The relationship between maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal intensive care environment

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the nature and organization of maternal needs and priorities in a neonatal unit. BACKGROUND: The relationship between maternal needs and priorities appears to be an under studied area in neonatal nursing. METHODS: A quantitative survey was carried out based on 209 mothers with premature infants. Two self-assessment schedules were used: critical care maternal needs inventory (J. Leske, Heart and Lung 15, 27-42) and a ranking scale. The data were analysed with multivariate analysis. FINDINGS: Data analysis revealed clear priorities in maternal needs. In particular the need for accurate infant related information was a priority for 93% of the mothers. Good communication practices with professionals were also valued. The mothers displayed altruistic behaviour, and self-related needs took second place. It is proposed that maternal needs demonstrate a hierarchical organization. CONCLUSION: It is important for nurses to consider the individual needs of the mothers, simply because the satisfaction of these needs is essential for maternal well-being.     

乙型肝炎病毒转基因小鼠体内肝靶向反义RNA抗病毒疗效研究

目的：探讨半乳糖修饰的反义RNA真核表达质粒在乙型肝炎病毒转基因小鼠体内的抗病毒作用。方法：以半乳糖多聚赖氨酸（Gal-PLL)作肝靶向载体，将乙型肝炎病毒基因C区的反义RNA真核表达重组质粒（pCEP4-aC）制备为Gal-PLL－pCEP4-aC。将24只血清HBV DNA、HBsAg阳性的小鼠，随机等分为Gal-PLL－pCEP4-aC治疗组、Gal-PLL-pCEP4对照组和生理盐水阴性对照组，于实验第1天尾静脉分别注射Gal-PLL－pCEP4-aC、Gal-PLL－pCEP4（100μg/只）和等体积的生理盐水，观察治疗前后血清HBV DNA以及HBsAg变化。结果：Gal-PLL－pCEP4-aC治疗组21天时血清HBV－DNA转阴率62．5％（5／8），且7，14，21天时血清HBsAg明显降低；而Gal-PLL－pCEP4组血清HBV DNA转阴1只（1／8），生理盐水组8只均未转阴，两组用药后血清中HBsAg与用药前比较差异性均不明显（P＞0．05）。结论：肝靶向反义RNA能在乙肝基因小鼠体内抑制HBV的复制和抗原表达。     

百事特蜂王宝对受抑小鼠免疫功能的影响

为了探讨蜂王宝对免疫功能的影响,用蜂王宝对受抑小鼠进行了淋巴细胞增殖,抗体形成细胞等免疫功能试验。在正常淋巴细胞增殖中,蜂王宝组与正常对照组比较差异非常显著(P<0.01),在PHA诱导的小鼠淋巴细胞增殖中,蜂王宝组与正常对照组比较和蜂王宝+强的松龙组与强的松龙组比较差异也非常显著(P<0.01).蜂王宝+强的松龙组与强的松龙组的脾重比较差异有显著性(P<0.05),结果显示,蜂王宝能显著提高受抑小鼠淋巴细胞增殖能力,而对体液免癌无明显作用。     

Electrochemotherapy significantly inhibits the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice

Electrochemotherapy is a novel antitumor treatment involving the systemic administration of bleomycin followed by the delivery of electrical pulses to the tumor. The present study investigates the effects of electrochemotherapy on the growth of colon 26 cells inoculated subcutaneously into the backs of BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into the following four experimental groups: 20 that received no further treatment after the inoculation of colon 26 cells (control group); 20 that received 500 μg of bleomycin intraperitoneally 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (BLM group); 20 that received electric pulses to the tumor 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (EP group); and 30 that received electrochemotherapy 7 and 9 days after the inoculation (ECT group). During 28 days of observation, no deaths due to tumor progression occurred in the ECT group, but there were 18 in the control group, 11 in the BLM group, and 18 in the EP group. While weight loss was observed in all groups, it was most remarkable in the control group. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the ECT group, compared to the other experimental groups (P<0.01). The results of this study demonstrated that electrochemotherapy significantly inhibited the growth of colon 26 tumors in mice, without causing any remarkable adverse effects.     

Studies on the relationship between transaldolase activity and testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells of pubertalmice

Objective: To study the relationship between transaldolase activity, protein expression and testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells of pubertal mice. Methods: Leydig cells were cultured for 2 hours and 8 hours, to the Stimulation Group, hCG was added and to the Controls, only the vehicle. The testosterone concentration was then determined by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA) and the transaldolase activity and protein expression by Western blot. Results: (1) Both the testosterone concentration and the transaldolase activity in both Stimulation Groups were significantly higher than those in the corresponding Controls (2 h: p<0.05-0.01; 8 h: P<0.001); (2) The ratios of the A isoform, the B isoform and the total transaldolase protein to β-actin between the Stimulation and Control Groups did not differ signifi-cantly. Conclusion: hCG stimulates the transaldolase activity as well as the testosterone synthesis in the Leydig cells of pubertal mice, indicating a positive relationship between them.     

Antibody-dependent neutrophil-mediated parasite killing in non-lethal rodent malaria

The effects of administrating recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) and passively transferring immune serum on infection with an attenuated variant of Plasmodium berghei XAT (Pb XAT), in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice were examined. In immune competent (C.B-17) mice, the attenuated parasite infection was inevitably self-resolving and degenerating forms inside erythrocytes appeared, coinciding with the drop in parasitaemia, whereas SCID mice were unable to control parasite growth and all the mice died. Continuous administration with rhG-CSF caused neutrophilic granulocytosis in both SCID and C.B-17 mice. The effect of rhG-CSF on the infection in C.B-17 mice was to suppress the course of the parasitaemia at an early phase whereas it had no effect in SCID mice. When immune serum was transferred on the day of infection, the prepatent period was prolonged two days in both SCID and C.B-17 mice. When administration with rhG-CSF was combined with transfer of immune serum, SCID mice showed four days delay in patency and degenerating parasites were seen during the course of parasitaemia, although the infection was ultimately fatal. C.B-17 mice similarly treated showed a seven day delay in the onset of the patent parasitaemia which was of a lesser magnitude and shorter in duration compared with control mice. On the other hand, when C.B-17 mice were splenectomized three weeks before infection and then treated with rhG-CSF and immune serum, no degenerating parasites were seen during the infection and all mice died with high parasitaemias. These results show that antibody-dependent neutrophil-mediated parasite killing may occur in the spleen of mice infected with P. berghei XAT.     

神效止痛膏的镇痛作用

用二甲苯所致的急性炎症模型观察了神效止痛膏的抗急性炎症作用．用扭体法、热板法观察了神效止痛膏对小鼠的镇痛作用．结果表明，神效止痛膏有很好的镇痛作用．     

重庆市新生儿高胆红素血症患儿G6PD基因突变类型及临床特点

目的研究重庆市新生儿黄疸儿G6PD三种常见基因突变与其临床表现特点之间的关系。初步估计其基因突变频率并探讨其临床意义和遗传学特征。方法应用突变特异性扩增系统(ARMS)法,检测54例重庆市新生儿黄疸儿的G6PD基因突变类型。结果检出G1388A突变39例(72%),G1376T突变8例(15%),未定型者7例(13%)。未检出G95A。结论本研究首次对重庆市新生儿黄疸儿进行G1388A、G1376T和A95G突变检测。提示G1388A和G1376T为重庆市新生儿黄疸儿G6PD缺乏症基因突变的主要类型。ARMS法是一种简便、快速、经济的检测G6PD已知基因突变的方法。本研究发现这两种突变类型仅见于中国人和华裔人群,具有遗传学及临床意义。     

Modulation of infection-induced inflammation and locomotive deficit and longevity in senescence-accelerated mice-prone (SAMP8) model by the oligomerized polyphenol Oligonol.

Oligonol is produced from the oligomerization of polyphenols (typically proanthocyanidin from a variety of fruits such as lychees, grapes, apples, persimmons, etc.) and contains catechin-type monomers and oligomers of proanthocyanidins. The ability of Oligonol to affect infection-dependent eye inflammation, locomotion and longevity in senescence-accelerated prone mice (SAMP8) (a model of senescence acceleration and geriatric disorders with increased oxidative stress and neuronal deficit) was investigated. Oligonol (60mg/kg) significantly modulated the extent of inflammation scores in the eye of SAMP8 mice. Examination of the mice indicated infection with mouse hepatitis virus and pinworm (Syphacia obvelata) in both males and females and with the intestinal protozoa (trichomonad) in males. A comparison of the two groups (using log-rank test) and the difference in the mean life span between groups (using Student's t-test) indicated significant differences in survival (p=0.043) and the mean life span (p=0.033) in male SAMP8 mice. Oligonol increased the mean life span and this was statistically significant. In the open-field locomotive test, the 7-week-old SAMP8 mice crossed more than 40 partitioned lines in 1min. At 48-week-old control untreated male SAMP8 crossed 2 lines. The Oligonol-treated 48-week-old male SAMP8 mice crossed 17 lines however. The improved locomotive activity was statistically significant even after 36weeks in the Oligonol-treated male SAMP8 but this was not the case throughout the time course of the study in the Oligonol-treated female SAMP8. Thus Oligonol treatment to SAMP8 mice modulated the severity of infection-dependent inflammation, prolonged life-span and significantly improved locomotive activity indicating potential benefit to aging-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases. This presents potential for further research to define infection-dependent inflammation associated with degenerative conditions and the molecular mechanism of dietary antioxidant protection.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Giardia-specific IgA in mouse intestinal secretions

We describe an ELISA for trophozoite-specific IgA in the intestinal secretions of mice infected with Giardia muris. Using this method, trophozoite-specific IgA was demonstrated in intestinal secretions of Giardia-infected immunocompetent BALB/c mice. Such antibody was undetectable in the intestinal secretions of Giardia-infected athymic (nude) mice. Immunocompetent BALB/c mice are able to clear G. muris infection whereas nude mice are not. The study provides evidence that the chronicity of G. muris infection in nude mice results from lack of intestinal trophozoite-specific IgA in these animals. By means of the ELISA, trophozoite-specific IgA was demonstrated in intestinal secretions from immunocompetent mice in the absence of protease inhibitors.