ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical appropriateness and application value of the peroxidase (POD) method for the detection of unbound bilirubin (UB) in neonatal serum. MethodsHydrogen peroxide (0.33 mol/L) and three different final concentrations (0.019, 0.038, 0.075 μg/mL) of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were added to standard bilirubin solution (1, 2, 3 μmol/L) to obtain a standardized HRP primary rate constant Kp. Then 25 μL of neonatal serum was diluted by 41.6 fold, and measured with 2.4 and 4.8 μg/mL HRP at 37 ℃ under the dark, to determine the UB concentration. The accuracy, precision, and stability of the methodology were validated. The clinical characteristics of 33 jaundiced neonates were collected, including total serum bilirubin (TSB), indirect bilirubin (IDB), albumin (ALB), bilirubin to albumin molar ratio (BAMR), etc. The experimental data were analyzed by Graphpad Prism 8.0. ResultsA standardized Kp of (7.20±1.08) mL·μg-1·min-1 was determined at pH 7.4±0.2, 37 ℃ in the dark. The HRP activity and UB concentrations remained stable at -20 ℃ for 3 weeks and a week, respectively. The mean intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation of the serum samples with different UB concentrations were less than 10%. In this study, the UB concentrations in 33 jaundiced neonates (gestational age ≥35 weeks) were measured by the POD method in the range of (0.32~1.20) μg/dL, which was positively correlated with TSB, IDB and BAMR. Of the five infants whose UB concentrations measured more than 1 μg/dL, three received intensive phototherapy (60%). ConclusionsThe POD method combined with a standard equipment spectrophotometer to detect serum UB concentrations in neonates is easy to operate, rapid to detect, and low cost. This method has good accuracy and precision, which is convenient for clinical implementation. Moreover, the measurement of serum UB may assist us in better management of neonatal jaundice in clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To study the influence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) on the early prognosis of extremely premature infants, and to provide a basis for the management of extremely premature infants and prenatal consultation.@*METHODS@#A total of 179 extremely premature singleton infants who were born from 2017 to 2019 were enrolled. According to the presence or absence of PROM, they were divided into two groups: PROM group (@*RESULTS@#Compared with the non-PROM group, the PROM group had significantly higher incidence rates of earlyonset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (@*CONCLUSIONS@#PROM increases the incidence rates of early-onset sepsis and NEC in extremely premature infants and does not increase the incidence rates of other adverse outcomes. For pregnant women with PROM at the risk of extremely preterm delivery, prevention of miscarriage and chorioamnionitis is recommended to prolong gestational weeks, reduce the incidence rate of infection, and thus improve the outcome of extremely premature infants.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Chorioamnionitis , Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/etiology , Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/epidemiology , Gestational Age , Infant, Extremely Premature , PrognosisABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the socio-demographic characteristics, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related behaviors of male clients of female sex workers and their determinants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Contacting subjects through 5 ways including volunteers of female sex workers (FSWs), sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics, long-distance bus stations, long-distance cargo station while adopting methods as snowballing, employing an anonymous questionnaire. Data was analyzed by logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The majority of clients were 25-45 years old, married and of junior high school or above educational levels; (2) Among male clients of FSWs, numbers of having had commercial sexual intercourse was between 1 to 240, averaged 24 in the previous year. It significantly related to their occupation and the experience of their friends or colleagues who ever visited female sex workers; (3) 27.98% of them used condom every time during commercial sexual intercourse, which significantly related to the score of knowledge on AIDS, concourse of sex intercourse and inhabitation; (4) 28.36% of them had ever contracted STD, which significantly related to the frequency of commercial sexual intercourse in the previous year, risk awareness of being infected with human immunodeficiency virus, and frequency of condom use during commercial sexual intercourse.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The proportion of always using condom was low among male clients of FSWs, and had had STDs. And it's necessary for active and specific intervention programs to them.</p>