母婴同室新生儿皮肤菌群分析

目的 了解母婴同室新生儿皮肤菌群及皮肤感染致病菌情况,为医院感染管理提供依据。方法 选取我院母婴同室区2017年3月至7月出生的新生儿,对新生儿出生5 min内、出生24 h后第1次沐浴前、出生48 h后第2次沐浴前、出生72 h后第3次沐浴前及皮肤感染部位使用琼脂直接接触培养（RODCA）法采样并将采样平皿送入检验科微生物室进行培养观察。结果 本研究共纳入157例新生儿,其中23例新生儿发生皮肤感染。随着出生时间的增加,检出的细菌菌落数显著增加,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。新生儿出生5 min内无细菌生长,出生5 min之后主要检出表皮葡萄球菌（320株）、微球菌（118株）和枯草芽胞杆菌（96株）。阴道分娩新生儿皮肤感染发生率低于剖宫产新生儿（P＜0.05）,其感染部位致病微生物为表皮葡萄球菌（18株）。结论 我院母婴同室区无外来致病菌,不会造成医院感染的暴发。新生儿出生后72 h内是皮肤感染的高危时间段,医院感染管理者应高度重视。     

A comparison of hexachlorophene and Lactacyd on growth of skin flora in healthy term newborn infants

Reports of toxicity from the routine bathing of newborn infants with hexachlorophene resulted in discontinuing its use in the newborn nurseries of the Ottawa Civic Hospital, only to be followed by an outbreak of skin infections. As a result, a controlled trial of bathing newborn babies with either Lactacyd or pHisoHex was begun. The efficacy of the soaps was evaluated by comparing the colonization of the nose and umbilical cords of 158 pHisoHex-washed babies and 156 Lactacyd-washed babies on the day of discharge from hospital. The gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial flora of nose and cord of infants washed with pHisoHex and Lactacyd were identical in frequency and distribution.     

Decrease in heart rates by artificial CO2 hot spring bathing is inhibited by beta1-adrenoceptor blockade in anesthetized rats.

To investigate the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) hot spring baths on physiological functions, head-out immersion of urethane-anesthetized, fursheared male Wistar rats was performed. Animals were immersed in water (30 or 35 degrees C) with high-CO2 content ( approximately 1,000 parts/million; CO2-water). CO2-water for bathing was made by using an artificial spa maker with normal tap water and high-pressure CO2 from a gas cylinder. When a human foot was immersed for 10 min in the CO2-water at 35 degrees C, the immersed skin reddened, whereas skin color did not change in normal tap water at the same temperature. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate (HR), underwater skin tissue blood flow, and temperatures of the colon and immersed skin were continuously measured while animals were immersed in a bathtub of water for approximately 30 min at room temperature (26 degrees C). Immersed skin vascular resistance, computed from blood pressure and tissue blood flow, was significantly lower in the CO2-water bath than in tap water at 30 degrees C, but no differences were apparent at 35 degrees C. HR of rats in CO2-water was significantly slower than in tap water at 35 degrees C. Decreased HR in CO2-water was inhibited by infusion of atenolol (beta1-adrenoceptor blocker), but it was unaffected by atropine (muscarinic cholinoceptor blocker). Theses results suggest that bradycardia in CO2 hot spring bathing is caused by inhibition of the cardiac sympathetic innervation. This CO2-water maker should prove a useful device for acquiring physiological evidence of balneotherapy.     

Acute effects of a single warm-water bath on serum adiponectin and leptin levels in healthy men: A pilot study

To preliminarily assess the acute effects of a single warm-water bath (WWB) on serum adipokine activity, we measured serum adiponectin, leptin and other metabolic profiles before, immediately after and 30 minutes after WWB in seven healthy male volunteers (mean age, 39.7 ± 6.0 years; mean body mass index, 21.6 ± 1.8 kg/m(2)). The subjects were immersed in tap water at 41°C for 10 minutes. Two weeks later, the same subjects underwent a single WWB with a bath additive that included inorganic salts and carbon dioxide (WWB with ISCO(2)) by the same protocol as for the first WWB. Leptin levels significantly increased immediately after WWB with tap water and ISCO(2) (both P < 0.05), and remained significantly higher than those at baseline even 30 minutes after WWB with tap water (P < 0.05). Adiponectin levels showed a slight, but not significant, increase both immediately after and 30 minutes after WWB with tap water or ISCO(2). Some parameters, such as serum total cholesterol, red blood cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit significantly increased immediately after WWB with tap water or ISCO(2) (all P < 0.05), but they all returned to the baseline levels 30 minutes after bathing under both conditions. The sublingual temperature rose significantly after 10 minutes of WWB with tap water (0.96 ± 0.16°C relative to baseline, P < 0.01) and after the same duration of WWB with ISCO(2) (1.24 ± 0.34°C relative to baseline, P < 0.01). These findings suggest that a single WWB at 41°C for 10 minutes may modulate leptin and adiponectin profiles in healthy men.     

Active sodium uptake by the toad and its response to the antidiuretic hormone

A method has been described in which sodium uptake may be studied in the intact, anesthetized toad. Sodium uptake is determined by "counting" the whole animal in a special chamber after suspending it in a frog Ringer bath containing radioactive Na²⁴. The effects of subcutaneous injection of the neurohypophyseal antidiuretic factor were studied with these results: 1. There was a pronounced increase in sodium influx following treatment with the hormone. 2. Sodium outflux was small in both experimental and control animals. 3. There was an increase in water uptake in both experimental and control animals after 1 hour in the bathing solution. This increase was greater in the experimental toads in which it is believed to be related, at least in part, to sodium transport. 4. Potentiometric measurements were made on the skin membrane potential of the whole animal while suspended in bathing solutions. These results were in essential agreement with those found for isolated frog skin. However, there was no apparent influence of the antidiuretic factor on the skin potential.     

A randomized double blind crossover placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the effects of a mouthwash containing chlorine dioxide on oral malodor

Background

Each year in the UK 2000 children attend emergency departments and 500 are admitted to hospital following a bath water scald. The long term effects can include disability, disfigurement or psychological harm and repeated skin grafts may be required as the child grows. The costs of treating a severe scald are estimated at 250,000 GBP. Children living in the most deprived wards are at greatest risk of thermal injuries; hospital admission rates are three times that for children living in the least deprived wards. Domestic hot water, which is usually stored at around 60 degrees Celsius, can result in a second-degree burn after 3 seconds and a third-degree burn after 5 seconds. Educational strategies to encourage testing of tap water temperature and reduction of hot water thermostat settings have largely proved unsuccessful. Legislation in the USA mandating pre-setting hot water heater thermostats at 49 degrees Celsius was effective in reducing scald injuries, suggesting passive measures may have a greater impact. Thermostatic mixer valves (TMVs), recently developed for the domestic market, fitted across the hot and cold water supply pipes of the bath, allow delivery of water set at a fixed temperature from the hot bath tap. These valves therefore offer the potential to reduce scald injuries.

Design/Methods

A pragmatic, randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of TMVs in reducing bath hot tap water temperatures in the homes of families with young children in rented social housing. Two parallel arms include an intervention group and a control group where the intervention will be deferred. The intervention will consist of fitting a TMV (set at 44 degrees Celsius) by a qualified plumber and provision of educational materials. The control arm will not receive a TMV or the educational materials for the study duration but will be offered the intervention after collection of follow-up data 12 months post randomisation. The primary outcome measure will be the bath hot tap water temperature. Fifteen families per arm are required to detect a reduction in the mean bath hot tap water temperature from 60.4 degrees Celsius (SD 9.1) in the control group to 46 degrees Celsius in the intervention group, with 90% power and a 5% significance level (2 sided). Secondary outcome measures including acceptability will require a sample size of 120 participants.

Discussion

Whilst TMVs have the potential to reduce scald injuries, to date there have been no randomised controlled trials assessing their effectiveness, acceptability and cost effectiveness.

Trial Registration

ISRCTN21179067     

Physiological functions of the effects of the different bathing method on recovery from local muscle fatigue

Background

Recently, mist saunas have been used in the home as a new bathing style in Japan. However, there are still few reports on the effects of bathing methods on recovery from muscle fatigue. Furthermore, the effect of mist sauna bathing on human physiological function has not yet been revealed. Therefore, we measured the physiological effects of bathing methods including the mist sauna on recovery from muscle fatigue.

Methods

The bathing methods studied included four conditions: full immersion bath, shower, mist sauna, and no bathing as a control. Ten men participated in this study. The participants completed four consecutive sessions: a 30-min rest period, a 10-min all out elbow flexion task period, a 10-min bathing period, and a 10-min recovery period. We evaluated the mean power frequency (MNF) of the electromyogram (EMG), rectal temperature (Tre), skin temperature (Tsk), skin blood flow (SBF), concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb), and subjective evaluation.

Results

We found that the MNF under the full immersion bath condition was significantly higher than those under the other conditions. Furthermore, Tre, SBF, and O2Hb under the full immersion bath condition were significantly higher than under the other conditions.

Conclusions

Following the results for the full immersion bath condition, the SBF and O2Hb of the mist sauna condition were significantly higher than those for the shower and no bathing conditions. These results suggest that full immersion bath and mist sauna are effective in facilitating recovery from muscle fatigue.     

Hyperiodothyroninaemia of neonates, its significance for thermogenesis

Danowski et al. (1951) were probably the first who showed an increase of PBI in infants shortly after birth. Later a number of investigators presented further evidence on the increased thyroid gland function in newborns. This condition named "neonatal thyroid hyperactivity" [Fisher and Oddie, 1964] was described also in animals. The available data indicate that all the newborn mammals till now studied, independently of the maturation stage of development they reach at birth, display some features of thyroid hyperactivity, but in some it does not lead to hyperiodothyroninaemia. Interspecies differences coincide well with significance of the thyroid hormones for neonatal thermogenesis. There are few sequential studies of the three principal iodothyronines: T4, T3 and rT3 available at present. The most comprehensive data concern infants, newborn lambs and pigs. Immediately after birth, there is a sudden rise in serum thyroid hormone concentrations, with some species differences related to the degree of the increase and to the iodothyronines involved. The course of the postnatal hyperiodothyroninaemia is dependent on the maturation level reached at birth, food intake, and cooling relative to extrauterine environment. At least five main factors contribute to the immediate postnatal hyperiodothyroninaemia: 1) abrupt depletion of the preformed fetal hormonal iodine stores; 2) preferential T3 secretion; 3) increase in the T4 to T3 monodeiodination in the peripheral tissues; 4) a release of thyroid hormone content from peripheral reservoirs to plasma, and 5) action of other hormone(s) concomitantly released at birth. From the point of view of the thermal adaptability, the newborn mammals fall into two distinct groups: first, in which immediately after birth the metabolic rate decreases, and second, in which the metabolic rate increases, after cooling. Our understanding of the role and significance of hormonal factors involved in mechanisms of the postnatal thermogenesis is incomplete. However, some similarities in adaptation to cold in adults and in newborns seem to be relevant. Cold adaptation is accomplished by development of nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) depending on NA. The presence of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is essential for NA thermogenic action. According to the common opinion, based on data from laboratory animals and human baby, non-shivering thermogenesis, but not shivering, predominates in newborns. However, data from domestic animals indicate that shivering thermogenesis may be of comparable or greater thermogenic capacity than NST at birth. Besides, there are some newborns which have little or no BAT and associated NST.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Evaluation of disinfective potential of reactivated free chlorine in pooled tap water by electrolysis

Tap water is one of the causative factors of hospital infections. We examined the disinfective potential of electrolysis and mechanism of disinfection, and clarified the disinfective effect of electrolysis on tap water contaminated with bacteria, and discussed its clinical applications. Tap waters artificially contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Legionella pneumophila, and Staphylococcus aureus could be sterilized by electrolysis at 20-30 mA for 5 min. A high-density suspension (10(6) CFU/ml) of a spore forming bacterium, Bacillus subtilis was not completely sterilized by electrolysis at 50 mA up to 30 min, but a low-density suspension (10(5) CFU/ml) was totally sterilized by electrolysis at 50 mA for 5 min. Electrolyzed P. aeruginosa changed morphologically, that is, there was bleb formation on the cell wall and irregular aggregation of cytoplasmic small granules. Moreover, cytoplasmic enzyme, nitrate reductase, was inactivated by the electrolysis. On the other hand, genomic DNA of the electrolyzed bacteria was not degenerated, therefore, their DNA polymerase activity was not completely inactivated. Consequently, the major agent in electrolysis for bactericidal action was considered to be free chlorine, and the possible bactericidal mechanism was by destruction of bacterial membranes, followed by the aggregation of peripheral cytoplasmic proteins. Electrolysis of tap water for both disinfecting contaminating bacteria and increasing the disinfectant capacity was considered effective with some limitations, particularly against high-density contamination by spore-forming bacteria. In clinical settings, electrolysis of tap water is considered effective to disinfect water for hand washing in operation theatres, and bathing water for immunocompromised hosts.     

令肤适洗液皮肤和阴道局部毒性研究

目的评价令肤适皮肤和阴道局部使用的安全性。方法采用皮肤急性毒性、皮肤刺激、皮肤过敏、阴道急性毒性和阴道刺激等试验方法。结果未见令肤适具有皮肤毒性、皮肤刺激作用和明显的阴道急性毒性反应;在阴道刺激试验中低剂量未引起阴道明显的刺激反应,高剂量可引起阴道粘膜炎细胞浸润、淤血、出血及溃疡等病理变化。结论令肤适皮肤使用较安全,阴道使用浓度不宜过高。     

Active biomonitoring with brown trout and rainbow trout in diluted sewage plant effluents

Brown trout Salmo trutta populations of numerous Swiss rivers are declining. Sewage plant effluents are discussed as a possible cause. To investigate the influence of sewage plant effluents, brown trout as well as rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were exposed to 10% diluted waste water over a period of 12 months. The effects were compared to those on trout kept in commercial tap water. The mortality rate was low and no pathogenic bacteria or viruses were recorded in exposed and tap-water animals. Parasitological examination revealed a mild infestation with Gryodactylus sp. in all groups. Macroscopically and histologically, only minor changes in gills, skin, and kidney of exposed animals were found when compared to fish kept in tap water. Degenerative and inflammatory reactions in the liver of exposed animals were the most prominent findings. Several brown trout caught in the River Langete showed marked proliferative, degenerative and inflammatory lesions of gills, liver, and kidney. The results do not suggest that waste-water effects would explain the decrease of fish populations. However, it is conceivable that the effluents in combination with other factors in the river enhance the development of changes.     

Characteristics of staphylococci isolated from newborn infants

The microflora of the skin and the nasal mucosa was studied in 14 healthy newborns, 3 newborns with purulent infections and a nurse working in a neonatal ward. To make this study, washings were obtained with the use of 0.1% Triton X-100 solution. The determination of the number of microorganisms, the percentage of staphylococci, the percentage of lecithinase-positive staphylococci and the number of colonies with antagonistic properties revealed that these characteristics differed according to the state of health of the newborns and the time elapsed after their birth, and that changes in the number of antagonistically active bacteria occurred in parallel with changes in the total number of bacteria. Among S. aureus strains isolated from the subjects covered by the survey strains belonging to phagovar 80, as well as untyped strains, and among S. epidermidis strains those belonging to biovars I and II occurred most frequently. Strains belonging to the same biovar or phagovar differed in their plasmid markers.     

The intestinal microflora during the first weeks of life

Bacterial colonization of the neonatal gastrointestinal tract begins during birth when the neonate comes into contact with the maternal cervical and vaginal flora. In infants delivered by Caesarean section, bacteria colonizing the neonate gastrointestinal tract are provided by the environment. The first bacteria encountered in the majority of healthy infants, are facultative anaerobes, which remain predominant during the first 2 weeks of life. Among them, Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus were the genera most commonly isolated from the newborn faecal flora at birth. Facultative anaerobic bacteria are followed closely by Bifidobacterium sp. Clostridium perfringens is present within 2 days with an increase incidence in newborns delivered by a Caesarean section. Clostridium perfringens seems to be the precursor for installation of other anaerobic putrefactive bacteria, as Bacteroides and other Clostridium sp. The impact of Caesarean section and the period and quality of hospitalization are mainly implicated in changes of the normal newborn flora. Feeding seems to modulate the colonization pattern. In humans, breast milk plays a role in passive immunization of the neonatal intestine, and contains factors that promote the growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum in the intestinal flora. Formula feeding seems to promote implantation and persistence of Clostridium perfringens, and clearly enhances intestinal colonization of C. difficile in newborns.     

Prevention and Management of Neonatal Hypothermia in Rural Zambia

Background

Neonatal hypothermia is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for newborn survival. The World Health Organization recommends maintaining a warm chain and skin-to-skin care for thermoprotection of newborn children. Since little is known about practices related to newborn hypothermia in rural Africa, this study''s goal was to characterize relevant practices, attitudes, and beliefs in rural Zambia.

Methods and Findings

We conducted 14 focus group discussions with mothers and grandmothers and 31 in-depth interviews with community leaders and health officers in Lufwanyama District, a rural area in the Copperbelt Province, Zambia, enrolling a total of 171 participants. We analyzed data using domain analysis. In rural Lufwanyama, community members were aware of the danger of neonatal hypothermia. Caregivers'' and health workers'' knowledge of thermoprotective practices included birthplace warming, drying and wrapping of the newborn, delayed bathing, and immediate and exclusive breastfeeding. However, this warm chain was not consistently maintained in the first hours postpartum, when newborns are at greatest risk. Skin-to-skin care was not practiced in the study area. Having to assume household and agricultural labor responsibilities in the immediate postnatal period was a challenge for mothers to provide continuous thermal care to their newborns.

Conclusions

Understanding and addressing community-based practices on hypothermia prevention and management might help improve newborn survival in resource-limited settings. Possible interventions include the implementation of skin-to-skin care in rural areas and the use of appropriate, low-cost newborn warmers to prevent hypothermia and support families in their provision of newborn thermal protection. Training family members to support mothers in the provision of thermoprotection for their newborns could facilitate these practices.     

Antibiotic sensitivity of gram-negative opportunistic bacteria isolated from the feces of newborn infants with intestinal infections

Antibiotic sensitivity of 136 pure cultures of gram negative aerobic potentially pathogenic bacteria was assayed. The bacteria were isolated from feces of newborns with intestinal infections. It was shown that the majority of the strains were resistant to 4-5 antibiotics widely used in treatment of patients. However, they were sensitive to gentamicin and polymyxin M.     

Effects of room temperature on physiological and subjective responses during whole-body bathing,half-body bathing and showering

The effects of bathroom thermal conditions on physiological and subjective responses were evaluated before, during, and after whole-body bath (W-bath), half-body bath (H-bath) and showering. The air temperature of the dressing room and bathroom was controlled at 10 degrees C, 17.5 degrees C, and 25 degrees C. Eight healthy males bathed for 10 min under nine conditions on separate days. The water temperature of the bathtub and shower was controlled at 40 degrees C and 41 degrees C, respectively. Rectal temperature (Tre), mean skin temperature (Tsk), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), body weight loss and blood characteristics (hematocrit: Hct, hemoglobin: Hb) were evaluated. Also, thermal sensation (TS), thermal comfort (TC) and thermal acceptability (TA) were recorded. BP decreased rapidly during W-bath and H-bath compared to showering. HR during W-bath was significantly higher than for H-bath and showering (p < 0.01). The double products due to W-bath during bathing were also greater than for H-bath and showering (p < 0.05). There were no distinct differences in Hct and Hb among the nine conditions. However, significant differences in body weight loss were observed among the bathing methods: W-bath > H-bath > showering (p < 0.001). W-bath showed the largest increase in Tre and Tsk, followed by H-bath, and showering. Significant differences in Tre after bathing among the room temperatures were found only at H-bath. The changes in Tre after bathing for H-bath at 25 degrees C were similar to those for W-bath at 17.5 degrees C and 10 degrees C. TS and TC after bathing significantly differed for the three bathing methods at 17.5 degrees C and 10 degrees C (TS: p < 0.01 TC: p < 0.001). Especially, for showering, the largest number of subjects felt "cold" and "uncomfortable". Even though all of the subjects could accept the 10 degrees C condition after W-bath, such conditions were intolerable to half of them after showering. These results suggested that the physiological strains during H-bath and showering were smaller than during W-bath. However, colder room temperatures made it more difficult to retain body warmth after H-bath and created thermal discomfort after showering. It is particularly important for H-bath and showering to maintain an acceptable temperature in the dressing room and bathroom, in order to bathe comfortably and ensure warmth.     

Body temperature of newborn cynomolgus monkeys

This report dealt with the change of body temperature (rectal temperature) in the newborn cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) with a view to take it as an index for their health conditions. The body temperatures of 183 newborn babies which were well cared for by their mothers was 33.0 to 37.7 degrees C about 10 hr after birth. On the other hand, the body temperatures of 21 newborn babies which were not well cared for by their mothers was very low, ranging from 24.1 to 34.8 degrees C. In five newborn monkeys which were well cared for, the body temperature averaged about 36 degrees C just after birth and then declined rapidly by 32 to 33 degrees C at 40 to 50 minutes after birth. Then it gradually began to rise, reaching 36 to 37 degrees C at 180 to 240 min after birth. In the other four newborn monkeys which were delivered by Caesarean section, the temperature was 37 to 38 degrees C just after birth. Then it decreased to 29 to 32 degrees C at 120 minutes after birth when the newborns remained singly in a cage without warming.     

High Compliance with Newborn Community-to-Facility Referral in Eastern Uganda:.An Opportunity to Improve Newborn Survival

Background

Seventy-five percent of newborn deaths happen in the first-week of life, with the highest risk of death in the first 24-hours after birth.WHO and UNICEF recommend home-visits for babies in the first-week of life to assess for danger-signs and counsel caretakers for immediate referral of sick newborns. We assessed timely compliance with newborn referrals made by community-health workers (CHWs), and its determinants in Iganga and Mayuge Districts in rural eastern Uganda.

Methods

A historical cohort study design was used to retrospectively follow up newborns referred to health facilities between September 2009 and August 2011. Timely compliance was defined as caretakers of newborns complying with CHWs’ referral advice within 24-hours.

Results

A total of 724 newborns were referred by CHWs of whom 700 were successfully traced. Of the 700 newborns, 373 (53%) were referred for immunization and postnatal-care, and 327 (47%) because of a danger-sign. Overall, 439 (63%) complied, and of the 327 sick newborns, 243 (74%) caretakers complied with the referrals. Predictors of referral compliance were; the newborn being sick at the time of referral- Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.3, and 95% Confidence-Interval (CI) of [1.6 - 3.5]), the CHW making a reminder visit to the referred newborn shortly after referral (AOR =1.7; 95% CI: [1.2 -2.7]); and age of mother (25-29) and (30-34) years, (AOR =0.4; 95% CI: [0.2 - 0.8]) and (AOR = 0.4; 95% CI: [0.2 - 0.8]) respectively.

Conclusion

Caretakers’ newborn referral compliance was high in this setting. The newborn being sick, being born to a younger mother and a reminder visit by the CHW to a referred newborn were predictors of newborn referral compliance. Integration of CHWs into maternal and newborn care programs has the potential to increase care seeking for newborns, which may contribute to reduction of newborn mortality.     

The effect of maternal and cord-blood vitamin C, vitamin E and lipid peroxide levels on newborn birth weight

Background Newborn birth weight has been shown to significantly correlate with the blood levels of vitamin C. Objective This study was planned to answer the question of why vitamin C levels correlate with birth weight; does such correlation reflect a protective effect of vitamin C on fetal growth, by its antioxidant characteristics or does it correspond to the nutritional status of both the mother and the fetus. We examined the hypothesis that maternal blood levels of vitamin C, but not vitamin E influence newborn birth weight. We determined maternal and newborn blood levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, and lipid peroxides (an index of oxidative insult) and the birth weights of full-term newborns delivered at our hospital. Results Compared with maternal blood levels, newborns have higher levels of vitamin C and lipid peroxides, but lower levels of vitamin E. There was a significant correlation in levels between mothers and their newborns for blood levels of vitamin C (r = 0.82, P < 0.01) and vitamin E (r = 0.61, P < 0.02) but not for lipid peroxides (r = 0.001). This suggests that maternal vitamin C and vitamin E intake can influence fetal vitamin C and vitamin E levels. Linear regression analysis shows a significant positive relationship between newborn birth weight and maternal plasma vitamin C (r = 0.51, P < 0.02). Similarly, there was a modest but significant positive relationship between newborn birth weights and newborn vitamin C levels (r = 0.61, P < 0.05). However, there was no relationship between maternal or fetal vitamin E or lipid peroxides levels and the newborn birth weight. Conclusions This study with a small number of subjects suggests a significant association between newborn birth weight and maternal and newborn plasma vitamin C levels. Lack of relationship between birth weight and vitamin E and lipid peroxides suggest that antioxidant function of vitamin C does not appear to have a major role in the effect of vitamin C on birth weight.     

Immature stimulus-secretion coupling in the developing exocrine pancreas and ontogenic changes of protein kinase C

Previous observations have shown unresponsiveness of pancreatic acini to cholecystokinin C-terminal octapeptide (CCK-8) and cholinergic agents in newborn rats. In this study, the possibility that a lack of protein kinase C may be one factor limiting the responsiveness of the acini was examined. In the term fetus and in newborns cytosolic protein kinase C activity was low. Shortly after birth, the activity increased rapidly and by 2 days of age reached adult levels which were 5-fold higher than that in the newborn. No differences in subcellular distribution of protein kinase C activity between the particulate and the cytosol fractions were found at any age studied. Developmental profiles of phorbol dibutyrate binding, an alternative method for measuring protein kinase C, were similar to those of protein kinase C activity measurements. Using stimulation of amylase secretion as an index of responsiveness, dispersed pancreatic acini of newborn rats were found to be unresponsive to TPA (a potent activator of protein kinase C) and CCK-8, but were responsive to dibutyryl cAMP and calcium ionophore A23187 (agents not dependent on protein kinase C activity). These results suggest that the low levels of pancreatic protein kinase C in newborn rats are at least in part responsible for the unresponsiveness of pancreatic acini to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and CCK-8.