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.

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.

The Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease among School-Age Children in China:A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Objectives:To estimate the prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease(CHD)in school-age children,to identify the extent to which altitude affects the prevalence of the disease,and to examine trends in prevalence over time in China.Methods:Seven databases were systematically searched and last retrieved on September 10,2021 for all studies reporting the prevalence of CHD in children after 1970 in China,which were then divided into high and low altitude regions based on 2500 meters above sea level.The random-effected model was used to combine prevalence data and subgroups analysis.The baseline data of all cases and individuals were used for comparison to calculate the odds ratio(OR)for overall and different altitude prevalence.Results:A total of 12,926,083 individuals(aged 3-18 years),with 31,835 cases from 86 studies,were included in the analysis.The pooled CHD prevalence of total children was 4.69[95%confidence interval(CI):4.10 to 5.29]per 1000 children.Overall,temporal trends analysis indicated that the prevalence of CHD in children continuously decreased with time,from 6.19(95%CI:4.50 to 7.88)per 1000 children in 1976-1985 to 3.30(95%CI:2.49;4.38)per 1000 children in 2016-2021.The OR for the prevalence of CHD in children from high and low altitudes with baseline data was 2.84(95%CI:2.48 to 3.27)and 1.31(95%CI:1.13 to 1.53)(χ^(2)=53.89,p<0.01),respectively.The OR of the prevalence of CHD in male children compared to females was 0.60(95%CI:0.53 to 0.68)at high altitudes and 0.79(95%CI:0.71 to 0.89)at low altitudes.Among the seven most common subtypes,patent ductus arteriosus was the most common at high altitudes,while atrial septal defects were the most common at low altitudes.Conclusion:This study provides valuable insights for further disease prevention and etiological exploration.The overall decreasing trend in the prevalence of CHD in children over time may indicate a positive effect of perinatal management and treatment during infancy.

A Study on the Acceptance of the English Translation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Overseas Readers Based on Python Data Analysis Technology

Paperless reading has become a prevalent trend among global readers,leading to the accumulation of vast amounts of reading data on numerous book websites.This offers new perspectives for studying translated works.This paper utilizes Python-based data processing technology to collect and analyze reader reviews of Romance of the Three Kingdoms on Amazon and Goodreads,presenting trends in review volume,word cloud maps,and readers’emotional attitudes in a quantitative manner.The findings indicate that overseas readers generally exhibit a positive emotional tendency towards Romance of the Three Kingdoms and recognize its cultural value.However,negative opinions do exist,focusing on aspects of the book’s quality,such as printing quality and proofreading.These results provide valuable insights for the foreign translation of canonical texts.

Use of the “Veda-Lab Easy Reader+” for the Determination of T3, T4 and TSH Hormones in the Mountainous Population of Benin: Case of Natitingou

The thyroid, an endocrine gland located at the base of the neck, produces thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)). The production of these hormones is possible by iodine and other nutrients such as selenium and certain vitamins. To assess the thyroid disturbances in the mountain population of Benin, a survey was conducted in Natitingou, a mountain town located in the department of Atacora, in the northwest of Benin, on a sample of thirty (30) adults (15 men and 15 women), most of whom are educated. The results of the questionnaire revealed that 43% of the surveyed population acknowledged having knowledge on the mentioned subject and have dietary habits based on the consumption of seafood, and also legumes (20%). The examination of the serum results of the dosage of T3, T4 and TSH hormones revealed cases of thyroid disturbances in the region (36.32% in men and 44.98% in women). The analysis of a comparative table including the “VEDALAB Easy Reader+” and five (05) other readers, presents the performance, reading techniques, principles, advantages and disadvantages of each device. Pending further studies, some recommendations were made at the end of this study to the academic authorities regarding probable cases of dysthyroidism for which additional examinations are required and an awareness for the improvement of dietary habits.

Analysis and Design of a Quadrature Down-Conversion Mixer for UHF RFID Readers

A quadrature mixer with a shared transconductor stage is analyzed,including voltage conversion gain, linearity, noise figure, and image rejection. The analysis indicates it has better performance than a conventional Gilbert mixer pair in commutating mode. A quadrature down-conversion mixer based on this topology is designed and optimized for an ultra high frequency RFID reader. Operating in the 915MHz ISM band, the presented quadrature mixer measures a conversion gain of 12.5dB,an IIP3 of 10dBm, an IIP2 of 58dBm, and an SSB noise figure of 17.6riB. The chip was fabricated in a 0. 18μm 1P6M RF CMOS process and consumes only 3mA of current from a 1.8V power supply.

Report on Childhood Obesity in China (4) Prevalence and Trends of Overweight and Obesity in Chinese Urban School-age Children and Adolescents, 1985-2000

Objective To describe the nationwide prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity, and their group variations and trends over the past 20 years in the Chinese urban population. Methods Data sets of boys and girls at the age of 7-18 years collected from the series of Chinese national surveillance on students＇ constitution and health （CNSSCH） between 1985 and 2000 were divided into five socioeconomic and demographic groups, while BMI classification reference proposed by Working Group on Obesity in China （WGOC） was used as screening reference to calculate the prevalence and trends of overweight/obesity in these groups. Results In 2000, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in boys aged 7-18 years was 11.3% and 6.5% in Beijing, 13.2% and 4.9% in Shanghai, 9.9% and 4.5% in coastal big cities, and 5.8% and 2.0% in coastal medium/small-sized cities, respectively, while the prevalence of of obesity and overweight in girls of the same age group was 8.2% and 3.7% in Beijing, 7.3% and 2.6% in Shanghai, 5.9% and 2.8% in coastal big cities, and 4.8% and 1.7% in coastal medium/small-sized cities, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was low in most of the inland cities at an early stage of epidemic overweight. The epidemic manifested a gradient distribution in groups, which was closely related to status （SES） of the study population. However, a dramatic and steady increasing trend was witnessed among all sex-age subgroups in the five urban groups, and such a trend was stronger in boys than in girls, and much stronger in children than in adolescents. Conclusion Although China is at an early stage of epidemic obesity by and large, the prevalence of obesity in her urban population, particularly in coastal big cities has reached the average level of developed countries. The increasing trend has been rapid since early 1990s, and the increments in obesity and overweight are exceptionally high. The prospect of epidemic obesity in China is in no way optimistic. Therefore, preventive program should be focused on the improvement of the balance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, and interventions aimed at changing children＇s life styles.

Report on Childhood Obesity in China (1) Body Mass Index Reference for Screening Overweight and Obesity in Chinese School-age Children

Purpose To establish and propose a national body mass index （BMI） reference for screening overweight and obesity in Chinese school-age children and adolescents. Methods 2000 CNSSCH （Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health） data, including 216 620 primary and secondary school students aged 7 to 18 years old, were used as a reference population. Compared with those of the NCHS intematioanl reference, three temporary sets of cut-off BMI were proposed by testing different combinations of P85, P90, and P95. When physiological and biochemical measures between and among “obesity” “overweight”, and “normal weight” groups were taken into consideration, set Ⅱ was selected to be the most appropriate one. The sex-age-specific curves were then plotted and smoothed by using B-spline method. Results Based on the samples from costal developed metropolis, the BMI curves successfully overcame the shortcomings of lower and level-off tendency of the Chinese total population. Temporary set H, composed by cut-offs of P85 for overweight and P95 for obesity, was finally selected by its sensitivity and peculiarity. BMI 24 and 28 were used as cut-offs for overweight and obesity for both males and females aged 18 years old. These cut-offs, consistent with Chinese Adult＇s Reference, was proposed as the Body mass index reference for screening overweight and obesity in Chinese school-age children and adolescents. Conehlsion The new reference clearly showed its superiorty in both prospectivity and actuality. The proposed reference minimized the gaps of the BMI curve between Chinese adolescents and the international reference. Most importantly was that it was consistent with the Eastern Asia ethnic characteristics of body fatness growth. It was therefore proposed by the Working Group on Obesity in China （WGOC） to use it as an nationwide reference for screening overweight and obesity of school-age children and adolescents in China.

Waist Circumference Distribution of Chinese School-age Children and Adolescents

Background Waist circumference （WC）, a proxy measure of central body fat, is a better predictor than overall body fat for cardiovascular risk factors in both adults and children. WC cutoffs have been established in many countries, but the national WC reference has not been developed in China. Objective To study the distribution of WC in a representative group of Chinese children for establishing Chinese WC cutoff points. Methods Cross-sectional data obtained from 15 mainland provinces and Hong Kong were collected. There were 160 225 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years old in total. The subjects were divided into five regional groups namely costal city, other city, noah rural, south rural, and Hong Kong, for analyzing the distribution of WC. Results A large variation in WC distribution was found among the five groups for both sexes. Coastal city group had the highest P85 WC values consistently from the early school ages to 18-year-old compared with other groups. In contrast, south rural group had P85 values consistently lagged behind not only the city groups but also the north rural group. Hong Kong group had a high P85 WC at early ages, but because of the smaller increments of WC during adolescence, the P85 curve was gradually exceeded by the north rural groups. Catch-up trend was found in the two rural groups since the peak of puberty. These disparities were caused by not only socioeconomic and urban-rural factors but also north-south differences. Because of the regional variation of WC, a ＂gradient＂ prevalence of central obesity was prospected among these groups. Comparisons of WC distributions between the Chinese and the U.S.A or Netherlands demonstrated the necessary of setting up China＇s own WC cutoffs. Sex and age-specific percentiles were obtained and smoothed by using LMS method. Conclusion The data obtained from this study could be used to develop national WC cutoff points for Chinese children and adolescents.

Visual problems: a review of prevalence studies on visual impairment in school-age children

Childhood visual impairment(VI) have a significant impact on the educational achievement, career choices and social life of affected individual, and in children, is mainly due to either preventable or treatable causes. Reliable data on the prevalence and causes of VI in children will guide the development of a systematic vision screening program for its early detection and successful treatment of possible causes. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize the available data on prevalence and causes of VI in school-age children from various regions globally. A discussion on the major findings highlighting the definition criteria, classifications and limitations for further studies is also presented.

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.

Sensitivity and inter-observer variability for capsule endoscopy image analysis in a cohort of novice readers

AIM： To determine the performance of novice readers （4^th year medical students） for detecting capsule endoscopy findings. METHODS： Ten capsule endoscopy cases of small bowel lesions were administered to the readers. Gold standard findings were pre-defined by gastroenterologists. Ten gold standard ＂targets＂ were identified among the 10 cases. Readers were given a 30-min overview of Rapid Reader software and instructed to mark any potential areas of abnormalities. A software program was developed using SAS to analyze the thumbnailed findings. RESULTS： The overall sensitivity for detecting the gold standard findings was 80%. As a group, at least 5 out of 10 readers detected each gold standard finding per recording. All the gold standard targets were identified when the readers＇ results were combined. Incidental finding/false positive rate ranged between 8.2-59.8 per reader. CONCLUSION： A panel of medical students with minimal endoscopic experience can achieve high sensitivity in detecting lesions on capsule endoscopy. A group of novice readers can pre-screen recordings to thumbnail potential areas of small bowel lesions for further review. These thumbnails must be reviewed to determine the clinical relevance. Further studies are ongoing to assess other cohorts.

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.

Evidence of increasing risk of schistosomiasis among school-age children in municipality of Calatrava,Province of Negros Occidental,Philippines

Objective:To explore risk of school-age children being infected with schistosomiasis in selected villages in the municipality of Calatrava,province of Negros Occidental,Philippines.Methods:As part of the monitoring and evaluation of the helminth control program in the province of Negros Occidental,parasitological monitoring,through the use microscopy of stool samples processed using Kato-Katz technique,was conducted to describe the baseline and follow-up parasitological status of school-age children in 2010 and 2012.respectively.Seven villages from the municipality of Calatrava were selected as study sites.Results:During baseline assessment,only one case of schistosomiasis was reported from the village of Marcelo.During follow-up assessment,32 cases(6.9%) of schistosomiasis were reported and the prevalence of moderate-heavy intensity infection was 13% in six villages.Among the seven villages included in the follow-up,Minapasuk had the highest prevalence at 14.6%.while San Isidro reported no case of schistosomiasis.Conclusions:Non-endemic villages,which have reported positive cases in school-age children,may need to be assessed for possible cndemicity for schistosomiasis.Transmission of the disease may need to be determined in these villages through active parasitological and malacological surveillance.Other nonendemic villages adjacent to or share river networks with endemic villages in Calatrava may need to be explored for possible introduction of the disease,especially after typhoons and Hooding.Establishing endemicity for schistosomiasis in these villages will help infected and at risk individuals to receive yearly treatment to reduce morbidities caused by this disease.

Obesity, Body Fat Distribution, and Physical Activity in School-age Children: an Urban and Rural Comparison in Valparaíso, Chile

This study analyze the relation between body composition, physical activity （PA）, and sex in Chilean children from rural and urban public educational institutions. The prevalence of obesity （according to BMI） was 30.88% in urban children and 28.93% in rural children. Central obesity presented mainly in the rural girls. Approximately 90% of the participants reported 〈7 h of PA/week, regardless of residential area. In addition, central fat was strongly associated with rural residence; the children reported lower PA levels, and they presented a higher prevalence of central fat. The results reflect the need to implement programs to improve PA conditions in the child urban-rural population.

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.

What are the Differences between Good and Poor Readers?

Reading is a very essential skill in the process of knowledge aqusition,while,effective reading ability is the outcome of the good combination of both time and skills.The differences between good readers and poor reader will be studied in terms of comparisons towards their reading speed,efficiency and reasons behind in the domain of psychological perspectives.

An Analysis of the Readers' Roles in the Construction of Meaning in John Donne's The Flea under Reader-Oriented Theory

Among the sundry studies in China on John Donne's The Flea,there has been none done from the perspective of Reader-Oriented Theory to probe into the readers' roles in the construction of meaning.The present article under Wolfgang Iser's theories,in a further pursuit of the expansion of the gestalt of such studies on the poem,aims at exploring the readers' active roles in complementing,completing and recreating the textual meaning,and differentiating the implied reader and the actual reader through the poem as well as attempting to fulfill the construction of the reading cognitive model through the interpretation of the conceit the flea.

To our readers: Important questions from the editors/editorial board

This letter proposes updating the World Journal of Gastroenterology(WJG) with several new items and subsections and seeks the readers' input for these suggested changes. In order to further enhance the scope of the WJG, to make it more interactive, and to accommodate our readers' interest, the editors ask the readers for their input regarding potential new proposed changes and new subsections listed below:(1) new subsection-selected highlights from other related Baishideng Publishing Group world series journals;(2) new subsection-challenging images of the week-a quiz with an answer and references on another page;(3) to re-introduce or restore for some issues the cover page on which selected illustration;(4) new subsection-new hypotheses, new concepts and revisiting old concepts in a short, commentary format;(5) preview of the forthcoming issue articles(title and authors);(6) suggestions submitted by the readers-new topics and initiatives; and(7) additional topic area-molecular basis of gastric/liver diseases as an additional area for articles submitted to the journal.

Effect of dexmedetomidine on the stress reaction caused by sevoflurance anesthesia in school-age children with different personality characteristics

Objective:To observe the effect of dexmedetomidine on the stress reaction caused by sevoflurance anesthesia during the perianesthesia period in school-age children with different personality characteristics.Methods:A total of 160 children who were admitted in our hospital for transumbilical single-port laparoscopic hernia inner ring ligation were included in the study and randomized into dexmedetomidine (D) group and midazolam (M) group. The children were performed with Eysenck Personality Questionnaire before operation (children edition). Children were divided into the emotion group (group I) and stable group (group II). The operation was performed under sevoflurance inhalation anesthesia. Patients in DI and DII groups were given 1 μg/kg DEX, MI and MII groups were given 0.05 mg/kg midazolam, for 15 min. MAP and HR one day before operation (T0), before anesthesia induction (T1), 1 min after pneumoperitoneum establishment (T2), the time after pulling out the laryngeal mask (T3), and the time after shifting from the recovery room (T4) were recorded. A volume of 6 mL venous blood 1 d before operation and 4 h after operation was collected. Blood sugar concentration, cortisol and IL-6 levels were detected.Results:MAP at T1, T2, T3, and T4 in DI and MI groups were significantly elevated when compared with at T0. MAP at T2 and T3 in DII group was significantly elevated when compared with at T0. MAP at T2, T3, and T4 in MII group was significantly elevated when compared with at T0. When compared with DI group, MAP at T1, T2, and T3 in DII group was significantly reduced;MAP at T2, T3, and T4 in MI group was significantly elevated;MAP at T1 in MII group was significantly reduced. When compared with DII group, MAP at T2, T3, and T4 in MI and MII groups was significantly elevated. HR at T1, T2, T3, and T4 was significantly elevated when compared with at T0. When compared with DI group, HR at T1, T2, and T3 in DII group was significantly reduced;HR at each timing point in MI group was significantly elevated;HR at T1 in MII group was significantly reduced, while at T2, T3, and T4 was significantly elevated. When compared with DII group, HR at each timing point in MI group was significantly elevated;HR at T2, T3, and T4 in MII group was significantly elevated. Except for DII group, the blood sugar, cortisol, and IL-6 levels were significantly elevated when compared with before operation. When compared with D1 group, the blood sugar and cortisol levels at T1 in DII group were significantly reduced;the blood sugar, cortisol, and IL-6 levels at T1 in MI and MII groups were significantly elevated. When compared with DII group, the blood sugar, cortisol, and IL-6 levels at T1 in MI and MII groups were significantly elevated.Conclusions:Application of hydrochloric DEX in sevoflurance anesthesia in children can effectively inhibit the excitability of sympathetic nervous system caused by operation, alleviate the stress reaction, and maintain the stability of hemodynamics, which is benefit for the postoperative rehabilitation.