Duration of breast feeding and language ability in middle childhood

There is controversy over whether increased breast-feeding duration has long-term benefits for language development. The current study examined whether the positive associations of breast feeding on language ability at age 5 years in the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort, were still present at age 10 years. The Raine Study is a longitudinal study of 2868 liveborn children recruited at approximately 18 weeks gestation. Breast-feeding data were based upon information prospectively collected during infancy, and were summarised according to four categories of breast-feeding duration: (1) never breast-fed, (2) breast-fed predominantly for <4 months, (3) breast-fed predominantly for 4-6 months, and (4) breast-fed predominantly for >6 months. Language ability was assessed in 1195 children at the 10 year follow-up (mean age = 10.58 years; standard deviation = 0.19) using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - Revised (PPVT-R), which is based around a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Associations between breast-feeding duration and PPVT-R scores were assessed before and after adjustment for a range of sociodemographic, obstetric and psychosocial covariates. Analysis of variance revealed a strong positive association between the duration of predominant breast feeding and PPVT-R at age 10 years. A multivariable linear regression analysis adjusted for covariates and found that children who were predominantly breast-fed for >6 months had a mean PPVT-R score that was 4.04 points higher than children who were never breast-fed. This compared with an increase of 3.56 points at age 5 years. Breast feeding for longer periods in early life has a positive and statistically-independent effect on language development in middle childhood.     

Obesity and cardiac autonomic nerve activity in healthy children: Results of the toyama birth cohort study

Objectives To determine the relationship between obesity and cardiac autonomic nerve activity in healthy children. Methods 16 healthy male children comprising of 9 nonobese and 7 obese subjects (body mass index > 19.1 kg/m²) aged 8–9 years were selected. Electrocardiograms were measured for 10 min. under controlled ventilation (0.25 Hz) in the supine position. Consecutive 256-second RR interval data were transformed by the Fast Fourier Transform method into power spectral data. Very low frequency (VLF; 0.003–0.04 Hz), low frequency (LF; 0.04–0.15Hz), high frequency (HF; 0.15–0.40Hz), and total power (TP; 0.003–0.40Hz) were calculated and transformed into a natural logarithm (In). Normalized units (nu) were also calculated as follows: LFnu=LF/(TP-VLF)x100. HFnu=HF/(TP-VLF)x100. Low/high-frequency ratio (LHR) was calculated as LF divided by HF. Unpaired t test was performed to compare the 2 groups. Results TP In and HFnu, reflecting cardiac parasympathetic nerve activity, in obese children were significantly lower than those in nonobese children. In contrast, LFnu and LHF, reflecting cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, in obese children were significantly higher than those in nonobese children. Conclusions These findings suggest that obese children have higher sympathetic nerve activity and lower parasympathetic nerve activity than nonobese children.     

Risk factors for suspected developmental delay at age 2 years in a Brazilian birth cohort

de Moura DR, Costa JC, Santos IS, Barros AJD, Matijasevich A, Halpern R, Dumith S, Karam S, Barros FC. Risk factors for suspected developmental delay at age 2 years in a Brazilian birth cohort. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24 : 211–221. Many children are at risk of not achieving their full potential for development. Epidemiological studies have the advantage of being able to identify a number of associated factors potentially amenable to intervention. Our purpose was to identify risk factors for suspected developmental delay (SDD) at age 2 years among all children born in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, in 2004. This study was part of the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort. The Battelle Screening Developmental Inventory (BSDI) was administered to cohort children at age 2 years. A hierarchical model of determination for SDD with confounder adjustment was built including maternal sociodemographic, reproductive and gestational characteristics, as well as child and environmental characteristics. Multivariable analysis was carried out using Poisson regression. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] were calculated. In the results, 3.3% of the 3869 children studied screened positive for SDD. After confounder control, children more likely to show SDD were: those with positive BSDI at age 12 months (PR = 5.51 [3.59, 8.47]); with 5‐min Apgar <7 (PR = 3.52 [1.70, 7.27]); with mothers who had <4 years of schooling (PR = 3.35 [1.98, 5.66]); from social classes D and E (PR = 3.00 [1.45, 6.19]); with a history of gestational diabetes (PR = 2.77 [1.34, 5.75]); born <24 months after the last sibling (PR = 2.46 [1.42, 4.27]); were not told child stories in the preceding week (PR 2.28 [1.43, 3.63]); did not have children's literature at home (PR = 2.08 [1.27, 3.39]); with low birthweight (PR = 1.75 [1.00, 3.07]); were born preterm (PR = 1.74 [1.07, 2.81]); with <6 antenatal care appointments (PR = 1.70 [1.07, 2.68]); with history of hospitalisation (PR = 1.65 [1.09, 2.50]); and of male sex (PR = 1.43 [1.00, 2.04]). These risk factors may constitute potential targets for intervention by public policies and may provide help to paediatricians in preventing developmental delay.     

Violent delinquency in a Brazilian birth cohort: the roles of breast feeding, early poverty and demographic factors

Caicedo B, Gonçalves H, González DA, Victora CG. Violent delinquency in a Brazilian birth cohort: the roles of breast feeding, early poverty and demographic factors. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24: 12–23.
We investigated the association between breast feeding, economic factors and conviction for violent delinquency by age 25 years among subjects of the 1982 Birth Cohort from Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Information on breast-feeding pattern and duration was collected in childhood, during the 1983, 1984 and 1986 follow-ups. Information on socio-economic and family characteristics was also obtained between 1982 and 1996. Of the 5914 livebirths enrolled in the cohort, 5228 had obtained an identification document within the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and could thus be identified in judiciary databases. The outcome studied was conviction due to a violent act between ages 12 and 25 years. A total of 106 young people had been convicted at least once (3.0% of men and 1.0% of women). Subjects born to black or mixed mothers and coming from low-income families were at higher risk of having been convicted. Neither crude nor adjusted analyses showed any association between breast feeding and conviction for violent delinquency. Violent delinquency apparently depends more on social factors than on individual factors such as breast feeding.     

A high risk of hyperlipidemia in epilepsy patients: a nationwide population-based cohort study

PurposeThis study evaluated the effect of epilepsy on the development of hyperlipidemia (HL) in Taiwan.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study based on data obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. We identified 990 cases involving patients whose epilepsy was newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2005, and we also selected a comparison cohort comprising 3960 patients without epilepsy. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association between epilepsy and HL.ResultsThe mean follow-up period was 6.63 years for the epilepsy cohort and 7.49 years for the comparison cohort. The incidence rate of HL was 1.28-fold higher in the epilepsy cohort than it was in the comparison cohort (34.14 vs. 26.96 per 1000 person-years), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.17 (95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.36) after adjusting the model to account for the effects of sex and comorbidities. The most at-risk patients were those aged 50 to 59 years (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.79). For the epilepsy patients, the combined effect of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing HL compared with the patients with neither epilepsy nor any comorbidity.ConclusionsMiddle-aged epilepsy patients are at a significantly higher risk of developing HL. The results could assist in explaining the high risk of cerebral and cardiac vascular disease in epilepsy patients.     

儿童语言发育迟缓发育特征及危险因素分析

目的 分析语言发育迟缓儿童的智能发育特征及危险因素,为临床早期发现、早期干预、早期诊治提供科学依据。 方法 2016年6月—2017年7月因语言发育迟缓在武汉市同济医院儿童保健专科就诊的儿童209例(35例语言发育迟缓,174例全面发育迟缓),其中男164例(78.47%),女45例(21.53%),年龄1~5岁,使用Gesell发育诊断量表、早期语言发育进程量表(上海标准化版)、采用自制的调查问卷获取相关信息。 结果 语言发育迟缓与全面发育迟缓儿童在性别、父亲的文化程度、职业、父母的关系、性格、主要教育者、照养人每日与儿童相处的时间、儿童每天看电视/玩电子游戏等方面差异均无统计学意义(P均＞0.05),但在儿童年龄(χ²=12.723)、母亲文化程度(χ²=10.124)、职业(χ²=7.473)方面的差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。多元回归分析发现,母亲文化程度低的儿童发生全面发育迟缓的机率是母亲文化程度高的儿童的5.419倍(OR =5.419, P＜0.01)。 结论 对儿童各个年龄段进行常规语言筛查,早期发现语言发育迟缓;加强对低学历母亲的健康教育,以减少语言迟缓对其他发育进程的影响。     

药物及手术流产史与早产关联的出生队列研究

目的 探讨既往药物及手术流产史与早产的关联。方法 参与马鞍山市优生优育队列的3 474名孕妇于孕14周前收集一般人口学资料、既往药物及手术流产史资料,以单胎活产儿3 256人为分析样本。根据是否有药物及手术流产史以及流产次数进行分组,采用logistic回归分析既往药物及手术流产史对随后妊娠早产发生率的影响。结果 早产发生率为4.12%（n=134）,自发性早产发生率为2.49%（n=81）。控制可能的混杂因素后,有过1次药物流产史（RR=2.00,95%CI：1.04～3.85）或2次及以上药物流产史（RR=3.58,95%CI：1.04～12.30）会增加总早产发生风险,药物流产史（RR=2.51,95%CI：1.23～5.15）亦会增加自发性早产风险。有过1次手术流产史（RR=0.67,95%CI：0.42～1.01）或2次及以上手术流产史（RR=0.97,95%CI：0.51～1.85）与总早产或自发性早产（RR=0.72,95%CI：0.43～1.22）关联无统计学意义。结论 既往药物流产史是早产或自发性早产的独立危险因素。     

语言发育迟缓儿童的发育特征及相关因素分析

目的 研究语言发育迟缓儿童的智能发育特征及相关影响因素,为临床早期发现、综合干预提供科学依据。方法 选取内蒙古妇幼保健院儿童保健科以语言发育落后为主诉就诊的240例5岁以下儿童为研究对象,采用Gesell婴幼儿发育量表进行发育评估。结果 1)随年龄增长,各能区的发育商显著下降(P<0.001),2岁之后各能区发育商均为异常,其中言语能的发育商最低。2) 单纯语言问题和语言合并其他问题在年龄及出生胎龄方面差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),而在儿童性别、分娩方式、出生体重、母亲文化程度及家族史方面差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。结论 2岁左右是儿童语言发育迟缓发现的重点年龄,应加强2岁左右的语言发育筛查以便早期发现语言发育迟缓;早产是引起发育迟缓的主要因素,加强孕期保健避免早产发生是预防语言发育迟缓的关键措施。     

母乳喂养儿铁缺乏的影响因素及预防策略

母乳喂养对婴儿近期的生长发育、肠道微生态的改善、免疫机能的调节具有显著的促进作用,同时可以促进婴儿远期神经系统发育、降低代谢综合征的风险。帮助母乳喂养的足月儿度过宫内铁储备耗竭后的阶段、降低铁缺乏风险,从而最大程度地发挥母乳喂养的优势是目前的关注热点。本文从母亲相关因素、脐带结扎时间、性别因素、辅食添加及预防性铁剂补充多个方面回顾了母乳喂养儿铁营养状况影响因素的相关研究,分析显示提高母亲铁营养相关知识水平、注重孕期铁元素的补充和膳食指导、延迟断脐可以增加新生儿出生时的铁储备量;积极提倡纯母乳喂养,对生长需求不同的婴儿进行适时、合理的辅食添加,对铁缺乏高危儿进行预防性铁剂补充均可以在不同程度上预防母乳喂养儿出现铁缺乏。     

语言发育迟缓儿童的年龄与发育特征的相关性研究

目的 研究语言发育迟缓儿童在不同年龄阶段的发育特征, 从而了解其发育的轨迹, 为临床诊治和干预提供一定的依据。方法 以2010年8月-2011年2月在上海儿童医学中心发育行为儿科因语言发育迟缓就诊的5岁以下儿童为研究对象, 共253例, 其中男198例, 女55例。用Gesell婴幼儿发育量表进行发育评估。结果 1)随年龄增长, 以语言发育迟缓为主诉的儿童其单纯性语言问题的比例逐渐下降, 1～2岁儿童中38.46%表现为单纯性语言问题, 2～3岁降为15.97%, 3～4岁为10.96%, 4～5岁则没有单纯的语言问题。2)随年龄增长, 各能区的发育商显著下降(P＜0.001), 2岁后各能区发育商均为异常, 言语能的发育商则为各能区最低。结论 语言是不同发育问题的一个敏感指标, 2岁后的语言问题更多是其他发育障碍的表现之一, 而非单纯的语言问题。     

Social determinants of infant mortality in a historical Swedish cohort

Background: Infant mortality rates have fallen considerably in the past decades. However, because of sparseness of historical data, it is unclear how social differences in infant mortality have changed over time. Methods: The aim of this study was to assess the association between prenatal social determinants and infant mortality in a Swedish cohort of 13 741 singletons born between 1915 and 1929. Associations and potential mediation of these determinants through other maternal and birth factors were studied using Cox regression. Analyses were repeated for deaths within the neonatal and post‐neonatal periods. Results: Mother's single marital status, high parity, low birthweight (LBW), low gestational age and male sex were associated with infant mortality in fully adjusted models, whereas the associations of maternal social class, region of residence and maternal age appeared to be largely mediated through other variables. Contrary to studies reporting a ‘LBW paradox’, no interactions between gestational age or birthweight and maternal social characteristics on infant mortality were observed in this study. High maternal age, LBW and low/high gestational age were associated with neonatal mortality, whereas single marital status, high parity, LBW, low gestational age and male sex were associated with post‐neonatal mortality. An association of family social class with post‐neonatal mortality was largely mediated by other maternal variables. Conclusions: Our findings of determinants of neonatal and post‐neonatal mortality in 1915–1929 are strikingly consistent with results from contemporary cohorts. On the other hand, contrary to most recent findings, there is no evidence of a LBW paradox in this historical cohort.     

Prenatal exposure to elevated maternal body temperature and risk of epilepsy in childhood: a population-based pregnancy cohort study

Elevated maternal body temperature during pregnancy is of clinical concern as side effects have been reported. We estimated the association between maternal fever and sauna bathing during pregnancy and risk of epilepsy in the offspring. We identified 86,810 liveborn singletons from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) and followed them for up to 9 years of age. Information on fever including number, timing, level, duration, and symptoms of each fever episodes was collected in two computer-assisted telephone interviews around 17 and 32 gestational weeks; information on maternal use of a sauna was collected in the latter interview, and information on epilepsy was obtained from the Danish National Hospital Register. We applied Cox regression models to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of epilepsy for children exposed to maternal fever and sauna bathing during pregnancy. Maternal sauna bathing during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of epilepsy. Maternal fever during pregnancy in general was not associated with an increased risk of epilepsy in the offspring [IRR = 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85, 1.19], and no dose-response pattern was found according to number, level and duration of fever. However we did find an increased risk of epilepsy among children exposed to at least 3 fever episodes (IRR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.19, 2.98), to maternal fever with symptoms in the urinary system (IRR = 4.86, 95% CI 1.56, 15.17), and to one-day maternal fever of 39.0-39.4°C (IRR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.60, 4.84). Our findings do not support a strong association between hyperthermia and epilepsy but the associations between underlying causes of fever, especially prenatal infections, call for more research.     

孕期甲状腺激素敏感性与出生结局关系的队列研究

目的  研究孕期妇女甲状腺激素敏感性与出生结局的关系。方法  依托武汉市大型出生队列,以符合入选标准的5 411对孕妇-新生儿为研究对象。利用孕期体检的血清三碘甲状腺素(free triiodothyronine, FT3)、游离甲状腺素(free thyroxine, FT4)和甲状腺刺激激素(thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH),计算甲状腺激素中枢敏感性的指标：促甲状腺激素指数(thyroid stimulating hormone index, TSHI)、促甲状腺激素细胞-T4抵抗指数(thyrotroph thyroxine resistance index, TT4RI)和甲状腺反馈分位数指数(thyroid feedback quantile-based index, TFQI)。结局指标包括出生体重、出生孕周、出生体重Z评分,以及低出生体重、早产和小于胎龄儿(small for gestational age, SGA)。分别利用多元线性回归、logistic回归分析模型对甲状腺指标和出生结局中的连续型变量、分类变量进行回归分析,并控制可能混杂因素。结果  FT4、TSHI、TFQI与出生体重和出生体重Z评分呈负相关(均P≤0.01);甲状腺激素敏感性指标TSHI、TT4RI、TFQI与SGA存在统计学意义的正相关(TSHI: OR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.12~2.06, P＜0.01; TT4RI: OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.03~1.29, P=0.02; TFQI: OR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.10~1.81, P＜0.01);甲状腺功能和甲状腺激素敏感性与低出生体重、早产的差异均无统计学意义。将妊娠合并甲状腺功能减退(甲减)人群排除后进行敏感性分析,研究结果一致。结论  孕期妇女甲状腺激素敏感性受损是不良出生结局SGA的独立风险因素。     

发育迟缓儿童的功能性近红外光谱研究

目的 探讨发育迟缓儿童的功能性近红外光谱(fNIRS)特点,为发育迟缓儿童的脑功能分析提供参考依据。方法 2019年11日-2020年6月应用8通道功能性近红外光谱成像技术(fNIRS)检测13名发育迟缓儿童(发育迟缓组)和年龄、性别相匹配的19例健康儿童(正常组)的脑功能情况,采用独立样本t检验比较两组儿童各通道多尺度熵(MSE)及前额区MSE均值的差异。结果 发育迟缓组和正常组儿童前额区MSE均值分别为1.570±0.491、2.075±0.791,两组间差异具有统计学意义(t=2.228, P＝0.034)。两组儿童的MSE均值在3通道和8通道差异统计学意义(t＝2.513、2.868,P<0.01)。结论 发育迟缓儿童前额区自发脑信号的复杂性较正常健康儿童明显偏低,发育迟缓儿童存在前额叶双侧脑功能受损。     

石河子市婴儿母乳喂养持续时间现状及其影响因素

目的了解石河子市婴儿的母乳喂养持续时间及其影响因素。方法队列研究,问卷随机调查石河子市人民医院和妇幼保健院2003年出生的399名婴儿的喂养方式和断奶情况。用Cox回归分析2岁前断奶的因素。结果石河子市母乳喂养持续时间中位数为6个月,25％的四分位数为5个月,75％的四分位数为11个月,断奶高峰在6个月,有21．8％和0．5％的婴儿持续母乳喂养至12个月和24个月。影响母乳喂养持续时间的主要因素是母亲工作。结论石河子母乳喂养持续时间短。     

Oral contraceptives and benign breast disease: an update of findings in a large cohort study

BACKGROUND: This report is an update of findings, first reported in 1981, on the relationship between oral contraceptives (OCs) and benign breast disease with special reference to OCs containing <50 mcg estrogen. STUDY DESIGN: The Oxford-Family Planning Association study includes 17,032 women using different methods of contraception recruited at 17 family planning clinics between 1968 and 1974. These women were subsequently followed up until mid-1994. Among other items, information about contraceptive method changes and morbidity as measured by hospital referrals was collected during follow-up. RESULTS: The findings in the present analysis were broadly similar to those reported in 1981, but based on much larger numbers of cases [fibroadenoma (FA), 185 cases; chronic cystic disease (CCD), 1361 cases; breast lump with no specific diagnosis (BL), 650 cases]. Hospital referral rates for FA and CCD (but not BL) declined with increasing duration of OC use, with the effect being strongest among recent users. The apparent protective effect was present for women using OCs containing >50 mcg, 50 mcg and <50 mcg estrogen but not for progestogen-only OCs. CONCLUSION: Low-dose combined OCs containing <50 mcg estrogen appear to reduce the risk of hospitalization for FA and CCD as well as older preparations containing higher doses of estrogen.     

Patient delay in women presenting with advanced breast cancer: an Iranian study

INTRODUCTION: Due to the lack of systematic screening programmes for early detection of breast cancer in Iran and the predominance of advanced cases, we aimed to study the extent and determinants of patient delay in women with advanced breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this 1-year cross-sectional study, all consecutive women with advanced breast cancer (stages IIb, III or IV) who initially presented to a university hospital were studied. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent (136/200) of cases had delayed their first visit by >1 month and 42.5% by >3 months. The median patient delay was 12 weeks. Delay was associated with: older age, being married, lower income, less education, place of residence (small cities), negative family history of breast cancer, belief in the fatality of breast cancer, lack of access to health care services, lack of knowledge of breast cancer symptoms, and denying the importance of breast self-examination. The main reasons given for the delay were: lack of knowledge regarding the necessity of such a visit, fear, negligence, lack of access to physicians, and poverty. DISCUSSION: In contrast to some other studies, this study found that married women and those with a negative family history of breast cancer waited longer than others before seeking care. Public education initiatives focused on encouraging women (especially high-risk groups such as older women, married women, and those living in small cities or villages) to see a doctor promptly for evaluation of breast symptoms can decrease delay and improve patient outcome.     

早产影响因素的前瞻性队列研究

目的  分析中国早产的流行现状及危险因素,为早产的预防提供参考依据。 方法  本研究数据来源于中国孕产妇队列研究·协和项目(Chinese Pregnant Women Cohort Study, CPWCS),通过问卷调查和医院信息系统(hospital information system, HIS)收集孕妇基本情况和分娩结局。采用SPSS 26.0软件进行χ²检验和多因素Logistic回归分析模型分析。 结果  5 671名孕妇中发生早产的例数为295例,占5.2%,不同地区早产率差异无统计学意义(χ² =0.591, P=0.771)。多因素分析结果显示：高龄、糖尿病史、早产史、胎盘早剥、胎膜早破、胎儿宫内窘迫、妊娠期高血压以及双胎是早产的危险因素(均有P < 0.05),而在自然分娩的孕妇中,高龄(OR=2.90, 95% CI: 1.67~5.06, P < 0.001)、胎膜早破(OR=6.17, 95% CI: 4.21~9.06, P < 0.001)、双胎(OR=17.72, 95% CI: 3.23~97.25, P=0.001)是早产的主要危险因素。 结论  早产的影响因素较多,准确识别危险因素,为孕妇提供科学合理的健康教育和个性化的防治措施是预防早产的重要手段。