Objective To investigate the result of detethering operation for the hydrops of upper urinary tract caused by tethered cord syndrome (TCS). Methods A retrospective study was carried out on 20 cases of TCS treated by detethering operation. The main parameters were compared pre-and postoperation on postvoiding residual volume, kidney and ureter of B-ultrasonograph and renal function of serum biochemicals. Results The postvoiding volume resumed normal in 5 cases,decreased in 10 cases.The effective rate was 83%.The hydronephrosis was obviously improved in 6 cases,mild in 7 cases and unchanged in 7 cases.The rate of improvement was 65%.The hydroureterosis was markedly effective in 7 cases,partial in 4 cases,unchanged in 7 cases.The rate of effect was 61%.Renocortical thickness was evident increase in 5 cases,alleviate increase in 2 cases and unchanged in 13 cases.The rate of increase was 35%.2 cases of moderate uremia was transformed to mild and 4 cases of mild uremia was changed to normal. Conclusions The detethering operation is rational and effective for hydrops of upper urinary tract and uremia caused by TCS.

OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence and spatial distribution of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in China among children at ages under six years.

METHODSAbout 8,600 children under 6 years of age in 14 cities and 28 counties of 14 provinces were selected with stratified cluster sampling for survey, including interview with questionnaire for their family information and nutritional status. Blood specimens were collected for measuring serum level of VA with fluorescent spectrophotometry in laboratory.

RESULTSTotally, 8,669 children under 6 (2,877 in urban area and 5,792 in rural area) were surveyed in 14 provinces, with 4,629 males and 4,040 females. Eight cases of night blindness and seven cases of xerophthalmia were found among the children at ages of two to five years. Sixty-one mothers of the children in this group were also found suffering from night blindness. All the cases of night blindness and xerophthalmia both in children and mothers were living in rural areas. Based on their serum levels of VA, 11.7% of the all 1 018 children were diagnosed as VAD, with serum VA concentrations below or equal to 0.70 micro mol/L. Prevalence of VAD was 15.0% and 5.8% in rural (23.3% in the poverty-stricken counties) and urban areas, respectively, and 5.8%, 11.5% and 16.8% in the coastal, inland and remote areas, respectively. The average serum level of VA was 1.20 micro mol/L and 0.99 micro mol/L for urban and rural areas, respectively, with a national average of 1.06 micro mol/L. And, babies under six months of age with an average serum levels of VA < or = 0.70 micro mol/L accounted for 33.4%, and those at ages of four to five years with the same level of VA accounted for 8%. There was significant difference in serum levels of VA between ages, but no significant difference between genders.

CONCLUSIONVAD did exist in children of China, especially in the remote and poverty-stricken rural areas and VA supplementation is urgently needed for the children in these regions.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Night Blindness ; complications ; Prevalence ; Rural Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Vitamin A ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; complications ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Xerophthalmia ; complications

OBJECTIVEThe survey will reveal current status of subclinical vitamin A deficiency (SVAD) and explore its affecting factors in children of China.

METHODSTotally 8 669 children aged under 6 years were randomly selected from 14 provinces for clinical examination, health and dietary questionnaire and serum level of vitamin A measurement with fluorescence method. The cut-off value for SVAD was defined as

RESULTSPrevalence of SVAD was 11.7% and that of suspected SVAD 39.2% in all subjects, which decreased with the increase of gross domestic product, average annual family income, mother's schooling and children's age. Prevalence of SVAD and suspected SVAD higher in rural areas (15.0%) than in urban areas (5.2%), and higher in children with a minority mother (22.6%) than in those with a Han nationality mother (8.7%). Prevalence of SVAD and suspected SVAD was higher in children whose blood samples were collected within one week in-taking vitamin A-rich food (12.6%-22.6%) than those in-taking vitamin A daily (4.1%-10.0%), and higher in children suffering from respiratory infection, fever and diarrhea two weeks before their blood collection (15.2%-20.3%) than in those without those diseases (10.1%-11.1%). Logistic regression analysis showed that poor family economic status, living in rural areas, children with a minority mother, younger age, no-dairy milk products intake, and respiratory infection and fever all were risk factors for SVAD.

CONCLUSIONSMore than half of children under six years old in China (50.9%) had vitamin A nutrition problem. Varied factors played roles to different extent in SVAD in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prevalence ; Vitamin A ; blood ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology ; etiology