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Biomedical subjects

A Fenner

Publications and source records attributed to A Fenner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Intrauterine growth of twins. A retrospective analysis.

In a retrospective study of 150 twins born between 1970-1977, birth weight, length, and head circumference was plotted against gestational age. In comparison to singletons, all 3 parameters were low normal. While length and head circumference values follow the growth pattern of singletons, prenatal birth weight shows a progressive decline toward maturity. The intrauterine growth pattern of twins resembles that of intrauterine growth retardation of singletons.

Birth Weight↗

Adaptation to extrauterine existence: cardiac and respiratory rates during the first 72 hours.

In 29 asymptomatic underweight newborns, 10 true preterms and 19 small-forgestational age (SGA), recordings of respiratory and cardiac rates were performed during the first 72 hours of life. The results may be summarized as follows: 1. Respiratory rates (RR) are slightly elevated during the first day of life. 2. The respiratory-to-cardiac ratio (RR/CR) is very constant throughout the first three days. 3. Low-Apgar infants initially have an elevated RR. 4. True preterm infants have higher cardiac rates (CR) than SGA infants. Not all of the phenomena observed can be totally explained on the basis of existing knowledge.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Hepatic enzymes, their induction and usefulness in predicting maximal serum bilirubin levels in premature newborn infants.

Sixty-seven babies were utilized to (a) document the serum bilirubin lowering effect and safety of a phenobarbitone and nikethamide combination in neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia of non-hemolytic origin; (b) determine whether birthweight and/or SGOT, SGPT or SGGT activity on day one of life correlated with the maximum serum bilirubin level achieved; and (c) investigate the pattern of hepatic enzyme levels in serum under normal conditions anf following drug induction. Results indicate a significantly lower serum bilirubin level in the treated group of babies. Birthweight and day one SGGT levels, and SGGT/birthweight ratio correlated well with the maximum serum bilirubin reached, the latter ratio being particularly useful in predicting the degree of hyperbilirubinaemia.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Metabolic rate and O2 consumption in newborns during different states of vigilance.

In 135 asymptomatic newborn infants, 1--53 days of age, body weight 1,820--4,120 g, indirect calometry was performed. According to the state of wakefulness the infants showed during the testing procedure, they were divided into four groups of vigilance (V1--V4). Metabolic rate and oxygen consumption showed similar results between groups V1, V2 and V3 (deep sleep; REM sleep; wakefulness with no muscular activity). V4 infants (with muscular activity) had a higher metabolic rate and O2 consumption. Correlation between metabolic rate and body surface area is similar in V2 and V3 but shows a steeper slope in the V1 group. It is speculated that central regulatory mechanisms may account for this difference.

Basal Metabolism↗

Acid-base parameters and alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradients in healthy neonatal and postneonatal infants.

In a randomly selected group of asymptomatic neonatal and postneonatal infants, acid-base parameters and oxygen tension measurements in arterial blood (radial artery) were carried out during air and oxygen breathing. Acid-base results showed a mild, partially compensated metabolic acidosis, indicating adequate pulmonary function. Arterial oxygen tension was in the normal range for this age group. Calculated alveolar oxygen tension levels demonstrated alveolar-arterial gradients of about 30 mm Hg during air breathing and 320 mm Hg during O2 breathing. Volumes of R-L shunts calculated from these gradients, were in the order of magnitude commonly found at this age, i.e., about 20% of right cardiac output. No differences were discernible between infants of appropriate weight for gestational age and small-for-date infants.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

CO2 breathing of children.

In 20 co-operative paediatric patients without cardiopulmonary disease, 2 and 4% CO2 in air were given to breathe and the ventilatory response as well as end-tidal CO2 were recorded. A rise of ventilation concomitant with a rise in alveolar CO2 was seen in most cases. The amount of ventilatory response was less than that previously reported with tube rebreathing for any given rise in alveolar PCO2. It appears therefore, that in addition to the absolute level of PaCO2, the mode of presentation of the CO2 signal to chemosensitive areas also serves as an important determinant for the amount of the ventilatory response.

Adolescent↗

The influence of body position on pulmonary function in low birthweight babies.

The influence of the prone and supine body positions on the respiratory rate, arterial pH, pO2, pCO2 and serum bicarbonate level; on alveolar pO2 and pCO2; and on alveolar/arterial gradients for carbon dioxide and oxygen, were compared in 10 low birthweight infants. THE ALveolar pCO2 was higher in the prone, while pO2 was higher in the supine position, possibly as a result of ventilation/perfusion imbalance with increased physiological dead space in the supine position. There were no significant differences between the other parameters studied. Since aspiration of feed by the low birthweight infant is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, evidence is presented in favour of the prone nursing position.

Bicarbonates↗

[One year of basic examination of neonates (author's transl)].

During the basic examination (U-2) between the 5th and 10th days of life, 104 pathological findings were made in 93 out of 538 children born in a general practitioner hospital. The incidence of 25% pathological findings in neonates, of which about 70% were obtained at the U-2, in our opinion, justifies the U-2 as a routine measure for all neonates. The percentage of positive findings in neonates from unselected pregnancies must be estimated still higher.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Transpyloric feeding in small preterm infants.

Wolfsdorf, J., Makarawa, S., Fernandes, C., Fenner, A. (1975). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 50, 723. Transpyloric feeding in small preterm infants. In 20 preterm infants, birthweight ranging from 775 to 1540 g, transpyloric feeding was carried out using expressed human milk as the sole nutrient (study group). 10 further infants, birthweight range 910-1500 g, were also fed with human milk via nasogastric tube (control group). The group fed transpylorically had higher fluid intakes during the early days of life. Body weight loss after birth was similar in both groups, but subsequent weight gain was more rapid in the study group. Thus transpyloric feeding is considered to offer the following advantages in comparison with nasogastric feeding. (1) No danger of aspiration after vomiting. (2) More rapid weight gain.

Birth Weight↗

Transcutaneous determination of arterial oxygen tension.

Arterial oxygen tension measurements were performed simultaneously using two different techniques: (1) the conventional method of analyzing a blood sample obtained from the radial artery by means of a Clark electrode and (2) a new method of transcutaneous oxygen tension recording using a newly developed surface electrode containing a built-in heating device to ensure optimal cutaneous perfusion at the site of measurement. Two groups of newborn infants were used as subjects: (1) 70 clinically healthy babies who were tested during normoxia and hyperoxia (breathing 80% to 100% oxygen) and (2) 20 sick preterm and term infants receiving inspired oxygen concentrations of between 21% and 100% during the measurement. Our results indicate a satisfactory accuracy for the transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements in normoxia and hyperoxia (percentage coefficient of variation, 15.9% and 24.1%, respectively). In hypoxia agreement between the two methods varies depending on the degree of circulatory derangement. Overall correlation coefficients were greater than 0.85 in each group.

Blood Gas Analysis↗

Pulmonary function in asthmatic children during thalassotherapy.

In 39 asthmatic children, 5-14 years of age, sent to the Kinderkurheim Satteldüne for a 6 week course of thalassotherapy, the following pulmonary function studies were tested serially: Vital capacity (VC), one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (MMFR) and peak flow rate (PFR). Results expressed as mean values per week of the group as a whole, showed subnormal results at initial testing in all 4 parameters measured. Improvement followed rapidly with the final level generally achieved during week 2. However, statistical analysis showed the differences between the initial and each of the subsequent values to be insignificant with one exception in the FEV1 values. Thus the clinical improvement observed in most patients during thalassotherapy could not be substantiated by pulmonary function tests.

Adolescent↗