A comparison of blood pressure measurements in newborns.

Blood pressure monitoring is an essential component of neonatal intensive care. We compared invasive and noninvasive (Dinamap, Marquette, and Dash) recordings in newborns and also noninvasive values obtained from upper and lower limbs. Infants' blood pressure was recorded every 6 hours for 72 hours using three noninvasive devices and compared with invasive readings taken simultaneously.

Antifungal prophylaxis for the prevention of neonatal candidiasis?

Background: Randomized controlled trials suggest that prophylactic administration of antifungal agents reduce the rate of colonization and invasive Candida infection in a subgroup of high-risk very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. The extent of antifungal prophylaxis use in the United Kingdom and Ireland is unknown.

Methods: A postal questionnaire was administered to neonatologists practicing in the United Kingdom and Ireland caring for VLBW infants.

A new microtubule-targeting compound PBOX-15 inhibits T-cell migration via post-translational modifications of tubulin.

The ordered, directional migration of T-lymphocytes is a key process during immune surveillance, immune response, and development. A novel series of pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepines have been shown to potently induce apoptosis in variety of human chemotherapy resistant cancer cell lines, indicating their potential in the treatment of both solid tumors and tumors derived from the hemopoietic system. Pyrrolobenzoxazepine 4-acetoxy-5-(1-naphtyl)naphtho[2,3-b]pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]-oxazepine (PBOX-15) has been shown to depolymerize tubulin in vitro and in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line.

Crystalloid or colloid for partial exchange transfusion in neonatal polycythemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To determine whether crystalloid solutions are as effective as colloid solutions when a partial exchange transfusion is performed in newborns with polycythemia.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register of the Cochrane Library (1966-2004). Keywords used were: polycythemia, partial exchange transfusion, hyperviscosity, and limited to newborn.

Real-time reverse transcription PCR for detection and quantitative analysis of equine influenza virus.

Equine influenza is a cause of epizootic respiratory disease of the equine. The detection of equine influenza virus using real-time Light Cycler reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technology was evaluated over two influenza seasons with the analysis of 171 samples submitted for viral respiratory disease. Increased sensitivity was found in overall viral detection with this system compared to Directigen Flu A and virus isolation, which were 40% and 23%, respectively, that of the RT-PCR.