Comparison of two fetal growth curves in screening for high-risk neonates

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) defines the 10th percentiles on the fetal growth curve as the cutoff point for light- and small-for-gestational-age infants, instead of the mean body weight ?1.5 standard deviation (SD) on the fetal growth curve, which has been used in Japan since 1983. Data on a 5260 sample of term neonates who were born during the 30-month period between January 1993 and June 1995 were obtained. The clinical usefulness of the 10th percentiles and mean bodyweight ?1.5 SD cutoff on the fetal growth curve as screening criteria for high-risk neonates of light- and small-for-gestational-age infants was evaluated. There was a statistically significant higher morbidity rate among the neonates whose birthweight was below mean bodyweight ?1.5 SD than for those whose birthweight was below the 10th percentile cut off. But there was no significant difference between the morbidity rate of neonates whose birthweight was between mean bodyweight ?1.5 SD and the 10th percentile cutoff and the morbidity rate of neonates whose birthweight was above the 10th percentile cutoff. Therefore, mean bodyweight ?1.5 SD on the fetal growth curve is a more effective means of screening for high-risk light- and small-for-gestational-age infants than the 10th percentile cutoff on the fetal growth curve.     

Child abuse viewed through the hot-line in Osaka,Japan

Cases of child abuse identified by a hot-line telephone service and by a survey of health and welfare agencies are reported. Many consultations to the telephone hot-line were from mothers concerned about maltreating their own children. In such cases, the extent of abuse was often mild to moderate, and many of those mothers were troubled about child care in the relatively segregated context of the nuclear family. In only a few cases did the callers indicate that the children's life was in danger. In the administrative survey, however, deaths occurred in 5% of the cases, and the abused children frequently had physical and psychological symptoms. There were also more frequent and more serious family problems in the administrative survey compared to the telephone consultation cases. The findings of these surveys suggest that many children and parents are suffering from child abuse in Japan, that many cases are currently not being identified by health and welfare agencies, and that a wide range of measures, from protection of severely abused children to prevention of abuse, are necessary.     

人类疱疹病毒6型引起的细胞融合机制

目的：观察人类疱疹病毒6型（HHV-6A）引起的细胞融合不依赖于病毒的复制（FFWO）。 方法：细胞用10^3-4TCID₅₀ HHV-6感染1 h,在感染后2~3 d用HE染色,观察细胞融合现象。Vero细胞用10^3-4TCID₅₀ HHV-6感染1 h后培养液中加入磷甲酸（PFA）（终浓度300 mg•L^-1）和环已酰亚胺（CHX）（终浓度100 mg•L^-1）,分别在感染后2 h和24 h经HE染色鉴定以确定是否产生FFWO。 结果：HHV-6A感染细胞2 h后可观察到细胞融合现象,加入CHX时这种现象亦可观察到,提示HHV-6A感染可引起FFWO;这种细胞融合现象的出现依赖于HHV-6的受体CD46表达于靶细胞表面。结论：HHV-6A通过其受体CD46在多种人类细胞引起FFWO。     

Human parvovirus B19-induced aplastic crisis in iron deficiency anemia

Human parvovirus B19 (HPVB19) infects and replicates in erythroid progenitor cells. Its specific cytotoxic effect on these cells results in aplastic crises in patients with congenital hemolytic anemias. Aplastic crisis due to HPVB19 infection in a healthy girl revealed occult iron deficiency anemia. The condition is characterized by a high serum iron level in the aplastic phase and rapid recovery after administration of iron. Temporary HPVB19-induced red blood cell aplasia could occur in patients with other anemias, particularly those with non-inherited form of hemolysis.