Effect of Socio-Demographic Factors on Zinc Status of Infants and Preschool Children in East Gojjam, Amhara Region of Ethiopia

Zinc deficiency is a public health concern and is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of zinc deficiency among infants and preschool children. Based on a community, the cross-sectional study was conducted in East Gojjam between October 2011 and April 2012. Two hundred and forty infants and preschool children were randomly selected in the study. Data on potential determinants of zinc deficiency were collected using a structured questionnaire. Serum zinc concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectrometer. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA, independent sample student＇s t-test and linear regression model. The mean serum zinc concentration of infants and preschool children was 62.98 （±13.03） μg/dL in 95% confidence interval （CI） between 61.32 and 64.63 （i.e., 95% CI： 61.32, 64.63）. About 57,1% of the subjects were zinc deficient. The main determinants of low serum zinc status of infants and preschool children were age and number of family members living on the same land. Zinc status of older children was 3.67 μg/dL （95% CI： -5.58, -1.77） lower than children who were aged 6-10 months. Serum zinc status of infants and preschool children is decreased by 0.83 p.g/dL （95% CI： -1.36, -0.30） with each additional family member. Food insecurity, dietary diversity, sex, child health, anthropometric indices, maternal education and wealth index were not associated with serum zinc status. Zinc deficiency among infants and preschool children is highly prevalent. Such potential deficiencies require urgent attention, including complementary food preparation education, traditional phytate reduction method and family planning implementation recommended in the study area.

粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子、髓过氧化物酶在肺炎支原体肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液中的表达及其临床意义

目的检测肺炎支原体肺炎（MPP）患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（GM－CSF）表达水平，探讨其在MPP中的临床意义。方法收集2013年1月至2014年12月在苏州大学附属儿童医院呼吸科住院的40例MPP患儿BALF标本，30例患儿因病情治疗需要行第2次支气管肺泡灌洗，收集治疗后（恢复期）BALF标本，并采用酶联免疫吸附法检测GM－CSF和髓过氧化物酶（MPO）水平。同时收集患儿临床和实验室检查资料。以15例急性气管支气管异物患儿的BALF作为对照。结果MPP患儿BALF中性粒细胞分类高于对照组[（62.1±23.5）%比（4.5±3.3）%，t＝2.73，P〈0.01]。肺炎支原体DNA高值组（≥ 1010 copies/L）白细胞总数[（9.7±4.2）×10^9/L比（6.4±2.2）×10^9/L，t＝2.131，P＝0.04]和中性粒细胞数[（6.9±3.4）×10^9/L比（3.6±1.2）×10^9/L，t＝2.599，P＝0.01]均高于肺炎支原体DNA低值组（〈1010 copies/L）。MPP患儿BALF中GM－CSF[（153.8±36.4） ng/L比（23.0±25.7） ng/L, P〈0.05]和MPO[（21.4±7.0） ng/L比（13.8±3.5）ng/L，P〈0.05]水平均明显高于对照组。MPP患儿BALF中GM－CSF水平与热程（r＝0.42，P〈0.05）及MPO水平均呈正相关（r＝0.75, P〈0.05）。恢复期GM－CSF和MPO水平均明显降低（均P〈0.05）。结论GM－CSF可能在儿童MPP发生发展中起重要作用，可作为疾病转归的有效预测指标之一。

婴幼儿毛细支气管炎血清瘦素水平的变化与预后探讨

【目的】探讨血清瘦素(leptin,LEP)水平与婴幼儿毛细支气管炎患儿Th1/Th2细胞平衡及预后的关系。【方法】47例初次喘息发作并确诊为婴幼儿毛细支气管炎患者分别于入院后24 h内、治疗结束及出院后12周用放射免疫法检测血清LEP水平,并随访1年,进行前瞻性研究。根据患儿喘息发作的情况,分为婴儿哮喘组和非哮喘组;另选10例健康儿童血清标本作对照。【结果】共有19例患者出院后再次喘息发作并诊断为婴幼儿哮喘,占40.4%。与正常儿童比较,毛细支气管炎患儿血清IFN-γ水平降低、IL-4及LEP水平升高(P<0.05);出院时及出院12周后复查,哮喘组血清LEP水平高于非哮喘组和对照组(P<0.05),而非哮喘组血清LEP水平逐渐下降至对照组水平(P>0.05)。【结论】婴幼儿毛细支气管炎患者发生哮喘者血清LEP水平较健康同龄儿童及非哮喘儿童明显升高,持续高LEP水平可能是婴幼儿毛细支气管炎患者发生婴儿哮喘的高危因素之一。

Clinical experience of Xiangxi Liu's infantile tuina for exogenous fever in children

Xiangxi (the western part of Hunan province) Liu's infantile tuina,as one main school of current infantile tuina in China,highlights the compatibility of the specific points of Wujing in children,the idea of treatment by syndrome differentiation,and produces unique efficacy in the treatment of common diseases in children.Exogenous fever in children can be treated with this method with excellent efficacy.Based on the clinical experience and effective cases treated by this tuina school,the authors elaborated the clinical thought and experience from the perspective view of tuina,for the promotion of Xiangxi Liu's infantile tuina in clinic.

Efficacy observation on tuina for children with cough

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effect of ‘Three Steps to Regulate Qi Method＇ tuina for infantile cough. Methods： Fifty-one children with cough were enrolled and received ‘Three Steps to Regulate Qi Method＇ tuina, once a day for 5 d. The effects were observed after 5 treatments.Results： There was no dropout case during the process. Among the 51 infantile patients, 37 cases were cured, 14 cases were improved, and the total effective rate was 100%. Conclusion： ＇Three Steps to Regulate Qi Method＇ tuina is an effective, simple and convenient method for infatile cough and worth spreading in clinical application.

Diseases Spectrum Study on Pediatric Tuina in Recent 10 Years

Objective： To investigate the clinical study advance of pediatric tuina and understand the changes of disease scope and spectrum in pediatric tuina over the last decade. Methods： Relevant articles involving pediatric tuina have been retrieved through the databases of domestic journals for health and medical sciences as well as Springer-Verlag Database of German during 2002-2011. It aims to extract relevant information, build literature infomaation table of tuina therapy for pediatric conditions and conduct statistical analysis. Then the findings were compared with the data of pediatric tuina papers which were published from 1988 to 1997 recorded in Encyclopedia of Chinese Tuina. Results and Conclusion： A total of 75 clinical indications for pediatric tuina have been statistically summarized, of which 5 common conditions were selected and 1 prior condition was singled out. Additionally, some outdated or new conditions have been discovered.

Clinical observation of Tiao Shen Tong Du Tuina in promoting neuropsychological development of premature infants

Objective To observe the impact of Tiao Shen Tong Du(regulating the mind and unblocking the Governor Vessel)Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)on neuropsychological development of premature infants,discover effective early-stage intervention techniques,and improve the prognosis of premature infants.Methods A total of 115 eligible premature infants were recruited and divided into a control group of 59 cases and an observation group of 56 cases based on different interventions.The control group received three-month physical therapy(PT)and conventional early-stage intervention,and the observation group received additional Tiao Shen Tong Du Tuina treatment.Before and after treatment and at the one-year follow-up,the Gesell developmental schedule was adopted to evaluate neuropsychological development.Results After treatment,the gross motor development quotient(DQ)was higher in the observation group than in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);there were no significant differences in the other four domains between the two groups(P>0.05).At the one-year follow-up,the observation group showed more notable improvements in all five domains’DQs than the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion Based on conventional intervention,Tiao Shen Tong Du Tuina can significantly improve the gross motor function of premature infants in the short term,alongside valid long-term efficacy for gross motor function,fine motor function,adaptive behaviors,language,and personal-social behaviors.

A seven-year study on head injuries in infants, Iran——the changing pattern

Objective： Head injury （HI） is the leading cause of mortality and life-long disability in infants. Infants have different anatomical and pathophysiological brain structures from other age groups. The aim of this study was to survey infant HI patients admitted to Shahid Behest Hospital in Kashan, Iran from 2004 to 2010, and to identify the causes of His in this age group. Methods： In this retrospective study, all HI patients under the age of two who were hospitalized for more than 24 hours between January 2004 and January 2010 were enrolled in the study. Demographic, etiologic, and injury data were collected and a descriptive analysis was performed. Results： Infants comprised 20.8% of all children （under 15 years old） with His and 65.1% of the injuries occurred in the home. Falls were the most common cause of injury （63.4%）. In hospital mortality was 6.6 per 100 000 infants. A decreasing trend was seen in home events, but His caused by traffic accidents were increasing during the study period. The amount of HI infants resulting from car accidents has tripled from the years 2004 to 2010. Conclusion： Although home events and falling are the main causes of infant His and need attention, our study showed an increase of His caused by road traffic accidents, especially by car accidents, thus legislation for the implementation of protective equipment such as child safety seats and programs is urgently needed.