[Relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone mineral density in children under 7 years old].

Objective: To evaluate the endogenous vitamin D level and its correlation with bone mineral density (BMD) in children under 7 years old.

Methods: Totally 6 838 children who visited the Growth and Development Clinic due to "growth retardation, night terrors, hyperhidrosis, and dysphoria" were enrolled in the study. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level was measured by chemiluminescence, whereas individual BMD was measured by quantitative ultrasound.

High prevalence of vitamin D and calcium deficiency among pregnant women and their newborns in Chengdu, China.

Background: Vitamin D and calcium deficiency is common in pregnant women and newborn infants. There are few data about the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D during pregnancy and infancy in China. We assessed vitamin D status of pregnant women and their neonates in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China.

[Relationship between Ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue receptor expression and catch-up growth in rats with intrauterine growth restriction].

Objective: To study the relationship between Ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) expression and the catch-up growth in rats with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Methods: The rat model of IUGR was established by food restriction during pregnancy. The small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) rat pups from the pregnant rats were used as the experimental group.

[Effects of different feeding types on the physical growth of infants].

Objective: To investigate the effects of different feeding types on the physical growth of infants.

Methods: Infants who visited the children health clinics regularly were recruited for the study. They were classified into breast feeding group, bottle feeding group and mixed feeding group according to the feeding types before 4-months-old.