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Background: Developmental delay in early childhood is a significant concern with multifaceted causes and implications. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) is widely used for developmental assessment, but its use in Iranian children has been understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the developmental delays of Iranian children aged 1 to 42 months, investigate the association between parental education and these developmental outcomes, and compare developmental outcomes between the BSID-III and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). These findings contribute to informing clinical practices, policy makers, and early intervention programs aimed at promoting optimal development for all children. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 707 Iranian children from Yazd, Iran, with suspected developmental delays were recruited from two health centers. Trained examiners administered the Persian-adapted and validated version of the BSID-III following standardized procedures. We hypothesized differences in BSID-III scores compared to normative samples, considering age, gender, and parental education. Additionally, comparisons between BSID-III scores and the validated Iranian version of ASQ-3 outcomes were explored to gain further insights. Results: The study sample exhibited varying rates of developmental delays across Cognitive (15.8%), Receptive Communication (20.1%), Expressive Communication (18.4%), Fine Motor (13.6%) and Gross Motor (15.7%) domains. Additionally, Age-related differences were observed, particularly in Receptive and Expressive Communication, where older children showed higher rates of delays. Gender differences were also significant in the Language Scale, with females showing slightly higher rates of normal development. Moreover, parental education emerged as a significant factor, with higher levels associated with a reduced occurrence of developmental delays. Furthermore, comparisons between BSID-III results and ASQ-3 outcomes highlighted discrepancies, suggesting an imperfect alignment between measures. The analysis demonstrated fair agreement for Cognitive-Problem Solving and Gross Motor development, but poor agreement for Fine Motor development, highlighting the complexity of developmental assessment and the need for cautious interpretation of test results. Conclusions: This study enhances our understanding of developmental assessment in Iranian children with suspected delays by emphasizing culturally sensitive adaptations for assessment tools alongside recognizing how parental education influences developmental trajectories. Future research with diverse, longitudinal samples is warranted to gain a more comprehensive picture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Developmental delay in early childhood is a significant concern with multifaceted causes and implications. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) is widely used for developmental assessment, but its use in Iranian children has been understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the developmental delays of Iranian children aged 1 to 42 months, investigate the association between parental education and these developmental outcomes, and compare developmental outcomes between the BSID-III and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). These findings contribute to informing clinical practices, policy makers, and early intervention programs aimed at promoting optimal development for all children. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 707 Iranian children from Yazd, Iran, with suspected developmental delays were recruited from two health centers. Trained examiners administered the Persian-adapted and validated version of the BSID-III following standardized procedures. We hypothesized differences in BSID-III scores compared to normative samples, considering age, gender, and parental education. Additionally, comparisons between BSID-III scores and the validated Iranian version of ASQ-3 outcomes were explored to gain further insights. Results The study sample exhibited varying rates of developmental delays across Cognitive (15.8%), Receptive Communication (20.1%), Expressive Communication (18.4%), Fine Motor (13.6%) and Gross Motor (15.7%) domains. Additionally, Age-related differences were observed, particularly in Receptive and Expressive Communication, where older children showed higher rates of delays. Gender differences were also significant in the Language Scale, with females showing slightly higher rates of normal development. Moreover, parental education emerged as a significant factor, with higher levels associated with a reduced occurrence of developmental delays. Furthermore, comparisons between BSID-III results and ASQ-3 outcomes highlighted discrepancies, suggesting an imperfect alignment between measures. The analysis demonstrated fair agreement for Cognitive-Problem Solving and Gross Motor development, but poor agreement for Fine Motor development, highlighting the complexity of developmental assessment and the need for cautious interpretation of test results. Conclusions This study enhances our understanding of developmental assessment in Iranian children with suspected delays by emphasizing culturally sensitive adaptations for assessment tools alongside recognizing how parental education influences developmental trajectories. Future research with diverse, longitudinal samples is warranted to gain a more comprehensive picture.

Background and objectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to affect physical and mental health outcomes. In this study, we investigated the role of demographical factors and ACEs focusing on family-related factors on behavioral and developmental outcomes in young children exposed to maltreatment in Singapore. Participants and setting: Children suspected of maltreatment and their siblings (

Background: With increasing acceptance of universal developmental screening in primary care, it is essential to evaluate the local validity and psychometric properties of commonly used questionnaires like the parent-completed Ages and Stages Questionnaires, 3rd Edition (ASQ-3) in identifying developmental delays. The aim of this study is to assess the convergent validity of the ASQ-3 with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-3rd edition (Bayley-III) in identifying developmental delay in a low-risk term cohort in Singapore. Methods: ASQ-3 and Bayley-III data was collected prospectively with generation of ASQ-3 cut-off scores using three different criteria: 1-standard deviation (SD) (Criterion-I) or 2-SD (Criterion-II) below the mean, and using a Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) (Criterion-III). Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated. Correlations between the ASQ-3 and Bayley-III domains were evaluated using Pearson coefficients. Results: With all three criteria across different domains ASQ-3 showed high specificity (72–99%) and NPV (69–98%), but lower sensitivity (19–74%) and PPV (11–59%). Criterion-I identified 11–21% of children as “at-risk of developmental delay,” and was the most promising criterion measure, with high specificity (82–91%), NPV (69–74%) and overall agreement of 64–71%. Moderate-strong correlations were seen between ASQ-3 Communication and Bayley-III Language scales (r = 0.44–0.59, p

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health of pregnant persons. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal mental health and antidepressant use on children's cognitive development. Methods: We followed a cohort of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternal mental health was self-reported during pregnancy (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, General Anxiety Disorder-7, stress levels, and antidepressant use). The child's cognitive development was measured using the third edition of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ-3) at 18 months. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were built to assess the association between in utero exposure to maternal mental health and ASQ-3 domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal–social. Results: Overall, 472 children were included in our analyses. After adjusting for potential confounders, a need for further assessment in communication (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 12.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.60;92.4)), and for improvement in gross motricity (aOR 6.33, 95%CI (2.06;19.4)) were associated with in utero anxiety. The need for improvement in fine motricity (aOR 4.11, 95%CI (1.00; 16.90)) was associated with antidepressant exposure. In utero depression was associated with a decrease in the need for improvement in problem solving (aOR 0.48, 95%CI (0.24; 0.98)). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal mental health appears to be associated with some aspects of children's cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing acceptance of universal developmental screening in primary care, it is essential to evaluate the local validity and psychometric properties of commonly used questionnaires like the parent-completed Ages and Stages Questionnaires, 3rd Edition (ASQ-3) in identifying developmental delays. The aim of this study is to assess the convergent validity of the ASQ-3 with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-3rd edition (Bayley-III) in identifying developmental delay in a low-risk term cohort in Singapore. ASQ-3 and Bayley-III data was collected prospectively with generation of ASQ-3 cut-off scores using three different criteria: 1-standard deviation (SD) (Criterion-I) or 2-SD (Criterion-II) below the mean, and using a Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) (Criterion-III). Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated. Correlations between the ASQ-3 and Bayley-III domains were evaluated using Pearson coefficients. With all three criteria across different domains ASQ-3 showed high specificity (72–99%) and NPV (69–98%), but lower sensitivity (19–74%) and PPV (11–59%). Criterion-I identified 11–21% of children as "at-risk of developmental delay," and was the most promising criterion measure, with high specificity (82–91%), NPV (69–74%) and overall agreement of 64–71%. Moderate-strong correlations were seen between ASQ-3 Communication and Bayley-III Language scales (r = 0.44–0.59, p < 0.01). The lowest sensitivities were seen in the motor domains. ASQ-3 is reliable in low-risk settings in identifying typically developing children not at risk of developmental delay, but it has modest sensitivity. Moderate-strong correlations seen in the communication domain are clinically important for early identification of language delay, which is one of the most prevalent areas of early childhood developmental delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAnimal studies have shown that maternal low-fiber diets during pregnancy may impair brain development and function in offspring, but this has not been validated by epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between maternal dietary fiber intake during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental delay in offspring using a large birth cohort.MethodsA total of 76,207 mother-infant pairs were analyzed using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide prospective cohort study. Maternal dietary fiber intake was estimated using the food frequency questionnaire in mid-pregnancy. Maternal dietary fiber intake was adjusted for energy and classified into quintiles. Developmental delay was assessed in five domains using the Japanese version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition at the age of 3 years. The logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the link between dietary fiber intake during pregnancy and developmental delay at the age of 3 years.ResultsThe lowest intake group of total dietary fiber had a higher risk of delayed communication [adjusted OR (aOR), 1.51; 95% CI, 1.32–1.74], fine motor (aOR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.32–1.61), problem-solving (aOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.32–1.61), and personal-social skills (aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.12–1.50) than did the highest intake group. An analysis that excluded the effects of insufficient folic acid intake during pregnancy also showed a similar trend.ConclusionThis study showed that maternal dietary fiber deficiency during pregnancy might influence an increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay in offspring.

Introduction: Preterm birth is the most common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Women with twin pregnancies and a short cervical length are at high risk for preterm birth. Vaginal progesterone and cervical pessary have been proposed as potential strategies to reduce preterm birth in this high‐risk population. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone in improving developmental outcomes of children born to women with twin pregnancies and mid‐trimester short cervical length. Material and methods: This was a follow‐up study (NCT04295187) of all children at 24 months of age, born from women treated with cervical pessary or progesterone to prevent preterm birth in a randomized controlled trial (NCT02623881). We used a validated Vietnamese version of Ages & Stages Third Edition Questionnaires (ASQ‐3) and a red flag questionnaire. In surviving children, we compared the mean ASQ‐3 scores, abnormal ASQ‐3 scores, the number of children with any abnormal ASQ‐3 scores and red flag signs between the two groups. We reported the composite outcome of perinatal death or survival with any abnormal ASQ‐3 score in offspring. These outcomes were also calculated in a subgroup of women with a cervical length ≤28 mm (<25th percentile). Results: In the original randomized controlled trial, we randomized 300 women to pessary or progesterone. After counting the number of perinatal deaths and lost to follow‐up, 82.8% parents in the pessary group and 82.5% parents in progesterone group returned the questionnaire. The mean ASQ‐3 scores of the five skills and red flag signs did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the percentage of children having abnormal ASQ‐3 scores in fine motor skills was significantly lower in the progesterone group (6.1% vs 1.3%, P = 0.01). There were no significant differences in the composite outcome of perinatal death or survival with any abnormal ASQ‐3 score in unselected women and in those with cervical length ≤28 mm. Conclusions: Cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone may have comparable effects on developmental outcomes in children at ≥24 months of age, born to women with twin pregnancies and short cervical length. However, this finding could be likely due to a lack of study power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Optimal child development is needed for adequate learning. Children, particularly toddlers, require iron for brain development, and consequently, overall development. Objective To analyze for an association between iron status and developmental status in children aged 24–36 months. Methods This explorative cross-sectional study was held in Kampung Melayu, Jakarta. Subjects were recruited using a total population sampling method. Data were collected through interview with parents, anthropometric examinations, and blood tests. Developmental status was determined using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3) and iron status was based on ferritin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and hemoglobin levels. Data analyses included Chi-square/Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney, and logistic regression tests. Results Of 80 subjects, 17.5% had developmental delay and 41.3% had deficient iron status. There was no significant association between iron status and developmental status in bivariate analysis, but the logistic regression analysis revealed that iron status (OR=6.9; 95%CI 1.328 to 35.633; P=0.022) and nutritional status (OR=11.75; 95%CI 1.551 to 88.979; P=0.017) contributed to developmental delay. Conclusion Better iron status and nutritional status are associated with better child development of children aged 24–36 months. So efforts are needed to maintain iron status as well as nutritional status.

Background: Developmental delays (DDs) in children are rising and necessitate routine screening for early recognition and management. Objective(s): To estimate the prevalence of developmental delays among children 2-36 months of age in a Primary Health Care (PHC) center in Cairo, Egypt. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Saraya El-Koba PHC center involving 193 children 2-36 months of age. Data were collected using Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) to assess five domains of development: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social. Some parents’ characteristics were also included. Results: Frequency of developmental delays was 9.3%. The domains with the most frequent delays were the communication and gross motor (3.1% each) and the least was the fine motor domain (1.04%). Girls scored significantly higher than boys in the problem-solving domain (p=0.037). First to third order of birth had higher communication and social scores (p=0.025, p=0.003 respectively). Highly educated mothers had children with higher fine motor and total developmental scores (p < 0.001 and 0.014 respectively), while highly educated fathers had children with higher communication scores (p=0.009). Duration of breast feeding was positively correlated with gross motor and social scores (p=0.001, p=0.042 respectively). Conclusion: The frequency of DDs was 9.3%. This prevalence is considered high compared to previous studies. It showed several associated factors and recommended early screening of preschool children for prompt recognition and timely intervention.

Background: Clinicians and parents should closely monitor the neurodevelopment of very preterm infants. The aim of our study was to compare whether neurodevelopmental assessments completed by parents and those done by specialists yielded similar outcomes. We wanted to check whether the assessments completed by specialists and parents were comparable in outcomes to emphasize the important roles of early assessment of a child and of the parents in their child's treatment and medical care. Another aim was to check whether or not the pull to sit maneuver from the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) is still a parable item in well-known scales of neurodevelopment. Methods: We assessed 18 preterm neonates in the fourth month of corrected age with scales such as the General Movement Assessment (GMA), the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), and the pull to sit maneuver from the NBAS. Finally, we asked parents to complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). Results: We found that the respective assessments completed by specialists and parents are comparable in outcomes. We also found that the pull to sit item from the NBAS was still a valid test since it showed similar findings to those from the AIMS, the GMA, and the ASQ-3. Conclusions: The pull to sit item from the NBAS is an important item for assessment of very preterm infants. Specialists should also take into consideration the input and concerns of parents when planning for treatment and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: IVM preceded by a prematuration step (capacitation [CAPA]-IVM) improves the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence and can enhance embryo quality. There is currently no follow-up data on babies born from CAPA-IVM. This study investigated developmental outcomes in children born after CAPA-IVM versus natural conception. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at a fertility clinic in Vietnam in August/September 2019. Children born after CAPA-IVM were propensity score-matched with those born after natural conception. All parents were asked to complete the Developmental Red Flags and Ages & Stages Third Edition (ASQ-3) questionnaires. Results: A total of 46 parents (23 in each group) of 55 babies (31 CAPA-IVM and 24 natural conception) were included in the study. Baseline characteristics, including mother's age and body mass index, gestational age at delivery, and birth weight, were comparable. The mean age of children at the end of follow-up was 15 months. The overall proportion of children with any abnormal ASQ-3 score was 6.5% in the CAPA-IVM group and 20.8% in the natural conception group (p = 0.24). The proportion of children with a developmental red flag did not differ significantly between the CAPA-IVM and natural conception groups (9.7% vs. 4.2%; p = 0.80). Conclusions: The use of CAPA-IVM did not have any significant impact on childhood physical and mental development compared with children born as a result of natural conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Is there any difference in developmental outcomes in children born after capacitation IVM (CAPA IVM) compared with conventional IVF?Summary Answer: Overall development up to 24 months of age was comparable in children born after CAPA IVM compared with IVF.What Is Known Already: IVM has been shown to be a feasible alternative to conventional IVF in women with a high antral follicle count (AFC). In addition to live birth rate, childhood development is also a relevant metric to compare between the two approaches to ART and there are currently no data on this.Study Design, Size, Duration: This study was a follow-up of babies born to women who participated in a randomized controlled trial comparing IVM with a pre-maturation step (CAPA IVM) and IVF. Developmental assessments were performed on 231 children over 24 months of follow-up.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: Participants in the randomized controlled trial had an indication for ART and a high AFC (≥24 follicles in both ovaries). They were randomized to undergo one cycle of either IVM (n = 273) or IVF (n = 273). Of these, 96 women and 118 women, respectively, had live births. Seventy-six women (94 children, 79.2%) and 104 women (137 children, 88.1%), respectively, completed Ages & Stages Third Edition Questionnaire assessment (ASQ-3), and underwent evaluation of Developmental Red Flags at 6, 12 and 24 months of age.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: Baseline characteristics of participants in the follow-up study between the IVM and IVF groups were comparable. Overall, there were no significant differences in ASQ-3 scores at 6, 12 and 24 months between children born after IVM or IVF. The proportion of children with developmental red flags was low and did not differ between the two groups. Slightly, but significantly, lower ASQ-3 problem solving and personal-social scores in twins from the IVM versus IVF group at 6 months were still within the normal range and had caught up to the IVF group in the 12- and 24-month assessments. The number of children confirmed to have abnormal mental and/or motor development after specialist assessment was four in the IVM group and two in the IVF group (relative risk 2.91, 95% CI 0.54-15.6; P = 0.23).Limitations, Reasons For Caution: This study is an open-label follow-up of participants in a randomized controlled trial, and not all original trial subjects took part in the follow-up. The self-selected nature of the follow-up population could have introduced bias, and the sample size may have been insufficient to detect significant between-group differences in developmental outcomes.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Based on the current findings at 2 years of follow-up, there does not appear to be any significant concern about the effects of IVM on childhood development. These data add to the evidence available to physicians when considering different approaches to fertility treatment, but require validation in larger studies.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This work was funded by the Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number FWO.106-YS.2017.02. L.N.V. has received speaker and conference fees from Merck, grant, speaker and conference fees from Merck Sharpe and Dohme, and speaker, conference and scientific board fees from Ferring; T.M.H. has received speaker fees from Merck, Merck Sharp and Dohme, and Ferring; R.J.N. has receives grant funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia; B.W.M. has acted as a paid consultant to Merck, ObsEva and Guerbet and is the recipient of grant money from an NHMRC Investigator Grant; J.E.J.S. reports lecture fees from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Biomérieux and Besins Female Healthcare, grants from Fund for Research Flanders (FWO) and is co-inventor on granted patents on CAPA-IVM methodology in the USA (US10392601B2) and Europe (EP3234112B1); T.D.P., M.H.N.N., N.A.N., T.T.L., V.T.T.T., N.T.N., H.L.T.H. and X.T.H.L. have no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years, and no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.Trial Registration Number: NCT04296357 (www.clinicaltrials.gov).Trial Registration Date: 5 March 2020.Date Of First Patient’s Enrolment: 7 March 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Optimal child development is needed for adequate learning. Children, particularly toddlers, require iron for brain development, and consequently, overall development. Objective To analyze for an association between iron status and developmental status in children aged 24-36 months. Methods This explorative cross-sectional study was held in Kampung Melayu, Jakarta. Subjects were recruited using a total population sampling method. Data were collected through interview with parents, anthropometric examinations, and blood tests. Developmental status was determined using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3) and iron status was based on ferritin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and hemoglobin levels. Data analyses included Chi-square/Fisher’s exact, MannWhitney, and logistic regression tests. Results Of 80 subjects, 17.5% had developmental delay and 41.3% had deficient iron status. There was no significant association between iron status and developmental status in bivariate analysis, but the logistic regression analysis revealed that iron status (OR=6.9; 95%CI 1.328 to 35.633; P=0.022) and nutritional status (OR=11.75; 95%CI 1.551 to 88.979; P=0.017) contributed to developmental delay. Conclusion Better iron status and nutritional status are associated with better child development of children aged 24-36 months. So efforts are needed to maintain iron status as well as nutritional status [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Developmental delays (DDs) in children are rising and necessitate routine screening for early recognition and management. Objective(s): To estimate the prevalence of developmental delays among children 2-36 months of age in a Primary Health Care (PHC) center in Cairo, Egypt. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Saraya El-Koba PHC center involving 193 children 2-36 months of age. Data were collected using Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) to assess five domains of development: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social. Some parents' characteristics were also included. Results: Frequency of developmental delays was 9.3%. The domains with the most frequent delays were the communication and gross motor (3.1% each) and the least was the fine motor domain (1.04%). Girls scored significantly higher than boys in the problem-solving domain (p=0.037). First to third order of birth had higher communication and social scores (p=0.025, p=0.003 respectively). Highly educated mothers had children with higher fine motor and total developmental scores (p<0.001 and 0.014 respectively), while highly educated fathers had children with higher communication scores (p=0.009). Duration of breast feeding was positively correlated with gross motor and social scores (p=0.001, p=0.042 respectively). Conclusion: The frequency of DDs was 9.3%. This prevalence is considered high compared to previous studies. It showed several associated factors and recommended early screening of preschool children for prompt recognition and timely intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent studies have shown that inclusion of eggs in young children's diet can help meet nutritional requirements associated with cognitive development. This study aims to investigate the effect of egg consumption on Early Childhood Development (ECD) using Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3(ASQ-3) in Burkina Faso., Design: The study presented here uses data collected during a follow-up of the Un Oeuf -a 3 arm clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT), conducted roughly four months after the end of the RCT., Setting: This research was conducted in 18 rural villages within the Kaya Department of the Sanmatenga Province in Burkina Faso., Participants: Participants of this study include a total of 244 children aged between 18-33 months, with 78 children in the full intervention group, 83 in the partial group, and 83 in the control group., Results: Results show that children with consistent egg consumption (in all months) had a lower odd of falling below the cut-off scores in gross motor ( OR = 0.13, p = 0.02) and personal social skills ( OR = 0.34, p = 0.05). And a dose response was established; for each additional egg/week, a 1.9% increase in scores for problem-solving skills was observed., Conclusions: Findings from this study contribute to a growing body of evidence that increasing egg consumption among children in LMICs can improve growth and development. The study highlights the need for additional research in LMICs to better understand the multifactorial relationship between diet and childhood development.

Background: Previous studies on the pneumonia outbreak caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have focused on the general population and pregnant women, while little is known about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on retardation during and after pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential influence of SARS-CoV-2 on infant neurobehavioral development.Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province. Nine pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 9 controls matched by maternal age, parity, and status of chronic disease were included. Infantile neurobehavioral development was assessed through the Ages and Stages Questionnaires Edition 3 (ASQ-3).Results: The majority of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 experienced cesarean section (7 of 9), which was higher than the control group (5 of 9). The throat swabs of all newborn were negative. We found that compared with the control group, neonates of mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy had lower scores in communication, gross movement, fine movement, problem solving, and personal-social domains; but only fine movement domain yielded statistical significance (P = 0.031).Conclusion: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy may have a certain impact on infant neurobehavioral development. Further studies with larger sample size are warranted for validation.

Objective: Thyroid hormones are essential for neurodevelopment in early life. However, the impact of mild alterations in neonatal thyroid hormones on infant neurodevelopment and its sex dimorphism is unclear. We aimed to assess whether mild variations in neonatal thyroid hormones of term-born newborns with maternal euthyroid are related to neurodevelopment in 2-year-old boys and girls.Methods: This study used data from 452 singleton term-born infants of mothers with normal thyroid function in Shanghai, China, and their follow-up measure at the age of 2 years. Cord serum concentrations of free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays and classified into three groups: the low (1st, Q1), middle (2nd−4th, Q2–Q4), and high (5th, Q5) quintiles. Neurodevelopment indices were assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-3), at 24 months of age.Results: Compared to infants with thyroid hormones in the middle (Q2–Q4), boys with FT4 in the lowest quintile had 5.08 (95% CI: 1.37, 8.78) points lower scores in the communication domain, 3.25 (0.25,6.25) points lower scores in the fine motor domain, and 3.84 (0.04, 7.64) points lower scores in the personal-social domain, respectively. Boys with FT3 in the highest quintile had 4.46 (0.81, 8.11) points increase in the personal-social domain. These associations were not observed in girls. No associations were observed between cord blood serum TSH and ASQ-assessed neurodevelopment in the boys or the girls.Conclusions: Mild alterations in thyroid hormones of newborns were associated adversely with neurodevelopment in boys, suggesting the importance of optimal thyroid hormone status for neurodevelopment in early life.

Objective: To compare the longer-term development outcomes in children born after freeze-only versus fresh embryo transfer (ET) in women with an ovulatory cycle.Design: Long-term follow-up study (NCT04099784) of babies born alive after the first ET in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates after use of a freeze-only versus fresh ET strategy (NCT02471573).Setting: Private clinic.Patient(s): Of 391 couples randomized to each treatment group in the RCT, 132 (97 singleton/35 twins) and 123 (95 singleton/28 twins) in the freeze-only and fresh ET groups had live birth; 113 parents (86%) from the freeze-only group (147 babies) and 99 (80%) from the fresh ET group (120 babies) returned questionnaires for this follow-up study.Intervention(s): Use of a freeze-only or fresh ET strategy after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with a follicle-stimulating hormone/gonadotropin-releasing antagonist protocol.Main Outcome Measure(s): Developmental status at ≥2 years after birth, determined using the Developmental Red Flags and Ages & Stages Third Edition (ASQ-3) Questionnaires.Result(s): Mean age of children at the end of follow-up was 37 months. Height (95.0 ± 6.1 vs. 95.7 ± 5.6 cm) and weight (14.9 ± 2.6 vs. 14.8 ± 2.6 kg) were similar in the freeze-only and fresh ET groups (results were similar when singletons and twins were analyzed separately). Overall, ASQ-3 scores for problem solving were significantly better in the freeze-only versus fresh ET group (overall: 53.6 ± 8.4 vs. 51.1 ± 10.2), with no significant between-group difference when singletons (52.3 ± 10.1 vs. 51.0 ± 9.9) and twins (55.0 ± 5.5 vs. 51.4 ± 11.1) were analyzed separately. Fine motor skills scores were numerically higher (with P values approaching statistical significance) in the freeze-only versus fresh ET group in the overall analysis (47.8 ± 11.6 vs. 44.9 ± 12.6) and twins (49.85 ± 8.72 vs. 43.93 ± 12.71), but not singletons (46.0 ± 13.4 vs. 45.4 ± 12.6). The overall proportion of children with abnormal ASQ-3 (6.8% vs. 8.3%) or abnormal Red Flags (5.4% vs. 6.7%) findings in the freeze-only and fresh ET groups was low and did not differ significantly between groups.Conclusion(s): These data provide physicians with additional information on which to base decisions about the relative merits of different approaches to infertility treatment. There do not appear to be any grounds for concern about worse outcomes after use of a freeze-only strategy. However, additional studies comparing childhood development after a freeze-only strategy, fresh ET, and natural cycles are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability in early childhood. Early identification and intervention in children with ASD are essential for children and their families. This study aimed to identify the earliest signs of ASD. Using a large cohort including data from 104,062 fetal records in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, we examined the Ages and Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ-3TM) scores of children with and without ASD. The ASQ-3 comprises five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social. The ASQ-3 scores were obtained at ages 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years. There were 64,501 children with available ASQ-3 data. The number of children diagnosed with ASD was 188 (0.29%) at 3 years of age. The highest relative risk (RR) for any domain below the monitoring score at 6 months was in the communication (RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.29–2.78, p = 0.0041), followed by fine motor (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.28–1.76, p < 0.0001) domain. A low ASQ-3 score in the communication domain at 6 months was related to an ASD diagnosis at 3 years of age. The ASQ-3 score at 6 months can contribute to the early identification of and intervention for ASD.

Abstract Background Vitamin-D deficiency has been linked with impaired development in animal studies; however, the evidence from human studies is scanty. Evidence as to whether vitamin-D deficiency during early childhood affects growth is also limited and conflicting. We examined the extent to which vitamin-D deficiency (

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Objetivos. Conocer los niveles de desarrollo infantil y explorar sus relaciones con el nivel socioeconómico y la educación de la madre. Materiales y métodos. Estudio cuantitativo realizado entre marzo y agosto de 2013, que incluyó información sobre 5859 niños de 1 a menos de 24 meses al momento de la entrevista y sus 5723 madres, provenientes de 5620 hogares en zonas rurales. Se aplicó el Age and Stages Questionnaire ASQ-3 adaptado y una encuesta sociodemográfica. Resultados. Los puntajes de las escalas de comunicación y motora fina mostraron que a medida que la edad es mayor, la brecha en los resultados de las escalas aumenta. En general, los niños del cuartil menos pobre en la muestra obtienen puntajes mayores que los niños del cuartil más pobre para las cinco dimensiones evaluadas. Por otro lado, en las cinco escalas y en el puntaje total se registran diferencias entre los puntajes alcanzados por los niños con madres más y menos educadas. Conclusiones. El estudio ha permitido establecer que existen diferencias en el puntaje obtenido en la prueba ASQ-3 según las variables edad, educación de la madre y niveles de riqueza.

Background: Vitamin-D deficiency has been linked with impaired development in animal studies; however, the evidence from human studies is scanty. Evidence as to whether vitamin-D deficiency during early childhood affects growth is also limited and conflicting. We examined the extent to which vitamin-D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) is associated with neurodevelopment and physical growth in young children.Methods: We used data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of daily folic acid and/ or vitamin B12 supplementation for six months in children aged 6 to 30 months conducted in Delhi, India. We measured vitamin-D status and  neurodevelopment by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3) at 12 to 36 months of age. Multiple logistic and linear regressions were used to examine the association between vitamin-D deficiency at baseline and neurodevelopment and growth 6 months follow-up.Results: 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D (25OHD) concentration was measured at baseline for 960 (96%) children. Of these, 331 (34.5%) children were vitamin-D deficient. The total and subscale (except for the Personal social scale) ASQ-3 scores, were not different between the vitamin-D deficient and non-deficient children. Vitamin-D deficiency was also not associated with physical growth at baseline and at follow -up.Conclusion: Our data do not support the hypothesis that vitamin-D deficiency is associated with poor growth and neurodevelopment.Trial Registration: NCT00717730 and CTRI/2010/091/001090 . Date of registration: 08 October, 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives : The Ages & Stages Questionnaires Third Version (ASQ-3) identifies the risk of developmental delay in children aged 1 to 66 months. The aim of this study was to determine a reliable and valid instrument for the Italian population to enable the screening of children's development. Methods : Data from 2278 Italian children (age range: 1-66 months) were used to evaluate item discrimination power using the corrected item-total correlation. Internal consistency was analyzed by Cronbach's alpha scores and a Confirmative Factor Analysis was conducted to test the factor structure of the test. Data were also collected to examine the ASQ-3 test-retest reliability and concurrent validity, which was investigated using the Griffiths Scales of Child Development, Third Edition, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale, Second Edition, and the Developmental Profile, Third Edition tools. In order to evaluate discriminant validity, differences between typical development children and several clinical groups have been performed. Finally, two different cut-off scores have been proposed. Results : The results showed that the questionnaires are composed of high-quality items; the original factor structure has been confirmed and strong Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients between the overall and the total for each domain (ranging from 0.73 to 0.88). The Italian version of the ASQ-3 had adequate internal consistency and a strong agreement between observations with two weeks' intervals. Moreover, the test showed a high discriminant validity due to the possibility of fully discriminating between typical development children and several clinical groups. Finally, two different cut-off scores have been identified using ROC curves in order to have a screening and a diagnostic cut-off value. Conclusion : This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of ASQ-3 questionnaires. We demonstrated the validity of the ASQ-3 and determined new cut-off scores for Italian children. Early identification and accurate assessment are important starting points to better understand and anticipate the needs of children and their link to services.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability in early childhood. Early identification and intervention in children with ASD are essential for children and their families. This study aimed to identify the earliest signs of ASD. Using a large cohort including data from 104,062 fetal records in the Japan Environment and Children's Study, we examined the Ages and Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ-3TM) scores of children with and without ASD. The ASQ-3 comprises five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social. The ASQ-3 scores were obtained at ages 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years. There were 64,501 children with available ASQ-3 data. The number of children diagnosed with ASD was 188 (0.29%) at 3 years of age. The highest relative risk (RR) for any domain below the monitoring score at 6 months was in the communication (RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.29–2.78, p = 0.0041), followed by fine motor (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.28–1.76, p < 0.0001) domain. A low ASQ-3 score in the communication domain at 6 months was related to an ASD diagnosis at 3 years of age. The ASQ-3 score at 6 months can contribute to the early identification of and intervention for ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]