Objective To investigate the incidence rate, high risk factors and hemodynamic changes of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants, and to give suggestions abo ut clinical monitoring and management of PDA in premature infants. Methods Echocardiography was performed on 86 non-ventilated or weaned from ventilator-pr emature infants at 2 to 5 days of age,whose gestational age was 28 to 36 weeks. All premature infants diagnosed as PDA were followed up clinically and by Echoc ardiography until discharged. Results Twenty-two infants diagnosed as PDA at mean 3 days of age, mean gestational age was (33.l?2.0) weeks. Ductus in 16 infants (out of 20 infants) closed spontaneo usly when repeated echocardiography at mean 8.5 days of age. For 4 remaining PDA infants, ductus closed in 2 cases (l treated with indomethacin). One ductus reo pened because of sepsis, and 3 infants discharged with opened ductus at their 2l , 40 and 47 days of age respectively. Single and multiple Logistic analysis indi cated that the lower the birth-weight ,the higher the incidence of PDA (?2=2. 8907 P=0.0891); neonatal asphyxia and suffered from severe diseases (neonat al respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis) were high risk factors of PDA (?2= 4.3729 P=0.0365;?2=11.6590 P=0.0006). Premature infants with PDA h ad good heart function,although their LA/AO ratio increased slightly (1.0810?0. 18 vs 1.00?0.07,P= 0.048).Conclusions PDA incidence at 3 days of life in 33 weeks premature infants is 25.6%, 85% PDA disappeares spontaneously during follow-up. Low birth-weight asphyxia, severe diseases and symptomatic PDA are high risk factors of PDA. Ductus can reopen in premature infants. J Appl Clin Pediatr,2005,20(2):129-131

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; physiology ; Rats

Objective To explore the changes of hydrogen sulfide(H2S) levels in plasma of newborn infants with pulmonary hypertension(PH) and its relationship with pulmonary hypertension,and provide scientific evidence for the decision of treating neonatal PH.Methods Sixteen children with PH and 16 children without PH in ICU from Mar.2005 to Mar.2006 were selected.Ultrasonic cardiogram(UCG) examination was performed for eachpatients.Pulmonary artery pressure(PAP) was measured.The plasma concentrations of H2S,cysteine and PAP of each patient were measured.Results PAP was 4.27-9.73 kPa[(6.49?1.79) kPa] in neonatal PH group,and PAP in control group was normal.The plasma levels of cysteine and H2S in neonatal PH group significantly increased compared with those of control group [(11.94?6.65) ?mol/L vs(6.43?2.08) ?mol/L,t=2.630 P=0.016;(26.99?1.33) ?mol/L vs(24.92?1.36) ?mol/L,t=4.373 P=0].Conclusions Endogenous H2S and cysteine were up-regulated during the development of neonatal PH;it might play an improtant role in the development of PH.H2S possibly depress the PAP by dilating the pulmonary artery to protect the patients with pulmonary hy pertension.

Effects of different drying methods including sun drying, steamed, boiled, constant temperature drying (at 40, 50, 60 °C) on appearance, hardness, rehydration ratio, dry rate, moisture, total ash, extractive and polysaccharides contents were studied to provide the basis of standard processing method for Tulipa edulis bulbus. The results showed that the treatments of sun drying and 40 °C drying showed higher rehydration ratios, but lower dry rate, higher hardness, worse color, longer time and obvious distortion and shrinkage in comparison with other drying methods. The treatments of 60 °C constant temperature drying resulted in shorter drying time, lower water and higher polysaccharides content. Drying time is shorter and appearance quality is better in the treatment of steaming and boiling compared with other treatments, but the content of extractive and polysaccharides decreased significantly. The treatments of 50 °C constant temperature drying led to similar appearance quality of bulb to commercial bulb, and it resulted in lowest hardness and highest dry rate as well as higher rehydration ratio, extractive and polysaccharides content, moderate moisture and total ash contents among these treatments. Based on the results obtained, 50 °C constant temperature drying is the better way for the processing of T. edulis bulbus.
Color ; Desiccation ; methods ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Tulipa ; chemistry ; Water ; analysis

Objective:Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disease that frequently leading to chronic pelvic pain,severe dysmenorrhea,and subfertility.As first-line hormonal treatment can interfere with ovulation and may cause recurrent pelvic pain,exploration of new non-hormonal therapeutic approaches becomes increasingly necessary.This review aimed to evaluate the pre-clinical and clinical efficacy and safety of non-hormonal treatment for endometriosisData sources:Databases including PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,SINOMED,ClinicalTrials.gov,and Google Scholar were searched up to October 2019,using search terms "endometriosis" and "non-hormonal therapy."Study selection:Twenty-four articles were reviewed for analysis,including nine animal studies and 15 human trials;all were published in English.Results:Twenty-four articles were identified,including 15 human trials with 861 patients and nine animal studies.Some agents have been evaluated clinically with significant efficacy in endometriosis-related pelvic pain and subfertility,such as rofecoxib,etanercept,pentoxifylline,N-palmitoylethanolamine,resveratrol,everolimus,cabergoline (Cb2),and simvastatin.Other drugs with similar pharmacological properties,like parecoxib,celecoxib,endostatin,rapamycin,quinagolide,and atorvastatin,have only been tested in animal studies.Conclusions:Clinical data about most of the non-hormonal agents are not sufficient to support them as options for replacement therapy for endometriosis.In spite of this,a few drugs like pentoxifylline showed strong potential for real clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the effect of behavior modification intervention on the self-care abilities of homeless patients with schizophrenia.Methods Totals of 52 homeless patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into intervention group and control group with 26 cases in each group.The control group received traditional treatment and care,while intervention group received behavior modification combined with routine treatment and care.The nurses scale ( NOSIE ) was used to assess the effectiveness of treatment before the intervention and eight weeks after the intervention.Results There was no difference in NOSIE score in patients before intervention (P＞0.05).Eight weeks after intervention,NOSIE scores of social competence (35.10 ± 3.89),social interest (28.87 ± 3.08)and personal cleanliness (28.15 ± 2.41 )in intervention group were higher than (20.34 + 2.38 ),( 19.98 ± 2.54),( 21.43 ± 2.42 ) control group,and the difference was statistically significant(t =17.56,12.03,9.01,respeetively;P ＜ 0.01 ).Retardation score was (6.78 ± 2.11 ) and depression score was ( 5.23 ± 1.38 ) significantly lower than ( 11.59 ± 2.65 ),( 11.79 ± 2.65 ) in control group(t =7.61,11.2,respectively;P ＜0.01 ).The difference of irritation in two groups was not statistically significant( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Behavior modification intervention can improve self-care abilities of homeless patients with schizophrenia and can relieve working pressure of nurses in some extent.

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to determine the early growth patterns of preterm infants who required prolonged hospitalisation in terms of body weight Z-score, and to explore the influencing factors and predictors of their growth.

METHODSThe criteria of enrolment included preterm birth, singleton pregnancy, hospitalisation within the first 24 hours of life, hospital stay ≥ 28 days and clinical follow-up beyond 91 days of corrected age. Body weight Z-scores and the incidence of underweight infants were reviewed periodically, and the influencing factors and possible predictors of growth analysed.

RESULTSBody weight Z-scores of all infants of gestational age (GA) groups kept decreasing, with a trough seen at 36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA). At corrected full-term, body weight Z-scores for all birth weight groups achieved birth level and were higher than that at 36 weeks CGA. Body weight Z-scores at 61 days corrected age was (-0.300 × GA [weeks] + 0.210 × birth weight [g] + 0.682 × body weight Z-score) at 40 weeks CGA. The cut-off values for body weight Z-score at birth (cut-off, -1.79; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 91.3%) and 61 days corrected age (cut-off, -1.95; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 97.1%) were selected to predict the risk of being underweight at 183 days corrected age.

CONCLUSIONEarly growth restriction is a practical problem in preterm infants with prolonged hospitalisation. Body weight Z-scores at 40 weeks CGA and 61 days corrected age can be used to predict body weight gain prior to 183 days corrected age in these infants.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Growth Disorders ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Length of Stay ; trends ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an immune complex-mediated disease predominantly characterized by the deposition of circulating immune complexes containing immunoglobulin A (IgA) on the walls of small vessels. Although the pathogenesis of HSP is not yet fully understood, some researchers proposed that B-cell activation might play a critical role in the development of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum levels of visfatin (pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor), B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), and CXCL13, and to analyze their association with disease severity. METHODS: The serum levels of visfatin, BAFF, and CXCL13 were measured by using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 43 patients with HSP and 45 controls. The serum levels of IgA anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were detected by using a double-antigen sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: Levels of visfatin but not BAFF and CXCL13 were significantly elevated in the sera of patients with HSP in the acute stage, and restored to normal levels in the convalescent stage. Furthermore, serum levels of visfatin were significantly higher in patients with HSP having renal involvement than in those without renal involvement. Serum levels of visfatin were correlated with the severity of HSP and serum concentration of ACA-IgA. CONCLUSION: We show for the first time that the serum levels of visfatin are abnormally elevated in patients with HSP. Visfatin may be associated with the pathogenesis of HSP.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; B-Cell Activating Factor ; B-Lymphocytes ; Chemokine CXCL13 ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the incidence of intra- and extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and growth restriction in premature infants, and to illustrate the growth pattern of them in postnatal and infantile period.

METHODSAll premature infants were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the recent 7 years. The criteria for enrollment were (1) gestational age < 37 weeks; (2) single fetus; (3) admitted within the first 24 hours of life; (4) hospitalization period ≥ 14 days; (5) clinical follow-up persisted till ≥ 3 months of corrected gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), EUGR and growth restriction were defined as having a measured growth value (weight) that was ≤ 10(th) percentile of Chinese infants' growth curve in corrected age on admission, discharge and follow-up period. Results were analyzed by using SPSS 12.0 statistical software package by chi-square test, rank-sum test, and t test.

RESULTSTwo hundred and thirty nine infants were involved, 134 were boys and 105 girls. The incidence of IUGR and EUGR assessed by weight was 25.5% and 40.6%, respectively. The lower the birth weight was, the higher the incidence of IUGR and EUGR was. The percentile of body weight in the growth curve at discharge was lower than that at birth (Z = -7.784, P = 0.000). The incidence of growth restriction assessed by weight was 20.5%, 15.0%, 8.8%, 17.0%, 10.4%, 10.1%, 11.9%, 7.0% at corrected gestational age of 38 - 40 weeks, corrected age of 28 d, 61 d, 91 d, 122 d, 152 d, 183 d, and 274 d, respectively. The incidences of growth restriction were stable when the corrected age was older than 91 days. The incidence of growth restriction in female premature infants at 183 days' corrected age was higher than that in male children (χ(2) = 6.181, P = 0.017), the incidence was 19.3% and 3.8% respectively. During the follow-up period, most of the average body weight of premature infants whose gestational age was < 32 weeks or birth weight ≤ 1500 g were lower than the 50(th) percentile of the growth curve except the average body weight of boys whose gestational age < 32 weeks at corrected age of 2 and 4 months.

CONCLUSIONSPremature and/or low birth weight infants are at high risk of growth restriction, especially very low birth weight infants. The incidence of growth restriction decreased with growth. Long-term prognosis requires further investigation.

Body Weight ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Male ; Weight Gain