Oxygen saturation in healthy children aged 5 to 16 years residing in Huayllay, Peru at 4340 m

Hypoxemia is a major life-threatening complication of childhood pneumonia. The threshold points for hypoxemia vary with altitude. However, few published data describe that normal range of variation. The purpose of this study was to establish reference values of normal mean Sao(2) levels and an approximate cutoff point to define hypoxemia for clinical purposes above 4300 meters above sea level (masl). Children aged 5 to 16 yr were examined during primary care visits at the Huayllay Health Center. Huayllay is a rural community located at 4340?m in the province of Pasco in the Peruvian Andes. We collected basic sociodemographic data and evaluated three outcomes: arterial oxygen saturation (Sao(2)) with a pulse oximeter, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Comparisons of main outcomes among age groups (5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-16 yr) and sex were performed using linear regression models. The correlation of Sao(2) with heart rate and respiration rate was established by Pearson's correlation test. We evaluated 583 children, of whom 386 were included in the study. The average age was 10.3 yr; 55.7% were female. The average Sao(2), heart rate, and respiratory rate were 85.7% (95% CI: 85.2-86.2), 80.4/min (95% CI: 79.0-81.9), and 19.9/min (95% CI: 19.6-20.2), respectively. Sao(2) increased with age (p?相似文献   

Validity of the critical speed to determine blood lactate response and aerobic performance in swimmers aged 10–15 years

Introduction – The aim of this study was to analyze the validity of the critical speed (CS) to determine the speed corresponding to 4 mmol l^–1 of blood lactate (S4) and the speed in a 30 min test (S30min) of swimmers aged 10–15 years.Synthesis of facts – CS, S4 and S30min were determined in 12 swimmers (eight boys and four girls) divided into two groups: 10–12 years and 13–15 years.Conclusion – CS was a good predictor of aerobic performance (S30min) independent of the chronological age, providing practical information about the aerobic performance state of young swimmers.     

Prevalence of fundamental movement skill proficiency among Iranian children aged 2.5–14 years

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency among a sample of Iranian children.DesignCross sectional, representative sample of 2200 children aged 2.5–14 years (50% girls), living in Tehran in 2018.MethodsTrained field staff assessed 7 locomotor and 4 object control skills in educational settings using the Ohio State University Scale of Intra-Gross Motor Assessment (OSU-SIGMA). Scores for levels 1–3 represent immature performance and level 4 represents proficiency. Data were analyzed by age and sex.ResultsOverall, proficiency prevalences were higher in boys than girls. Proficiency in walking and running emerged in children from age 2.5 years, and proficiency in more complex locomotor skills (i.e., jumping, skipping, hopping, ladder-climbing) and object control skills emerged at age 6 years. The prevalence of proficiency in hopping, jumping, skipping and all object control skills were low in children aged <9 years. All children aged ≥9 years were proficient in all locomotor skills. At age 9 years, the prevalence of object control proficiency were high for throwing (boys 100%, girls 89%), catching (boys 89%, girls 65%), striking (boys 69%, girls 53%) and low for kicking (boys 45%, girls 41%). All children ≥11 years were proficient in all FMS except kicking (boys 61%, girls 55%).ConclusionsFMS proficiency were age and sex related with proficiency in most skills emerging around age 6 years. All children aged ≥11 years were proficient in all FMS, except kicking. The findings may be useful to guide the development of intervention programs in Iranian children aged 2.5–10 years.     

The effects of chronic physical activity interventions on executive functions in children aged 3–7 years: A meta-analysis

ObjectivesTo use a quantitative approach to examine the effects of chronic physical activity (PA) interventions on executive functions (EFs) in children aged 3–7 years.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched from their inception to December 2019. Intervention studies with a control group that examined the effects of chronic PA interventions on EFs among children aged 3–7 years were included in this meta-analysis. Lastly, subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the potential modifying effects of chronic PA intervention’s characteristics and study quality.ResultsA total of 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis with a total of 716 participants. The fixed-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect sizes since heterogeneity across included studies was not significant. The summary effects revealed that chronic PA interventions have a small but positive effects on participants’ overall EFs [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.20–0.50] as well as inhibition (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.12–0.62) and working memory (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.02–0.46) domains and a moderate effect on the cognitive flexibility domain (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.28–1.05). Lastly, the pooled effect was not significantly modified by intervention duration, session length, or frequency.ConclusionsChronic PA interventions, especially PA plus cognitive challenges interventions, may be a promising way to promote the development of multiple aspects of EFs in children aged 3–7 years.     

Characteristics of physical activity interventions and effects on cardiorespiratory fitness in children aged 6–12 years—A systematic review

Objectives

To examine the characteristics of physical activity (PA) interventions and the effects on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in healthy children based on treatment theory.

A comprehensive evaluation of the variation in ankle function during gait in children and youth with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease

A better understanding of gait dysfunction for children and youth with Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) will assist in developing appropriate treatments and understanding prognosis for ambulation. The purpose of this retrospective study was to document the typical gait patterns in children and youth (12 ± 4 years) with CMT using motion analysis and relate these findings back to the clinical assessment at the ankle. All patients underwent a motion analysis as a component of treatment decision-making.Lower extremity kinematics and kinetics were evaluated in comparison to a typically developing age-matched reference control group collected in the same gait laboratory. Three patient subgroups were defined based on peak ankle dorsiflexion in terminal stance: greater than typical (n = 23), within typical range (n = 30) and less than typical (n = 13). The three subgroups showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.004) in degree of impairment for ankle plantar flexor and dorsiflexor weakness and ankle plantar flexor contracture. Patients with excessive dorsiflexion in terminal stance had the greatest ankle plantar flexor weakness (median 2) and the greatest dorsiflexor weakness (median 4). Patients with less than typical dorsiflexion in terminal stance were the only patients with a plantar flexor contracture (?2 ± 9°). Delayed peak dorsiflexion in stance was the most common kinematic finding and consistent with ankle plantar flexor weakness. All patients showed significantly less (p < 0.001) peak ankle moments and power generation in terminal stance than the typically developing controls. We concluded that children and youth with CMT present differently in terms of impairment and associated gait issues which therefore require patient specific treatment strategies.     

Fatal intoxications in the age group 15–34 years in Denmark in 1984 and 1985

Summary This survey deals with the Danish part of a study on fatal intoxications conducted in the Nordic countries in 1984 and 1985 with special reference to drug addicts. There were 315 cases of fatal intoxications in people 15–34 years of age. These were examined at the Forensic Institutes in Denmark and described with reference to cause of death, sex, age and drug addiction. Of the deceased, 194 were drug addicts according to a specific definition of this term. Women accounted for 28% of all the fatalities investigated in the study and 24% of those in addicts. More than 90% of the deaths were caused by drugs, with ethanol as a contributory factor in approximately 40% of cases. Deaths caused by heroin/morphine predominated, causing 50% of the deaths among drug addicts, but legal drugs, such as dextropropoxyphene, methadone and ketobemidone were also frequent causes of death in this group. In half the cases the concentration of morphine in blood following injection of heroin/morphine was found to be equal to or less than 0.5 mol/ kg, and in only about one-tenth of cases was the blood concentration above 2.0 mol/kg.     

The reliability and validity of a physical activity and sedentary behaviour home audit tool for children aged 2–5 years

ObjectivesTo test the reliability and validity of a physical activity and sedentary behaviour home environment audit tool for young children (2–5 years old).DesignCross-sectional.MethodsParents of children aged 2–5 years were recruited through online methods (i.e., social media and blogs). Reliability of the SPACES home audit tool was assessed using self-reported surveys (n = 55) completed on two separate occasions, approximately 12 days apart. Validity of the home audit tool was assessed in a separate sample via home observations by researchers conducted after parents completed the self-report survey (n = 21). The audit tool measured indoor and outdoor home environment characteristics hypothesised to influence young children's physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Data were analysed using intraclass correlations (ICCs) and Kappas.ResultsThe majority of items demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity (80.4% and 53.4%, respectively). Size of the child's bedroom showed substantial agreement for reliability (ICC = 0.85), and slight agreement for validity (ICC = 0.23). Physical activity equipment items within the indoor environment showed slight to moderate agreement for reliability (ICC = 0.32–0.68) and slight agreement for validity (ICC = 0.15–0.35). Screen time equipment showed substantial agreement for reliability (ICC = 0.83) and fair for validity (ICC = 0.38). Outdoor items (e.g., backyard size, availability and condition of physical activity equipment, outdoor features) showed substantial agreement for reliability and validity (ICC = 0.84–0.95).ConclusionsThe home audit tool was found to be reliable and valid for many items. This tool could be used in future research to understand the impact of the home environment on young children's physical activity and sedentary behaviour.     

Do kidney sizes in ultrasonography correlate to glomerular filtration rate in healthy children?

The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between ultrasonographic kidney sizes and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in healthy children. This was a cross-section study on 116 healthy children. Renal diseases were ruled out by a paediatric nephrologist. Ultra sonography of both kidneys was carried out by an experienced radiologist. The volume was calculated by ellipsoid formula. We defined net volume as kidney volume-sinus fat volume'. The sum of right and left kidney sizes was defined as total sizes. We calculated GFR by means of the Schwartz formula. Correlations between kidney sizes and GFR were studied with Pearson correlation coefficient. The mean age of the children was 8.4+/-3.4. The GFR mean was 108+/-30 (mL/min per 1.73 m2). GFR correlated to total renal volume (r=0.52, P<0.001), total net volume (r=0.53, P<0.001) and total kidney length (r=0.59, P<0.001). Ultrasonographic kidney sizes, especially the kidney length, correlate to GFR in healthy children. Kidney sizes assessment by ultrasonography may play a role in renal function evaluation in children.     

Do sexual maturation stages affect flexibility in adolescent boys aged 14 years?

AIM: Pubertal changes constitute a background for development of motor abilities and flexibility as an important component of physical fitness. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the flexibility is actually related to sexual maturation stages in adolescent boys. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 69 healthy boys aged 14 years. Before testing, all participants performed a 3 min warm up and static stretch routine, emphasizing the lower body. The flexibility tests were performed in a counterbalanced design. Sit-and-reach test and goniometric measurement of hamstring flexibility was administered. The results of flexibility tests and body measures were analysed for cross-sectional comparison. Groups were formed according to Tanner's classification and consisted of boys in Stage II, III, IV, V, respectively. RESULTS: The results of sit and reach test scores and goniometric measurements did not correlate with age in months, height, weight and BMI; and furthermore they did not correlate with the sexual maturation stages (p>0.05). The sit and reach test scores were significantly correlated with goniometric measurements (right: r=0.653, p=0.00; left: r=0.638, p=0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that sexual maturation stages in pubertal period would not be effective in determining the flexibility. Besides, sexual maturation is not a cause of decreased flexibility in adolescent boys aged 14 years.     

Overground versus treadmill walking in Parkinson’s disease: Relationship between speed and spatiotemporal gait metrics

BackgroundTreadmills provide a safe and convenient way to study the gait of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), but outcome measures derived from treadmill gait may differ from overground walking.ObjectiveTo investigate how the relationships between gait metrics and walking speed vary between overground and treadmill walking in people with PD and healthy controls.MethodsWe compared 29 healthy controls to 27 people with PD in the OFF-medication state. Subjects first walked overground on an instrumented gait walkway, then on an instrumented treadmill at 85%, 100% and 115% of their overground walking speed. Average stride length and cadence were computed for each subject in both overground and treadmill walking.ResultsStride length and cadence both differed between overground and treadmill walking. Regressions of stride length and cadence on gait speed showed a log-log relationship for both overground and treadmill gait in both PD and control groups. The difference between the PD and control groups during overground gait was maintained for treadmill gait, not only when treadmill speed matched overground speed, but also with ± 15% variation in treadmill speed from that value.SignificanceThese results show that the impact of PD on stride length and cadence and their relationship to gait speed is preserved in treadmill as compared to overground walking. We conclude that a treadmill protocol is suitable for laboratory use in studies of PD gait therapeutics.     

Assessment of myelination progression in subcortical white matter of children aged 6–48 months using T2-weighted imaging

Purpose

This study aims to provide a screening scoring method by assessing the age-related change of subcortical white matter (WM) myelination via T2-weighted imaging (T2WI).

Methods

This study retrospectively recruited 109 children aged 6–48 months without abnormalities on MRI. Based on Parazzini’s study, we developed a modified T2WI-based method to assess subcortical WM myelination (frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes, and insula) by scoring WM’s signal changes. Inter- and intra-observer agreements were evaluated by Bland-Altman plot. Age-related changes of myelination score were explored by locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS), linear regression, and Spearman correlation coefficients (r). Relationships between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics and total myelination score were investigated to further validate practicability of the scoring method by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).

Results

This method showed good intra-observer (mean difference?=?0.18, SD?=?0.95) and inter-observer agreements (mean difference?=???0.06, SD?=?1.01). The LOESS and linear regression results indicated that myelination proceeded in two phases: a period of rapid growth (6–20 months; slope?=?0.561) and one of slower growth (21–48 months; slope?=?0.097). Significant correlations between myelination score and age were observed in whole subcortical WM (r?=?0.945; P?<?0.001) and all regional subcortical WM (r_{_mean}?=?0.819, range, 0.664–0.928; P?<?0.001). TBSS found significant correlations of WM-DTI metrics with myelination score during the range of 6–20 months, while no significant correlation was observed in 21–48 months.

Conclusion

The modified T2WI-based screening scoring method is easily feasible to assess myelination progression of subcortical WM, especially suitable for children aged 6–20 months. It may show potential in identifying individual developmental abnormalities by scoring assessment in the future clinical practice.

     

Does tester experience influence the reliability with which 3D gait kinematics are collected in healthy adults?

ObjectivesTo determine whether tester experience influences the reliability of three-dimensional gait collections.DesignReliability study.ParticipantsTen healthy subjects visited a university gait laboratory on two separate days and underwent a walking gait analysis. During each visit, kinematic data were collected by a biomechanist with 8 years of 3D gait analysis experience (EXP) and a physical therapist with no previous 3D gait analysis experience (NOV).Main outcome measuresJoint kinematic angles were calculated using either a functional or predictive joint identification method. Within-tester and between-tester measures of reliability were determined by calculating the root mean square error (RMS) and coefficient of multiple correlations (CMC).ResultsWithin-tester RMS and CMC values were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the EXP and NOV testers using either a functional or predictive joint approach. Within-tester CMC values exceeded 0.90 for both testers across all kinematic variables. Between-tester CMC reliability values were greater than 0.85 for all variables measured.ConclusionsFollowing basic training, a physiotherapy clinician with no previous 3D gait experience is as reliable as an experienced gait biomechanist with respect to marker placement accuracy. In addition, reliability comparisons between an experienced and novice tester appear independent of the joint identification method chosen.