Developmental medicine and child neurology
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Sep 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialOral and non-oral sensorimotor interventions enhance oral feeding performance in preterm infants.
The aim of this study was to determine whether oral, tactile/kinaesthetic (T/K), or combined (oral+T/K) interventions enhance oral feeding performance and whether combined interventions have an additive/synergistic effect. ⋯ Oral and T/K interventions accelerated the transition from introduction to independent oral feeding and enhanced oral feeding skills. T/K has beneficial effects beyond the specific targeted system. The combined sensorimotor intervention led to an additive/synergistic effect for proficiency, further benefiting this population.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Sep 2011
Comparative Study Clinical TrialInfant Motor Profile and cerebral palsy: promising associations.
The Infant Motor Profile (IMP) is a novel qualitative assessment of motor behaviour in infancy. The aim of this study was to determine whether IMP scores throughout infancy differ between children with and without cerebral palsy (CP) at 18 months. Furthermore, we evaluated the predictive ability of IMP scores throughout infancy for CP. ⋯ IMP scores throughout infancy and CP at 18 months are strongly related. In particular, low scores on the variation and performance domains were important indicators for CP. To determine the exact predictive ability of the IMP, further research is needed.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Sep 2011
ReviewDevelopmental programming of early brain and behaviour development and mental health: a conceptual framework.
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis studies the short- and long-term consequences of the conditions of the developmental environment for phenotypic variations in health and disease. Central to this hypothesis is the idea of interdependence of developmental influences, genes, and environment. Developmental programming effects are mediated by alterations in fundamental life functions, and the most enduring effects seem to occur if the main regulatory instances of the organ - the (epi)genome and the brain - are affected. ⋯ It is proposed to extend the DOHaD hypothesis into the 'Developmental Origins of Behaviour, Health, and Disease' (DOBHaD) concept. Pregnancy and the early postnatal period are times of both great opportunity and considerable risk, and their influence can extend over a lifetime. The DOBHaD hypothesis opens fundamental new perspectives on preventing diseases and disorders.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyFocus on function: a cluster, randomized controlled trial comparing child- versus context-focused intervention for young children with cerebral palsy.
This study evaluated the efficacy of a child-focused versus context-focused intervention in improving performance of functional tasks and mobility in young children with cerebral palsy. ⋯ This study shows that child- or context-focused therapy approaches are equally effective and that frequency of intervention may be a critical component of successful intervention. Further evaluation is required to identify the various 'dose-response' relations of amount of treatment and changes in functional abilities.
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Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder starting in early childhood with devastating consequences both on the brain and on systemic neurons. Scoliosis is a common complication in most of these patients. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of scoliosis, classify spinal deformity, and evaluate the association between disability and scoliosis in patients with Rett syndrome. ⋯ Function level in females with Rett syndrome measured according to the Barthel Index showed significant correlation to scoliosis curve type. A low score was associated with a C-shaped curve involving all of the spine and pelvis.