Subsequent Child Development Research Articles

The shadow of the past: How paternal traumatic experiences shape early parent-child interactions and offspring's emotional development

Introduction and AimsEarly childhood is crucial for the development of social and emotional competencies, significantly influenced by parental interactions. While the impact of maternal psychopathology has been extensively studied, less is known about the effect of paternal trauma on parenting behaviors and subsequent child development. This study examines the effects of fathers' traumatic experiences on their psychopathology, quality of feeding interactions, and children's emotional and behavioral functioning. MethodsA sample of 100 fathers and their two-year-old children participated in this cross-sectional study. Paternal psychopathology was assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and trauma exposure was measured with the Traumatic Experience Checklist (TEC). Parent-child feeding interactions were evaluated using the Scala di Valutazione delle Interazioni Alimentari (SVIA), and children's emotional and behavioral outcomes were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 1,5-5). ResultsFathers with past trauma displayed significantly higher levels of psychopathological symptoms and engaged in poorer quality feeding interactions compared to controls. These paternal characteristics were associated with higher scores on maladaptive outcomes in children's CBCL, indicating worse emotional and behavioral functioning. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that paternal trauma is linked to increased psychopathological risks and negatively affects the quality of paternal feeding interactions, which in turnith children's emotional and behavioral development. These results underscore the importance of integrating paternal trauma into clinical assessments and interventions to support family dynamics and promote healthier developmental outcomes in children.

The Effects of General Anesthesia on Infants and Children's Later Development: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

The relationship between pediatric neurodevelopment and general anesthesia has been the subject of numerous investigations, yet consensus remains elusive. Objective: This review aims to explore the connection between anesthesia and child development. We conducted a thorough search of Google Scholar, PubMed, and ProQuest databases from January 2000 until March 2024, using relevant search terms such as “Adolescent,” “Anesthesia, General/ adverse effects,” “Child,” “Child Development / drug effects,” and “Preschool” resulted in 40 out of 1572 studies for reviewed. The review focused on assessing the impact of general anesthesia on children's development, excluding studies involving children with significant comorbidities or lacking unexposed controls. Two coders independently evaluated the studies, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews criteria. Our analysis of 40 primary studies unveiled a broad spectrum of outcomes regarding the impact of general anesthesia on infants and children's subsequent development. Across cognitive domains, anesthesia altered academic achievements, IQ, and language proficiency. Sensory responses were diverse, with anesthesia affecting manual dexterity, balance, and sensory performance uniquely. Psychosocially, it influenced behavior, social skills, and neuropsychological disorders, while neurodevelopmental concerns were also identified. In summary, the effects of general anesthesia on various developmental domains underscore the need for cautious consideration in medical practice. This review revealed cognitive decline, diverse sensory impacts, and increased behavioral issues, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders associated with general anesthesia. Understanding these effects is crucial for implementing effective prevention and management strategies to mitigate long-term complications.

Implementation of Stimulation, Early Detection, and Intervention Programs for Monitoring the Growth and Development of Children Aged 2-3 Years

Starting from growth that supports development, in the end growth and development go hand in hand. An important period in a child's growth and development begins in infancy because basic growth is what will influence and determine the child's subsequent development. The aim of this research is to detect deviations in the development of early childhood children aged 2-3 years at the ECCE Rahmah El Yunusiyyah Padang Panjang through the Stimulation, Detection and Early Intervention of Child Growth and Development (SDICGD) instruments in the Android feature. This research was conducted using a cross-sectional approach. Participants in this study were 26 children aged 2-3 years using a consecutive sampling technique of 10 children whose growth and development were monitored using the SDICGD android application. The results of this study showed that several partisipants experienced malnutrition, one partisipant out of nine normal partisipants. The Developmental Pre-Screening Questionnaire (DPSQ) instrument of the ten child participants contained nine children (90%) who were according to the developmental stage aged 24-36 months, and one child was not according to the developmental stage. The results of the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) test showed that three children (60%) were normal, and two children (40%) were hyperactive. Early detection of children's growth and development must be carried out regularly every month, and according to the child's age. For further research, it is hoped that early detection will also be carried out on the development of children's mental health, not just growth and development which is common and widely researched. Schools and parents must play an active role in children's growth and development so that no developmental stages are missed, and children grow and develop according to their age. Keywords: simulation, detection, early intervention, child growth and development, development of children aged 2-3 years

Perceived Parenting Styles in Relation with Coping Strategies among the Children of Single Parents in Pakistan

Background: The dynamics within single-parent families, particularly the influence of parenting styles on the coping strategies of children, have garnered significant attention in psychological research. The intricate relationship between a parent's approach to raising their child and the child's subsequent development of coping mechanisms to navigate life's challenges is pivotal to understanding the psychosocial well-being of children in single-parent families. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the correlations between different parenting styles—permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative—and the coping strategies adopted by children of single parents. Additionally, it sought to identify which parenting styles significantly predict the coping strategies utilized by these children. Methods: A correlational and comparative study design was employed, involving 153 adolescents aged 13 to 19 from single-parent families in Faisalabad and Sargodha, Pakistan. The Coping Response Inventory (CRI) and Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) were utilized to measure coping strategies and parenting styles, respectively. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson’s moment correlation, regression analysis, and Independent Samples T-Test to examine the relationships between parenting styles and coping strategies and to assess gender differences. Results: The findings indicated a significant positive correlation between permissive and authoritarian parenting styles (r ranging from .439 to .787, p < .01). Regression analysis revealed that logical analysis, positive reappraisal, and problem-solving were significant predictors of coping strategies (p < .001). Gender-based analysis showed females scored significantly higher in positive reappraisal, seeking guidance/support, acceptance/resignation, and emotional discharge coping strategies compared to males (p < .005). No significant gender differences were found in parenting styles. Conclusion: The study highlights the significant impact of permissive and authoritarian parenting styles on the development of coping strategies among children of single parents. Tailored interventions supporting single parents in adopting more adaptive parenting styles could foster better coping mechanisms in their children, enhancing their psychosocial well-being.

Deteksi Perkembangan Anak Dengan DDST (Denver Development Screening Test) Di Poskeskel Pasir Gintung

Introduction: The toddler years mark an important phase of fundamental growth that significantly shapes and influences a child's subsequent development. During this period, children's brains experience rapid growth which is often called the Golden Age. This phase is very important, so it requires careful attention to the child's growth and development to detect abnormalities as early as possible. Data collected at the Pasir Gintung Health Post shows that there were 12 children aged 2-4 years.Objectives: The main objectives include increasing parents' understanding in monitoring children's development, providing education regarding screening methods using the DDST approach, and actively monitoring children's development using the DDST method.Method: This Community Service was carried out using DDST (Denver Development Screening Test) measurements at the Pasir Gintung Health Post on Friday 5 January 2024. Results: The results of the DDST examination on 12 children showed that 10 children (83.4%) were declared normal, while 2 children (16.6%) had suspected development. Evaluation of children's overall growth and development includes gross motor skills, fine motor skills, speech, language, socialization and independence.Conclusion: These findings underline the important role of parental involvement in facilitating early detection of children's growth and development activities. Implementing a collaborative approach ensures that children's growth and development is a shared responsibility between parents and educators. It is very important for parents to be actively involved in monitoring their child's progress, encouraging the development of four main aspects: personal-social, adaptive-fine motor, language, and gross motor skills.

Pengaruh Stimulasi Assisted Crawling Terhadap Kemampuan Merangkak Bayi di Puskesmas BP Nauli Kec. Siantar Marihat Kota Pematangsiantar Tahun 2023

Growth and development disorders are a problem that is often found in society, so it is very important that all components involved in children's growth and development, namely parents, teachers and the community, can work together in early monitoring. The determining factors for the quality of a child's growth and development are constitutional genetic-heredo potential (intrinsic) and the role of the environment (extrinsic). Child growth and development disorders occur when there are genetic factors and/or environmental factors that are unable to meet the child's basic growth and development needs. Factors that influence a child's growth and development are genetic factors, and are more influenced by environmental factors and the diseases experienced by the child. Appropriate detection and intervention can optimize the quality of the child's subsequent growth and development. Babies who experience delays in development will make the baby's parents feel anxious and worried, which will affect how parents meet their baby's needs, such as mothers who do not encourage their babies to talk and mothers who do not exercise their hands and feet regularly at certain times. So that the baby has difficulty walking and lacks language, the lack of stimulation given to the baby will worsen the baby's developmental delays (Hurlock, 2002).Based on a preliminary survey conducted at the BP Nauli Community Health Center on 10 mothers who had babies, there were 5 mothers who did not provide stimulation to their children when their children were not going through the crawling phase and did not know the effect on the child's development, so based on these problems the researchers wanted to conduct research with the title "The Effect of Assisted Crawling Stimulation on the Crawling Ability of Babies at the BP Nauli Community Health Center, Kec. Siantar Let's See Pematang Siantar City in 2023 .

Influence of early pathogenic factors on the subsequent development of preschool children with disabilities

Influence of early pathogenic factors on the subsequent development of preschool children with disabilities

Increasing Optimization of SDIDTK Training for PAUD Teachers during the Covid 19 Pandemic

The most important period in a child's growth and development is during the toddler years, because during this period the toddler's basic growth will influence the child's subsequent development. The development of language, children's creativity, social, emotional and intelligence awareness during toddlerhood will develop very quickly and is the next foundation in development. Previous research stated that out of 500 children whose development was measured aged 0-6 years in Jakarta, it was found that 11.9% of children experienced growth and development abnormalities. Sleman data for 2021 states that the number of stunting among children is 3445 under five. Based on data from the Jember Health Service, it is stated that the coverage of child growth and development detection has decreased from 60.58% in 2009 and in 2010 to 50.89%. The role of various parties is very important in overcoming growth and development problems in children, one of which is the role of Early Childhood Teachers. Based on these problems, it is necessary to implement strategies to reduce developmental problems in children early by holding cadre training on SDIDTK (Stimulation, Detection and Early Intervention of Child Growth and Development). Increasing optimization of PAUD teacher services with SDIDTK training. The method used is health education and training on SDIDTK. There was an increase in the level of SDIDTK knowledge among PAUD teachers where before training/counseling the average level of teacher knowledge was 52.82 and knowledge after counseling/training was 80.31. Conclusion: Education or counseling or training for PAUD teachers is effective in increasing knowledge related to SDIDTK.

Влияние раннего опыта институционализации на развитие ребенка: биологические показатели, физиологические механизмы, поведенческие характеристики

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective. </strong>Systematization and generalization of research data on the impact of early institutionalization on biological indicators of children's development, and a description of the underlying physiological mechanisms and relations between biological indicators and their behavioral manifestations in children.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background. </strong>Early deprivation is a significant social-psychological factor that dramatically affects the subsequent mental health and development of children. To date, a wide amount of data on the biological effects of early institutional deprivation has been accumulated in the research literature while this information is little represented in Russia. To understand the specificity of the biological and behavioral development of children with institutionalization experience transferred from Russian institutions into domestic adoptive or foster care families there is a need to analyze, systematize and generalize information on bio-behavioral consequences of early institutionalization.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions. </strong>Research results indicate in children with early institutional experience a significant change in biological development manifested in negative changes in morphofunctional development and microstructural organization of the brain, and characteristics of its activity, in cortisol secretion, violations of immunity, changes in DNA methylation profiling, in microbiome. Biological changes and their behavioral correlates are associated with such institutional conditions as the severity of deprivation and duration of institutionalization (the age of the child's transfer from institution to family). In order to prevent developmental, somatic and mental health disorders associated with the long-term impact of early deprivation, the state policy in the field of early childhood and the work of the professional society have to fulfil the rights of the child to live in the family in relationship with sensitive and responsive emotionally available primary caregivers.</p>

Meningkatakan Kreativitas Melalui Pembelajaran Steam pada Anak Usia 5-6 Tahun di TK Negeri Pembina Kota Mojokerto

Early childhood education is a fundamental education for children and influences the development of further education, so it is necessary to introduce 21st century learning, namely STEAM from an early age which will build children's positive attitudes about STEAM because the growth and subsequent development of children is greatly influenced by what is given to them. child in the early days. This classroom action research aims to increase the creativity of children aged 5-6 years at TK Negeri Pembina Kota Mojokerto through STEAM learning so that children have 21st century skills and are used to solving problems actively, critically and creatively. From the results of this classroom action research, it was found that STEAM learning was able to increase children's creativity from the first cycle of 55.83% to 81.38% in the second cycle. Learning that has been implemented in cycle II is said to be successful because there is an increase in children's creativity in the form of being creative in making works and presenting results creatively based on STEAM which has met the indicators of success.

Commentary: Promoting positive mental health during pregnancy-reflections on Lähdepuro etal. (2023).

Lähdepuro etal. performed a sound large-scale prospective pregnancy cohort study showing an association between positive maternal prenatal mental health and a reduced risk of developing clinically diagnosed childhood mental and behavioral disorders. Beneficial effects were also observed among the offspring of mothers experiencing mental health problems before and during pregnancy. The pathbreaking findings of Lähdepuro etal. set the stage for future research to shed more light on the so far almost unknown (neuro)biological mechanisms underlying the link between positive maternal prenatal mental health and child outcomes. More knowledge is needed about prenatal psychological and social factors enacting the potential of positive mental health as a resilience source buffering against maternal prenatal mental health problems and by this protecting subsequent child development. This also calls for further development, optimization, and evaluation of positive mental health-enhancing interventions during pregnancy, especially for future mothers having mental health problems.

Child development at age 5 years: The effects of maternal education, socioeconomic status and early-life growth examined prospectively in a lowresource setting


 Background. Deeper insight into relationships between social factors and early childhood growth and development is required, particularly in low-resource settings.
 Objectives. To determine (i) associations between early linear growth and child development at 5 years; and (ii) whether early childhood growth mediates relationships between maternal education, household socioeconomic status (SES) and subsequent child development.
 Methods. This study used data from the Birth to Twenty Plus study, a longitudinal South African birth cohort study. The study sample comprised 636 participants with complete data at all relevant time points for the analysis. Household SES and maternal education were measured during pregnancy and the first two years of life, and growth between birth and 4 years of age. Child development was assessed using the Revised Denver Pre-screening Developmental Questionnaire (R-DPDQ). Multivariable regression analyses were used to investigate the association between SES, maternal education, growth and child development, and structural equation modelling was used to analyse the mediation of growth.
 Results. In both sexes, higher birthweight and household SES were associated with higher R-DPDQ scores. Increased relative linear growth, particularly between 0 and 2 years, was associated with higher R-DPDQ scores among boys (β=0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.27 - 1.37) at age 5. Growth status but not SES mediated the association between maternal education and R-DPDQ scores.
 Conclusion. Child development at 5 years was independently associated with SES and birthweight. The negative effects of lower maternal education on child development was attenuated by better growth.

Relationship Determinants of Cadre Roles in Parenting Services for Toddler Families in Jambi City

Toddlerhood is a golden era in children's growth and development because it is a period of real growth that influences and determines children's subsequent development. Through the Toddler Family Development (Bina Keluarga Balita/BKB) movement. Every family would be able to enhance their talents, particularly in caring for their toddlers and pre-school-aged children, to promote optimum child growth and development. Health cadres play a significant role in efforts to strengthen the community's capacity to reach optimal health status independently. This study seeks to identify the elements that influence the involvement of cadres in providing family care services for toddlers in the city of Jambi. This study used a quantitative, cross-sectional methodology. This study's population consisted of 450 cadres from the Toddler Family Development (Bina Keluarga Balita/BKB) program. This study's sample consisted of 81 the Toddler Family Development (Bina Keluarga Balita/BKB) cadres selected using Probability Sampling with Proportional Stratified Random Sampling. The chi-square test demonstrates that there is a correlation between the variables attitude (p-value = 0.001) and motivation (p-value = 0.002). Moreover, there is no correlation between knowledge and BKB cadres' roles (p-value = 0.180). Attitude and motivation variables are substantially associated with the role of the Toddler Family Development (Bina Keluarga Balita/BKB) Cadres in Jambi City. The Office of Population Control and Family Planning will hold online discussions. Hence, cadres are always aware of the most recent developments in activities of the Toddler Family Development (Bina Keluarga Balita/BKB). The Office of Population Control and Family Planning will monitor activities even when not on the ground. The Office of Population Control and Family Planning will reproduce books on the Toddler Family Development (Bina Keluarga Balita/BKB) so cadres can gain more knowledge and not rely solely on training experience.

The Impact of Prepartum Depression and Birth Experience on Postpartum Mother-Infant Bonding: A Longitudinal Path Analysis.

IntroductionNegative effects of impaired postpartum mother-infant-bonding on mental health of mothers, their newborn children and subsequent child development are well documented. Previous research demonstrated an association between a negative birth experience and postpartum mental health affecting postpartum mother-infant bonding. This study investigates the extent to which prepartum depression and birth experience influence the postpartum mental health of mothers and their bonding toward their newborns, and whether these influences differ according to parity and self-reported prior mental health problems.MethodThree hundred and fifty-four women (18-43 years; M = 30.13, SD = 5.10) filled in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), Salmon's Item List (SIL) assessing the birth experience, and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) at pre- and postpartum; they were also asked about birth complications and parity status.ResultsPrimipara reported significantly more birth complications (p = 0.048), with path analysis confirming this result (p < 0.001). Birth complications were associated with a more negative rating of the overall birth experience (p < 0.001). Mothers with self-reported prior mental health problems had higher prepartum depression scores (p < 0.001) but did not differ in other variables from mothers without prior self-reported mental health problems. Differences in depression scores between mothers with self-reported prior mental health problems and those without vanished at postpartum assessment (p > 0.05). Path-analysis highlighted the key role of postpartum depression, which was the only significant predictor of postpartum impairment in maternal-child bonding (p < 0.001). Birth experience and prepartum depression scores exerted an indirect effect on postpartum maternal-child bonding, mediated by postpartum depression.DiscussionThe present study demonstrates the relevance of prepartum mental health of expectant mothers, especially of those who self-report prior mental health problems. The results support that reducing mental health problems of pregnant mothers might contribute to a more positive birth experience and potentially reduce postpartum depressive symptoms. As postpartum depression is associated with impaired parent-child bonding, such targeted interventions could promote child development. Group differences between primiparous and multiparous mothers suggest that the birth experience may be an influential factor for postpartum mental health.

The Stirling Antenatal Anxiety Scale (SAAS): development and initial psychometric validation

• Anxiety in pregnancy is highly prevalent and is associated with negative outcomes. • The Stirling antenatal anxiety scale is a new scale to screen for antenatal anxiety. • The SAAS showed excellent sensitivity (91%) and very good specificity (85%). • The GAD-2, currently recommended in the UK, showed poor sensitivity (27%). • The SAAS is psychometrically robust and considered acceptable by pregnant women. Anxiety in pregnancy affects approximately 15% of all pregnant women. Antenatal anxiety can impact negatively on subsequent child development and is a strong predictor of postnatal depression. No anxiety measures with sound psychometric properties are currently available for screening pregnant women. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of a brief questionnaire specifically devised for use by healthcare professionals and researchers to screen for antenatal anxiety. A mixed-method study for scale development which included: 1) a review examining the psychometric properties of anxiety measures 2) qualitative interviews with women with experience of antenatal anxiety 3) a Delphi study to achieve consensus amongst experts in relation to questions to be included in the scale. For the psychometric validation, 174 women completed the new 10 item scale and the GAD-2/7. A sub-sample of women were also assessed using a diagnostic interview. The Stirling Antenatal Anxiety Scale (SAAS) showed very good diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity=91%; specificity=85%). The GAD-2 performed significantly worse (sensitivity=27%; specificity=96% at the recommended cut off-score) than the new antenatal anxiety scale in identifying women with an anxiety disorder. The key limitation of the research was the relatively small sample size of women assessed with a diagnostic interview for the psychometric validation study. Identifying pregnant women experiencing problematic anxiety is the first, crucial step in providing them with an appropriate level of support. This research provides health professionals with a reliable, brief, and easy-to-complete screening scale for anxiety in pregnancy.

Development of premature IVF babies with extremely low birth weight: clinical observation (summary review)

Nowadays, when the number of couples affected by infertility increases significantly, the issue of the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is particularly important. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the ART that is used most frequently due to its high positive results. Priority status initially was accorded by the researchers to quantitative indicators, and the health of children born as a result of ART was analysed extremely rarely. At the present time, all the risks of using ART are being assessed. Despite the success of the procedure, there are times when children are born prematurely. In Russia, starting from 2012 all children born after 24 weeks of gestation and weighing more than 500 grams are legally regarded as human beings and must be provided with life-saving medical care. Observations show that such children have significant health problems: the most serious damage is caused to the nervous system, respiratory organs, and visual system. The article describes cases of premature IVF babies with critically low birth weight and reviews their further development. Approaches to the management of premature IVF babies should be based on the awareness of the problems of extreme morphofunctional immaturity, individual selection of habilitation programs. Observations should be comprehensive (involving narrow specialists according to indications), which plays an important role in the subsequent development of children. If the management of such babies is arranged properly, their health status improves significantly, and physiological parameters achieve close to “normal” standards.

Parenting in the Context of the Child: Genetic and Social Processes.

The focus on the role of parenting in child development has a long-standing history. When measures of parenting precede changes in child development, researchers typically infer a causal role of parenting practices and attitudes on child development. However, this research is usually conducted with parents raising their own biological offspring. Such research designs cannot account for the effects of genes that are common to parents and children, nor for genetically influenced traits in children that influence how they are parented and how parenting affects them. The aim of this monograph is to provide a clearer view of parenting by synthesizing findings from theEarly Growth and Development Study (EGDS). EGDS is a longitudinal study of adopted children, their birth parents, and their rearing parents studied across infancy and childhood. Families (N = 561) were recruited in the United States through adoption agencies between 2000 and 2010. Data collection began when adoptees were 9 months old (males = 57.2%; White 54.5%, Black 13.2%, Hispanic/Latinx 13.4%, Multiracial 17.8%, other 1.1%). The median child age at adoption placement was 2 days (M = 5.58, SD = 11.32). Adoptive parents were predominantlyin their 30s, White, andcoming from upper-middle- or upper-class backgrounds with high educational attainment (a mode at 4-year college or graduate degree). Mostadoptive parents were heterosexual couples, andweremarried at the beginning of the project. The birth parent sample was more racially and ethnically diverse, but the majority (70%) were White. At the beginning of the study, most birth mothers and fathers were in their 20s, with a mode of educational attainment at high school degree, and few of them were married. We have been following these family members over time, assessing their genetic influences, prenatal environment, rearing environment, and child development. Controlling for effects of genes common to parents and children, we confirmed some previously reported associations between parenting, parent psychopathology, and marital adjustment in relation to child problematic and prosocial behavior. We also observed effects of children's heritable characteristics, characteristics thought to be transmitted from parent to child by genetic means, on their parents and how those effects contributed to subsequent child development. For example, we found that genetically influenced child impulsivity and social withdrawal both elicited harsh parenting, whereas a genetically influenced sunny disposition elicited parental warmth. We found numerous instances of children's genetically influenced characteristics that enhanced positive parental influences on child development or that protected them from harsh parenting. Integrating our findings, we propose a new, genetically informed process model of parenting. We posit that parents implicitly or explicitly detect genetically influenced liabilities and assets in their children. We also suggest future research into factors such as marital adjustment, that favor parents responding with appropriate protection or enhancement. Our findings illustrate a productive use of genetic information in prevention research: helping parents respond effectively to a profile of child strengths and challenges rather than using genetic information simply to identify some children unresponsive to current preventive interventions.

Физическое развитие крайне недоношенных детей при рождении, выписке из стационара и в первые 3 года жизни

The physical development of extremely preterm infants remains poorly studied, it is mecessary to determine the timing and methods of «catching up» growth and the identification of risk groups for postnatal growth retardation. The article analyzes the indicators of the physical development of children born extremely premature in the first three years of life. The influence of gestational age, birth weight and postnatal growth retardation in the first months of life on the subsequent physical development of children was determined. Underweight of degrees 1 and 2 in extremely preterm infants at the discharge from hospital is a prognostic sigh for including in group risk for underweight, low height and low head circumference in the first three years of life.

Commercial microbiota test revealed differences in the composition of intestinal microorganisms between children with autism spectrum disorders and neurotypical peers

The early-life modifications of intestinal microbiota may impact children's subsequent emotional and cognitive development. Studies show that some bacteria species in gut microbiota, and the lack of others, may play a key role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) development. Fecal samples were obtained from three groups of children: 16 healthy, 24 with allergies (ALG), and 33 with ASD (probiotics and non-probiotics users). The analysis was carried out according to the KyberKompakt Pro protocol. We observed a significantly higher level of Klebsiella spp. in the healthy children from the non-probiotics group, considering three groups. In the same group, Bifidobacterium spp. the level was lower in ASD compared to neurotypical individuals. In healthy children who did not use probiotics, strong positive correlations were observed in E. coli and Enterococcus spp. and Bacteroides and Klebsiella spp., and a negative correlation for Akkermansia muciniphila with both Klebsiella spp. and Bacteroides spp. In the ASD group who take probiotics, a strongly negative correlation was observed in Lactobacillus spp., and both Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Akkermansia muciniphila levels. In the ALG group, the strongest, negative correlation was found between Enterococcus spp. and Lactobacillus spp. as in Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium spp. The simple commercial test revealed minor differences in the composition of intestinal microorganisms between children with autism spectrum disorders and neurotypical peers.

A prospective cohort study of the association between the Apgar score and developmental status at 3years of age: the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

Apgar score (AS) is a well-established tool for assessing viability of newborns, and its association with subsequent child development has been suggested. We aimed to assess whether Apgar scores (ASs) ≥ 7 (generally considered normal) are associated with the developmental status at 3years of age while adjusting for perinatal and socioeconomic confounders. We extracted the data of ASs at 1 and 5min among participants of the Japan Environment and Children's Study datasets, which were used in this nationwide cohort study. The outcomes comprised developmental status that was less than each cutoff value for the following five domains of the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (Japanese version, 3rd edition): communication, gross and fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social domains. For this objective, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses on the data of 54,716 children. Compared with ASs ≥ 9 at 5min, the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for delayed development in children with ASs ≤ 8 were 1.31 (95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.56), 1.20 (1.04-1.38), and 1.16 (1.01-1.34), respectively, for gross and fine motor, and problem-solving domains. Among neonates with ASs ≤ 8 at 1min, when those with ASs ≤ 8 at 5min were compared with those with ASs ≥ 9 at 5min, the aOR for gross motor domain was 1.34 (1.11-1.61).Conclusion: ASs ≤ 8 compared with those ≥ 9 at 5min, even considering the change of AS from 1 to 5min, were associated with increased ORs for developmental delay in 3-year-olds. Even ASs that are considered normal might affect the subsequent development. What is Known: • Apgar score is a general tool for evaluating the vitality of newborns. It is also basically measured at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth and the scores of ≥7 are considered normal. • The Apgar scores at each minute affect clinical findings of neonates after birth and the subsequent long-term development. What is New: • Neonates with Apgar scores of ≤8 at 5 minutes compared with those of ≥9, including the change in Apgar score from 1 minute to 5 minutes, are associated with increased odds ratios for developmental status at 3 years of age adjusting for perinatal and socioeconomic confounders.