The incidence, timing, and predisposing factors of germinal matrix and intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH/IVH) in preterm neonates

Background Germinal matrix and intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH/IVH) is a known complication occurring in the first week of life in preterm neonates. However, the precise time of its occurrence and the ideal time to perform diagnostic imaging studies remain controversial. The purpose of this paper is to address these two issues in our patient population to allocate our resources to those at highest risk.Materials and methods This study included 282 premature newborns (under 37 weeks of gestation) that were admitted to our neonate ICU in a year’s time and screened for GMH/IVH. They were grouped in four categories according to their weight at birth, and according to their gestational age. All patients had a daily cranial ultrasound during the first week. It was then repeated once in the second week and once in the third.Results We found that the incidence of GMH/IVH among preterm neonates was 44.68%. It was inversely related to the weight and the age of the newborn. The onset of bleeding coordinated with the occurrence of hypoxia and respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation. The majorities occurred in the first 7 days of life; they were mostly grade I and II according to the Papule classification and silent for the most part. Complications were present in 41% of the survivors.     

Sexual Intercourse for Induction of Spontaneous Onset of Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

IntroductionSexual intercourse during pregnancy is commonly believed to trigger the onset of contractions and, therefore, labor. However, in low-risk pregnancies, there is neither association with preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, or low birth weight, nor with spontaneous onset of labor at term.AimTo evaluate the effectiveness of sexual intercourse for spontaneous onset of labor at term in singleton pregnancies.MethodsThe systematic search was conducted using electronic databases from inception of each database to June 2019. Review of articles also included the abstracts of all references retrieved from the search. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials comparing sexual intercourse in singleton low-risk pregnancies at term with controls (either reduced number of coitus or no coitus) for spontaneous onset of labor. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.Main Outcome MeasuresThe primary outcome was the incidence of spontaneous onset of labor. The summary measures were reported as summary relative risk with 95% CI using the random-effects model of DerSimonian and Laird.ResultsData extracted from 3 trials, including 1,483 women with singleton pregnancy at term and cephalic presentation, were analyzed. Women who were randomized in the sexual intercourse group had similar incidence of spontaneous onset of labor compared with control subjects (0.82% vs 0.80%; relative risk 1.02, 95% CI 0.98–1.07).Clinical ImplicationSexual intercourse should not be restricted in low-risk term pregnancies. Further studies are needed to properly evaluate the impact of orgasm, penetration, condom use, frequency of intercourse and other factors on induction of labor at term.Strength & limitationsOur study has several strengths. The three included trials had low risk of allocation bias; intention-to-treat analysis was used; this is the first meta-analysis on this issue so far. Limitations mainly depend on the design of the included studies. Firstly, compliance to the protocol relied on self-reporting by patients; in addition, not all the features of sexual intercourse could be adequately assessed (orgasm, nipple stimulation, sexual positions, etc.).ConclusionIn women with singleton, cephalic, low-risk pregnancies, sexual intercourse at term does not significantly increase the incidence of spontaneous onset of labor.Carbone L, De Vivo V, Saccone G, et al. Sexual Intercourse for Induction of Spontaneous Onset of Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Sex Med 2019;16:1787–1795.     

胎盘早剥新生儿临床特征及凝血指标分析

目的分析胎盘早剥新生儿的临床特点及凝血指标改变。方法收集2012年8月至2013年1月南方医科大学八一临床医学院新生儿监护病房胎盘早剥患儿60例为观察组,非胎盘早剥患儿60例作为对照组,进行两组临床及实验室指标分析。结果两组患儿比较观察指标,其中胎龄、多胎、胎膜早破、出生体质量、小于胎龄儿、母亲年龄、孕母妊娠期高血压、妊娠期糖尿病、新生儿窒息史、入院时活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、D-二聚体(D-D),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论胎盘早剥系胎盘功能不全,新生儿继发凝血功能紊乱,呈病理性高凝状态。     

Longitudinal changes and correlations of bioimpedance and anthropometric measurements in pregnancy: Simple possible bed-side tools to assess pregnancy evolution

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess longitudinal changes of bioimpedance analysis compared with anthropometric measurements in low-risk pregnant woman recruited in the first trimester and to observe possible differences in these indices in women who developed high-risk pregnancies.

Materials and methods: Bioimpedance indices for the three trimesters of pregnancies were calculated separately for uneventful pregnancies delivered of newborns >?the 10th centile. These findings were compared with anthropometric measurements. Data of women who developed hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) or delivered SGA newborns were calculated and compared.

Results: Significantly longitudinal increases were observed in these pregnancies for total body water (TBW), free fat mass, fat mass, and extra-cellular water. These increases were paralleled body mass index (BMI), skinfolds, and waist measurements. The correlations between these two sets of findings were poor. Women who developed HDP with AGA fetuses showed significantly different bioimpedance from normal cases. TBW indices were highly significantly different since the first trimester. In pregnancies delivered of SGA newborns, these indices were opposite of the values observed in patients with HDP-AGA, TBW in these patients was significantly reduced compared with normal pregnancies.

Conclusions: The bioelectrical impedance is a fast, simple, noninvasive way to assess the TBW content in pregnancy. Our findings are in agreement with the hypothesis that bioimpedance might help to identify early in gestation patients at risk of developing different clinical phenotypes of hypertensive disease of pregnancy and SGA fetuses.     

北京市三阶段新生儿听力筛查成本效果分析

目的 比较新生儿听力筛查两阶段和三阶段的成本效果, 为普遍性筛查提供依据。方法 对2010年10月至2012年12月北京市7家医院出生的正常新生儿进行听力筛查, 分别采用两阶段和三阶段策略及听力诊断性检查, 比较两种筛查的成本/效果比。其中筛查和诊断成本数据源自医院, 采用自行设计问卷对家长调查额外交通费和误工费。根据依从率进行敏感性分析。结果 新生儿初筛62 695人, 未通过5 809人, 阳性率为9.30%;复筛4 933人, 未通过972人, 阳性率为19.70%;复筛未通过并就诊于指定医疗机构者412人。完成诊断性评估360人, 听力异常者217例, 听力异常率为60.28%。完成三阶段筛查共276人, 未通过163人。其中125人完成诊断性检查, 异常112例(中度以上45例), 听力异常率为89.60%。以实际筛查率和诊断率计算成本/效果比, 两阶段(19 985元/例)优于三阶段(37 242元/例), 但随着筛查依从率的提高, 三阶段筛查的成本效果也随之提高。结论 筛查依从率影响三阶段筛查的成本效果, 在筛查依从率较高(>90%)的地区可考虑使用三阶段筛查方法。     

Toll样受体4及肿瘤坏死因子α在早产儿外周血水平及其与早产儿脑损伤预后的关系

目的观察早产儿出生时外周血Toll样受体4(Toll-like receptor 4,TLR-4)、肿瘤坏死因子α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)的水平及校正胎龄6个月龄时智力发育测试(CDCC)结果,探讨其在早产发生机制中的作用及其与早产儿脑损伤预后的关系,为预防早产及对脑损伤早期干预提供依据。方法新生儿120例,分为:足月儿40例、胎膜早破早产儿40例和特发性早产儿40例。采用ELISA检测新生儿外周静脉血中TLR-4、TNF-α的水平,校正胎龄达6个月时做婴幼儿CDCC。结果两组早产儿血清TLR-4、TNF-α水平均高于足月新生儿组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组早产儿血清TLR-4、TNF-α均呈正相关,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。随访CDCC异常者出生时外周血清中TLR-4、TNF-α水平明显高于正常者水平,二者比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论早产儿血清TLR-4、TNF-α水平均高于足月新生儿,提示细胞因子TLR-4、TNF-α的激活与胎膜早破早产、特发性早产分娩发动机制密切相关;TLR-4、TNF-α呈正相关性,提示TLR-4可能作为上游因子通过激活细胞因子TNF-α而发挥促进早产分娩的作用。早产儿出生时外周血中TLR-4、TNF-α水平可作为早期判断脑损伤预后的指标。     

The Effect of Maternal Voice on Venipuncture Induced Pain in Neonates: A Randomized Study

BackgroundVenipuncture is a common procedure in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and causes significant pain for neonates.AimTo evaluate the effect of maternal voice on pain caused by venipuncture (including peripheral venipuncture and femoral venipuncture) in neonates hospitalized in the NICU.DesignExperimental, randomized controlled study.SettingThe study was conducted in the NICU of two hospitals in China from November 2017 to January 2019.MethodsOne hundred and sixteen neonates were randomly assigned to the maternal voice or routine care groups. The maternal voice group received recorded maternal voice intervention before, during, and after venipuncture. Three phases of procedures were videotaped. Neonatal Infant Acute Pain Assessment Scale (NIAPAS) was assessed by the same evaluator at different phases.ResultsThe study showed that NIAPAS scores, behavioral indicator scores, and physiological indicator scores in the maternal voice group were significantly lower compared with those in the routine care group.ConclusionRecorded maternal voice can improve pain caused by venipuncture in neonates. These are simple, rapid, and cost-effective methods that nurses can implement during venipuncture in neonates.     

The comparison of adductor canal block with femoral nerve block following total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Purpose

Although several studies have compared the clinical efficacy of an adductor canal block (ACB) to that of a femoral nerve block (FNB) for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), disputes mainly exist in the recovery of quadriceps strength and mobilization ability between the two methods. The aim of the present study was to compare, in a systematic review and meta-analysis, the clinical efficacy of ACB with that of FNB.

Methods

We systematically searched randomized controlled trials comparing FNB with ACB for analgesia after TKA in Pubmed and the Cochrane Library from inception to April 30th 2015. There was no limitation of publication language. Trial quality was assessed using the modified Jadad scale, and eligible data were pooled for meta-analysis.

Results

Five studies of 348 patients were included. Outcomes showed that patients who received ACB had similar or better recovery of quadriceps strength and mobilization ability than those that underwent FNB. Similar efficacy was found between the two strategies regarding adductor strength, pain scores [at rest (p = 0.86), at or after knee flexion (p = 0.31)], opioid consumption (p = 0.99), opioid-associated adverse effects (p = 0.60), length of hospital stay (p = 0.42), patient satisfaction (p = 0.57), and success rate of blockade (p = 0.20).

Conclusions

The present study suggests that TKA patients who receive ACB can achieve similar or even better recovery of quadriceps strength and mobilization ability than those treated with FNB. Taken as a whole, ACB may be a better analgesia strategy after TKA at present.

     

胸腔镜Ⅲ型食管闭锁矫治的技术改良

目的探讨改良胸腔镜Ⅲ型食管闭锁矫治手术的应用价值。方法回顾性分析2017年6月~2019年3月行改良胸腔镜Ⅲ型食管闭锁矫治23例的临床资料,Ⅲa型9例,Ⅲb型14例;男13例,女10例;体重2.0~3.7 kg,平均2.65 kg;入院年龄5 h^12 d,平均3.5 d。气管插管全麻,双肺通气,左侧俯卧位,采用三孔法(2个孔靠近脊柱,1个孔在腋中线肩胛缘),气胸流量2 L/min,压力<5 mm Hg,术中维持脉搏氧饱和度(SpO 2)>85%。保留奇静脉弓,将其作为支撑把壁层胸膜缝合覆盖食管气管瘘残端;食管吻合在壁层胸膜浅面胸腔内进行,5-0可吸收缝线间断缝合或4-0倒刺可吸收线连续缝合。结果食管闭锁矫治均在胸腔镜下完成,无中转开胸,无输血。1例合并胃穿孔,开腹行胃穿孔修补及置管造瘘。手术时间90~160 min,平均125 min。术后吻合口漏11例,保守治愈10例,1例二次手术治愈。术后随访9~24个月,平均17个月,无食管气管瘘复发,无胃食管反流。术后3个月吻合口狭窄5例,经胃镜下探条扩张治愈。结论将操作孔后移行双肺通气胸腔镜食管闭锁矫治是可行的;保留奇静脉弓作为支撑将壁层胸膜瓣覆盖食管气管瘘残端有利于预防食管气管瘘复发。