We first established percentile reference curves for infant length and head circumference in Hainan Province based on gender and age in months and compared them with the 2022 national standards and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. This cross-sectional survey involved 2736 infants (1471 boys and 1265 girls) in 18 cities and counties in Hainan Province. Standardized instruments were used to measure head circumference and length. Reference values for Hainan infants\' length and head circumference were determined using the LMS method. Curves were generated using the LMS Chart Maker software. According to the newly established reference curves, the length and head circumference of Hainan infants exhibited a consistent trend of steady growth. However, the average head circumference was below the 2022 national reference values and WHO standards. The mean length was lower than the new national reference values but roughly consistent with the WHO standards. Differences exist in infant length and head circumference in Hainan compared to national and global averages. To enhance infant length and head circumference growth, the health department should encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, ensure infants\' sleep needs at night, and promote the regularity of vitamin D supplementation during the perinatal period.

BACKGROUND: Glycogen storage disease type 0a (GSD0a) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by glycogen synthase deficiency. Short stature is a characteristic feature in 29% of GSD0a patients, but isolated short stature as the only presenting symptom is exceedingly rare, with only 2 cases reported worldwide.
METHODS: A 4-year-old girl presented with persistent growth retardation despite previous treatment for renal tubular acidosis.
METHODS: Based on clinical presentation and whole exome sequencing results, the patient was diagnosed with GSD0a.
METHODS: Uncooked cornstarch therapy was initiated at 2 g/kg every 6 hours.
RESULTS: After 3 years of treatment, the patient\'s height SDS improved from -2.24 to -1.06, with enhanced glycemic control and no complications.
CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes considering GSD0a in unexplained short stature and the value of continuous glucose monitoring. Early diagnosis and treatment can optimize growth in GSD0a patients.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is characterized by short stature with unknown causes. Recent studies showed different gut microbiota flora and reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids in ISS children. However, the roles of the microbiome and metabolites in the pathogenesis of ISS remains largely unknown.
METHODS: We recruited 51 Chinese subjects, comprising 26 ISS children and 25 normal-height control individuals. Untargeted metabolomics was performed to explore the fecal metabolic profiles between groups. A shotgun metagenomic sequencing approach was used to investigate the microbiome at the strains level. Mediation analyses were done to reveal correlations between the height standard deviation (SD) value, the gut microbiome and metabolites.
RESULTS: We detected marked differences in the composition of fecal metabolites in the ISS group, particularly a significant increase in erucic acid and a decrease in spermidine, adenosine and L-5-Hydroxytryptophan, when compared to those of controls. We further identified specific groups of bacterial strains to be associated with the different metabolic profile. Through mediation analysis, 50 linkages were established. KEGG pathway analysis of microbiota and metabolites indicated nutritional disturbances. 13 selected features were able to accurately distinguish the ISS children from the controls (AUC = 0.933 [95%CI, 79.9-100%]) by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the microbiome and the microbial-derived metabolites play certain roles in children\'s growth. These findings provide a new research direction for better understanding the mechanism(s) underlying ISS.

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of hypophosphatemic rickets (HR) in children, explore effectiveness evaluation indicators for the disease, and understand the pattern in height growth among these patients.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the initial clinical data and five-year follow-up data of 85 children with HR treated at Children\'s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2008 to December 2022.
RESULTS: Among the 85 children with HR, there were 46 males (54%) and 39 females (46%). The age at initial diagnosis ranged from 6 months to 13 years and 9 months, with a median age of 2.75 years. The average height standard deviation score was -2.0±1.1. At initial diagnosis, children exhibited reduced blood phosphate levels and elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), with 99% (84/85) presenting with lower limb deformities. The positive rate for PHEX gene mutations was 93% (55/59). One year post-treatment, there was a significant reduction in ALP levels and the gap between the lower limbs (P<0.05). The fastest height growth occurred in the first year after treatment, at 8.23 cm/year, with a peak height velocity (PHV) phase lasting about two years during puberty. The height increased by 9-20 cm in male children during the PHV stage and 10-15 cm in female children. Major complications included nephrocalcinosis and hyperparathyroidism. The incidence rate of nephrocalcinosis in the first year after treatment was 55% (22/40), which increased with the duration of the disease (P<0.001); an increased urinary phosphate/creatinine ratio was positively associated with a higher risk of nephrocalcinosis (OR=1.740, P<0.001). The incidence of hyperparathyroidism in the first year after treatment was 64% (27/42).
CONCLUSIONS: For children presenting with lower limb deformities, short stature, and slow growth, early testing for blood levels of phosphate, calcium, and ALP, along with imaging examinations of the lower limbs, can aid in the early diagnosis of HR. Genetic testing may be utilized for definitive confirmation when necessary. ALP combined with improvements in skeletal deformities and annual height growth can serve as indicators of therapeutic effectiveness for HR. Compared to normal children, children with HR demonstrate a lower height increase during the PHV phase, necessitating close follow-up and timely adjustment of treatment plans Citation:Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 2024, 26(7): 677-682.
目的: 了解低血磷性佝偻病（hypophosphatemic rickets, HR）患儿的诊断、治疗及并发症情况，探讨疾病疗效评价指标，了解患儿身高增长规律。方法: 回顾性分析2008年1月—2022年12月于南京医科大学附属儿童医院诊治的85例HR患儿的首诊临床资料及5年随访资料。结果: 85例HR患儿中，男性46例（54%），女性39例（46%）；首诊年龄范围为6个月至13岁9个月，中位年龄为2.75岁；平均身高标准差数值为-2.0±1.1。首诊时患儿血磷降低，血碱性磷酸酶（alkaline phosphatase, ALP）升高，99%（84/85）患儿存在下肢畸形，PHEX基因突变阳性率为93%（55/59）。患儿治疗1年后ALP水平及双下肢间距较前明显减低（P<0.05）。患儿身高在治疗后第1年增长最快，为8.23 cm/年；存在青春期身高突增峰速度（peak height velocity, PHV）阶段，持续约2年，男性患儿PHV阶段身高共增长9~20 cm，女性患儿PHV阶段身高共增长10~15 cm。患儿主要并发症为肾钙质沉着及甲状旁腺功能亢进。肾钙质沉着治疗后第1年发生率为55%（22/40），其发生率随病程延长而增加（P<0.001）；尿磷/尿肌酐比值升高与肾钙质沉着的风险升高呈正性关联（OR=1.740，P<0.001）。甲状旁腺功能亢进治疗后第1年发生率为64%（27/42）。结论: 对存在下肢畸形、身材矮小、生长缓慢的儿童，及早进行血磷、血钙、ALP检测及下肢影像学检查有助HR的早期诊断，必要时可结合基因检测确诊。ALP结合骨骼畸形改善及身高年增长情况可作为HR治疗疗效的评价指标。患儿青春期PHV阶段身高总增长小于正常儿童，需密切随访，及时调整治疗方案。.

UNASSIGNED: This study aims to investigate the independent causal relation between height, screen time, physical activity, sleep and myopia.
UNASSIGNED: Instrumental variables (IVs) for exposures and outcome were obtained from the largest publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) databases. First, we performed a bidirectional univariate MR analysis using primarily the inverse variance weighted method (IVW) with height, screen time, physical activity and sleep as the exposure and myopia as the outcome to investigate the causal relationship between exposures and myopia. Sensitivity analysis was used to demonstrate its robustness. Then the multivariable MR (MVMR) and MR-based mediation approach was further used to estimate the mediating effect of potential confounders (education and time outdoors) on causality.
UNASSIGNED: The results of univariate MR analysis showed that taller height (OR = 1.009, 95% CI = 1.005-1.012, p = 3.71 × 10-7), longer time on computer (OR = 1.048, 95% CI = 1.029-1.047, p = 3.87 × 10-7) and less moderate physical activity (OR = 0.976, 95% CI = 0.96-0.991 p = 2.37 × 10-3) had a total effect on the increased risk of developing myopia. Meanwhile our results did not have sufficient evidence to support the causal relationship between chronotype (p = 0.637), sleep duration (p = 0.952) and myopia. After adjusting for education, only taller height remains an independent risk factor for myopia. After adjusting for education, the causal relationship between height, screen and myopia still had statistical significance. A reverse causal relationship was not found in our study. Most of the sensitivity analyses showed consistent results with those of the IVW method.
UNASSIGNED: Our MR study revealed that genetically predicted taller height, longer time on computer, less moderate physical activity increased the risk of myopia. After full adjustment for confounders, only height remained independently associated with myopia. As a complement to observational studies, the results of our analysis provide strong evidence for the improvement of myopia risk factors and provide a theoretical basis for future measures to prevent and control myopia in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Growth charts are an important method for evaluating a child\'s health, growth, and nutritional status. It is essential to monitor the growth of children and adolescents using growth charts.
OBJECTIVE: To present body mass index (BMI)-for-age references reflecting children\'s growth in Shanxi. We also compare our new data with growth references of other cities of China and World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards.
METHODS: A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to recruit 5461 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. The LMS method was used to calculate the percentile values of body mass index by sex and age. Smoothed BMI-for-age growth curves were presented for both sexes and compared with reference data from other cities of China and WHO.
RESULTS: BMI centiles increased with age but with different patterns in both boys and girls. The centile curves from the 3rd to the 50th had a slight increase, while a sharp increase was seen from 11 to 17 years in boys and from 6 to 14 years in girls in the higher centiles. In comparison with other cities of China, the values for the 50th percentile are higher than those reported for children from China 2009, Shanghai, Changsha and China 2010 in both sexes. In comparison with WHO growth references, Chinese girls and boys had higher values in all percentiles, whereas curves of girls look roughly the same. The medians for BMI in Shanxi increase linearly from 6 to 17 years in boys.
CONCLUSIONS: The BMI percentiles of children aged 6-17 years in Shanxi differed significantly from the growth reference curves of other cities of China and WHO. Recommending the provision of BMI reference curves for local children and adolescents to assess their growth and development and monitor their nutritional status. Early detection of overweight and obesity in children provides a scientific basis for the prevention and control of overweight and obesity in children.

The prevalence of short stature among prepubertal children in China is relatively high. Early identification of the cause and timely intervention can bring greater benefits to children with short stature. This paper provides an overview of early diagnosis, intervention measures, and personalized medication dosage for prepubertal short stature children, aiming to provide references for clinical doctors.
我国青春期前儿童矮身材的发生率较高。尽早明确病因，及时进行干预，可为矮身材儿童带来更好的获益。该文对青春期前矮身材儿童的早期诊断、干预措施、个体化用药剂量等进行了概述，以期为临床医生提供参考。.

Treatment outcomes for different causes of childhood dwarfism vary widely, and there are no studies on the economic burden of treatment in relation to outcomes. This paper compared the efficacy and healthcare costs per unit height of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and idiopathic short stature (ISS) with a view to providing a more cost-effective treatment option for children. We retrospectively analyzed 117 cases (66 cases of GHD and 51 cases of ISS) of short-stature children who first visited Weifang People\'s Hospital between 2019.1 and 2022.1 and were treated with rhGH for 1 to 3 years to track the treatment effect and statistically analyzed by using paired t tests, non-parametric tests, and chi-square tests, to evaluate the efficacy of rhGH treatment for GHD and ISS children and the medicinal cost. The annual growth velocity (GV) of children with GHD and ISS increased the fastest during 3 to 6 months after treatment and then gradually slowed down. The GV of the GHD group was higher than that of the ISS group from 0 to 36 months after treatment (P < .05 at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months); the height standard deviation scores (HtSDS) of the children in the GHD and ISS groups increased gradually with the increase of the treatment time, and the changes in the height standard deviation scores (ΔHtSDS) of the GHD group were more significant than those of the ISS group (P < .05 at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months). (2) The medical costs in the pubertal group for a 1-cm increase in height were higher than those of children in the pre-pubertal group at the same stage (3 to 24 months P < .05). The longer the treatment time within the same group, the higher the medical cost of increasing 1cm height. RhGH is effective in treating children with dwarfism to promote height growth, and the effect on children with GHD is better than that of children with ISS; the earlier the treatment time, the lower the medical cost and the higher the comprehensive benefit.

BACKGROUND: Physical disability is an important cause of affecting the quality of life in the elderly. The association between standing height and physical disability is less studied.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible link between standing height and physical disability among U.S. adults aged 60 years and older.
METHODS: The cross-sectional data were obtained from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2018. Physical disability was assessed by six questions: \"Have serious difficulty hearing (SDH)?\", \"Have serious difficulty seeing (SDS)?\", \"Have serious difficulty concentrating (SDC)?\", \"Have serious difficulty walking (SDW)?\", \"Have difficulty dressing or bathing (DDB)?\" and \"Have difficulty doing errands alone (DDEA)?\". Responses to these questions were \"yes\" or \"no\". Answer yes to one of the above six questions was identified as physical disability. Standing height (cm) was measured with an altimeter. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the possible link between standing height and physical disability after adjustment for all covariates.
RESULTS: A total of 2624 participants aged ≥ 60 years were included in our study, including 1279 (48.7%) females and 1345 (51.3%) males. The mean age of participants was 69.41 ± 6.82 years. After adjusting for all potential confounders, the inverse relationship between standing height and all physical disability (APD) was statistically significant (OR = 0.976, 95%CI:0.957-0.995). In addition, among six types of physical disability (SDH, SDS, SDC, SDW, DDB, DDEA), standing height was also a protective factor for SDW (OR = 0.961, 95%CI:0.939-0.983) and DDEA (OR = 0.944, 95%CI:0.915-0.975) in the full-adjusted model.
CONCLUSIONS: The cross-sectional population based study demonstrates that standing height is a protective factor for physical disability among U.S. adults aged 60 years and older.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with an increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes, yet its influence on offspring growth remains unclear. Our study dynamically tracks growth rates in children from ICP and healthy mothers and investigates the link between maternal liver function and developmental abnormalities in offspring.
METHODS: Our case‒control study involved 97 women with ICP and 152 with uncomplicated pregnancies nested in a cohort of their offspring, including 50 from the ICP group and 87 from the uncomplicated pregnancy group. We collected pediatric growth and development data, with a maximum follow-up duration of 36 months. Stratified analyses of children\'s height, weight, and head circumference were conducted, and Spearman\'s rank correlation was applied to examine the relationships between maternal serological markers and pediatric growth metrics.
RESULTS: Maternal liver and renal functions, along with serum lipid profiles, significantly differed between the ICP and normal groups. In the ICP group, the offspring showed elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), direct bilirubin (DBIT), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B (APOB) levels. Notably, the length-for-age z score (LAZ), weight-for-age z score (WAZ), and head circumference-for-age z score (HCZ) were lower in ICP offspring compared with those from normal pregnancies within the 1- to 12-month age range (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences in LAZ, weight-for-length z score (WLZ), BMI-for-age z score (BAZ), or HCZ were observed between groups in the 13- to 36-month age range. Maternal maximum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total bile acids (TBA) levels during pregnancy were inversely correlated with LAZ and WAZ in the first year. Furthermore, offspring of mothers with ICP exhibited a greater incidence of stunting (24% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.004) and abnormal HCZ (14% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.034).
CONCLUSIONS: Growth disparities in offspring of ICP-affected pregnancies were most significant within the 1- to 12-month age range. During this period, maximum maternal LDH and TBA levels were negatively correlated with LAZ and WAZ values of offspring. The observation of similar growth rates between ICP and control group offspring from 13 to 36 months suggested catch-up growth in the ICP group.