Gross motor function and general development of babies born after assisted reproductive technology.

AIM: To elucidate the gross motor function and general development of babies born after assisted reproductive technology (ART). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study subjects comprised 238 babies born after ART and 365 babies as the control. Multiple births, premature and low birth weight babies were excluded. Questionnaires were distributed to mothers and gross motor function and general development were evaluated according to the Ability for Basic Movement Scale for Children (ABMS-C) and Kinder Infant Development Scale (KIDS), respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in gross motor function according to the ABMS-C between the two groups at one, three, six, nine and 12 months of age. The KIDS scores on subscales of expressive language at three months, manipulation at nine months and the total developmental quotient, and subscales of manipulation, receptive language and social relationships with children at 12 months were significantly higher in the ART than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in gross motor function up to 12 months of age between the ART and control groups. However, the total developmental quotient and scores on linguistic and communication capacity of children at 12 months of age were significantly higher in the ART group. These results suggested that ART has no adverse effects on intellectual function, at least during early infancy.

[Summary of the Profiles of 22 Children with Traumatic Brain Injury Tacted with the Japanese Version of the WISC-IV].

The Japanese version of the Wechsler intelligence scale for children-fourth edition (WISC-IV) is often used to assess cognitive dysfunction in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). To reveal the characteristics of cognitive impairment in pediatric TBI, we retrospectively analyzed the results of 22 children with TBI on the WISC-IV that was conducted at the Developmental Evaluation Center of the National Center for Child Health and Development over three years from July 2011 to July 2014. It has been hypothesized that the WISC-IV is limited for revealing neuropsychological dysfunction after traumatic brain injury.

Gait analysis in Down syndrome pediatric patients using a sheet-type gait analyzer: Pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Children with Down syndrome (DS), who are likely to suffer from a large number of musculoskeletal problems, tend to have a unique pattern of walking in clinical settings. Despite such apparent uniqueness, few studies have empirically investigated gait development pattern in DS children, especially at an earlier age. We therefore conducted gait analysis in young DS children who are prescribed insoles, to explore how their gait patterns develop, using the gait parameters identified by Sutherland et al. as determinants of gait maturity of typical children. METHODS: Participants consisted of 63 DS children (31 boys) aged 1-6 years (mean, 4 years 1 month) with a diagnosis of flat feet who were prescribed orthotic insoles. A 2.4 m sheet-type gait analyzer was used to analyze gait pattern. We measured the following variables: walking velocity (cm/min), cadence (steps/min), step length (cm), and single-limb stance phase ratio (%), and examined their relationship with age on regression analysis. RESULTS: Walking velocity and step length were significantly and positively related to age. Cadence was also significantly, but negatively associated with age. In contrast, SLS phase ratio did not have a statistically significant relationship with age. CONCLUSION: Down syndrome children have unique gait development patterns. Although walking velocity, cadence, and step length were found to develop with age, as in typical children, SLS phase ratio did not change with age in DS children. Further studies with a larger sample are necessary to replicate these findings.

Assessment of feeding and swallowing in children: validity and reliability of the Ability for Basic Feeding and Swallowing Scale for Children (ABFS-C).

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to devise a dysphagia scale for disabled children that could be applied by various medical professionals, family members, and personnel in treatment and education institutions and facilities for disabled children and to assess the validity and reliability of that scale, "Ability for Basic Feeding and Swallowing Scale for Children" (ABFS-C). METHODS: Subjects were 54 children (aged 2months to 14years and 7months, median 14months) who visited the National Center for Child Health and Development from January 2012 to December 2013. They were examined using the Fujishima's Grade of Feeding and Swallowing Ability (Fujishima's Grade), the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) and the ABFS-C composed of 5 items (wakefulness, head control, hypersensitivity, oral motor and saliva control). Validity was evaluated according to correlations of the ABFS-C with Fujishima's Grade or WeeFIM. To assess interrater reliability, 17 children were assessed by a doctor and occupational therapist independently. RESULTS: The ABFS-C scores and Fujishima's Grade were correlated using Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Fujishima's Grade was significantly correlated with saliva control (R=0.470) and the total ABFS-C scores (R=0.322) but not with wakefulness (R=-0.014), head control (R=0.122), hypersensitivity (R=-0.009), or oral motor (R=0.139). In addition, the total ABFS-C scores had a significant correlation with the total score of the WeeFIM (R=0.562), motor WeeFIM (R=0.451), cognitive WeeFIM (R=0,478), and the eating subscore of the WeeFIM (R=0.460). Interrater reliability was demonstrated for all items except hypersensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant correlations between the total ABFS-C scores and Fujishima's Grade and WeeFIM, which suggested the need for comprehensive assessments rather than assessments of individual feeding and swallowing functions. To improve the reliability for hypersensitivity, the assessment process for hypersensitivity should be reviewed.