Features of morbidity of children starting at the age of 6 years to learn at preschool institutions

During two academic years the morbidity of 300 children attending preschool institutions starting from the age of six were studied. The study indicated the adverse educational and mental effect on six years old schoolchildren which was manifested by the rise of morbidity during the second half of the academic year, increase in the number of morphofunctional dysfunctions of some organs and systems by the end of the academic year. Suggestions are made of curative and health-promoting activities aimed at health protection and promotion and reduction of morbidity among children.     

Higher intakes of energy and grain products at 4 years of age are associated with being overweight at 6 years of age

This study examined dietary factors associated with overweight in a population-based sample of 6-y-old children. Analyses of data from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD) included a representative sample (n = 1014) of children born in 1998 in the province of Québec, Canada. Dietary intake was measured by using a 24-h dietary recall administered at 4 y of age. Weight and height were measured using a standard protocol at 6 y. Using logistic regression, higher daily energy intake at 4 y was significantly related to overweight at 6 y. After adjustment for confounding and overweight at 4 y, the relationship remained significant among girls (P = 0.04) but became marginally significant among boys (P = 0.07). Additionally, boys who consumed ≥5 servings of grain products/d at 4 y were more likely to be overweight at 6 y compared to those who did not [adjusted OR = 3.20 (95% CI): 1.72-5.97]. The association attenuated somewhat after adjustment for overweight at 4 y [OR = 1.82 (95% CI): 0.894-3.71; P = 0.09]. The findings provide support for the revisions made in the Canadian dietary guidelines for young children, which now recommend 4-7 servings of grain products daily for children aged 4-8 y rather than the excessive 5-12 servings of previous recommendations.     

Birthweight and health and development at the age of 7 years

Summary This study was set up to compare the frequency of health, educational and behavioural problems in a geographically defined birth cohort of 7-year-old children grouped by weight at birth. The study design was based on a multi-stage postal survey, with sampling stratified by birthweight. It took place in the four counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Northamptonshire which make up the former Oxford region. We studied 1319 live births to women resident in the former Oxford region in1985, including all those with birthweights under 1500 g, or whose weight was not recorded, and a sample of those who weighed 1500–2499 g, and of those who weighed 2500 g or more at birth. The children in the sample were traced through the National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR) and self-administered questionnaires were sent to their parents, general practitioners (GP) and teachers. Of the 1169 children who were alive at the age of 7 years and were successfully traced, 805 (75%) were followed up by postal survey. The use of health services, and of additional educational support was higher, and school performance was poorer among children who had weighed less than 1500 g at birth than among children who had weighed 2500 g or more, with the rates for children who had weighed 1500–2499 g falling in between. This survey method identifies the higher rate of health and educational problems in children weighing under 2500 g at birth, particularly those with birthweight under 1500 g, compared with other children. The method could be developed to provide a way of monitoring any changes over time in the prevalence of these problems. This information can be used to assess the health and educational needs of 7-year-old children in the population.     

A follow-up study of adiposity and growth of Jerusalem schoolchildren from age 6 to 14 years

This study evaluated growth and change in adiposity from childhood to early adolescence in 587 Jerusalem schoolchildren examined in both the first and eighth grades. Mean body mass index, height, and weight were determined according to demographic variables and menstrual status and were compared to international reference populations. Menstruating females were taller and heavier than nonmenstruating females at both ages and were more overweight at age 14 years. Height and weight were positively correlated with social class for boys, and few differences were found among ethnic groups. Study subjects were shorter than reference subjects, and study girls were more overweight than reference girls at age 14 years. Our findings suggest that previously demonstrated ethnic differences in growth and adiposity among Israeli children are disappearing. Adolescent girls appear to be at greatest risk for developing obesity. The relationship of pubertal status to body size and obesity at and between the two ages is discussed.     

Effect of acute carbaryl poisoning on various indicators of amino acid metabolism in rats]

Male Wistar rats were orally poisoned with carbaryl in a single dose 474 mg/kg (1/2 LD50). After 2, 4, 24, 72 and sometimes 120 hours from the administration of the insecticide the studied biochemical parameters have been determined. Trials showed an essential effect of carbaryl on the amino acid balance and metabolism. Significant decreases of the most amino acids concentrations in the brain tissue (a maximum decrease in the second hour) and in the liver (at 4-th h of intoxication). Normalization of the amino acid levels occurred more early in the brain than in the liver. Furthermore a decrease of total keto-acids concentration in erythrocytes (at 4-th h) and activity changes of some plasma and liver plasmatic aminotransferases in the reaction with alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate was observed.     

The cardiovascular system function of schoolchildren in the European North

Age-specific dynamics of main parameters of circulation and gas exchange was examined in 7-16-year-old schoolchildren residing in the European North. The northern children show rarer and deeper breath and elevated blood pressures, diastolic pressures in particular, than those of the same age who live in the nonchernozem region. The northern boys were found to have higher sensitivity and responsiveness of the cardiorespiratory system to the northern conditions than the northern girls. The revealed cardiorespiratory parameters allowed the authors to predict negative changes in the schoolchildren's health and they may be used to develop regional physical education and health care programmes for 7-16-year-old pupils.     

Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and child behavior at age 6-7 years

Background: Airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are widespread urban air pollutants from fossil fuel burning and other combustion sources. We previously reported that a broad spectrum of combustion-related DNA adducts in cord blood was associated with attention problems at 6–7 years of age in the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH) longitudinal cohort study.Objectives: We evaluated the relationship between behavioral problems and two different measures of prenatal exposure—both specific to PAH—in the same cohort.Methods: Children of nonsmoking African-American and Dominican women in New York City (NYC) were followed from in utero to 6–7 years. Prenatal PAH exposure was estimated by personal air monitoring of the mothers during pregnancy as well as by the measurement of DNA adducts specific to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a representative PAH, in maternal and cord blood. At 6–7 years of age, child behavior was assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (n = 253). Generalized linear models were used to test the association between prenatal PAH exposure and behavioral outcomes.Results: In multivariate analyses, high prenatal PAH exposure, whether characterized by personal air monitoring (greater than the median of 2.27 ng/m³) or maternal and cord adducts (detectable or higher), was positively associated with symptoms of Anxious/Depressed and Attention Problems (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusion: These results provide additional evidence that environmental levels of PAH encountered in NYC air can adversely affect child behavior.     

Differences in birth weight and blood pressure at age 7 years among twins

Blood pressure later in life has been inversely associated with birth weight. However, concerns have been raised about whether this association merely reflects common environmental risk factors for both fetal growth restriction and high blood pressure or whether there is a genetic tendency to give birth to small babies and have high blood pressure. This study examined whether difference in birth weight of twins is associated with difference in blood pressure at age 7 years. The authors used data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project, United States, 1959-1966, which included 119 pairs of monozygotic and 86 pairs of same-sex dizygotic twins. The smaller twin in each pair had an average 300-g lower birth weight and was substantially thinner than the larger twin (p < 0.001). At age 7 years, body size and blood pressure were similar. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between difference in birth size and difference in blood pressure, adjusting for difference in body weight at age 7 years. None of the associations was statistically significant, and the direction of the associations was inconsistent. Further analyses stratified by birth weight, race, and sex revealed a similar, inconsistent pattern. The authors' findings fail to support the hypothesis that an unfavorable intrauterine environment adversely affects blood pressure in children.     

Primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in childhood: changes in serum total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and body mass index after 2 years of intervention in Jerusalem schoolchildren age 7-9 years

A school health education and promotion program, the Israeli version of the American Health Foundation's "Know Your Body" program, was developed by the Department of Public Health of the Municipality of Jerusalem in 1983. Eight experimental and eight control schools participated in this cohort study of Arab and Jewish first-grade children. After the first 2 years of intervention, comparison of experimental and control groups showed a significant increase in serum high density lipoproteins among Jewish children and a decrease in serum total cholesterol and body mass index among both Jewish and Arab children. These results indicate that changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors such as blood total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, and body mass index are possible after a health education program is introduced to first-grade students for a relatively short period of time.     

孕期应激生活事件暴露水平对儿童2~6岁内情绪与行为问题的影响

目的 研究母亲孕期应激生活事件暴露水平对儿童2~6岁内情绪与行为问题的影响。方法 上海亲子队列于2016-2018年招募待产孕妇建卡并随访,本研究纳入来自队列的2 524对母子,使用量表于孕早、晚期评估母亲应激生活事件暴露水平,儿童2~6岁内评估情绪与行为问题。使用多因素二元logistic回归模型及广义估计方程分析孕期应激生活事件暴露水平对儿童2~6岁内情绪与行为问题发生风险的影响及作用关键期。结果 孕期应激生活事件暴露水平持续较低、仅孕早期较高、仅孕晚期较高、持续较高的母亲分别占61.8%、13.2%、13.2%和11.8%。儿童3~6岁的情绪症状、多动问题、同伴交往及困难总分异常检出率在持续较高组中最高。广义估计方程结果显示,与孕期应激生活事件暴露水平持续较低组相比,仅孕早期较高组的儿童2~6岁内品行问题（aOR=1.41,95%CI：1.07~1.87）异常发生风险显著增加,孕期应激生活事件暴露水平持续较高组的儿童情绪症状（aOR=1.41,95%CI：1.09~1.83）、同伴交往（aOR=1.46,95%CI：1.15~1.86）及困难总分（aOR=1.51,95%CI：1.17~1.93）异常发生风险均显著增加。结论 母亲孕期应激生活事件暴露增加儿童2~6岁内情绪与行为问题异常发生风险,孕早期可能是暴露关键期。