Influence of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety of preschool-aged children undergoing surgery

BACKGROUND Preschoolers become anxious when they are about to undergo anesthesia and surgery,warranting the development of more appropriate and effective interventions.AIM To explore the effect of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments on preoperative anxiety and anesthesia induction compliance in preschool-aged children undergoing surgery.METHODS One hundred and sixteen preschool-aged children were selected and assigned to the drug(n=37),intervention(n=40),and control(n=39)groups.All the children received routine preoperative checkups and nursing before being transferred to the preoperative preparation room on the day of the operation.The drug group received 0.5 mg/kg midazolam and the intervention group treatment consisting of static cartoons combined with dynamic virtual environments.The control group received no intervention.The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate the children’s anxiety level on the day before surgery(T0),before leaving the preoperative preparation room(T1),when entering the operating room(T2),and at anesthesia induction(T3).Compliance during anesthesia induction(T3)was evaluated using the Induction Compliance Checklist(ICC).Changes in mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),and respiratory rate(RR)were also recorded at each time point.RESULTS The anxiety scores of the three groups increased variously at T1 and T2.At T3,both the drug and intervention groups had similar anxiety scores,both of which were lower than those in the control group.At T1 and T2,MAP,HR,and RR of the three groups increased.The drug and control groups had significantly higher MAP and RR than the intervention group at T2.At T3,the MAP,HR,and RR of the drug group decreased and were significantly lower than those in the control group but were comparable to those in the intervention group.Both the drug and intervention groups had similar ICC scores and duration of anesthesia induction(T3),both of which were higher than those of the control group.CONCLUSION Combining static cartoons with dynamic virtual environments as effective as medication,specifically midazolam,in reducing preoperative anxiety and fear in preschool-aged children.This approach also improve their compliance during anesthesia induction and helped maintain their stable vital signs.

Improving school physical education to increase physical activity and promote healthy growth of Chinese school-aged children Time for action

Throughout its more than 5000-year history, China has a long tradition of encouraging active engagement in physical and sport activities This enduring tradition, however, has been facing some major headwinds as China continues to expe- rience demographic and environmental changes related to aging, urbanization, and lifestyle shifts.

Step it up： Promoting physical activity in school-aged children and adolescents in China

In this special issue of the Journal of Sport and Health Science, a series of articles describe the results of the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China--The Youth Study. The results show a relatively high prevalence of sedentary behaviors, unhealthy weight, lower fitness levels, and lower levels of engagement in physical exercise and fitness activities than antici- pated.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Tungiasis among School-Aged Children in the City of Port Gentil, Ogooué-Maritime Province, Gabon in Central Africa

Background: Tungiasis is a skin infestation caused by the female sand flea called Tunga penetrans. Associated with a significant morbidity, this ectoparasite is present in all tropical regions, such as Gabon. Unfortunately, in this country, no study has ever been undertaken on this disease. However, in both urban and rural areas of this country, it causes disfigurement and mutilation of the feet or hands in infested persons, and is sometimes responsible for the school dropout of many children. It is in this context that this timely and relevant research was conducted to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with Tungiasis in school-aged children in the city of Port Gentil, Ogooué-Maritime province, Gabon in Central Africa. Materials and Methods: This prospective and cross-sectional study took place from May 22 to August 18, 2022, in two popular and underprivileged neighborhoods of the city of Port Gentil. It consisted of a physical diagnosis of the participants, and with the help of a questionnaire submitted to their parents/guardians, numerous data were collected. Entered into an Excel 2016 spreadsheet, the data were exported to the R software in its R Commander interface, for two types of analyses. A univariate and a multivariate analysis, using logistic regression, first on socio-demographic characteristics and then on habitual and environmental behavioral characteristics, was performed and the variables in this analysis reported odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. The results were statistically significant at p Results: A total of 637 school-aged children with a mean age of 12.73 years and a standard deviation of 5.44, were registered and examined for this study. Among them, Tunga penetrans infestation was found in 242 children, indicating an overall prevalence of 37.99% (95% CI [0.34 - 0.41]). Univariate and multivariate analyses, using logistic regression, first according to socio-demographic characteristics and then according to risk factors indicated that, the age groups of 5 to 9 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 9.27;95% CI: [6.66 - 12. 91]) and 10 - 14 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.16;95% CI: [0.10 - 0.25]), Eshira ethnicity (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 7.46;95% CI: [2.97 - 18.76]), child’s primary education level (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.008;95% CI: [0.006 - 0.011]), Father’s/Guardian’s education level (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.22;95% CI: [0.13 - 0.35]), homemaker status (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 4.89;95% CI: [3.51 - 6. 79]) and risk factors such as: promiscuity with dogs, cats or other animals around the house (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 38.30;95% CI: [22.13 - 66.26]), wearing shoes a few times (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.02;95% CI [0.01 - 0.03]), walking sometimes barefoot, on land or sand (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.28;95% CI: [0.18 - 0.42]), having other sources of water consumed than the tap (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.25;95% CI: [0.16 - 037]), living in a dwelling with soil or sand (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 6.8;95% CI: [4.58 - 10.09]), having average housing conditions (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 46.8;95% CI [24.29 - 90.16]), and the number of people living in the family that was greater than or equal to 6 (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.1;95% CI [0.07 - 0.13]), were significantly associated with the prevalence of Tungiasis. Conclusion: The results of this study will inform control programs and water and sanitation interventions for the Tunga penetrans epidemic in Port Gentil, Gabon.

Physical activity among Chinese school-aged children:National prevalence estimates from the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China The Youth Study

Purpose: This study was to present national estimates of participating in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA) and adherence to the recommendations of 60 min/day of MVPA among Chinese school-aged children and to assess demographic differences in MVPA.Methods: Cross-sectional analyses of data from the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China—The Youth Study. Participants were 90,712 primary, junior middle, and junior high school children(boy: 47%; girl: 53%), recruited from 1204 rural and urban schools across 32 administrative provinces and regions in the Mainland of China. Main outcomes were(a) average MVPA minutes per day in the previous 7 days by self-reports and(b) percentage meeting MVPA recommendations.Results: Average MVPA time was 45.4 min/day, with boys having more MVPA(47.2 min/day) than girls(43.7 min/day) overall and across the 3 school grade categories. About 30% of participants met MVPA recommendations, with a higher percentage of boys(32%) than girls(28%) overall and across the 3 grades categories. Urban school children outperformed rural children in terms of MVPA time. Overall, boys were more likely to meet MVPA recommendations(adjusted odds ratio(a OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.16–1.22) compared with girls; children in higher grades(junior middle(a OR = 0.92, 95%CI: 0.87–0.98) and junior high(a OR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.53–0.66)) were less likely to meet recommendations compared with primary school children. The odds of meeting recommendations did not differ between urban and rural children(p = 0.07),but urban boys were found to be more likely to meet recommendations compared with rural boys(a OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.06–1.19).Conclusion: Overall, the average MVPA minutes per day among Chinese school-aged children is low, and less than one-third of them meet MVPA recommendations. These results were most evident among junior middle and junior high school children and those living rural areas.

Prevalence of physical fitness in Chinese school-aged children： Findings from the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China -The Youth Study

Purpose： This study was to present the 2016 prevalence estimates of Chinese school-aged children meeting physical fitness standards and to examine differences by sex and residence locales in children who did not meet fitness standards. Methods： We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 171,991 children and adolescents （boy： 50.0%, Grades 1-12） who participated in the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China--The Youth Study. The main outcomes were fitness measures, assessed by the 2014 revised Chinese National Student Physical Fitness Standard （CNSPFS）, covering areas of aerobic capacity, upper body strength, flexibility, body mass index, abdominal strength, and trunk strength. Children＇s overall physical fitness performance was categorized, per CNSPFS standards, as excellent, good, pass, or no pass. Data on the prevalence of physical fitness categories and not meeting fitness standards （i.e., among children who received a ＂no pass＂ mark） were analyzed, through logistic regression, by sex （boy, girl） and residence locales （urban, rural） across 3 school grades （primary, junior middle, and junior high）. Results： In 2016, 5.95% of Chinese children and adolescents achieved an ＂excellent＂ mark, 25.80% received a ＂good＂ rating, 59.90% received a ＂pass＂, and 8.35% received a ＂no pass＂. Overall, boys were more likely to not pass the fitness standards compared with girls （adjusted odds ratio （aOR） = 1.710; 95% confidence interval （CI）： 1.708-1.712） and children living in urban areas were more likely to not pass the standards than those living in rural areas （aOR = 1.298; 95%CI： 1.296-1.299）. Consistent patterns of not meeting fitness standards were also found by sex and residence locales across all 3 school grades. Conclusion： In the Chinese school-aged population, about 3 in 10 children achieved an ＂excellent＂ or ＂good＂ fitness standard in 2016, and about 8% of this population did not meet CNSPFS standards. Children living in urban areas were more likely to not meet minimum fitness performance levels, and boys in school were more likely to not meet minimum fitness performance levels than girls. 2017 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license （http：//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/）.

Influence of severity and types of astigmatism on visual acuity in school-aged children in southern China

AIM： To investigate the influence of astigmatism on visual acuity in school-aged children, and to define a cutoff for clinically significant astigmatism. METHODS： This is a population-based, cross-sectional study. Among 5053 enumerated children aged 5-15 y in Guangzhou, 3729（73.8%） children aged 7-15 with successful cycloplegic auto-refraction（1% cyclopentolate） and a reliable visual acuity measurement were included. Ocular measurement included external eye, anterior segment, media and fundus and cycloplegic auto-refraction. Primary outcome measures included the relationship between severity and subtypes of astigmatism and the prevalence of visual impairment. Three criteria for visual impairment were adopted： best-corrected visual acuity（BCVA） ≤0.7, uncorrected visual acuity（UCVA） ≤0.5 or 〈0.7 in the right eye.RESULTS： Increases of cylinder power was significantly associated with worse visual acuity（UCVA： β=0.051, P〈0.01; BCVA： β=0.025, P〈0.001）. A substantial increase in UCVI and BCVI was seen with astigmatism of 1.00 diopter（D） or more. Astigmatism ≥1.00 D had a greater BCVI prevalence than cylinder power less than 1.00 D（OR=4.20, 95%CI： 3.08-5.74）, and this was also true for hyperopic, emmetropic and myopic refraction categories. Oblique astigmatism was associated with a higher risk of BCVI relative to with the rule astigmatism in myopic refractive category（OR=12.87, 95%CI： 2.20-75.38）.CONCLUSION： Both magnitude and subtypes of astigmatism influence the prevalence of visual impairment in school children. Cylinder ≥1.00 D may be useful as a cutoff for clinically significant astigmatism.

Topographic distribution features of the choroidal and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in Chinese school-aged children

AIM:To explore the topographic distribution features of choroidal thickness(CT)and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT),and determine the relationship between CT and ocular parameters in school-aged children.METHODS:The healthy school-aged children with low ametropia or emmetropia in Wenzhou were recruited for this cross-sectional study.With high-density optical coherence tomography(HD-OCT)combined with MATLAB software,the CT and RNFLT values in the macular area were measured at different locations and compared.Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between CT and ophthalmic parameters,such as spherical equivalent(SE)and the axial length(AL).RESULTS:A total of 279 school-aged children with8.00±1.35 years of mean age(range,6-10 y)were included.The mean AL was 23.66±0.86 mm.The mean CT in CT-C(264.31±48.93μm)was thicker than that in CT-N1(249.54±50.52μm),and the average CT in the parafoveal region was also thicker than that in CT-N2(235.65±50.63μm).The subfoveal CT also varied substantially across refractive errors(P<0.001),and those with myopia(250.59±47.01μm)exhibited a thinner choroid compared with those with emmetropia(278.74±48.06μm).CT negatively correlated with AL(y=-21.72 x+779.17;R^2=0.1458),and positively correlated with SE(y=15.76 x+271.9;R^2=0.0727.OD;y=18.31 x+269.8;R^2=0.1007.OS).The average RNFLT was thickest in the peripapillary region(236.35±19.03μm),the mean RNFLT-S(131.10±15.16μm)was thicker than the RNFLT-I(128.20±16.59μm),and the mean RNFLT-T(76.54±11.99μm)was thicker than the RNFLT-N(64.28±8.55μm).The variations in the RNFLT between quadrants did differ between those with myopia and emmetropia(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:We establish demographic information for the choroid and RNFLT.These findings provide information that should be considered in future analyses of the CT and RNFLT in OCT studies in school-aged children.

Disparities in Oral Health among School-Aged Children in Kansas

Background: The effects of age, rural-urban geographic location, and percentage of Free and Reduced Price Meal Program (FRPMP) participation on children’s oral health outcome measures (untreated decay, treated decay, and sealants) have not been fully explored in Kansas. Methods: The current study utilized a surveillance sample of 140,217 children (grades K through 12) attending 200 schools in Kansas, which requested screening assistance from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) from 2012 to 2013. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify significant factors associated with oral health outcome measures. Results: Older children were associated with decreased odds of having untreated decay, and increased odds of having treated decay and sealants. Children attending very rural schools had increased odds of untreated and treated decay and decreased odds of presence of sealants. For every 5% increase in the school-level %FRPMP, the odds of having untreated and treated decay increased by 5% and 3%, respectively. However, %FRPMP was not statistically associated with the presence of sealants. Conclusions: Children attending schools in very rural and rural areas appear to have worse oral health outcomes, as measured by higher proportions of untreated and treated decay, and a smaller proportion of presence of sealants.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Pre-School and School-Aged Children Attending to Fann University Hospital, Dakar: Results from Retrospective Analysis

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections represent a major public health problem worldwide. Pre-school and school children have a high risk of infection. The study aimed to determine the epidemiological aspects of intestinal parasitic infections in preschool and school-aged children in Dakar, Senegal. Methods: A retrospective analysis of laboratory records from preschool and school-aged children referred to the Laboratory of Parasitology at the Fann University Hospital in Dakar, Senegal, was carried out. The analysis of the period from 2016 to 2020. Stool samples were examined for the presence of parasites using direct, formal-ether concentration method and the Modified Ziehl Neelsen staining technique. Descriptive and analytic analysis was performed with Stata MP 16.1 software. Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 26.8% (429/1603). Blastocystis sp. (34%), Entamaeba coli (28%), Giardia intestinalis (9.6%), Endolimax nana (4.9%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (3.5%) were the common parasites found. Out of the 429 children positive for intestinal parasites, protozoa parasites represent 93.9%. Single infection and mixed infection represent 83.7% and 16.3%. The most prevalent associations were E. coli + Blastocystis sp. (6.3%), E. coli + E. nana (3.3%), and G. intestinalis + Blastocystis sp. (1.9%). Children between the ages of 5 - 10 years and those over 10 years had the most parasitic infections with 28.1% [aOR = 1.91;95% CI (1.25 - 2.89)] and 27.4% [aOR = 11.92 (1.07 - 3.07)]. According to the year of sample collection, the prevalence was higher in 2017, 32.6% [aOR = 1.49 (1.11 - 2.01]. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was not significantly related to gender (p = 0.87), season (p = 0.85) and symptomatology (p = 0.19). The main clinical symptoms were dysenteric syndrome, dyspeptic disorders, constipation and abdominal pain. Intestinal parasite carriage in patients with acute diarrhea was 20.4%. In HIV positive with chronic diarrhea, the prevalence was 28.6%. Conclusion: The results showed the frequency of intestinal parasites in preschool and school-aged children with a high proportion of protozoa parasites. Children aged over 5 years were more affected. Preventive measures such as health education, improved socio-economic conditions and environmental sanitation are required for reducing their frequency.

Calcium Intake in Relation to Body Mass Index and Fatness in Thai School-Aged Children

An emerging evidence suggests that dietary calcium may play a role in the regulation of body weight in humans. This study examined the relationship of calcium intake with body mass index and body fatness in Thai children. Methods: A cross-sectional study in 1570, 6 - 12 year-old children were conducted in representative provinces of Thailand. Body weight, height, sitting height and 4 sites skinfolds thickness were measured as well as the dietary intake using a 24 h recall and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). General linear model (GLM) analysis was used to determine the effect of calcium intake on body mass index (BMI) and body fatness of children. Results: There were no differences in parental education and family’s socio-economic status between genders. Girls had significantly greater sitting height (p?= 0.035), sitting height to height ratio (p?= 0.014) and sum of four skinfold thickness (p?= 0.001) than boys. Mean calcium intake was lower in girls than in boys. GLM analysis demonstrated that lower calcium intake among children was associated with higher body weight, BMI and sum 4-skinfold thickness. Conclusion: Lower calcium intake is associated with higher BMI and body fatness of Thai children. Further studies need to determine the optimal calcium intake to prevent overweight and obesity in children.

Addressing the public health concerns of physical inactivity, low levels of fitness, and unhealthy weight among Chinese school-aged children

In China, sports and physical activity （PA） have tradition- ally been an integral part of school curricula to promote fitness and enhance healthy growth among children and ado- lescents. Three decades of economic reforms, however, have brought major changes in social, economic.

Screen time among school-aged children of aged 6-14:a systematic review Screen time among school-aged children of aged 6-14:a systematic review

Background Screen time refers to the time an individual spends using electronic or digital media devices such as televisions,smart phones,tablets or computers.The purpose of this study was to conduct systematic review to analyze the relevant studies on the length and use of screen time of school-aged children,in order to provide scientific basis for designing screen time interventions and perfecting the screen use guidelines for school-aged children.Methods Screen time related studies were searched on PubMed,EMBASE,Clinical Trials,Controlled Trials,The WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform,the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,CNKI,and Whipple Journal databases from January 1,2016 to October 31,2021.Two researchers independently screened the literature and extracted the data,and adopted a qualitative analysis method to evaluate the research status of the length and usage of screen time of school-aged students.Results Fifty-three articles were included.Sixteen articles studied screen time length in the form of continuous variables.Thirty-seven articles studied screen time in the form of grouped variables.The average screen time of schoolchildren aged 6 to 14 was 2.77 h per day,and 46.4%of them had an average screen time≥2 h per day.A growth trend could be roughly seen by comparing studies in the same countries and regions before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.The average rates of school-aged children who had screen time within the range of≥2 h per day,were 41.3%and 59.4%respectively before and after January 2020.The main types of screen time before January 2020 were watching TV(20 literatures),using computers(16 literature),using mobile phones/tablets(4 literatures).The mainly uses of screens before January 2020 were entertainment(15 literatures),learning(5 literatures)and socializing(3 literatures).The types and mainly uses of screen time after January 2020 remained the same as the results before January 2020.Conclusions Excessive screen time has become a common behavior among children and adolescents around the world.Intervention measures to control children’s screen use should be explored in combination with different uses to reduce the proportion of non-essential uses.

Prevalence of refractive errors in school-aged and preadolescent children in Colombia

AIM:To describe the distribution of refractive errors by age and sex among schoolchildren in Soacha,Colombia.METHODS:This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in five urban public schools in the municipality of Soacha.A total of 1161 school-aged and pre-adolescent children,aged 5-12y were examined during the school year 2021-2022.Examinations included visual acuity and static refraction.Spherical equivalent(SE)was analysed as follows:myopia SE≤-0.50 D and uncorrected visual acuity of 20/25 or worse;high myopia SE≤-6.00 D;hyperopia SE≥+1.00 D(≥7y)or SE≥+2.00 D(5-6y);significant hyperopia SE≥+3.00 D.Astigmatism was defined as a cylinder in at least one eye≥1.00 D(≥7y)or≥1.75 D(5-6y).If at least one eye was ametropic,children were classified according to the refractive error found.RESULTS:Of the 1139 schoolchildren included,50.6%were male,58.8%were aged between 5 and 9y,and 12.1%were already using optical correction.The most common refractive error was astigmatism(31.1%),followed by myopia(20.8%)and hyperopia(13.1%).There was no significant relationship between refractive error and sex.There was a significant increase in astigmatism(P<0.001)and myopia(P<0.0001)with age.CONCLUSION:Astigmatism is the most common refractive error in children in an urban area of Colombia.Emmetropia decreased and myopia increased with age.

Prevalence and determinants of active trachoma among preschool-aged children in Dembia District,Northwest Ethiopia

Background:Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis,which is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide.In areas where trachoma is endemic,active trachoma is common among preschool-aged children,with varying magnitude.This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of active trachoma and associated risk factors among preschool-aged children in Dembia District,northwest Ethiopia.Methods:A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among preschool-aged children of northwest Ethiopia.Multistage systematic random sampling was used to select 695 subjects.Trained clinical optometrists subjected each child to an ocular examination and assessed the presence of active trachoma.Face to face interview using pretested and structured questionnaire were conducted to collect data on possible risk factors.Trachoma cases were graded following a World Health Organization simplified grading scheme.All statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS software version 20.Adjusted odds ratios(aORs)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs)were used to identify factors associated with active trachoma.Results:Of the 681 preschool-aged children studied,18%(95%CI:15.4%-21.1%)had a prevalence of active trachoma.Children who had clean faces(absence of nasal and ocular discharges)had a lower chance of having active trachoma[aOR=0.55,95%CI:0.37-0.82].The odds of having active trachoma decreased with an increase in the distance to a water point[aOR=0.51,95%CI:0.33-0.78].Similarly,no or poor utilization of liquid waste disposal in the child’s household was associated with an increased chance of having active trachoma[aOR=3.83,95%CI:1.26-11.61].Conclusion:The prevalence of active trachoma in these preschool-aged children was found to be high and needs special interventions that focus on educating families about proper face washing,liquid waste disposal,and improving safe water supply near the households.

A 12-year follow-up of intestinal schistosomiasis in pre-school-aged children in Assoni Village, Eastern Senegal

Background:To monitor the prevalenee of schistosomiasis in school-aged children(SAC),the National Bilharzia Control Program(PNLB)was set up by the Senegalese authorities;however,geographically isolated Bedik ethnic groups that did not benefit from this program were found to be heavily infected with Schistosoma mansoni.This observation led us to implement a new schistosomiasis control program in 2008 under the aegis of the non-governmental organi-zation wLe KaTcedratwand in partnership with the PNLB/WHO to monitor the prevalence of schistosomiasis in this area.In the village of Assoni,where 100%of SAC were infected,analysis of the stools of pre-school-aged children(PSAC)showed that they were massively infected,so we decided to focus our program on them.

Effect of artificial natural light on the development of myopia among primary school-age children in China:a three-year longitudinal study

AIM:To assess the efficacy of artificial natural light in preventing incident myopia in primary school-age children.METHODS:This is a prospective,randomized control,intervention study.A total of 1840 students from 39 classes in 4 primary schools in Foshan participated in this study.The whole randomization method was adopted to include classes as a group according to 1:1 randomized control.Classrooms in the control group were illuminated by usual light,and classrooms in the intervention group were illuminated by artificial natural light.All students received uncorrected visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity measurement,non-cycloplegic autorefraction,ocular biometric examination,slit lamp and strabismus examination.Three-year follow-up,the students underwent same procedures.Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction≤-0.50 D and uncorrected visual acuity<20/20.RESULTS:There were 894 students in the control group and 946 students in the intervention group with a mean±SD age of 7.50±0.53y.The three-year cumulative incidence rate of myopia was 26.4%(207 incident cases among 784 eligible participants at baseline)in the control group and 21.2%(164 incident cases among 774 eligible participants at baseline)in the intervention group[difference of 5.2%(95%CI,3.7%to 10.1%);P=0.035].There was also a significant difference in the three-year change in spherical equivalent refraction for the control group(-0.81 D)compared with the intervention group[-0.63 D;difference of 0.18 D(95%CI,0.08 to 0.28 D);P<0.001].Elongation of axial length was significantly different between in the control group(0.77 mm)and the intervention group[0.72 mm;difference of 0.05 mm(95%CI,0.01 to 0.09 mm);P=0.003].CONCLUSION:Artificial natural light in the classroom of primary schools can result in reducing incidence rate of myopia during a period of three years.

The Neurocognitive Assessment of HIV-Infected School-Aged Nigerian Children

Objective: Studies available on cognitive function among school-aged HIV-infected African and in particular Nigerian children are few. The purpose of the study was to assess the neurocognitive function of a group of HIV-infected schoolaged (6 - 15 years) children using the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RPM). Method: Cognitive assessments of 69 HIV positive children and 69 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy HIV negative control children were performed using the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RPM). The children were subdivided (Piaget’s developmental staging) into two sub-groups: the concrete operation stage (6 - 11 years) and the formal operation stage (12 - 15 years) for analysis. Result: The mean RPM score for the HIV positive children was 18.2 (8.0 - 47.0, SD 9.8) which was significantly lower than the score of 27.2 (8.0 - 52.0, SD 13.8) for the HIV negative children (p < 0.001). On the RPM grading and using the HIV negative children as the standard, 56.5% of the HIV positive children had cognitive performance at below average to intellectually defective range. Conclusion: School-aged HIV positive children had significantly lower cognitive scores compared with age and gender-matched HIV negative children. Routine neuropsychological evaluation of all school-aged HIV-infected children is recommended. Early detection of cognitive impairment will help in planning appropriate interventions.

Research Progress in Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Health Management for School-Age Children with Asthma

Objective:The purpose of this study is to investigate the application of Chinese and Western medicine in the health management of school-age children with asthma and its research progress,with a view to providing a more comprehensive and effective management strategy for the clinic.Methods:Using the method of literature review,this study systematically searched and analyzed the relevant studies on the combination of Chinese and Western medicine in the health management of school-aged children with asthma in recent years,focusing on Chinese medicine treatment,Western medicine treatment,and the combined health management of Chinese and Western medicine.Results:Chinese medicine treatment,Western medicine treatment,and the health management mode of combining Chinese and Western medicine showed unique advantages in school-age asthmatic children.Through the comprehensive use of Chinese medicine’s diagnosis and treatment,Chinese medicine conditioning,Chinese medicine characteristic therapy,and Western medicine’s modern medical methods,it not only effectively relieved asthma symptoms but also significantly improved the quality of life of the children.At the same time,this management mode also focuses on the psychological guidance and family care of the children,forming an all-round and multi-level health management system.Conclusion:The health management strategy of combining Chinese and Western medicine has a broad application prospect in school-age asthmatic children,and its specific interventions and mechanisms of action should be further studied to provide more scientific and systematic guidance for clinical practice.

Polyparasitism with Schistosoma haematobium,Plasmodium and soil-transmitted helminths in school-aged children in Muyuka-Camero on following implementation ofc ontrol measures:a cross sectional study

Background:Despite the ubiquity of polyparasitism,its health impacts have been inadequately studied.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of polyparasitism with Schistosoma haematobium,Plasmodium and soil-transmitted helminths(STH)following sustained control measures,as well as evaluate the outcomes and clinical correlates of infection in school-aged children(SAC)living in the schistosomiasis endemic focus of Muyuka-Cameroon.Methods:In a cross-sectional study,urine,blood and stool samples were each collected from SAC(4-14 years)selected at random between March and June 2015.Microhaematuria in urine was detected using reagent strip and 5.haematobium ova by filtration/microscopy methods.Plasmodium was detected using Giemsa-stained blood films and complete blood count was obtained using an auto-haematology analyser.STH in stool was detected by the Kato-Katz method.Categorical and continuous variables were compared as required,Kappa value estimated and the adjusted odds ratio(aOR)in the multivariate analysis was used to evaluate association of the risk factors with infection.