Effectiveness and Safety of Inhaled Antibiotics in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A Multicentre Observational Study

BackgroundWe aimed to describe the effectiveness and safety of inhaled antibiotics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, as well as the patient profile in which they are usually prescribed and the patient groups that can most benefit from this treatment.MethodsMulticentre retrospective observational cohort study in COPD patients who had received ≥1 dose of inhaled antibiotics in the last 5 years. Clinical data from the two years prior to and subsequent to the start of the treatment were compared. Primary outcome: COPD exacerbations. Secondary outcomes: side effects, symptomatology (sputum purulence, dyspnoea), microbiological profile and pathogen eradication.ResultsOf 693 COPD patients analyzed (aged 74.1; 86.3% men; mean FEV₁ = 43.7%), 71.7% had bronchiectasis and 46.6% presented chronic bronchial infection (CBI) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). After 1 year of treatment with inhaled antibiotics, there was a significant decrease in the number of exacerbations (?33.3%; P < .001), hospital admissions (?33.3%; P < .001) and hospitalization days (?26.2%; P = .003). We found no difference in effectiveness between patients with or without associated bronchiectasis. Positive patient outcomes were more pronounced in PA-eradicated patients. We found a significant reduction in daily expectoration (?33.1%; P = .024), mucopurulent/purulent sputum (?53.9%; P < .001), isolation of any potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPM) (?16.7%; P < .001), CBI by any PPM (?37.4%; P < .001) and CBI by PA (?49.8%; P < .001). CBI by any PPM and ≥three previous exacerbations were associated with a better treatment response. 25.4% of patients presented non-severe side-effects, the most frequent of these being bronchospasm (10.5%), dyspnoea (8.8%) and cough (1.7%).ConclusionsIn COPD patients with multiple exacerbations and/or CBI by any PPM (especially PA), inhaled antibiotics appear to be an effective and safe treatment, regardless of the presence of bronchiectasis.     

The infant health effects of starting universal child benefits in pregnancy: Evidence from England and Wales

Child benefits are typically paid from birth. This paper asks whether starting universal child benefits in pregnancy leads to improvements in infant health. Leveraging administrative birth registry and hospital microdata from England and Wales, I study the effects of the Health in Pregnancy Grant, a universal conditional cash transfer equivalent to three months of child benefit (190 GBP) as a lump sum to pregnant mothers from 2009 to 2011. I exploit quasi-experimental variation in eligibility with a regression discontinuity design in the date of birth of the baby. I find that the policy increased birth weight by 8–12 grams on average, reduced low birth weight ($<$2500 g) by 3-6 percent and decreased prematurity by 9–11 percent. Younger mothers, particularly those living in deprived areas, benefit the most. I present evidence that the mechanisms are unlikely to be antenatal care, nutrition or smoking, with reductions in stress remaining a possible explanation.     

Exploring Mothers’ Perspectives About Why Grandparents in Appalachia Give Their Grandchildren Cariogenic Foods and Beverages: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundDental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Past studies revealed that grandparents provide their grandchildren with cariogenic foods and beverages (eg, those with free sugars and/or modified starches). Qualitative research can help identify what drives this phenomenon.ObjectiveOur aim was to examine mothers’ explanations for why grandparents in north central and central Appalachia give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages.DesignA qualitative study on children’s oral health in Pennsylvania and West Virginia from 2018 through 2020 was performed. In-person, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative data from interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using NVivo. Data analysis for this study was performed using thematic analysis with iterative theme development.Participants/settingThe participants were 126 mothers of children aged 3-5 years from West Virginia (n = 66) and Pittsburgh, PA (n = 60).Main outcome measuresMothers’ perspectives about why grandparents give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages were analyzed.ResultsIn the study sample, 85% of mothers (n = 107/126) named at least 1 of their children’s grandparents as a member of their social network responsible for their children’s oral health. From these interviews, 85% of mothers (n = 91/107) discussed that grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages. The mothers described the following 4 themes to explain why grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages: privilege of the grandparent role; responsibilities of the grandparent role; symbol of care and affection; and limited consideration or understanding of the detrimental impact.ConclusionsGrandparents play a role in giving their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages, which could potentially contribute to childhood caries. Research is needed to develop effective social interventions to help some grandparents understand the implications of a cariogenic diet on their grandchildren’s oral health and/or decrease their provision of cariogenic foods and beverages.     

Overweight and obese youth with type 1 or type 2 diabetes share similar elevation in triglycerides during middle and late adolescence

BackgroundOverweight and obesity have been observed in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This further increases their future risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) as well as the development of other risk factors, such as dyslipidemia.AimsTo compare lipid profiles in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and lean mass (T1L), Type 1 diabetes and overweight or obese (T1OW/OB), and type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 669 patients with T1D or T2D aged 2–19 years using retrospective data collected from 2003 to 2014. Included patients were categorized into lean (BMI < 85th ile and overweight or Obese (BMI ≥ 85th ile). Patients were subcategorized into three age groups: < 10 years, 10–14 years, and 15–19 years.Results7.6% of patients had T2D. Of the patients with T1D, 58.9% were lean, 26.4% were overweight, and 14.7% were obese. Total Cholesterol (TC), Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Non-HDL-C levels were similar across groups. In the 15–19 years group, Triglycerides (TG) levels were significantly higher in T1OW/OB and similar to T2D. High-density lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower in T2D. Weight status significantly correlated with TG and HDL-C levels in T1D and T2D groups.ConclusionsT1OW/OB constitutes a significant proportion of the T1D population. Patients with obesity and T1D, especially if in their late adolescence, have an adverse lipid profile pattern that is comparable to adolescents with T2D. Based on these findings, risk for future CVD in T1OW/OB and T2D may be equivalent.     

中国九市四至七岁儿童乳恒牙替换及其与体格生长的相关性分析

目的探讨中国9个城市(简称九市)4~7岁儿童乳恒牙替换及其与体格生长的关系,分析恒牙发育长期变化趋势。方法采用分层整群抽样的方法,以4~7岁儿童为调查对象,于2015年6—10月在北京、哈尔滨、西安(北片),上海、南京、武汉(中片),广州、福州、昆明(南片)九市进行横断面调查,共37973名儿童,其中男19035名,女18938名。6岁以下每6个月为1组,6~<7岁1岁为1组。现场检查乳牙脱落、恒牙萌出情况,测量身高、体重等,并依据2009年中国儿童生长标准计算体格指标Z分值。采用Probit概率单位回归方法计算换牙年龄。不同性别、地区、年龄分组组间比较采用χ2检验或t检验。并利用1995年中国九市儿童体格发育调查中乳恒牙替换相关数据,分析恒牙发育的长期变化趋势。结果九市37973名儿童随着年龄增长换牙率逐渐增加,从4.0~<4.5岁的0.6%(42/7568)增长至5.5~<6.0岁的30.3%(2295/7583),6.0~<7.0岁达到74.5%(5680/7627)。除4.0~4.5岁组外,无论城郊男童换牙率均低于女童(P均<0.05);城区换牙率(男5.5~<6.0岁、女4.5~<5.0岁组之后)略高于郊区,如6.0~<7.0岁组男童城郊分别为74.2%(1427/1924)、69.2%(1305/1885)(χ2=11.446,P<0.01)。九市儿童换牙年龄为6.00(95%CI:5.98~6.01)岁。换牙年龄的第3~97百分位变化范围为4.88~7.11岁。女童中位换牙年龄(5.94岁)早于男童(6.06岁);城区(5.94岁)早于郊区(6.05岁);北片(5.97岁)、中片地区(5.97岁)略早于南片地区(6.05岁)。已换牙儿童体重、身高、体质指数Z分值均高于未换牙儿童(0.35±1.17比0.03±1.13、0.32±1.00比0.03±1.02、0.23±1.16比0.04±1.13,t=20.81、21.67、12.09,P均<0.05)。与1995年相比,2015年5.0岁以后儿童换牙率明显提高,如城区男童6.0~<7.0岁组1995年为63.8%(1146/1796),2015年提高至74.2%(1427/1924)(χ2=46.748,P<0.01);中位换牙年龄2015年较1995年提前0.24岁。结论九市4~7岁儿童换牙年龄女童早于男童,城区早于郊区,北、中片早于南片地区。换牙早晚与体格生长水平有关。近20年换牙年龄存在小幅提前趋势。     

新生儿肺炎PCT和炎性因子水平表达及其意义

目的研究新生儿肺炎(NP)患儿血清高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、降钙素原(PCT)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平表达及其意义。方法选取2017年1月-2018年2月韶关市曲江区妇幼保健计划生育服务中心诊治的NP患儿80例,按细菌感染情况分为观察1组和观察2组,各40例。选择同期40例健康新生儿作为对照组。测定并比较三组的hs-CRP、PCT和IL-6水平。结果观察1组血清PCT、hs-CRP和IL-6水平明显高于观察2组和对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察1组血清PCT、hs-CRP和1L-6检测阳性率明显高于观察2组和对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),且观察1组血清PCT、hs-CRP和1L-6诊断NP的敏感度均明显高于观察2组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组各指标特异度与观察2组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论血清hs-CRP、PCT、IL-6水平可作为NP患儿的辅助鉴别指标,为抗生素的合理使用和疗效提供依据。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎防控形势下儿童青少年慢性心力衰竭的临床管理建议

2019年12月我国湖北省武汉市爆发新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)感染疫情,目前已蔓延至全国各地,流行病学显示人群对该病毒普遍易感,且患有基础疾病的患者是重症、危重症的高危人群,同时儿童青少年感染病例数正日益增多。慢性心力衰竭儿童因其基础条件差,感染2019-nCoV后将给此类患儿的诊治带来严峻的挑战。结合儿童2019-nCoV感染的临床特点及儿童慢性心力衰竭的诊治要点,在此提出慢性心力衰竭儿童2019-nCoV感染的临床管理建议,以供临床参考。