Utilization of supplemental iron by premature infants fed fortified human milk

We measured red blood cell iron incorporation (RBC-inc) in 13 human milk-fed premature infants (birthweight 1037 +/- 289 g, gestational age 27 +/- 2 wk, weight at start of study 1571 +/- 426 g) who were receiving full tube-feedings of human milk fortified with a commercial human milk fortifier (FortHM). The relative RBC-inc of supplemental iron (2 mg/kg/d of ferrous sulfate) was assessed using 57Fe sulfate mixed directly into a 24-h volume of FortHM, and 54Fe sulfate given as a bolus between two FortHM feedings the next day. RBC-inc was similar between the two methods of supplemental iron administration (4.7 +/- 2.5% vs 4.6 +/- 1.5%, respectively). Although these values are lower than RBC-inc expected from iron native to human milk, the relatively large amount of iron in the supplements contributed most of the iron incorporated into RBC by the infants. There was a significant positive correlation between the reticulocyte count and RBC-inc. As the high nutrient (especially calcium) content of the FortHM did not interfere with iron utilization, adding iron directly to FortHM, or incorporating it into commercial fortifiers, may be a practical method to provide iron to premature infants.     

Basic isoferritin and hypercalcaemia in renal cell carcinoma

A 63-year-old man with iron loss anaemia and hypercalcaemia was found to have a renal cell carcinoma. Despite the iron-deficient blood and bone marrow picture, the serum ferritin concentration was markedly raised. This was mainly due to a “basic isoferritin”. The serum parathormone concentration was normal. The serum ferritin and calcium concentrations returned to normal after the tumour was removed. We propose that the renal cell carcinoma cells in this patient secreted the basic isoferritin as well as humoral factor(s) responsible for hypercalcaemia.     

Mortality and failure among tuberculosis patients who did not complete treatment in Vietnam: a cohort study

Background  

Tuberculosis treatment failure and death rates are low in the Western Pacific Region, including Vietnam. However, failure or death may also occur among patients who did not complete treatment, i.e. reported as default or transfer-out. We aimed to assess the proportion failures and deaths among new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients with reported default or transfer-out.     

鼓槌石斛中一新的联苄类化合物——鼓槌石斛素

从兰科鼓槌石斛(Dendrobium chrysotoxum)中分得一新的联苄类化合物,经光谱分析(UV,IR,MS,¹HNMR,¹³CNMR和DIFNOE),其结构确定为4-羟基-3,5,3',4'-四甲氧基联苄,命名为鼓槌石斛素。关键词鼓槌石斛;鼓槌石斛素;联苄类化合物。     

Menadione inhibits the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration in hepatocytes by inhibiting inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent release of calcium from intracellular stores.

In order to establish the mechanism of perturbation of hormonally regulated calcium homeostasis in hepatocytes caused by menadione, the effects of menadione on hepatic alpha 1-adrenergic receptors and on alpha 1-adrenergic receptor-mediated increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration were determined. Menadione had no detectable effect on the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor but significantly inhibited (-)-epinephrine-dependent increases in intracellular free calcium concentration in Quin2 acetoxymethyl ester-loaded hepatocytes. The hormonally induced increase in intracellular free calcium concentration is caused by formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) which binds to a specific receptor and causes a release of intracellular ATP-dependently sequestrated calcium. The IP3-stimulated release of calcium from intracellular pools in hepatocytes was inhibited to a great extent after treatment with menadione. This inhibition could also be observed after treatment of hepatocytes with p-benzoquinone and N-ethylmaleimide and could not be reversed by the thiol-reducing reagent dithiothreitol which indicated covalent binding to an essential free sulfhydryl group. The inhibition of IP3-dependent release of intracellular calcium was accompanied by a large increase in the number of detectable IP3 receptors without any change in the dissociation constant as determined in permeabilized hepatocytes. The increase in IP3 receptors caused by menadione could be reversed by dithiothreitol which suggests the involvement of free sulfhydryl groups. It is concluded that the IP3 receptor plays an important role in the mechanism of menadione-induced perturbation of hormonally regulated calcium homeostasis in rat hepatocytes.     

苄基四氢巴马汀对表达于非洲爪蟾卵母细胞及中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞的延迟整流钾电流的抑制作用

苄基四氢巴马汀对表达于非洲爪蟾卵母细胞及中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞的延迟整流钾电流的抑制作用童秋生，夏国瑾，姚伟星，江明性，白小川，包永德（同济医科大学基础医学院药理学教研室，武汉４３００３０；中国科学院上海生理学研究所，上海２０００３１）苄基四氢巴马汀（ｂ...     

Clinical outcomes and maternal perceptions of an updated model of perinatal care

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hospital stays seem likely to remain limited even under new laws which mandate that insurers cover 48-hour hospitalization after uncomplicated delivery. Clinicians, who are increasingly practicing in capitated arrangements, need better information to maximize clinical benefit to mothers and newborns using finite resources. OBJECTIVE AND INTERVENTIONS: This study's aim was to evaluate the clinical outcomes, patient perceptions, and costs of a revised model of perinatal care services. In this model, a new postpartum care center was established for routine follow-up of newborns within 48 hours after hospital discharge, educational efforts were shifted from the postpartum hospitalization to the prenatal period, and lactation consultant hours were increased. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Controlled, nonrandomized (double cohort) study that compared mothers and newborns with hospital stays of 48 hours or less during the Baseline Care (preintervention) study period (N = 344) with those under the Revised Care (postintervention) study period (N = 456). SETTING: The Hayward, California, medical center of Kaiser Permanente, a nonprofit health maintenance organization. DATA COLLECTION: Telephone interviews were attempted with all mothers 3 weeks after delivery. Data on rehospitalizations, emergency department (ED) and clinic visits, and costs during the first 14 postpartum days were collected from computerized databases and chart review. OUTCOME MEASURES: The combined clinical outcome was defined as any undesirable health event, including rehospitalization, an ED visit, or an urgent clinic visit by either the mother or newborn within the first 14 days postpartum, or breastfeeding discontinuation within the first 21 days postpartum. Maternal satisfaction and costs were also studied. RESULTS: Of 876 attempted interviews, 800 were completed (91%). Analyses were adjusted for age, race, education, parity, breastfeeding experience, and other relevant variables. Among the interviewed mother-newborn pairs, 45% in the Revised Care group experienced the combined clinical outcome, compared with 52% in the Baseline Care group. Newborns in the Revised Care group (29%) were significantly less likely to make urgent clinic visits during the first 14 days of life than those in the Baseline Care group (36%). There were no differences between groups in newborn ED visits or rehospitalizations, maternal clinical outcomes, or breastfeeding continuation. Mothers in the Revised Care group expressed higher satisfaction with the newborn's care, the amount of information they received about newborn care and breastfeeding, and the amount of help they received with breastfeeding. Planned hospital care, planned follow-up visits, and unplanned care costs decreased by $149 per delivery, while the new prenatal class and increased lactation consultant services cost $58 per delivery, for an estimated overall reduction in cost. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the revised model of perinatal care in this health maintenance organization medical center improved clinical outcomes and maternal satisfaction for low-risk mothers and newborns without increasing costs.