Low species diversity and high interindividual variability in faeces of preterm infants as revealed by sequences of 16S rRNA genes and PCR-temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis profiles

Little information regarding the composition of the gut microbiota in preterm infants is available. The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial diversity in faeces of preterm infants, using analysis of randomly cloned 16S rRNA genes and PCR-TTGE (temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis) profiles, to determine whether noncultivated bacteria represented an important part of the community. The 288 clones obtained from faecal samples of 16 preterm infants were classified into 25 molecular species. All but one molecular species had a cultivated representative in public databases: molecular tools did not reveal any unexplored diversity. The mean number of molecular species per infant was 3.25, ranging from one to eight. There was a high interindividual variability. The main groups encountered were the Enterobacteriaceae family and the genera Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. Seven preterm infants were colonized by anaerobes and only four by bifidobacteria. TTGE profiles were composed of one to nine bands (mean value: 4.3). Furthermore, 51 of 59 clones (86%) comigrated with a band of the corresponding faecal sample. This study will form a comparative framework for other studies, e.g. on the faecal microbiota of preterm infants with different pathologies or the impact of diet on colonization.     

新生儿呼吸机相关性肺炎临床分析与防治对策

目的探讨新生儿呼吸机相关性肺炎的临床特点以及防治措施。方法59例患儿使用呼吸机机械通气进行治疗,分析与呼吸机相关性肺炎发生率情况、病原学检查结果、药敏试验结果以及转归情况。结果与呼吸机相关性肺炎者有30例,发生率为50．85％。从下呼吸道分泌物培养或管端培养出细菌29例。分析了病原菌种类与所占的比例,并给出了药敏试验结果。两组患儿治愈率相比具有统计学差异。结论采取综合的防治措施是降低呼吸机相关性肺炎发生的最佳方法。     

Plasma selenium in preterm and term infants during the first 12 months of life

The goal of the present study was to prospectively assess the plasma selenium (Se) concentrations of term and preterm infants during the first year of life in relation to gestational age and nutrition.

Blood specimens were collected from orally formula-fed preterm infants (gestational age < 32 weeks, birth weight < 1500 g): 1.) in hospital and 2.) corrected for gestational age parallel to healthy term breast and formula-fed infants at the ages of 1, 4 and 12 months. All infants were fed according to a standardized nutritional concept, solids and follow-up formula were introduced at the age of 4 months.

Plasma selenium in preterm infants in hospital was 11.7 (6.5–20.8) g/l and 11.6 (8.8–16.7) g/l at 4 weeks corrected for gestational age. At the age of 4 months plasma selenium was still significantly lower than in the other groups: Preterm infants: 17.1 (10.4–30.5) g/l; formula-fed term infants: 31.3 (24.3–47.5) g/l; breast-fed term infants: 45.6 (27.1–65.1) g/l). The levels of breast-fed infants were significantly higher than those of both formula-fed groups up until the introduction of solids.

Preterm infants had significantly low plasma selenium levels up until a postnatal age of at least 6 months. The levels were lower than those of term infants fed an identical unsupplemented infant formula during the first 4 months of life. These data support routine monitoring in hospital and selenium supplementation of preterm infants, preferably in hospital before discharge.     

Consequences of gene targeting procedures for behavioural responses and morphological development of newborn mice

In this study the effects of gene targeting procedures on the early behaviour and morphological development of the resulting offspring have been investigated. Six groups of mice, each having undergone a specific aspect of the biotechnological procedure, (including electroporation, microinjection and/or embryo culture) and one control group, were compared. Development of behaviour, morphological characteristics and body weight of the progeny were tested daily from birth to weaning (0–3 weeks) for all groups. No significant differences in behaviour or morphological development were observed. However, the occurrence of increased (perinatal) pup mortality and increased body weight in the procedural groups, indicates that during the production of gene targeted mice, some of the normal physiological and/or developmental processes can be affected. Therefore, gene targeting procedures should always be accompanied by careful monitoring of health and welfare of the resulting offspring.     

Correlation of urinary inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in very low birth weight infants with subsequent development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Abstract

Currently, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) occurs almost exclusively in pre-term infants. In addition to prematurity, other factors like oxygen toxicity and inflammation can contribute to the pathogenesis. This study aimed to compare urinary inflammatory and oxidative stress markers between the no/mild BPD group and moderate/severe BPD group and between BPD cases with significant early lung disease like respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (‘classic’ BPD) and with minimal early lung disease (‘atypical’ BPD). A total of 60 patients who were a gestational age < 30 weeks or a birth weight < 1250 g were included. Urine samples were obtained on the 1^st, 3^rd and 7^th day of life and measured the levels of leukotriene E₄ (LTE₄) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). The 8-OHdG values on the 3^rd day showed significant correlation to duration of mechanical ventilation. The 8-OHdG levels on the 7^th day were the independent risk factor for developing moderate/severe BPD. In ‘classic’ BPD, the 8-OHdG values on the 3^rd day were higher than those of ‘atypical’ BPD. In ‘atypical’ BPD, the LTE₄ values on the 7^th day were higher than the values in ‘classic’ BPD. These results suggest that oxidative DNA damage could be the crucial mechanism in the pathogenesis of current BPD and the ongoing inflammatory process could be an important mechanism in ‘atypical’ BPD.     

Bifidobacteria-mediated immune system imprinting early in life

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非药物治疗极低出生体重儿喂养不耐受的临床观察

目的:将非药物性干预措施与传统药物方法治疗极低出生体重儿喂养不耐受的临床疗效进行观察比较。方法:选取哈尔滨医科大学附属第二医院2011年1月至2013年4月出生的喂养不耐受极低出生体重儿110例。按入院顺序随机分为药物治疗组(MED)55例、非药物治疗组(NON-MED)55例。药物治疗组采用红霉素;非药物治疗组采用腹部按摩法与非营养性吸吮。结果:两组患儿经治疗后,MED组腹胀消失天数(4.4±0.5)、呕吐天数(2.2±0.5)、每日呕吐次数(3.5±0.8)、胃潴留量占每日喂养量(18.3±0.8)、达全肠道喂养天数(8.2±0.7);NON-MED组腹胀消失天数(3.7±0.1)、呕吐天数(1.9±0.6)、每日呕吐次数(2.8±0.1)、胃潴留量占每日喂养量(12.6±0.4)、达全肠道喂养天数(6.1±0.3)。各项治疗指标的对比中,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。MED组治疗有效率76.4%;NON-MED组治疗有效率83.6%。结论:非药物性干预措施可有效改善极低出生体重儿喂养不耐受。     

82例极低/超低出生体重儿败血症的临床分析

目的:分析极低/超低出生体重儿败血症的临床特征、病原菌及药物敏感情况,为其早期诊断及治疗提供参考。方法:对2014年1月1日至2017年12月31日阜阳市人民医院新生儿重症监护病房(NICU)确诊的82例早产极低/超低出生体重儿败血症的临床表现、实验室检查、病原菌及药敏情况进行回顾性分析。结果:极低/超低出生体重儿败血症以早发型(≤7天)为主,晚发型以院内感染为主,临床表现缺乏特异性,实验室检查中白细胞、血小板出现减低,C反应蛋白和降钙素原增高。病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,其次为革兰阳性菌和真菌。药敏结果显示革兰阴性菌对三代头孢、氨苄西林类抗生素100%耐药,对加他唑巴坦的抗生素耐药率较低,对碳氢酶烯类抗生素敏感。革兰阳性菌对β-内酰胺类、大环内酯类、氨基糖甙类及克林霉素等耐药率较高,对万古霉素、利奈唑烷敏感。82例败血症患儿中,死亡6例,死亡率为7.3%。结论:早产极低/超低出生体重儿败血症缺乏特异性临床表现,且发病率高,应密切观察患儿临床表现及动态监测其C反应蛋白、血小板等的变化,同时及时完善细菌培养及药敏试验,有效合理使用抗生素,以减少多重耐药菌株产生,改善患儿预后。     

Detection of HIV-Gag p24-Specific Antibodies in Sera and Saliva of HIV-1-Infected Adults and in Sera of Infants Born to HIV-1-Infected Mothers

Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) is known to play an important role in the mucosal defense against a variety of pathogens. Although the role of IgA antibodies during sexual transmission of HIV is not clear, HIV-specific IgA antibodies have been detected in various mucosal secretions of HIV-infected individuals. Using a monoclonal antibody against human IgA, we established an ELISA system to detect anti-HIV p24 IgA antibodies in sera and saliva. We have analyzed the levels of anti-HIV p24 IgG and IgA antibodies in sera and saliva of 107 and 119 adults, respectively, with HIV infection at different clinical stages, and in the sera of 13 infants born to HIV-infected mothers. The level of anti-HIV p24 IgA antibodies was lower in sera and higher in saliva as compared to that of anti-HIV p24 IgG antibodies. Where the percentage of HIV-specific serum antibody-positive cases decreased with disease progression, that of saliva antibody-positive cases increased in AIDS patients. Among the 13 infants born to HIV-infected mothers, 7 infants were HIV-p24-specific serum IgA positive. These sera were negative for anti-HIV p24 secretory IgA, suggesting that some infants develop their own immune responses against HIV infection. Thus, the detection of HIV-specific IgA antibodies, especially in saliva, could be a simple and reliable test for the diagnosis of HIV infection.