Circulating apelin concentrations in mother/infant pairs at term

AIM: To prospectively investigate circulating concentrations of the adipokine and angiogenic factor apelin in mother/infant pairs and correlate them with respective insulin concentrations. METHODS: Plasma apelin concentrations were determined in 40 mothers and their singleton full-term foetuses and neonates on day 1 (N1) and 4 (N4) of life. RESULTS: Maternal apelin concentrations were lower compared to foetal, N1 and N4 ones (p<0.001 in all cases). N1 apelin concentrations were lower compared to foetal and N4 ones (p=0.002 and p=0.005, respectively). Maternal apelin concentrations positively correlated with foetal, N1 and N4 concentrations (r=0.663, p<0.001, r=0.486, p=0.003, r=0.484, p=0.003, respectively). Foetal apelin concentrations positively correlated with N1 and N4 ones (r=0.337, p=0.044 and r=0.574, p<0.001, respectively). N1 apelin concentrations positively correlated with N4 ones (r=0.513, p=0.001). No association was found between apelin concentrations and birthweight, gender, parity or mode of delivery. No significant correlations were observed between apelin and insulin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of apelin are high in the foetus, possibly suggesting its potential role in intrauterine development. Apelin expression in placental tissue could account for its higher foetal concentrations and for its down-regulation soon after birth. The postnatal increase of apelin concentrations could presumably point to a gradual initiation of ex utero angiogenesis.     

Assessment of total body fat using the skinfold technique in full-term and preterm infants

BACKGROUND: Assessment of body composition may be of interest when the nutritional status of infants is evaluated but is often difficult since simple and valid methods are lacking. With appropriate validation, measurements based on skinfold thickness (SFT) may be useful for this purpose. AIMS: To evaluate the potential of a published method, based on measurements of SFT, to assess total body fat (TBF) of infants; and to calculate the fat content of adipose tissue (AT) in infants using previously published information regarding AT volume and total body water. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-five full-term infants and eight infants born in gestational weeks 31-33 were studied at a postnatal age of 4-131 and 44-75 d, respectively. The body water dilution method was used to obtain reference estimates of TBF (TBF-BWD). RESULTS: In full-term infants, TBF assessed using the skinfold method (TBF-SFT) minus TBF-BWD was 1.5+/-10.8% (mean+/-2 SD). Furthermore, TBF-SFT minus TBF-BWD (%, y) was correlated (p<0.0001) with the average of TBF-SFT and TBF-BWD (%, x), showing that TBF-SFT was too high in lean infants and too low in infants with more TBF. In the full-term infants, AT contained 0.68+/-0.14 g fat/ml. In the premature infants, TBF-SFT (%), TBF-BWD (%) and the AT fat content were similar to the corresponding figures in nine full-term newborns. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the SFT method produced inaccurate and biased estimates of TBF in infants. A considerable variation between infants regarding their AT fat content may be an important reason for these findings.     

Maternal and fetal blood ammonia concentrations in normal term human pregnancies

BACKGROUND: The current evidence on the primary source of ammonia production in the human fetoplacental unit is potentially misleading. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present investigation was to determine the concentration of ammonia in human maternal and fetal blood at birth and to compare them with published data in late gestation sheep. METHODS: In 12 normal human pregnancies, umbilical arterial and venous and maternal venous blood was sampled, and whole blood ammonia concentrations were measured. Data from 12 pregnant sheep and fetuses from our previous studies were utilized for comparison. RESULTS: The human fetus at delivery has higher concentrations of ammonia (60-80 microM) than the late gestation fetal lamb (25-35 microM). In the human, the arterial umbilical ammonia concentration exceeds the venous umbilical concentration, indicating a net ammonia production by fetal tissues. In sheep, the venous umbilical ammonia concentration exceeds the arterial umbilical concentration, indicating the net placental ammonia production. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to fetal lambs, human fetuses exhibit a net production of ammonia, which may reflect differences in biologic state or a species difference.     

单纯性肥胖症儿童血清内脂素、促酰化蛋白水平测定及其临床意义

目的 探讨血清内脂素(visfatin)和促酰化蛋白(ASP)与单纯性肥胖症儿童发病的关系及其对肥胖症防治的意义.方法 研究对象共86例,男57例,女29例;年龄7～15岁.其中单纯性肥胖儿童40例;超重儿童22例;健康对照儿童24例.采用酶联免疫吸附法检测各组儿童血清visfatin、ASP水平.结果 1.肥胖组血清visfatin与健康对照组和超重组相比,分别增加了49.80％(P＜0.05)、35.88％ (P ＜0.05).肥胖组血清ASP与健康对照组和超重组相比,分别增加了7.34％ (P ＜0.01)和5.57％(P＜0.05).超重组和健康对照组血清visfatin及ASP比较差异均无统计学意义.2.肥胖组体质量指数(BMI)、总胆固醇、三酰甘油、低密度脂蛋白、空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素、胰岛素抵抗指数均高于健康对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.05);肥胖组高密度脂蛋白和胰岛素敏感指数明显低于健康对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.05);肥胖组BMI、空腹胰岛素、胰岛素抵抗指数均高于超重组,差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.01).3.相关性分析:血清visfatin与BMI、三酰甘油均呈正相关(r =0.218,P＜0.05;r =0.500,P＜0.01).血清ASP与BMI、总胆固醇和三酰甘油均呈正相关(r=0.268,P＜0.05;r =0.250,P＜0.05;r =0.427,P＜0.01).结论 Visfatin和ASP与肥胖关系密切,均参与肥胖儿童体内脂质代谢紊乱的发生.检测血清visfatin和ASP水平将有助于判断儿童肥胖症的发展趋势,有助于评价肥胖儿童未来发生糖尿病、心血管疾病的危险程度.     

Midazolam and amplitude-integrated EEG in asphyxiated full-term neonates

AIM: In the present, prospective study, the relation between the levels of midazolam, its two active metabolites--1-hydroxy-midazolam (OH-midazolam) and 1-hydroxy-midazolam-glucuronide (glu-midazolam)--and the aEEG were examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen full-term neonates with seizures due to hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy admitted to our NICU were included. Midazolam (loading dose 0.05 mg/kg in 10 min, maintenance dose 0.15 mg/kg/h) was used as an add-on anti-convulsant after phenobarbital and lidocaine because of continuing seizures. Amplitude-integrated EEG background pattern was scored at the start of midazolam and at the time of blood sampling as continuous normal voltage (CNV), discontinuous normal voltage (DNV), burst suppression (BS), continuous low voltage (CLV) or flat trace (FT). Serum levels of midazolam, OH-midazolam and glu-midazolam were measured at least 8 h after the start with HPLC. RESULTS: In 11/15 patients, seizures were abolished with the addition of midazolam. In the remaining patients, seizure frequency was reduced in one and unchanged in three. Amplitude-integrated EEG background pattern at the start of midazolam was CNV in two, DNV in six, BS in five and CLV in two. Moderate, temporary suppression of the aEEG background pattern lasting less than 2 h was seen in four neonates. Amplitude-integrated EEG at midazolam sampling was CNV in two, DNV in seven, CLV in two and FT in four. Serum levels of midazolam ranged from 0.10 to 1.76 mg/l, OH-midazolam from 0.05 to 0.28 mg/l and glu-midazolam from 0.85 to 4.36 mg/l. CONCLUSIONS: A brief and moderate suppression of the aEEG background pattern immediately after midazolam was seen in four neonates for less than 2 h. Suppression at a later time point, i.e. after more than 8 h of midazolam infusion, was demonstrated almost exclusively in neonates with a poor background pattern, and therefore these patterns appear to be determined mainly by the severity of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.     

Fetal and maternal non-glucose carbohydrates and polyols concentrations in normal human pregnancies at term

The objective of the present investigation was to determine fetal and maternal plasma concentrations of nonglucose carbohydrates and polyols in normal human pregnancies at term. Uncomplicated human pregnancies (n = 50) were studied at > or =37 wk gestation. Blood samples were obtained from umbilical artery, umbilical vein, and maternal peripheral blood at the time of elective cesarean section. Plasma concentrations of inositol, glycerol, erythritol, sorbitol, and mannose were determined by HPLC analysis. Differences between umbilical venous, umbilical arterial, and maternal concentration were tested by the two-tailed t test for paired samples. Correlations between umbilical and maternal concentration and between umbilical venoarterial concentration difference and umbilical arterial concentration were assessed by Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis. All newborns were appropriate for gestational age, and oxygenation and acid-base balance were within the normal range for all fetuses studied. For most of the polyols (inositol, sorbitol, and erythritol), the fetal concentration was significantly higher than the maternal concentration. The umbilical venoarterial concentration difference for inositol was -10.5 +/- 3.6 microM, for glycerol was 10 +/- 1.7 microM, for sorbitol was 3.8 +/- 0.5 microM (p < 0.001), and for mannose was 7.6 +/- 0.7 microM. There was a significant correlation between maternal concentration and umbilical venous concentration of mannose (UV(MAN) = 15.38 + 0.69 M(MAN); R(2) = 0.46; p < 0.001). These results indicate that in normal human pregnancies at term, inositol is produced by the fetus, sorbitol is produced by the placenta, and there is a significant umbilical uptake of mannose from the maternal circulation.     

脑电图背景活动对窒息足月新生儿预后评估的研究

目的：新生儿期最常见的脑损伤疾病为新生儿重度窒息后的缺氧缺血性脑病（HIE）,可遗留神经系统后遗症。目前对新生儿HIE预后的判断方法除考虑异常围生期因素、常规神经系统体格检查外,只能依赖于颅内超声、CT、MRI等影像学方法,这些方法主要建立在解剖结构改变基础之上,而脑电图则能发现早期的脑功能异常。该研究的目的是通过对足月窒息新生儿脑电图背景活动的研究,检测并评估与窒息新生儿预后相关的参数,并根据数理原理得出并证明这些参数对预后判断的价值。方法：对80名生后24 h至日龄<8 d的足月新生儿（对照组31人,窒息组49人）脑电图进行平行对照的前瞻性分析,并在出院后对窒息组患儿进行6~12个月的随访。结果：①窒息患儿交替性脑电活动期平均阵发性放电间期延长,振幅降低,阵发性活动、异常尖波频率出现率和睡眠周期循环障碍的发生率增加。②对窒息患儿预后判断有重要意义的参数为胎龄、出生体重、脑电活动振幅均值、睡眠循环障碍、影像学异常改变、HIE分级。③出生24 h后脑电图仍表现为平坦波或平坦波伴大量异常放电患儿预后极差。结论：脑电图背景活动是足月窒息新生儿预后判断的有效工具,如结合患儿脑电图背景活动及其胎龄、出生体重、影像学检查、HIE分级等临床指标,可使预后判断更为准确。［中国当代儿科杂志,2007,9（5）：425-428］     

足月新生儿及小婴儿自发性肠穿孔的特点和手术方式探讨

目的 分析足月新生儿及小婴儿自发性肠穿孔(spontaneous intestinal perforation,SIP)的临床特征及手术方法,为该阶段患儿SIP的手术治疗提供参考.方法 搜集2005年1月至2015年1月在武汉市儿童医院新生儿外科手术治疗的320例新生儿及小婴儿(＜3个月)肠穿孔病例,筛选出符合SIP定义的8例手术患儿,回顾分析其肠穿孔特点及手术方式.结果 6例患儿术前有腹泻病史.穿孔处位于回肠对系膜缘,距离回盲部3～25 cm,穿孔直径3～10 mm.8例中有2例表现出多处穿孔,分别行肠切除、肠吻合术和肠造瘘术.6例单处穿孔者,1例行肠造瘘术,5例行肠修补或肠切除、肠吻合术.肠造瘘患儿有1例术后3周出现瘘口狭窄及肠粘连性梗阻,行粘连松解及关瘘手术,另1例术后伤口感染.一期手术病例均顺利康复.结论 足月儿SIP发病前多有腹泻表现.除穿孔及临近穿孔处肠管外,肠管病变局限.术中宜根据情况采用个体化的治疗,实施一期手术安全可行.     

川崎病患儿治疗前后血清抵抗素和内脂素的变化

目的 检测急性期川崎病（KD）患儿静脉注射丙种球蛋白（IVIG）治疗前后血清中抵抗素和内脂素含量的变化及意义。方法 选择2011年1月至2013年1月确诊的KD患儿50例为研究对象,同时选取30例健康儿童和30例急性感染性疾病患儿作为对照。酶联免疫吸附法检测KD患儿IVIG治疗前后及对照儿童血清中抵抗素和内脂素的水平。结果 KD患儿血清抵抗素和内脂素含量均明显高于健康对照组和急性感染性疾病患儿（均P<0.05）;经过48 h治疗后,IVIG治疗有效KD患儿血清抵抗素含量较治疗前明显降低（P<0.05）,内脂素含量在IVIG治疗有效KD患儿治疗前后差异无统计学意义（P >0.05）;IVIG治疗无效KD患儿（n=12）治疗前血清抵抗素水平明显高于IVIG治疗有效组（n=38,P<0.05）,而内脂素含量在两组患儿治疗前差异无统计学意义（P >0.05）;KD合并冠脉损害与非冠脉损害患儿的抵抗素和内脂素水平差异均无统计学意义（P >0.05）。结论 KD患儿血清中高表达的抵抗素和内脂素可能参与了KD的发生和发展;血清抵抗素含量可能成为临床观察IVIG治疗效果的新监测指标。     

Renin activity and concentrations of angiotensin I and II in amniotic fluid of normal and Rh-sensitized pregnancies.

Renin activity and the concentrations of angiotensin I and angiotensin II in amniotic fluid of second- and third-trimester pregnancies were determined by radioimmunoassay. Between the 28th and 38th wk of gestation, the mean renin activity in the amniotic fluid was higher than during early pregnancy (before the 18th wk of gestation). Both renin activity and the concentrations of angiotensin I and II were increased on some cases of Rh-incompatibility. One to two weeks after the administration of betamethasone to the mother with threatened premature delivery, the intra-amniotic renin--angiotensin system was slightly suppressed. In urine samples of newborns, angiotensin concentrations were in the same range as those found in the amniotic fluid; renin activity was very low or undetectable in the urine of male neonates (1--7 days of age). Thus, angiotensin II in the amniotic fluid may be derived both from fetal urine and/or as the product of enzymatic reactions in the amniotic sac; the latter is dependent not only on the presence of renin and converting enzyme but also on the local renin substrate (angiotensinogen) concentration.     

Blood flow in the foetal superior vena cava and the effect of foetal breathing movements

Objectives

The superior vena cava (SVC) drains venous blood from the upper foetal body, mainly the head. Data on the human foetus is scarce. Here we present reference values for the blood flow during the second half of pregnancy, and test the hypothesis that foetal breathing movements (FBM) enhance this flow.

Methods

Based on a power calculation, 110 women with low-risk singleton pregnancies were recruited to a longitudinal study that included three sets of observations during the second half of pregnancy. Ultrasound was used to determine inner diameter, peak systolic blood velocity and time-average maximum velocities in the SVC during rest and respiratory activity.

Results

During the second half of pregnancy, SVC blood flow increased from 57.8 mL/min (95% CI 51.7–64.3) to 221.5 (204.5–239.3). Based on 558 sets of observations obtained during foetal rest and FBM, we found an overall increase in diameter from 0.41 cm (0.40–0.42) to 0.46 (0.44–0.48), peak systolic velocity from 35.9 cm/s (34.9–37.0) to 62.2 (59.1–65.5), and time-averaged maximum velocity from 20.3 cm/s (19.7–20.8) to 27.3 (26.1–28.6). This resulted in an overall 90% increase in mean SVC blood flow, from 108.1 mL/min (98.8–117.9) at rest to 205.9 (183.2–230.5) during FBM.

Conclusion

The blood flow in the SVC increases during the second half of pregnancy and is substantially augmented during FBM. Since high-amplitude FBM additionally reduces flow in the inferior vena cava, the net effect is a prioritised venous drainage from the foetal head enhancing the washout of CO₂ in that area, which also contains the chemoreceptors.     

Mechanical-tactile stimulation (MTS) intervention in a neonatal stress model alters adult adipose tissue deposition and prevents hyperinsulinemia in male rats

Preterm infants are exposed to numerous stressors during hospitalization and by term corrected gestational age they have lower body weight but a greater proportion of total body as well as abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation. Greater abdominal VAT stores have a known association with metabolic syndrome. Mechanical-tactile stimulation (MTS) improves modulation of stress response in both humans and rodents. We hypothesize that MTS, administered during an established model of neonatal stress, would decrease stress-driven adiposity and prevent associated metabolic imbalances in adult rats. Neonatal stress, administered to rat pups from postnatal days 5 to P9, consisted of needle puncture and hypoxic/hyperoxic challenge during 60 min of maternal separation (STRESS; n = 20). Mechanical-tactile stimulation (MTS; n = 20) was administered to rat pups for 10 min during maternal separation in the stress protocol. Control animals received standard care (CTL; n = 20). MRI measured adult (P120) abdominal total fat mass, subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Body weight and fasting serum adiponectin, leptin, glucose, insulin, and corticosterone were also measured. STRESS results in elevated VAT/SAT ratio compared to CTL but lower abdominal total fat mass and abdominal SAT. STRESS males experience hyperinsulinemia. Both STRESS and MTS had elevated leptin with lower adiponectin and corticosterone compared to CTL. In summary, neonatal stress promotes greater abdominal VAT accumulation and, in males, caused hyperinsulinemia and hypoadiponectinemia. Importantly, MTS normalized the VAT/SAT ratio and prevented hyperinsulinemia. We speculate that MTS ameliorates some of the negative metabolic consequences of early life perturbations due to neonatal stress exposure.     

肠型脂肪酸结合蛋白和粪钙卫蛋白联合检测在足月新生儿坏死性小肠结肠炎中的应用价值

目的 探讨肠型脂肪酸结合蛋白 （I-FABP）、粪钙卫蛋白 （FC）联合检测在足月新生儿坏死性小肠结肠炎 （NEC）诊断中的应用价值。方法 选择足月新生儿NEC36例 （病例组）和同期非消化系统疾病新生儿39例 （对照组）为研究对象。采用酶联免疫吸附法 （ELISA）分别检测两组患儿血清I-FABP及粪便中FC的水平,并评估I-FABP联合FC诊断NEC的临床价值。结果 病例组I-FABP和FC显著高于对照组 （P < 0.05）;病例组患儿血清I-FABP与粪便中FC呈现正相关 （r=0.71,P < 0.05）;分别以I-FABP、FC及两指标联合为参考,诊断NEC的敏感性分别为83.3%,81.5%和79.5%;特异性分别为72.5%,75.8和86.3%,诊断的ROC曲线下面积 （AUC）分别为0.82,0.81和0.88。联合检测诊断NEC的特异性和AUC明显高于单一检测 （P < 0.05）。结论 I-FABP与FC在NCE患儿显著升高,且两者存在相关性,联合检查可提高诊断NEC的特异性。     

Accuracy of neck circumference for diagnosing overweight in six- and seven-year-old children

ObjectiveTo estimate the accuracy of neck circumference measurement as a method of diagnosing excess weight of six and seven-year-old children.Methods1026 six and seven-year-old children were included and anthropometric data were collected using cut-off points for the Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-score, in addition to the measurement of their neck circumference in centimeters. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between neck circumference and BMI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. The Receiver Operating Characteristic curve was used to measure the accuracy of neck circumference as a diagnostic method for excess weight.ResultsA positive linear correlation value was observed between neck circumference and BMI 0.572 (p < 0.001). The accuracy value of the global ROC curve was 0.772 (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity showed low values, but high positive predictive values were observed, especially between measures of 30 and 31 cm.ConclusionNeck circumference showed accuracy of 77.2% as a diagnostic method for overweightness in six and seven-year-old children.     

Blood pressure disorders in the neonate: hypotension and hypertension

Although many sick newborns are treated for hypotension and hypertension, the normal physiologic blood pressure range ensuring appropriate organ perfusion is uncertain. Treatment decisions are based on statistically defined gestational and postnatal age-dependent normative blood-pressure values, combined with clinical intuition, because of difficulties evaluating organ perfusion and adequacy of cerebral oxygen delivery. Early-onset hypotension usually results from the combined effects of abnormal peripheral vasoregulation, myocardial dysfunction, and hypovolemia. Volume administration is the primary initial therapy but its use can be associated with significant untoward effects, especially in preterm infants, and should be limited to 10-20 mL/kg of isotonic saline. If the blood pressure cannot be normalized, dopamine should be added, and sometimes followed by adrenaline (epinephrine) and corticosteroids. Hypertension, most often caused by congenital or acquired renovascular disease or volume overload, needs a thorough search for the etiology and cautious treatment, so that blood pressure does not fall too quickly or too low.     

Suboptimal maternal nutrition affects offspring health in adult life

Suboptimal maternal nutrition during pregnancy is prevalent and compromises fetal development. Physiological and metabolic adaptations made by the fetus to an inadequate, or excess, maternal nutritional environment, may promote immediate survival but are lasting, conferring significantly increased risks of ill health in childhood and adulthood. In addition, such fetal adaptations are particularly detrimental when nutrient supply is no longer constrained in contemporary nutrient rich environments.     

Stress responses in preterm neonates after normal and at-risk pregnancies

Objective : To evaluate the autonomic response in preterm neonates born after an at-risk pregnancy.
Methodology : Twenty-one preterm neonates (gestational age; GA) 29-37 weeks; bodyweight (BW): 720-2113 g; postnatal age: 2-126 days), born after at-risk pregnancies (stressed (STR) group), were compared to 30 preterm neonates (GA: 26-36 weeks; BW: 813-2380 g; postnatal age: 2-86 days) without any intrauterine risk factor (C group). A 10s pain stimulus was given on the forefoot and heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure were measured at 15 and 30 s, at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min. After 10 s ocular compression six cardiac variables were recorded.
Results : After the pain stimulus the STR-group had a significant increase of heart rate at 15 s and an increase of diastolic blood pressure at 30 s. In the C group a significant increase of heart rate at 15 s was recorded. For the respiratory rate both groups showed an initial depression (significant at 15 s in the C group) followed by an increase. The time to react to the ocular compression was significantly shorter in the STR-group than in the C-group and thus more parasympathetic.
Conclusions : We hypothesize that the different sympathetic and parasympathetic reaction patterns of the vital parameters to triggers in the STR-group are due to chronic stress, pointing to an altered maturation of the two components of the autonomic nervous system after chronic intrauterine stress (CIUSTR).