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Biomedical subjects

B Luke

Publications and source records attributed to B Luke.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The contribution of singletons, twins and triplets to low birth weight, infant mortality and handicap in the United States.

Among multiple gestations the magnitude of neonatal mortality, morbidity and postneonatal handicap is unknown. Although the proportion of multiple births has risen dramatically during the past decade, the proportion of total births in the United States is relatively small. The vast majority of multiples are low birth weight (LBW) or very low birth weight (VLBW), conditions that magnify both short-term and long-term risks. In this study, the risks for infant mortality and for postneonatal morbidity and handicap have been calculated from race-, plurality- and birth weight-specific mortality rates from the National Infant Mortality Surveillance (NIMS) Project and birth weight-specific postneonatal handicap rates from the Office of Technology Assessment report Healthy Children in proportion to the 1988 U.S. birth cohort. U.S. health objectives for the year 2000 for race-specific birth weight and infant mortality rates were used for comparison. Compared with that of singletons, twins' and triplets' relative risks for LBW are 10.3 and 18.8, respectively. Their relative risks for VLBW are 9.6 and 32.7. Compared with singletons, twins and triplets have relative risks for infant mortality of 6.6 and 19.4, respectively. For twins and triplets, postneonatal survivors' relative risks for severe handicap are 1.7 and 2.9 while those for overall handicap are 1.4 and 2.0, respectively. Recommendations for optimizing pregnancy outcomes in multiple gestations include liberalized weight gains, reduced physical effort and early, comprehensive prenatal care.

Persons with Disabilities↗
PubMed1992

Calcium requirements and the diets of women and children. A review of dairy resources.

This review concerns the role of calcium in nutrition and health and its relation to the changing American diet. The ideal dietary calcium intakes for women and children represent the United States Department of Agriculture's most recent recommended dietary allowances. Both calcium and total nutrient composition of cow, goat and human milk differ. Goat milk has special utility in the treatment of childhood allergy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The costs of multiple pregnancy.

This paper reviews US vital statistics to describe the increase in multiple births in the United States between 1977 and 1987 and clarify the participation of differing maternal ethnic and age groups to this trend. The projected needs for NICU beds and costs of handicaps are estimated based on the distribution of low birthweights in multiple gestations. The potential methods of changing the distribution of low birthweight infants in multiple pregnancies are discussed.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1991

The effect of maternal height on birth weight and birth length.

This retrospective study examined the gestational age at which differences were observed between birth weights and birth lengths of infants whose mothers differed by height. Infants whose gestational ages were between 24 and 42 weeks born to women 59-62 inches (150-157 cm) tall were compared to similar infants born to women 66-69 inches (168-175 cm) tall. Significant differences occurred in birth weight and birth length from 35 weeks onward. The infants of the shorter women were symmetrically smaller than the infants of the taller women as the infant ponderal indexes did not differ.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1991

Gestational age-specific birthweights of twins versus singletons.

In order to more adequately characterize patterns of intrauterine growth retardation in twins, the mean birthweights of all nonanomalous white or black twins born between 24 and 41 weeks of gestation and surviving until discharge over an 11-year period (547 infants) and all similar singletons (19,072 infants) were compared by completed weeks of gestation. Between 24 and 35 weeks of gestation, the mean birthweights for the 547 twins and the 19,072 singletons were comparable and did not consistently differ statistically. From 36 to 41 weeks gestation, however, the difference became large, consistent, and statistically significant for each week at P less than 0.0001. This difference was present among all subgroups of twins, ie, in all males, females, blacks, and whites; it was still evident when the sample was further stratified by both race and sex (black males, white males, black females, white females). These data suggest a pattern of growth retardation in twins compared to singletons which is large, consistent, and statistically significant beginning at 36 weeks gestation. Clinically, these data also suggest the need for ultrasonic examination early in gestation (24-32 weeks) to document normal growth and to provide baseline data, and show the importance of such monitoring later in gestation, specifically after 36 weeks.

Baltimore↗
PubMed1991

Pregravid weight, gestational weight gain and current weight of women delivered of twins.

To determine whether large gestational weight gains result in higher maternal body weight within two years post-partum, we administered an anonymous survey to 423 mothers of twins at the Annual Twinsday Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio, in 1989 and 1990. Data collected included pregravid and current weight, age and parity, gestational weight gain and length of gestation. Data were grouped by patient age (18-24 years, 25-34 years and 35-44 years), parity (primipara or multipara) and length of gestation as preterm (less than 37 weeks) and term (greater than or equal to 37 weeks). Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, unpaired t-tests and chi-square as appropriate. Except for multiparas in the oldest age category, the mean current weight was higher than pregravid weight for each age and age/parity category. Comparison across age categories showed in pattern of increasing pregravid weight with increasing age for the total study sample (all women) and for primiparas; among multiparas, this trend was not as evident. Our findings suggest that large weight gains in twin gestations do not result in higher maternal body weight within two years postpartum. Such gains are associated with better intrauterine growth and should be considered when formulating weight gain recommendations for twin gestations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Monozygotic twinning as a congenital defect and congenital defects in monozygotic twins.

The process of monozygotic twinning in animals and humans is presented. In addition, congenital defects in monozygotic twins versus dizygotic twins and singletons is discussed. Overall, the rates of congenital anomalies are higher among whites as compared to blacks, males as compared to females, and multiples as compared to singletons. The highest rates are among infants born to women in the oldest age category and infants with birth weights below 2,000 g. Among white infants, live births in plural deliveries had 22% more congenital anomalies as compared to single live births. Among black infants, the rate was only 4% higher among multiples. It has been suggested that the more frequent occurrence of low birth weight and preterm delivery among multiple births and by race are critical to the higher incidence of congenital anomalies in twins. Newer theories relating the twinning process to congenital anomalies in twins are also presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

HLA and hereditary spherocytosis.

The HLA types of two families with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) suggest that the HS gene(s) may be linked with the HLA locus. If sustantiated by further family studies, this linkage would place HS on chromosome 6.

Child, Preschool↗