Association between childhood obesity and gut microbiota:16S rRNA gene sequencing-based cohort study

BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify characteristic gut genera in obese and normal-weight children(8-12 years old)using 16S rDNA sequencing.The research aimed to provide insights for mechanistic studies and prevention strategies for childhood obesity.Thirty normal-weight and thirty age-and sex-matched obese children were included.Questionnaires and body measurements were collected,and fecal samples underwent 16S rDNA sequencing.Significant differences in body mass index(BMI)and body-fat percentage were observed between the groups.Analysis of gut microbiota diversity revealed lowerα-diversity in obese children.Differences in gut microbiota composition were found between the two groups.Prevotella and Firmicutes were more abundant in the obese group,while Bacteroides and Sanguibacteroides were more prevalent in the control group.AIM To identify the characteristic gut genera in obese and normal-weight children(8-12-year-old)using 16S rDNA sequencing,and provide a basis for subsequent mechanistic studies and prevention strategies for childhood obesity.METHODS Thirty each normal-weight,1:1 matched for age and sex,and obese children,with an obese status from 2020 to 2022,were included in the control and obese groups,respectively.Basic information was collected through questionnaires and body measurements were obtained from both obese and normal-weight children.Fecal samples were collected from both groups and subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing using an Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform for gut microbiota diversity analysis.RESULTS Significant differences in BMI and body-fat percentage were observed between the two groups.The Ace and Chao1 indices were significantly lower in the obese group than those in the control group,whereas differences were not significant in the Shannon and Simpson indices.Kruskal-Wallis tests indicated significant differences in unweighted and weighted UniFrac distances between the gut microbiota of normal-weight and obese children(P<0.01),suggesting substantial disparities in both the species and quantity of gut microbiota between the two groups.Prevotella,Firmicutes,Bacteroides,and Sanguibacteroides were more abundant in the obese and control groups,respectively.Heatmap results demonstrated significant differences in the gut microbiota composition between obese and normal-weight children.CONCLUSION Obese children exhibited lowerα-diversity in their gut microbiota than did the normal-weight children.Significant differences were observed in the composition of gut microbiota between obese and normal-weight children.

Effects of PM2.5 Exposure in Different Air Quality Grades on Daily Outpatient Visits for Childhood Asthma in Shijiazhuang, China

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disorder that is more prevalent in children than in adults.China has seen an increasing prevalence of childhood asthma in recentdecades[1].Earlier studies have shown that air particulate matter (PM),particularly fine particulate matter(PM2.5)[2],is an important factor triggering childhood asthma. Since nationalPM2.5data were nota vailabl euntil 2013,

Research on the intelligent internet nursing model based on the child respiratory and asthma control test scale for asthma management of preschool children

BACKGROUND Childhood asthma is a common respiratory ailment that significantly affects preschool children.Effective asthma management in this population is particularly challenging due to limited communication skills in children and the necessity for consistent involvement of a caregiver.With the rise of digital healthcare and the need for innovative interventions,Internet-based models can potentially offer relatively more efficient and patient-tailored care,especially in children.AIM To explore the impact of an intelligent Internet care model based on the child respiratory and asthma control test(TRACK)on asthma management in preschool children.METHODS The study group comprised preschoolers,aged 5 years or younger,that visited the hospital's pediatric outpatient and emergency departments between January 2021 and January 2022.Total of 200 children were evenly and randomly divided into the observation and control groups.The control group received standard treatment in accordance with the 2016 Guidelines for Pediatric Bronchial Asthma and the Global Initiative on Asthma.In addition to above treatment,the observation group was introduced to an intelligent internet nursing model,emphasizing the TRACK scale.Key measures monitored over a six-month period included the frequency of asthma attack,emergency visits,pulmonary function parameters(FEV1,FEV1/FVC,and PEF),monthly TRACK scores,and the SF-12 quality of life assessment.Post-intervention asthma control rates were assessed at six-month follow-up.RESULTS The observation group had fewer asthma attacks and emergency room visits than the control group(P<0.05).After six months of treatment,the children in both groups had higher FEV1,FEV1/FVC,and PEF(P<0.05).Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups(P<0.05).For six months,children in the observation group had a higher monthly TRACK score than those in the control group(P<0.05).The PCS and MCSSF-12 quality of life scores were relatively higher than those before the nursing period(P<0.05).Furthermore,the groups showed statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The asthma control rate was higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION TRACK based Intelligent Internet nursing model may reduce asthma attacks and emergency visits in asthmatic children,improve lung function,quality of life,and the TRACK score and asthma control rate.The effect of nursing was significant,allowing for development of an asthma management model.

Analysis of the Writing Characteristics of the Title Music,Using“Scenes of Childhood”and“Children’s Garden”as Examples

In European thought and culture,there exists a group of passionate artists who are fascinated by the intention,passion,and richness of artistic expression.They strive to establish connections between different art forms.Musicians not only attempt to represent masterpieces through the language of music but also aim to convey subjective experiences of emotions and personal imagination to listeners by adding titles to their musical works.This study examines two pieces,“Scenes of Childhood”and“Children’s Garden”,and analyzes the different approaches employed by the composers in portraying similar content.

Association of Polymorphisms of STAT6 and SO_2 with Chinese Childhood Asthma: a Case-control Study

Objective To investigate the association of polymorphisms of STAT6 gene and air pollutants of PM10, NO2, and SO2, with asthma in Chinese children. Methods 418 subjects aged 14 years and under were recruited in a case-control study. The association between STAT6 polymorphisms and childhood asthma were tested by allele frequency, genotype analysis, and MDR analysis. Exposure to outdoor air pollutants was estimated by a 5-day moving average level. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS 9.1 software. Results Only 3 alleles of GT repeats at exon 1 of STAT6 were found in Chinese children. C258T and T710C were 2 new SNPs of STAT6 at 3＇-UTR. Children who carried T allele of C258T were more common in asthma children than in control subjects （P〈0.05）. The MDR analysis showed that GT repeats, C258T and T710C of STAT6 polymorphisms interacted together in leading to susceptibility to childhood asthma among Chinese people. After confounding factors were controlled, such as SNP C258T, family history of asthma, frequency of influenza within a year, the 5-day average of SO2 was tested to be a key risk factor of asthma in Chinese children （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Chinese children differed in polymorphisms of STAT6 and in its relation with childhood asthma.

Efficacy of Singing Bowls in Childhood Asthma—A Pilot and Feasibility Study

The potential use of sound and vibration for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes remains largely under-explored and under-estimated.Sound and vibrational energy has great positive impact on the mind and body.It could be particularly useful for psychosomatic diseases as a complementary therapy.Singing bowls,the spiritual ancient therapy has been claimed to aid in mind relaxation and painful and inflammatory conditions.Childhood asthma is an inflammatory airway disease and a psychosomatic disorder.The psychological management in it is often neglected leading to under-treatment or a relapse.Hence,we hypothesized that sound therapy with singing bowls might be useful as complementary therapy in management of childhood asthma.We aimed to study the effect of singing bowl session on child’s asthma severity and control and on the psychological well-being.Children<18 years of age and suffering from childhood asthma were recruited after informed written consent of parents.At the baseline,demographic and clinical details were noted.Anthropometric parameters,PEFR readings,asthma severity,parental and child’s subjective feeling of well-being,asthma control score,and pediatric symptom checklist score(based on age)were determined.The child was given 15 min of singing bowl session as per the set protocol.The subjective and objective evaluation of asthma control and psychological assessment was repeated at 1 month and 3 months follow-up and compared with the baseline results for clinical significance.Eighteen children formed the study group with a mean age of 9.13±2.15 years(range 2–15.25 years).4 children had psychological issues on initial screening.There was a significant improvement in asthma severity,subjective feeling of well-being and asthma control score at 3 months(p<0.05).Singing bowl therapy could be a useful,low-cost complementary therapy in childhood asthmatics.

The Pattern of Comorbidities of Childhood Asthma as Seen in the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Background: Asthma exits with comorbidities which can affect the quality of life of children with asthma. Objective: To identify the common comorbidities with asthma, identify factors associated with the presence of specific comorbidities and evaluate their impact on asthma severity and control among children attending the respiratory clinic in the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Materials & Methods: All asthma cases seen in the paediatric respiratory clinic, from 1st November 2014 to 30th October 2019 were consecutively recruited. Results: Of 264 children with asthma, 190 (72.0%) had other comorbidities with a F:M ratio of 1.56:1. Difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and the degree of asthma control were significantly associated with having other comorbidities while SPO2 at 1st consult was significantly lower in children with comorbidities, P value < 0.05. Allergic rhinitis 116 (43.9%), adenotonsillar hypertrophy 99 (37.5%), atopic dermatitis 54 (20.5%), allergic conjunctivitis 37 (14%), food allergy 27 (10.2) and Gastroesophageal reflux14 (5.3%) were the commonest comorbidities identified. Majority (24, 88.9%) had allergy to one type of food. Children < 3 years and those whose age at diagnosis was <2 years were significantly at lower risk of having atopic dermatitis. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was significantly more likely to be seen in children aged > 11 years, overweight children, and those presenting with chest pain or chest tightness. Presence of various comorbidities increased the odds of having a more severe asthma, and likelihood of which increased with increasing number of coexisting comorbidities. Conclusion: The prevalence of allergic comorbidity is high among asthmatic children with allergic rhinitis being the commonest cause. Most children with asthma have more than one allergic comorbidity. A comprehensive evaluation of these comorbidities is thus essential in the management of asthmatic children for improved outcomes and quality of life.

Easy Breathing—Definition of a Gamification System to Support the Chronic Care of Childhood Asthma

Asthma is the most common noncommunicable disease among children. It leads to substantial problems both in health and economic terms to individuals and families. This paper introduces a technological solution, Easy Breathing, that supports the man-agement of childhood asthma, providing tools for both doctors and patients. Through the establishment of an asthma chronic care model, it combines doctors’ professional guidance and a gamification system to improve the compliance of patients with their treatments and to provide them with tools for the self-management of their disease. The system is in the testing phase, the first mockup has been developed and validated with 270 medical experts and patients, and it will be tested with 540 end-users over the next months.

Correlation between the Childhood-Asthma Control Test and the Criterion for Clinical Asthma Control

Setting: Three pediatric pneumatologist offices in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Objective: To establish the concordance between medical criteria and the Childhood-Asthma Control Test (cACT). Design: Study of the assessment of diagnostic technology using transverse sampling. 127 asthma patients aged between 4 and 11 years and their parents filled before clinical evaluation made by a pediatric pneumologist. Patients were classified as controlled or not controlled. Criteria validity was established comparing this classification using Cohen’s kappa and performance indicators according to ROC analysis. Results: 78% of the patients were controlled;patients who are not controlled have a higher score in cACT (mean difference: 3.25 points). Concordance among cACT subscales is acceptable (ρ = 0.554). cACT’s sensitivity was 53.6%, specificity 78.8%, positive likelihood ratio (LR+) 2.53, and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) 0.59. The best cut-off point is 15, with 98% sensitivity, a specificity of 14.3%, LR+ in 1.14, and LR- in 0.14. Conclusions: cACT is a valid tool to determine asthma control in children without replacing medical criteria or other clinical tests. In populations with difficult access to high complexity services, it is useful to decide whether urgent referral to the specialist is necessary.

Role of inflammatory lipid and fatty acid metabolic abnormalities induced by plastic additives exposure in childhood asthma

Lipid metabolism play an essential role in occurrence and development of asthma,and it can be disturbed by phthalate esters(PAEs)and organophosphate fame retardants(OPFRs).As a chronic infammatory respiratory disease,the occurrence risk of childhood asthma is increased by PAEs and OPFRs exposure,but it remains not entirely clear how PAEs and OPFRs contribute the onset and progress of the disease.We have profiled the serum levels of PAEs and OPFRs congeners by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry,and its relationships with the dysregulation of lipid metabolism in asthmatic,bronchitic(acute infammation)and healthy(non-infammation)children.Eight PAEs and nine OPFRs congeners were found in the serum of children(1–5 years old)from Shenzhen,and their total median levels were 615.16 ng/m L and 17.06 ng/m L,respectively.Moreover,the serum levels of mono-methyl phthalate(MMP),tri-propyl phosphate(TPP)and tri-n-butyl phosphate(TNBP)were significant higher in asthmatic children than in healthy and bronchitic children as control.Thirty-one characteristic lipids and fatty acids of asthma were screened by machine-learning random forest model based on serum lipidome data,and the alterations of infammatory characteristic lipids and fatty acids including palmitic acids,12,13-Di HODE,14,21-Di HDHA,prostaglandin D2 and Lyso PA(18:2)showed significant correlated with high serum levels of MMP,TPP and TNBP.These results imply PAEs and OPFRs promote the occurrence of childhood asthma via disrupting infammatory lipid and fatty acid metabolism,and provide a novel sight for better understanding the effects of plastic additives on childhood asthma.

Chelation therapy in liver diseases of childhood: Current status and response

Chelation is the mainstay of therapy in certain pediatric liver diseases.Copper and iron related disorders require chelation.Wilson’s disease(WD),one of the common causes of cirrhosis in children is treated primarily with copper chelating agents like D-penicillamine and trientine.D-Penicillamine though widely used due its high efficacy in hepatic WD is fraught with frequent adverse effects resulting discontinuation.Trientine,an alternative drug has comparable efficacy in hepatic WD but has lower frequency of adverse effects.The role of ammonium tetra-thiomolybdate is presently experimental in hepatic WD.Indian childhood cirrhosis is related to excessive copper ingestion,rarely seen in present era.DPenicillamine is effective in the early part of this disease with reversal of clinical status.Iron chelators are commonly used in secondary hemochromatosis of liver in hemolytic anemias.There are strict chelation protocols during bone marrow transplant.The role of iron chelation in neonatal hemochromatosis is presently not in vogue due to its poor efficacy and availability of other modalities of therapy.Hereditary hemochromatosis is rare in children and the use of iron chelators in this condition is limited.

Characterizing Diversity of Lactobacilli Associated with Severe Early Childhood Caries: A Study Protocol

Lactobacilli have been consistently associated with dental caries for decades;however, knowledge of this group of bacteria in the etiology of the disease is limited to quantitative elucidation. Nowadays, explicit identification of oral Lactobacillus species is possible, despite their taxonomic complexity. Here we describe a combined approach involving both cultivation and genetic methods to ascertain and characterize the diversity and abundance of the Lactobacillus population in the oral cavities of children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). Eighty 3- to 6-year-old children (40 S-ECC and 40 caries free) who were seeking dental care at the Pediatric Dental Clinic of Bellevue Hospital in New York City were invited to participate in this study. Clinical data on sociodemographic information and oral health behavior were obtained from the primary caregiver. The data included a detailed dental examination, children’s medical history, and a questionnaire survey. Combined non-stimulated saliva and supragingival plaque samples were collected from each child and cultivated on selective media for quantitative measures of lactobacilli levels. The procedure for Lactobacillus species screening will include the random selection of 50 colonies per plate, ex- traction of DNA from each colony, and genotyping by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR). Each unique Lactobacillus AP-PCR genotype will be selected for taxonomic assessment by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Lactobacillus species will be identified by comparing the 16S rRNA sequences with the Ribosomal Database and the Human Oral Microbiome Database. Meanwhile, the same set of clinical samples will be independently subjected to genomic DNA isolation, 16S rRNA amplification with Lactobacillus genus-specific primers, sequencing, and taxonomic identification, both at genus and species levels with a customized pipeline. The distribution and phylogenetic differences of these Lactobacillus species will be compared between children with or without S-ECC. One of the main objectives of this study is to establish a study protocol for the identification and characterization of lactobacilli in the oral cavity. Future caries risk assessments can include lactobacilli counts (quantitative) and the presence/absence of specific cario- genic genetic signatures of a Lactobacillus species (qualitative) associated with S-ECC.

TCM Treatment of Asthma in Children with Yin Hua Wu Mei Tang——Professor Liu Bichen's Experience in Treating Asthma

Asthma is characterized by paroxysmaldyspnea,rales in the throat,difficulty in breathing,and inability to lie horizontally.It is commonly seenin children with a weak body constitution,and tendsto be intractable,thus being harmful to the

When the Childhood Event Unfolds Itself:On the Survivor’s Guilt in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This short paper aims to discuss the unbearably-heavy weight of childhood memory and the survivor’s guilt as the symptoms in the novel,The Kite Runner,published in 2003,by an Afghan-American writer,Khaled Hosseini.It describes the ambivalent relationship between the father and the son against the background of political turmoil in Afghanistan—how they have a good life together in Afghanistan and afterwards how they are forced to leave their homeland like refugees to Pakistan and then to The United States for a new life with the survivor’s guilt after the tumultuous period of the Soviet military invasion.The narrator,Amir,treasures the memories of his old homeland,Afghanistan,the innermost remnants of his being,which has become as the specter haunting his present life in the United States.Amir has to return to his old homeland to meet his father’s closest friend,Rahim Khan,and to rescue Sohrad,the son of his half-brother,Hassan,from the Taliban regime.This ethical return to the past not only has unfolded certain secrecy of his father’s dishonor but also has healed his sense of survivor’s guilt because of his evil rivalry of jealousy against Hassan to fully possess his father’s love in his childhood.In my discussion of ethnic hierarchy and conflicts in Afghanistan described in the novel,Jacques Derrida’s and Giorgio Agamben’s theoretical concepts,such as the problematic of sovereignty,sovereign animality and bare life in The Beast&the Soveriegn and Homo Sacer,will be used to penetrate the deeper understanding of their traumatic past as haunting specters.

How to Implement Change in Asthma Management in a Developing Country

The goal of asthma management is to control symptoms, reduce the need for short acting beta agonist, and maintain optimal pulmonary function, and normal physical activities. Uncontrolled asthma can lead to obesity, suboptimal pulmonary function, poor quality of life and mortality. Children with bronchial asthma in River State University Teaching Hospital were just receiving acute care in the emergency room with no concrete plan for a follow up care for their chronic asthma;as a result most of the patients had uncontrolled asthma. In the hospital, the situation led to increased emergency hospitalization, resulting in decreased bed availability, increased burden on manpower and health resource utilization thereby putting more pressure on the limited health resources. Using the Kotter’s model for change management, transformational and situational leadership style, the change in the desired quality and scope of health service rendered to asthmatic patients was successfully implemented;as a result there was a decrease in emergency room visit for acute asthma by 57.5% and an increase in the uptake of scheduled clinic visits for asthma control services. The effect of these changes was an improvement in the control of asthma and quality of life of our patient cohort. Implementation of change in health service delivery is a delicate process that needs a stepwise approach in order to successfully implement and sustain the desired change.

Celiac Disease in a Patient with Baker’s Asthma and Wheat Allergy Due to Tri a 14

We describe the case of a patient that developed persistent severe asthma after having started to work in a bakery. The subsequent appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms was diagnosed as celiac disease (CD). She also experienced severe asthma attacks when cooking pasta, and expe-rienced anaphylactic shock a few minutes after wheat flour inhalation. The allergologic workup was positive for several cereal products and Tri a 14 (Tricum aestivum 14), while specific IgE titer to Pru p 3 (Prunus persica 3) was negative. Our patient had no recurrence of these episodes when she avoided cooking wheat flour products and wheat in processed foods. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying CD and IgE-mediated food allergy are different and the coexistence of both diseases seems to be rare. Tri a 14 is the major wheat allergen involved in our case;this allergen can sensitize through the respiratory and the oral route, and can give way to anaphylaxis. A possible role played by interleukin-15 (IL-15) and interleukin-21 (IL-21) in the induction of IgE-mediate hypersensitivity, as well as in the pathogenesis of CD, is prospected and discussed briefly herein.

A case of recurrent rhabdomyolysis associated with childhood Sjogren’s syndrome

We report a 9-year-old Japanese girl who presented with muscle weakness and elevated serum levels of muscle-derived enzymes following mycoplasma infection. Rhabdomyolysis or myositis was suggested by magnetic resonance imaging and repeated four times within 4 years. Each episode developed following respiratory infection and spontaneously recovered. The diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome was made by decreased salivary secretion, MR sialography, lip biopsy, and positive anti-SSA/Ro antibody. Given the rarity of rhabdomyolysis/myositis, recurrent episode could be induced by infectious disease on the basis of underlying Sjogren’s syndrome. Conclusion: Sjogren’s syndrome should be considered as an underlying disease of recurrent infection-induced rhabdomyolysis/ myositis.

Babycare's International Cooperation in Early Childhood English Teaching

Established in 1998, Babycare Consulting Co. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Babycare) is a new-type enterprise offering early education to babies and children aged 0-6. In accordance with the law of physical and mental development of babies and children, the company develops courses such as healthy

A Famous Conductor's Childhood

A famous conductor(乐队指挥), Yu Feng was born in a small town in Ningbo. When he was a little boy, he was interested in music, but his parents wanted him to sing Beijing Opera(京剧).

My Mom’s Childhood

Everyone has their very special childhood.Today,I’ll tell you about my mom’s childhood.When my mom was a little girl,she used to swim in the river.One day,she caught a small fish with my uncle and her friend.They were very excited about it.On the way home,they talked about who ate the fish tail,fish head and fish body.