A study involving about 100,000 newborns in China and Hong Kong will explore how can microorganisms in the baby's intestine determine his or her future health developments, including intellectual developments, allergies, as well as organs' growth.
Last month, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) established an institute involving experts from six faculties and other research centers to further enhance its multidisciplinary study regarding the health of children, the South China Morning Post reported. The goal of their research is to follow the growth of a baby in both sides for many years, looking the relationship between gut microbiomes and the mental and physical development.
Professor Francis Chan Ka-leung, the dean of the university's medical school, said they wanted to understand how the changes of environment and other physical factors could promote the health of a child. He said the mainland Chinese side of the study is set to start in the first quarter of next year, while the Hong Kong side began in Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin and it had recruited more than 200 cases already.
Previous studies have already revealed that types of bacteria being formed by the age of three can affect one's health in different aspects, including intellectual development, weight gain, and sleep, according to Professor Leung Ting-fan, founding director of the institute. And aside from focusing on the child's health and microbiome, the institute will also be studying other areas like stem cells, rare diseases, genetics and genomics, and pediatric oncology.
A biobank would store samples from approximately 600,000 to 700,000 children, and a big data center and laboratory facilities were some of the infrastructure built by the institute. Professor Chan noted they had invested about HK$40 million on basic facilities so far, but the amount of money they'll be spending in the project is more than HK$100 million.
Meanwhile, a previous study has shown antibiotics before birth and in early life has a long-term health impact. Researchers revealed that adverse effects of antibiotic exposure in early life and before birth might include asthma, obesity, as well as increased risk of infection. Although these are used for bacterial infections in children, they are sometimes prescribed for viral infections - making them ineffective.
Overuse of antibiotic also increases the risk of bacterial resistance, that's why some of the most commonly used antibiotics were ineffective against certain bacteria which make it difficult and impossible to treat infections. Unnecessary exposure to antibiotics among children also has some potential side effects like allergic reactions, diarrhea, rashes, and vomiting.
