Effect of infants’ position on serum bilirubin level during conventional phototherapy

Aim: To compare the decrease in total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentration during conventional phototherapy in infants treated in supine position exclusively versus infants alternated between exposure in supine and prone position every third hour. Moreover, to survey current practice patterns in two Scandinavian countries as far as alternating exposure. Methods: A total of 112 infants with non‐haemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia, but otherwise healthy, and a gestational age ≥33 weeks were randomized to one of the treatment groups. All infants received phototherapy for 24 h. TSB was measured at start of phototherapy and after 12 and 24 h of treatment. Questionnaires about routines for position changes in infants during phototherapy were sent to all 41 neonatal departments in Denmark and Norway. Results: No statistically significant differences in the decrease in TSB were observed between the two treatment groups: at 12 h of therapy, TSB decreased 32% in both groups and at 24 h 49% and 50%, respectively. In two‐thirds of Danish and Norwegian departments, the infants were routinely turned during phototherapy, most often every third hours. Conclusion: The decrease in TSB was not significantly associated with positioning of the infant during conventional phototherapy. Alternating exposure is widely practiced in Scandinavia but is unnecessary.     

Arteriovenous fistula of the vertebral artery in a female infant with hypotonia and cephalocorporal disproportion

Background: Congenital arteriovenous fistulas are exceptional in childhood and imply a therapeutic challenge. Case report: A 9‐month‐old female infant was studied for cephalocorporal disproportion, hypotonia, progressive muscular atrophy and hyperreflexia. Computed tomography of the brain and electroencephalography were normal. Electromyographic patterns suggested proximal myopathic involvement. A continuous murmur with systolic reinforcement was audible in the neck. Angioresonance detected intracranial aneurysmal dilatations behind the bulbo‐medullary junction and cerebral panangiography evidenced a direct vertebrovertebral fistula with extra‐ and intra‐cranial varices and extreme medullary compression. Occlusion of the afferent vessel to the aneurismal sack was successfully achieved with a mixture of Histoacryl and 75% lipiodol via a microcatheter. Conclusion: Clinical signs of an arteriovenous fistula may be atypical. Considerable cephalocorporal disproportion and a bruit in the cervical or retromastoidal regions must suggest its existence. Complete obliteration with endovascular embolization permits somatic and neurological recovery.     

Efficacy and safety of naltrexone for amfetamine and methamfetamine use disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Introduction: Amfetamine and methamfetamine abuse remains a prevalent health problem, increasing the burden on healthcare. Naltrexone, a µ-opioid receptor antagonist, has been suggested as a promising treatment for amfetamine and methamfetamine use disorder.

Objective: To review the current evidence for the efficacy and safety of naltrexone as a pharmacological treatment for amfetamine and methamfetamine use disorder. The primary outcome was defined as abstinence or reduction of use. Secondary outcomes were, attenuated “positive” subjective effects (e.g., “feel good,” “craving,” etc.) of amfetamine or methamfetamine after naltrexone treatment, adverse events and physiological changes (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate).

Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A systematic literature search was conducted on 2 April 2017, and updated on 31 March 2018. Records were retrieved from databases including PubMed, EMBASE Classic plus EMBASE 1980 via Ovid, and the databases were searched using keywords and/or headings: (naltrexone AND amfetamine AND dependence) OR (naltrexone AND amfetamine AND craving) OR (vivitrol AND amfetamine) OR (revia AND amfetamine) OR (naltrexone AND amfetamine) OR (naltrexone AND methamfetamine dependence) OR (naltrexone AND methamfetamine AND craving) OR (vivitrol AND methamfetamine) OR (revia AND methamfetamine) OR (naltrexone AND ice) OR (naltrexone AND crystal meth) OR (naltrexone AND methamfetamine). Studies investigating the effects of naltrexone on amfetamine or methamfetamine use were eligible for inclusion. All studies were rated as low risk of bias using the Cochrane tool for risk of bias.

Results: Among 591 identified studies, there were four randomized controlled trials. Two studies investigated the effects of naltrexone on amfetamine use disorder and two on methamfetamine use. Compared to placebo, the abstinence rate was increased significantly (p?p?p?Conclusions: There is presently insufficient evidence to support the use of naltrexone in amfetamine and metamfetamine use disorders. There is a compelling need for high-quality studies to further evaluate the potential use of naltrexone.     

胆碱酯酶和抗胆碱能药物在儿科术后谵妄中的应用

目的:阐述抗胆碱能药物暴露、胆碱酯酶活性、炎症与儿童术后谵妄(pediatric delirium,PD)发生的关系。设计:单中心前瞻性队列研究。场所:德国一家三级医疗学术中心设有22张床位的PICU。对象:连续入组大型择期手术后转入PICU的患儿。干预措施:连续5 d对患儿进行谵妄检查。术后5 d内,每天两次筛查患儿...     

Acute allograft rejection in liver transplant recipients: lack of correlation with loss of hepatic artery diastolic flow

Eighty hepatic artery Doppler ultrasound (US) examinations performed in 49 patients after liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed to determine if loss of diastolic flow correlated with pathologic evidence of acute allograft rejection. All 80 Doppler examinations were performed within 7 days of hepatic needle biopsy. Forty-three Doppler waveforms from 27 patients showed normal diastolic flow. Seventeen Doppler studies in 17 patients showed complete absence of diastolic flow. Review of biopsy results for each group showed no significant difference in the proportion of acute allograft rejection present (42% for the normal group and 46% for the group lacking diastolic flow). The data from 53 US and biopsy examinations performed 2 days apart in 37 patients confirmed the lack of correlation between absent hepatic artery diastolic blood flow and rejection. The authors conclude that the loss of hepatic artery diastolic flow has no apparent clinical application for the diagnosis of acute hepatic allograft rejection.     

Plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase and plasma lipolytic activity in preterm infants given total parenteral nutrition with 10% or 20% Intralipid

The effect of 10% or 20% Intralipid on lipid clearing enzymes, plasma lipids and apoproteins was investigated during the first 5 days after birth in 37 premature infants maintained on total parenteral nutrition; 21 infants received 20% and 16 received 10% Intralipid, respectively. Lipid was infused over a 20-h period at rates of 1, 2 and 3 g/kg/day on consecutive days. Plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was low and increased significantly (p < 0.05) only during infusion of 3 g/kg/day in both groups of infants. Plasma lipolytic activity was generally not affected by the regimen orpreparation(10% or 20%) of Intralipid infused, except for higher (p < 0.05) levels at 3 g/kg/ day of 20% compared with prelipid infusion. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were similar after 10% or 20% Intralipid, whereas plasma total cholesterol was significantly higher during infusion of 2 and 3 g/ kg/day of 10% compared with 20% Intralipid. The efficient clearing of 20% Intralipid might be related to the lower lecithin: triglyceride ratio which is compatible with the low LCAT activity of premature infants. Apoprotein A-J, apoprotein B, cholesterol, LCAT, plasma lipolytic activity, triglycerides     

Severe hemolytic anemia due to multiple red cell alloantibodies after an ABO-incompatible allogeneic bone marrow transplant

BACKGROUND: A patient who received an ABO-incompatible allogeneic bone marrow transplant experienced three episodes of immune hemolytic anemia due to multiple red cell (RBC) alloantibodies. CASE REPORT: A 41-year- old man with chronic myeloid leukemia received an ABO-incompatible bone marrow graft from his HLA-identical brother. Selective removal of RBCs from donor marrow before transfusion was performed by centrifugation using a continuous-flow blood cell separator. The patient was given group O Rh-positive RBCs and group A Rh-positive platelets. Prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease consisted of cyclosporine and methotrexate. The patient experienced three hemolytic episodes, on Days 21, 35, and 160 which were due to different RBC alloantibodies (anti-K, anti-Jk(b), anti-M, IgG anti-A) produced by host lymphocytes surviving the conditioning regimen. RESULTS: The patient was group O, Jk(b-), and the marrow donor was group A, Jk(b+). After the first hemolytic episode (Day 21), immunohematologic studies showed group O RBCs and a positive direct antiglobulin test (IgG+, C3d+). Antibody screening test and eluate studies detected anti-M, anti-Jk(b), and anti-K. During the second hemolytic episode (Day 35), the patient's blood group showed a mixed population of group A and group O RBCs. The direct antiglobulin test was positive (IgG+, C3d+). Anti-M, anti-Jk(b), and IgG anti-A were detected in the serum. Eluates made from the recipient's RBCs showed the same specificity as serum antibodies. During the third hemolytic episode (Day 160), a mixture of group O and group A RBCs was still present, the direct antiglobulin test was positive (IgG+, C3d-), and anti-Jk(b) and IgG anti-A were observed in the serum and in an eluate made from the patient's RBCs. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of severe immune hemolytic anemia due to multiple RBC alloantibodies after an allogeneic bone marrow transplant. The time of appearance and the specificity of the antibodies strongly suggest that they were produced by residual recipient lymphoid cells.     

骨髓基质干细胞移植治疗帕金森病的研究与进展

目的:探讨骨髓基质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞的潜能和在治疗帕金森病方面的应用及其作用机制。资料来源:应用计算机检索PUBMED 1997-01/2006-03期间与骨髓基质干细胞和帕金森病有关的文章,检索词为“bone marrow stromal cells”,以及“neuron,Parkinson’s disease,transplantation,in brain”组合检索,并限定文章语言种类为“English”。同时计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库2003-01/2006-03相关的文章,检索词为“骨髓基质干细胞,神经元,帕金森病,移植,脑内”,并限定文章语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,并查看每篇文献后的引文。纳入标准:文章所述内容应与骨髓基质干细胞分化为神经元样细胞及其应用于治疗帕金森病等中枢神经系统疾病的研究相关;以近5年且发表在较权威杂志者优先。排除标准:重复研究或Meta分析类文章。资料提炼:共收集到330篇相关文献,排除277篇内容陈旧或重复的文献,53篇符合纳入标准,有33篇检索到全文,选用其中的30篇作为本文参考文献:16篇涉及骨髓基质干细胞多向分化潜能;8篇涉及骨髓基质干细胞移植治疗中枢神经系统疾病;6篇涉及骨髓基质干细胞应用于治疗帕金森病的基础研究。资料综合:骨髓基质干细胞具有多向分化潜能,在特定条件下可分化为具有神经元形态并表达神经元标记物的细胞,在脑内可与损伤的细胞融合,能分泌营养因子或者刺激损伤部位产生内源性因子,促进损伤组织的修复并减少细胞凋亡,已成为细胞移植治疗各种疾病的理想种子细胞。结论:在适宜的条件下,骨髓基质干细胞经过诱导在体内、外均可分化为神经元样细胞,将其注入帕金森病模型大鼠纹状体内能形成表达神经标志性蛋白的神经元样细胞或星形胶质细胞,产生的细胞可在受损部位周围存活甚至移行至全脑,并明显恢复运动功能。