No abstract available.
Angiocardiography* ; Heart Defects, Congenital*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory*

No abstract available.

Fetal lung development normally occurs in a hypoxic environment. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha is robustly induced under hypoxia and transactivates many genes that are essential for fetal development. Most preterm infants are prematurely exposed to hyperoxia, which can halt hypoxia-driven lung maturation. We were to investigate whether the HIF-1alpha inducer, deferoxamine (DFX) can improve alveolarization in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). A rat model of BPD was produced by intra-amniotic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration and postnatal hyperoxia (85% for 7 days), and DFX (150 mg/kg/d) or vehicle was administered to rat pups intraperitoneally for 14 days. On day 14, the rat pups were sacrificed and their lungs were removed and examined. A parallel in vitro study was performed with a human small airway epithelial cell line to test whether DFX induces the expression of HIF-1alpha and its target genes. Alveolarization and pulmonary vascular development were impaired in rats with BPD. However, DFX significantly ameliorated these effects. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that HIF-1alpha was significantly upregulated in the lungs of BPD rats treated with DFX. DFX was also found to induce HIF-1alpha in human small airway epithelial cells and to promote the expression of HIF-1alpha target genes. Our data suggest that DFX induces and activates HIF-1alpha, thereby improving alveolarization and vascular distribution in the lungs of rats with BPD.
Animals ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/*drug therapy/*metabolism/pathology ; Deferoxamine/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/*metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Alveoli/drug effects/*growth & development/metabolism/pathology ; Pulmonary Veins/drug effects/*growth & development/pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Treatment Outcome ; Up-Regulation/drug effects

PURPOSE: Neonatal seizures are major morbidities of various neurological insults in neonates and have the predictive value for neurodevelopmental outcome. Nevertheless, it is difficult to detect seizures in this period and to verify underlying causes. In this study, we investigated the clinical features of neonatal seizures and proved the role of brain MRI in detection of underlying neurological insults. METHODS:Twenty-four patients(M:F=7:17) with neonatal seizures are recruited among 1,157 neonates born between Mar. 2004 and Jan. 2005. Seizure types are classified based upon Volpe's criteria. Retrospective reviews of medical records and interictal electroencephalograms are performed. RESULTS:Subtle seizure is the most common seizure type(9 patients:37.5%). In 4 patients, two types of seizures are noted. Among 20 patients with brain ultrasound, thirteen patients show normal findings. In contrast, out of 16 patients with brain MRI, fourteen patients have abnormal findings. Among 13 patients with normal brain ultrasound, seven patients have abnormal findings in brain MRI. Abnormal background activities of interictal electroencephalograms are noted in twenty one patients(87.5%). Subsequent seizures are detected in 3 patients. CONCLUSION:Clinical features of neonatal seizures are variable, and more than two types of seizures can be noted in one patient. Background activity of the electroencephalogram may help in diagnosis of neonatal seizures and Brain MRI should be considered in detection of underlying cause.
Brain ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures* ; Ultrasonography