Children’s neurological diseases are complex. Common clinical diseases include autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, etc. The rehabilitation methods in China mainly start with children’s language and cognition. Animal-assisted intervention is a kind of psychosocial intervention, including animal assisted therapy, animal assisted education or animal assisted activities under specific conditions. With its popularity in the world, this field is rapidly approaching a paradigm shift and can be used as a new supplementary and alternative treatment for children’s neurological diseases. By analyzing the literature on animal-assisted intervention and research on children’s neurological diseases, this paper summarizes the application methods and effects of various types of animals in clinical practice, aiming to provide new intervention methods with scientific theoretical basis for the rehabilitation of children with neurological diseases in China and promote the further development of rehabilitation in China.
Objective To explore the intervention effect of music therapy on children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods The China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Chongqing VIP, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library were searched by computer to comprehensively collect randomized controlled trials on the intervention effect of music therapy on children with autism spectrum disorder. The search period was from the establishment of the database to December 31, 2022. RevMan 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis. Results Finally, 20 articles were included, including 913 cases in the music therapy group and 811 cases in the control group, with a total sample size of 1724 cases. The meta-analysis results showed that the overall treatment effect [standardized mean difference (SMD)=?0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) (?1.12, ?0.78)], the treatment effect of language [SMD=?0.71, 95%CI (?0.84, ?0.57)], behavior [SMD=?0.65, 95%CI (?0.78, ?0.52)], social interaction [SMD=?0.52, 95%CI (?0.63, ?0.40)], cognition [SMD=1.37, 95%CI (1.00, 1.74)] and sensory perception [SMD=?0.89, 95%CI (?1.03, ?0.74)] of the music therapy group were better than those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The existing data show that music therapy applied to children with autism spectrum disorder can effectively improve their language, behavior, social interaction, cognition, and sensory perception, thereby having a positive impact on the overall treatment effect of children. However, due to the limitations of the number and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify.
Objective To analyze the long-term outcome of modified Morrow surgery (interventricular septal cardiomyectomy) in the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) in children. Methods The clinical data of the children with HOCM (aged≤14 years) who underwent modified Morrow surgery from January 2010 to August 2022 in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including changes in hospitalization status, perioperative period, and long-term 15-lead electrocardiogram and echocardiography. Results A total of 29 patients were collected, including 22 males and 7 females, aged 10.00 (5.00, 12.00) years. Five (17.9%) patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart function grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ. Ventricular septal cardiomyectomy was performed in all patients. All 29 patients survived and their cardiac function recovered after operation. Before discharge, right bundle branch block was observed in 2 patients and left bundle branch block in 6 patients. After surgery, in the left ventricular septal cardiomyectomy, the left atrial diameter decreased (P＜0.001), left ventricular end-systolic diameter increased (P=0.009), the peak pressure gradient of left ventricular outflow tract decreased (P＜0.001), and the thickness of ventricular septum decreased (P＜0.001). The systolic anterior motion of mitral valve disappeared and mitral regurgitent jet area decreased (P＜0.001). The flow velocity and peak pressure gradient of right ventricular outflow tract also decreased in the patients who underwent right ventricular septal cardiomyectomy. The average follow-up of the patients was 69.03±10.60 months. All the patients survived with their NYHA cardiac function grading Ⅰ or Ⅱ. No new-onset arrythmia event was found. Echocardiography indicated that the peak pressure gradient of the left ventricular outflow tract remained low (P<0.001). Moderate mitral regurgitation occurred in 2 patients, and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with moderate mitral regurgitation occurred in 1 patient after simple right ventricular septal cardiomyectomy. Conclusion Right ventricular or biventricular obstruction is frequent in the children with HOCM and they usually have more symptoms before surgery. Modified Morrow surgery can effectively relieve outflow tract obstruction and improve their cardiac function. The long-term outcome is satisfactory. However, the posterior wall of the left ventricle remains hypertrophic. Also, there is an increased risk of a conduction block.
ObjectiveComparing the worldwide Essential Medicines Lists for Children (EMLcs) and National Essential Medicine List (NEML) of China (2012 edition), to provide evidence for establishing EMLc of China.
MethodWe searched the official websites of WHO and Ministry of Health of some countries to identify published EMLcs. We compared the situation of updating, the number and classification of medicines, and the dosage forms between these EMLcs and NEML of China (2012).
ResultBy August 2013, the WHO, India and South Africa had established EMLc. The number of medicines of NEML of China (2012) ranked first in the four lists. The WHO, India and China classified the medicines by pharmacologic action, while South Africa classified it by anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification. Except the WHO, India, South Africa and China did not have specific medicines for neonatal care or medicines for diseases of joints. The main administration routes in these four lists were oral administration, injection, and topical application. There were medicine restrictions in EMLcs of WHO and India, while no medicine restrictions in lists of South Africa and China.
ConclusionMedicines listed in NEML of China (2012) do not match children's disease burden of China. The applicable dosage forms for children are few and the medicine restrictions are absent for the list. So this list is not suitable for Children.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between macular cherry red spot (CS) and severity of neurological manifestations in Chinese children with sialidosis (SD) type I. MethodsA evidence-based medical study. "China", "Sialidosis" and "Sialidoses" were used as Chinese and English search terms. The literature was searched in CNKI, Wanfang and PubMed. The cases were all from China and matched the diagnostic criteria. According to the presence or absence of CS in the fundus, the SD children were divided into a group with CS (+) and a group without CS (?), and the correlation between the occurrence of ocular CS and neurological manifestations was compared with meta-analysis by RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsSixty-eight studies were initially retrieved according to the search strategy, and 17 studies were finally included, and 5 studies with CS+ and CS? were meta-analyzed. Among the 43 patients, 28 were male and 15 were female, with a median age of 12 years. Visual impairment was observed in 37 cases (90.2%, 37/41, 2 cases not recorded), and CS was present in 24 cases (55.8%, 24/43). The most common neurological manifestation was myoclonus (97.7%, 42/43), followed by cerebellar ataxia (95.1%, 39/41, 2 cases not recorded) and seizures (91.4%, 32/35, 8 cases not recorded). Pathogenic NEU1 gene mutations were detected in 42 cases and one case was undocumented. The incidence of seizure in group CS+ (100%, 20/20) was higher than that in group CS? (80%, 12/15). Meta-analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the incidence of myoclonus or ataxia [relative risk (RR)=1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-1.63, P=0.49] and seizure (RR=1.13, 95% CI 0.84-2.06, P=0.24) among the children in the CS+ and CS? groups. ConclusionsThe incidence of ocular CS in Chinese children with type I SD was 55.8%. There was no correlation with neurological manifestations, however the incidence of seizure was significantly higher in patients with CS than in others without CS.
Objective To investigate the application and effectiveness of metatarsal mortise and tenon shortening osteotomy in the treatment of macrodactyly in children. Methods The clinical data of 17 children with macrodactyly (18 feet and 27 toes) admitted between January 2018 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males (12 feet and 18 toes) and 5 females (6 feet and 9 toes); the age ranged from 1 to 13 years, with a median age of 5 years. All children were treated with metatarsal mortise and tenon shortening osteotomy. Ten cases of single-segment metatarsals were shortened, 7 cases of 2-segment metatarsals, and 1 case of 3-segment metatarsals; involved 1 foot of single toe, 9 feet of 2 toes, 3 feet of 3 toes, 3 feet of 4 toes, and 2 feet of 5 toes. Five cases had lameness, and 1 case had limited walking with the big toes of both feet, and there was no obvious pain in all children. X-ray films showed that the involved phalanges were thickened and increased in 18 feet, and the deformity of the distal segment was heavier than that of the proximal segment in 13 feet, and the two were similar in 5 feet. The length of metatarsal shortening was 0.7-2.5 cm, with an average of 1.2 cm. The clinical healing of shortened metatarsal fractures in children was observed after operation, and the occurrence of related complications was recorded. ResultsAll 17 children were followed up 6-22 months, with an average of 14 months. All incisions healed by first intention. The osteotomy ends of 27 toes were clinically healed after operation, and the healing time was 4-8 weeks. No nonunion, fracture displacement, malunion, epiphyseal plate premature closure, and needle tract infection occurred. ConclusionMetatarsal mortise and tenon shortening osteotomy is a good osteotomy method. It can improve the stability of the osteotomy end and increase the contact surface of the osteotomy end, which is conducive to the healing of the osteotomy end and is suitable for the treatment of macrodactyly.
This study is to provide reference for the proper understanding of the content of " Promoting innovation and access to quality, safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines for children” resolution of 69th World Health Assembly (WHA), and facilitate the policy making and implication of the Resolution. Through descriptive analysis, the author introduce the proposal background and approving process of the resolution, and interpret the resolution content. The approval of " Promoting innovation and access to quality, safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines for children” at WHA represents China's international discourse right on improving the basic medical service among children, the most vulnerable population; highlights China's responsibility and magnitude of a great nation. It is an effective promotion for China's new medical reform and the implication of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as a great contribution to the global health of children from China.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of Cross-Union surgery for the treatment of pseudarthrosis of the tibia (PT) with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). MethodsThe clinical data of 8 children of PT with NF1 who met the selection criteria between January 2018 and December 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 boys and 3 girls, and the operative age ranged from 1.8 to 13.3 years with a median age of 3.5 years. According to Paley classification, there were 2 cases of type 2a, 2 cases of type 3, 2 cases of type 4a, and 2 cases of type 4c. There were 5 cases of first operation and 3 cases of re-fracture after previous operation. Six cases had leg length discrepancy before operation, and 2 of them had shortening over 2.0 cm. Except for 1 case of ankle fusion, the other 7 cases had ankle valgus. Preoperative coronal/sagittal angulation was recorded. Postoperative pseudarthrosis healing and refracture were observed. Leg length discrepancy and tibiotalar angle were measured and recorded before operation and at last follow-up. Inan imaging evaluation criteria was used to evaluate the imaging effect. ResultsAll patients were followed up 12-37 months (mean, 23.5 months). One pseudarthrosis failed to heal at 12 months after operation and healed at 3 months after reoperation, while the other pseudarthrosis healed with a healing rate of 87.5% and a healing time of 4-8 months (mean, 5.3 months). No refracture occurred during the follow-up. At last follow-up, there were 2 new cases with leg length discrepancy, which were 0.7 cm and 1.3 cm, respectively. In 2 cases with the leg length discrepancy more than 2.0 cm before operation, the improvement was from 4.1 cm and 12.6 cm to 2.1 cm and 9.0 cm, respectively. There was no significant difference in leg length discrepancy between pre- and post-operation in 8 cases (P>0.05). At last follow-up, 6 patients still had ankle valgus, and there was no significant difference in the tibiotalar angle between pre- and post-operation (P>0.05); the tibial coronal/sagittal angulation significantly improved when compared with that before operation (P<0.05). According to Inan imaging evaluation criteria, 1 case was good, 6 cases were fair, and 1 case was poor. Conclusion Cross-Union surgery is an effective method for the treatment of PT with NF1 in children, can achieve good bone healing results with a low risk of re-fracture. The surgery may not have significant effects on leg length discrepancy and ankle valgus, and further treatment may be required.
Objective To systematically review the literatures on left-behind children’s mental health status, and to describe and analyze the current domestic left-behind children’s main psychological health problems. Methods With the search terms and strategies predefined by repeated discuss and pre-retrieval, the literatures in Chinese published before March 2011 were searched in following four Chinese databases including Chinese Biological Medical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WanFang Dissertation Database (WF). All research papers that reported the left-behind children’s mental health status and problems within China were included. Two reviewers independently screened the literatures and extracted the data. Disagreements were resolved by discussion or by involving a third researcher. The qualitative synthesis method was used to analyze the studies, while the meta-analysis was not adopted because of the tremendous heterogeneity of each study on the definition of left-behind children, study design and outcomes. Results A total of 155 studies were included for the final analysis and all of them were the cross-sectional study including 63 uncontrolled cross-sectional studies and 92 controlled cross-sectional studies. Most of the results showed that compared with the non-left-behind children, the left-behind children’s mental health level was lower and there were many psychological problems. While several studies suggested that there was no significant difference between the two groups. The left-behind children in different types (such as different gender, age, guardianship types, the migrant condition of parents, etc.) had different mental health problems. Conclusion The results of the current research indicate that the left-behind children have many mental health problems. However, the results are still controversial. The definitions of left-behind children have not been unified and the quality of current studies is generally low, which might influence the synthesis of results. High quality of controlled studies and long-term prospective cohort studies need to be conducted to study more accurately and deeply on the left-behind children’s mental health and on the differences between the left-behind children and non-left-behind children.
Objective
To compare the effectiveness of titanium elastic nail (TEN) and locking compression plate fixation in treating femoral subtrochanteric fracture in older children.
Methods
Between April 2015 and September 2016, 35 older children (aged 7-13 years) with femoral subtrochanteric fractures were treated, the clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. TEN fixation was used in 19 cases (group A) and locking compression plate fixation in 16 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in age, gender, sides, fracture causes, type of fracture, and time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P>0.05). The fluoroscopy times, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time were recorded and compared between 2 groups. The limb function was evaluated according to the Sanders scores and Flynnet al. outcome score.
Results
All the patients were followed up 6-24 months (mean, 11.46 months). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and fracture healing time of group A were significantly less than those of group B, but the fluoroscopy times of group A was significantly more than that of group B (P<0.05). All the fractures were healed, no breakage of screw, infection of deep tissue, nerve injury, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, or other complication occurred. At last follow-up, according to the Sanders scores, the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 1 case in group A with an excellent and good rate of 94.74%; the results were excellent in 12 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case in group B with an excellent and good rate of 93.75%; showing no significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=0.400, P=0.980). According to the Flynn et al. outcome score, the results were excellent in 13 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 1 case in group A with an excellent and good rate of 94.74%; the results were excellent in 11 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases in group B with an excellent and good rate of 87.50%; showing no significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=0.748, P=0.688).
Conclusion
Both TEN and locking compression plate have satisfactory outcomes for treating pediatric femoral subtrochanteric fractures. TEN method has minimally trauma, security, and faster fracture healing when compared with locking compression plate.
