Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Blood Component Transfusion ; methods ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; analysis ; Fibrinolysis ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sepsis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects on lumbar disc snake herniation between acupuncture in combination of snake moxibustion with simple acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of lumbar disc herniation patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture and snake moxibustion group (group A, 60 cases), a acupuncture control group (group B, 30 cases) and a snake moxibustion control group (group C, 30 cases). In group A, acupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and tender points bilateral to the spine, once a day. Additionally, at the end of acupuncture on the 1st day of a week, snake moxibustion was applied for one time. In group B and group C, acupuncture or snake moxibustion was applied respectively.

RESULTSThe excellent rate was 95.0% (57/60) in group A, which was superior to that of 70.0% (21/30) in group B and 66.7% (20/30) in group C (both P < 0.05). JOA scores in each group after treatment increased apparently (all P < 0.01), of which, the scores in group A increased much more apparently as compared with those of the other two groups after treatment (both P < 0.01). The efficacy in group A was relevant obviously with the duration of sickness, the shorter the duration of sickness was, the higher the excellent rate would be. The age of patients in group A was relevant obviously with the efficacy, the younger patient was, the higher excellent rate would be.

CONCLUSIONThe efficiency on lumbar disc hernation treated with acupuncture and snake moxibustion is superior to that with either acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the catch-up growth of preterm infants within a corrected age of 6 months and the risk factors for extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR).

METHODSA total of 321 preterm infants who were discharged after treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit and had regular follow-up documents with complete follow-up records were enrolled. According to the Prenatal Health Care Norms in 2015, these infants were divided into low-risk group with 69 infants and high-risk group with 252 infants. The Z-score method was used to evaluate body weight, body length, and head circumference, and the catch-up growth of the preterm infants within a corrected age of 6 months was analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for EUGR at the corrected age of 6 months.

RESULTSThe percentage of preterm infants with Z scores of body weight, body length, and head circumference of < -2 (not reach the standard for catch-up growth) in both groups decreased gradually with increasing corrected age. At the corrected age of 6 months, the percentages of preterm infants whose body weight, body length, and head circumference did not reach the standard for catch-up growth in the low-risk group were reduced to 1.4% (1/69), 2.9% (2/69), and 1.4% (1/69) respectively, while in the high-risk group, these percentages were reduced to 1.2% (3/252), 1.6% (4/252), and 3.6% (9/252) respectively. The high-risk group had a significantly higher incidence rate of EUGR at the corrected age of 6 months than the low-risk group (28.2% vs 15.9%, P=0.039). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that multiple birth (OR=2.68, P=0.010), low birth weight (<1 000 g: OR=14.84, P<0.001; 1 000-1 499 g: OR=2.85, P=0.005), and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (OR=11.41, P<0.001) were risk factors for EUGR at the corrected age of 6 months, while nutritional enhancement after birth (OR=0.25, P<0.001) reduced the risk of EUGR.

CONCLUSIONSMost preterm infants can achieve catch-up growth at the corrected age of 6 months. High-risk preterm infants have a high incidence rate of EUGR at the corrected age of 6 months. Multiple birth, low birth weight, and IUGR are risk factors for EUGR, while rational nutritional enhancement after birth can reduce the incidence rate of EUGR in preterm infants.

Adult ; Body Height ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; physiopathology ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Male ; Patient Discharge ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effective therapeutic method of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) hepatitis in children.

METHODSTwenty-five children with HCMV hepatitis were randomly assigned to a treated group (n=13) or a control group (n=12). Both groups were treated with prednisone, glucurone, luminal and Xiaoyanlidanpian. But the treated group was given ganciclovir (GCV) + intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in addition. Each infant of the two groups was checked for blood routine, liver function and HCMV copy numbers on admission and before discharge. They were seen at the third, sixth and ninth month after discharge. On each visit blood specimens were collected for HCMV copy numbers (fluorescence quantitative PCR, FQ-PCR).

RESULTSThe viral load of the treated group decreased significantly. A significant difference in viral copy numbers was found between the two groups on admission, discharge, and third, sixth and ninth month after discharge (P less than 0.001). The number of HCMV DNA copy fell to 10(3) copies/ml on discharge while that of the control group fell to the same level after the third month. The differences between the two groups in the length of hospitalization, time of initial jaundice disappearance and complete disappearance were statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The need for transfusion in the treated group was significantly less than that in the control group (chi-square=4.012, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombination of GCV with a high dosage of IVIG to treat HCMV active infection could decrease viral load remarkably; The duration of disease, severity of symptoms, degree of anemia and the need for blood transfusion were reduced. No adverse effects related to the combination of GCV with IVIG therapy were observed.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; drug therapy ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganciclovir ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of immune function in newborn infants of different gestational ages.

METHODSA total of 115 premature infants free of infection between June 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013 were divided into two groups according to their gestational age at birth: early preterm infant group (28-33+6 weeks, n=57) and late preterm infant group (34-36+6 weeks, n=58). Meanwhile, 88 full-term infants (37-41+6 week) were recruited to the control group. Venous blood samples were collected within 24 hours after birth. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets, such as CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells were measured by flow cytometry, and the absolute count of each population was calculated using the results from routine blood work. Concentrations of serum IgG, IgA, and IgM were measured by immunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSBoth preterm infant groups had significantly higher percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P<0.05) and significantly lower percentages of CD8+ and CD19+ T cells and NK cells (P<0.05), as compared with the full-term infant group. The absolute counts of total lymphocytes, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ T cells, and NK cells in both preterm infant groups were significantly lower than those in the full-term infant group (P<0.05), and the above parameters in the late preterm infant group were significantly higher than those in the early preterm infant group (P<0.05). Both preterm infant groups showed significantly lower concentrations of serum IgG than the full-term infant group (P<0.05), while no significant differences in concentrations of serum IgA and IgM were observed between the three groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNeonatal gestational age has an effect on cellular and humoral immunity. The immune function gradually improves with increasing gestational age.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Count

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of low-concentration inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in the treatment of hypoxic respiratory failure (HRF) among premature infants.

METHODSSixty premature infants (gestational age ≤ 34 weeks) with HRF were randomized into NO and control groups between 2012 and 2013, with 30 cases in each group. Both groups received nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or mechanical ventilation. NO inhalation was continued for at least 7 days or until weaning in the NO group. The general conditions, blood gas results, complications, and clinical outcomes of the two groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThe NO group showed significantly more improvement in blood gas results than the control group after 12 hours of treatment (P<0.05). After that, the change in oxygenation status over time showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in total time of assisted ventilation and duration of oxygen therapy between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, and pneumothorax in infants showed no significant differences between the NO and control groups (P>0.05), but the incidence of IVH and mortality were significantly lower in the NO group than in the control group (7% vs 17%, P<0.05; 3% vs 13%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNO inhalation may improve oxygenation status and reduce the mortality in premature infants with HRF, but it cannot reduce the incidence of BPD and the total time of mechanical ventilation or nCPAP and duration of oxygen therapy. NO therapy may have a brain-protective effect for premature infants with HRF and does not increase clinical complications.

Administration, Inhalation ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; complications ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Nitric Oxide ; administration & dosage ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy

BACKGROUNDThere are few studies on the arterial compliance of noise exposure. The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between hearing loss, blood pressure and arterial compliance of female workers who exposed to occupational noise in a textile mill.

METHODSThe noise levels in the workplace were measured with a HS6288 sound level meter. Cumulated noise exposure (CNE) was calculated according to the noise intensity and the exposure period. Hearing ability and arterial compliance were measured in 618 noise exposed workers. The database was set up with EpiData and the statistical analysis was performed with SAS software 9.1.3.

RESULTSThe noise levels were 80.1dB (A) to 113.5dB (A), of which the levels at 92.5% of the noise monitoring sites were over the national standard. The incidence of high frequency hearing loss (HFHL) was 24.43% and language frequency hearing impairment (LFHI) was 0.81%. The incidence of hypertension was 7.93%. Both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the high frequency hearing loss group were significantly higher than those in the normal hearing group (P < 0.05), while C(1) (large artery compliance) and C(2) (small artery compliance) were significantly lower (P < 0.05). The high frequency hearing threshold (HFHT) of the hypertension group was significantly higher than in the normal blood pressure group (P < 0.05), while C(1) and C(2) were significantly lower (P < 0.05). C(1) and C(2) had a negative correlation with HFHT, SBP, DBP, mean of arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP) and pulse rate (PR) (P < 0.05). The multiple regression analyses showed that blood pressure and PR were the main influencing factors on C(1) and C(2). LFHT was an influence on C(2) and HFHT on C(1).

CONCLUSIONSTextile mill noise pollution is very serious and has an obvious influence on worker's auditory function. The female workers with low artery compliance or with high blood pressure might be suffering from hearing loss; those with noise induced hearing loss might be suffering from hypertension if she is constantly exposed to loud industrial noise.

Adult ; Arteries ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; Compliance ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; etiology ; Humans ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Regression Analysis ; Textiles

BACKGROUNDGlobally, the proportion of child deaths that occur in the neonatal period remains a high level of 37-41%. Differences of cause in neonate death exist in different regions as well as in different economic development countries. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the causes, characteristics, and differences of death in neonates during hospitalization in the tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of China.

METHODSAll the dead neonates admitted to 26 NICUs were included between January l, 2011, and December 31, 2011. All the data were collected retrospectively from clinical records by a designed questionnaire. Data collected from each NICU were delivered to the leading institution where the results were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 744 newborns died during the 1-year survey, accounting for 1.2% of all the neonates admitted to 26 NICUs and 37.6% of all the deaths in children under 5 years of age in these hospitals. Preterm neonate death accounted for 59.3% of all the death. The leading causes of death in preterm and term infants were pulmonary disease and infection, respectively. In early neonate period, pulmonary diseases (56.5%) occupied the largest proportion of preterm deaths while infection (27%) and neurologic diseases (22%) were the two main causes of term deaths. In late neonate period, infection was the leading cause of both preterm and term neonate deaths. About two-thirds of neonate death occurred after medical care withdrawal. Of the cases who might survive if receiving continuing treatment, parents' concern about the long-term outcomes was the main reason of medical care withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONSNeonate death still accounts for a high proportion of all the deaths in children under 5 years of age. Our study showed the majority of neonate death occurred in preterm infants. Cause of death varied with the age of death and gestational age. Accurate and prompt evaluation of the long-term outcomes should be carried out to guide the critical decision.

Cause of Death ; China ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; mortality ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Perinatal Death ; Retrospective Studies