Increasing evidence suggests that perturbations in the intestinal microbiota in early infancy are implicated in the pathogenesis of food allergy (FA); existing evidence on the structure and composition of the intestinal microbiota in human beings with FA is limited and conflicting. The main object of the study was to compare the faecal microbiota between healthy and cow's milk allergy (CMA) infants at the baseline immediately after the diagnosis, and to evaluate the changes in the faecal microbiota after 6 months of treatment of CMA infants with hypoallergenic formula (HF), compared with healthy children fed on standard milk formulae. Sixty infants younger than 4 months of age with challenge-proven CMA and 60 healthy age-matched children were investigated in this prospective case - control follow-up study. Faecal samples were collected at baseline and at 6 months of follow-up, microbial diversity and composition were characterized by high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing. The average age (±SD) of the infants at inclusion was 2.9 ± 1.0 months. Children with CMA have lower gut microbiota diversity and an elevated Enterobacteriaceae to Bacteroidaceae (E/B ratio) in early infancy compared with healthy children (115.8 vs. 0.8, P = 0.0002). After 6 months of treatment with HF, CMA infants had a higher Lactobacillaceae (6.3% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.04) and lower Bifidobacteriaceae (0.3% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.03) and Ruminococcaceae (1.5% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.03) abundance compared with control children. : Low gut microbiota diversity and an elevated E/B ratio in early infancy may contribute to the development of FA, including CMA. A strict elimination diet may weaken FA by reducing E/B ratio and promoting a gut microbiota that would benefit the acquisition of oral tolerance.

Most children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not diagnosed until the age of 4, thus missing the opportunity for early intervention. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an early screening program for ASD applied during well-child visits in a community-based sample. The study lasted for 4 years and was divided into two stages. Stage I involved the implementation of the basic screening model in 2014. Toddlers received level 1 screening via section A of the Chinese-validated version of the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT-23) during 18- and 24-month well-child visits in Xuhui District, Shanghai, China. Screen-positive children were referred to receive section B of the CHAT-23 for level 2 screening, and those still screen-positive were referred to undergo diagnosis and evaluation. Stage II involved the implementation of the improved screening model from 2015 to 2017 with the following modifications: (a) an added observational component in level 1 screening; (b) telephone follow-ups with the screen-positive families; and (c) dissemination of information on ASD to families. The results showed that 42 of 22,247 screened children were diagnosed with ASD. The ASD diagnosis rates were 0.1% in Stage I and 0.21% in Stage II. The screen-positive rate and the show rate of referral for level 1 screening increased by 76.92% and 58.43%, respectively, in Stage II compared to Stage I. Our results suggest that with appropriate logistic support, this two-level screening model is feasible and effective for the early screening of ASD during well-child visits. Autism Res 2018, 11: 1206-1217. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Difficulty in the timely identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) results in missed opportunities for many ASD children to receive early intervention. In this study, we established an early screening model for ASD among children aged 18-24 months in the community by relying on the three-level child healthcare system in China. The results showed that this model can effectively identify and diagnose ASD in children at an early age and thus enable early intervention.

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The latency of the P2 main wave on FVEPs was delayed more significantly in premature infants than in full-term infants at 2 years of corrected age. The visual functional development was delayed in premature infants, especially in VLBW infants (gestational age <32 weeks). The FVEPs were reported low but there were statistically significant correlations between measures of visual cognition and P2 peak latency. As a noninvasive and convenient method, FVEPs are useful in assessing certain aspects of an infant's visual development and visual function.

Background: This study compares perspectives on specialized ophthalmic medical institutions, identifies the gaps in property and geographic offerings, and explores the ways that ophthalmic medical institutions can better allocate resources. The results of this research will increase patient's access to equitable and high-quality ophthalmic care in China. Methods: The data for this research was gathered from the Survey of China National Eye Care Capacity and Resource for the year 2015. The paper specified the number, professional level of expertise, and educational background of ophthalmic health personnel. The authors of the paper analyzed and compared the differences in ophthalmic care in public vs. private and urban vs. rural regions in China. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Of the 395 specialized ophthalmic hospitals surveyed, 332 were private medical institutions (84%), and 63 were public (16%). Of the 26 607 ophthalmic personnel surveyed, working in specialized ophthalmic hospitals, 17 561 were in private hospitals (66%) and 9 046 were in public ones (34%). Furthermore, 22 578 of those personnel worked in urban ophthalmic institutions (85%) and 4 029 worked in rural ones (15%). As for regional differences, 14 090 personnel were located in eastern China (53%), 8 828 in central regions (33%), and 3 689 in the western regions (14%). Conclusions: Public ophthalmic medical institutions still face challenges in providing equitable and widespread care. The availability of well-staffed health centers varies significantly by region. These variations impact resource allocation and directly lead to inequalities and inaccessibility of health services in certain regions of China.

Children with CMA who followed an elimination diet could achieve a normal nutritional status, except for relatively lower plasma leptin levels, at the age of 2. Further studies with larger cohorts and research on the long-term consequences of these early differences are needed.