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Objective To explore the trajectory of the development of permanent caries in 12- to 16-year-old students in Liuyang and to provide a reference for the prevention and management of caries. Methods Primary and secondary school students who were registered within the Liuyang jurisdiction were screened for caries from September to November by the Liuyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 7 297 students between the ages of 12 and 16 years with complete permanent dentition caries monitoring records and traceable deciduous dentition caries monitoring records were selected from 2013 to 2019, and a zero-inflated negative binomial-latent class growth model (ZINB-LCGM) was established to describe the trajectory of the development of individual caries using the decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT) indicators. Results DMFT of 12- to 16-year-old students in Liuyang were mainly decayed teeth (DT), with the majority occurring in the first permanent molar. According to the ZINB-LCGM model, the students were classified into three latent categories, "slow growth pattern" (28.55%), "rapid growth pattern" (6.59%), and "stable pattern" (64.86%), which followed different nonlinear caries growth trajectories. Females with deciduous teeth caries were more likely to have trajectories showing a “rapid growth pattern” and a “slow growth pattern”. There were significant differences in the trajectories between men and women, as well as between those with and without primary dentition caries. Conclusion The trajectory of the development of caries in 12-16-year-old students shows heterogeneity in terms of different developmental patterns of latent categories, suggesting that females with deciduous dental caries should receive more attention.

To exhaustively explore the association of infant genetic polymorphisms of methionine synthase (MTR) gene with the risk of non-syndromic congenital heart disease (CHD). A hospital-based case–control study involving 620 CHD cases and 620 health controls was conducted from November 2017 to March 2020. Eighteen SNPs were detected and analyzed. Our date suggested that the genetic polymorphisms of MTR gene at rs1805087 (GG vs. AA: aOR = 6.85, 95% CI 2.94–15.96; the dominant model: aOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.35–2.32; the recessive model: aOR = 6.26, 95% CI 2.69–14.54; the addictive model: aOR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.44–2.29) and rs2275565 (GT vs. GG: aOR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.15–1.20; TT vs. GG: aOR = 4.93, 95% CI 1.93–12.58; the dominant model: aOR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.27–2.17; the recessive model: aOR = 4.41, 95% CI 1.73–11.22; the addictive model: aOR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.32–2.13) were significantly associated with the higher risk of CHD. And three haplotypes of G-A-T (involving rs4659724, rs95516 and rs4077829; OR = 5.48, 95% CI 2.58–11.66), G-C-A-T-T-G (involving rs2275565, rs1266164, rs2229276, rs4659743, rs3820571 and rs1050993; OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.63–0.97) and T-C-A-T-T-G (involving rs2275565, rs1266164, rs2229276, rs4659743, rs3820571 and rs1050993; OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.26–2.04) were observed to be significantly associated with risk of CHD. Our study found that genetic polymorphisms of MTR gene at rs1805087 and rs2275565 were significantly associated with higher risk of CHD. Additionally, our study revealed a significant association of three haplotypes with risk of CHD. However, the limitations in this study should be carefully taken into account. In the future, more specific studies in different ethnic populations are required to refine and confirm our findings. Trial registration: Registration number: ChiCTR1800016635; Date of first registration: 14/06/2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health education in primary and middle schools in China has been implemented for more than two decades since 1990s. This study aims to assess the students' health literacy gained through school health education, and provide scientific base to the concerned government agencies for updating the relevant national policy for school-based health education. Methods: The study was conducted through cross-sectional multi-stage cluster-stratified sampling survey in 77 elementary and 76 middle schools in 24 project provinces and two municipal cities in China. A self-administered questionnaire was developed. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and Spearman-Brown coefficient. A descriptive analysis was used to summarize the outcome. Results: The survey covered 8,008 subjects (4,011 from elementary and 3,997 from middle schools). The correct answer given on the majority of health knowledge was higher than 60% among the surveyed subjects. However, it was found that there were differences on student knowledge and practices from regions and economic levels; and the healthy personal behaviours between elementary and middle school students varied. Positive correlations between knowledge and practices, knowledge and attitudes were observed among subjects. Conclusions: Health literacy of the primary and middle school children in China was found to be limited and unbalanced. Thus school-based health education should be enhanced and the national guidelines for school health education and curriculum framework should be updated. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)

The objective of this paper is to develop a brief screening instrument of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for young victims of natural disasters. Data were derived from flood victims in 1998 and 1999 in Hunan, China. A representative population sample of 6,852 subjects 7-15 years of age was selected. Among them, 6,073 (88.6%) were interviewed. Multistage sampling was used to select the subjects and PTSD was ascertained with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: 4th Edition (DSM-IV). We randomly assigned 80% (4,851) of the study subjects to construct the screening instrument (construct model) and the remaining 20% (1,222) subjects to examine the model (validation model). Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristics curves were utilized to select a subset of symptoms and cutoff point from the pre-structured questionnaires. A seven-symptom instrument for PTSD screening was selected. Scores of 3 or more on this instrument were employed to define positive cases of PTSD with a sensitivity of 96.9%, specificity 99.0%, positive predictive value (PPV) 82.6%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 99.8%. The brief screening instrument developed in this study is highly valid, reliable, and predictable.

Background: It is inconclusive nowadays for the association between infant's gender and their mothers' risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD). In addition, a complete overview is missing. A meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies was performed to address the question of whether women who gave birth to a female infant were at an increased risk of developing PPD, compared with those giving birth to a male infant.Methods: Unrestricted searches were conducted, with an end date parameter of 31 January 2018, of PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Libraries, and Chinese databases, to identify studies that met pre-stated inclusion criteria. Reference lists of retrieved articles were also reviewed. Either a fixed- or a random-effects model was used to calculate the overall combined risk estimates.Results: Twenty-three studies involving 119,736 women were included for analysis. Overall, mothers who gave birth to a female infant experienced a significantly increased risk of developing PPD compared with the reference group (OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.01-1.31; p = .03). However, substantial heterogeneity (p < .00001; I2 = 75%) was observed across studies. Relevant heterogeneity moderators have been identified by subgroup analysis. Sensitivity analysis yielded consistent results. No evidence of publication bias was observed.Conclusions: Although the role of potential bias and evidence of heterogeneity should be carefully evaluated, the present study suggests women giving birth to a girl are associated with a higher risk of developing PPD when compared with those giving birth to a boy. Improving family and social communication and reducing gender preference should be important components of any such interventions.Statement of significanceProblem or issue Interestingly, the known risk factors leading to PPD are basically the same in different regions and cultures, but the gender of the infant seems to be an exception.What is already known Some studies conducted in traditional western countries indicated that there is a weak or null association between infant's gender and risk of PPD, while others suggested a positive association. In contrast, studies conducted in Nigeria, India, Turkey and China showed that mothers giving birth to a female infant were at a higher risk of developing PPD.What this paper adds Today, the association between infant's gender and risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD) is still uncertain; additionally, a complete overview is missing. Our study represents the first meta-analysis of risk of PPD associated with infant's gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]