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Biomedical subjects

A Solimano

Publications and source records attributed to A Solimano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Long-term effects of indomethacin prophylaxis in extremely-low-birth-weight infants.

BACKGROUND: The prophylactic administration of indomethacin reduces the frequency of patent ductus arteriosus and severe intraventricular hemorrhage in very-low-birth-weight infants (those with birth weights below 1500 g). Whether prophylaxis with indomethacin confers any long-term benefits that outweigh the risks of drug-induced reductions in renal, intestinal, and cerebral blood flow is not known. METHODS: Soon after they were born, we randomly assigned 1202 infants with birth weights of 500 to 999 g (extremely low birth weight) to receive either indomethacin (0.1 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo intravenously once daily for three days. The primary outcome was a composite of death, cerebral palsy, cognitive delay, deafness, and blindness at a corrected age of 18 months. Secondary long-term outcomes were hydrocephalus necessitating the placement of a shunt, seizure disorder, and microcephaly within the same time frame. Secondary short-term outcomes were patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hemorrhage, chronic lung disease, ultrasonographic evidence of intracranial abnormalities, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retinopathy. RESULTS: Of the 574 infants with data on the primary outcome who were assigned to prophylaxis with indomethacin, 271 (47 percent) died or survived with impairments, as compared with 261 of the 569 infants (46 percent) assigned to placebo (odds ratio, 1.1; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.8 to 1.4; P=0.61). Indomethacin reduced the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (24 percent vs. 50 percent in the placebo group; odds ratio, 0.3; P<0.001) and of severe periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage (9 percent vs. 13 percent in the placebo group; odds ratio, 0.6; P=0.02). No other outcomes were altered by the prophylactic administration of indomethacin. CONCLUSIONS: In extremely-low-birth-weight infants, prophylaxis with indomethacin does not improve the rate of survival without neurosensory impairment at 18 months, despite the fact that it reduces the frequency of patent ductus arteriosus and severe periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage.

Blindness↗
PubMed2000

International Guidelines for Neonatal Resuscitation: An excerpt from the Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care: International Consensus on Science. Contributors and Reviewers for the Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines.

The International Guidelines 2000 Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) formulated new evidenced-based recommendations for neonatal resuscitation. These guidelines comprehensively update the last recommendations, published in 1992 after the Fifth National Conference on CPR and ECC. As a result of the evidence evaluation process, significant changes occurred in the recommended management routines for: * Meconium-stained amniotic fluid: If the newly born infant has absent or depressed respirations, heart rate <100 beats per minute (bpm), or poor muscle tone, direct tracheal suctioning should be performed to remove meconium from the airway. * Preventing heat loss: Hyperthermia should be avoided. * Oxygenation and ventilation: 100% oxygen is recommended for assisted ventilation; however, if supplemental oxygen is unavailable, positive-pressure ventilation should be initiated with room air. The laryngeal mask airway may serve as an effective alternative for establishing an airway if bag-mask ventilation is ineffective or attempts at intubation have failed. Exhaled CO(2) detection can be useful in the secondary confirmation of endotracheal intubation. * Chest compressions: Compressions should be administered if the heart rate is absent or remains <60 bpm despite adequate assisted ventilation for 30 seconds. The 2-thumb, encircling-hands method of chest compression is preferred, with a depth of compression one third the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest and sufficient to generate a palpable pulse. * Medications, volume expansion, and vascular access: Epinephrine in a dose of 0.01-0.03 mg/kg (0.1-0.3 mL/kg of 1:10,000 solution) should be administered if the heart rate remains <60 bpm after a minimum of 30 seconds of adequate ventilation and chest compressions. Emergency volume expansion may be accomplished with an isotonic crystalloid solution or O-negative red blood cells; albumin-containing solutions are no longer the fluid of choice for initial volume expansion. Intraosseous access can serve as an alternative route for medications/volume expansion if umbilical or other direct venous access is not readily available. * Noninitiation and discontinuation of resuscitation: There are circumstances (relating to gestational age, birth weight, known underlying condition, lack of response to interventions) in which noninitiation or discontinuation of resuscitation in the delivery room may be appropriate.

Blood Volume↗
PubMed1999

Morphine pharmacokinetics and pain assessment in premature newborns.

OBJECTIVES: To determine morphine pharmacokinetics in premature neonates varying in postconceptional age (PCA) and evaluate behavioral pain response in relationship to serum morphine concentrations. METHODS: Premature neonates (n = 48), stratified by weeks of PCA (group 1 = 24-27 weeks, group 2 = 28-31 weeks, group 3 = 32-35 weeks, and group 4 = 36-39 weeks) received morphine infusions. Blood samples were drawn at 48, 60, and 72 hours and at discontinuation of morphine, followed by 3 samples obtained during the next 24 hours. Newborns were videotaped during heel lances and restful states, with morphine at steady-state concentrations and without morphine. Pain was assessed by using the Neonatal Facial Coding System (NFCS). Statistical analysis included regression between NFCS score changes from baseline to painful procedure with and without morphine. RESULTS: Morphine clearance for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was calculated as 2.27 +/- 1.07, 3.21 +/- 1.57, 4.51 +/- 1.97, and 7.80 +/- 2.67 mL/kg/min, respectively, and correlated with PCA (r = 0.63, P <.001). Pain measured by facial expression was diminished; however, it did not correlate with morphine concentrations. CONCLUSION: Morphine clearance in premature neonates is less than reported, increasing with PCA. Facial activity discloses morphine analgesia; however, it is unrelated to morphine concentrations.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1998

L-selectin expression on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes in premature infants: reduced expression after dexamethasone treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

We examined the effect of dexamethasone on the expression of the adhesion molecule L-selectin on circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMLs) and monocytes from premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Nineteen infants who received dexamethasone (Dex group) and 28 who did not receive dexamethasone (no Dex group) were studied. L-selectin expression, measured as mean fluorescence intensity, was lower on circulating PMLs (5.7 +/- 0.6 vs 10.6 +/- 0.7, p < 0.001) and monocytes (7.9 +/- 0.9 vs 12.5 +/- 0.9, p < 0.02) isolated from those who had received dexamethasone. Because L-selectin is important for the recruitment of PMLs to inflammatory foci in the lungs, we speculate that one of the mechanisms by which dexamethasone reduces inflammation in BPD is by impairing the ability of leukocytes to migrate into the BPD lesions.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1997

Effect of triamcinolone acetonide on the development of the pulmonary airways in the fetal rat.

Triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) has a potent teratogenic effect on various mammalian fetal tissues as well as a steroid effect on the lung. Less well documented is the fact that it produces profound oligohydramnios. We wished to determine what effect TAC would have on branching morphogenesis and other aspects of lung development, using an in vivo model described previously. Thirty rats were randomized to receive 0.6 mg/kg of TAC or saline on days 12, 13, and 14 of gestation. At gestational days 15, 17, 18, and 21, the left lungs of 365 fetuses were studied by dissecting microscopy, histology, and morphometry. TAC produced profound pulmonary hypoplasia (dry Jung weight/body weight 0.025, compared with 0.06 in controls) on day 21. TAC decreased maternal weight gain, fetal weight, placental weight, aminiotic fluid, and pole to pole length (PTP), while it increased the peripheral airway count (PAC). The number of central and intermediate airway branches was reduced, and they were dilated. Growth of peripheral airways was enhanced. In treated fetuses epithelial cells lining these airspaces were histologically more mature and the mesenchyme thinner than in controls. These findings were confirmed by the morphometric measurements. We conclude that when TAC is administered in the early phase of fetal rat lung development, the lungs become hypoplastic, with hypoplasia of the intermediate airways, an increase in the number of peripheral airways, and increased differentiation. We speculate that these effects are primarily due to the steroid action of TAC and that the mechanisms of monopodial branching are different from those of dichotomous branching.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Growth and growth factors in premature infants receiving dexamethasone for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Physical growth and the serum growth factors, insulin growth factor 1 (IGF1) and its binding protein (IGFBP3) were measured weekly during dexamethasone treatment and for 3 weeks after stopping therapy in 10 ventilated babies [median (range) birth weight 860 g (640-1210); median (range) gestational age 26 weeks (24-29)] with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The mean (+/- SE) rates of change of all physical measures except crown-rump length (CRL) increased significantly after stopping dexamethasone: weight gain 13.2 (+/- 1.5) on versus 1.0 (+/- 1.9) g/day off treatment; occipital-frontal circumference 0.7 (+/- 0.1) cm/week; CRL 0.5 (+/- 0.1) versus 0.7 (+/- 0.1) (TBL) 0.7 (+/- 0.1) versus 1.1 (+/- 0.1) cm/week; CRL 0.5 (+/- 0.1) versus 0.7 (+/- 0.1) cm/week, and knee-ankle length (KAL) 0.13 (+/- 0.02) versus 0.36 (+/- 0.04) cm/week. Mean serum IGF-1 (1.57 +/- 0.13 versus 3.56 +/- 0.41 nmol/L) and IGFBP3 (0.94 +/- 0.03 versus 1.12 +/- 0.05 mg/L) levels also increased off treatment. The weekly dose of dexamethasone (mg/kg) was significantly negatively correlated with all physical growth measures (P < 0.01), but showed no correlation with growth factors. Protein intake (g/kg/day) was significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with weight gain (r = 0.28), changes (TBL) (r = 0.32), serum IGF1 levels (r = 0.60), and IGFBP3 levels (r = 0.37). All aspects of physical growth are compromised during dexamethasone treatment for BPD. Poor growth during steroid treatment is associated with lower IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels. Further study is needed to examine the effect of varying dexamethasone dosage regimes and nutritional intake on the growth process in BPD.

Body Constitution↗
PubMed1997

The measurement of knee-heel length in newborn infants using a simple vernier calipers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of a simple vernier calipers for measuring knee-heel length in neonates. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using a simple vernier calipers, knee-heel length was measured five times by 2 observers in 50 babies (29M, 21F; mean birthweight 1597 g; median gestational age at birth 29 weeks) at a median postnatal age of 11 days. A subgroup of 20 babies had knee-heel length measured similarly at weekly intervals for 3 weeks. Corrected gestational age and weight were simultaneously recorded. One observer was experienced in using the vernier calipers. The precision of the calipers was established using 4 steel gauge blocks of varying length (7.62-10.17 cm). RESULTS: The calipers were very precise when measuring steel gauge blocks. In babies, there was a downward trend across the first 2 measurements for both observers, the measurements stabilizing over the last three. Using the final three measurements per baby (n = 50), the experienced observer had a mean standard deviation of 0.023 cm and mean coefficient of variation 0.23% when measuring an average knee-heel length of 9.99 cm. The inexperienced observer had a mean standard deviation of 0.057 cm and a mean coefficient of variation of 0.56%, when measuring an average knee-heel length of 10.14 cm. The inter-observer reliability, measured by the intra-class correlation coefficient, was 0.99. The agreement between observers was such that one observer measured knee-heel length consistently less (0.15 cm, SD 0.18 cm) than the other. The reliability for knee-heel length velocity was lower (R = 0.85), but agreement between observers was high with an average difference of 0.016 cm/week. Knee-heel length was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with corrected gestational age (r = 0.85) and with weight (r = 0.96). There was a weaker but significant correlation (r = 0.47, p < 0.001) between knee-heel length velocity and rate of weight gain (g/day), indicating that weight gain may not always be accompanied by an increase in linear growth. CONCLUSION: The measurement of knee-heel length by a simple vernier calipers is an accurate, reproducible and non-invasive method of assessing short-term linear growth in neonates. However, it is recommended that measurements of knee-heel length in a individual baby should be made by a single experienced observer.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

Chronic lung disease following neonatal ventilation. I. incidence in two geographically defined populations.

The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of chronic lung disease following neonatal ventilation in two geographically defined populations. Prospective data collection was carried out over a 1 year period from March 11, 1990 to February 28, 1991 in the Trent Health Region (England) and in British Columbia, Canada. All infants < or = 32 weeks gestation and/or < or = 1500 g birthweight born to mothers normally resident in either the Trent Health Region or British Columbia were included. The main outcome measures were mortality rate, presence of chronic lung disease, days of ventilation, and oxygen used by each infant. The proportion of shortened gestation, low birthweight babies was 1.5% in Trent and 1.2% in British Columbia (957 of 63,350 births in Trent and 526 of 45,333 births in British Columbia). There were no significant differences in mean birthweight or gestation between the two cohorts, but there was a trend towards lower mortality for infants 750-1500 g birthweight in British Columbia. The incidence of chronic lung disease (using either of two definitions) was significantly higher in British Columbia, with a corresponding greater amount of respiratory care required. This occurred despite higher use of antenatal steroids and surfactant therapy in the British Columbia group. We conclude that there are important clinical and resource implications resulting from the number of ventilator and oxygen days used by the preterm population in terms of planning of neonatal services. The role of individual treatment modalities in producing differences in the incidence of chronic lung disease warrants further study in the setting of a geographically defined population.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1996

Development of the pulmonary airways in the fetal rat and its relation to the prenatal environment.

We studied the left lung using multi-focus microphotography in 378 rat fetuses, assessing airway branching from day 13 to day 19 of gestation, and lung growth variables from day 13 to day 21. Longitudinal growth, and monopodial and dichotomous branching brought about a consistent airway pattern with variations within each day of gestation and a small overlap between adjacent days. Amniotic fluid weight and pole to pole (PTP) distance of the lung increased quadratically with age, while fetal weight and the peripheral airway count (PAC) increased exponentially. The location of the fetus within the uterus had no effect on fetal variables, but correlations were found between maternal weight gain and both fetal weight and PTP. Fetal weight was the best predictor of PAC from gestational ages 15 to 19 days (P < 0.008). The method described allows for observations that are reproducible within the environmental variations present in normal gestation and can be used to study the effect of external factors on lung development.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1993

The CRIB score.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1992

Waxing and waning hyperinflation in congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung.

This report describes a newborn with respiratory distress, waxing and waning left lung hyperinflation, and pulmonary hemorrhage. This atypical presentation of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung has not been previously reported, posed a major diagnostic problem, and delayed potentially lifesaving surgery.

Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenita↗
PubMed1990

Midfacial hypoplasia associated with long-term intubation for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Six preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia were nasotracheally intubated for 68 to 243 days. Gestational age at birth ranged from 24 to 35 weeks. Endotracheal tube size was changed to account for growth and varied from 2.5 to 4.0 mm. These infants developed features of midfacial hypoplasia, namely, depressed nasal bridge, small-tipped nose, long philtrum, underdeveloped malar areas, and carplike mouth. These features have not been associated with long-term intubation in premature infants. We suggest that features of prolonged nasotracheal intubation, such as direct compression by the tube and the method of tube fixation, decreased air flow through the developing nares and sinuses and reduced faciomuscular activity, resulting in the observed midfacial hypoplasia. The degree to which growth corrects these deformations is unknown.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMed1989

Increased compliance in response to salbutamol in premature infants with developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

We compared the effect of salbutamol and placebo in a double-blind study of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, using a randomized, crossover design with several replicates per subject. Sixty-two tests were performed on 20 ventilator-dependent infants weighing less than 1500 gm. Patients were entered as early as the first week of life and studied for at least 4 weeks or until extubation. Each subject was his own control subject and was randomly assigned to a placebo-salbutamol or salbutamol-placebo sequence administered on 2 consecutive days of each week. Static compliance, expiratory resistance of the respiratory system, and changes in transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide tension were measured. Static compliance improved by 0.240 ml/cm H2O/kg (35.3%) after salbutamol and by 0.010 ml/cm H2O/kg (2.8%) after placebo (p less than 0.0001). The presence of a predetermined decrease in carbon dioxide tension correlated with large changes in static compliance per kilogram and with the need for a high level of fractional inspired oxygen. The magnitude of the clinical and physiologic improvement observed, and the early response suggest that long-term bronchodilator therapy starting as early as the second week of life may be beneficial for very low birth weight infants with early bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Albuterol↗