Effect of preterm birth on growth and cardiovascular disease risk at school age.

BACKGROUND: Low birthweight is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in later life, but whether premature birth is also a risk factor for CVD has not been fully determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gestational age and risk factors for CVD at school age. METHODS: Using medical check-up data of school children, the relationship between gestational age and height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and lipid profiles at ages 9 and 12 years were investigated in children born preterm and admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at birth (n = 182; 115 boys and 67 girls). These data were also compared between preterm small for gestational age (SGA) children and preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children. RESULTS: Gestational age was positively associated with height, and inversely associated with systolic blood pressure at school age. Preterm SGA children were significantly shorter and lighter at 9 and 12 years of age compared with preterm AGA children, but there were no significant differences in any CVD risk factors between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In preterm infants, a shorter duration of gestation is associated with higher systolic blood pressure at school age.

Commotio Cordis presenting as a temporary complete atrioventricular block in a 2-year-old girl with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.

This report describes a 2-year-old girl with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) who presented with transient complete atrioventricular (AV) block after a mild chest blow. Running around the house with her older sister, she fell to the floor. Her sister also fell and landed on her. The girl became cyanotic and pale and experienced a transient loss of consciousness. At arrival to the emergency department, she had regained consciousness, but she remained pale. An electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated complete AV block with a heart rate of 78 beats per minute (bpm). The ECG after admission showed a Wenckebach-type second-degree AV block. Day 2 after admission, a 12-lead ECG showed significant ST and T-wave abnormalities in the precordial leads, but the girl had no chest pain and a normal physical examination. Echocardiography demonstrated normal contractility of the systemic right ventricle. The first-degree AV block and the ST and T-wave abnormalities on the 12-lead ECG improved gradually without abnormal Q-waves. This is the first report of ccTGA in which a transient complete AV block naturally recovered after a presentation with commotio cordis.

The health effects of work-family conflict in men and women Japanese civil servants: a longitudinal study.

High level of work-family conflict (WFC) is an important risk factor for stress-related health outcomes. However, many studies are cross-sectional studies. In this study, we aimed to clarify how changes in WFC levels over a period 5 yr can affect workers' mental and physical health, and to clarify whether there are gender differences of them. This study examined 1,808 civil servants (1,258 men and 550 women) aged 20-65 yr working in a local government in the west coast of Japan from 2003 to 2008. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether the change in WFC contributes to workers' health problems and whether there are gender differences. This study revealed association sustained high WFC and deterioration of WFC conflict with poor mental health and poor job satisfaction for both men and women. In men high WFC conflict and deterioration was associated with poor mental health (OR=2.74). On the other hand, women had strong relationship between WFC changes and poor physical health (OR=2.64). WFC was an important factor as a social determinant of health of Japanese civil servants, and the change in WFC affects subsequent health problems with different trends in men and women.

Successful treatment of hemochromatosis with renal tubular dysgenesis in a preterm infant.

We report the first surviving case of neonatal hemochromatosis with renal tubular dysgenesis. Renal failure was treated with peritoneal dialysis. Although hepatic failure from neonatal hemochromatosis was progressive, repeated exchange transfusions improved jaundice and coagulopathy. The patient gained weight and received a liver transplantation from her father.