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Biomedical subjects

C F Poets

Publications and source records attributed to C F Poets.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Inhaled drugs for the prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most common long-term complications and treatment challenges in preterm infants. Theoretically, inhaled corticosteroids may suppress pulmonary inflammation without causing systemic side-effects, while bronchodilators will improve airway resistance and thereby work of breathing. This article reviews current data on these drugs in BPD prevention or treatment. Trials published to date have not demonstrated that regular bronchodilator administration influences the incidence of BPD or improves long-term outcome. Inhaled steroids started before 2 weeks of age may improve rates of successful extubation and reduce the need for rescue systemic glucocorticoids, but have not been shown to reduce the incidence of BPD. Thus, their use cannot be generally recommended. The data currently available are not sufficient to give any clearer recommendation on the use of these drugs in infants at high risk of, or established, BPD.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2006

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in noninfected neonates and those with suspected early-onset bacterial infection.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate postnatal lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) kinetics in term neonates and to test its diagnostic accuracy for early-onset bacterial infection (EOBI). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 99 neonates with clinical and serological signs of EOBI comprised the study group; 198 neonates with risk factors, but without EOBI, served as controls. LBP, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were determined. RESULTS: LBP in the noninfected group increased until 24 h after birth (P < 0.05 vs 6 h). LBP and CRP correlated strongly in neonates with suspected EOBI (r = 0.63). Although LBP reached a higher sensitivity than CRP 6 and 12 h after clinical suspicion (45 (24-68) and 79% (54-94) vs 9 (0-24) and 39% (17-64); P < 0.05)), EOBI was most reliably detected by IL-8. CONCLUSION: LBP kinetics were age-dependent. LBP was not sufficiently sensitive in the prediction of EOBI.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed2005

Population based study on the outcome of small for gestational age newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether and how population based data from a regional quality control programme can be used to investigate the hypothesis that small for gestational age (SGA) very low birthweight infants (VLBW, <1500 g) are at increased risk of death, severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL), but at decreased risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). METHODS: Analyses of population based perinatal/neonatal data (1991-96) from a quality control programme in Lower Saxony, Germany. After assessment of data validity and representativeness, exclusion criteria were defined: birth weight >90th centile, severe malformations, siblings of multiple births, and gestational age (GA) <25 or >29 weeks. Outcomes of interest were death, severe IVH, PVL, and RDS. Multivariable analyses were performed by Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression models. RESULTS: Within the data validation procedure, an increase in proportions of both VLBW (from 0.95% in 1991 to 1.11% in 1996; +17%) and SGA (from 22.7% to 27.4%; +21%) infants became apparent (p<0.05). The study population consisted of 1623 infants (173 SGA). Mortality was 12.1% (n = 196), with an adjusted hazard ratio for SGA infants of 2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.70 to 3.79. Both groups were at similar risk of severe IVH (adjusted odds ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.65) and PVL (1.54, 95% CI 0.78 to 2.87), but SGA infants had less RDS (0.57, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.93). Male sex, multiple birth, hypothermia (<35.5 degrees C), and sepsis were associated with IVH and RDS. Infants admitted to hospitals with <36 VLBW admissions/year had increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.56, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.18). CONCLUSIONS: SGA VLBW infants are at increased risk of death, but not of IVH and PVL, and at decreased risk of RDS. That mortality is higher in smaller hospitals needs further investigation.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed2004

[Breast feeding of very preterm infants of HCMV-seropositive mothers].

Preterm infants can be infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) transmitted via breast milk of their HCMV-seropositive mothers, 96 % of whom reactivate the virus during lactation. 38 % of exposed VLBW infants become infected, with 48 % of these developing at least one symptom. Whether priority should be given to the multiple advantages of breast milk feeding or to the avoidance of a possible HCMV infection by exclusive formula feeding still cannot be decided due to insufficient data on the long-term outcome of infected infants. Inactivation of HCMV in breast milk can be achieved safely only via heat treatment, but the clinical consequences resulting from the use of pasteurized breast milk are unknown. Given the above situation, the authors decided to continue breast-feeding of VLBW and ELBW infants in their units after obtaining informed parenteral consent, until data for an evidence-based decision become available.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2004

[Patient volume and facilities measurements as quality indicators of peri- and neonatal care: a review of data from the last 4 years].

AIM: This article reviews recent studies on the relationship between patient volume, level of care, and peri- or neonatal outcome for term and preterm infants. METHODS: A PubMed search was performed using various combinations of keywords related to neonates, patient volume and outcome published since 2000. RESULTS: Two studies on term infants showed that perinatal mortality in Norway and Germany was 2 - 3 times higher for term infants born in institutions with less than 500, and 40 - 80 % higher in those with < 1000 births/year compared to larger hospitals. For preterm infants, the mortality risk for those born in hospitals without a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was almost twice as high as for those born in hospitals with such an NICU. With regard to patient volume, studies from both the USA and Germany showed a significantly, up to 56 % higher mortality risk for infants admitted to units with less than 36 or 50 very low birth weight (VLBW) admissions per year compared to larger NICUs. CONCLUSIONS: Although patient volume or level of care are poor predictors of neonatal outcome, the above data provide arguments for a more rigorous perinatal centralisation, aiming to restrict term deliveries to hospitals with at least 1000 births per year and VLBW deliveries to perinatal centres with 24 h on-site availability of a neonatologist and at least 36 - 50 VLBW admissions per year. This may result in a significant reduction in perinatal mortality in Germany. In the interest of the families at risk of loosing their child, we must strive further to achieve this goal.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed2002

Detection of hyperoxaemia in neonates: data from three new pulse oximeters.

AIM: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of three newly developed pulse oximeters in the detection of hyperoxaemia, defined as an arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)) of > 80 mm Hg. METHODS: SpO(2) readings from three oximeters (Agilent Viridia (AgV), Masimo SET (MaS), Nellcor Oxismart (NeO)) were documented in 56 infants (median gestational age at birth 35.5 weeks, range 24-41) whenever an arterial blood gas was taken for clinical purposes. Blood samples were analysed within one minute in a Radiometer ABL 505 blood gas analyser and OSM3 co-oximeter. RESULTS: Between 280 and 291 blood gases were analysed for each instrument; 105-112 showed a PaO(2) > 80 mm Hg. At an upper alarm limit of 95%, the three instruments detected hyperoxaemia with 93-95% sensitivity. Specificity at this alarm level ranged from 26 to 45%. The mean (SD) difference between arterial oxygen saturation and SpO(2) (bias) was -0.25 (2.5)% for AgV, -0.06 (2.5)% for MaS, and -0.91 (2.6)% for NeO (p < 0.01, NeO v AgV and MaS). CONCLUSION: These instruments detected hyperoxaemia with sufficient sensitivity at an upper alarm limit of 95%, but showed differences in their specificity, which was probably related to differences in measurement bias.

Female↗
PubMed2001

Skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care, respiratory control, and thermoregulation.

AIM: To demonstrate that skin-to-skin care (SSC) has no detrimental effects on the frequency of episodes of bradycardia and/or hypoxemia. METHODS: Twenty-two spontaneously breathing preterm infants (median gestational age at birth, 29 weeks [range, 24-31 weeks]; age at study, 26 days [range, 7-72 days]; weight at study, 1310 g [range, 725-1890 g]) had three 2-hour recordings of breathing movements, nasal airflow, heart rate, and oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (SpO(2)) before, during, and after SSC. Rectal temperature was obtained every 2 hours. Recordings were analyzed for baseline heart and respiratory rates, bradycardia (heart rate < two thirds of baseline), and hypoxemia (SpO(2) < or =80%), as well as for breathing pattern (regular vs non-regular). RESULTS: Baseline heart rate and respiratory rate increased during SSC (P <.01), as did the combined frequency of bradycardia and hypoxemia (from 1.5/h [0-8] before to 2.8/h [0-15] during SSC; P<.05). Rectal temperature increased from 36.9 degrees C (36.2 degrees -37.4 degrees C) to 37.3 degrees C (36.6 degrees -38.6 degrees C; P <.01). The proportion of regular breathing pattern decreased from 14% (2%-28%) to 7% (3%-26%) with SSC (P<.01). CONCLUSION: SSC was associated with a significant increase in the combined frequency of bradycardia and hypoxemia and with less regular breathing. These changes were unexpected and may have been related to heat stress. Body temperature, heart rate, and oxygenation should be monitored during SSC.

Apnea↗
PubMed2001

Prescription of home oxygen therapy to infants in Germany.

There is no consensus on home oxygen therapy in infancy. We hypothesised that this might lead to considerable variability in the practice of prescribing home oxygen to infants. To assess this variability, a structured questionnaire was sent to all departments of Paediatrics in Germany (n = 380). Response rate was 92% (n = 349). Indications were mostly (86%) based on long-term recordings of pulse oximeter saturation (S(P)O(2)). There was, however, a wide range (85-94%, mean 90%) of S(P)O(2)-values below which oxygen therapy was considered indicated. Hospitals more experienced with this therapy tended to prescribe oxygen at S(P)O(2) values closer to the physiological range. Similarly, S(P)O(2) values aimed for during therapy ranged from 86 to 100%, with hospitals prescribing home oxygen more frequently aiming for higher values. These differences would argue for concentrating home oxygen therapy to centers with the largest experience.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2001

Phosphatidylcholine molecular species in lung surfactant: composition in relation to respiratory rate and lung development.

Surfactant reduces surface tension at the air-liquid interface of lung alveoli. While dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (PC16:0/ 16:0) is its main component, proteins and other phospholipids contribute to the dynamic properties and homeostasis of alveolar surfactant. Among these components are significant amounts of palmitoylmyristoylphosphatidylcholine (PC16:0/ 14:0) and palmitoylpalmitoleoylphosphatidylcholine (PC16:0/ 16:1), whereas in surfactant from the rigid tubular bird lung, PC16:0/14:0 is absent and PC16:0/16:1 strongly diminished. We therefore hypothesized that the concentrations of PC16:0/14:0 and PC16:0/16:1 in surfactants correlate with differences in the respiratory physiology of mammalian species. In surfactants from newborn and adult mice, rats, and pigs, molar fractions of PC16:0/14:0 and PC16:0/16:1 correlated with respiratory rate. Labeling experiments with [methyl-(3)H]choline in mice and perfused rat lungs demonstrated identical alveolar proportions of total and newly synthesized PC16:0/14:0, PC16:0/16:1, and PC16:0/16:0, which were much higher than those of other phosphatidylcholine species. In surfactant from human term and preterm neonates, fractional concentrations not only of PC16:0/16:0 but also of PC16:0/14:0 and PC16:0/ 16:1 increased with maturation. Our data emphasize that PC16:0/14:0 and PC16:0/16:1 may be important surfactant components in alveolar lungs, and that their concentrations are adapted to respiratory physiology.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗
PubMed2000

[Home monitoring of infants at risk of sudden infant death: suggestions for reconsideration of current practice].

Considering the decreasing incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the yet unproven efficacy of home monitoring, current indications for home monitoring should be reconsidered. Documented monitoring still appears to be necessary in infants with apparent life-threatening events (ALTE) and in siblings of two or more SIDS victims. Home monitoring is also indicated in infants on home oxygen/ventilation or with specific respiratory control disorders, but is usually not indicated in asymptomatic preterm infants or in those with a single SIDS sibling, a mother indulging in drug abuse, or increased parental anxiety. The risk of SIDS in these groups is lower than that in infants of mothers who are heavy smokers, who are nowhere regarded as candidates for home monitoring. If monitoring is considered necessary, new generation pulse oximeters with low false alarm rates are probably the safest technical option because they sound the alarm comparatively early, yet do not give too many false alarms. Home monitor recommendations should be revisited, taking the above issues into account.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

False alarms in very low birthweight infants: comparison between three intensive care monitoring systems.

UNLABELLED: Monitor alarms are a major burden on both patients and staff in intensive care units. We compared alarm rates from three different monitor systems (Hewlett Packard (HP), Kontron Instruments (KI), Marquette-Hellige (MH)) in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Monitors were used in random order on three consecutive days over 8 h each in 16 preterm infants (median gestational age at birth 29 wk (range 24-34), age at study 18 d (8-53), weight at study 1,160g (595-1,430)). Alarms were classified as true or false using flow sheets based on continuous observation of both the patient and related parameters. There was one alarm every 9 min of monitoring. The median number of true alarms did not differ significantly between systems, being 28 per 8 h (range 9-87) for HP, 26 (3-81) for KI, and 30 (5-135) for MH. The median number of false alarms differed widely, with the HP system generating 32 (7-77) such alarms per 8 h, compared to 8 (0-19) for KI and 15 (2-32) for MH (p < 0.01 HP vs KI and MH, p < 0.05 KI vs MH). These differences between systems were mainly due to differences in pulse oximeter and transcutaneous PO2 monitor alarm rates. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study shows marked differences between both parameters and manufacturers in the frequency with which false alarms occur. It may provide a basis from which reductions in alarm rates can be sought.

Child Health Services↗
PubMed2000

Pulse oximeters' reliability in detecting hypoxemia and bradycardia: comparison between a conventional and two new generation oximeters.

OBJECTIVE: Pulse oximeters are increasingly used for patient monitoring; however, they are traditionally very prone to motion artifact. Newly developed instruments have lower false alarm rates. We wanted to know whether this is achieved at the expense of an increased proportion of false negative alarms such as missed or delayed identification of hypoxemia and/or bradycardia. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care unit. PATIENTS: A total of 17 unsedated preterm infants (median gestational age at birth, 25 wks; range, 24-30 wks). INTERVENTION: Long-term recordings of transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (P(Tc)O2), heart rate, pulse oximeter saturation (SpO2), and pulse rate from a conventional oximeter and two new generation oximeters. MEASUREMENTS: Recordings were analyzed for episodes with P(Tc)O2 <40 torr or with heart rate <80 beats/min for >5 secs. Hypoxemia was considered identified if SpO2 had fallen to <85% within 2 mins of P(Tc)O2 reaching 40 torr, and bradycardia was considered identified if pulse rate had fallen to <80 beats/min within 2 mins of the heart rate reaching this threshold. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 202 falls in P(Tc)O2 to <40 torr occurred; 174 (86%) were identified by all three oximeters. Of the remaining episodes, manual analysis of red and infrared absorption signals confirmed that SpO2 had indeed been <85% for > or =10 secs in 11 episodes; therefore, these episodes should have been identified by all three oximeters. None of these had been missed by the conventional oximeter, but 10 (5.4% of the total) were missed by one of the new generation instruments (Nellcor), and one (0.5%) was missed by the other (Masimo). Of 54 bradycardias, only 14 were identified by all three oximeters; 17 (32%) were missed by the conventional, 37 (69%) by the Nellcor, and 4 (7%) by the Masimo instrument. CONCLUSION: One of the two new generation instruments investigated in this study missed 5.4% of hypoxemic episodes and 69% of bradycardias. It thus appears that this instrument's reduced false alarm rate is achieved at the expense of an unreliable and/or delayed identification of hypoxemia and bradycardia. The other instrument identified both conditions equally as or more reliably than a conventional pulse oximeter.

Bradycardia↗
PubMed2000

Oxygen saturation during the first 24 hours of life.

AIM: To determine normative data for arterial oxygen saturation, measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2), in healthy full term infants throughout their first 24 hours of life. METHODS: Long term recordings of SpO2, pulse waveform, and breathing movements were made on 90 infants. Recordings were analysed for baseline SpO(2), episodes of desaturation (SpO2 </= 80%), apnoeic pauses of >/= four seconds, and periodic apnoea (>/= three apnoeic pauses, each separated by </= 19 breaths). RESULTS: Median baseline SpO(2) was 98. 3% (range 88.7-100). Longitudinal analysis at four hour intervals showed that SpO2 remained stable until 20-24 hours of age, when it became significantly lower (p < 0.03). Episodic desaturations were identified in 23 recordings. Nine prolonged desaturations (SpO2 </= 80% for >/= 20 seconds) were identified in six recordings. Four desaturations fell to </= 60%. Periodic apnoea was identified in 60% of recordings. CONCLUSION: The range of SpO2 during the first 24 hours of life is similar to that found previously during the first month of life. The clinical significance of the prolonged episodes of desaturation observed justifies further investigation.

Apnea↗
PubMed2000

Commercial versus native surfactants. Surface activity, molecular components, and the effect of calcium.

Despite their broad clinical use, there is no standardized comparative study on the functional, biochemical, and morphologic differences of the various commercial surfactants in relation to native surfactant. We investigated these parameters in Alveofact, Curosurf, Exosurf, and Survanta, and compared them with native bovine (NBS) and porcine (NPS) surfactant. For Curosurf and Alveofact the concentrations necessary for minimal surface tensions < 5 mN/m were six to 12 times higher (1.5 and 3 mg/ml, respectively) than with NPS and NBS. Exosurf and Survanta only reached 22 and 8 mN/m, respectively. Increasing calcium to nonphysiologic concentrations artificially improved the function of Alveofact and Curosurf, but it had little effect on Exosurf and Survanta. Impaired surface activity of commercial versus native surfactants corresponded with their lack in surfactant protein SP-A and decreased SP-B/C. The higher surface activity of Curosurf compared with Alveofact corresponded with its higher concentration of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). Despite their enrichment in DPPC Survanta and Exosurf exhibited poor surface activity because of low or absent SP-B/C. Ultrastructurally, Curosurf and Alveofact consisted mainly of lamellar and vesicular structures, which were also present in NPS and NBS. Exosurf contained crystalline structures only, whereas the DPPC-enriched Survanta contained separate lamellar/vesicular and crystalline structures. We conclude that in vitro surface activity of commercial surfactants is impaired compared with native surfactants at physiologic calcium concentrations. In the presence of SP-B/C, surface activity corresponds to the concentration of DPPC. Our data underscore the importance of a standardized protocol at physiologic calcium concentrations for the in vitro assessment of commercial surfactants.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and determinants of prone sleeping position in infants: results from two cross-sectional studies on risk factors for SIDS in Germany.

The authors investigated whether there was a decline in infants sleeping prone and other modifiable risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Germany, where, as in some other countries, no nationwide intervention campaign against the prone sleeping position had been initiated. Data were obtained from parents by mailed questionnaires in two cross-sectional studies in 1991 (n = 3,330) and 1995 (n = 3,124). Prevalence of prone sleeping decreased from 37.6% to 8.7% (p < 0.05) in the German population and from 44.1% to 32.0% (p < 0.05) in the Turkish immigrant population. Parents who laid their infants prone in 1995 were less likely to follow advice from physicians, public media, and other parents (relative risks < 0.5, p < 0.05) and were more likely to have a low educational level, to be <20 years old, to be single parents, to have two or more children, to be raised in West Germany, or to be of Turkish ethnicity. Although the information on prone sleeping being a risk factor for SIDS became known among the population, these data suggest that subgroup-specific public intervention campaigns may be needed to reduce the prevalence of prone sleeping even further in those countries where no nationwide campaign has been initiated.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Necrotising enterocolitis: is there a relationship to specific pathogens?

UNLABELLED: Outbreaks of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) have often been related to specific pathogens such as Enterobacteriaceae. This relationship, however, remains uncertain because of the retrospective nature of the studies addressing this issue. We performed a prospective study to investigate whether there is indeed an association between NEC and specific pathogens. Between April 1993 and March 1997, stools of neonates of < 36 weeks admitted to our neonatal unit were investigated for bacteria in weekly intervals. Clinical and bacteriological data from each infant who developed NEC were compared with those from two control infants matched for gestational age and date of admission. Eighteen infants developed 19 episodes of NEC (clinical signs + air in portal vein); 8 of these had laparotomy; two died. Occurrences of NEC were homogeneously distributed over the 4-year study period. The only significant differences in the clinical course prior to NEC were a more severe stage of respiratory distress syndrome [median 2 (0-4) vs. 0 (0-3), P < 0.05] and a higher proportion of infants who had only been formula fed (63 vs. 32%, P < 0.05) in the cases. Within the last week prior to NEC, potentially pathogenic bacteria were identified in stools of all cases and 79% of controls (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of specific pathogens or groups of pathogens in cases compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Although gut colonisation with potential pathogens appeared to be a prerequisite for the development of NEC, there were no specific bacteria associated with this disease if data from infants with NEC were compared with those from time- and gestational age-matched controls.

Case-Control Studies↗