Latex allergy in infants younger than 1 year

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of latex allergy in children is increasing worldwide. Previous multiple operations or atopic predisposition are known risk factors. In contrast, only sporadic cases of latex allergy have been reported in infants younger than 1 year, and the causative latex-containing products or symptoms in young infants have not been studied in detail. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyse the symptoms and risk factors of latex allergy in young infants. METHODS: Cases of latex allergy in infants younger than 1 year were studied in detail. Clinical course, causative latex-containing products were spotted and detailed analysis for latex allergy in patients and patients' parents was performed. CONCLUSION: We report nine cases of latex allergy in infants younger than 1 year. None of them have any abnormality or previous operations. Six patients had atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome, one patient had bronchial asthma, whereas two patients had no overt allergic diseases. Symptoms of latex allergy were wheezing, swelling of face or lips, facial rash, or anaphylaxis, and causative latex-containing products were teat, pacifier, nose cleaner, teether, balloon, or enema tube. All of the nine patients had positive skin prick test to latex and extract from causative latex-containing products, whereas eight patients had positive serum latex-specific IgE. Study for family history revealed that latex allergy was noted in either father or mother in six patients, in both father and mother in one patient, whereas no latex allergy was noted in parents in two patients. It should be noted that all of these patients had latex-induced symptoms at home. Latex allergy in young infants may not be unusual. Physicians should be aware of latex allergy, and care should be taken to avoid contact with latex in young infants, especially when there is family history for latex allergy.     

极低出生体重儿两种喂养效果观察

目的:探讨极低出生体重儿(VLBW)的早期微量持续鼻饲喂养(CNG)与间断鼻饲喂养(ING)的喂养耐受性及喂养效果.方法:将60例VLBW进行随机分组,CNG组起始奶量1-2ml/h,以后泵速增加1-2ml/h.ING组奶量以1-2ml/kg开始, 以后每天增加1-2ml/kg/次.所有VLBW均同时进行部分静脉营养,直至达到完全胃肠道喂养时间(FEF).对比两组喂养不耐受性、达到FEF、停止静脉补液时间及黄疸持续时间.结果:CNG组较ING组患儿发生腹胀、呕吐者明显减少(P＜0.05),黄疸持续时间、吸吮动作出现时间及住院时间较对照组明显缩短(P＜0.05),但两组体重增长情况统计学无差异(P＞0.05).结论:CNG更适合VLBW的早期微量喂养.     

早产儿高胆红素血症凝血功能变化的研究

目的探讨高胆红素血症对早产儿凝血功能的影响。方法对56例出现高胆红素血症的早产儿和28例未出现高胆红素血症的早产儿进行PT,APTT,TT,FG检测。结果出现高胆红素血症的早产儿PT,APTT均延长,FG降低,与无高胆红素血症的早产儿相比有显著性差异(P<0.05),TT相比无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论出现高胆红素血症的早产儿处于低凝血因子状态,易患出血性疾病,应及早监测凝血指标,采取有效预防措施。     

Supporting insensitive mothers: the Vilnius randomized control trial of video-feedback intervention to promote maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security

Objective   This randomized control trial examined the effects of a short-term, interaction-focused and attachment-based video-feedback intervention (VIPP: video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting).
Design   VIPP effect on mothers' sensitive responsiveness and infant–mother attachment security was evaluated in a sample ( n  = 54) of low sensitive, non-clinical, middle class Lithuanian mothers.
Methods   Maternal sensitivity was assessed in a free play session with the Ainsworth's sensitivity scale, and attachment security was observed using the Attachment Q sort for home observations.
Results   We found that the intervention mothers indeed significantly improved their sensitive responsiveness through participation in our VIPP. The effect size was large according to Cohen's criteria, d  = 0.78. VIPP enhanced maternal sensitive responsiveness even when maternal age, educational level, depression, daily hassles, efficacy, infant gender, and infant negative and positive affect were controlled for. However, attachment security in the VIPP infants was not enhanced after the intervention, compared with the control infants, and the infants did not seem to be differentially susceptible to the increase in maternal sensitivity dependent on their temperamental reactivity.
Conclusion   We suggest that a relatively brief and low-cost programme can provide effective support for mothers who lack sensitivity in the interactions with their infants.     

Abnormal cardiac histology in severe intrauterine growth retardation infants

Four infants with severe intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) weighing less than 1000 g at birth developed heart failure and died in our unit, where heart failure of IUGR infants is the main reason of death in extremely low birth-weight infants. The causes of their heart failure are one of the main themes in current neonatal medicine. The subjects of this study were four small for gestational age infants; all died due to heart failure 5 to 10 days after birth. Microscopic specimens of hearts from autopsies were evaluated with respect to the following characteristics: thickness of myocardial fibers, maturation of nuclei, presence of dysgenesis or necrosis in myocardium, and amount of glycogen in the heart. Neither dysgenesis nor infarction of the heart was found but hypoplasia in myocardial fibers and decreased glycogen levels were observed. Maturation delay in myocytes' nuclei did not appear to be severe. We conclude that these infants' hearts failed to adapt to postnatal hemodynamic changes because of inadequate myocardial function and inadequate glycogen reserves.     

Adhesion inhibitory activity of β-lactoglobulin isolated from infant formulae

β-Lactoglobulin was isolated from infant formulae that were ultra high temperature (UHT) -treated, sterilized or spray-dried. The effect of the isolated β-lactoglobulin on SfaII-fimbriae-mediated adhesion of Escherichia coli to human ileostomy glycoproteins was studied in vitro. β-Lactoglobulin isolated from sterilized formulae was found to perform significantly less well than preparations from spray-dried formulae (p = 0:05). Great heterogeneity was observed in the adhesion inhibitory capacity of β-lactoglobulin isolated from UHT-treated formulae. Therefore, no significant difference was observed between UHT-treated and sterilized formulae or spray-dried formulae (p < 0:10). It can be hypothesized that β-lactoglobulin from spray-dried and some UHT-treated infant formulae may affect the colonization of mucous membranes by E. coli strains causing neonatal septicaemia and meningitis.     

南阳市1999～2001年新生儿破伤风疫情监测

目的 对南阳市3年的新生儿破伤风疫情监测结果进行分析，掌握该市新生儿破伤风发病概况，有针对地制订防治对策。方法 对3年的监测资料进行分析评价。结果 1999—2001年3年的发病率分别为0．09‰、0．07‰、0．04‰，发病县3年的年发病率均小于1‰。结论 开展各种形式的宣传活动，提倡住院分娩，推广消毒接生，对育龄妇女进行破伤风类毒素接种，从而有效降低其发病率。     

A study of infant feeding practices in an urban Indian community

Thirty mothers, attending either a paediatric clinic at a Government hospital or a private paediatrician's surgery, both in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, South East India, were questioned about their infant feeding practices. A sample of milk from their child's bottle was requested and subsequently analysed for the presence of dilution. Over-dilution, defined as less than 75% of the standard concentration, was found to be common (P<.05). No significant correlations were found between the incidence of over-dilution and either family income or educational status of the mothers due to the small sample size. The study suggests the need for practical education on the reconstitution of milk feeds.     

Neurotrophin-like immunoreactivity in the human pre-term newborn, infant, and adult cerebellum

The immunohistochemical occurrence of the neurotrophin (NT) proteins nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is shown in the pre-term newborn, infant, and adult human post-mortem cerebellum. The NT-like immunoreactive structures were unevenly distributed and showed regional differences among cerebellar lobules and folia. NGF-, NT-4-, and NT-3-positive neuronal perikarya were observed in all specimens examined. At variance with the other neurotrophins, the BDNF antiserum labelled neuronal cell bodies only in newborn life and infancy, as well as extensive nerve fibre systems, whose density increased with age. The NT-antibodies, tested by Western blot on human cerebellum homogenates, revealed immunoreactive bands corresponding to proteins of heterogenous molecular weight. The results obtained provide a first demonstration of the tissue localization of the NTs in the human cerebellum from perinatal to adult age, thus suggesting their involvement in the development, differentiation and maintenance of the cerebellar connectivity. Codistribution of the four NTs or sets of them was observed in cortical and deep nuclei neurons. Multiple trophic roles for NTs, encompassing the classic target-derived and local mechanisms of support, are envisaged as significant in development, differentiation, and maintenance of the human cerebellar connectivity.     

安桃乐气体吸入在分娩镇痛中对母婴影响的观察分析

目的:探讨安桃乐(ENTONOX)气体吸入对分娩镇痛及母婴结局的影响。方法:将181名无产科或内科合并症的住院产妇随机分成两组,一组由家属全程陪护,另一组由家属全程陪护+安桃乐气体吸入,观察两组产妇的镇痛效果、产程进展、分娩方式、新生儿Apgar评分情况、产后出血量。结果:ENTONOX吸入对分娩镇痛有效率达98.2％,显效率达80.7％,对产程进展有促进作用,对分娩方式、围产儿结局、产后出血量无显著性差异。结论:ENTONOX吸入镇痛是一种安全、有效的辅助分娩技术,作用迅速、费用低廉,是产妇乐意接受的镇痛方法。