[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To study the effect of adenosine A 2A receptor antagonist SCH58261 on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage ( HIBD) in a mature fetal rabbit model .METHODS:Pregnant New Zealand white rabbits at gestational day 29 were selected and were randomly divided into sham-operated group, hypoxic-ischemic group, SCH58261 0.04 mg/kg group, SCH58261 0.12 mg/kg group and DMSO group.The intrauterine rabbit HIBD model was established .All pregnant rabbits were subjected to cesarean section 24 h after the sham operation or experimental procedure to induce hypoxic-ische-mic injury in the fetus .The survival neonatal rabbits were kept in a neonatal incubator at 35℃.The general conditions of the newborn rabbits were recorded .The degree of neurobehavioral damage in the newborn rabbits was estimated by a neu -robehavioral scoring protocol .The concentration of SCH 58261 in the serum of pregnant rabbits , the serum of neonatal rab-bits and the brain tissues of neonatal rabbits was measured by mass spectrometry .The mRNA expression of Bcl-2/Bax and protein levels of p-P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum area in the brain of the neonatal rabbits were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot .RESULTS:SCH58261 was detected in the se-rum and brain tissues of the newborn rabbits .The SCH58261 concentration was approximately 40 μg/L in the brain tissue of the newborn rabbits .The mRNA expression of Bcl-2 in the cortex , hippocampus and striatum of brain tissues in SCH58261 0.04 mg/kg group and SCH58261 0.12 mg/kg group was higher , and the mRNA expression of Bax was lower than those in HI group (P<0.05).The protein level of p-P38 MAPK in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum of brain tis-sues was reduced in SCH58261 0.04 mg/kg group and SCH58261 0.12 mg/kg group compared with HI group (P<0.05). The protein level of p-P38 MAPK in SCH58261 0.12 mg/kg group was a little lower than that in SCH 58261 0.04 mg/kg group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist SCH58261 attenuates hypoxia-ischemia induced neonatal brain injury by blocking adenosine A 2A receptor, subsequently inhibiting p-P38 MAPK phosphorylation to reduce neuronal apoptosis .

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of occlusive wrapping with plastic film in the delivery room to prevent heat loss and reduce the occurrence of hypothermia on admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in very low birth weight infants.Methods A total of 209 very low birth weight infants (birth weight＜1 500 g and gestational age＜33 weeks),born in the Second Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (Yuying Children's Hospital) and admitted to the NICU immediately after birth from June 1,2009 to December 1,2010,were randomized to the wrap group or non-wrap group.Infants randomized to the wrap group were dried and then wrapped with polyethylene film up to their necks immediately after delivery.They were then covered with warmed blankets and transported to the NICU by the neonatal team.The non-wrap group received routine care in the delivery room following the guidelines of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program.The t test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis.Results The mean rectal temperature on admission to the NICU was significantly higher in infants of wrap group compared with those of non-wrap group [(36.1 ± 0.8) ℃ vs (35.5 ± 1.0) ℃,t=4.707,P＜0.01],and the incidence of hypothermia was 41.0％ (43/105) in the wrap group which was lower than that in the non-wrap group (66.3％,69/104) (x2=13.547,P＜0.01).In infants ＜29 weeks of gestation,the mean rectal temperature on admission to the NICU was higher in the wrap group than in the non-wrap group [(36.1 ± 0.8) ℃ vs (35.4 ± 1.1) ℃,t=3.051,P＜0.01].In infants ≥ 29 weeks of gestation,the mean rectal temperature on admission to the NICU was higher in the wrap group than in the non wrap group [(36.0±0.9) ℃ vs (35.5±0.9) ℃,t=3.698,P＜0.01].The arterial blood gas base excess in the wrap group and non-wrap group was-(2.9±2.7) mmol/L and-(5.0±4.2) mmol/L,respectively (t=4.473,P＜0.01).The rate of endotracheal intubation was 20.0％ (21/105) in the wrap group and 27.9％ (29/104) in the non-wrap group,(x2=1.785,P=0.182).The duration of hospitalization was (49.2± 10.7) d in the wrap group and (45.8±9.1) d in the non-wrap group,and the difference was not statistically significant (t=1.152,P=0.251).Conclusions Wrapping very low birth weight infants with plastic film in the delivery room can reduce the occurrence of hypothermia.

Objective To review the basic clinical characteristics and the pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibilities to neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and extremely low birth weight infants ( ELBWI) for selection of appropriate antibiotics. Methods A retrospective chart review of 56 cases with neonatal sepsis(early onset neonatal sepsis 3 cases, late onset 53 cases) in VLBWI and ELBWI admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2008 was conducted. The basic clinical characteristics and the results of blood culture and antimicrobial susceptibilities were analyzed. Results Among the 56 cases, the clinical presentations were non-specific. A total of 43 strains of bacteria were isolated, and the most important pathogens responsible for neonatal sepsis in VLBWI and ELBWI were opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. In early onset neonatal sepsis, there was only one culture-proven sepsis that was Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. In the late onset neonatal sepsis cases, the main pathogens of Gram-negative organisms were Klebsiella pneumoniae (33. 3%, 14/42), and the most common Gram-positive organisms were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (26. 2%, 11/42), followed by Enterococcus species (11. 9%,5/42). Furthermore, there were 2 fungal sepsis(4. 8%, 2/42), which were infected by Candida albicans. All of the coagulase-negative Staphylococci were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci, and they were resistant to common antibiotics and sensitive to vancotnycin and rifampicin. And all of the Klebsiella pneumoniae produced extended-spectrum (Hactamases, which were sensitive only to a few antibiotics such as carbopenems, aminoglycosides and quinolones. Among those 56 cases, 43 patients were cured, 13 died, including six patients who refused any treatments, the mortality rate of neonatal sepsis in VLBWI and ELBWI was 23. 2%. Conclusions The clinical presentations of neonatal sepsis in VLBWI and ELBWI were non-specific, and the most important pathogens were opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, which were multi-drug resistant. Routine blood culture should be taken from infants who are suspected of neonatal sepsis and empirical use of appropriate antibiotics should be initiated as soon as the blood specimen for culture has been drawn. To reduce the occurrence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, we should restrict the use of antibiotics especially the third generation of cephalosporins in neonates as much as possible.

Objective To establish an appropriate preterm hypoxic-ischemic brain injury animal model. Methods A total of 32 pregnant New Zealand white rabbits at gestational day 25 were selected. The uterine blood supply in pregnant rabbits was blocked for 30, 35, 37, 40 minutes respectively, while in the control group it was not blocked. Then the pregnant rabbits were subjected to cesarean section 24 hours (at embryonic day 26, A group) or 5 days (at embryonic day 30, B group) after the experimental procedure. The general conditions of the newborn rabbits were recorded. The degree of neurobehavioral impairment in newborn rabbits was evaluated. The histological changes of brain tissue were observed. Results In A group, all newborn rabbits survived with ischemia for 30 minutes, while the stillbirth rates increased from 31.0% to 100% with ischemia from 35 to 40 minutes. In survived nowborn rabbits, the brain water content and the number of apoptotic brain cells were increased with prolonged ischemia. All these differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). In B group, the stillbirth rates increased to 50.0% and 65.7% respectively with ischemia for 35 or 37 minutes. The birth weight of survived newborn rabbits were significantly lower than that in the control group. The neurobehavioral test scores were significantly lower in ischemic groups than that in the control group. All these differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The pathological examination of brain tissue found that the white matter damage in B group was more obvious than that in A group. Conclusions Continuous blockage of uterine blood supply in pregnant rabbits at gestational day 25 causes stillbirth, neurobehavioral damages and white matter injury as well as fetal rabbit intrauterine growth restriction, which can be used for the preparation of preterm hypoxic-ischemic brain injury animal model.

Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) is a rare syndrome with high mortality, and at present, liver transplantation is still the only effective treatment method for PALF. In recent years, the technology of liver transplantation in children has become more and more mature and has significantly improved the prognosis of PALF patients in China. However, there are still many problems in liver transplantation for PALF patients. Comprehensive discussion of objective problems before, during, and after liver transplantation may further improve the overall prognosis of PALF patients.