Clinical features of Candida albicans sepsis in preterm infants: an analysis of 13 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical features of Candida albicans sepsis in preterm infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 13 preterm infants with Candida albicans sepsis, who were born at 28 to 36 weeks of gestational age and who weighed between 1400 and 2815 g.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The infants were infected with Candida albicans at the age of 19±11 d, with the main clinical manifestations being apnea, poor response, poor skin perfusion, blood oxygen concentration decrease, dark skin, yellowish skin, heart rate increase in the rest state, copious phlegm and difficulty in weaning from the ventilator. The infants showed significantly decreased platelet and increased C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet distribution width (PDW), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB), total bilirubin (TBIL), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). CK and LDH were significantly decreased after 2 weeks of antifungal therapy. Only 3 cases developed drug resistance to fluconazole and these showed response when treated with voriconazole instead. Of the 13 cases, 10 were cured, 2 abandoned therapy and 1 died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clinical manifestations of Candida albicans sepsis are nonspecific in preterm infants. Infectious diseases are probably caused by Candida albicans in preterm infants 2-3 weeks after birth. Preterm infants show decreased platelet and increased CRP, PDW, ALT, CK-MB, TBIL, CK, and LDH when infected with Candida albicans.</p>

Screening and risk factors analysis of retinopathy of prematurity / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and provide evidence for the rational establishment of screening standard.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 1675 preterm infants at gestational age < or = 36 weeks or birth weight < or = 2500 g who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and had been screened in our hospital from July 2006 to May 2008 were analyzed retrospectively by univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis. Gender, birth count, gestational age, birth weight, oxygen therapy, and mother's conditions were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ROP was detected in 195 (11.6%) of 1675 infants, of whom 35 infants (2.1%) had type 1 or threshold ROP. The lower the birth weight, the smaller the gestational age and the longer the time of oxygen therapy were, the higher the incidence of ROP was. For the infants whose birth weight was < or = 1200 g, 1201 - 1500 g, 1501 - 2000 g, 2001 - 2500 g, the incidence of ROP was 73.2%, 30.4%, 8.0%, and 1.1%; for those at gestational age < or = 30 weeks, 30(+1)-32 weeks, 32(+1)-34 weeks, 34(+1)-36 weeks, the incidence of ROP was 67.6%, 16.9%, 3.9%, and 1.0%; for the infants underwent oxygen therapy for 0 d, -3 d, -5 d, -8 d, > 8 d, the incidence of ROP was 1.5%, 3.3%, 9.6%, 23.2% and 38.8%;in the infants who inhaled oxygen at concentrations of 0.40, -0.60, -0.80 and > 0.80, the incidence of ROP was 11.8%, 18.1%, 26.8%, and 52.6%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated that low birth weight, small gestational age, asphyxia, apnea, oxygen therapy were the high risk factors of ROP (the odds ratio was 0.957, 1.052, 1.186, 5.314, and 1.881).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Low birth weight, small gestational age, asphyxia, apnea, and oxygen therapy were the high risk factors of ROP. It is recommended that all preterm infants with high risk factors should be screened.</p>

Construction and identification of RNA interference vector for human tissue factor gene / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a RNA interference vector for human tissue factor (TF) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human TF short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequence was designed using online design software (Invitrogen) and synthesized into double-strand oligonucleotide (ds oligo), which was cloned into the pENTRTM/U6 plasmid, followed by transformation of the product into competent Top10 E. coli cells. After expansion of the transformed bacteria, the plasmid was extracted and sequenced, which was subsequently transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The interference effect of the vector on the target gene expression was detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sequencing result indicated that the plasmid pENTRTM/U6-RelB-shRNA was constructed correctly, which resulted in effective inhibition of TF expression in HUVECs after transfection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The RNA interference vector against human TF gene has been constructed successfully, which may provide a stable transfection vector for potential treatment of blood coagulation abnormalities.</p>

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase in Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury Inflammatory Reaction of Newborn Rabbits / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) in ventilator-induced lung injury inflammatory reaction of newborn rabbits.Methods Seventy-five newborn rabbits aged 1-5 days were randomly arranged to 3 groups:control group(n=3),other 72 rabbits designed by 2?2?3 factorial were divided into high concentration oxygen(100%)and low concentration oxygen(45%) groups,and each group was subdivided into 2 groups:High peak inspiratory pressure(PIP)group and low PIP group.All rabbits were done by mechanical ventilation and killed to obtain lung tissue at 1,3,6 hours after trailing respectively.The concentration of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in lung tissue bomogenate were detected by ELISA,at the same time the ratio of wet to dry was detected and pathological section was analyzed.Results 1.The concentration of MMP-2 in high concentration oxygen group,high PIP group and low PIP group increased compared with that in normal group,and there were significant differences.2.The mean concentration of MMP-9 was lower in high concentration oxygen group than that in normal control group,and there was significant difference between 2 groups.The mean concentration of MMP-9 in low concentration oxygen group was higher than that in normal group,and there was no significant difference between 2 groups.There was no significant difference in effect to mean concentration of MMP-9 by different PIP.3.There were positive correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9,MMP-2 and the ratio of wet to dry in lung.Conclusions Within 6 hours in newborn rabbits by mechanical ventilation,ventilation with high concentration oxygen up-regulate MMP-2,but down-regulated MMP-9.The lungs stretch by mechanical ventilation increase MMP-9,but decrease MMP-2.Mechanical ventilation can affect the synthesis of MMPs,and MMPs plays an important role in ventilator-induced lung injury of newborn rabbits.