Association of umbilical venous catheters vs peripherally inserted central catheters with death or severe intraventricular hemorrhage among preterm infants < 30 weeks: A randomized clinical trial. | LitMetric
Background: Umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are routinely inserted in preterm infants for total parenteral nutrition and medications. We aimed to examine whether the rates of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or death vary among preterm infants receiving UVCs compared to PICCs.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included preterm infants < 30 weeks gestation assigned after birth to either UVC placement group or PICC group.
Results: A total of 233 preterm infants (117 infants in UVC group, 116 infants in PICC group) were randomized and collected data was available for intention-to-treat analysis. There were no differences in baseline population characteristics. Severe IVH occurred in 16 infants (13.6%) in the UVC group and 11(9.5%) in the PICC group (risk difference [RD], 4.1% [5% CI, -4 to 12.3]; P = 0.42). The incidence of death before 28 days of life did not differ significantly between groups (10 [8.5% ] in UVC vs 6 [5.1%] in PICC; RD, 3.4% [95% CI, -3.0 to 9.84]; P = 0.44). Seventeen percent (20/117) of the UVC group died or developed severe IVH compared with 12% (14/116) of the PICC group (risk difference, 5% [95% CI, -4.01 -14.06]; P = 0.36). The incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was significantly higher in the UVC group infants than in the PICC group infants (7.7% vs. 1.7%); p = 0.03.
Conclusions: The incidence of severe IVH or death did not differ significantly among preterm m infants < 30 weeks gestation subjected to UVC or PICC placement. Early inotropic support was a significant risk factor for the development of severe IVH. UVC maybe an additional risk factor for the development of NEC, but further research is required to validate this finding.
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy has emerged as a potential treatment, shown to enhance blood flow and angiogenesis. However, specific effects and mechanisms of HBO on limb ischaemia responding to a hypoxic environment remain largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of HBO in the treatment of limb ischaemia.
The study comprehensively investigated the therapeutic potential of triterpenoid saponin extract (GST), encompassing its hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anticancer activities. The study employed a Prednisolone (PRD)-induced immunosuppressed rat model to assess the hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of GST. Using this model, GST was found to modulate haematopoiesis, improving RBC, platelet, and WBC counts, underscoring its potential in hematopoietic homeostasis.
Background: Skeletal muscle atrophy significantly affects quality of life and has socio-economic and health implications. This study evaluates the effects of entacapone (ENT) on skeletal muscle atrophy linked with oxidative stress and proteolysis.
Methods: C2C12 cells were treated with dexamethasone (Dex) to simulate muscle atrophy.
Background: The Government of Ghana in 2017 included chlorhexidine (CHX) digluconate 7.1% gel in the essential medicines list to replace methylated spirit for umbilical cord care. However, there are limited studies around the use of the CHX gel.
Objective: Angiogenesis is associated with angiogenic therapy and wound healing processes. It is important for anesthesiologists to understand the effects of perioperative and long-term use of anesthetics on angiogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of ketamine on in vitro angiogenesis: the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and normal human diploid fibroblasts (NHDF), HUVEC migration, and in vitro capillary tube formation in cocultured HUVEC and NHDF.
