Extensive surgical excision of large hemispheric “malignant” astrocytoma in a 6-week-old infant

A massive hemispheric high-grade astrocytoma, diagnosed in a 6-week-old infant, was totally excised by means of two craniotomies. The child is still alive and well with minimal neurological dysfunction 1.5 years after operation. This case report illustrates the benefit of aggressive surgical excision (without radiation or chemotherapy) of massive malignant neonatal astrocytomas. While surgical deficits may be minimized by the plasticity of the developing nervous system, extensive excision may yield occasional long-term palliation.     

围产期缺氧对新生儿脐血氧自由基的影响及意义

目的:探讨围产期缺氧而Apgar评分≥8分的新生儿脐血中氧自由基的变化情况。方法:以同期正常新生儿作对照,搜集围产期缺氧而生后Apgar评分≥8分的新生儿脐血,测定脐血中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(GPX)及丙二醛(MDA)的含量。结果:围产期缺氧能引起新生儿脐血中SOD及MDA显著意义的改变;GPX有一定程度的降低,与对照组比较无差异。结论:围产期缺氧能够造成氧自由基的生成增多和抗氧化酶的消耗,即使生后Apgar评分≥8分的新生儿,亦应加强监护,及时补充外源性抗氧化剂以预防缺氧后的多器官系统损伤。     

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病血清心肌酶活性的变化

目的：探讨新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病（ＨＩＥ）患儿血清心肌酶活性的变化及其临床意义。方法：对４２例ＨＩＥ患儿分设轻度组、中度组、重度组、分别于入院２４ｈ内及ｄ７检测其血清ＧＯＴ、ＣＫ、ＬＤＨ、α－ＨＢＤＨ的活性,并作对比分析。结果：ＨＩＥ患者血清ＧＯＴ、ＣＫ、ＬＤＨ、α－ＨＢＤＨ浓度均升高,且重度组高于中度组,中度组高于轻度组（Ｐ〈０．０５,Ｐ〈０．０１）,治疗后７ｄ且的心肌酶浓度均下降,轻至中度组已基     

母婴同室新生儿感染因素分析

目的：把母婴同室的新生儿感染率控制到最低限度。方法：采用回顾性分析方法,对近两年我院母婴同室新生儿感染情况与过去母婴分室新生儿感染的情况进行对比,分析新生儿感染因素。结果：母婴同室新生儿感染发生率４．４％,比母婴分室新生感染率１０．２８％明显降低。晶龄大于３ｄ的新生儿母婴同室的感染率明显低于母婴分室的感染率,晶龄３ｄ内的新生儿母婴同室与母婴分室无明显差异。结论：母婴同室实行的各项措施比较有效地控制     

Ischemic "cross" tolerance in hypoxic ischemia of immature rat brain

The phenomenon of ischemic tolerance has been closely associated with the expression of heat shock proteins but recently, stress tolerance not related to hsp72 has been reported. In the present study, we focused on ischemic tolerance induced by hypoxia and hyperthermia in neonatal rat brain and analyzed the expression of hsp72. In a neonatal rat model of hypoxic ischemia (H-I), preconditioning by whole-body hyperthermia or hypoxia was induced 24 h prior to the ischemia. Brain damage was histologically evaluated and the expressions of hsp72 were analyzed. Hyperthermic preconditioning at 41 degrees C for 15 min, as well as hypoxic preconditioning with 8% hypoxia for 3 h, had almost complete neuroprotective effects. However, we failed to detect the expression of hsp72 in any of preconditioning. Only the H-I insult itself induced hsp72 in the dorsal striatum and slightly in the thalamus and the hippocampus. Hyperthermic preconditioning has neuroprotective effects which are comparable to hypoxic preconditioning in immature brain. The expression of hsp72 is not likely necessary for the ischemic tolerance in immature brain.     

新生儿心律失常43例临床分析

目的：探讨新生儿心律失常的病因、治疗及预后。方法：回顾分析43例经心电图确诊的新生儿心律失常的临床特点、病因、治疗及疗效。结果：本组发病率0．191％。窒息缺氧及感染为主要病因占69.8％。治疗总有效率86％。结论：对本病应加强围生期保健;重症者要强调心电监护;治疗应视具体情况采取对因、对症或进一步观察等综合措施;预后大多良好。     

Pentoxifylline reduces plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha concentration in premature infants with sepsis

Increased plasma tumour necrosis factor (TNF) concentration correlates with mortality in sepsis. We suggested that pentoxifylline (PTXF), which is known to inhibit TNF production, may improve survival and attenuate clinical symptoms of sepsis in neonates. Plasma TNF levels were evaluated in 29 newborn infants with sepsis. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups, receiving PTXF in a dose of 5 mg/kg per hour for 6 h or placebo (saline), on 3 successive days. Both groups were subjected to the same conventional therapy. TNF was evaluated before and after PTXF or placebo administration on the 1 st and 3rd days of therapy. There was a statistically significant decrease in plasma TNF level in the PTXF group when the values before the first and after the last PTXF infusion were compared [mean: 671.5 pg/ml; SD: 438; med: 729.6 vs mean: 41.0 pg/ml; SD: 64.1; med: 11.5;P<0.000004]. In the placebo group, decrease was not significant [mean: 633.0 pg/ml SD: 488.6; med: 618.9 vs 246.9 pg/ml; SD: 243.9; med: 191.0]. A significantly higher plasma TNF level, evaluated after the last PTXF infusion, was found in the placebo group [246,9 pg/ml vs 41.0 pg/ml;P<0.001]. Only one of four infants with signs of shock in the placebo group survived, whereas all of five newborns with symptoms of shock in the PTXF group survived [P<0.04]. An increased incidence of metabolic acidosis [P<0.05], necrotizing enterocolitis [P<0.04] and renal insufficiency [P<0.05] was observed in infants in the placebo group.Conclusion PTXF inhibits production of TNF and may have therapeutic value in the treatment of premature infants with sepsis complicatea by shock.     

Further studies on the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine on lumbar motoneurones in the rat isolated spinal cord

Summary Using the hemisected spinal cord of the neonate rat, the effects of altered external Ca, thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) and a number of antagonists were tested on depolarizations evoked by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Responses of populations of motoneurones were recorded via a ventral root. 5-Hydroxytryptamine depolarizations were not Ca-dependent but were enhanced in amplitude in Ca-free solutions. Raised Mg reversed this enhancement. 5-Hydroxytryptamine depolarizations persisted in the presence of Mn (1.53 mmol/l). TRH depolarized motoneurones; there was no evidence of modulation of 5-HT responses on concurrent application of TRH. Ritanserin (0.1 mol/l) had a modest blocking action on 5-hydroxytryptamine depolarizations reducing the maximum; 1mol/l ritanserin caused a greater antagonism which was unsurmountable (pIC₅₀ 5.2). Ritanserin (0.1 or 1 mol/l) did not depress responses to noradrenaline (NA). Ketanserin (0.1 mol/l) caused a blockade of slow onset, equilibrium with the receptors requiring 1 h. Blockade by 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mol/l ketanserin was concentration-dependent (pIC₅₀ 6.2). Ketanserin 1 mol/l, but not at lower concentrations, depressed noradrenaline responses. Mianserin (0.1 mol/l) also caused a blockade of slow onset; 0.1 or 1 mol/l produced a flattening of the 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration-response curve but did not depress noradrenaline responses (pIC₅₀ 4.7). The pIC₅₀ for spiperone was 8.0. DOI (10–100 mol/l) had no detectable agonist action but at concentrations of 0.01 and 0.1 mol/l it acted as an antagonist. Equilibration with the receptors occurred over 2 h. DOI (0.01 mol/l) depressed 5-hydroxytryptamine but not noradrenaline responses; higher concentrations of DOI also depressed noradrenaline responses. The pharmacological profile of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor mediating depolarization of spinal and facial motoneurones suggests that it belongs to the 5-HT_1C-5-HT₂, group of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors but is not identical to 5-HT_1C or the 5-HT₂ CNS binding sites. Alternatively, the response might arise from a mixed population of 5-HT₁-like and 5-HT₂ receptors. Send offprint requests to D. I. Wallis at the above address     

Serum α1-microglobulin and β2-microglobulin for the estimation of fetal glomerular renal function

As proteins cannot cross the placenta levels of the microproteins ₁-microglobulin (₁MG) and ₂-microglobulin (₂MG) can be used to assess fetal glomerular renal function. ₁MG, ₂MG and creatinine were routinely determined in cord and maternal blood of 133 newborns [gestational age (GA) 25–42 weeks]. Twenty-nine patients with suspected impaired maternal or fetal renal function were studied separately and two fetuses were studied in utero. The mean fetal ₂MG concentration fell from 3.87±0.56 mg/l in the 25–31 weeks GA group to 2.60±0.50 mg/l in the mature newborn group. ₁MG concentration fell from 3.10±0.51 to 2.25±0.49 mg/dl. In contrast, the mean maternal ₁MG concentration rose from 1.73±0.69 mg/l in the 25–31 weeks GA group to a mean of 1.83±0.48 mg/l in the mature newborn group; ₁MG rose from 3.96±0.58 to 4.33±1.6 mg/dl. Maternal and fetal creatinine levels were identical. Fetal microprotein levels fall during intra-uterine development as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) rises. There is no correlation between cord blood and maternal ₁MG or ₂MG concentrations. In 13 children with urological anomalies only 1 had elevated microprotein levels and he later developed renal insufficiency. Determination of microprotein levels in fetal serum can be used to detect severe renal function disturbances and to estimate GFR independently of maternal renal function.