Effects of compressive vests on pulmonary function of infants with thoracic burn scars

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the effects of compressive vests on the pulmonary function of infants with thoracic burn scars. METHODS: Between April 2000 and October 2005, all infants aged 2 years or less and all those aged between 2 and 3 years if they had concomitant pulmonary pathology, who were in need of a compressive vest for the treatment of burn scars to the thorax, underwent comparative pulmonary function testing under sedation with the vest closed and then opened. RESULTS: Of the 23 infants who met the inclusion criteria, 19 had complete data. There were significant differences in oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, tidal volume/kg body weight, respiratory compliance and peak tidal expiratory flow /tidal volume, with or without vest compression. CONCLUSIONS: Compressive vests used at our centre to treat thoracic burn scars of infants aged 2 years or less, and those aged between 2 and 3 years with concomitant pulmonary pathology, did have a statistically significant effect on their pulmonary function, but this did not translate into clinically significant differences. However, the differences observed might become clinically significant in the presence of pulmonary comorbidity or severe burns. Routine pulmonary function testing before the use of vest compression might thus benefit these infants.     

Relationship between emergent literacy and early social–emotional development in preschool children from low-income backgrounds

Sixty-one preschool children and their parents and teachers participated in a cross-sectional study of the social–emotional correlates of emergent literacy skills. The children's emergent literacy skills were assessed with the standard language and literacy tests: Expressive Vocabulary Test, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (third edition), and Test of Early Reading Ability (third edition). These tests measure oral language (expressive language and receptive language) and print awareness. The children's positive and negative behaviours were measured by the standard behaviour rating scales: the Behavior Assessment System for Children (second edition) and the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment. These behaviours are grouped into four subcategories, namely, externalising behaviour, internalising behaviour, approaches to learning, and interpersonal skills. Results showed a wide range of significant associations between the components of emergent literacy and social–emotional development. Age and sex were found to moderate these significant correlations in different ways. Implications for educational practitioners and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Service Provision for Preschool Children who are Deaf: Parents' Perspectives

The data reported have been derived from the first national review of preschool service provision for deaf children and their families. This paper, examines the kinds of service provision seen as desirable by families with deaf children between 0-5 years of age in relation to current U.K. Government interest in: Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening; family support initiatives including a focus on parent-professional partnerships; Inclusive Education. Data presented includes families responses to early identification; to the information available following identification; perceptions of their own partnerships with professionals; the value of family centred services for themselves, their children and for family life. From these data aspects of good practice are identified and illustrated for consideration in future service development.     

The relationship of selected temperament characteristics to creative potential in preschool children

The relationship of selected temperament characteristics and ideational fluency in preschool children was explored in this study. The subjects were 58 children (31 boys and 27 girls) who ranged in age from 46‐72 months, with a mean age of 57 months. The children were given the Multidimensional Stimulus Fluency Measure to assess creative potential. The parents filled out the Behavioral Style Questionnaire, a measure of preschool children's temperament. Regression analyses revealed that distractibility and adaptability were related to original scores on the patterns subtest of the MSFM, with a multiple r of 0‐40, (p < 005). Temperament was shown to be related to original scores only on those tasks involving tactile manipulation of visible stimuli, but was related to total popular responses. Analyses revealed that distractibility, adaptability, and threshold yielded a multiple r of 0‐37, (p, < 0‐05) with total popular scores on the MSFM.     

济宁市部分学龄前儿童碘营养状况调查分析

目的 了解济宁市部分学龄前儿童碘营养状况,为今后碘缺乏病防治工作提供科学依据.方法 尿碘测定采用碘催化砷铈原理,使用尿碘快速定量检测试剂盒对180名学龄前儿童尿碘进行检测,并对家长进行碘缺乏病相关知识问卷调查.结果 180名4～5岁儿童尿碘检测中位数为150μg/L,符合国标(GB16006-1995IDD消除标准)和...     

A 3-day course of 1 mg/kg versus 2 mg/kg bodyweight prednisolone for 1- to 5-year-old children with acute moderate exacerbation of asthma: a randomized double-blind noninferiority trial

BackgroundEven though the guidelines on the management of preschool asthma recommend early use of corticosteroids for acute moderate-to-severe exacerbations, considerable variation exists with regard to type and dose of steroids.ObjectivesTo compare the clinical outcomes and side effect profile between 1 mg/kg/day and 2 mg/kg/day of oral prednisolone when administered for 3 days in preschool children with acute moderate asthma exacerbations.Study Design and SettingRandomized double-blind noninferiority trial was done in the paediatric emergency of a teaching hospital.Patients, Interventions, and OutcomesA total of 128 children aged 1 to 5 years who presented to the paediatric emergency with acute moderate exacerbation of asthma were enrolled. They were randomized into two groups. One group received 1 mg/kg/day and the other 2 mg/kg/day of oral prednisolone for 3 days. Severity of asthma exacerbation was measured by Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score. The PRAM scores, wheeze recurrence, and side effect profile were compared and analyzed between the two groups.ResultsThe difference in the PRAM scores at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after intervention between the two groups was statistically insignificant. Need for escalation of therapy, salbutamol nebulization, time for resolution of symptoms, and recurrence of wheeze were similar between the two groups. Vomiting was significantly less frequent in low-dose group with a relative risk of 0.19 to 0.99 compared to high-dose prednisolone.ConclusionPrednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day was not inferior to 2 mg/kg/day in terms of clinical improvement and recurrence of wheeze within 1 week and has less frequent vomiting compared to higher dose.     

A Turkish perspective on nutrition education and preschool children

Preschool education is extremely limited in Turkey, suggesting an absence of public recognition of its importance and a lack of state support. In the 'VI. Five Years Development Plan', it was exposed that the target in preschool education could not be reached. Especially, regional differences played an important role. According to population and health research in Turkey in 1998 for those under the age of five, the prevalence of stunted growth among children was 16%. Since children's physical and mental developments depend on a nutritious diet, it is emphasized that nutrition education must be diffuse and organized education for both children and their families. At the universities in Turkey, the faculties of education graduate the preschool education teachers. The syllabus of these departments shows that nutrition education is given to the students. Especially, during the early years when children are sensitive and are captive listeners and when habits are formed, nutrition education is a must in the formation of health-promoting nutritional concepts and behaviours. Nutrition education can change behavioural risk factors, and target existing eating patterns, food preparation, and choosing specific types of food.     

Effect of poverty on urban preschool children's understanding of conventional time concepts

The purpose of the present study was to compare the understanding of conventional time concepts by urban preschool children reared in poverty with that of their peers not raised in poverty. The questionnaire used in this study was based on the original work of Ames. Thirty-six children ranging in age from three to five years of age participated in the study. Twelve attended a Head Start program for homeless children, 12 lived in low-income housing and attended a neighborhood Head Start program, and 12 attended one of three university daycare centers. Each child was interviewed using a questionnaire containing age, calendar, clock, experiential and conceptual time-related questions. The results of this study revealed that homeless children and children living in poverty who attended Head Start programs possessed less conventional time knowledge than their peers who attended university daycare centers, as well as those children who participated in the original Ames study. These results have important implications for educational practices.     

Treatment of the preschool child in a general dental practice

The treatment of the preschool child in general dental practice is interrelated with financial considerations in a similar way to treatment of all other patients. However for young children requiring conservation treatment in particular the time and consequently the costs involved are considerable. This paper provides examples of these problems experienced in the author's own practice.     

Heart period and variability findings in preschool children with posttraumatic stress symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic experiences for young children might result in profound neurodevelopmental changes, compared with adults. Our aim was to examine autonomic control of heart rate in traumatized young children. METHODS: Sixty-two children who had suffered traumas and 62 nontraumatized control children, aged 20 months to 6 years, were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, interbeat interval, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), family rehearsal of the trauma, and parent-child relationship quality. RESULTS: Traumatized children with PTSD and traumatized children without PTSD both had decreased heart period in response to a trauma stimulus relative to the nontraumatized group (both p < .0167). there was no main effect for RSA change scores, however, there was a significant interaction effect between parental positive discipline with PTSD symptoms and RSA. The most sympathetic children had decreased RSA during the trauma stimulus when they had caregivers with less positive discipline during a clean-up nd family rehearsal with PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore that psychopathology in young children ought to be assessed in the context of psychophysiology and parent-child relationship to optimally understand the mechanisms of maladaptation during this complex developmental period.