Mechanical model testing of rebreathing potential in infant bedding materials

Rebreathing of expired air may be a lethal hazard for prone sleeping infants. This paper describes a mechanical model to simulate infant breathing, and examines the effects of bedding on exhaled air retention. Under simulated rebreathing conditions, the model allows the monitoring of raised carbon dioxide (CO2) inside an artificial lung-trachea system. Resulting levels of CO2 (although probably exaggerated in the mechanical model compared with an infant, due to the model's fixed breathing rate and volume) suggest that common bedding materials vary widely in inherent rebreathing potential. In face down tests, maximum airway CO2 ranged from less than 5% on sheets and waterproof mattresses to over 25% on sheepskins, bean bag cushions, and some pillows and comforters. Concentrations of CO2 decreased with increasing head angle of the doll, away from the face down position. Recreations of 29 infant death scenes also showed large CO2 increases on some bedding materials, suggesting these infants could have died while rebreathing.     

Treatment of respiratory failure in an infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia infected with respiratory syncytial virus using inhaled nitric oxide and high frequency ventilation

A 2-month-old, former 28-week premature infant with brochopulmonary dysplasia infected with respiratory syncytial virus was treated with nitric oxide and high frequency oscillatory ventilation after conventional therapy failed. Nitric oxide and high frequency oscillatory ventilation rapidly improved oxygenation allowing recovery without the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This treatment regimen should be considered as an option in high-risk infants with respiratory syncytial virus infection who meet extracorporeal membrane oxygenation criteria.     

The effect of interleukin 3 and GM-CSA-2 on megakaryocyte and myeloid clonal colony formation

Two separate helper T cell-derived lymphokines, interleukin 3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity-2, were found to stimulate a broad and similar range of hemopoietic colonies in in vitro soft agar cultures including granulocyte, macrophage, granulocyte- macrophage, megakaryocyte, and mixed megakaryocyte colonies. Both lymphokines were potent stimulators of in vitro megakaryocyte colony formation. At plateau levels of IL-3, megakaryocyte colony formation was increased by biologic activity in pokeweed mitogen spleen- conditioned media.     

Hysteroscopic resection of vaginal septum in an adolescent virgin with obstructed hemivagina

This article reports on one patient with a double uterus, unilateral vaginal obstruction, with hemi-haematocolpos and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Early accurate diagnosis followed by the excision of the obstructing vaginal septum offers complete relief of symptoms, while preserving reproductive capacity. Unlike conventional excision of vaginal septum, we used resectoscope excision with cutting electrode under continuous pure distilled water irrigation. The postoperative course was uneventful, and haematocolpos and severe dysmenorrhoea disappeared. The resected vaginal area revealed re-epithelialization by hysteroscope follow-up one year after resection. With advancements in resectoscopic operation, evaluation and treatment of vaginal disorders in babies and virgins is very feasible.      

Cystic teratoma of the ovary: CT detection

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 38 patients with 41 benign cystic teratomas of the ovary and two patients with malignant transformation. CT depicted all tumors. The presence of fat in 40 of 43 cases (93%), tooth or calcification in 24 of 43 (56%), Rokitansky protuberance in 35 of 43 (81%), tufts of hair in 28 of 43 (65%), and a fat-fluid level in five of 43 (12%) allowed a definite diagnosis of ovarian cystic teratoma in 42 of 43 cases (98%). In the two cases of malignancy, single large (greater than 10 cm) plugs (with uptake of contrast medium in one) with a cauliflower appearance and an irregular border forming an obtuse angle with the inner wall of the cyst suggested malignant transformation. In three cases of benign cystic teratoma, a mucinous tumor (one benign, one borderline, one malignant) arising in the same ovary was seen at pathologic examination but was only diagnosed with the help of CT in two of three cases. Thickening of the tube was noted in two cases of torsion of the adnexa. CT findings were compared with findings at radiography of the abdomen and hysterosalpingography in 30 cases, ultrasound in 31, and magnetic resonance imaging in three. This study demonstrated that CT was the best procedure for imaging cystic teratomas of the ovary.     

Epidural steroid injection: a procedure ideally performed with fluoroscopic control

Epidural injection of steroid and local anesthesia can be used to treat low back pain. The injection is best performed with fluoroscopic control, with needle placement documented by means of a limited epidurogram. The technique was used in 116 patients; there were only three failures (2.5%) and one complication.     

Salmonella meningitis in children in Far North Queensland

Abstract: Seven cases of Salmonella meningitis have occurred in infants in Far North Queensland since 1982. The mean age of onset was 2.8 months, and at least five of the cases were caused by Salmonella virchow. Five of the cases had significant complications during the acute illness: all required prolonged (median 34 days) inpatient management, and four developed permanent neurological sequelae. S. virchow is the serovar most frequently isolated from infants in Far North Queensland. The source of S. virchow infections in these infants remains uncertain, but transmission may occur through cross-infection and person-to-person transmission in the home.     

15-羟基二十碳四烯酸收缩慢性缺氧动脉环信号转导通路的部位：内皮细胞还是平滑肌

目的:观察15-羟基二十碳四烯酸(15-HETE)致慢性缺氧性大鼠肺动脉收缩的信号转导途径,阐明15-羟基二十碳四烯酸引起慢性缺氧性肺动脉收缩作用的可能机制。方法:实验于2006-03/2006-09在哈尔滨医科大学药学院进行。①实验材料:健康成年雄性Wistar大鼠,体质量220～240g,清洁级,由哈尔滨医科大学附属第二医院实验动物中心提供。②实验方法:取18只成年雄性Wistar大鼠连续缺氧9d(O2体积分数为0.12)制作大鼠缺氧模型,通过氧气监测控制器控制箱内氧气体积分数为0.12,9d后即成为缺氧大鼠模型。16只正常大鼠吸入正常空气(O2体积分数为0.21)作为对照。将大鼠麻醉后分离直径1.5mm肺内动脉,剪成2mm长动脉环置于组织浴槽中,记录血管张力变化。③实验评估:观察15-羟基二十碳四烯酸对缺氧模型组、正常组大鼠血管收缩作用,在此基础上,除去血管内皮细胞和使用丝裂素活化蛋白激酶的激酶抑制剂PD98059,明确血管内皮细胞和丝裂素活化蛋白激酶的激酶系统在15-羟基二十碳四烯酸收缩肺动脉中的作用。结果:34只大鼠均进入结果分析。①15-羟基二十碳四烯酸对正常组、缺氧模型组大鼠血管环均有收缩作用,呈浓度-效应正相关,但缺氧组收缩明显,与正常组比较,差异显著(P<0.01)。②丝裂素活化蛋白激酶的激酶抑制剂PD98059可明显阻断15-羟基二十碳四烯酸对缺氧大鼠肺动脉的收缩作用(P<0.05)。③去掉内皮的缺氧大鼠肺动脉,PD98059仍明显阻断15-羟基二十碳四烯酸的收缩作用(P<0.05)。结论:15-羟基二十碳四烯酸通过激活肺动脉平滑肌丝裂素活化蛋白激酶的激酶信号转导途径收缩慢性缺氧性大鼠肺动脉,作用部位主要位于血管平滑肌。