unlikely to be Streptococcus pneumoniae; community controls were healthy and similarly matched within a one week time window by age and sex, and distance from the clinic. We estimated adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) using conditional logistic regression.ResultsWe matched 1262 cases with 2707 clinic and 2461 community controls. Overall, aVE using clinic controls was 21.4% (95% confidence interval, −0.2%, 38.4%) for ≥2 PCV10 doses and among 3–11 month olds was 47.3% (10.5%, 69.0%) for three doses. aVE increased with higher numbers of doses in clinic control sets (p = 0.007). In contrast, aVE using community controls was 7.6% (95% confidence interval, −22.2%, 30.0%) for ≥2 doses. We found vaccine introduction in the study area faster and less variable than expected with 75% coverage on average, which reduced power. Information bias may also have affected community controls.ConclusionsClinic control analyses show PCV10 prevented radiographic pneumonia in Bangladesh, especially among younger children receiving three doses. While both analyses were underpowered, community control enrollment – compared to clinic controls – was more difficult in a complex, pluralistic healthcare system. Future studies in comparable settings may consider alternative study designs.     

Another look at returns to birthweight

We revisit the causal effect of birthweight. Because variation in birthweight in developed countries primarily stems from variation in gestational age rather than intrauterine growth restriction, we depart from the widely-used twin fixed-effects estimator and employ an instrumental variable – the diagnosis of placenta previa, which provides exogenous variation in gestation length. We find protective effects of additional birthweight against infant mortality and health capital loss, such as cerebral palsy, but in contrast to sibling and twin studies, no strong evidence for non-health long-run outcomes, such as test scores. We also find that short-run birthweight effects have diminished significantly over the decades.     

An ode to fetal,infant, and toddler neuroimaging: Chronicling early clinical to research applications with MRI,and an introduction to an academic society connecting the field

Fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging is commonly thought of as a development of modern times (last two decades). Yet, this field mobilized shortly after the discovery and implementation of MRI technology. Here, we provide a review of the parallel advancements in the fields of fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging, noting the shifts from clinical to research use, and the ongoing challenges in this fast-growing field. We chronicle the pioneering science of fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging, highlighting the early studies that set the stage for modern advances in imaging during this developmental period, and the large-scale multi-site efforts which ultimately led to the explosion of interest in the field today. Lastly, we consider the growing pains of the community and the need for an academic society that bridges expertise in developmental neuroscience, clinical science, as well as computational and biomedical engineering, to ensure special consideration of the vulnerable mother-offspring dyad (especially during pregnancy), data quality, and image processing tools that are created, rather than adapted, for the young brain.     

Dose-dependent effectiveness of acellular pertussis vaccine in infants: A population-based case-control study

BackgroundPertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease which is most severe in young infants. More than two decades after the introduction of acelluar pertussis vaccines (aPV) in national immunization programs in many countries worldwide, a resurgence of pertussis has been recognized. Suboptimal effectiveness of aPV has been blamed as one major reason but only few studies have evaluated dose-dependent vaccine effectiveness (VE) provided by aPV in current practice.MethodsWe performed a population-based retrospective case-control study by comparing pertussis immunization data of children 2.5 months to 2 years of age hospitalized for pertussis and residing in Switzerland with immunization data of a random control sample of children aged 2 years and residing in Switzerland. VE was defined as the percentage of hospitalizations avoided by number of aPV doses. It was calculated as 1-infection rate ratio (IRR)*100. IRR was calculated by dividing infection rates of vaccinated children and infection rates of unvaccinated children. To get dose specific VE, infection rates were stratified by number doses received.ResultsVE against hospitalization due to pertussis increased significantly with each consecutive aPV dose in a “3 + 1” primary course in infants: 42.1% (95% CI: 11.3–62.6), 83.9% (70.2–92.1), 98.2% (96.1–99.3), and 100% (97.9–100) after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th dose, respectively.ConclusionAcellular pertussis vaccines continue to demonstrate protection against hospitalization due to pertussis in infants and young children. Therefore, together with advancing immunization of pregnant women and household contacts, better control of severe pertussis in young infants can be achieved by timely initiation of immunization.     

枸橼酸咖啡因与氨茶碱对早产儿不同时相血糖值的影响比较

目的观察并比较枸橼酸咖啡因及氨茶碱对早产儿不同时相血糖的影响程度。方法选择新生儿监护室诊断为原发性呼吸暂停的出生胎龄＜34周的早产儿172例，采用随机数字表法分为咖啡因组与氨茶碱组各86例。比较两组早产儿用药前及用药后15、30min、1、1.5、2、4、6、12、12.5、24.5、36.5和48h血糖的变化。结果两组早产儿用药后除6、12和48h血糖值比较差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05），其他用药后时相比较差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。咖啡因组早产儿用药后30min血糖值上升，至1h达峰值，后逐渐回落；用药后30min、1、1.5、2及24.5h血糖值与用药前比较差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。氨茶碱组早产儿用药后血糖值上升，30min达峰值，后逐渐回落；用药后15、30min、1、1.5、2、4、6、12.5、24.5、36.5h血糖值与用药前比较差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。结论枸橼酸咖啡因可引起早产儿血糖升高，但升高幅度较氨茶碱小、持续时间也较短。