Daily physical activity in low-risk extremely low birth weight preterm infants: positive impact on bone mineral density and anthropometric measurements.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in bone mineral density and anthropometric indices of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) preterm infants undergoing daily physical activity. Twenty-eight low-risk ELBW preterm infants (intervention group = 14, control group = 14) with a birth weight of under 1000 g and gestational age of 26-32 weeks were recruited. Preterm infants in the control group were provided with standard nursing care, whereas those in the intervention group received a daily physical activity programme in addition to standard nursing care during the study. Before and after the study, anthropometric indices and tibial speed of sound (SOS) values were measured. In this study, the tibial SOS values were found to be increased in the intervention group (+111.14 m/s) (p = 0.001) and decreased in the control group (-58.21 m/s) (p = 0.030). The increase in percentage of body weight, height, and tibial length of infants in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group (respectively; p = 0.002, p = 0,015, p < 0.001). A daily physical activity programme increased body weight, height, tibial length, and SOS values of the tibia in ELBW preterm infants.

Prevalence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic school children.

BACKGROUND: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, discussions regarding the prevalence of COVID-19 in children and the association of this with education have started. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic school children within a limited period while face-to-face education continued. METHODS: This is a descriptive and retrospective study. Screening was carried out in the schools in the three major districts of the metropolitan municipality when face-to-face education was practiced. COVID-19 RT-PCR swab samples were collected from 4,658 students from 46 schools at preschool, primary, secondary, and high school levels by using the stratified sampling method. Screening results were retrospectively analyzed by the researchers. RESULTS: The mean age of the children included in the study was 10.6±3.2 (5-17). Only 46 students` COVID-19 RT-PCR results were positive; the positivity rate was higher in male students than in female students (p > 0.05); the students living in the third region had a higher positivity rate than the other students, there was a statistical difference between them (p < 0.001); there were no positive cases in 26 (56.7%) schools, and the spreader rate of the school children was 0.98%. CONCLUSIONS: We determined in the study that the prevalence of COVID-19 infection was not high in asymptomatic school children in the period when schools were open. This may play a role in directing the education and training during the pandemic.