Placenta-specific drug delivery by trophoblast-targeted nanoparticles in mice.

The availability of therapeutics to treat pregnancy complications is severely lacking, mainly due to the risk of harm to the fetus. In placental malaria, infected erythrocytes (IEs) accumulate in the placenta by adhering to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) on the surfaces of trophoblasts. Based on this principle, we have developed a method for targeted delivery of payloads to the placenta using a synthetic placental CSA-binding peptide (plCSA-BP) derived from VAR2CSA, a CSA-binding protein expressed on IEs.

[Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy under different pressures on neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy].

Objective: Some research has shown that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) can decrease the rate of mortality and disability caused by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates. However, the HBO pressure used in the clinical reports and the efficacy of HBO are different. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of HBO therapy under different pressures by observing the changes of peroxidation, antioxidant levels and brain vasomotor regulation factors as well as the score of neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) in neonates with HIE after HBO therapy.

[Relationship between soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and severe pneumonia].

Objective: It has been reported that soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) participates in many immune and inflammatory reactions. Its expression and role in severe pneumonia has not fully been understood. This study aimed to investigate the changes of sICAM-1 expression in severe pneumonia and the relationship between sICAM-1 and severe pneumonia in children.

[Risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants].

Objective: To study the risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants.

Methods: Data from 169 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight 1000-1500 g; gestational age 23-36 weeks) were studied retrospectively. Twenty-nine perinatal and postnatal factors were analyzed by Crosstabs Test with SPSS 12.