Neonatal ureaplasma meningitis: a report of 2 cases and literature review / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical features and treatment strategy of neonatal ureaplasma meningitis.Methods:During 2021, the clinical data of 2 neonates with ureaplasma meningitis treated in Children's Hospital of Hunan Province were retrospectively analyzed. Literature on this subject were searched in the following databases: CNKI, Wanfang Database, Chinese Medical Journal Full-Text Database, CQVIP database, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science (up to March 2022). The key words included “infant”, “neonate”, “newborn”, “ureaplasma”, “mycoplasma urealytium”, “meningitis”, “central nervous system infection”, “brain”. The clinical data, treatment and prognosis of patients from the literature were summarized.Results:Case 1, female, gestational age(GA) 33 +3 weeks, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and ventricular dilatation were found on 2 d after birth. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) routine and biochemistry tests indicated meningitis, but the CSF culture was negative. No improvement after antibiotic treatment. CSF metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and 23S rRNA showed Ureaplasma urealyticum on 30 d after birth. The patient was treated with doxycycline (DOX) for 21 d until mNGS turned negative and DOX was discontinued. However, the disease recurred 23 d later and erythromycin was added with DOX as combined therapy. The patient was followed up until 6 months without neurodevelopmental disabilities. Case 2, male, GA 26 weeks, ICH and ventricular dilatation were found on 10 d after birth. The CSF routine and biochemistry tests indicated meningitis, but the CSF culture was negative. No improvement after antibiotic treatment. CSF mNGS and 23S rRNA showed Ureaplasma parvum. The patient received erythromycin therapy for 32 d and had normal neurodevelopment at 5 months. According to the literature, 43 cases were reported including the 2 cases descirbed above, 17 cases were full-term infants and 26 cases were preterm infants. The median CSF leukocytes, glucose and proteins were 566 cells/mm 3, 0.2 mmol/L and 2.2 g/L. 27 cases were diagnosed based on CSF culture, 6 cases using mNGS, 4 cases with both CSF culture and PCR method and 6 cases with other methods. Macrolides alone were used in 14 cases, macrolides combined with another antibiotic were used in 8 cases, non-macrolide antibiotics were used in 9 cases and 12 cases didn't receive any anti-ureaplasma therapy. All 17 term infants survived, however, 8 cases with hydrocephalus. Among the 26 preterm infants, 8 patients died, 18 patients had periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage and 15 patients had hydrocephalus. Conclusions:Neonatal ureaplasma meningitis has significantly lower CSF glucose level with hydrocephalus as the common complication. For intracranial infections of unknown etiology and no response to treatment, mNGS is helpful in determining the pathogen.Neonatal ureaplasma meningitis should be treated with macrolides alone or as add-on therapy.

The efficacy of systemic hypothermia therapy initiated at different times on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy, safety and prognosis of systemic hypothermia therapy on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)initiated at different times after birth.Method:From January 2013 to August 2018, term neonates (within 12 hours after birth) diagnosed with neonatal moderate to severe HIE and received systemic treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital were retrospectively included. According to the starting time of hypothermia therapy, the neonates were assigned into three groups: within 6 h after birth (TH1 group), 6~12 h (TH2 group) and conventional treatment group (control group). Their clinical data during perinatal period, hospitalization period and follow-up at 6-month were reviewed. Their clinical and neurodevelopmental outcomes were compared using SPSS 25.0 statistical software.Result:A total of 147 neonates with moderate to severe HIE were enrolled. 111 received 72-hour hypothermia therapy, including 79 in the TH1 group, 32 in the TH2 group and 36 in the control group. The neurobehavioral test scores at 10-day of life in the TH1 group were significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed among the TH2 group, the TH1 group and the control group ( P>0.05). The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed injuries in the TH1 group and the TH2 group were significantly milder than the control group ( P<0.05). No significant differences of brain injuries existed between TH1 group and TH2 group ( P>0.05). 100 patients completed Bailey Infant Intelligence Development Scale at 6-month follow-up. 21 had abnormal scores. No statistically significant differences existed in the psychomotor development index (PDI) scores among the three groups ( P>0.05). TH1 and TH2 groups had significantly fewer cases with mental development index (MDI) <70 points than the control group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant differences existed of MDI scores between the TH1 group and the TH2 group ( P>0.05). No statistically significant differences existed of PDI scores among the 3 groups ( P>0.05). At 6-month, the mortality rate of the control group (32.1%, 9/28) was significantly higher than the TH1 group (6.6%, 4/61) ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed of mortality rate at 6-month among the TH2 group, the TH1 group and the control group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Systemic hypothermia therapy for neonatal HIE is safe. Starting systemic hypothermia therapy at 6~12-hour after birth may also be effective in reducing mortality rate and improving neurodevelopmental outcome.

Progress in diagnosis and treatment of fungal infection in premature infants / 中国医师杂志

Due to low autoimmune function, imperfect development of various organs, coupled with a variety of invasive operations and other factors, premature infants are high-risk groups of invasive fungal infection.Invasive candida infection in premature infants accounts for more than 80% of invasive fungal infection. The main infection rate of invasive candida albicans was candida albicans. However, in recent years, the infection rate of non-candida albicans such as candida albicans, tropical candida, smooth candida and other non-candida albicans showed a gradual upward trend.In addition to blood culture, the latest diagnostic methods such as plasma (1-3)-β-D-glucan test and candida polymerase chain reaction are helpful for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection. At the same time, attention should also be paid to prophylactic antifungal therapy and empirical antifungal therapy in premature infants.

Risk factors of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely low birth weight infants / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To study the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants and to determine the risk factors of severe BPD.Method From January 2007 to January 2017,ELBW infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Hunan Children's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.They were assigned into severe and mild/moderate groups based on the severity of BPD.The general condition,maternal status,prenatal and delivery room treatment,transportation,clinical courses,therapy and outcome in NICU of the two groups were compared,and the risk factors of severe BPD were analyzed.Result A total of 367 cases were hospitalized during the 10 years.281 ELBW infants with complete medical records survived longer than 28 days were enrolled in this study.Among them,233 had BPD.Among BPD infants,116 cases were in the severe BPD group,47 cases (40.5％) died.117 cases were in the mild/moderate BPD group and 1 case (0.9％) died.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of severe BPD were duration of mechanical ventilation ≥ 7 days (OR =7.518,95 ％ CI 3.197 ～ 17.676),ventilator-associated pneumonia (OR =3.047,95 ％ CI 1.436 ～ 6.464),1 min Apgar score ≤7 (OR =2.341,95 ％ CI 1.142 ～ 4.796) and patent ductus arteriosus (OR =2.223,95 ％ CI 1.079 ～4.582).Conclusion The incidence and mortality of BPD,especially severe BPD,are high in ELBW infants.Avoiding asphyxia,shortening the time of mechanical ventilation,preventing infection and closing ductus arteriosus are important measures to reduce the severity of BPD.

The study of extremely low and very low birth weight infant transport risk assessment and factors that influenced deaths / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To study the transport risk and factors that influence deaths of very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.Method All infants transferred to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by our hospital transport team or local hospital transport team from January 2014 to December 2015 were included in our study.Their clinical data were retrospectively studied.The risks of transport between hospitals were analyzed.The risk factors of deaths within and after 7 days of admission were further analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis.The receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of mortality index for neonatal transportation (MINT),transport related mortality score (TREMS),transport risk index of physiologic stability (TRIPS) for predicting mortality of preterm infants.Result (1) A total of 527 cases of ELBW/VLBW infants were included in our study.There were no deaths during transport.There were 10.2％ (54/527) died within and 8.9％ (42/473) died after 7 days of hospitalization.(2) Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that scleredema of newborn,secondary transport,gastrointestinal malformations,metabolic acidosis,high TREMS score,and high MINT score were risk factors of mortality within 7 days of admission for ELBW/VLBW infants;necrotizing enterocolitis,intraventricular hemorrhage ≥ three degree,high MINT score and low admission weight were risk factors of mortality after 7 days of admission.(3) The area under the ROC curve for MINT,TREMS,and TRIPS score were 0.672,0.655 and 0.665,respectively.The cut-off values for MINT score (cut-off 8,sensitivity 0.444,specificity 0.829),for TREMS score (cut-off 2,sensitivity 0.500,specificity 0.757,for TRIPS score (cut-off 20,sensitivity 0.444,specificity O.829) were selected to predict mortality within 7 days of admission.Conclusion (1) Secondary transport is the transport-related risk factor of mortality within 7 days of admission for ELBW/VLBW infants.(2) High MINT score is the risk factor of mortality within and after 7 days of admission.(3) If MINT ≥ 8,TREMS ≥2,or TRIPS ≥20,it might significantly increase the risk of mortality of ELBW/ VLBW infants within 7 days of admission after transport.

Research progress of high mobility group box 1 in pediatric diseases / 中国小儿急救医学

High mobility group box 1 protein(HMGB1) is widely present in eukaryotic nuclei and named for its rapid migration during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Studies have shown that HMGB1 playes an important role in the development of gene transcription,inflammation,cancer and other diseases. In this paper, the biological characteristics of HMGB1 and its research progress in pediatric diseases are reviewed.

Study on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To analyze the bone mineral density and serum osteocalcin levels in postmenopausal women with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.@*Methods@#A total of 64 postmenopausal women with idiopathic BPPV were selected as the study group, and 98 postmenopausal healthy women were selected as the control group. Bone mineral density and serum osteocalcin levels were analyzed and compared between the groups.χ2 test was used for numeration data and t test was used for measurement data.@*Results@#The prevalence of osteoporosis or osteopenia in BPPV group 67.2% (43/64) was significantly higher than that in the control group 51.0% (50/98) (χ2=4.139, P=0.042). Among BPPV subjects, there was a negative correlation between osteocalcin and bone density T (r=-0.469, P<0.001). Osteocalcin was found in normal bone mass subgroup (13.61±4.32)μg/L, decreased bone mass subgroup (17.49±7.61)μg/L, and osteoporosis subgroup (20.83±6.72)μg/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (F=5.39, P=0.007).@*Conclusions@#Bone mineral density in BPPV group is lower than that in control group. The lower the bone mineral density of the patients, the higher the osteocalcin in BPPV group.

Changes and clinical significances of mitochondrial coupling factor 6 and cytochrome C in neonatal sepsis / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective To evaluate the levels of plasma coupling factor 6(CF6) and cytochrome C(Cyt-c) in neonatal sepsis,and to explore the clinical significance in neonatal sepsis.Methods A total of 88 neonates admitted to Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2015 to April 2015 were collected.Neonates were divided into non-sepsis group(n=42) and sepsis group(n=46).According to the severity of infection,the non-sepsis group was further divided into non-infection group(n=20) and common infection group(n=22);the sepsis group was further divided into general sepsis group (31 cases,no organ failure) and severe sepsis group (15 cases,combined with multiple organ failure).Femoral venous blood was collected in all patients before the use of antibiotics after admission.The levels of Cyt-c and CF6 in plasma were measured by ELISA,and the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin (PCT) were measured.The changes of CF6 and Cyt-c between these groups were compared,and the sensitivity and specificity with the traditional sepsis index (CRP,PCT) were analyzed.The correlation between the levels of CF6,Cyt-c and neonatal critical illness score was analyzed.Results (1)In sepsis group,the levels of CF6 and Cyt-c[(109.7±8.9)pg/ml and (44.5±4.9)ng/ml] were significantly higher than those in the non-sepsis group[(46.3±6.0)pg/ml,(31.8±6.7)ng/ml,P<0.01,respectively].(2) In the non-infection group,common infection group,general sepsis group and severe sepsis group,the levels of CF6 were (32.1±8.9)pg/ml,(59.3±7.2)pg/ml,(79.3±5.9)pg/ml,and (172.6±6.1)pg/ml,respectively;the levels of Cyt-c were (29.3±8.6)ng/ml,(35.4±4.1) ng/ml,(43.1±5.9) ng/ml,and (44.5±5.9)ng/ml,respectively.The differences between these groups were significant(P<0.01).(3)The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the sensitivity and specificity of CF6 were 0.761,0.732,and the Cyt-c were 0.739,0.714.(4)Cyt-C and CF6 were negatively correlated with the neonatal critical illness score(r=-0.599,P<0.001;r=-0.337,P<0.01).Conclusion The levels of CF6 and Cyt-c increase in neonatal sepsis.The damage of mitochondria may be one of the pathological mechanisms in neonatal sepsis.The levels of CF6 and Cyt-c were closely related to the severity of neonatal sepsis.

Advances in transporting critical ill neonates / 中国小儿急救医学

In order to understand the status of neonatal transport research at home and abroad,we summarized and analyzed the research progress of neonatal transport through the literature search.Thus we evaluated the current application of a variety of transport critical rating system.Intrauterine transport is considered the safest mode of transport,and promote intrauterine transport of high-risk mothers.It is suggested that the parents participate in the transshipment process and return the stable children to the local hospital for further treatment and promote the family-centered treatment mode.In transit,mobile ECMO,hypothermia and other advanced equipment in foreign countries have been applied.It is recommended to use the respiratory function monitor to monitor the respiration during transit.It can provide the parameters of respiratory wave,identify air leak,accidental release,spontaneous breathing.

Effectiveness of family-integrated-care for preterm infants with moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To study the effectiveness of family-integrated-care (FICare) for preterm infants with moderate to severe bronchopuhnonary dysplasia (BPD) in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Method Preterm infants with moderate to severe BPD in Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2015 to March 2016 were selected as the objects.These infants were assigned into two groups (FICare group and control group) in the base of whether the parents agreed to implement FICare.If the infant was enrolled into FICare group,the parents need to spend 3 hours in ward every day,and participate in nursing services under the guidance of nurses.The nursing services included bathing,cuddling,skin care,breast-feeding,and so on.If the infant was enrolled into control group,these nursing services were implemented by nurses.Oxygen exposure time,breast-feeding rate,time of begin oral feeding,time of total oral feeding,weight growth rate during hospitalization,weight of discharge,length of stay,readmission rate within 30 days,the rate of parents that mastered basic care knowledge and skills when discharge from hospital,the rate of satisfaction,and the rate of follow-up within 30 days of the two groups were compared.Result There were 106 cases in our study,54 in the FICare group and 52 in the control group.Compare the FICare group and the control group,there were statistical differences between two groups in the follow aspects (all P ＜ 0.05):oxygen exposure time [(57.1 ±20.9) d vs.(71.4 ±32.6) d],breast-feeding rate (77.8％ vs.44.2％),time of total oral feeding [(46.1 4 19.6) d vs.(59.4 ± 30.2) d,length of stay [(65.8 ± 18.4) d vs.(84.3 ±35.0) d],the rate of parents that mastered basic care knowledge and skills when discharge from hospital (96.3％ vs.82.7％),the rate of satisfaction (94.4％ vs.84.6％),the rate of follow-up within 30 days (92.6％ vs.73.1％).Conclusion FICare could significantly reduce oxygen exposure time of preterm infants with moderate to severe BPD,could improve the level of parents mastered basic care knowledge and skills of preterm infants,especially in critically ill preterm children,and could shorten length of stay of them.FICare is beneficial to the healthy growth of premature infants with BPD.

Early growth and development of extremely / very low birth weight infants after discharge / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To investigate the early growth and development of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) and very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) through a follow-up study from hospital discharge until 18 months of corrected age.Methods ELBWI and VLBWI who were hospitalized and discharged alive from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2013 to June 2014 were recruited.Follow-ups were performed at the corrected age of 40 weeks,as well as at one,three,six,12 and 18 months of corrected age.Several parameters indicating the growth and development of those infants were monitored and assessed.Extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) was defined as head circumference (HC) or weight ≤ 10th percentile for gestational age at discharge.T-,rank-sum,or Chi-square (or Fisher's exact) test was performed for statistical analysis.Results (1) A total of 285 ELBWI and VLBWI were recruited.Among them,145 (50.9％) were alive at last follow-up,37 (13.0％) died,and 103 (36.1％) were lost.No significant differences in clinical data were observed between the infants who completed the follow-up and those who did not (all P＞0.05).(2) Based on HC and weight,the incidences of EUGR in the 145 infants reached the peak at the corrected age of three months [42.8％ (62/145) and 40.0％ (58/145)],and then declined with increasing age.At 18 months of corrected age,the incidences of EUGR dropped to 31.7％ (46/145) and 14.5％ (21/145),respectively.(3) There were no significant differences in gender,gestational age,birth weight,length of hospital stay,duration of oxygen therapy,and incidences of complications between the infants with and without EUGR (allP＞0.05).(4) The rate of pulmonary surfactant therapy in neonates with EUGR was lower than in those without [27.8％ (15/54) vs 53.8％ (49/91),x2=9.340,P＜0.05].There were no significant differences in mental development index and psycho-motor development index at 12 and 18 months of corrected age between the neonates with and without EUGR (all P＞0.05).Neither HC nor weight at the corrected age of 18 months showed significant differences between the two groups (both P＞0.05).(5) At 18 months of corrected age,31.7％ (46/145) of the infants had their HC ≤ 10th percentile,and 14.5％ (21/145) had their weight ≤ 10th percentile.Infants with HC ≤ 10th percentile were at higher risk of abnormal neurodevelopment than those with HC ＞10th percentile [67.4％ (31/45) vs 40.4％ (40/99),X=9.154].Infants with either HC or weight ≤ 10th percentile had higher risk of abnormal neurodevelopment that those with both HC and weight ＞10th percentile [65.5％ (36/55) vs 38.9％ (35/90),x2=9.641] (both P＞0.05).Conclusions ELBWI/VLBWI are at high risk of growth retardation.Incidence of growth restriction declines with age.

Clinical outcome at discharge and its risk factors of extremely preterm infants: a study of 179 cases / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To analysis the clinical outcome at discharge and its risk factors of extremely preterm infants.Method To retrospectively analysis the clinical outcome at discharge and it's risk factors of extremely preterm infants (less than 28 weeks gestation) admitted from September 2008 to August 2014 in our Hospital.Result A total of 179 cases were enrolled.Survival rate was 59.2％ (106/179).Unfavorable outcome rate was 74.3％ (133/179),among them 73 cases died.The top five causes of death were severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (28 cases),Ⅲ ～ Ⅳ o intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (19 cases),sepsis (16 cases) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (6 cases).Among the 60 survivals with unfavorable outcomes,35 cases had either severe neurologic or ophthalmological sequela,and 25 cases had severe pulmonary sequela.Univariate analysis showed that,comparing with improved group,unfavorable outcome group had higher rates of not receiving prenatal steroids,placental abruption,male,small for gestation age,resuscitation with chest compression,admission age older than 72 hour,severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS),without pulmonary surfactant (PS) usage,mechanical ventilation beyond 2 weeks and sepsis (P ＜ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that those without prenatal steroids (OR =9.402,P =0.002),small for gestational age (OR =8.271,P =0.018),resuscitation with chest compression (OR =6.325,P =0.023),admission age older than 72 hour (OR =4.174,P =0.028) were independent risk factors for unfavorable outcome of extremely premature at discharge.Conclusion Extremely preterm infants have a higher rate of unfavorable outcome at discharge.Avoid small for gestational age,transfer properly and in time both in utero and after birth,and conduct prenatal steroids could improve their clinical outcome at discharge.

High frequency oscillation ventilation treats respiratory distress syndrome of premature / 中国医师杂志

Objective To explore the application of high frequency oscillation in the area of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of premature.Methods A total of 101 cases with RDS of premature was collected who needed the machine support in neonatal intensive care unite (NICU) during 2010.11.01-2011.10.30.Forty one cases (high frequency oscillation group) received the high frequency oscillation,while 60 cases received the common ventilation (Control Mechanical Ventilation group;control group).The results of blood gas analysis were recorded before ventilation,after ventilation for 2 hours,after ventilation for 12 hours,and after ventilation for 24 hours.The chest X-Ray and the complication were examined.Results The result of the blood-gas before ventilation,after ventilation for 2 hours,after ventilation for 12 hours,and after ventilation for 24 hours,FIO2,PO2,PCO2,and Pa(A-a) were statistically analyzed,and F-value was 16.202,14.764,16.135,8.434,P ＜ 0.01.For chest X-ray in high frequent oscillation group,there were 36 cases who had improved after ventilation 24 hours and all had improved after ventilation 72 hours;however,in common ventilation group,there were 30 cases who had improved after 24 hours and 50 cases had improved after 72 hours,x2 =15.372 and 7.584,P ＜ 0.01,there was statistical difference for two groups.However,there were not different in cerebral injury/healing damage and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) for two groups.Conclusions High frequency oscillation is an effective way to treat RDS of premature.

Genetic analysis of a child affected with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect potential mutation of the UGT1A1 gene in a child affected with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were collected from the patient and his parents for the extraction of genomic DNA. Potential mutation of the UGT1A1 gene was detected with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The child was followed up until the age of 3 years and 6 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patient showed persistent unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Sequencing of the UGT1A1 gene has detected a rare heterozygous c.610 A>G (p.Met204Val) mutation in the exon 1, in addition with a heterozygous c.1091 C>T (p.Pro364Leu) mutation in exon 4. The two mutations were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. The patient was diagnosed with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II and received oral phenobarbital treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The compound UGT1A1 gene mutation probably accounts for the disease in the patient manifesting persistent mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis should be provided for his family.</p>

Changes in cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormones in term infants with critical illness and their clinical significance / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the changes in cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH) in term infants with critical illness and to evaluate their functional status.Methods One hundred and fifty term infants who were transferred to the hospital within 72 hours after birth were involved (gestational age ≥ 37 weeks).These term infants were evaluated by neonatal critical illness scores (NCIS) at the time of admission, and they were divided into a mild group and a severe group according to the NCIS scores.Serum cortisol and ACTH concentrations were measured at the time of admission on day 7 and day 14 after birth.Results (1) Within 72 hours after birth, the basic serum cortisol concentration of severe illness infants [(283.5 ± 196.0) μg/L] was significantly higher than that of the infants with mild illness[(175.0 ± 186.5) μg/L], and there was a significant difference (t =-3.830, P =0.000).The basic serum cortisol concentration of the term infants with severe illness was higher than that of the term infants with mild illness,but there was no significant difference[7 d:(94.1 ±41.3) μg/L vs (62.5 ±37.9) μg/L,14 d:(68.6 ±47.7)μg/L vs (50.9 ± 38.4) μg/L, all P ＞ 0.05].(2) Among the infants with critical illness, the basic serum cortisol concentration within 72 hours after birth was significantly higher than those of day 7 and day 14 after birth (t--5.994, 2.848;P =0.000,0.036).(3) Among the mild infants, the basic serum cortisol concentration within 72 hours after birth was significantly higher than those of day 7 and day 14 after birth (t =4.691,3.076;P =0.000,0.037).(4) The basic serum ACTH concentrations had no significant difference between the severe group and the mild group[≤72 h: (101.55±61.52) ng/Lvs (85.54±59.83) ng/L,7 d:(54.91±22.75) ng/Lvs (71.07±20.51) ng/L,14 d: (44.67 ± 28.30) ng/L vs (44.92 ± 24.68) ng/L, all P ＞ 0.05].(5) The serum cortisol and ACTH concentration within 72 hours after birth of the dead infants[(351.9 ± 179.7) μg/L, (215.5 ± 165.9) ng/L] were significantly higher than those of the survivors [(201.4 ± 161.4) μg/L, (83.5 ± 54.0) ng/L], and there were significant differences(t =-2.547,-3.833;P =0.012,0.000).(6) The basic serum cortisol concentration within 72 hours after birth had a negative correlation with NCIS(r =-0.293, P =0.043), pH (r =-0.336, P =0.000) and base excess (BE) (r =-0.261 ,P =0.002);but it had a positive correlation with ACTH concentration within 72 hours after birth (r =0.443 ,P =0.000).The serum basic ACTH within 72 hours after birth had a negative correlation with BE (r =-0.181 ,P =0.031) ,and had positive correlation with the basic serum cortisol concentration within 72 hours and day 7 (r =0.443,0.268;P =0.000,0.048).Conclusions The term infants have the ability to response to external stimuli by regulating cortisol secretion.The basic serum cortisol concentration of term infants is related to the critical illness.The worse the condition is,the higher the base serum cortisol concentration is.

ACTH, cortisol and aldosterone level of preterm infants with critical illness / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective To investigate the effect of illness severity on preterm infant's hypothalamusputituary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we measured the serum concentration of cortisol,aldosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Methods Ninety preterm infants who were transferred to our hospital within 72 hours after birth were involved. These preterm infants were divided into two groups:gestational age (GA) ≥34 weeks' preterm infants and GA <34 weeks' preterm infants. We evaluated these preterm infants at the time of admission,day 7 and day 14 after birth with neonatal critical illness score (NCIS). Then they were divided into mild group and severe group by the lowest score. We measured their serum cortisol,aldosterone and ACTH at the time of admission,day 7 and day l4 after birth. Results (1) The serum cortisol concentration of preterm infants with severe illness was higher than that of preterm infants with mild illness. Among the GA ≥34 weeks' preterm infants,the serum cortisol concentration of preterm infants with severe illness was significandy higher than that of preterm infants with mild illness within 72 hours after birth (t = -2.263,P =0. 029). Among the GA <34 weeks' preterm infants,the serum cortisol concentration of preterm infants with severe illness was significantly higher than that of preterm infants with mild illness on day 14 after birth (t =-2. 913 ,P =0. 006). (2) Among the preterm infants with severe illness,the serum cortisol concentration of the GA≥34 weeks' was significantly higher than that of the GA < 34 weeks' within 72 hours after birth (t =-2. 641 ,P =0. 010) ;the serum cortisol concentration of the GA <34 weeks' was significantly higher than that of the GA≥34 weeks' on the day 14 after birth(t = -2. 189,P =0. 036) . (3) The serum cortisol concentration was significantly decreased in the GA≥34 weeks'preterm infants (F = 4. 679, P =0. 012). (4) The serum cortisol concentration of aldosterone and ACTH was not significantly different between preterm infants with severe illness and those with mild illness. Conclusion The preterm infant already has the ability to respond to stimuli by regulating cortisol secretion. The serum cortisol concentration increases as disease severity worsens.Serum aldosterone and ACTH concentration are not correlated with the severity of the disease.

Present status and sustainable development of Dendrobium officinale industry / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the present status and characteristics of Dendrobium officinale industry and to provide a rationale for the sustainable industrial development.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Based on references and an on-site investigation of main Dendrobium officinale-producing enterprises and market, to analyze main existing problems and to propose suggestions for sustainable development.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>More than 10 provinces and regions are involved in the production around the center of Zhejiang and Yunnan provinces. These two provinces are different from each other in development pattern. Yunnan adopts a mode of companies minus farmer households but Zhejiang mainly employs a mode that a leading company establishes a production base with production, processing and marketing combined together. Zhejiang mode is characterized by high tech, high investment, high risk and high return. Existence of non-genuine species, stagnancy in development and application of varieties and techniques for quality control and a narrow channel for marketing are the key problems limiting sustainable development of the industry.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The key to sustainable development of the industry is to establish a technological alliance to speed up development of common techniques and application of integrated innovations, to strengthen self-discipline and monitoring of production, and to expand sales market.</p>