[Association between obesity and sleep disorders among children in Lanzhou, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of obesity and sleep disorders and the association between them among children in Lanzhou, China. METHODS: The stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 3 283 primary school students in four districts of Lanzhou of Gansu province. Physical examination and sleep questionnaire were conducted to screen out the children who met the criteria for sleep disorders or obesity as subjects. Among the 3 283 children, 200 healthy children without sleep disorders or obesity were enrolled as the control group. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of obesity among the 3 283 children was 5.76% (189/3 283). Among these 189 obese children, 80 (42.3%) had sleep disorders. The prevalence rate of sleep disorders was 16.24% (533/3 283), and the prevalence rate of obesity among the children with sleep disorders was 24.6% (131/533). Snoring was the most common sleep disorder in obese children. The prevalence rate of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome was 45% (36/80) among obese children with sleep disorders. The obese children had a significantly higher prevalence rate of sleep disorders than the children with normal body weight [42.3% (80/189) vs 20% (40/200), P<0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: There is a close relationship between obesity and sleep disorders in children in Lanzhou, China.

[Correlation between vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphism and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in vitamin D deficiency rickets].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphism Fokand vitamin D deficiency rickets in children between 1 to 3 years old, and to explore the significance of hereditary factors in the development of vitamin D deficiency rickets. METHODS: Sixty-two children with vitamin D deficiency rickets and 60 healthy children as a control group were enrolled. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 were measured using ELISA. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) genetic analysis method was used. A restriction fragment length polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphism Fok I was tested. The frequencies of the vitamin D receptor genotype and allele were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels in the rickets group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( 9.1+/-4.1 ng/mL vs 16.1+/-6.9 ng/mL; P<0.05 ). FF genotype in the vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphism Fok I was more common in the rickets group than in the control group (53% vs 25%; P<0.05). F allele frequency in the rickets group was significantly higher than that in the control group (73% vs 57%; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a correlation between vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphism Fok I and vitamin D deficiency rickets. This suggests that vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphism might play an important role in determining susceptibility to development of vitamin D deficiency rickets.

[Plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB in neonates with asphyxia complicated by myocardial injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes and the clinical significance of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB (GPBB) levels in neonates with asphyxia complicated by myocardial injury. METHODS: Sixty-four neonates with asphyxia (39 mild, 25 severe) were enrolled. Of the 64 neonates, 30 had myocardial injury and 34 did not develop myocardial injury. Twenty-five healthy neonates served as a control group. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB were measured using ELISA. Myocardial enzymes and cardiac troponin I were stimultaneously measured, and electrocardiography and chest radiographs were obtained. RESULTS: The plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB in neonates with myocardial injury were significantly higher than those in neonates without myocardial injury and in the control group (P<0.01). The neonates with severe asphyxia had significantly increased plasma NT-proBNP and GPBB concentrations compared to those with mild asphyxia and the control group (P<0.01). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that plasma NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with plasma GPBB level in neonates with asphyxia. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB were also positively correlated with plasma levels of CK-MB, CK and LDH (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both NT-proBNP and GPBB can be used as biomarkers of myocardial injury in neonates with asphyxia. The measurement of plasma NT-proBNP and GPBB levels was useful in early identification of myocardial injury and severity evaluation in neonates with asphyxia.