Assessment of changes in 1-second forced expiratory volume in bronchial provocation testing

The question of whether functional residual capacity (FRC) falls in infants during active sleep has been clouded by studies using different subject groups and techniques for measurements of lung volume and determination of sleep state. Twenty healthy full-term infants within the first week of life participated in the present study. Neurophysiological and behavioral criteria were used to define sleep state, and measurements of FRC were made using a specially constructed closed-circuit helium dilution system. Regularity of respiration was recorded using magnetometers on the chest and a modified respirator monitor. Results showed that no significant changes in FRC occurred, related either to sleep state or to regularity of respiration. In addition, we failed to detect any differences in FRC between the sexes. Pediatr Pilmonol. 1989; 7:71–77 .     

Bone turnover in neonates: Changes of urinary excretion rate of collagen type I cross-linked peptides during the first days of life and influence of gestational age

New markers have been used to monitor the changes of bone turnover occurring during growth. Data on bone turnover rate during the perinatal period are, however, very scarce. In the present study we evaluated bone turnover rate, assessed by the measurement of urinary N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) concentrations, at different gestational ages, and we documented the trend of bone turnover rate occurring in the first days after birth. Urine samples were obtained from 83 healthy full term newborn infants, 16 preterm, and 17 infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs). The first miction after birth was collected. Urine samples were also collected 24 and 48 h after birth. NTx was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Osteomark®, Ostex International, Inc. Seattle, WA). The relationship between NTx at birth and all the other variables has been evaluated using multiple regression analysis. The changes of NTx excretion over time and the effect of the groups were studied by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for repeated measures. We found a remarkable association between gestational age and NTx concentrations at birth (R = 0.56; p < 0.00001). NTx concentrations showed a progressive decrement, reaching a nadir between the 38th and the 42nd week of gestation. The NTx concentrations changed significantly during the first 48 h of life in the three groups. Moreover, preterm infants had NTx excretion values at birth significantly higher than full term infants (p < 0.001), whereas NTx excretion rates of IDMs were not different from those of the other two groups of subjects. In conclusion, gestational age seems to be the major determinant of bone turnover in neonates; NTx excretion rate is higher before term, it slows in proximity of delivery, and it increases significantly during the first 48 h of life. Preterm infants have higher bone turnover rate than full term infants. NTx excretion rate of IDMs was comparable with those of the control subjects.     

Normal morphology of sacroiliac joints in children: magnetic resonance studies related to age and sex

Objective. To determine in a prospective study the normal MRI morphology of the sacroiliac joints (SIJs) in relation to age and sex during adolescence. Design and patients. A total of 98 children (63 boys, mean age 12.7±2.8 years; 35 girls, mean age 13.7±2.3 years), ranging in age from 8 to 17 years, with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) but without signs of sacroiliitis fulfilled the study prerequisites (no back pain and no pathologic changes of the SIJs on physical examination before MRI in a 1.5-year follow-up). An additional eight HLA-B27-negative boys and eight HLA-B27-negative girls without arthritis served as controls. The MRI protocol comprised a T1-weighted SE sequence, an opposed-phase T2*-weighted GE sequence, and a dynamic contrast-enhanced study in single-section technique. Results. Noncontrast MRI permitted differentiation of “open” from ossified segmental and lateral apophyses of the sacral wings, with a significant difference in age (P <0.05) between children with open and ossified apophyses. Ossification of the apophyses of the sacral wings was seen significantly earlier (P <0.05) in girls than in boys. Girls also had a significantly higher incidence of transitional lumbosacral vertebrae, pelvic asymmetries, and accessory joints. In the contrast-enhanced opposed-phase MRI study, normal cartilage of the SIJs showed no contrast enhancement whereas the joint capsule showed a moderate enhancement. Conclusion. There are significant age- and sex-related differences in the normal MRI morphology of juvenile SIJs. Our findings might serve as a standard of comparison for the evaluation of pathologic changes – in particular for the early identification of juvenile sacroiliitis.     

细胞色素b在早产新生大鼠高氧肺损伤肺组织中的表达和意义

目的探讨细胞色素b（cytochrome b，Cytb）与高氧肺损伤发生、发展的关系。方法早产新生SD（Sprague-Dawley）大鼠生后1d随机分为空气组、高氧组，高氧组持续暴露于常压氧舱中，氧浓度〉85％；空气组置于同一室常压空气中。两组分别于高氧或空气暴露后1、4、7、10和14d时提取肺组织RNA，采用半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）测定CytbmRNA表达；同时应用免疫组化方法检测肺组织切片中Cytb蛋白表达；应用Western-blot检测高氧肺损伤肺组织中Cytb蛋白水平的表达变化。结果与空气组相比，高氧暴露1d、4d CytbmRNA含量及其表达显著增强（P〈0．05）；7d后Cytb呈下降趋势，其表达较空气组减弱，但两者相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。高氧暴露后，随日龄变化肺组织Cytb免化结果与CytbmRNA表达相似；与空气组相比，高氧暴露1d、4d肺组织Cytb表达显著增强（P〈0．05）；7d后Cytb呈逐渐下降趋势，其表达较空气组减弱，但7、10d两组相比差异无统计学意义，14d极显著减弱（P〈0．01）。Western-blot实验结果：与空气组相比，高氧暴露1d、4dCytb蛋白水平表达增强但两组相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；7d后Cytb呈下降趋势，其表达较空气组减弱，但7、10d两组相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），而14d显著减弱（P〈0．05）。结论85％高浓度氧暴露诱导早产新生大鼠线粒体编码的Cytb异常表达，这种变化可能参与高氧肺损伤的发生。     

Born too soon: the continuing challenge of preterm labor and birth in the United States

Prematurity is the single greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in obstetrics. Families, health care services, and education systems experience the impact of prematurity for the lifetime of the preterm-born child. Health care providers have tried to lower the preterm birth rate with prevention both before and during pregnancy and intervention for symptomatic women. The inability of the health care system to significantly decrease the incidence of preterm birth continues to be a challenge. To further complicate the situation, new data shows that infants born between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation who were thought to have minimal long-term effects of preterm birth may be more at risk than previously appreciated. This article reviews evidence-based risk identification, prevention, and management of women experiencing preterm labor and birth.     

Hereditary angio-oedema: new clinical observations and autoimmune screening, complement and kallikrein-kinin analyses

Objectives. To study clinical and laboratory manifestations of hereditary angio-oedema (HAE).
Subjects. Thirty-three affected members of a kindred of 63.
Results. Oedematous attacks in the skin, mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract with fluid displacement were elicited by mental and physical stress, minor traumas, dental and surgical procedures, eruption of teeth, tonsillitis, pregnancies, and use of oestrogen-containing pills including menopausal substitution. Every adult woman with symptomatic HAE ( n =11) showed symptoms of urinary tract infections in conjunction with the attacks ( P = 0.010), and also experienced more spontaneous abortions or premature labours ( P =0.037) than healthy relatives. Patients with HAE of both sexes more frequently reported heartburn or peptic ulcers ( P =0.002). Rheumatic complaints were reported by 53% of HAE patients and 12% of their unaffected relatives ( P =0.013), but biochemical screening for 18 autoantibodies and quantitation of immunoglobulins did not reveal statistically significant differences between the two groups. C3, prekallikrein, total kininogen, high molecular weight kininogen (HK), alpha-2-macroglobulin and factor XII were not significantly different in HAE patients. In contrast, levels of C1-INH and C4 were depressed and cleaved HK increased in patients compared to unaffected relatives.
Conclusions. HAE manifests in a variety of ways, and may influence risk of spontaneous abortions and premature labour.     

The effect of supplementation with fish oil during pregnancy on breast milk immunoglobulin A, soluble CD14, cytokine levels and fatty acid composition

BACKGROUND: Breast milk contains many immunomodulatory factors (soluble CD14 (sCD14), IgA and cytokines) with the potential to influence infant immune development. OBJECTIVE: To determine if changes in breast milk omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) composition as a result of maternal dietary fish oil supplementation during pregnancy can modify levels of these immunological parameters in breast milk. METHOD: In a randomized controlled trial, 83 atopic women received either 4 g fish oil capsules (containing 3.7 g n-3 PUFA) (n = 40) or 4 g olive oil capsules (n = 43) from 20 weeks gestation until delivery. Breast milk was collected 3 days post-partum and fatty acids were analysed by gas liquid chromatography and IgA, sCD14 and cytokines (IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma) were quantitated by ELISA or time resolved fluorescence (TRF). RESULTS: Omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in breast milk from women supplemented with fish oil (n = 33, DHA mean 1.15%, SD 0.47% and EPA mean 0.16%, SD 0.07%) than in samples from the control group (n = 40, DHA mean 0.50%, SD 0.17% and EPA mean 0.05%, SD 0.02%). Breast milk arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6) levels were significantly lower (P = 0.045) in the fish oil group (mean 0.55%, SD 0.12%) compared with the control group (mean 0.61%, SD 0.14%). Breast milk IgA was positively correlated with DHA (P = 0.046) and 22:5n-3 (P = 0.003), but inversely correlated with linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6) (P=0.034). Levels of sCD14 were also positively correlated with 22:5n-3 (P=0.009). Cytokines involved in IgA synthesis (IL-10 and IL-6) were also significantly correlated with both IgA and n-3 PUFA levels, although there were no differences in the levels of breast milk IgA, sCD14 or cytokines between study groups. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with fish oil during pregnancy significantly alters early post-partum breast milk fatty acid composition. omega-3 PUFA levels were positively associated with IgA and sCD14 levels, suggesting a relationship between fatty acid status and mucosal immune function.     

丙种球蛋白治疗危重早产儿临床分析

目的 为评估IVIG治疗危重早产儿的临床疗效。方法 将危重早产儿116例采取随机分为治疗组和对照组，对照组给常规综合治疗，治疗组在常规综合治疗措施上，加用IVIG静脉滴注，比较治疗组与对照组患儿病情平稳率及死亡率。结果 IVIG治疗危重早产儿病情平稳率第5天达75．8％第10天达93．3％，而对照组分别为50％和70．4％；病死率治疗组为6．4％，对照组为11．1％，均优于常规对照组。结论 危重早产儿用IVIG治疗疗效较满意，值得推广。     

早期饮食干预对婴幼儿呼吸道变态反应疾病的影响

目的 观察早期饮食干预对婴幼儿呼吸道变态反应疾病发展的影响。方法 选取2003年1月-2004年6月复旦大学附属儿科医院0～6月变态反应疾病高危婴儿176例，在进行环境控制的前提下，随机分为干预组（饮食干预）和非干预组，随访两组患儿变态反应疾病发生、发展的情况。结果 （1）在干预6、12、18个月后，干预组发生两种以上变态反应疾病的人数均显著少于非干预组，过敏症状的严重程度较非干预组也显著减轻（P〈0．005）。（2）饮食干预18个月后，两组患儿在吸入性过敏原筛查阳性比例上的差异没有显著性（χ^2=0．002，P=0．969），但干预组患儿的肺功能显著优于非干预组（P〈0．005）、干预组的食物过敏原筛查阳性比例显著低于非干预组（χ^2=8．91，P〈0．01）。结论 对变态反应性疾病高危婴儿进行饮食干预，能减轻或消除呼吸道变态反应疾病症状，改善肺功能。     

腺苷预处理对人未成熟心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨腺苷预处理对人未成熟心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其可能机制。方法将42例5岁以下行室间隔缺损修补术的患儿随机分成腺苷组和对照组,每组21例。腺苷组在术前用腺苷预处理,对照组经相同路径滴入相同体积的生理盐水后开始转流。观察心肌肌钙蛋白-I(cTnI)、肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、心肌超微结构改变,记录和计算两组自动复跳率、T波倒置发生率、室性心律失常发生率、术后平均住院日(d)。结果腺苷预处理明显减少了cTnI、CK-MB的漏出,在心肌超微结构和心电活动方面具有良好的保护作用。结论腺苷预处理对人未成熟心肌缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用。