22q11.2 Deletion syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea

Otolaryngologic problems are common in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) population. Structural anomalies and retrognathia may predispose these patients to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The current association of OSA in this population is not defined.     

Microvascular Plug: A New Embolic Material for Hepatic Arterial Skeletonization

Arterial skeletonization before radioembolization or hepatic artery port catheter placement for chemotherapy is a crucial step to prevent side effects. Coils are commonly used as an embolic material for hepatoenteric arterial occlusion. Herein is reported for the first time the clinical use of a new detachable microvascular plug (MVP) suitable for occlusion of 1–3 mm diameter vessels. The MVP allows vessel embolization even in challenging anatomy such as the right gastric artery. Furthermore, immediate and stable vessel occlusion was observed in our pilot study of 16 MVP placements.     

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins in cord blood from neonates with intra-uterine growth restriction

Objective

We verified whether oxidative stress indices (oxidized low-density lipoproteins and malondialdehyde) and inflammatory biomarkers (circulating C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, serum amyloid A and soluble intercellular vascular cell adhesion molecule) are increased in the umbilical vein of placental insufficiency induced intra-uterine growth restricted neonates.

Study design

The prospective cohort study, involving 3 tertiary care centers, consists of 200 consecutively recruited pregnant women carrying twins. We chose the twin pregnancy model because both fetuses share the same maternal environment, thereby avoiding potential confounding factors when comparing oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers. We analysed only twin pairs with one with intra-uterine growth restriction (N = 38) defined as fetal growth < 10th percentile with abnormal Doppler of the umbilical artery. Blood samples were taken at birth from the umbilical vein. Intra-pair comparisons on the biomarkers were performed using the Student paired t-test.

Results

We observed increased cord blood levels of oxidized low-density lipoproteins, (2.394 ± .412 vs 1.296 ± .204, p = .003) but not of malondialdehyde in growth restricted neonates when compared to their normal counterparts. Although indices of inflammation tended to be increased in cord blood from growth restricted newborns, the difference did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

In the twin model, intra-uterine growth restriction is associated with low-density lipoprotein oxidation without apparent dysregulation of inflammation biomarkers.

Condensation

Increased oxidized low-density lipoproteins are observed in growth restricted twins compared to their co-twins with normal growth at birth.     

Malignant glaucoma induced by a phakic posterior chamber intraocular lens for myopia

A 23-year-old woman with -14.00 diopters of myopia requested emmetropia for professional reasons. An ICM 130 V2 myopic phakic intraocular lens (IOL) (Staar Surgical AG) was implanted in the posterior chamber. Three days later, the patient developed malignant glaucoma. Pupillary block glaucoma and choroidal hemorrhage or effusion were ruled out. As maximum medical treatment failed, rapid secondary surgery was performed with sclerotomy, aspiration in the midvitreous cavity, and removal of the IOL. The follow-up was 43 months.     

International Connections: Transition From Hospital to Home: Post–Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge: A Global Perspective

Our world is shrinking due to computerized linkages and the mobility of society. Information is shared rapidly around the world. Issues surrounding newborn and infant nursing are global. In efforts to acknowledge the international community, each Newborn and Infant Nursing Review issue will feature a column that highlights care-related issues from a featured country or region of the world. To review issues occurring in different areas of the world, a different area of the global will be featured that addresses the Newborn and Infant Nursing Review's theme-oriented topic. This month the column presents a global view including the United States on the topic of transition from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home and the postdischarge needs of the infant and family. Our guest author is Ms Marina Boykova, PhD(c), MSc, RN, doctoral student from the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing, Oklahoma City, OK, and a neonatal nurse from Saint Petersburg, Russia.