The function of chemical folic acid in calibration methods and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Functional molecules have been attracting increasing attention in environmental and physiological studies. In particular, folic acid (FA) could be considered a key factor in estimating, adjusting, and making decisions in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. It promotes the general significance and conceptual for considering FA molecular scientific research detections, which implies related advancement in both of biological structure and detection methods. Among these applications, the FA molecule acts as a coenzyme that incorporates carbon atoms and synthesizes purines and pyrimidines. Therefore, the calibration method has real applications and can be used as a sensing platform and for detection approaches, which conveys the internal relationship between the FA molecule and physiological characterization. This mini review briefly discusses multiple FA application fields and detection pathways and could supplement their utilization in anticipation of the onset of disease.

Umbilical Cord Blood Betaine in Infants Born Small for Gestational Age.

Background: Birth weight is of importance due to its relation to fetal health, and it's also a predictor of the subsequent development of the child. Objective: This study aims to assess whether betaine is associated with poor fetal growth. Design: A case-control study was used in this study. Setting: The study took place at the Chongqing Maternal and Child Health Hospital, in Chong Qing, China. Participants: A total of 141mother-infant pairs were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics of our hospital between June 2021 and December 2021. According to gestational age and birth weight, themother-infant pairs were divided into small-for-gestational-age and appropriate-for-gestational-age groups. Primary Outcome Measures: Cord plasma concentrations of betaine were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were determined using commercially available assays on an automatic biochemical analyzer (BS-240 VET, Mindray Medical, Shenzhen, China) using reagent from Mindray Medical company. Results: Cord plasma betaine concentrations were higher in small-for-gestational-age relative to appropriate-for-gestational-age newborns, and were not correlated to lipid levels. Adjusting for maternal and neonatal characteristics, birth weight and birth length were negatively correlated with the levels of betaine. Higher betaine concentrations were associated with increased risks of small-for-gestational-age. Conclusions: Elevated cord blood betaine concentration was independently associated with a higher risk of small-for-gestational-age infants, suggesting that betaine dysregulation may be a risk factor for impaired fetal growth.

The association between umbilical cord blood fat-soluble vitamin concentrations and infant birth weight.

Background: Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D and E, play an important role in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, and may affect infant birth weight. Evidence on the association of birthweight with fat-soluble vitamins is controversial. Therefore, this study aims is to determine the associations of birthweight with vitamin A, D, and E concentrations in cord blood. Methods: A total of 199 mother-infant pairs were enrolled in the study. According to gestational age and birth weight, the mother-infant pairs were divided into small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA), and large for gestational age (LGA). The Vitamin A, D, and E concentrations in serum were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. Results: The concentrations of vitamin A in the SGA group were significantly lower than those in the AGA and LGA groups. The concentrations of vitamin E in the SGA group were significantly higher than those in the AGA and LGA groups. However, no significant differences were observed in vitamin D among the three groups. Being male (ß = 0.317, p < 0.001) and birth weight (ß = 0.229, p = 0.014) were positively correlated with the levels of vitamin A. Birth weight (ß = -0.213, p= 0.026) was correlated with lower levels of vitamin E. No correlation was found between influencing Factors and the levels of vitamin D (p> 0.05). After adjusting for gestational age, sex, mother's age, delivery mode, pre-pregnancy BMI, and weight gain during pregnancy, the levels of cord blood vitamin A were positively correlated with birth weight (p=0.012). Conclusion: The infant's birth weight is associated with the levels of cord blood vitamins A and E. The dysregulation of vitamins A and E in infants may be a risk factor for fetal growth and future metabolic diseases.

Comparison of mothers' perceptions of hunger cues in 3-month-old infant under different feeding methods.

BACKGROUND: Mothers' perception of infant hunger cues is a critical content of responsive feeding, which is central to the promotion of early childhood development. However, only a few studies have examined responsive feeding in China, especially lacking the studies on perceptions of infant hunger cues. Consider the cultural differences, the aim of this study was to describe the perceptions of infant hunger cues of Chinese mothers for infants aged 3 months, and explore the relationship between maternal perceptions of infant hunger cues and different feeding methods. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 326 mothers of healthy 3-month-old infants, including 188 exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) mothers and 138 formula feeding (FF) mothers. It was implemented in four provincial and municipal maternal and child health hospitals. The mothers' perceptions of infant hunger cues were surveyed by self-reporting questionnaires. Chi-square tests and logistic analysis were applied to analyze the differences in maternal perceptions of infant hunger cues, including the number of hunger cues and the specific cues, between EBF group and FF group by controlling sociodemographic variables and the daily nursing indicators. RESULTS: We found that a higher proportion of EBF mothers could perceive multiple hunger cues (≥ 2) than FF mothers (66.5% vs.55.1%). For specific cues, the EBF mothers had higher perceptions of infant's "hand sucking" (67.6% vs. 53.6%) and "moving head frantically from side to side" (34.6% vs. 23.9%), all p < 0.05. Regression analysis revealed that EBF might support mothers to perceive infant hunger cues than FF mothers, with the number of infant hunger cues (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.01-2.85), "hand sucking" (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.04-2.87), "moving head frantically from side to side" (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.19-3.62). The number of infant hunger cues perceived by mothers was also associated with their educational level and family structure. CONCLUSION: EBF mothers of 3-month-old infants may be more likely to perceive infant hunger cues than FF mothers in China. It is necessary to increase the health education about infant hunger and satiety cues to caregivers in China, especially among mothers with lower education levels, mothers living in nuclear families, and FF mothers.

Cord blood 25(OH)D3, cord blood total immunoglobulin E levels, and food allergies in infancy: A birth cohort study in Chongqing, China.

Background: Food allergy (FA) in infants has become a common disease worldwide. There are many controversies surrounding the relationships among levels of cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3], total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and FA. Methods: In this study, we recruited pregnant women in the third trimester undergoing obstetric examination in Chongqing City, Western China. Healthy full-term singleton births between May to August 2018 and November 2018 to January 2019 were included in the summer-birth and winter-birth cohorts, respectively. Questionnaires on vitamin D status in pregnancy and family allergies were used to investigate the pregnant women. The levels of <12 ng/mL, 12～20 ng/mL, and >20 ng/mL 25(OH)D3 in cord blood detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry were considered deficient, insufficient, and sufficient, respectively. The electrochemiluminescence method was used to detect the total lgE levels in cord blood, classified into low-IgE (<0.35 IU/mL) and high-IgE (≥0.35 IU/mL) levels, respectively. Within postnatal 6 months, allergic symptoms in infants were investigated using questionnaire during the infants' monthly physical examinations. Suspected cases of FA underwent a history inquiry, skin prick test, food elimination test, and open-food challenge for diagnosis of FA. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of FA in infants. Results: In this study, we recruited 741 pairs of pregnant women and infants, including 343 infants in the summer-birth cohort and 398 infants in the winter-birth cohort. The incidence of FA within postnatal 6 months was 6.88%, showing significantly higher incidence of FA in the winter-birth cohorts than in the summer-birth cohorts (10.3% vs. 2.9%, χ2 = 15.682, P = 0.000). Among the 741 infants, 47.1%, 27.5%, and 13.8% of infants had deficient, insufficient, and sufficient 25(OH)D3, respectively, in the cord blood; 81.5% and 18.5% of infants had total low-IgE and total high-IgE levels, respectively, in the cord blood. No significant correlation was found between the 25(OH)D3 and IgE levels (r = -0.038, P = 0.300). Logistic regression analysis showed that winter birth [odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.292 (2.003～8.359)] compared with infants in summer birth group, and sufficient (>20 ng/mL) 25(OH)D3 levels in cord blood [OR (95% CI): 2.355 (1.129～4.911) compared with infants in the deficient group (<12 ng/mL) and 3.782 (1.680～8.514) compared with infants in the insufficient group (12～20 ng/mL)] were independent risk factors for FA in infants within postnatal 6 months. Conclusions: Winter birth and sufficient 25(OH)D3 levels in infant cord blood were independent risk factors for FA in infants. 25(OH)D3 and total IgE levels in cord blood cannot be used as predictors of FA in early infancy.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in children with autism spectrum disorder. / å­¤ç‹¬ç—‡è°±ç³»éšœç¢å„¿ç«¥çš„è¡€æ¸ èƒ°å²›ç´ æ ·ç”Ÿé•¿å› å­-1å’Œèƒ°å²›ç´ æ ·ç”Ÿé•¿å› å­ç»“åˆè›‹ç™½-3æ°´å¹³ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To study the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their association with the core symptoms of ASD. METHODS: A total of 150 ASD children aged 2-7 years (ASD group) and 165 healthy children matched for age and sex (control group) who were recruited at the outpatient service of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children were enrolled as subjects. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used to evaluate the core symptoms of the ASD children. Chemiluminescence was used to measure the serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in both groups. RESULTS: The ASD group had a significantly lower serum level of IGF-1 than the control group (P<0.05). The children with severe ASD had significantly lower serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 than those with mild-to-moderate ASD (P<0.001). For the children aged 2-3 years, the ASD group had a significantly lower serum level of IGF-1 than the control group (P<0.05). Boys had a significantly lower serum level of IGF-1 than girls in both ASD and control groups (P<0.05). The serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were negatively correlated with the total score of CARS (r=-0.32 and -0.40 respectively, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in serum IGF-1 level in early childhood may be associated with the development of ASD, and the serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 are associated with the core symptoms of ASD children.

A prospective cohort study of cord blood 25(OH)D3 and food allergies in 6-month-old Chinese infants.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is closely related to childhood allergic diseases, such as food allergies, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. However, it is unclear whether vitamin D status in the cord blood from mothers is related to food allergies in infants. OBJECTIVE: We performed a prospective cohort study on the relationship between the cord blood vitamin D [i.e., 25-hydroxyvitamin D3(25(OH)D3)] level and infant food allergies. METHODS: This study selected 741 newborns to observe until 6 months of age and used open oral food challenges (OFCs) to diagnose their food allergies. Cord blood and 6-month serum 25(OH)D3 levels of the infants were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The proportion of children with cord blood 25(OH)D3 deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) was 86.27%. Cord blood vitamin D was positively correlated with the supplementation frequency of egg yolk, multivitamins, calcium, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy and the mother's age. No significant difference was found in the cord blood 25(OH)D3 level between summer born and winter born infants (p = 0.465). After adjusting for seasonal factors, the risk of food allergies in the 25(OH)D3 non-deficiency group was 2.72 times that of the 25(OH)D3 deficiency group. Infants in the 25(OH)D3 non-deficiency group ≥20 ng/mL) had a higher risk of allergies compared with the deficiency group (< 20 ng/mL) (RR = 2.49). CONCLUSIONS: Cord blood 25(OH)D3 is associated with infant food allergies. Maintaining 25(OH)D3 in maternal cord blood at a low level may be conducive to the prevention of infant food allergies.

Effects of baby-friendly practices on breastfeeding duration in China: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is generally considered an effective way to promote breastfeeding. Although China has the largest number of baby-friendly hospitals in the world, research on baby-friendly practices in China is limited, and the rate of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 6 months, 20.7%, compared to the 2025 global goal of 50% is low. It is, therefore, important to determine the factors that remain significant barriers to EBF in China. To explore how the key baby-friendly practices affect EBF duration in China, we used a case-control study to compare the effects of baby-friendly-related practices on both EBF and non-breastfeeding (NBF) mothers at 3 months and to investigate the effects of both single and comprehensive baby-friendly practices in promoting EBF duration at 3 months, which is one step toward EBF at 6 months. METHODS: Participants were recruited from four maternal and child health hospitals in western (Chongqing), eastern (Qingdao), southern (Liuzhou), and central China (Maanshan). A total of 421 mothers (245 in the EBF group, 176 in the NBF group) of infants aged 3 months were surveyed through a self-reported questionnaire from April 2018 to March 2019. The experience of baby-friendly practices and breastfeeding during hospitalization were assessed with yes/no questions. Socio-demographic factors that influenced breastfeeding at 3 months were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of mothers in the EBF group, 65.57% reported engaging in at least seven baby-friendly practices compared to 47.72% of mothers in the NBF group. Significantly more mothers in the EBF group engaged in baby-friendly practices than in the NBF group. These practices included "breastfeeding within one hour after birth" (74.29% vs. 59.09%), "breastfeeding on demand" (86.48% vs. 75.00%), and "never use a pacifier" (46.53% vs. 31.25%). After adjusting for confounding variables, we found that the mothers who engaged in fewer than seven baby-friendly practices were about 1.7 times less likely to breastfeed than were those who engaged in seven or more baby-friendly practices (odds ratio [OR] 1.720, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.106, 2.667). Further, the mothers who did not breastfeed on demand were as likely to not breastfeed up to 3 months (OR 2.263, 95% CI 1.265, 4.049), as were mothers who did not breastfeed during hospitalization (OR 4.379, 95% CI 1.815, 10.563). CONCLUSIONS: These data from hospitals in China suggest that higher compliance with baby-friendly practices may have a positive impact on EBF at 3 months, particularly in terms of promoting the implementation of breastfeeding on demand and breastfeeding during hospitalization in China.

The Possible Effects of Breastfeeding on Infant Development at 3 Months: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: To examine the influence of exclusive breastfeeding on infant development among 3-month-old infants in a Chinese population. Methods: Mothers and their 3-month-old infants were recruited from four maternal and child health hospitals from April 2018 to March 2019. Based on the infants' feeding patterns, the mother-infant dyads were divided into two groups: exclusive breastfeeding and formula feeding groups. Infant development was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, 3rd edition (ASQ-C), and maternal depression, parenting confidence, and infant temperament were also assessed using the relevant scales/questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the effects of feeding patterns on infant development at 3 months. Results: The data from 417 mother-infant dyads were analyzed. For the breastfeeding group and formula feeding group, the risk of developmental delay measured by the ASQ-C was 4.1% (10/244) and 9.3% (16/173) respectively for the communication domain; 5.7% (14/244) and 8.1% (14/173) for problem-solving domain and 6.2% (15/244) and 12.1% (21/173) for personal-social domain, respectively. Compared with exclusive breastfeeding, formula feeding was a risk factor for delayed development of communication (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] = 2.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42-4.75) problem-solving (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.06-3.45), and personal-social skills (aOR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.12-3.42). Conclusions: Exclusive breastfeeding is important for infant communication, problem solving, and social interaction at the age of 3 months. Formula-fed infants may be at a higher risk of developmental delay than exclusively breast-fed infants. It is necessary to encourage mothers to establish and continuous breastfeeding.

Using epidemiological data to identify needs for child-rearing support among Chinese parents: a cross-sectional survey of parents of children aged 6 to 35 months in 15 Chinese cities.

BACKGROUND: The quality of the family environment-in particular, the kind of parenting children receive in their early years-plays a critical role in influencing children's growth and development. To facilitate the development and delivery of appropriate parenting and family interventions for Chinese parents, this study explores the prevalence of the difficulties that may arise in the course of child-rearing, the associated sociodemographic factors and parents' help-seeking behavior. METHODS: A cross-sectional self-reporting survey was conducted with a sample of 2229 parents of children between 6 and 35 months of age. Using a stratified random-digit design, parents from 15 Chinese cities were surveyed to determine their child-rearing difficulties, support-seeking behavior and their preferences for service delivery. The sociodemographic factors that influenced major child-rearing difficulties were analyzed using bivariate and logistic analyses. RESULTS: The majority (87.5%) of Chinese parents of children aged 6-35 months reported experiencing child-rearing difficulties. Nearly one third (31.5%) of parents reported experiencing major difficulties. Feeding and sleep problems were most often reported. Regression analysis revealed that major child-rearing difficulties most often involved male children (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.11-1.64), single-child households (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.07-1.77), and households with financial problems (OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.06-1.85). Just over one third of parents (33.44%) sought professional support, while 21.37% had attended a parenting course in the past year. Prefer ways of sourcing parental support included professional online platform (69.24%), self-help books (43.70%), face-to-face consultation (24.99%), and attending lectures (36.57%). CONCLUSIONS: Child-rearing difficulties are common among parents of children between 6 and 35 months of age in Chinese cities. The family with boys, single-child, financial problems, and father not joining in child-rearing may face the high risk to major child-rearing difficulties. The national initiative to provide more guidance and support for child-rearing difficulties is worthwhile, as is the development of online parenting programs.

[A prospective study of the development of nocturnal sleep patterns in infants].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the development of nocturnal sleep pattern in infants. METHODS: Fifty healthy full-term newborns born in Chongqing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital were chosen for a prospective longitudinal study. A non-invasive sleep monitor, Actiwatch, was used to monitor infants' 12 sleep parameters on the 10th day, 28th day, the first Tuesday at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th and 12th month after birth, each monitoring time lasting 60 hours. All sleep parameters were analyzed by two-level mixed effect model. RESULTS: Twenty-two boys and 25 girls completed the whole follow-up study. From birth to the 12th month after birth, the nocturnal sleep onset latency (NSOL) decreased by about 48% at 3 months of age and by 83% at 6 months of age. The nocturnal sleep efficiency (NSE%) increased from 66% to 87%, the nocturnal total sleep time (NTST) increased from 416 minutes to 517 minutes, and the longest nocturnal continuous sleeping time (L-NCST) increased from 197 minutes to 327 minutes. NSE%, NTST and L-NCST increased with age (P<0.01). The 3rd to 12th month ratios of NSE%, NTST and L-NCST were 86%, 84% and 72%, respectively, and the 6th to 12th month ratios of those were 97%, 91% and 94%, respectively. The nocturnal total wake time (NTWT) and longest nocturnal continuous waking times (L-NCWT) decreased with age (P<0.01). The decline speeds in the first half year were 5-6 times of those in the second half year after birth (P<0.05). NTST, nocturnal continuous sleeping ability and NSE% in boys were lower than those in girls (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Infantile nocturnal sleep patterns develop rapidly during the first 6 months, especially within the first 3 months after birth. Partial infantile sleep parameters are related to gender.

[Longitudinal study on infantile nocturnal sleep-wake pattern developmental trajectory with Actiwatch].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the infantile nocturnal sleep-wake pattern developmental trajectory with Actiwatch, which would benefit the clinical assessment of infantile sleep. METHOD: This study was a longitudinal study conducted between 7 Oct, 2009-30 Oct, 2011 in 10 hospitals of 9 cities of China ( Beijing, Xi'an, Qingdao, Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing, Huzhou, Xiamen and Liuzhou). Actiwatch was used to track the sleep-wake pattern development trajectory of healthy infants in the first year of life in the home setting. Participating infants were followed up at 10th day and 28th day during the first month, and then monthly from the second to the sixth month after birth, and then at ninth and twelve months of age respectively. Meanwhile, infantile sleep was observed continuously for about 60 hours at each visit. According to the characteristics of repeated measurement data of this study, two-level random effect model was adopted to analyze the trend of infantile nocturnal sleep-wake parameters changing with age, and the gender difference. RESULT: A total of 473 healthy infants were included in this study, among whom 246 (52.0%) were boys, and 227 (48.0%) were girls; 355 (75.1%) infants completed the whole year follow-up survey. With infants' age increasing, the latency of infants' nighttime sleep onset decreased from 66.8 minutes on 10th day to 15.5-18.7 minutes at 6-12 months of age. The number of night wakes also decreased with age, while uninterrupted sleep periods lengthened with age. On the 10th day, there were 3.0 times of nightwaking on average, and the longest continuous sleeping interval lasted for 227.6 minutes on average. At 12-month of age, infants could sleep continuously for 350.9 minutes at most on average, while the number of nightwaking decreased to 1.6 times per night on average. Generally, nighttime sleep efficiency increased from 66.3% on the 10th day to 86.3% at 12-month of age. The differences of sleep-wake patterns between boys and girls presented as boys' nocturnal longest uninterrupted sleep period was 19 minutes shorter(266.6 vs. 285.6 min), and the average nighttime sleep efficiency was 2.2% lower (74.2% vs. 76.4%) compared with girls respectively. And the differences of sleep efficiency between boys and girls reduced gradually along with the growth. CONCLUSION: During the first 6 months after birth, infantile sleep-wake pattern undergo obvious change. The capability of sleep-onset and uninterrupted sleep improved with age, and the sleep efficiency increased.

[Effect of eating behavior intervention on infants in the urban area of Chongqing, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how to establish good eating behavior and correct bad eating habits in infants by means of the child health care outpatient clinic and to promote the growth and development of infants. METHODS: Infants aged 0-3 months, who were randomly selected from the urban area of Chongqing, were divided into intervention and control groups. The infants in the intervention group received all intervention measures in the study, while those in the control group received conventional health care. Both groups were subjected to regular monitoring of eating behavior indices including time of introduction of foods, frequency of adding complementary foods and intake frequency of unhealthy foods to analyze the effect of intervention. RESULTS: In the intervention group, foods were introduced at a reasonable time (P<0.01). Compared with those in the control group, the children aged 9 and 12 months in the intervention group had a significantly higher intake frequency of meat, vegetables and fruits (P<0.01) and a significantly lower intake frequency of sweet drinks (P<0.05), children aged 18 and 24 months in the intervention group had a significantly lower intake frequency of sweet drinks (P<0.01), and the children aged 24 months in the intervention group had a significantly lower intake frequency of ice cream (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Eating behavior intervention can promote the proper introduction of foods and regular addition of supplementary foods, as well as decrease the intake frequency of unhealthy foods such as sweet drinks and ice cream, thus improving the eating behavior of infants.

[Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among infants in Chongqing urban area].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among infants in Chongqing urban area, and to provide a basis for early intervention in cases of childhood obesity. METHODS: A total of 2139 infants aged one month were selected by stratified cluster sampling. They underwent growth monitoring and evaluation at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after birth. Meanwhile, related factors were investigated using a standardized questionnaire. The data was subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the risk factors for overweight and obesity among infants aged 18 months. RESULTS: The detection rate of overweight and obesity increased rapidly after birth, reaching 26.04% at six months, and then decreased gradually, reaching 15.89% at 18 months. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed nine variable factors that were significantly correlated with overweight and obesity among infants aged 18 months, including nutritional status of the father, nutritional status of the infants at birth and at 6, 9 and 12 months after birth, feeding patterns at 3 months, frequency of vegetable intake at 12 months, frequency of sweet beverage addition at 18 months, and bedtime at 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity are prevalent among infants in Chongqing urban area, and these conditions are affected by multiple factors. Early comprehensive intervention is recommended to curb prevalence.

[Prognoses of food allergy in infancy].

OBJECTIVE: Food allergy as one of social health problems has gained more attention of people. However, few reports on prognosis of food allergy, the relation between infant food allergy and other allergic diseases, and factors affecting prognoses of infant food allergy in China. The present study was designed to investigate the evolution of infancy food allergy and to explore predicting factors of the tolerance to these foods and factors of other allergic diseases to provide a clue for managing children with food allergy reasonably and to improve their prognoses. METHODS: Totally 119 children with food allergy during infancy, who were diagnosed in the Department of Primary Child Care, Children's Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences from January 2000 to June 2003, were studied retrospectively by analyzing the follow-up data before March 2004. The occurrence of food tolerance and other allergic diseases were counted. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to calculate the cumulative tolerance probability. And the predicting factors of persistent food allergy and influential factors of other allergic diseases were analyzed by unconditional Logistic regression models. RESULTS: The cumulative tolerance probabilities of cow's milk and egg were 42% and 31% one year after diagnosis respectively, 63% and 62% 2 years later, 77% and 80% 3 years later, and 100% after 4 years. And the severity of skin prick test reactions to cow's milk and egg was the predicting factor for persisting hypersensitivity to cow's milk and egg (OR = 2.535, 95% CI: 1.159-5.543; OR = 2.654, 95% CI: 1.302-5.410, P < 0.05). Thirteen cases presented with hypersensitivity to other foods (15.6 +/- 6.1) months after the diagnosis was confirmed, and the risk factor was the long-lasting hypersensitivity to egg (OR = 6.109, 95% CI: 1.818-20.527, P < 0.05). After 4 cases and 15 cases were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and asthma, respectively, (16.8 +/- 8.3) months after diagnoses and the risk factors were the long-lasting hypersensitivity to egg and the respiratory symptoms (OR = 3.596, 95% CI: 1.429-9.045; OR = 4.235, 95% CI: 1.152-15.563, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: At least 75% of children with egg or cow's milk allergy could develop tolerance to egg or cow's milk within 3 years after diagnoses; 10.9%, 12.6% and 3.4% of children with food allergy suffered from other food allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis. Strengthening the screening and management of children at high risk for persistent food allergy will contribute to improvement of the prognoses of food allergy.