Use of high‐flow nasal cannula in neonates: Nationwide survey in Japan

High‐flow nasal cannula is a new modality of respiratory support and is increasing in popularity despite the lack of supporting evidence. We investigated the prevalence of its use in tertiary neonatal units in Japan. A paper‐based survey was conducted. The response rate was 83%. High‐flow nasal cannula was used in 46/80 units (58%), of which 96% used the high‐flow nasal cannula without guidelines. It was used for several indications, including weaning off nasal continuous positive airway pressure and post‐extubation respiratory support. The main perceived benefits of the cannula included better access to the neonate and reduced risk of nasal trauma. This survey found that high‐flow nasal cannula is used without clear criteria and that clinical practice varies across neonatal units in Japan. Its use in neonates needs to be urgently evaluated.     

The presumed central nervous system effects of rocuronium in a neonate and its reversal with sugammadex

We describe a 2‐day‐old male infant who received rocuronium as part of general anesthesia for a tracheal esophageal fistula repair. Postoperatively, he had prolonged central and peripheral neuromuscular blockade despite cessation of the rocuronium infusion several hours previously. This case discusses the presumed central nervous system effects of rocuronium in a neonate and its effective reversal with sugammadex.     

The International society for developmental psychobiology 39th annual meeting symposium: Alcohol and development: beyond fetal alcohol syndrome

As has been repeatedly demonstrated, alcohol can exert deleterious morphological and physiological effects during early stages in development. The present review examines nonteratological links existing between alcohol and ontogeny. Human and animal studies are taken into consideration for the analysis of fetal, neonatal, infantile, adolescent, and adult responsiveness to the drug. Sensitivity to alcohol's chemosensory and postabsorptive properties, as well as learning and memory processes mediated by such properties, are examined from this developmental perspective. The studies under discussion indicate that, within each stage in development, we can trace alcohol-related experiences capable of determining or modulating alcohol seeking and intake patterns.     

Arginase and α‐smooth muscle actin induction after hyperoxic exposure in a mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

The L‐arginine/NO pathway is an important regulator of pulmonary hypertension, the leading cause of mortality in patients with the chronic lung disease of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia. L‐arginine can be metabolized by NO synthase (NOS) to form L‐citrulline and NO, a potent vasodilator. Alternatively, L‐arginine can be metabolized by arginase to form urea and L‐ornithine, a precursor to collagen and proline formation important in vascular remodelling. In the current study, we hypothesized that C3H/HeN mice exposed to prolonged hyperoxia would have increased arginase expression and pulmonary vascular wall cell proliferation. C3H/HeN mice were exposed to 14 days of 85% O₂ or room air and lung homogenates analyzed by western blot for protein levels of arginase I, arginase II, endothelial NOS (eNOS), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA). Hyperoxia did not change arginase I or eNOS protein levels. However, arginase II protein levels were 15‐fold greater after hyperoxia exposure than in lungs exposed to room air. Greater protein levels of ODC and OAT were found in lungs following hyperoxic exposure than in room air animals. α‐SMA protein levels were found to be 7‐fold greater in the hyperoxia exposed lungs than in room air lungs. In the hyperoxia exposed lungs there was evidence of greater pulmonary vascular wall cell proliferation by α‐SMA immunohistochemistry than in room air lungs. Taken together, these data are consistent with a more proliferative vascular phenotype, and may explain the propensity of patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia to develop pulmonary hypertension.     

临床药师参与1例新生儿股动脉血栓栓塞病例的临床实践

目的 通过临床药师参与1例新生儿股动脉血栓栓塞病例的临床治疗实践,加强对新生儿血栓栓塞症的认识,制定合理的抗栓治疗方案。方法 临床药师查阅相关文献指南,参与制定和优化患儿抗栓治疗方案,评估药物风险/收益比,并提供药学监护。结果 在临床药师和临床医生共同制定的抗栓治疗方案下,患儿血栓栓塞症得到良好的治疗效果,用药过程中未发生不良反应。结论 临床药师参与罕见病的临床治疗,保障了患儿用药的安全性、有效性。     

深圳16887例不同胎龄单胎新生儿克托莱指数研究

目的 制定不同胎龄单胎新生儿克托莱指数,为评价深圳新生儿出生时身体的匀称性提供参考数据。 方法 采用横断面调查,2013年4月-2015年9月在深圳两家医院整群抽样,完成16 887例(男9 418例,女7 469例)不同胎龄单胎新生儿体重、身长、顶臀长、头围、胸围现场测量,用以制定不同胎龄单胎新生儿克托莱指数。 结果 制定了2015年深圳胎龄27~42周单胎新生儿(男、女、性别混合)三分组的克托莱指数(Quetelet Index, QI)均数及其3^rd~97^th百分位曲线。男、女新生儿的QI数值在胎龄27周最低,随着胎龄增加QI数值不断增大,胎龄42周QI数值最大。胎龄27~42周每个孕周男性QI 的50^th曲线数值都高于女性,增加值范围1.17~1.83,胎龄35~41周增加值差异有统计学意义(t=2.73~8.85,P<0.01~<0.001)。 结论 深圳不同胎龄单胎新生儿QI值随胎龄增加指数值不断增大,提示胎龄增大人体密度和充实度不断提高。QI存在男高女低性别差异。     

陕西省新生儿死亡评审的现状及对策分析

目的 了解陕西省目前新生儿死亡现状及其影响因素,分析在新生儿危重症救治工作中存在的问题和薄弱环节,进而提出改进意见和建议,为制订相关政策提供理论依据。方法 以陕西省新生儿死亡评审为基础,依托5岁以下儿童死亡监测系统,分析新生儿死亡现状,研究自2010年开展新生儿死亡评审以来,新生儿死亡评审制度对新生儿死亡率的影响,并进行综合评价。结果 新生儿死亡数逐年下降,总死亡率由2010年的8.94‰下降至2016年的3.87‰,下降幅度为5.07‰,农村下降幅度(5.77‰)大于城市(1.8‰)。导致新生儿死亡常见的疾病为:出生窒息、肺炎、先天性心脏病、意外窒息、其他先天性异常、早产低出生体重。出生窒息为2010、2011、2013年的顺位第一,自2015年开始早产低出生体重为顺位第一,2012年顺位第一为先天性心脏病。7年间共评审病例66例,参评专家83人,其中11(16.7%) 例“不可避免”死亡;37(56.0%)例 “创造条件可避免”, 18(27.3%)例“可避免”死亡。结论 应加强化新生儿复苏技术培训以降低陕西省新生儿死亡率;重点开展早产儿救治技术、新生儿危重症识别及救治技术的培训;建立并规范全省范围内的危重新生儿转诊网络。     

Drug metabolism in early infancy: opioids as an illustration

Introduction: Drug dosing in infants frequently depends on body weight as a crude indicator for maturation. Fentanyl (metabolized by Cytochrome P450 3A4) and morphine (glucuronidated by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-2B7) served as model drugs to provide insight in maturation patterns of these enzymes and provide understanding of the impact of non-maturational factors to optimize dosing in infants.

Areas covered: Systematic searches on metabolism and population pharmacokinetic (Pop-PK) models for fentanyl and morphine were performed. Pre- and post-model selection criteria were applied to assess and evaluate the validity of these models. It was observed that maturational changes have been rather well investigated, be it with variability in the maturational function estimates. The same holds true for Pop-PK models, where non-maturational covariates have also been reported (pharmacogenetics, disease state or external influences), although less incorporated in the PK models and with limited knowledge on mechanisms involved.

Expert opinion: PK models for fentanyl and morphine are currently available. Consequently, we suggest that researchers should not continue to develop new models, but should investigate whether collected data fit in already existing models and provide additional value concerning the impact of (non)-maturational factors like drug-drug interactions or pharmacogenetics.