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clippings

Indian Pediatr 2012;49: 1004

Clippings


K Rajeshwari

Email: [email protected]
 

Sugary beverage intake and obesity (Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2012;21:425-30).


Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) may increase the risk of obesity. Data with regards to the consumption of SSBs are insufficient in the Chinese population, especially in middle school students experiencing rapid nutritional transition. This study aimed to describe the consumption of SSBs among junior high school students and explore the relationship between SSB intake and adolescents’ overweight/obesity in Beijing. This was a cross-sectional study under which 322 (46%) male and 380 (54%) female (age 11-15 y) were recruited from two middle schools in Beijing. All subjects completed a questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall for 3 consecutive days. Prevalence of overweight was 21.1% in males and 11.6% in females. Prevalence of obesity was 22.7% in males and 10.3% in females. Of the students, 7.7% consumed SSBs at least once per day. Students whose storage of SSBs at home is more than 1 type are more likely to consume higher quantities of SSBs everyday (P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, OR of high SSBs intake group versus low SSBs intake group was 2.6.

Comment Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages has a positive association with levels of overweight/obesity among male students.

Plastic pen cap aspiration (Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2012; 76: 980-3)


This study aimed to describe the clinical features of pen cap aspiration and removal techniques. All children with a history of inhaling a pen cap who were referred to the ENT department, at Beijing Children’s Hospital, between 2006 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Data from 44 children, with a median age of 8.7 years of age (35 months to 12 years) and a male-female ratio of 7.8:1 were analyzed. The time between inhalation and diagnosis with extraction of the foreign body ranged from several hours to 6 years, but 75% were seen within one week. 89% had pen caps removed by rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. Reverse grasping forceps were used in 62% of the cases and ordinary forceps in 38% of the cases (P<0.05). In 2 cases, the pen caps were coughed up. In 2 cases the FB was removed via a tracheotomy and in 1 case by thoracotomy.

Comment Pen caps are an unusual foreign body in the airway, occurring frequently in school age children. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia with reverse grasping forceps was the most favorable method for extraction of pen caps, but open surgical approaches may also be needed.

Serum alkaline phosphatase and illness severity in newborns (Int J Biol Sci 2012; 8:30-8)


Infections can influence bone metabolism of neonates, which may lead to changes in some bone metabolism biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC) and beta carboxy-terminal peptide of type I collagen (CTX), as specific biomarkers of bone metabolism, can be used to assess the severity of neonatal infections. Sixty-three neonates in the NICU were enrolled in this study. The neonates were divided into infected group and non-infected group. The scores for neonatal acute physiology-perinatal extension II (SNAPPE-II) were calculated and interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), BALP, OC and CTX were measured among the neonates with or without infections, and among the infected neonates before and after treatment. The serum BALP levels were lower in the infected group than that in the non-infected group. The serum BALP levels increased markedly in the infected neonates after treatment. The serum BALP levels were also inversely correlated with SNAPPE-II of infected neonates before and after treatment.

Comment Serum BALP level might be used as a marker for assessing the severity of illness in infected neonates.

Dry eye syndrome (Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2012; 19:226-30).


This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for dry eye syndrome (DES) among senior high school students in a province in China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2010, and 1902 senior high school students were selected by multi-stage sampling to answer a questionnaire assessing the prevalence and risk factors for DES. DES was defined as the presence of a previous clinical diagnosis of DES or severe symptoms (both dryness and irritation constantly or often). Risk factors associated with DES were evaluated. The prevalence of DES was 23.7%. In univariate analysis; myopia, contact lens wear, inadequate refractive correction, frequent self-administered topical ophthalmic medications, and poor sleep quality were significantly associated with DES. In multivariate analysis; inadequate refractive correction, frequent self-administered topical ophthalmic medications, and poor sleep quality were significant risk factors for DES.

Comment Senior high school students are a neglected population with a high prevalence of dry eye syndrome. Preventive measures directed against risk factors may help reduce its prevalence.

 

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