OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolic markers in preschool children and the influencing factors for BMD, and to provide a clinical basis for promoting bone health in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 127 preschool children who underwent physical examination in the Department of Child Health Care of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, from June to December 2024. BMD and bone metabolic markers were measured, and physical examination was performed. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of general information on BMD Z-score in preschool children. Spearman's rank correlation test was used to investigate the correlation of BMD Z-score with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), serum bone Gla protein (BGP), and parathyroid hormone (PTH). RESULTS: BMD Z-score significantly differed by ethnicity, weight category, and height category (all P<0.05). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that weight and height significantly influenced BMD Z-score (P<0.05), whereas sex, age, ethnicity, and parental education level did not (P>0.05). In children, BMD Z-score was positively correlated with 25-OHD level (r_s=0.260, P<0.001) and BGP level (r_s=0.075, P=0.025) and was negatively correlated with PTH level (r_s=-0.043, P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS Weight, height, 25-OHD, BGP, and PTH are influencing factors for BMD in preschool children. In clinical practice, combined measurement of bone metabolic markers may provide a scientific basis for early identification of children with abnormal BMD and prevention of osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
Humans ; Bone Density ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin D/blood* ; Parathyroid Hormone/blood* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Osteocalcin/blood* ; Bone and Bones/metabolism* ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/blood* ; Linear Models ; Matrix Gla Protein ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/blood* ; Body Weight ; Infant

OBJECTIVES: To explore the influencing factors for very preterm birth at a gestational age of <32 weeks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. METHODS: Clinical data of women with preterm deliveries and their newborns admitted to five hospitals in Xinjiang from January 2023 to December 2024 were retrospectively collected. The subjects were divided by gestational age into very preterm (<32 weeks of gestation) and moderate/late preterm (32-36⁺⁶ weeks of gestation) groups. Risk factors associated with very preterm birth were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 4 105 pregnant women with preterm deliveries were included, with 793 cases (19.32%) in the very preterm group and 3 312 cases (80.68%) in the moderate/late preterm group. The factors significantly associated with very preterm birth were as following: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR=1.785, 95%CI: 1.492-2.135, P<0.05), excessive gestational weight gain (GWG, OR=2.002, 95%CI: 1.672-2.397, P<0.05), insufficient GWG (OR=1.746, 95%CI: 1.326-2.300, P<0.05), chorioamnionitis (OR=2.163, 95%CI: 1.694-2.763, P<0.05), premature rupture of membranes ≥18 hours (OR=2.158, 95%CI: 1.599-2.912, P<0.05), placental abruption (OR=2.228, 95%CI: 1.646-3.014, P<0.05), and ≤7 prenatal visits (OR=3.419, 95%CI: 2.882-4.055, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, excessive or insufficient GWG, chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of membranes ≥18 hours, placental abruption, and ≤7 prenatal visits are risk factors for very preterm birth. Strengthening high-risk pregnancy management is necessary for reducing the incidence of very preterm birth.
Humans ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth/etiology* ; Gestational Age ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Infant, Newborn ; Gestational Weight Gain

The purpose of this article is to systematically review the effectiveness of pivotal response training （PRT） for children with autism spectrum disorder （ASD）， so as to provide evidence-based guidance for the implementation of effective PRT for children with ASD. Randomized controlled trials （RCTs） investigating the effectiveness of PRT for children with ASD were collected， and the methodological quality of the trails was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for risk of bias assessment. A total of 6 RCTs were included in this review. Then the empirical findings including the implementation of PRT and the role of PRT in improving general social skills and verbal communication skills of children with ASD were elaborated. And its limitations and possible future research directions were also summarized. ［Funded by Special Project for Construction of Innovation Environment in Autonomous Region： Construction of Science and Technology Innovation Base （number， PT2306）］

【Objective】 To observe the effects of early postnatal immune activation (EPIA) on social behaviors of male and female mice, and to explore the possible role of the functional state of astrocytes and microglia in this process. 【Methods】 Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced EPIA mice as study subjects, mice were divided into the male-control, male-model, female-control, and female-model groups, each containing 10 mice (n=10). Behavioral tests were performed at 25 - 32 days of age, and the social behavior ability of mice was evaluated by open field test, three-chamber sociability test, and marble burying test. The expression levels of GFAP, IBA-1, TLR4, and NFκB p65 in the cortex and hippocampus were detected by Western blot (n=3). 【Results】 In behavioral tests, social index significantly decreased in LPS treatment group (F=14.907, P<0.05). The interaction effect between treatment and sex was significant in the residence time (F=5.260, P<0.05) and the number of buried marbles (F=7.788, P<0.05). LPS treatment decreased the retention time of the central region in male mice (F=4.261, P<0.05), and increased the number of buried marbles in males (F=20.645, P<0.05). Western blot results showed that LPS treatment increased the expression of GFAP protein in the hippocampus (F=50.443, P<0.05) and cortex (F=30.116, P<0.05), as well as the expression of IBA-1 protein (F=21.844. P<0.05) and TLR4 protein (F=6.215, P<0.05) in the cortex. The results of NFκB p65 showed a significant interaction between treatment and sex in the cortex (F=6.558, P<0.05), and LPS increased the expression of NFκB p65 protein in the cortex in female mice (F=16.317, P<0.05). 【Conclusions】 EPIA is sufficient to induce sex-specific autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like behavior and enhance astroglial and microglial reactivity in mice. ASD-like behavior induced by EPIA may be related to the TLR4/NFκB signaling pathway in the cortex.

Objective: To investigate the nutritional status and examine its association with feeding among infants at ages of 6 to 24 months in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, so as to provide the evidence for improving malnutrition among infants. Methods: Infants at ages of 6 to 24 months participating in physical examinations in Urumqi City and Moyu County from January to December 2021 were enrolled. Participants' gender, age, birth status, place of residence and maternal education level were collected through questionnaire surveys, and infants' feeding was evaluated using Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI). Age-specific height and body weight and height-specific body weight were calculated, and nutritional status was evaluated using Z score. The association between ICFI and malnutrition was evaluated using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results : A total of 1 013 infants were surveyed, including 557 boys (54.99%) and 456 girls (45.01%). The participants included 545 infants at ages of 12 to 24 months (53.80%), 969 full-term infants (95.66%), and 617 infants with qualified ICFI scores (60.91%). The prevalence of malnutrition was 8.59% among participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that infants with qualified ICFI score had a lower risk of malnutrition (OR=0.538, 95%CI: 0.327-0.883) after adjustment for age, birth status, place of residence, maternal education level and monthly household income. Conclusion The prevalence of malnutrition is low among infants at ages of 6 to 24 months in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and infants with qualified feeding have a reduced risk of malnutrition.

BackgroundThe incidence of autism spectrum disorders （ASD） is showing an upward trend， and the treatment and training process for children with ASD is lengthy， placing a heavy burden on their families. Such fact results in parents being prone to feelings of stigma. However， there exists a lack of research studying on the stigma among parents of children with ASD. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between stigma and coping styles and social support of parents with ASD， and to provide references for practices of reducing stigma level and taking targeted interventions in this group. MethodsThis study involved parents of children diagnosed with ASD and admitted to the children's health clinic of a tertiary hospital in Urumqi between January 2021 and May 2022. General information questionnaire， Affiliate Stigma Scale （ASS）， Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire （SCSQ） and Social Support Rating Scale （SSRS） were employed to conduct investigation. Pearson correlation analysis was used analyze the correlation between stigma， coping styles and social support. ResultsThe ASS total score of parents of children with ASD was （52.40±11.22）. Correlation analysis results showed that the ASS total score of parents was positively correlated with the score of negative coping dimension in SCSQ （r=0.787， P<0.01）， and negatively correlated with the score of positive coping dimension in SCSQ and SSRS total score （r=-0.565， -0.795， P<0.01）. The result of regression analysis suggested that stigma among parents of children with ASD was affected by coping style and social support （∆R²=0.768， F=114.931， P<0.01）. These two factors could explain 76.80% of the total variance. ConclusionParents of children with ASD have stigma of moderate to high level， and coping styles and social support are two important factors influencing the stigma. ［Funded by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Science and Technology Program Resource Sharing Platform Construction Project （number， PT2215）］

Objective : The serum levels of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D in severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) patients were investigated and analyzed to provide reference for primary prevention and diagnosis of S-ECC children. Methods : A total of 184 children were enrolled in the Children Health Department of Xinjiang Medical University Health Management Center from June 2018 to June 2019. They were divided into the caries-free (CF) group (n=89) and S-ECC group (n=95). The contents of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin D were detected. Results: The serum iron content of the CF group and S-ECC group was (8.36 ± 0.42) mmol/L and (8.13 ± 0.44) mmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.50, P < 0.001); the serum content of zinc was (83.18 ± 7.28) μmol/L and (79.23 ± 6.38) μmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.92, P < 0.001); the serum content of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was (86.72 ± 15.83) nmol/L and (77.75 ± 11.38) nmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.42, P < 0.001). The serum copper content of CF group and S-ECC group was (20.18 ± 4.84) μmol/L and (19.49 ± 4.62) μmol/L, but the difference was not statistically significant (t=0.97, P=0.33). Conclusion The contents of iron, zinc and vitamin D in the serum of S-ECC patients are low, suggesting that iron, zinc and vitamin D supplementation should be emphasized in the prevention and treatment of S-ECC.

Objective To observe the effects of using problem-based learning (PBL) and lecture-based learning (LBL) in clinical teaching in emergency intensive care unit (EICU).Methods Three hundred and twelve 5-year clinical medicine undergraduates from Xinjiang Medical University including 108 students in 2007 class and 204 students in 2008 class were enrolled. The students in each class were randomly divided into two groups, 54 students in each group in 2007 class and 102 students in each group in 2008 class. Randomized controlled trial was conducted; in the first half of a semester, the students in the two groups of each class were taught by PBL method and LBL method respectively. At the middle of the semester, written examination (WES), objective structure clinical examinations (OSCE) and self assessment questionnaire test were carried out to evaluate students' learning effect. In the second half of the semester, the teaching method in the two groups of each class was exchanged, and at the end of the semester, the same examinations were carried out, and the examination and questionnaire scores in the two groups of each class were compared.Results The results of comparisons of the WES and OSCE scores between two modes in each class showed that the scores of WES and OSCE of the PBL mode were obviously higher than those in the LBL mode (the first half of semester in 2007 class: WES: 23.20±3.33 vs. 22.78±4.41, OSCE: 27.60±6.44 vs. 25.45±6.35, in 2008 class: WES: 24.45±2.65 vs. 23.02±3.67, OSCE: 29.53±4.67 vs. 27.57±6.83, in the second half of the semester in 2007 class: WES: 24.60±3.67 vs. 23.46±2.57, OSCE: 28.50±4.78 vs. 28.01±5.78, in 2008 class: WES: 23.54±3.56 vs. 22.56±6.89, OSCE: 28.08±2.15 vs. 27.43±7.23,P < 0.05 orP < 0.01). The score results of self assessment questionnaires of students in two groups of 2007 class and 2008 class showed that the self learning ability, initiative, linking theory with practice, team power and attentiveness were significantly higher in the PBL teaching mode than those in the LBL teaching mode [the first half of the semester in 2007 class: self learning ability (score): 4.20±0.67 vs. 3.32±0.71, the initiative (score): 4.15±0.98 vs. 2.01±0.81, linking theory with practice (score): 4.09±0.65 vs. 3.52±0.89, team power (score): 4.43±0.56 vs. 3.08±0.43, attentiveness (score): 4.25±0.77 vs. 2.98±0.67; the second half of the semester in 2007 class: self learning ability (score): 4.23±0.77 vs. 2.11±0.98, the initiative (score): 4.59±0.85 vs. 3.20±0.73, linking theory with practice (score): 4.23±0.71 vs. 2.88±0.87, team power (score): 4.66±0.63 vs. 2.21±0.64, attentiveness (score): 4.21±0.73 vs. 2.28±0.43; the first half of the semester in 2008 class: self learning ability (score): 7.60±0.64 vs. 5.62±0.41, the initiative (score): 7.23±0.47 vs. 5.07±0.51, linking theory with practice (score): 7.04±0.67 vs. 4.56±0.59, team power (score): 7.33±0.55 vs. 5.06±0.47, attentiveness (score): 6.21±0.87 vs. 4.88±0.37; the second half of the semester in 2008 class: self learning ability (score): 7.03±0.71 vs. 5.11±0.48, the initiative (score): 7.89±0.57 vs. 5.20±0.33, linking theory with practice (score): 7.63±0.25 vs. 4.88±0.57, team power (score): 7.64±0.33 vs. 5.21±0.67, attentiveness (score): 7.01±0.89 vs. 6.01±0.90].Conclusion PBL method of teaching is worthwhile to be explored and spread extensively, especially in medicine, a scientific course involving much attention on practice, it embodies more importance.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of simple obesity and risk factors for the development of this disorder in preschool children from Urumqi City.

METHODSA total of 1730 children at ages of 3-7 years sampled randomly from four district kindergartens of Urumqi City were enrolled in this study. Their heights and weights were measured. Risk factors for the development of simple obesity were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSOverweight occurred in 229 children (13.2%). One hundred and twenty-two children were diagnosed with simple obesity (7.1%). The 5 years old group children showed the highest incidence of obesity (9.5%), more than the other age group children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family history of obesity, high body mass index of the mother, little physical activity of the father, and bad diet habits and low educational levels of parents were risk factors for the development of simple obesity.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of simple obesity of preschool children from Urumqi City is higher than the reported data. The risk of childhood simple obesity is multifactorial. The prevention of simple obesity should begin at the preschool stage.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors

Child Development ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Behavior ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Touch