Search Results (34,821)

Pesticide residues in human diets pose significant health hazards, particularly for vulnerable populations such as infants and children. This study aimed to determine pesticide residues in apples and to assess the cumulatively chronic risk posed to adult and child consumers from simultaneous exposure to multiple residues. During the 2022–2023 harvest seasons, 100 apple samples from Turkey were analyzed for the presence of 225 different pesticide residues. Pesticide extraction was performed using the QuEChERS method, followed by detection through liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Fifteen distinct pesticides (ten insecticides and five fungicides) were detected in 64 out of the 100 apple samples analyzed. Eleven samples contained pesticide residues that exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) set by the Turkish Food Codex and the European Union. Thiophanate-methyl was the most frequently detected pesticide (34%) in apples, with concentrations ranging from 0.012 to 0.108 mg kg⁻¹, all of which were well below the MRL of 0.5 mg kg⁻¹. Other commonly detected residues included chlorantraniliprole (28%), acetamiprid (24%), sulfoxaflor (22%), bifenazate (18%), indoxacarb (13%), diflubenzuron (12%), and carbendazim (10%). Under a worst-case scenario, the hazard index (HI) values for adults and children were 0.85% and 2.60%, respectively, indicating that these values remain significantly below the risk threshold of 100%, suggesting no associated health risks from apple consumption. However, regular monitoring of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables remains critically important. Full article

Background/Objectives: Malnutrition is a significant concern in paediatric populations, particularly among children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This study aimed to examine macronutrient and micronutrient imbalances and assess the nutritional status of a group of patients with FASD. Methods: This study involved an analysis of the serum levels of key nutrients in a group of children diagnosed with FASD. Macronutrients and micronutrients were measured to identify any imbalances, including vitamin D, B12, E, A, albumin, and serum protein, among others. Results: The study found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the patients. Additionally, elevated serum concentrations of micronutrients such as vitamin B12, E, and A were observed in 8%, 7%, and 19% of patients, respectively. Macronutrient imbalances were noted, including high levels of albumin and serum protein, indicating a possible metabolic disturbance. Unexpectedly, high rates of hypercholesterolemia were observed, raising concerns about an increased risk of metabolic syndrome in this population. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the principal issue among patients with FASD is an altered metabolism rather than nutritional deficiencies. Potential causes of these abnormalities could include oxidative stress and changes in body composition. The results underline the need for further research to better understand the unique nutritional challenges in children with FASD and to guide the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. Full article

This study investigates the development of Greek vowel reduction across different prosodic positions (stressed, pre-stressed, post-stressed), examining normative data from 72 participants aged 3 years to adulthood and balanced for gender. Participants performed a delayed repetition task, producing real trisyllabic words with the vowels [i, ε, ɐ, o, u] examined in the second syllable. Measurements included relative vowel duration, normalized acoustic vowel space areas, and Euclidean distances of vowels from the centroid of the acoustic space. Our findings show that changes in speech motor control, system stiffness, and stress marking with age, along with children’s prosody sensitivity, contributed to several developmental milestones: the completion of the developmental trajectory of relative vowel duration and temporal vowel reduction at early adolescence; the attainment of adult-like spatial vowel characteristics and their reduction at preschool age; and the early acquisition of the prosodic strength of the stress conditions, leading to vowel reduction from the stressed to pre-stressed to post-stressed conditions. The correlation strength between temporal and spatial vowel reduction across ages revealed age-related differences in spatiotemporal speech organization, with significant gender-related differences observed only in vowel space areas, where females exhibited larger areas possibly related to sociophonetic factors. Intrinsic vowel duration appeared from age 3. Full article

This study investigates the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in urban gardens in a highly industrialized city in Brazil and evaluates the effectiveness of different washing methods in reducing contamination. Ten elements (arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn)) were analyzed for their concentration, and a health risk assessment was performed. The results showed that Pb concentrations in lettuce from gardens near the Capuava Petrochemical Complex reached 0.77 mg kg⁻¹, exceeding both national and international safety limits. The most effective washing procedure involved the use of sodium hypochlorite, which reduced As by 46%, Pb by 48%, and V by 52%. However, elements such as Ba, Cd, Cr, and Ni showed limited reductions of less than 10% across all washing methods. Health risk assessments revealed a particular concern for children, with the total cancer risk (TCR) exceeding acceptable limits in some gardens. Isotopic analysis of Pb revealed that atmospheric pollution from gasoline emissions and industrial activities were the primary sources of contamination. The elevated levels of Pb, Cr, and As highlight the need for targeted health education in local communities, especially regarding the importance of proper washing techniques. Risk management strategies, including improved contamination control and public awareness, are crucial to minimize exposure to these harmful elements, particularly in vulnerable populations like children. Full article

Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a congenital malformation affecting the central nervous system, categorized as a neural tube defect (NTDs). In untreated cases, the mortality rate within the first six months of life ranges from 35% to 70%. Globally, its incidence is estimated 0.8 to 1 per 1000 live births, and rates are higher in Asia and lower socioeconomic groups. This disease imposes a significant treatment cost and burden due to life-long disabilities. In less developed or developing countries, delays in diagnosis can lead to complications such as infection and rupture. Although rupture is a rare complication in MMC, there are limited studies that have reported it. This study aims to discuss the perioperative management and potential complications of ruptured MMC. Method: This study presents four cases of ruptured MMC that were referred from private hospitals and managed by Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in West Java, Indonesia. Each patiens underwent a clinical assessment and diagnostic evaluation upon arrival, followed by perioperative theraphy and management of any complications that emerged during treatment. Result: In three of the four cases, the children were over 24 h old when they were admitted to the hospital. Three cases were located in the lumbosacral region while one case was located in the thoracic region. Upon arrival, the clinical presentations we observed included microcephaly, small for gestational age (SGA) and congenital talipes equionavrus (CTEV). And we found several complications included wound dehisence, respiratiory failure, hydrocephalus, leg weakness, menigitis and sepsis after surgery. Conclusions: Perioperative management is highlighted as vital, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach and precise surgical techniques to mitigate severe complications. Full article

Adolescence is a developmental period of significant change and increasing independence, during which parents and caregivers play a critical role guiding their teen toward adulthood. Parents of adolescents with disability face heightened challenges managing their teens’ growing independence and shift to adult-based services across health, recreation, and employment. Using a mixed-methods-treatment-group-only design, this study explored the implementation and outcomes of a program designed to build parenting capacity to support their adolescent with disability. Parents enrolled in one of ten groups were invited to attend three sessions covering content tailored to adolescent development including post-school opportunities, financial support, risk-taking and decision-making, future planning, relationships, and mental health. Surveys were administered pre-program, post-program, and six months after program participation (n = 160) to measure intervention outcomes including parenting self-efficacy, self-advocacy, adolescent self-advocacy, parent confidence to support their adolescent’s growing independence, confidence to support their adolescent through sensitive developmental stages, parental hopes and aspirations, and parental empowerment. A subset of parents (n = 11) also participated in semi-structured interviews about the program’s acceptability and usefulness, and their satisfaction with the program content and delivery. All outcome variables except parent hopes and aspirations increased significantly from pre- to post-program. Parent self-efficacy, self-advocacy, and parental empowerment remained higher 6 months after program completion. Thematic analysis identified program strengths as the co-facilitation model of program delivery, practical and actionable content, the use of narratives and the facilitator’s lived experience as parents of adolescents with disability, the use of visualizations (video, pictures, diagrams), and the service provider’s trusted reputation and credibility. In conclusion, an online co-facilitated group program for parents of adolescents with disability can contribute to positive change for families by improving parent confidence, self-advocacy, and parental empowerment. Full article

Antiviral therapy such as oseltamivir has been recommended for hospitalized children with suspected and confirmed influenza for almost 20 years. The therapy is officially authorized for newborns two weeks of age or older, however, questions about its safety and effectiveness still surround it. Our goals were to assess the epidemiological features of two consecutive seasonal influenza cases in children following the COVID-19 pandemic; to observe the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of oseltamivir in hospitalized children who were not vaccinated against influenza and had different influenza subtypes, including A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B; and to identify specific comorbidities associated with influenza in children. We performed an observational study on 1300 children, enrolled between 1st October 2022 and 30th May 2023 and between 1st October 2023 and 4th May 2024, to the IX Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinical Section of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Prof. Dr. Matei Balș". During the 2022–2023 influenza season, 791 pediatric patients tested positive for influenza and received oseltamivir. Of these, 89% (704/791) had influenza A, with 86.4% having subtype A(H1N1) and 13.6% of cases having A(H3N2), and for influenza B, 11% (87/791) of the pediatric patients. Of the total group, 59% were male, and the median age was 2.4 years (1.02–9.28). For the 2023–2024 influenza season, 509 pediatric patients tested positive for influenza, with 56.9% being of the male gender and who were treated with oseltamivir. Of these patients, 81.6% had influenza A and 18.4% had influenza B. Treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors, specifically oseltamivir, 2mg/kg/dose administered twice daily for 5 days, was well tolerated by the children, and we recorded no deaths. The duration of hospitalization for patients with a fever after the oseltamivir administration was significantly longer for patients with A(H1N1) infection than A(H3N2), during both seasons. We identified more complications in the 2022–2023 season and a decreasing number of influenza B for the 2023–2024 season. Among children with comorbidities, the most common were asthma, gastrointestinal diseases, and metabolic and endocrine diseases. In terms of effectiveness, oseltamivir significantly reduced the intensity of influenza symptoms, thus reducing the number of days of hospitalization (p = 0.001) as well as post-infection complications (p = 0.005) in both groups. In this study, we evaluated the clinical effectiveness of oseltamivir therapy for all influenza types/subtypes in children, and the length of hospitalization. We identified comorbidities associated with the prolonged duration of hospitalization. Influenza vaccination should be the main tool in the prevention of influenza and its complications in children, especially those with comorbidities. Full article

Introduction: The study of facial profiles in the dental field is very important for the diagnosis and the dental and orthodontic treatment plan. The aim of this study is to analyze the three-dimensional morphology of the faces of 269 growing patients with Class I and II occlusions, focusing on children aged between 6 and 9 years old. The analysis was conducted using a non-invasive computerized system, which allowed for the automatic collection of facial landmarks and the subsequent reconstruction of three-dimensional coordinates. Materials and methods: The sample comprised 269 children within the specified age range. Each child’s facial features were captured using the non-invasive computerized system, which utilized two infrared CCD cameras, real-time hardware for label recognition, and software for three-dimensional landmark reconstruction. Sixteen cutaneous facial landmarks were automatically collected for each participant. From these landmarks, 10 angular and 15 linear measurements, as well as five direct distance rates, were derived. The mean values for each age class were calculated separately for children with bilateral Angle Class I occlusion and compared with those for children with bilateral Class II occlusion. In all children, the left and right occlusal classes were measured as suggested by Katz. Results: The analysis revealed notable differences, primarily in the three-dimensional angular measurements between children with Class I and II occlusions. Specifically, Class II children exhibited more convex faces in the sagittal plane and a less prominent lower jaw compared to Class I children. However, no significant differences were observed in linear measurements, except for the lower facial height rate, which varied inconsistently across age groups between the two occlusion types. Discussion and Conclusions: the findings of this research highlight distinct three-dimensional facial morphological differences between children with Class I and II occlusions. While Class II children tended to have more convex facial profiles and less prominent lower jaws, linear measurements showed minimal variation between the two occlusion types. These results underscore the importance of three-dimensional analysis in understanding facial morphology in growing patients with different occlusal patterns. Full article

This paper introduces the USPDATRO dataset. This is a speech dataset, in the Romanian language, constructed from open data, focusing on under-represented voice types (children, young and old people, and female voices). The paper covers the methodology behind the dataset construction, specific details regarding the dataset, and evaluation of existing Romanian Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems, with different architectures. Results indicate that more under-represented speech content is needed in the training of ASR systems. Our approach can be extended to other low-resourced languages, as long as open data are available. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although rare in the Western world, dog bites may be lethal or lead to physically severe outcomes. However, little attention is given to their psychological consequences. We aimed to review their psychological consequences in children 1–14 years of age, focusing on the prevalence and nature of psychological disorders, evaluating the impact on future mental health of children and their families, and assessing the effectiveness of preventive interventions and measures. Methods: On 23 May 2024, we investigated the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO/PsycARTICLES databases using (“dog bite” OR animal-induced OR animal-caused) AND (psychol* OR mental OR psychiatr* OR anxiety OR anxious OR depress* OR obsess* OR trauma* OR psychosis OR psychotic OR schizophren* OR schizoaffect*) filtered for ages 0–18 years. This resulted in 311 records, of which 50 were eligible. These included original research, case reports, patient surveys, and reviews/meta-analyses. Results: Findings indicate that younger children are particularly vulnerable, often suffering head/neck bites, leading to severe injuries and psychological distress, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being a common outcome. Symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and social withdrawal were frequently reported. Positive parental support and timely psychological interventions were found to mitigate these effects. Conclusions: Interdisciplinary approaches integrating education, cognitive restructuring, and behaviour modification are needed to effectively prevent and address the psychological impacts of dog bites. Summarising, dog bites in children result in substantial psychological sequelae, necessitating robust prevention and intervention strategies to improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of chronic mental conditions. Full article

The acquisition of deictic verbs is a significant milestone in language development. This complex process requires an understanding of the interplay between the personal pronouns “I/you” and deictic verbs. Although demonstrating the cognitive processes associated with deictic shifting through data is valuable, research issues regarding data accuracy and the spatial arrangement of the self and other remain unresolved. This pilot study aimed to quantitatively measure the body movements of Japanese-speaking children during their utterances of “come/go”. Twelve typically developing children aged 6–7 participated in this study. Multiple scenarios were set up where the researcher presented phrases using “come/go” with deictic gestures, such as moving one’s upper body forward or backward, and the participant replied with “come/go”. When performing a role, the researcher sat face-to-face or side-by-side with the participant, depending on the type of question–response. It is possible that there is a learning process whereby verbal responses using “come/go” align with corresponding body movements in the specific question type. This process is deeply involved in the development of perspective-taking abilities. Future research with relatively large samples and cross-cultural comparisons is warranted to deepen the understanding of this linguistic acquisition process and its implications. Full article

The impact of obesity on kidney injury and the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well documented. Unfortunately, the early stages of CKD are asymptomatic, leading to a delayed diagnosis and a worse prognosis. There is a need for more sensitive indicators of kidney damage than those currently used. We aimed to assess the usefulness of serum t-CAF, urinary netrin-1, α-GST, π-GST, calbindin, and calprotectin as biomarkers of early kidney damage in obese children and to investigate the relationship between these indicators and the degree of obesity. A total of 125 simple obese, normoalbuminuric children and 33 non-obese children as controls were selected. Patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to SDS BMI (I: 2 ≤ 4, II: >4). Serum t-CAF was significantly higher in the obese group compared to the controls, as were urinary α-GST, netrin-1, π-GST, and calprotectin. No difference was found between the two obese groups. In normoalbuminuric obese children and adolescents without significant metabolic disorders, serum t-CAF may be a new biomarker for the early detection of renal dysfunction, and urinary netrin-1, α-GST, π-GST, and calprotectin may be better indicators for the detection of early tubular damage, independent of the severity of obesity. Full article

This study examines the experiences of lesbian-parent families in Chile regarding the civil registry and the registration of their children, highlighting how heteronormative structures persist despite significant legislative advancements. Through semi-structured interviews with lesbian mothers, it explored how the policies and practices occurring at the civil registry affect their rights and legal recognition. The qualitative data analysis revealed significant barriers in the filiation processes due to outdated forms and lack of training among officials, reflecting a disconnect between progressive legislation and its practical implementation. The findings indicate that while there is growing social recognition of family diversity, lesbian-parent families face institutional discrimination, limiting their full participation in society. These barriers not only perpetuate occupational injustices but also negatively affect the emotional and social well-being of these families. This study underscores the need for legislative and administrative reforms to ensure effective inclusion and recognition of lesbian-parent families, recommending policies that update administrative processes to reflect the realities of all families adequately. The research highlights the importance of continuous education and awareness for civil registry workers, ensuring that existing laws are applied fairly and equitably. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that influences an individual’s cognitive functions and social interaction. While most studies have focused on children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD, elevated levels of autistic traits in subclinical populations may also influence individuals’ daily functioning. Autistic traits are also linked to the Big Five personality. In particular, neuroticism (emotion instability) has been shown to be positively associated with autistic traits, which may contribute to behavioral symptoms of autistic traits. The present study aimed to investigate the association between autistic symptoms and sensorimotor processing among a subclinical population. One hundred young adults (M_age = 20.32 years; SD = 3.69 years; 69 female) completed a choice reaction time (RT) task, and their behavioral performance was analyzed using the ex-Gaussian modeling. The Autism Quotient (AQ) and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) were used to assess autistic traits and neuroticism, respectively. The mediation analysis was conducted to examine the behavioral mechanism through which autistic traits influence sensorimotor processing. The results showed that the AQ score was negatively correlated with RT and positively correlated with neuroticism score. Importantly, the mediation analysis indicated an indirect effect, suggesting that neuroticism mediates the association between the AQ score and RT. The findings indicated a possible mechanism of the association between autistic traits and sensorimotor responses and suggested that neuroticism should be included as an intervention target for ASD. The present study contributes to the research on autistic traits and has practical implications for future intervention programs to improve daily functioning among individuals with ASD. Full article

Background and Objectives: Children with disabilities face unique challenges that can affect their well-being and quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to assess the QOL and coping strategies adopted by children with disabilities and explore how socio-demographic factors influence QOL and coping strategies. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, which was conducted in Saudi Arabia with children aged 6 to 18 years, used a stratified random sample to ensure representation from a variety of demographic groups. Short Form-12 (SF-12) was used to assess the QOL in the sample population. The Brief COPE Inventory was used to examine coping strategies among the children. One-way analysis of variance was applied to examine differences in the QOL, coping strategies scores, and demographic variables. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the role of demographic variables in predicting QOL and p value was considered statistical significance at p < 0.05. Results: The results of the study clearly revealed significant differences between the mean scores of QOL for gender, age, and type of disability, duration of disability, education qualification, family status, family occupation, and housing status. Female participants showed better QOL in physical functioning than their male counterparts. Children with intellectual disability reported better QOL in general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health. Participants with seven to eight years of disability reported higher scores in physical functioning, vitality, and mental health. Children whose parents were working in private agencies and living in rented houses scored higher on the general health aspects of quality of life. The findings also revealed that the duration of the disability was a significant predictor of the QOL. The mean scores of different dimensions of coping strategies clearly revealed that male participants used dysfunctional coping (p < 0.01), as compared to problem-focused and emotional-focused coping while female children relied more on emotional-focused coping. Emotion-focused coping was significantly higher in participants with visual (p < 0.01), learning (p < 0.01), and intellectual disabilities (p < 0.01). Dysfunctional coping scores were higher among children with auditory disabilities (p < 0.01) and multiple disabilities (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study highlights the significance of demographic factors in understanding and improving the well-being of a diverse population of disabled juveniles. It offers valuable insights into the subtle factors affecting quality of life. Future interventions and policies can leverage these findings to enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities and to foster a more supportive and inclusive approach. Full article