新生儿疼痛的临床研究-254例病例分析

目的：探索新生儿疼痛临床观察,诊断方法及降低疼痛应激的临床对策。方法：对254例新生儿NICU的医疗过程中操作性疼痛进行临床观察,观察其生理表现：迷走神经张力减低,植物神经系统改变;行为表现：包括面部表情（蹙眉、挤眼、鼻唇沟起皱、张口）、哭声、粗大运动及行为状态（睡眠和食欲）的改变等。对新生儿急性疼痛做出评分,得出正确的诊断,并采用综合干预的策略：非药物性干预方法或与局部的药物镇痛法联合使用,或药物镇痛。结果：254例新生儿在NICU的医疗过程中操作性疼痛得到正确的预防,诊断和治疗,对新生儿急性疼痛的再评分显示新生儿生理和行为表现明显改善。结论：NICU内的各种侵袭性操作所致新生儿疼痛,不仅造成婴儿近期的生理、行为紊乱,还将导致严重的远期后果,造成感知行为和神经功能上的损害;预防,诊断和综合干预可降低疼痛应激,有效阻断疼痛危害。     

衰弱量表在老年冠心病患者衰弱评估中的应用及其影响因素分析

目的:探讨三种衰弱评估量表对于老年冠心病患者衰弱病情评估的相关性及其影响因素。方法:选择2015年5月到2016年10月在老年医学中心确诊的120例冠心病患者作为研究对象,收集患者的临床资料,用Fried衰弱评分、临床衰弱量表(CFS)、爱特蒙特衰弱量表(EFS)对每位患者进行衰弱评估,将三种量表的评估结果进行相关性分析。结果:Fried评分、CFS评分与EFS评分判定为衰弱患者分别为6例、8例与14例,发生率为5.0%、6.7%和11.7%,组间对比无统计学意义,P0.05。直线相关分析显示Fried评分与CFS评分、EFS评分呈正向相关性(P0.05),对于冠心病患者衰弱评估具有一致性。对于冠心病衰弱程度评估中CFS评分与EFS评分之间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。Cox回归分析显示文化水平、心功能分级、居住情况与睡眠障碍为Fried评分的主要影响因素(P0.05)。结论:三种衰弱评估量表对于冠心病患者衰弱病情评估具有一致性,但具有不同的临床应用价值;患者的文化水平、心功能分级、居住情况与睡眠障碍与衰弱的发生有相关性。     

腹部肿瘤术后切口疼痛护理的满意度及相关因素的研究

目的:探讨腹部肿瘤患者对术后腹部切口疼痛的护理满意度及与之相关因素,以此提出有效的疼痛护理对策.方法:应用问卷调查法选取哈尔滨医科大学附属第四医院肿瘤外科腹部肿瘤手术住院病人161例为研究对象.研究工具包括简明疼痛量表和疼痛护理满意度量表.结果:手术病人对腹部切口疼痛护理的满意度评分为3.62± 0.31,表明患者对疼痛护理的满意度介于一般和满意之间.其中得分最高的是技术能力维度,教育关系维度在疼痛护理满意度中得分最低.结论:护理人员应积极主动关心手术病人,为手术病人提供关于术后疼痛知识的教育,以便减轻术后患者切口疼痛的强度,提高手术病人对疼痛护理的满意度.     

血清肿瘤坏死因子α水平与肺癌患者疼痛程度的相关性研究

目的:探究肺癌患者血清肿瘤坏死因子α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)水平与其疼痛程度的相关性。方法:选取2015年1月-2018年1月于我院进行治疗的53例肺癌患者为研究组,另选取60例同期于我院进行体格检查的健康个体为对照组,对比两组研究对象血清TNF-α水平,使用视觉模拟量表(visual analogue scale,VAS)评估研究组患者的疼痛度,分析研究组患者的VAS评分、临床病理特征与其血清TNF-α水平的相关性。结果:(1)研究组VAS评分及血清TNF-α水平均明显高于对照组(P0.05);(2)肺癌患者血清TNF-α水平与其VAS评分之间呈显著正相关(r=0.986,P0.05);(3)肺癌患者血清TNF-α水平与其临床分期、浸润深度、是否存在淋巴结转移均显著相关(P0.05),但与其年龄、性别无显著相关性(P0.05)。结论:肺癌患者血清TNF-α水平与其疼痛度呈正相关,通过检测肺癌患者血清TNF-α水平可辅助评估其疼痛度及临床预后。     

中国医院住院患者体验和满意监测量表的信效度评价

目的 评价“中国医院住院患者体验和满意监测量表”的信度与效度,为改进量表、推广应用提供依据。方法 采用邮寄方式对出院患者进行问卷调查,使用SPSS数据分析软件,分别对量表的内部一致性、折半信度、内容效度及结构效度进行评价。结果 量表总体Cronbach’s ɑ系数为0.956,所包含6个维度的Cronbach’s ɑ系数均大于0.8。分半信度为0.971。各条目与量表总体的相关系数介于0.51~0.79之间。以所有条目为变量进行因子分析,共提取5个公因子,其累计贡献率为66.2%,各条目至少在其中一个公因子上负荷值大于0.4。结论 量表具有良好的信度和效度,适用于中国医院住院患者满意度的测评。     

咪达唑仑联合舒芬太尼在ICU机械通气患者中的应用效果观察

目的探讨咪达唑仑联合舒芬太尼在ICU机械通气患者中的镇静效果。方法选取我科2017年1～12月行机械通气患者60例为研究对象,随机分为观察组和对照组各30例,观察组采用咪达唑仑联合舒芬太尼镇静,对照组单纯采用咪达唑仑镇静,并采用Ramsay镇静评分法评估两组患者治疗前后的镇静效果以及治疗前后呼吸、循环指标变化情况。结果观察组患者镇静后Ramsay评分高于对照组,且观察组患者镇静后心率、呼吸、PCO_2较对照组明显下降,SpO_2、PO_2较对照组明显改善,组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 ICU机械通气患者使用咪达唑仑联合舒芬太尼的镇静效果显著,且安全性高,并发症发生率低,有利改善患者预后。     

新生儿呼吸机相关性肺炎病原菌分布及其耐药性分析

目的了解新生儿重症监护室(NICU)患者呼吸机相关性肺炎(VAP)的病原菌特点及其耐药性,探讨其相应的防治措施,为针对VAP患者的抗菌药物治疗提供依据。方法选择蚌埠医学院第一附属医院2015年1月至2017年1月NICU中使用呼吸机机械通气的57例患儿为研究对象,采用回顾性分析方法统计确诊为VAP的患儿的临床资料、病原菌构成,并对病原菌耐药情况进行分析。结果共检出44株病原菌,革兰阴性菌所占比例为100.00%,未检出革兰阳性菌。检出率前3位的致病菌依次为鲍曼不动杆菌(36.36%,16/44),铜绿假单胞菌(25.00%,11/44),肺炎克雷伯杆菌(20.45%,9/44)。药敏试验结果显示,病原菌对氨苄西林/舒巴坦、头孢他啶、头孢唑啉等均耐药,且对亚胺培南、头孢曲松的药物敏感性明显下降。出生体重、1min Apgar评分、插管次数、住院时间、机械通气时间、胎龄、母亲年龄、原发疾病为新生儿VAP发生的独立危险因素。结论新生儿VAP致病菌以革兰阴性菌为主,且耐药率较高。新生儿VAP的发生与出生体重、胎龄、机械通气时间、插管次数等因素有关。     

机械通气新生儿撤机失败的危险因素分析及预防对策探讨

摘要 目的：分析机械通气新生儿撤机失败的危险因素,并探讨预防对策。方法：回顾性选取2018年4月~2021年3月在我院接受机械通气治疗的256例新生儿的临床资料。根据是否发生撤机失败将患儿分为撤机成功组与撤机失败组。撤机失败的影响因素采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析,并探讨预防对策。结果：256例接受机械通气的新生儿中,有29例发生撤机失败,撤机失败率为11.33%。单因素分析结果显示：撤机成功组与撤机失败组在胎龄、出生体重、Apgar评分、产伤情况、呼吸机相关性肺炎、多脏器功能损害、肺部感染、败血症、营养支持、撤机时血氧分压（PO₂）、撤机时心率、撤机时二氧化碳分压（PCO₂）方面对比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：撤机时PO₂偏低、撤机时心率较高、撤机时PCO₂较高、多脏器功能损害、无营养支持、伴有肺部感染、发生呼吸机相关性肺炎、胎龄＜37周是导致机械通气新生儿撤机失败的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：导致机械通气新生儿撤机失败的危险因素较多,临床应针对危险因素进行干预,并在撤机前进行充分评估以减少撤机失败率。     

母乳吸吮对新生儿足跟采血所致疼痛的作用

目的：研究母乳吸吮对新生儿足跟采血所致疼痛的影响。方法：选取产科接受足跟采血筛查的新生儿80例为研究对象,随机分为干预组和对照组各40例。对照组按照常规进行足跟采血,干预组在足跟采血前2分钟和采血结束后8分钟持续母乳吸吮。通过对两组新生儿的心率、血氧饱和度、疼痛面容、哭啼等指标的观察和比较,评估母乳吸吮对新生儿足跟采血疼痛的影响。结果：两组采血前、中、后不同时间点心率差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;干预组采血过程中和采血结束后1-6分钟的血氧饱和度均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;干预组采血结束后血氧饱和度恢复时间也显著长于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;干预组疼痛面容和哭啼开始的时间晚于对照组,持续的时间也显著短于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：母乳吸吮可有效缓解新生儿足跟采血所致的疼痛。     

右美托米定对慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期患者镇静效果的临床观察

目的:探讨右美托咪定对慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期(AECOPD)患者机械通气的镇静效果和安全性。方法:选取2012年6月-2014年9月在我院接受气管插管呼吸机辅助通气治疗的AECOPD患者62例,并将其随机分为实验组和对照组。其中,对照组患者给予常规治疗,实验组在常规治疗的基础上给予右美托咪镇痛。观察和比较两组患者机械通气持续时间、ICU停住时间、呼吸机相关性肺炎(VAP)、心动过缓和谵妄的发生率。结果:实验组患者机械通气时间及ICU停住时间均明显短于对照组,VAP、心动过缓及谵妄的发生率均显著低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:右美托咪定对行机械通气慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期患者良好的镇静效果,且安全性高,值得临床推广。     

Internal consistency and convergent and divergent validity of the Liverpool jetlag questionnaire

ABSTRACT

Objective measures of circadian disruption are difficult to capture in a free-living environment hence the importance of validating subjective measures of jetlag. We aimed to assess the internal consistency of the 15-item Liverpool Jetlag Scale and its convergent and divergent validity with indicators of fatigue and anxiety in a large sample of air passengers. Online survey of passengers was conducted after travel on a range of long-haul flights. Jetlag was captured using the Liverpool scale, fatigue was measured using the Vitality subscale of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the presence of anxiety or worry before, during, and after flight was self-reported. Inter-item correlations and Cronbach’s alpha were calculated to assess the internal consistency of the scale. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine whether the scale was consistent with one underlying construct of circadian disruption. Correlations between fatigue and anxiety (flying, situational, symptoms) with jetlag were used to assess convergent and divergent validity. Linear regression was used to determine the most important symptoms contributing to subjective jetlag rating. N = 460 passengers (57% female, mean age 50, SD 16 years) were surveyed. Cronbach’s alpha indicated high internal reliability (alpha = 0.85). Jetlag was more strongly correlated with fatigue (rho = 0.47) than any type of anxiety (rho = 0.10–0.22). Exploratory factor analysis indicated responses were consistent with four factors: (i) fatigue/daytime impairment, (ii) sleep disturbance, (iii) changes in appetite and (iv) changes in bowel function. Regression analysis indicated that only changes in concentration, sleep time, fatigue, sleep quality and frequency of bowel motions were independent correlates of subjective jetlag (R² = 27%). The Liverpool Jetlag Scale is internally consistent and demonstrates the expected relationships with fatigue and anxiety. Patterns of response are not consistent with all items being derived from one underlying factor, i.e. circadian disruption. Further, not all items contributed to the jetlag rating, suggesting the single-item rating may be useful for capturing the subjective experience of jetlag, whilst a total jetlag score is useful for also capturing circadian symptoms considered by passengers to be unrelated to jetlag. Validation of subjective jetlag against objective measures of circadian disruption is required.     

肺超声评分在预测新生儿肺不张疾病中的临床价值

摘要 目的：探讨肺超声评分在预测新生儿肺不张疾病中的临床价值。方法：2018年3月到2021年4月选择在本院新生儿重症监护病房(neonatal intensive care unit，NICU)诊治的83例新生儿肺不张疾病作为肺不张组，同期选择在本院出生的无呼吸系统疾病新生儿83例作为对照组，所有新生儿都给予肺超声，记录超声特征并进行肺超声评分，判断肺超声诊断价值与预测预测新生儿肺不张疾病的效果。结果：肺不张组的肺超声评分高于对照组(P<0.05)。在166例新生儿中，肺超声判断为肺不张82例，肺超声诊断新生儿肺不张疾病的敏感性与特异性分别为100.0%(82/82)和98.8%(83/84)。在166例新生儿中，Spearsman相关性分析显示新生儿肺不张疾病与肺超声评分存在相关性(r=0.633，P=0.000)。受试者工作特征(Receiver operating characteristics，ROC)曲线分析显示肺超声评分预测新生儿肺不张疾病肺炎曲线下面积(Area under the curve，AUC)为0.888(95%CI=1.472-3.572)。新生儿肺不张疾病在肺超声上主要表现为胸膜线增厚并模糊，粗糙不平，A线存在，肺滑动征消失，多发典型B线与多发融合B线。结论：肺超声是简便、无放射性损伤、准确的检查方法，肺超声评分能有效预测新生儿肺不张疾病中的发生，也能提高对新生儿肺不张疾病的诊断效果。     

肌内效贴联合经皮神经电刺激对脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者肩关节疼痛、肩关节功能和血液流变学的影响

摘要 目的：探讨肌内效贴联合经皮神经电刺激（TENS）对脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者肩关节疼痛、肩关节功能和血液流变学的影响。方法：选取2019年5月~2022年1月期间江苏省人民医院收治的脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者100例,根据随机数字表法将其分为对照组（n=50）和研究组（n=50）,在常规康复训练的基础上,对照组接受肌内效贴干预,研究组接受肌内效贴联合TENS干预。对比两组视觉模拟评分法（VAS）评分、上肢Fugl-Meyer运动功能评定量表（FMA）、改良Barthel指数（MBI）、Constant-Murley肩关节功能评分量表（CMS）评分、血液流变学指标、肩关节功能变化情况。结果：研究组干预后VAS评分低于同期对照组（P<0.05）。研究组干预后FMA、MBI、CMS评分高于同期对照组（P<0.05）。研究组干预后血浆黏度、纤维蛋白原、全血黏度、红细胞压积均低于同期对照组（P<0.05）。研究组干预后患侧肩关节的外旋、前屈、外展的主动/被动活动度（AROM/PROM）均大于对照组同期（P<0.05）。结论：肌内效贴联合TENS应用于脑卒中后偏瘫肩痛患者,可有效改善肩关节疼痛、肩关节功能和血液流变学。     

Evaluating a sensitive issue: reliability of a clinical evaluation for allodynia severity

Abstract

Purpose/Aim: Allodynia is a common feature of neuropathic pain with few validated clinical evaluation options. We identified a need to estimate the measurement properties of the standardised evaluation procedure for static mechanical allodynia severity popularised by the somatosensory rehabilitation of pain method, known as the rainbow pain scale. This study (www.clinicaltrials.gov. NCT02070367) undertook preliminary investigation of the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the rainbow pain scale.

Methods: Persons with pain in one upper extremity after Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a peripheral nerve injury or a recent hand fracture were recruited for assessment of static mechanical allodynia threshold using calibrated monofilaments by two raters at baseline, and repeated assessment one week later.

Results: Single measures estimates suggested inter-rater reliability was substantial for the rainbow pain scale [intra-class correlation coefficient?=?0.78 (n?=?31), p?<?0.001]. Test-retest reliability was also excellent at with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.87 [n?=?28, p?<?0.001]. However, confidence intervals suggest the true values could be more moderate, with lower bounds of the 95% confidence interval at 0.60 and 0.74, respectively.

Conclusions: This pilot study has generated preliminary support for the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the rainbow pain scale. Future studies should seek to increase confidence in estimates of reliability, and estimate validity and responsiveness to change in persons with somatosensory disorders.     

The Relationship between Empathy,Perception of Pain and Attitudes toward Pets among Norwegian Dog Owners

ABSTRACT

Anthropomorphism, attachment level, and belief in animal mind, as well as owners' level of empathy and attitudes toward their pets, are some of the factors that affect human–animal interactions. Owners' ability to identify painful conditions in their pets may have important consequences for the welfare of these animals. In addition to characterizing the typical Norwegian dog owner, the aim of this work was to study the relationship between empathy, attitudes, and perceived animal pain. A sample of 3,413 dog owners in Norway received an internet-based questionnaire (QuestBack?), to which1896 responded. The questionnaire included four parts: demographics, the Pet Attitude Scale (PAS), the Animal Empathy Scale (AES), and the Pain Assessment Instrument (PAI). For the PAI, participants were presented with 17 photos, showing dogs experiencing painful situations of varying degrees, and were asked to rate the level of pain they believed each animal was enduring, using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results showed that Norwegian dog owners had very high levels of animal-directed empathy and equally high levels of positive attitudes toward pets. There were differences based on gender, childhood pet keeping, income and education. Differences were also found rooted in owners' use of their dog, whether kept for companionship or hunting, as well as household size, an indication of human social relations. A strong, positive correlation (r = 0.58) was found between animal-directed empathy and positive attitudes toward pets. Empathy was found to be the best predictor of how people rated pain in dogs. The correlations were, however, moderate, indicating that other processes are also involved when observing animals in pain.     

高龄孕妇分娩新生儿出生体重及出院转归的影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨高龄孕妇分娩新生儿出生体重及出院转归的影响因素。方法：选择2021年01月到2022年01月与我院就诊的198例产妇作为研究对象,根据孕妇分娩时的年龄分为观察组和对照组,分娩时年龄满35周岁为高龄产妇组（98例）,分娩时年龄为20~34周岁为适龄组（100例）。比较适龄孕妇和高龄孕妇新生儿出生体重情况和新生儿住院时间,对高龄孕妇新生儿体重和新生儿出院转归影响因素进行Logistic单因素分析和多因素分析。结果：与适龄孕妇相比,高龄孕妇新生儿低出生体重儿、巨大儿发生率更高（P<0.05）,新生儿住院时间明显更长（P<0.05）。对高龄孕妇新生儿体重进行单因素分析结果显示,妊娠糖尿病、产检检查、分娩方式、是否使用催产素、分娩时麻醉方式和脐带情况与高龄孕妇新生儿体重无关（P>0.05）,孕妇年龄、孕前BMI、孕期体重增加情况、妊娠高血压、合并其他疾病状况、孕次、产次、羊水情况与高龄孕妇新生儿体重相关（P<0.05）。进行Logistic多因素回归分析结果显示,孕妇年龄、孕前BMI、孕期体重增加情况、孕次、产次、羊水情况是影响高龄孕妇新生儿出生体重的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。对新生儿出院转归情况进行单因素分析结果显示,胎次、开奶时间、喂养方式和有无接受治疗与新生儿出院转归无相关性（P>0.05）,胎龄、出生体重、Apgar评分、出生窒息史、有无伴发疾病与新生儿转归相关（P<0.05）。进行Logistic多因素分析结果显示,胎龄、出生体重、Apgar评分、出生窒息史、有无伴发病是影响新生儿出院转归的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：孕妇年龄、孕前BMI、孕期体重增加情况、孕次、产次、羊水情况是影响高龄孕妇新生儿出生体重的独立危险因素。新生儿出院转归受到胎龄、出生体重、Apgar评分、出生窒息史、有无伴发病影响。     

改良HEART评分法对急诊胸痛患者分层治疗的指导价值研究

目的:研究改良HEART评分法对急诊胸痛患者分层治疗的指导价值。方法:选择我院急诊科收治的急性胸痛患者197例,根据疾病分为心源性胸痛组(n=132)和非心源性胸痛组(n=65),所有患者均行改良HEART评分和传统HEART评分,并根据评分进行危险分层,比较患者去向,建立受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线,评价HEART评分对危险分层和预后预测的价值。结果:心源性胸痛组改良HEART评分和常规HEART评分均高于非心源性胸痛组,两组改良HEART评分和常规HEART评分比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。改良HEART评分低危者100%未住院,中危62.71%住院,高危住院、入ICU的构成比例为73.17%、36.59%;HEART评分低危11.11%住院,中危住院、入ICU的构成比例为57.38%、6.56%,高危住院、入ICU的构成比例为68.57%、31.43%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。改良HEART评分用于对心源性胸痛患者分层的AUC值为0.916,敏感度为0.883,明显高于HEART评分的0.831和0.765。结论:改良HEART评分法可提高急诊胸痛患者分层的准确性,对指导患者去向和治疗价值较高。     

Association between ABO blood types and pain perception

Aim of the study: Pain perception is associated with different phenotypic characteristics such as sex, eye, and hair color. Hence, it is assumed that ABO blood type can also affect pain perception.

Materials and methods: In order to investigate this hypothesis, an experimental study with healthy volunteers (18–40?years) was designed. The experimental procedure included a blood type test and two rounds of pressure pain threshold assessments separated by a cold pressor test. Pressure pain threshold was assessed bilaterally at the temporalis, masseter, and deltoid muscles, where the muscle sites were randomized. Cold pressor test was conducted by immersion of participants’ non-dominant hand into iced water of 1–4?°C for 2?min.

Results: Thirty-seven healthy volunteers, distributed in the four blood type groups, completed the study. Participants with blood type B scored the highest pressure pain thresholds at the examined craniofacial muscles, while participants with blood type AB tended to score the lowest. Furthermore, participants with blood type AB displayed the highest elevation in pressure pain thresholds after cold pressor test.

Conclusions: Participants with blood type B displayed the lowest mechanical pain sensitivity and the blood type AB group exhibited the strongest conditioned pain modulation effect. These findings emphasize the necessity of considering ABO blood types in future pain research.     

A new look at neurobehavioral development in rhesus monkey neonates (Macaca mulatta)

The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) evaluates a newborn infant's autonomic, motor, state, temperament, and social-attentional systems, which can help to identify infants at risk of developmental problems. Given the prevalence of rhesus monkeys being used as an animal model for human development, here we aimed to validate a standardized test battery modeled after the NBAS for use with nonhuman primates called the Infant Behavioral Assessment Scale (IBAS), employing exploratory structural equation modeling using a large sample of rhesus macaque neonates (n = 1,056). Furthermore, we examined the repeated assessments of the common factors within the same infants to describe any changes in performance over time, taking into account two independent variables (infant sex and rearing condition) that can potentially affect developmental outcomes. Results revealed three factors (Orientation, State Control, and Motor Activity) that all increased over the 1st month of life. While infant sex did not have an effect on any factor, nursery-rearing led to higher scores on Orientation but lower scores on State Control and Motor Activity. These results validate the IBAS as a reliable and valuable research tool for use with rhesus macaque infants and suggest that differences in rearing conditions can affect developmental trajectories and potentially pre-expose infants to heightened levels of cognitive and emotional deficiencies.     

Neonatal brain: Fabrication of a tissue-mimicking phantom and optimization of clinical Τ1w and T2w MRI sequences at 1.5 T

PurposeTο fabricate a tissue-mimicking phantom simulating the MR relaxation times of neonatal gray and white matter at 1.5 T, for the optimization of clinical Τ1 weighted (T1w) and T2 weighted (T2w) sequences.MethodsNumerous agarose gel solutions, doped with paramagnetic Gadopentetic acid (Gd-DTPA) ions, underwent quantitative relaxometry with a Turbo-Inversion-Recovery Spin-Echo (TIRSE) sequence and a Car-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence for T1 and T2 measurements, respectively. Twenty samples which simulated the spectrum of relaxation times of neonatal brain parenchyma were selected. Reproducibility was tested by refabrication and relaxometry of the relevant samples while stability was tested by six sets of quantitative relaxometry scans during a 12-month period.Results“Neonatal gray matter equivalent”(0.6%w/v agarose-0.10 mM Gd-DTPA), accurately mimicked relaxation times of neonatal gray matter: T1 = (1134 ± 7)ms, T2 = (200 ± 7)ms. “Neonatal white matter equivalent”(0.3%w/v agarose-0.03 mM Gd-DTPA), accurately mimicked relaxation times of neonatal white matter: T1 = (1654 ± 9)ms, T2 = (376 ± 4)ms. Coefficient of variation of T1 and T2 relaxation times measurements remained less than 5% during 12 months. Sequences were modified according to maximum relative contrast (RC) between neonatal gray and white matter equivalents. Optimized T2wTSE and T1wTSE parameters were TR/TE = 9500 ms/280 ms and TR/TE = 1200 ms/10 ms, respectively for a MAGNETOM Vision/Sonata Hybrid 1.5 T system. Quantitative relaxometry at different 1.5 T MR systems resulted in inter-system T1, T2 measurement deviations of 12% and 3%, respectively.ConclusionA precise, stable and reproducible phantom for the neonatal brain was fabricated. Subsequent optimization of clinical T1w and T2w sequences based on maximum RC between neonatal gray and white matter equivalents was scientifically supported with robust relaxometry. The procedure was applicable in different 1.5 T systems.HighlightTR & TE optimization of neonatal brain at 1.5 T was based on relaxometry of a stable, reproducible phantom.