Excess Early Postnatal Weight Gain Leads to Increased Abdominal Fat in Young Children

Background. Increased childhood weight gain has been associated with later adiposity. Whether excess early postnatal weight gain plays a role in childhood abdominal fat is unknown. Design. In the ongoing Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER), birth cohort weight and length from birth to age 3 months were obtained. In the first 316 five-year-olds, intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat were measured ultrasonographically. Individual weight and length gain rates were assessed in each child. Internal Z-scores of weight for length gain (WLG) were calculated. Multiple imputation was used to deal with missing covariates. Results. Per-1-unit increase in Z-score WLG from birth to 3 months, BMI, waist circumference, and subcutaneous fat were significantly higher; 0.51 kg/m2, 0.84 cm, and 0.50 mm, respectively. After multiple imputation, a trend towards significance was observed for intra-abdominal fat as well (0.51 mm/SD). In the associations with 5-year adiposity, no interaction between postnatal Z-score WLG and birth size was found. Conclusion. Excess early postnatal weight gain is associated with increased general and central adiposity, characterized by more subcutaneous and likely more intra-abdominal fat at 5 years of age

The effect of non-organophosphate household pesticides exposure during pregnancy on infants birth sizes and growth rate: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: To date, there is limited evidence on the effect of antenatal exposure to non-organophosphate household pesticides on infant health. Our hypothesis is that antenatal exposure to non-organophosphate household pesticides will be associated with birth sizes and infant growth rate. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 284 mother-infant pairs were studied. Mothers were recruited at the third trimester in two primary care centers and one private hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Mothers filled out questionnaires about exposure to non-organophosphate household pesticides at the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Birth weight and length were measured at birth. Afterwards, the weight, height, and head circumference (HC) were measured at 7 days, 1, 2, 4, and 6 months of age. Linear mixed modeling and linear regression was performed to calculate growth rate of each infant. Multivariable linear regression adjusted for confounders was used to assess the association between household pesticides exposure and birth sizes and infant growth rate. RESULTS: Based on self-report questionnaires, 133 (46.8%) mothers were exposed to household pesticides during pregnancy. The mean HC at day 7 in the exposed group was - 7.1 mm (95%CI -13.1;-1.2) lower than in the non-exposed group. The difference was more prominent in the non-mosquito pesticide group (linear regression coefficient: - 22.1 mm, 95%CI -36.5;-7.6). No material associations were found between antenatal exposure to household pesticides with other growth measures, including weight gain, length gain, HC increment and weight-to-length gain rates. No modification of effects by breastfeeding was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that antenatal exposure to household non-organophosphate pesticides is associated with smaller head circumference at birth

Postnatal Acute Famine and Risk of Overweight: The Dutch Hungerwinter Study

Objective. To examine the association between undernutrition during postnatal periods of development and the risk of overweight in adulthood. Methods. We studied 8,091 women from Prospect-EPIC, exposed to the Dutch famine at ages between 0 and 21 years, recruited at ages between 49 and 70 years. We used linear and logistic regression models to explore the effect of famine on BMI, waist circumference, and the risk of overweight. Results. Overall, postnatal famine exposure was associated with increased BMI and waist circumference in a dose-dependent manner (P  for trend < 0.01). Furthermore, risk of overweight was increased following famine exposure (P  for trend = 0.01), with those severely exposed at ages 0–9 years having 25% (95% CI 1.05 to 1.50) higher risk compared to unexposed women. Conclusions. This study is the first to directly show a positive association between short and transient undernutrition during postnatal development and BMI, waist circumference, and overweight in adulthood

Clinical Study Excess Early Postnatal Weight Gain Leads to Increased Abdominal Fat in Young Children

Background. Increased childhood weight gain has been associated with later adiposity. Whether excess early postnatal weight gain plays a role in childhood abdominal fat is unknown. Design. In the ongoing Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER), birth cohort weight and length from birth to age 3 months were obtained. In the first 316 five-year-olds, intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat were measured ultrasonographically. Individual weight and length gain rates were assessed in each child. Internal Z-scores of weight for length gain (WLG) were calculated. Multiple imputation was used to deal with missing covariates. Results. Per-1-unit increase in Z-score WLG from birth to 3 months, BMI, waist circumference, and subcutaneous fat were significantly higher; 0.51 kg/m 2 , 0.84 cm, and 0.50 mm, respectively. After multiple imputation, a trend towards significance was observed for intra-abdominal fat as well (0.51 mm/SD). In the associations with 5-year adiposity, no interaction between postnatal Z-score WLG and birth size was found. Conclusion. Excess early postnatal weight gain is associated with increased general and central adiposity, characterized by more subcutaneous and likely more intra-abdominal fat at 5 years of age

The effect of exposure to traffic related air pollutants in pregnancy on birth anthropometry: a cohort study in a heavily polluted low-middle income country

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution has been recognized as one of the most important environmental health threats. Exposure in early life may affect pregnancy outcomes and the health of the offspring. The main objective of our study was to assess the association between prenatal exposure to traffic related air pollutants during pregnancy on birth weight and length. Second, to evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to traffic related air pollutants and the risk of low birth weight (LBW). METHODS: Three hundred forty mother-infant pairs were included in this prospective cohort study performed in Jakarta, March 2016-September 2020. Exposure to outdoor PM2.5, soot, NOx, and NO2 was assessed by land use regression (LUR) models at individual level. Multiple linear regression models were built to evaluate the association between air pollutants with birth weight (BW) and birth length (BL). Logistic regression was used to assess the risk of low birth weight (LBW) associated with all air pollutants. RESULTS: The average PM2.5 concentration was almost eight times higher than the current WHO guideline and the NO2 level was three times higher. Soot and NOx were significantly associated with reduced birth length. Birth length was reduced by - 3.83 mm (95% CI -6.91; - 0.75) for every IQR (0.74 × 10- 5 per m) increase of soot, and reduced by - 2.82 mm (95% CI -5.33;-0.30) for every IQR (4.68 μg/m3) increase of NOx. Outdoor air pollutants were not significantly associated with reduced birth weight nor the risk of LBW. CONCLUSION: Exposure to soot and NOx during pregnancy was associated with reduced birth length. Associations between exposure to all air pollutants with birth weight and the risk of LBW were less convincing

Perinatal exposure to traffic related air pollutants and the risk of infection in the first six months of life: a cohort study from a low-middle income country

OBJECTIVE: There is limited study from low-and-middle income countries on the effect of perinatal exposure to air pollution and the risk of infection in infant. We assessed the association between perinatal exposure to traffic related air pollution and the risk of infection in infant during their first six months of life. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed in Jakarta, March 2016-September 2020 among 298 mother-infant pairs. PM2.5, soot, NOx, and NO2 concentrations were assessed using land use regression models (LUR) at individual level. Repeated interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain data on infection at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months of age. The infections were categorized as upper respiratory tract (runny nose, cough, wheezing or shortness of breath), lower respiratory tract (pneumonia, bronchiolitis) or gastrointestinal tract infection. Logistic regression models adjusted for covariates were used to assess the association between perinatal exposure to air pollution and the risk of infection in the first six months of life. RESULTS: The average concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 were much higher than the WHO recommended levels. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) were much more common in the first six months of life than diagnosed lower respiratory tract or gastro-intestinal infections (35.6%, 3.5% and 5.8% respectively). Perinatal exposure to PM2.5 and soot suggested increase cumulative risk of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in the first 6 months of life per IQR increase with adjusted OR of 1.50 (95% CI 0.91; 2.47) and 1.14 (95% CI 0.79; 1.64), respectively. Soot was significantly associated with the risk of URTI at 4-6 months age interval (aOR of 1.45, 95%CI 1.02; 2.09). All air pollutants were also positively associated with lower respiratory tract infection, but all CIs include unity because of relatively small samples. Adjusted odds ratios for gastrointestinal infections were close to unity. CONCLUSION: Our study adds to the evidence that perinatal exposure to fine particles is associated with respiratory tract infection in infants in a low-middle income country

The Value of Warning Signs From the WHO 2009 Dengue Classification in Detecting Severe Dengue in Children

BACKGROUND: World Health Organization proposed 7 warning signs to identify the risk of severe dengue in 2009. This study aimed to evaluate the value of these warning signs in detecting severe dengue in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing data of children with clinical dengue infection obtained from medical records between January 2009 and December 2018 in Jakarta. Children with confirmed dengue were analyzed and stratified into 3 age groups: infants less than 1 year old, children 1-14 years and adolescents 15-18 years of age. Positive predictive value, negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity and specificity of each warning sign present or absent on admission in detecting severe dengue were computed. RESULTS: Six hundred ninety-nine children with clinical dengue infection were enrolled, among whom 614 (87.8%) had confirmed dengue infection, either by antigen or antibody serological tests. Severe dengue occurred in 211/614 (34.4%) cases. In infants, important warning signs on admission to detect or exclude severe dengue were liver enlargement (NPV 80.8%) and clinical fluid accumulation (NPV 75%). In children and adolescents, warning sign with highest NPV (in children 76.6% and in adolescents 91.9%) was increase in hematocrit concurrent with a rapid decrease in platelet count. Other warning signs with high NPV values in children were abdominal pain (72%), vomiting (70%), clinical fluid accumulation (69.3%), and in adolescents' abdominal pain (80.7%), vomiting (75.7%), clinical fluid accumulation (82.7%). NPVs increase with more than 1 warning sign in all age groups. CONCLUSION: In infants, liver enlargement or clinical fluid accumulation are important warning signs for severe dengue, when both are absent, severe dengue is unlikely. In older children and adolescents, an increase in hematocrit with the concurrent rapid decrease in platelet count is most discriminative; followed by the absence of abdominal pain, vomiting or fluid accumulation are unlikely severe dengue

Child abuse inventory at emergency rooms: CHAIN-ER rationale and design

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Child abuse and neglect is an important international health problem with unacceptable levels of morbidity and mortality. Although maltreatment as a cause of injury is estimated to be only 1% or less of the injured children attending the emergency room, the consequences of both missed child abuse cases and wrong suspicions are substantial. Therefore, the accuracy of ongoing detection at emergency rooms by health care professionals is highly important. Internationally, several diagnostic instruments or strategies for child abuse detection are used at emergency rooms, but their diagnostic value is still unknown. The aim of the study 'Child Abuse Inventory at Emergency Rooms' (CHAIN-ER) is to assess if active structured inquiry by emergency room staff can accurately detect physical maltreatment in children presenting at emergency rooms with physical injury.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>CHAIN-ER is a multi-centre, cross-sectional study with 6 months diagnostic follow-up. Five thousand children aged 0-7 presenting with injury at an emergency room will be included. The index test - the SPUTOVAMO-R questionnaire- is to be tested for its diagnostic value against the decision of an expert panel. All SPUTOVAMO-R positives and a 15% random sample of the SPUTOVAMO-R negatives will undergo the same systematic diagnostic work up, which consists of an adequate history being taken by a pediatrician, inquiry with other health care providers by structured questionnaires in order to obtain child abuse predictors, and by additional follow-up information. Eventually, an expert panel (reference test) determines the <it>true </it>presence or absence of child abuse.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>CHAIN-ER will determine both positive and negative predictive value of a child abuse detection instrument used in the emergency room. We mention a benefit of the use of an expert panel and of the use of complete data. Conducting a diagnostic accuracy study on a child abuse detection instrument is also accompanied by scientific hurdles, such as the lack of an accepted reference standard and potential (non-) response. Notwithstanding these scientific challenges, CHAIN-ER will provide accurate data on the predictive value of SPUTOVAMO-R.</p

Antenatal allopurinol for reduction of birth asphyxia induced brain damage (ALLO-Trial); a randomized double blind placebo controlled multicenter study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is associated with development of cerebral palsy and cognitive disability later in life and is therefore one of the fundamental problems in perinatal medicine. The xanthine-oxidase inhibitor allopurinol reduces the formation of free radicals, thereby limiting the amount of hypoxia-reperfusion damage. In case of suspected intra-uterine hypoxia, both animal and human studies suggest that maternal administration of allopurinol immediately prior to delivery reduces hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The proposed trial is a randomized double blind placebo controlled multicenter study in pregnant women at term in whom the foetus is suspected of intra-uterine hypoxia.</p> <p>Allopurinol 500 mg IV or placebo will be administered antenatally to the pregnant woman when foetal hypoxia is suspected. Foetal distress is being diagnosed by the clinician as an abnormal or non-reassuring foetal heart rate trace, preferably accompanied by either significant ST-wave abnormalities (as detected by the STAN-monitor) or an abnormal foetal blood scalp sampling (pH < 7.20).</p> <p>Primary outcome measures are the amount of S100B (a marker for brain tissue damage) and the severity of oxidative stress (measured by isoprostane, neuroprostane, non protein bound iron and hypoxanthine), both measured in umbilical cord blood. Secondary outcome measures are neonatal mortality, serious composite neonatal morbidity and long-term neurological outcome. Furthermore pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics will be investigated.</p> <p>We expect an inclusion of 220 patients (110 per group) to be feasible in an inclusion period of two years. Given a suspected mean value of S100B of 1.05 ug/L (SD 0.37 ug/L) in the placebo group this trial has a power of 90% (alpha 0.05) to detect a mean value of S100B of 0.89 ug/L (SD 0.37 ug/L) in the 'allopurinol-treated' group (z-test_2-sided). Analysis will be by intention to treat and it allows for one interim analysis.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In this trial we aim to answer the question whether antenatal allopurinol administration reduces hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in neonates exposed to foetal hypoxia.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>Clinical Trials, protocol registration system: NCT00189007</p