This case report described the sucussful treatment of a male infant born at 21 weeks and 4 days through assisted reproductive technology. After prenatal consultation and with the strong desire of the parents, active resuscitation and treatment were performed. The infant received 52 days of mechanical ventilation and was extubated to non-invasive ventilation at a corrected gestational age of 28 weeks and 6 days. During hospitalization, no vasoactive drugs were used, and necrotizing enterocolitis did not occur. The gastric tube was removed at a corrected gestational age of 37 weeks and 4 days. At a corrected gestational age of 40 weeks, cranial MRI showed no abnormalities. The infant was discharged at a corrected gestational age of 42 weeks after 143 days of treatment, without the need for any respiratory support. Follow-up until a corrected age of 6 months showed good growth and development.

Objective:To summarize the survival rate, complications, and outcomes of 32 periviable extremely preterm infants (PEPIs) born at ≤23 gestational weeks.Methods:This was a retrospective observational study involving PEPIs born at the Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021. Clinical data of all subjects were collected and analyzed. The survival rates of PEPIs born from 2015 to 2019 and 2020 to 2021 were compared. Chi-square (or Fisher's exact) test was used for statistical analysis. Results:(1) During the study period, 32 PEPIs were admitted, accounting for 0.024% (32/132 534) of all newborns born in the same hospital during the study period. The median gestational age of the 32 PEPIs was 23 weeks (21 +4-23 +6 weeks), and the birth weight was 480 g (350-720 g). (2) The survival rate of PEPIs born between 2020 and 2021 was 10/19, which appears to be a trend higher than that between 2015 and 2019 (3/13, χ2=2.79, P=0.095), while the rate of withdrawal of treatment was 8/13 and 3/19, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=7.16, P=0.007). (3) Thirteen of the 32 PEPIs survived on discharge, including four born at 22 weeks and nine at 23 weeks. The birth weights of these surviving infants were 300-<400 g in one case, 400-<500 g in five cases, 500-<600 g in four cases, 600-<700 g in one case, and ≥700 g in two cases. (4) The most common complication was moderate and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (10/13), followed by retinopathy of prematurity requiring surgical intervention (5/13), patent ductus arteriosus requiring ligation (4/13), late-onset sepsis (2/13), necrotizing enterocolitis (stage Ⅱa or above) (2/13) and grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia (2/13). The median duration of follow-up was ten months (6-69 months), and motor retardation occurred in three infants. Conclusions:The overall survival rate of PEPIs in our hospital is relatively high, with a lower incidence of complications during hospitalization and relatively better outcome. However, further studies are required for the long-term prognosis in this group of infants.

Objective:To study the early use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) as a rescue therapy in extremely premature infants (EPIs) with refractory hypoxic respiratory failure (HRF).Methods:Between January 2021 and December 2021, EPIs with refractory HRF receiving iNO within the first week of life in our NICU were enrolled. Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 11 EPIs were included with 5 males and 6 females. The median gestational age (GA) was 24(22.6, 25.2) weeks. The median birth weight (BW) was 580(490, 770) g. The most common primary diagnoses were moderate/severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (5/11) and early-onset sepsis (3/11). The median age starting iNO therapy was 6.5(4.5, 34.0)h and the median duration of iNO was 24(12, 36)h. The median iNO starting dose was 5(5, 8) ppm and the therapeutic range was 5-20 ppm. Therapeutic efficacy was defined as ≥30% FiO 2 reduction after 6 h of iNO treatment. The treatment was effective in 8 cases. The oxygenation index (OI) decreased more than 10% from baseline 1 h after initiation in 9 patients and in all 11 patients after 12 h of iNO. The reduction of OI was more prominent in EPIs with a higher OI at baseline. Of the 11 patients, 8 survived, 1 died and 2 abandoned further treatments. Conclusions:As an early rescue therapy for EPIs with refractory HRF, iNO can improve oxygenation without obvious short-term adverse effects.

Objective:To study the incidence and risk factors of periventricular- intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) in extremely preterm infants (EPI) with gestational age (GA)<28 weeks.Methods:A retrospective study was performed in 304 cases of EPI hospitalized between January 2016 and December 2018. The infants were assigned into two groups according to whether PIVH occurred. Univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factors of PIVH.Results:Among the 304 cases,101 (33.2%) developed PIVH and 44 (14.5%) developed severe PIVH.The incidences of PIVH and severe PIVH in EPI with birth weight (BW) <750 g were 50.6% and 31.0%. The incidences of PIVH and severe PIVH in EPI with GA<26 weeks were 51.4% and 27.5%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that advanced GA ( OR=0.697, 95% CI 0.543~0.895, P=0.005) decreased the risk of PIVH. Prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation ( OR=1.121, 95% CI 1.007~1.249, P=0.037) and use of vasoactive drugs ( OR=1.373, 95% CI 1.040~1.812, P=0.025) within the first week of life increased the risk of PIVH. Conclusions:The incidences of PIVH and severe PIVH in EPI are quite high. Smaller GA, longer use of invasive mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs within the first week will increase the risk of PIVH in EPI.

Objective:To review the treatment experience of extremely premature infants (EPIs) with gestational age (GA) <23 weeks.Methods:From January to November 2021, EPIs with GA<23 weeks treated in our hospital was retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 3 patients with GA of 22 weeks were reviewed, including 2 boys and 1 girl. Their birth weight (BW) was 450~498 g. The duration of hospitalization was 112~126 d. The treatment included early "gentle" management strategies, respiratory management, anti-infection, patent ductus arteriosus treatment and parenteral + enteral nutrition. All 3 infants were discharged from the hospital without further oxygen therapy. All had satisfying oral feeding with no neurological sequelae on follow-up.Conclusions:Early "gentle" management is the key to successful treatment and good prognosis for EPIs with GA<23w

Objective:To study the risk factors of hypotension after ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very/extremely low birth weight infants (VLBWI/ELBWI).Method:From March 2016 to January 2021, preterm infants with birth weight <1 500 g receiving bedside PDA ligation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of our hospital were enrolled in the study. According to the occurrence of hypotension within 72 hours after ligation, the infants were assigned into non-hypotension group and hypotension group. The general status and perioperative conditions of the two groups were analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of hypotension.Result:A total of 44 cases were enrolled, including 33 in non-hypotension group and 11 in hypotension group. Univariate analysis showed that hypotension group had significantly more cases with body weight <1 100 g during surgery and receiving preoperative high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) than non-hypotension group ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that weight <1 100 g during surgery ( OR=12.045, 95% CI 1.351~107.394, P=0.026) and receiving preoperative HFOV ( OR=27.832, 95% CI 1.363~568.292, P=0.031)were independent risk factors of hypotension. Conclusion:Hypotension is one of the common complications of PDA ligation in VLBWI/ELBWI. The infant's body weight during ligation and receiving preoperative HFOV are independent risk factors of hypotension.

Objective:To analyze clinical features, prognosis and risk factors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) associated pulmonary hypertension (PH).Methods:Clinical data of 338 infants with BPD were collected from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University between January 2016 and December 2018. These infants were divided into PH group and non-PH group. The clinical features and prognosis were compared between these two groups by Chi-square test or nonparametric test. Risk factors for BPD-PH were analyzed with binary logistic regression model.Results:Among the 338 BPD infants, 314 had no PH (92.9%) and 24 had PH (7.1%), with an average gestational age of (27.1±1.8) weeks, and 206 were males and 132 females.PH infants had younger gestational age ((26.4±2.1) vs. (27.2±1.7) weeks, t=2.201, P=0.028) and lower birth weight ((798±255) vs. (1 003±240) g, t=4.030, P<0.01), compared to non-PH infants. Besides, duration of mechanical ventilation and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation were higher in PH group than that in non-PH group (14.3 (2.1, 43.7) vs. 0.5 (0, 4.7) d, Z=-4.553, P<0.01; 30.0 (22.5, 64.2) vs. 15.0 (7.0, 26.0) d, Z=-4.838, P<0.01). The proportions of maternal hypertension, small for gestational age (SGA), late onset sepsis, ventilator associated pneumonia, hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) requiring ligation, severe BPD and severe extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) were higher in PH group than those in non-PH group ((20.8% (5/24) vs. 6.4% (20/314), 33.3% (8/24) vs. 7.6% (24/314), 54.2% (13/24) vs. 7.3% (23/314), 25.0% (6/24) vs. 6.1% (19/314), 75.0% (18/24) vs. 39.2% (123/314), 45.8% (11/24) vs. 1.9% (6/314), 66.7% (16/24) vs. 7.3% (23/314), 75.0% (18/24) vs. 45.5% (143/314), all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that maternal hypertension ( OR=12.950, 95 %CI: 1.740-96.385), severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia ( OR=10.160, 95 %CI: 2.725-37.884), SGA ( OR=4.992, 95 %CI: 1.432-16.920), PDA requiring ligation ( OR=19.802, 95 %CI: 3.297-118.921), severe EUGR ( OR=20.316, 95 %CI: 2.221-185.853) were independent risk factors of BPD associated PH. In the 24 infants with PH, all 7 mild PH infants and 8 moderate PH infants survived, while 4 out of 9 severe PH infants died. Among the survivors, the longest duration of oxygen therapy was up to the corrected gestational age of 1 year and 2 months. Conclusions:PH is a severe complication of BPD, and associated with higher mortality and poor prognosis. Echocardiography screening and regular post-discharge follow up are recommended for BPD infants with risk factors of PH.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance and correlation of arginase 1 (Arg-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The expression of Arg-1and iNOS in 146 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological characteristics and the correlation between the expressions and prognosis were determined by chi square test, Spearman’s rank correlation, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis.Results:The positive rates of Arg-1 and iNOS were 18.7% (23/123) and 37.0% (54/146), respectively, which was significantly lower than the adjacent tissues [100%(146/146) and 93.8% (137/146)] and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 212.521, P < 0.01, χ2 = 104.276, P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the both expression ( r = 0.331, P < 0.01). Arg-1 low expression was correlated with preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, tumor size, differentiation degree, histological types and Edmondson’s grade. iNOS low expression was correlated with the differentiation degree and Edmondson’s grade ( P < 0.05). Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that in patients with recurrence-free survival (RFs), Arg-1 (+) group > Arg-1 (-) group and Arg-1 (+) iNOS (+) group > Arg-1 (+) iNOS (-) group > Arg-1 (-) iNOS (-) group ( P < 0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that age, tumor size, Edmondson’s grade, vascular tumor emboli were significantly correlated with RFs ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:There is a positive correlation between Arg-1 and iNOS expressions in HCC, and both may reflect the HCC malignant degree. The reduced/absent expression of both may participate in the occurrence and development of HCC. The combined detection of Arg-1 and iNOS on HCC may have certain significance for the judgment of differentiation degree and prognosis.

Objective To analyse the risk factors associated with spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) in extremely premature infants/extremely low birth weight infants. Method From January 2015 to December 2018, infants with gestational age (GA)<28 weeks or birth weight (BW)<1000 g admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled to the retrospective nested case-control study.The clinical data of SIP infants (SIP group) and infants with the same GA but without SIP (control group) were randomly selected and compared. Multivariable Logistic regression was used to analyse the risk factors of SIP. Result A total of 409 extremely premature infants/extremely low birth weight infants were born during the study period. Among them, 25 SIP infants and 55 controls were enrolled. The incidence of SIP in infants with GA 22～25 weeks was 11.8％(16/136), which is higher than infants with GA 26～27 weeks (2.0％, 5/247) (χ2=16.057, P<0.001). The incidence of SIP in infants with BW 400～749 g was 13.0％(14/108), which is higher than infants with BW 750～999 g (3.4％, 8/236) (χ2=11.343, P=0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that twins (OR=4.153, 95％CI 1.392～12.384, P=0.011), umbilical veins catheterization (OR=15.942, 95％CI 1.026～247.789, P=0.048) and ibuprofen use within 3 days after birth (OR=15.387, 95％CI 1.519～155.883, P=0.021) were independent risk factors of SIP. Conclusion The smaller the GA and BW, the higher the incidence of SIP. Twins,umbilical veins catheterization and ibuprofen use early after birth may be independent risk factors of SIP.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of early incubator temperature fluctuation on intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very/extremely-low birth weight infants (E/VLBW). Methods: From July 2015 to September 2016, 270 patients of hospitalized E/VLBW were included in this study. Temperature changes including incubator temperature and abdominal temperature within 72 hours after admission and routine clinical data were collected,the E/VLBW were divided into IVH group and non-IVH group, as well as the occurrence and grading of IVH. Chi-square test, t test and nonparametric test and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the effect of early incubator temperature fluctuations in E/VLBW on IVH. Results: Of the 270 V/ELBW studied, the incidence of IVH was 24.4% (66/270) , severe IVH(grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ) was 5.2% (14/270) . Univariate analysis showed that in addition to common IVH risk factors such as gestational age, body weight, 1/5 min Apgar score, sex, delivery, hyperglycemia, prenatal steroid and mechanical ventilation, fluctuations of body temperature and incubator temperature were relevant for IVH in E/VLBW (P<0.05) . Logistic regression analysis of the above relevant risk factors showed fluctuations of temperature (OR=1.10) was also an independent risk factor for IVH in E/VLBW(P<0.05) , in addition to sex(OR=0.42) , 1 min Apgar score (OR=0.71) , and hyperglycemia (OR=3.67) . Conclusion Fluctuation of incubator temperature is an independent risk factor for IVH in V/ELBWI. During centralized nursing and nursing operations, the operating time should be shortened as much as possible to reduce the number of fluctuations of incubators and body temperature to reduce the incidence of IVH and improve the quality of life.