Reference values of inside leg length and inside leg length to stature ratio for Japanese children, 0-12 years of age.

Background: Large datasets of detailed anthropometric measurements are scarce in children. The Japanese Standard Association 1978-1981 survey provides a rare opportunity to use high quality data from Japanese children.

Aim: To construct inside leg length (ILL) and inside leg length to stature ratio (ILL/S) reference centile curves for Japanese children.

Population-based waist circumference reference values in Japanese children (0-6 years): comparisons with Dutch, Swedish and Turkish preschool children.

Background: During 1978-1981 the Japanese Standards Association conducted a national survey to collect 64 distinct body measurements for Japanese children and adults. During 1978-1981, the prevalence of childhood obesity was relatively low yet the population was well nourished in Japanese children. The aim of this study is to construct waist circumference and waist circumference to stature ratio reference centile curves for Japanese preschool children.

Implementation of a multidisciplinary discharge videoconference for children with medical complexity: a pilot study.

Background: The hospital to home transition for children with medical complexity (CMC) poses many challenges, including suboptimal communication between the hospital and medical home. Our objective was to evaluate the implementation of a discharge videoconference incorporating the patient, caregiver, primary care provider (PCP), hospitalist physician, and case manager.

Methods: We evaluated implementation of this pilot intervention at a freestanding tertiary care children's hospital using mixed methods.

Low plasma D-dimer predicts absence of intracranial injury and skull fracture.

Background: Intracranial injury (ICI) is a leading cause of morbidity in children; however, the use of computed tomography (CT) to evaluate ICI has significant risks in children. A recent study suggests D-dimer is associated with ICI. We surveyed the performance of plasma D-dimer in ruling out ICI or skull fracture (SF) in children with head trauma.

National anthropometric reference values and growth curves for Japanese children: history and critical review.

Child health statistics are a critical component of child health assessment. However, the importance of nationally representative data on growth is not well recognised for Japanese children. The aim of this paper is to review the national growth surveys for Japanese children and to discuss the clinical use of the national growth reference values and growth curves.

Indication for voiding cystourethrography during first urinary tract infection.

Background: There is confusion surrounding the precise indications for voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) during the assessment of vesicoureteral reflex (VUR) after a first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). The aim of this study was to determine the combination of clinical, laboratory and ultrasonography factors correlating with grades IV-V VUR in young children with a first febrile UTI.

Methods: Children 0-24 months of age who were brought to the emergency department at National Center for Child Health and Development with the diagnosis of first time febrile UTI between March 2004 and May 2011, were enrolled.

Caring for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Profiling Pediatricians and Their Health Care Resources.

Background and Objectives Pediatricians face numerous challenges in providing care for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Few studies have described health care resources available to support pediatricians to care for CSHCN. This study investigated available resources to care for CSHCN and factors associated with having a greater proportion of CSHCN in practice.

WHO 2006 Child Growth Standards overestimate short stature and underestimate overweight in Japanese children.

Background: It is unclear whether the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 Child Growth Standards are applicable to East Asian populations. We investigated the applicability of the WHO standards of length/height and weight to a cohort representing middle-class children in Japan.

Methods: A cohort of children aged 0-5 years (3430 boys, 3025 girls) in the Tokyo Child Care Center Survey consecutively recruited from 2007 to 2013 were studied.

Obesity in elementary school children after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Background: Rikuzentakata was one of the cities most devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011. Many buildings were swept away or destroyed and affected families were placed into temporary housing. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of long-term temporary housing on the body mass index (BMI) of elementary school children living in Rikuzentakata City.

Beliefs and practices regarding solid food introduction among Latino parents in Northern California.

Latino children are more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white children, and feeding patterns that begin in infancy may contribute to this disparity. The objective of this study was to elucidate beliefs and practices related to the introduction of solids and solid food feeding in the first year of life among low-income Latino parents residing in Northern California. We conducted 26 semi-structured interviews that explored the timing of introduction of solids, selection of foods to serve to infants, feeding strategies, sources of information on solid food feeding and concerns about infant weight.

Pediatricians' Comfort Level in Caring for Children With Special Health Care Needs.

Background: Few studies have investigated pediatrician attitudes about providing primary medical care for children with special health care needs. The objective of this study was to determine pediatrician perspectives on their comfort level in providing care and on where the medical home should be for children with chronic medical and developmental conditions.

Methods: Survey of pediatricians in California in 2014.

Anxiety Associated with Asthma Exacerbations and Overuse of Medication: The Role of Cultural Competency.

Toshi, a 14-year-old Japanese boy, had uncontrolled asthma after relocating from Japan with his family 1 year ago. In Japan, he was diagnosed with moderate, persistent asthma, which was controlled with salmeterol and albuterol on an as needed basis. Since moving to the United States, Toshi complained of frequent dyspnea.

Latino Parents' Beliefs about Television Viewing by Infants and Toddlers.

Objective: To determine Latino parents' beliefs regarding the effects of television viewing on infants and toddlers.

Methods: We conducted interviews with 26 Latino parents of infants and toddlers. We evaluated parents' beliefs about the health effects of television viewing, sources of information on this topic and facilitators and barriers to following the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) screen-time guidelines.

Trends in thin body stature among Japanese female adolescents, 2003-2012.

Background: The past decades have witnessed a steady increase in thin body stature associated with unhealthy dieting among Japanese female adolescents. The most recent trends in thinness, however, have not been reported.

Aim: To describe changes in the distribution of body mass index (BMI) of Japanese female adolescents, from 2003-2012.

Waist circumference centiles by age and sex for Japanese children based on the 1978-1981 cross-sectional national survey data.

Aim: The aim of this study was to establish reference values for waist circumference among Japanese youths using the 1978-1981 nationally representative data.

Subject And Methods: Growth charts were derived using Cole's LMS method, which adjusts the waist circumference distribution for skewness and allows waist circumference to be expressed as centile or standard deviation score. The sample population consisted of 19 233 children aged 6-18 years.

Reference standard of penile size and prevalence of buried penis in Japanese newborn male infants.

The present study set forth the reference values for penile size and determined the prevalence of buried penis in Japanese full-term newborns. The stretched penile length was measured and the presence of buried penis was assessed at 1-7 days of age in 547 Japanese full-term newborn infants born between 2008 and 2012 in Tokyo. The stretched penile lengths were compared at 1-12 hours and 1-7 days of age in 63 infants and by two observers in 73 infants to estimate postnatal changes and interobserver variation, respectively.

Anxiety associated with asthma exacerbations and overuse of medication: the role of cultural competency.

Toshi, a 14-year-old Japanese boy, had uncontrolled asthma after relocating from Japan with his family 1 year ago. In Japan, he was diagnosed with moderate, persistent asthma, which was controlled with salmeterol and albuterol on an as needed basis. Since moving to the United States, Toshi complained of frequent dyspnea.

Trends in thin body stature among Japanese male adolescents, 2003-2012.

Background: The desire for thin body stature and unhealthy eating behaviours have spread among Japanese boys. The prevalence of thinness in boys is expected to increase; however, recent trends have not been reported.

Aim: To describe changes in the distribution of body mass index (BMI) of Japanese boys, from 2003 to 2012.

Comparison of patients with Kawasaki disease with retropharyngeal edema and patients with retropharyngeal abscess.

Unlabelled: Kawasaki disease with retropharyngeal edema (KD with RPE) is a rare complication, and it is diagnosed by neck CT. Most reported cases had a delayed diagnosis because those patients' conditions were misdiagnosed as retropharyngeal abscess (RPA). The purpose of this study was to differentiate KD with RPE from RPA.

Understanding how Latino parents choose beverages to serve to infants and toddlers.

To determine Latino parents' beliefs on the health effects of beverages on infants and toddlers, their sources of information on beverages and perceived barriers to following guidelines for healthy beverage consumption by children. We conducted 29 interviews with parents of Latino children ages 6-36 months. Parents were recruited in three community health centers in Northern California.

Late development of coronary artery abnormalities could be associated with persistence of non-fever symptoms in Kawasaki disease.

Background: Persistent fever after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is considered to be a major criterion of IVIG resistance in Kawasaki disease (KD), and a risk factor for the development of coronary artery abnormalities (CAA). However, the importance of persistent non-fever symptoms after defervescence has not yet been investigated. We examined the relationship between persistent non-fever symptoms and CAA in KD.

Trends and variations in infant mortality among 47 prefectures in Japan.

Objectives: To determine IMR trends and regional variations among 47 prefectures in Japan and to identify associated population-based factors.

Methods: We conducted an ecological study of infant mortality rate (IMR) by analyzing publicly available data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Outcome measure for trend is the IMR for each of 47 prefectures from 1999 to 2007; for variation, IMRs for 2006 and 2007 in each prefecture were averaged.

Maternal childrearing anxiety reflects childrearing burden and quality of life.

Background: The government of Japan has recently initiated public programs to allay maternal childrearing anxiety. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of childrearing anxiety and describe its relationships with perceived childrearing burden and maternal quality of life (QOL).

Methods: A secondary analysis was done of survey data from 1229 mothers enrolled in the Seiiku Birth Cohort Study at the National Center for Child Health and Development between November 2003 and December 2006.