Anemia of prematurity is very common in preterm infant.Phlebotomy losses and inadequate production of erythropoietin are the main reasons.Treatment of anemia of prematurity includes delayed umbilical cord clamping at delivery,decreasing phlebotomy losses,use of red cell growth factors such as erythropoietin properly,red blood cell transfusions,which are based on indications and guidelines.In this article we review recent studies in preventing and treating anemia in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND:After cerebral tissue ischemia and anoxia in young rats,the cerebral edema gets serious, and the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) decrease. Radix Astagali seu Hedysari has the pharmacological effects of enhancing immunity, anti-anoxia and improving myocardial ischemic reinfusion injury.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influences of Radix Astagali seu Hedysari (huangqi) on contents of NO and MDA in brain tissue of young rats with cerebral injury after cerebral ischemia and anoxia.DESIGN:A randomized and controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Pediatrics, Second Hospital, Hebei Medical University; Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei Medical University; Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical UniversityMATERIALS:The experiment was conducted from January to April 2004at Department of Pathophysiology, Hebei Medical University. Total 40 SD rats, 7-day old, were at random divided as normal control group, model group, humgqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group, with 10 rats in each group. Huangqi injection (The content in 10 mL injection is consistent with 20 g raw drug) was provided by Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Medical University (produced in Chengdu Di'ou Jiuhong Pharmaceutical Factory, Batch No. 0005028).METHODS:Except rats in normal group, those in the rest groups, under conscious and local anesthesia, were all given common carotid artery ligation, establishing cerebral injury model due to ischemia and anoxia. Rats in normal group were intraperitoneally injected 0.1 mL normal saline; rats in model group were intraperitoneally injected 9 g/L normal saline, 0.1 mL each day; rats in huangqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group were respectively given 0.1mL, 0.5 mL huangqi injection, once a day, intraperitoneally. Cerebral blood flow was detected immediately, 2 and 4days after injection. Then the rats were decapitated for collecting the brains to measure the water content in brain, the contents of NO and MDA.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: [1] Water contents in brains of rats in every group. [2] Cerebral blood flow, and the contents of NO and MDA.RESULTS:Totally 40 rats were involved in the trial and all entered in the final result analysis. [1] The water content in brain of each group: Compared with normal group, the content in model group was increased immediately after model establishment [(87.316±0.275)%, (88.259±0.297)% ,P ＜ 0.05 ],and did not return to the normal level at the second day [(86.973±0.265)%,(88.173±0.445)%,P ＜ 0.05]; compared with model group, the content in huangqi high-dose group was obviously decreased at second day[(88.173±0.445)%, (86.542±0.141)% ,P ＜ 0.05]. [2] Measurement of cerebral blood flow: compared with control group, the blood flow in model group was obviously decreased immediately after model establishment[(231.88±13.33), (139.54±10.58)mV,P＜ 0.05], and did not return to normal level till the 4th day [(234.57±14.38), (145.38±13.33)mV,P ＜ 0.05];compared with model group, the blood flow in huangqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group, at day 4, was obviously increased [(145.38±13.33),(288.45±12.89), (313.82±21.74)mV,P ＜ 0.01]. [3] The contents of NO and MDA: The contents in model group, immediately after model establishment, were obviously higher than those in normal control group [(26.55±5.23 ), ( 19.67±7.17 )μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05; (7.88±2.55), (4.22±0.12) μmol/L, P＜ 0.01], and at day 4, were significantly higher than those in normal control group [(48.65±17.06), (18.65±2.12)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.01; (5.29±0.68),(4.06±0.39)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05]; compared with model group, the contents in huangqi low-dose group and huangqi high-dose group were obviously decreased at day 4 [(48.65±17.06), (23.77±12.79), (24.67±11.54)μ mol/L,P＜ 0.01; (5.29±0.68), (4.51±2.30), (3.68±0.39)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION:Huangqi could obviously reduce cerebral edema from ischemia and anoxia, increase cerebral blood flow. It could decrease the contents of NO and MDA that is metabolite of free radical injury, thus playing its role to inhibit lipid peroxidation injury.

Iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation is one of the severe adverse events of endoscopic therapeutic procedure. For acute iatrogenic perforation,management by endoscopic techniques is a simple and rapid modality to close the perforation with minimal invasiveness and avoiding the traditional surgical trauma. Endoclips,suture with special instruments,covered stents,degradable sheets combined with tissue adhesive,and combined endoscopic techniques such as snares combined with endoclips,are the major endoscopic therapeutic modalities for closure of iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation. In this article,the current status and progress of endoscopic management for acute iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation were reviewed.

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC-ELSD internal standard method for determination of astragaloside IV in Astragali Radix.

METHODWith Ginsenoside Rb2 as internal standard, the separation were carried out on an Agilent TC-C18 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 3.5 microm) column with methanol-water (72: 28) as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the drift tube temperature of the ELSD was 75 degrees C. The gas pressure was set at 172.4 kPa using the clean and dry compressed air as spray gas.

RESULTThere was good linearity in the range of 0.5624-5.624 microg of astragaloside IV (r = 0.9999); The average recovery was 98.06% with RSD of 0. 98%.

CONCLUSIONThe internal standard method is accurate and reproducible, and suitable for quality control of radix astragali.

Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Linear Models ; Reference Standards ; Saponins ; analysis ; Triterpenes ; analysis

BACKGROUND: The combination of polycaprolactone and hyaluronic acid creates an ideal environment for wound healing. Hyaluronic acid maintains a moist wound environment and accelerates the in-growth of granulation tissue. Polycaprolactone has excellent mechanical strength, limits inflammation and is biocompatible. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of bio-conjugated polycaprolactone membranes (BPM) as a wound dressing. METHODS: 16 New Zealand white rabbits were sedated and local anaesthesia was administered. Two 3.0x3.0 cm full-thickness wounds were created on the dorsum of each rabbit, between the lowest rib and the pelvic bone. The wounds were dressed with either BPM (n=12) or Mepitel (n=12) (control), a polyamide-silicon wound dressing. These were evaluated macroscopically on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th postoperative days for granulation, re-epithelialization, infection, and wound size, and histologically for epidermal and dermal regeneration. RESULTS: Both groups showed a comparable extent of granulation and re-epithelialization. No signs of infection were observed. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in wound size between the two groups. BPM (n=6): 8.33 cm2, 4.90 cm2, 3.12 cm2, 1.84 cm2; Mepitel (n=6): 10.29 cm2, 5.53 cm2, 3.63 cm2, 2.02 cm2; at the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th postoperative days. The extents of epidermal and dermal regeneration were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: BPM is comparable to Mepitel as a safe and efficacious wound dressing.
Bandages* ; Granulation Tissue ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Inflammation ; Membranes* ; Pelvic Bones ; Rabbits ; Re-Epithelialization ; Regeneration ; Ribs ; Skin ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries*