Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of instantly generated inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for treating neonatal pulmonary hypertension (PH) complicated with severe hypoxic respiratory failure.Methods:This single-center, single-arm, prospective study included 32 neonates with PH complicated with hypoxic respiratory failure who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Beijing Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from March 2023 to March 2025 and received immediate iNO generation therapy. The demographic data, maternal pregnancy, mechanical ventilation parameters, arterial blood gas indexes, other hospitalization data and safety indexes of iNO treatment were collected. The time point for starting iNO treatment was set as 0 h, and the observation time points were 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after treatment and when iNO treatment was stopped. The positive reaction of iNO treatment was defined as the decrease of oxygenation index (OI)>10% or the increase of arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2)>10% after treatment. The OI, mechanical ventilation parameters, arterial blood gas index changes and treatment positive reaction ratio were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of iNO treatment, and the nitrogen dioxide concentration, methemoglobin (MetHb) concentration and other indicators were analyzed to evaluate the safety of iNO treatment. Paired t test or Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to compare the observation indexes at different treatment times. Friedman test was used to compare the concentration of nitrogen dioxide and MetHb at multiple treatment times. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the best cut-off value of OI related indexes to distinguish the treatment outcome of iNO. Results:Among 32 neonates, 18 (56%) were males and 14 (44%) were females, the gestational age was 38 (35, 39) weeks, the birth weight was 3.1 (2.3, 3.4) kg, and the age of enrollment was 3 (2, 8) days. The OI and the mean airway pressure at 48 h after treatment were both lower than those at 0 h ((10.4±2.0 vs. 22.6±2.5, 13.0 (12.0, 14.0) vs. 14.0 (13.0, 16.0) cmH 2O, 1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa, both P<0.05). The fraction of inspired oxygen at 24 and 48 h after treatment were both lower than those at 0 h (both P<0.05). The PaO 2 at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment were all higher than those at 0 h (all P<0.05). The proportion of positive reactions to iNO treatment was 20 neonates (63%), 22 neonates (69%), 23 neonates (72%), 23 neonates (72%) and 26 neonates (8%) at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after treatment, respectively. No occurrence of methemoglobinemia, excessive nitrogen dioxide concentration, or device related adverse events were observed. Out of 32 neonates, a total of 24 neonates (75%) were cured or improved and discharged according to medical advice, while 8 neonates (25%) died in the hospital. The best cut-off value of OI at 0 h and the decline range of OI at 12 h to distinguish the outcome of hospitalization were 24.8 and 22.2%, respectively. Conclusion:It was effective and safe to use instantly generated iNO to treat neonatal PH with severe hypoxic respiratory failure.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of instantly generated inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for treating neonatal pulmonary hypertension (PH) complicated with severe hypoxic respiratory failure.Methods:This single-center, single-arm, prospective study included 32 neonates with PH complicated with hypoxic respiratory failure who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Beijing Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from March 2023 to March 2025 and received immediate iNO generation therapy. The demographic data, maternal pregnancy, mechanical ventilation parameters, arterial blood gas indexes, other hospitalization data and safety indexes of iNO treatment were collected. The time point for starting iNO treatment was set as 0 h, and the observation time points were 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after treatment and when iNO treatment was stopped. The positive reaction of iNO treatment was defined as the decrease of oxygenation index (OI)>10% or the increase of arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2)>10% after treatment. The OI, mechanical ventilation parameters, arterial blood gas index changes and treatment positive reaction ratio were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of iNO treatment, and the nitrogen dioxide concentration, methemoglobin (MetHb) concentration and other indicators were analyzed to evaluate the safety of iNO treatment. Paired t test or Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to compare the observation indexes at different treatment times. Friedman test was used to compare the concentration of nitrogen dioxide and MetHb at multiple treatment times. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the best cut-off value of OI related indexes to distinguish the treatment outcome of iNO. Results:Among 32 neonates, 18 (56%) were males and 14 (44%) were females, the gestational age was 38 (35, 39) weeks, the birth weight was 3.1 (2.3, 3.4) kg, and the age of enrollment was 3 (2, 8) days. The OI and the mean airway pressure at 48 h after treatment were both lower than those at 0 h ((10.4±2.0 vs. 22.6±2.5, 13.0 (12.0, 14.0) vs. 14.0 (13.0, 16.0) cmH 2O, 1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa, both P<0.05). The fraction of inspired oxygen at 24 and 48 h after treatment were both lower than those at 0 h (both P<0.05). The PaO 2 at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment were all higher than those at 0 h (all P<0.05). The proportion of positive reactions to iNO treatment was 20 neonates (63%), 22 neonates (69%), 23 neonates (72%), 23 neonates (72%) and 26 neonates (8%) at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after treatment, respectively. No occurrence of methemoglobinemia, excessive nitrogen dioxide concentration, or device related adverse events were observed. Out of 32 neonates, a total of 24 neonates (75%) were cured or improved and discharged according to medical advice, while 8 neonates (25%) died in the hospital. The best cut-off value of OI at 0 h and the decline range of OI at 12 h to distinguish the outcome of hospitalization were 24.8 and 22.2%, respectively. Conclusion:It was effective and safe to use instantly generated iNO to treat neonatal PH with severe hypoxic respiratory failure.

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

Ultrasound medicine plays a great role in innovative diagnosis and treatment especially when the interdisciplinary characteristics are considered.Cultivating versatile postgraduate students with interdisciplinary capacity is an essential requirement for talent development and disciplinary advancement in ultrasonography.However, limited by factors such as the knowledge structure of the students, the subject background of the supervisors and tutors, policies and regulations, etc., and it is difficult for a single-disciplinary training team to meet the multi-disciplinary requirements of the ultrasound medical profession.In the process of cultivating postgraduate students in cooperation with molecular biology supervisors and tutors, our team has initially explored a set of training paths for inter-disciplinary ultrasound medical postgraduate students.This article systematically sorted out the practical experience of the above-mentioned training model from aspects such as student selection, supervisor and tutor team building, curriculum setting, literature reading ability cultivation, process management, scientific research results sharing mechanism, etc., hoping to provide reference for inter-disciplinary team cooperation in cultivating inter-disciplinary talents.

Ultrasound medicine plays a great role in innovative diagnosis and treatment especially when the interdisciplinary characteristics are considered.Cultivating versatile postgraduate students with interdisciplinary capacity is an essential requirement for talent development and disciplinary advancement in ultrasonography.However, limited by factors such as the knowledge structure of the students, the subject background of the supervisors and tutors, policies and regulations, etc., and it is difficult for a single-disciplinary training team to meet the multi-disciplinary requirements of the ultrasound medical profession.In the process of cultivating postgraduate students in cooperation with molecular biology supervisors and tutors, our team has initially explored a set of training paths for inter-disciplinary ultrasound medical postgraduate students.This article systematically sorted out the practical experience of the above-mentioned training model from aspects such as student selection, supervisor and tutor team building, curriculum setting, literature reading ability cultivation, process management, scientific research results sharing mechanism, etc., hoping to provide reference for inter-disciplinary team cooperation in cultivating inter-disciplinary talents.

Objective:To study the influence of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PVH-IVH) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) of preterm infants in the late postnatal period using arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:From January 2023 to June 2023, 65 preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks, birth weight <1 500 g) who were born in the Department of Obstetrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were included in the prospective study.They were examined by the brain MRI and ASL at the corrected gestational age of 35-40 weeks.According to the results of the brain ultrasound within 1 week after birth, they were divided into the mild IVH group (25 cases) and the non-IVH group (40 cases). The CBF values in regions of interest (frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, thalamus, and basal ganglia) on ASL images were compared.Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of PVH-IVH on CBF values in different ASL regions of interest, including frontal cortex, temporal cortex, parietal cortex, occipital cortex, thalamus, and basal ganglia.Results:Compared with those of non-IVH group, infants in the mild IVH group presented significantly older gestational age [29.0 (28.5, 30.4) weeks vs.28.2 (27.0, 31.0) weeks, Z=-2.398, P=0.016], higher hematocrit (HCT) in the latest examination prior to the brain MRI [29.6(26.4, 32.3)% vs.27.8 (25.6, 30.5)%, Z=-2.155, P=0.031], and larger body weight at the time of examination [2 015.0 (1 930.0, 2 127.5) g vs.1 950.0 (1 900.0, 1 997.5) g, Z=-3.314, P=0.001]. After adjustment for confounding factors of gestational age at birth, latest HCT and weight at the time of examination, the multivariable linear regression analysis showed that CBF values in the frontal lobe (95% CI: -8.367--4.042; P<0.001), temporal lobe (95% CI: -19.077--2.854; P=0.008), parietal lobe (95% CI: -8.344--3.502; P<0.001), occipital lobe (95% CI: -9.446--3.645; P<0.001), basal ganglia (95% CI: -7.543--1.963; P=0.001) and thalamus (95% CI: -8.051--2.372; P<0.001) were significantly lower in infants of the mild IVH group than those of non-IVH group. Conclusions:At the same corrected gestational age, mild IVH is correlated with low CBF values in local cerebral cortex and subcortical gray matter in premature infants.However, the predictive potential of CBF values in long-term neurological prognosis requires further explorations.

Objective:To study the current status of critical neonatal care centers (CNCC) construction and treatment of critically-ill neonates at city- and county-level in Henan Province.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted in January 2022 to city- and county-level CNCC in Henan Province. The basic information of CNCC, ward settings, neonatal management in the Department of Obstetrics and the treatment of critically-ill neonates in 2019-2021 were analyzed.Results:A total of 188 questionnaires were sent and 183 (97.3%) eligible questionnaires were analyzed, including 30 from city centers and 153 from county centers. The bed occupancy rate in county centers was significantly lower than city centers (67.3%±24.1% vs. 86.1%±23.2%), and the doctor/bed ratio, doctor/rescue bed ratio and nurse/rescue bed ratio were significantly higher than city centers ( P<0.05). All city centers had set up independent Department of Neonatology and the number is 92.8% (142/153) in county center. For 80.9% (148/183) centers, neonates were managed in the Department of Obstetrics with consultations and referrals to the Department of Pediatrics and 19.1% (35/183) were managed in the Department of Pediatrics/Neonatology. The average number of deliveries and admissions to the Department of Neonatology in both city and county centers decreased year on year during 2019-2021, but the proportion of premature and low/very low birth weight infants treated in these centers increased year on year. During 2019-2021, the top three diseases treated at the city centers were neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal asphyxia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, while the top three diseases treated at the county centers were neonatal asphyxia, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and meconium aspiration syndrome. The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome in city and county centers was (10~30)/100,000. Conclusions:The construction of CNCC in Henan Province is facing challenges such as decreased hospital admissions, increased critically-ill neonates, insufficient cooperation between Obstetrics and Pediatrics and waste of resources. Rationally allocated and optimised use of resources to improve the ability to treat critically-ill neonates is warranted.

Objective:To compare the protective effects of cerebral blood flow during simulated push pull maneuver (PPM) between lower body negative pressure (LBNP) strategy and thigh cuff (TC) strategy.Methods:It was a repeated cross-over design study. Fifteen healthy young male subjects were recruited. All subjects underwent the control bout (simulated PPM without any intervention), PPM with LBNP bout, and PPM with TC bout. Such position changes as "upright to head down tilt to upright" were performed by tilting table to simulate PPM. The control bout underwent normal PPM. LBNP of -40 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kP) was applied prior to and during -G z stress and released at the subsequent transition to +G z stress in LBNP bout. TC of +200 mmHg was applied at bilateral upper thighs prior to and during simulated PPM. Beat-to-beat cerebral and systemic hemodynamics of the subjects were continuously recorded. Results:During the rapid -G z to +G z transition, the mean cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFVm) was decreased by 0.7-17.3 cm/s [ΔCBFVm=(-7.5±4.5) cm/s], and the mean arterial pressure at the level of middle cerebral artery(MAP MCA) was decreased by 42-76 mmHg [ΔMAP MCA=(-61.0±10.0) mmHg] in control bout. However, the change of CBFVm was -2.4-10.2 cm/s in LBNP bout, whose average value was increased (3.3±4.1) cm/s rather than decreased. The drop of MAP MCA was 23-50 mmHg [ΔMAP MCA=(-41.0±11.0) mmHg], which was significantly reduced than that in control bout ( P<0.05). The change of CBFVm in TC bout was -7.9-1.4 cm/s [ΔCBFVm=(-3.0±4.2) cm/s], and the decrease of ΔMAP MCA was 37-59 mmHg [ΔMAP MCA=(-47.0±13.0) mmHg], both of which were significantly smaller than that in control bout ( P<0.05). There was significant difference in ΔCBFVm between LBNP and TC bouts ( P<0.05), while no significant difference was found in ΔMAP MCA. Conclusions:Both the LBNP and TC strategies can protect the cerebral blood flow during simulated PPM. LBNP strategy showed better improvement of CBFVm than TC. Both strategies demonstrated protective effect by increasing diastolic cerebral blood flow.

Objective:To compare the protective effects of cerebral blood flow during simulated push pull maneuver (PPM) between lower body negative pressure (LBNP) strategy and thigh cuff (TC) strategy.Methods:It was a repeated cross-over design study. Fifteen healthy young male subjects were recruited. All subjects underwent the control bout (simulated PPM without any intervention), PPM with LBNP bout, and PPM with TC bout. Such position changes as "upright to head down tilt to upright" were performed by tilting table to simulate PPM. The control bout underwent normal PPM. LBNP of -40 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kP) was applied prior to and during -G z stress and released at the subsequent transition to +G z stress in LBNP bout. TC of +200 mmHg was applied at bilateral upper thighs prior to and during simulated PPM. Beat-to-beat cerebral and systemic hemodynamics of the subjects were continuously recorded. Results:During the rapid -G z to +G z transition, the mean cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFVm) was decreased by 0.7-17.3 cm/s [ΔCBFVm=(-7.5±4.5) cm/s], and the mean arterial pressure at the level of middle cerebral artery(MAP MCA) was decreased by 42-76 mmHg [ΔMAP MCA=(-61.0±10.0) mmHg] in control bout. However, the change of CBFVm was -2.4-10.2 cm/s in LBNP bout, whose average value was increased (3.3±4.1) cm/s rather than decreased. The drop of MAP MCA was 23-50 mmHg [ΔMAP MCA=(-41.0±11.0) mmHg], which was significantly reduced than that in control bout ( P<0.05). The change of CBFVm in TC bout was -7.9-1.4 cm/s [ΔCBFVm=(-3.0±4.2) cm/s], and the decrease of ΔMAP MCA was 37-59 mmHg [ΔMAP MCA=(-47.0±13.0) mmHg], both of which were significantly smaller than that in control bout ( P<0.05). There was significant difference in ΔCBFVm between LBNP and TC bouts ( P<0.05), while no significant difference was found in ΔMAP MCA. Conclusions:Both the LBNP and TC strategies can protect the cerebral blood flow during simulated PPM. LBNP strategy showed better improvement of CBFVm than TC. Both strategies demonstrated protective effect by increasing diastolic cerebral blood flow.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on prevention of postoperative hemorrhage and facial traumatic swelling in patients with mandibular angle osteotomy.Methods Twenty-five patients with mandibular angle hypertrophy were included in this study from January 2014 to November 2015.Split face comparative study was carried out to use the left and right sides as the experimental side and the control side,respectively.The PRF in the experimental side was placed in the mandibular osteotomy,while the control side was placed in platelet-poor plasma (PPP).After operation,the drainage volume and facial swelling degree were measured.Results The drainage volume of the experimental group (PRF group) was (20.35 ±7.40) ml,the control group (PPP group) was (43.23±11.96) ml,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no such case without swelling in postoperative third day.The facial swelling score on the experimental side was (1.19±0.40),the control side was (2.62±0.64),and two groups of postoperative facial swelling scores were significantly different (P＜0.05).Conclusions The PRF can reduce postoperative bleeding and facial swelling after mandibular angle osteotomy.