Clinical observation of osteotomy and fusion for the treatment of severe rigid equinus deformity / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore clinical efficacy of osteotomy and fusion in treating severe rigid equinus deformity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2010 to October 2015, 13 patients(16 feet) with severe rigid equinus deformity were treated with osteotomy and fusion by hollow screw, including 6 males and 7 females aged from 39 to 62 years old with an average of(49.6±5.3) years old;the courses of diseases ranged from 5 to 27 years with an average of (9.0±4.8) years. Six patients (9 feet) were treated with osteotomy and fusion for three joints, 4 patients(4 feet) were treated with osteotomy and fusion for four joints, and 3 patients (3 feet) were treated with osteotomy and fusion for tibiotalar and calcaneal-talar joints. All patients manifested as foot pain, heel could not touch floor and walking before operation. Postoperative complications were observed, AOFAS score were applied to evaluate clinical effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirteen patients were followed up from 18 to 24 months with an average of 20 months. Only one patient occurred local skin necrosis after operation and healed by dressing change and anti-infective therapy. All feet obtained fracture healing, the time ranged from 12 to 16 weeks with an average of 13.2 weeks. AOFAS score were improved from 11.85±10.66 before operation to 81.38±3.69 after operation, and had significant difference(=-25.67, <0.05);15 feet good and 1 foot moderate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Tibiotalar and calcaneal-talar joint fusion, osteotomy and fusion for three and four joints could treat severe rigid equinus deformity according to patients' individual and could obtain satisfied clinical effects.</p>

Effect of chorioamnionitis on brain injury in preterm infants / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association between chorioamnionitis and brain injury in preterm infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 88 preterm infants (28-34 weeks), who were born between June 2008 and June 2011, were divided into a case group (n=41) and a control group (n=47) according to whether or not they had chorioamnionitis. All the infants were examined by brain ultrasonography periodically after birth and underwent brain diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) between 3 and 7 days after birth. The two groups were compared in terms of the incidence of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage (PVH-IVH) by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the corrected gestational age of 40 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was statistical significance in the incidence of PVL between the case and the control groups (32% vs 6%; P<0.05), but no significant difference in the incidence of PVH-IVH between the two groups (27% vs 23%; P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chorioamnionitis is associated with brain injury in preterm infants, increasing the incidence of PVL but having little influence over the incidence of PVH-IVH.</p>

Early use of recombinant human erythropoietin promotes neurobehavioral development in preterm infants / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of the early use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhu-EPO) on neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-four preterm infants (30 males and 14 females) were randomly divided into two groups: Rhu-EPO treatment and untreated control (n=22 each). From postnatal day 7, the Rhu-EPO treatment group received intravenous rhu-EPO (250 IU/kg3 times weekly) for 4 weeks. A Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) was performed at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age. A Gesell Development Schedule was used to evaluate neurological development 6 and 12 months after birth.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The NBNA score in the rhu-EPO treatment group (36.20+/-0.75) was significantly higher than that in the control group (34.40+/-1.05) at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age (P<0.05). The developmental quotient of fine motor in the rhu-EPO treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group 6 months after birth (P<0.05). By 12 months after birth, the developmental quotient of gross motor, fine motor and language in the rhu-EPO treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early use of Rhu-EPO can promote neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.</p>