Characterization of the salivary microbiome in healthy Thai children

Objective: To investigate the composition of the salivary microbiome of 50 healthy Thai children. Methods: A total 76 provinces in Thailand are grouped into 5 geographical clusters based on unique economics, foods and lifestyles. Geographical locations and the results of an oral assessment were also considered. Genomic DNA was extracted from stimulated saliva samples. Subsequently, amplicon libraries were prepared by 16 S Metagenomic Sequencing Library Preparation. The amplicons were sequenced using an Illumina Miseq platform followed by bioinformatics and statistical analyses.Results: The correlation between oral hygiene status and caries history varied from r^2=0.887 to r^2=0.999 in the geographical groups, suggesting oral hygiene status a strong association between caries history. Twenty taxonomic groups were found in all subjects and constituted 93.6%-96.5% of the microbiome. Of these, genus Veillonella and Prevotella showed significant differences in their proportions between the geographical groups(P<0.05). Furthermore, the proportion of Veillonella parvula, as well as Rothia aeria and Rothia dentocariosa tended to increase with worse oral hygiene status, which was also related to higher dental caries history.Conclusions: The differences in the salivary microbiome as related to geographic regions suggest that environmental factors, which may include dietary habits, could influence the predominant bacteria found in the mouth of Thai children, especially the genus Veillonella and Prevotella. The ratio of Veillonella parvula, Rothia aeria and Rothia dentocariosa may be indicators of worse oral hygiene status and future caries in this population.

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.

Central body fat distribution indices in Thai preschool children

Background: Central obesity is associated with adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of central body fat distribution in Thai preschool children and to examine factors that could influence on body fat distribution of children. Methods: The total 811, 5 - 6 years old children were randomly sampled from 9 primary schools in Saraburi province. Body weight and height were measured in each child. Waist circumference (WC) was measured at the umbilicus level and hip circum-ference (HC) at the level yielding maximum circumference over buttock. Subcutaneous skinfold was measured on biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac and abdominal regions. Total body fat (TBF) was measured with bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Results: Mean values of WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) of boys were not different from those of girls. Even though trunk skinfolds of both genders were similar, girls tended to have slightly greater biceps, triceps and subscapular skinfolds than boys. Strongly positive correlation was found between WC, WHtR, trunk skinfold and child’s BMI (p = 0.01) as well as between WC, WHtR, trunk skinfold and child’s TBF (p = 0.01). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated, in both genders, that BMI, age and TBF were strongly associated with WC (Adjusted R2 0.92 - 0.93) and WHtR (Adjusted R2 0.90 - 0.92) and that BMI and TBF were strongly associated with trunk skinfold (Adjusted R2 0.88 - 0.89). The association between WHR and TBF for boys and between WHR and BMI for girls were found to be weak in this study. Conclusion: No gender difference in body fat distribution indices was found in Thai preschool children. Change in central body fat distribution of children could be strongly influenced by their changes in age, BMI and TBF.

海外少儿汉语拼音水平测量:从词典任务到拼写任务

本研究采用四种测量任务考察461名泰国三语国际学校K-9年级学生的汉语拼音水平,同时测查其汉语词汇和听力理解成绩。结果发现:四种任务均能有效测量拼音水平,其共同的核心成分是拼音单词正字法知识和意识;其中词典任务最容易、拼音朗读其次,它们对K-3年级儿童拼音水平的区分度较好;听写拼音和看汉字写拼音则对4~9年级学生的区分度较好;基于多个拼音任务提取的拼音能力估计值对汉语词汇(21%~61%)和听力理解成绩(9%~43%)有较高回归预测力。研究表明,海外环境下儿童的汉语拼音能力对L2汉语词汇及听力理解成绩有深远影响,教学中汉语拼音的使用时间不宜太短,不同年龄适用的拼音水平测量方法有所不同。

对泰幼儿汉语启蒙教学的课堂活动探索

借鉴国内外关于儿童语言习得与幼儿园外语教学的相关研究成果,从汉语作为第二语言教学的特点出发,结合笔者在泰国幼儿园的汉语教学实践,针对泰国幼儿的生理基础和心智机制,围绕教学内容的组织设计、教学活动的实施及评价等环节,采用相关的幼儿数学、美术、舞蹈、体育等学科的方法,以画图、儿歌、手工制作、游戏、舞蹈、多媒体动画片、情境短剧、广播体操等灵活多样的手段,创设丰富多彩的汉语课堂活动,在激发泰国幼儿的学习兴趣,使其更加喜欢学习汉语等方面,进行一番探索。

泰国少儿汉语教材中声韵母教学的编写问题及对策研究

泰国少儿汉语教材在编排声韵母教学时,存在较多问题。这些问题在教学内容的选择方面,主要体现为对单韵母er、ê、两个-i、部分复韵母和零声母的教学忽略;教学顺序方面,体现为教学主次不分,平均用力。泰国少儿汉语教材在编写包括声母韵母在内的语音教学时,要注意区别外语教学和母语教学的不同之处,提高教材编写的针对性和科学性。