Feasibility of a Comfort Care Protocol Using Oral Transmucosal Medication Delivery in a Palliative Neonatal Population.

BACKGROUND: The oral transmucosal (OTM) route for administration of comfort medication in infants at the end-of-life has long been favored by our pediatric palliative care team but has rarely been described in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of implementing a standardized comfort care protocol using OTM medications in dying neonates. METHOD: A comfort protocol prescribing medication by the OTM route and standardized assessment were established. Each infant included in the study was assessed with the Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale (N-PASS). Caretakers' satisfaction was assessed using a questionnaire. The feasibility of implementing the protocol was determined by the proportion of assessments done when required, the rate of termination of the protocol, and the feedback from nurses using the protocol. RESULTS: Twelve patients were enrolled. Regular evaluations were performed 85% of the time. When the medication was given as needed, 71% of cases were evaluated before versus 63% when regular doses were given. The as-needed doses were followed by an assessment 30 minutes later in 49% of cases and in 41%, 60 minutes later, for a total of 64% in the hour after medication administration. The protocol was discontinued only for two patients who were discharged to continue end-of-life care at home. There were no significant adverse events reported. Finally, 17 of 18 nurses said they would recommend this protocol to other institutions. CONCLUSION: In the context of neonatal palliative care, the implementation of a standardized protocol for administration of drugs by the OTM route is feasible and safe. However, in the context of this study, adherence was limited because of too-frequent evaluations and misunderstanding of the protocol.

Burns and beauty nails.

A case involving a five-month-old girl brought to the emergency department with burns over her abdomen is described. The child was reported to have spilled two small bottles of beauty nail adhesive on her clothes while her mother was preparing dinner. After undressing the infant, the mother discovered several lesions on the child's abdomen and quickly sought medical attention. Given the unusual circumstances of the presentation, the child was hospitalized for both treatment and supervision. The beauty nail adhesive contained cyanoacrylate. In addition to its well-appreciated adhesive capacity, cyanoacrylate, in the presence of cotton or other tissues, is known to produce an exothermic reaction that may cause burns. Cyanoacrylate-based products, due to their possible adverse effects, should be kept away from children as advised. Odd injuries should always raise concerns about the possibility of inflicted injury.

Les auteurs décrivent le cas d'une fillette de cinq mois qui a été emmenée à l'urgence à cause de brûlures sur l'abdomen. La mère a déclaré que, pendant qu'elle était occupée à préparer le souper, l'enfant avait renversé deux petites bouteilles d'adhésif pour ongles artificiels sur ses vêtements. Après avoir dévêtu la fillette, la mère a découvert plusieurs lésions sur son abdomen et est vite allée consulter. L'enfant a été hospitalisée à la fois pour être traitée et pour être placée sous supervision compte tenu de sa présentation inhabituelle. L'adhésif pour ongles artificiels contenait du cyanoacrylate. En plus de sa capacité adhésive particulièrement appréciée, le cyanoacrylate, en présence de coton ou d'autres tissus, produit une réaction exothermique qui peut causer des brûlures. En raison de leurs éventuels effets indésirables, il faudrait conserver les produits à base de cyanoacrylate hors de la portée des enfants, conformément aux directives. Des blessures étranges devraient toujours susciter une présomption de blessure infligée.

Modulation of CD40-activated B lymphocytes by N-acetylcysteine involves decreased phosphorylation of STAT3.

B lymphocyte activation, maturation and reshaping require the interaction of its receptor CD40 with its ligand CD154, which is expressed on activated T lymphocytes. Metabolism in activated B lymphocytes is also characterized with several REDOX changes including fluctuation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Herein, we first confirm that stimulation of human peripheral blood B lymphocyte with CD154 increases intracellular ROS level. Then, by treatments with two well-known antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Trolox, we further investigate the influence of REDOX fluctuation in CD40-activated B lymphocyte homeostasis in long term culture (13 days). Treatments with NAC increase viability, decrease proliferation and Ig secretion and enhance homoaggregation of B lymphocytes while Trolox only induces a marginal increase of their Ig secretion. The NAC-induced homoaggregation phenotype is paralleled with increased expressions of CD54, CD11a, CD27 and CD38. Mechanistically, a 24h exposure of B lymphocytes with NAC is sufficient to show strong inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation. Besides, the treatment of B lymphocytes with the STAT3 inhibitor VI increases viability and decreases proliferation and secretion as in NAC-treated cells thus showing a role for STAT3 in these NAC-induced phenotypes. This study done in a human-based model provides new findings on how REDOX fluctuations may modulate CD40-activated B lymphocytes during immune response and provide additional hints on NAC its immunomodulatory functions.