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Biomedical subjects

C L Berseth

Publications and source records attributed to C L Berseth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cessation of unsuccessful pediatric resuscitation--how long is too long?

Emergency teams asked to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation for pediatric patients often consist of nurses and physicians from various pediatric and nonpediatric specialties. Team members should agree on the timing of termination of unsuccessful resuscitative efforts; however, no firm guidelines about such timing have been established. The purposes of this study were to determine (1) whether a consensus exists among health-care professionals about the optimal duration of unsuccessful resuscitation for pediatric patients and (2) whether attitudes are influenced by individual case prognosis, medical specialty, level of training, or certification in pediatric advanced life support (PALS). By random selection, 140 physicians, nurses, and medical students were asked to specify the duration that they would continue unsuccessful resuscitative efforts for each of two hypothetical cases: one patient with a good prognosis for survival and one with a poor prognosis. Although no clear consensus existed, all groups of health-care providers chose significantly briefer durations of resuscitation for the case with a poorer prognosis (P < 0.01). The specified durations of resuscitation were briefer for those who had PALS certification than for those who did not and for pediatricians than for nonpediatric physicians (P < 0.01). Furthermore, PALS certification (P < 0.01) and pediatric specialty (P < 0.05) contributed as independent variables in influencing the study participants' attitudes about duration of resuscitation, whereas level of training did not. We conclude that no consensus exists among the groups studied on the optimal duration of unsuccessful resuscitative efforts in pediatric patients. We speculate that the opinions might be more uniform if resuscitation of pediatric patients was provided primarily by pediatricians or PALS-certified physicians.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Enteral nutrients promote postnatal maturation of intestinal motor activity in preterm infants.

Low-compliance perfusion manometry and clinical outcome were used to assess the chronic effects of feeding on functional maturation of the preterm intestine in 32 infants. During the first postnatal week, 16 infants received a small volume of formula to supplement their routine parenteral nutrition (24 ml.kg-1.day-1), and 16 received an equal volume of water. After 10 days of enteral "feedings," the manometric tracings of those infants who had received nutrient feedings had more migrating activity (P < 0.01) and less clustered phasic activity (P < 0.05) during fasting than did the tracings of those infants who had received nonnutrient feedings containing sterile water. Infants who received nutrient feedings demonstrated a change in motor activity in response to feeding; infants who had received water feedings failed to show a change in motor activity in response to feeding. After water-fed infants were given formula feedings for 2 wk, their motor activity patterns were similar to those who had initially been fed formula, and their motor responses to feeding were restored. Despite normalization of their motor activity patterns by 1 mo of age, these water-fed infants established full enteral nutrition and full nipple feedings later than did infants who had been fed formula (P < 0.01), suggesting that the delay of enteral feedings in preterm infants does not permit optimal intestinal maturation of nonmucosal functions.

Aging↗

Maturation of antroduodenal motor activity in preterm and term infants.

Previous studies have shown that duodenal motility patterns differ in preterm and term infants, but antral motor activities were not compared. Using a validated, low-compliance, continuous-perfusion, neonatal manometric system, antral and duodenal motility was studied in 19 preterm and nine term infants. Antral motility consisted of isolated single contractions and clustered phasic contractions in term and preterm infants. There were no differences in the occurrence or amplitude of antral activity between the two groups of infants. Thus, there was no change of antral motor activity with advancing gestational age. As has been shown in other previous studies, however, intestinal motor characteristics were more immature in preterm than term infants; clustered phasic contractions occurred more frequently (P less than 0.02) and were of shorter duration (P less than 0.02) and lower amplitude (P less than 0.005). Duodenal clusters were significantly less common, while their amplitudes were significantly increased with increasing gestational age. The proportion of antral clusters that were temporally associated with duodenal activity was significantly lower in preterm infants than in term infants (P less than 0.001). Moreover, the degree of association of antral and duodenal activity increased significantly with gestational age (r = 0.5, P = 0.006). These data show that fasting antral motor activity per se is comparable in preterm and term infants; they also suggest that the temporal association of antral and duodenal activity develops in association with progressive changes in duodenal motor activity in the preterm infant.

Duodenum↗

Manometry can predict feeding readiness in preterm infants.

To assess the usefulness of duodenojejunal manometry in predicting when neonates will tolerate enteral feeding, small intestinal manometry was performed in 48 preterm infants. Characteristics of motor activity during fasting and feeding differed in 40 infants who were identified to be tolerant and 8 who were intolerant of feeding. Among infants who were feeding intolerant, motor quiescence was less pronounced and clustered motor activity more prominent than it was in infants who were able to tolerate feedings (P < 0.005). Those infants who tolerated feedings changed their pattern of motor activity in response to feeding (P < 0.01), and infants who did not tolerate feedings had no "fed response." Infants who were initially feeding intolerant became tolerant of feedings coincident with the appearance of motor activity that was similar to that of infants who were initially tolerant to food. The sensitivity of manometry to predict feeding intolerance was 1.0, and its specificity was 0.13.

Duodenum↗

Effect of early feeding on maturation of the preterm infant's small intestine.

To determine the response of the preterm infant's intestine to entire feedings at different postnatal ages, we recorded results of manometry of the gastroduodenum and determined fasting plasma concentrations of gastrin, gastric inhibitory peptide, neurotensin, and peptide YY three times in each of two groups: 27 preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive hypocaloric enteral nutrition on postnatal days 3 to 5 (early feeding) or on days 10 to 14 (late feeding). Initial observations (study 1) were performed by the fifth postnatal day; study 2 was performed on days 10 to 14, and study 3 on days 24 to 28. Early-fed infants received hypocaloric feedings immediately after study 1; late-fed infants did not receive enteral feedings until the completion of study 2. Although motor activity and fasting gastrointestinal peptide concentrations did not differ between groups at study 1, at study 2 early-fed infants had significantly more mature motor patterns than did babies not being fed. Early-fed infants also had significantly higher plasma concentrations of gastrin and gastric inhibitory peptide than did late-fed infants; neurotensin and peptide YY values were similar in both groups. By the time of study 3, when late-fed infants had also received enteral feedings, gut development was not different in the two groups. However, early-fed infants were able to tolerate full oral nutrition sooner, had fewer days of feeding intolerance, and had shorter hospital stays. Thus the provision of early hypocaloric nutrition was associated with earlier nutrition of preterm infants' intestinal function and resulted in improved feeding tolerance. These findings support the use of early feedings in preterm infants.

Energy Intake↗

Antral and duodenal motor responses to duodenal feeding in preterm and term infants.

In the fasting state, antral motor activity is similar in preterm and term infants, but the antral responses to feeding have not been compared in preterm and term infants. The purpose of this study was to use low-compliance, continuous perfusion manometry to compare antral and duodenal feeding responses in 13 preterm and nine term infants within the first 14 days of life. Confirming our previous studies, fasting antral motor activity was similar in preterm and term infants, but duodenal activity differed. Individual duodenal cluster activity was of shorter duration in preterm than in term infants (p less than 0.01). Motor activity in antrum and duodenum changed in both groups of infants in response to an intraduodenal milk infusion of 4 ml/kg/2 h; however, the nature of the change varied in the two regions. In term infants, the number of antral pressure waves, the duration of antral clusters, and the antral motility index decreased by one third or more during feeding when compared with fasting (all p less than 0.05). In contrast to the decrease in antral activity in response to feeding, the duodenal motility index and cluster activity increased significantly during feeding compared with fasting (both p less than 0.05). The divergent response of antral and duodenal motor activity in response to feedings was also seen in preterm infants. Antral pressure waves, the duration of antral clusters, and the antral motility index were decreased during feeding (all p less than 0.005 or less).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Responses of gastrointestinal peptides and motor activity to milk and water feedings in preterm and term infants.

Because duodenal motor activity differs between preterm and term infants during fasting, this study evaluated the responses of motor activity and peptide release in response to feeding. In the first study, fasting concentrations of gastrin, gastric inhibitory peptide, neurotensin, and peptide YY (PYY) were determined in 53 preterm and 20 term infants. Plasma concentrations of gastrin and neurotensin were significantly lower in preterm infants than in healthy adults reported previously by our lab (p less than 0.01). Plasma concentration of gastric inhibitory peptide and PYY were higher than in healthy adults (p less than 0.01). Gastrin concentrations in preterm and term infants varied directly with gestational age (p less than 0.005); PYY varied inversely with gestational age (p less than 0.005). In a secondary study, intestinal manometry was recorded and serial peptide concentrations were determined in 43 preterm babies who were given their first enteral feeding intraduodenally with formula or sterile water. Although none of the four peptide plasma concentrations changed in response to feeding with water, plasma concentrations of gastric inhibitory peptide, neurotensin, and PYY significantly increased with formula feedings (p less than 0.05 or less). In addition, plasma gastrin increased significantly in seven infants fed milk compared with eight fed water by orogastric tube (p less than 0.01). In contrast to the peptide response to feeding, motor activity changed in response to feeding with either water or milk; motility indices increased and periods of motor quiescence decreased significantly during feeding as compared with fasting (p less than 0.02). Responses of both motor activity and peptides to feeding were time related.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Birth asphyxia alters neonatal intestinal motility in term neonates.

As an extension of an earlier study showing that manometry can identify preterm newborns at risk for feeding intolerance, the authors investigated whether abnormalities of intestinal motor activity underlie the feeding intolerance seen in asphyxiated newborns. Low-compliance perfusion manometry was recorded within the first postnatal week in 25 term neonates admitted consecutively for respiratory diseases. Eleven of these neonates were identified to have experienced birth asphyxia because three concurrent features were present: 1-minute Apgar score of less than 2; 5-minute Apgar score of less than 4; and recurrent seizures within the first 48 postnatal hours. The remaining 14 neonates, who did not have any of these three characteristics, were considered to be nonasphyxiated control neonates. Motor activity differed in nonasphyxiated and asphyxiated neonates during fasting and feeding. During fasting, asphyxiated neonates had less migrating activity than nonasphyxiated neonates. In addition, episodes of motor quiescence and clustered phasic activity were less well organized in asphyxiated neonates. Both groups of neonates displayed a change in motor activity in response to a feeding infusion; however, the response was initiated significantly sooner in asphyxiated than in control neonates. All of the 11 asphyxiated neonates were intolerant of enteral feedings during the first poststudy week, but no control neonate was feeding intolerant. Six of the asphyxiated neonates were reevaluated 1 to 2 weeks later. During this latter study, motor activity in these asphyxiated neonates was similar to that of nonasphyxiated neonates; 5 of 6 of these neonates subsequently tolerated enteral feedings. It is speculated that changes in motor activity underlie the feeding intolerance that asphyxiated neonates typically exhibit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Neonatal small intestinal motility: motor responses to feeding in term and preterm infants.

To explore the possibility that the intestinal motor response to feeding is intact even in infants with immature fasting patterns, we performed low-compliance, continuous-infusion manometry in 13 term and 23 preterm infants during the first postnatal week. Babies were fed a standard formula intraduodenally at 4 ml/kg/2 hr by infusion pump. Small bowel motility responded to feeding; fasting patterns were replaced with long periods of persistent activity. During the infusion of formula, there was no significant difference in motor activity between preterm and term infants. Four characteristics of motor activity changed with feeding: motility index, the number of pressure peaks per 30-minute period, mean amplitude of pressure peaks, and duration of periods of quiescence. The number of pressure peaks per 30-minute period was the most sensitive index of the motor response to feeding, and it was used to characterize the fed pattern response. The start and duration of the fed response were similar in both groups of infants. Thus, despite the presence of immaturity in fasting patterns, the intestine of the preterm infant responds appropriately to feeding. These data help explain why preterm infants usually tolerate antral feedings, and support their use.

Animals↗

Evaluating the effect of a human values seminar series on ethical attitudes toward resuscitation among pediatric residents.

A human values seminar series was designed to provide training in medical ethics for residents in pediatrics. Attitudes of residents toward resuscitation of children were surveyed before and after the seminar series. Nonpediatric residents rotating through pediatrics served as control subjects. Although both groups of residents demonstrated a significant change in attitude on six scales at the end of 1 year of training, pediatricians and nonpediatricians differed from each other with respect to only one of these scales. After the seminar series, pediatric residents expressed decreased willingness to resuscitate certain critically ill infants in the emergency room, whereas nonpediatricians expressed more willingness (P less than 0.009). Attitude change in decision making among pediatricians was significantly correlated with the consideration given to societal needs, sanctity of life, and anticipated poor morbidity (P less than 0.05). Among nonpediatricians, attitude change was significantly correlated with poor prognosis for survival (P less than 0.05), morbidity (P less than 0.05), or anticipated poor intellectual outcome (P less than 0.01). Attitude differences between the two groups of residents were unrelated to differences in preexisting attitudes or demographic factors. These findings show that attitudes about ethical decisions are influenced by both "maturation," or progression through a training program, and formal instruction. The finding that clinical attitudes change rapidly as residents progress through training confirms our previous findings and suggests that residency training programs should provide support and formal instruction in ethics during this time of change. The small change caused by this current method of instruction indicates that preliminary studies are needed to delineate the goals and the structure of future ethics courses.

Adult↗

Postpartum changes in pattern of gastrointestinal regulatory peptides in human milk.

Concentrations of gastrointestinal neuropeptides in serial human milk samples from 28 women were determined over the first 6 postpartum mo. All gut neuropeptides were present during the first postpartum week. Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) concentration remained constant but the others decreased by 6 wk. Bombesin concentration in breast milk was threefold greater than concurrent plasma concentration (p less than 0.001); all other neuropeptides were at the same or lower concentrations in milk than in plasma. At 36 wk gestation plasma concentrations of GIP were lower and concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide were higher than concentrations in age-matched control subjects. Concentrations of gastrin and cholecystokinin, bombesin, peptide histidine methionine, peptide YY, and neurotensin in plasma were similar in pregnant and nonpregnant women. These gut neuropeptides in milk may be important for growth and maturation of the gastrointestinal system in neonates. Bombesin may contribute to neonatal hypergastrinemia.

Adult↗

Gestational evolution of small intestine motility in preterm and term infants.

Continuous perfusion manometry was performed in 31 preterm and term infants to assess the influence of gestational age on small intestinal motility. Gestational ages ranged from 27 to 42 weeks. All 8 term infants had interdigestive cycles that included all three phases. Only 4 of 23 preterm infants had complete interdigestive cycles. The remaining 19 preterm infants had only periods of motor quiescence and nonpropagating contractions. In term infants the interdigestive cycle was significantly shorter and the amplitude of phase 3 activity was significantly greater (p less than 0.01); velocity and duration of phase 3 activity were similar in both groups of infants. Rhythmic nonpropagating activity, or clusters, made up more than 60% of the phase 2 activity in both term and preterm infants. Although clusters did not propagate across three or more leads, approximately 25% of cluster activity was propagated across two leads. The duration of total cluster activity was similar for all gestational ages, but the frequency of clusters decreased and the mean duration of individual clusters increased with gestational age (both p less than 0.01). The amplitude of individual pressure peaks in clusters and phase 3 increased significantly with gestational age (p less than 0.03 and p less than 0.01, respectively). The motility index also increased with gestational age (p less than 0.02). We conclude that small intestinal motility is more immature in preterm infants than in term infants. Furthermore, cluster activity, which increases in duration and amplitude with gestational age, may be an immature form of phase 3 activity. These data and techniques will provide neonatologists with a direct way of tracking preterm intestinal motor function to provide more appropriate enteral nutrition.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Continuing care for the preterm infant after dismissal from the neonatal intensive care unit.

As more low-birth-weight babies survive, primary-care physicians are facing the responsibility of providing continuing care for those who have been dismissed from neonatal intensive-care units. Premature infants often require outpatient care for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, apnea, retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage, hearing loss, hypothyroxinemia, anemia, neurodevelopmental sequelae, assessment of growth and nutrition, immunizations, and psychosocial stress. In this review, we present guidelines for the primary-care physician for the management of these conditions in preterm infants.

Anemia, Neonatal↗

Enhancement of intestinal growth in neonatal rats by epidermal growth factor in milk.

Breast milk has been shown to enhance neonatal intestinal growth. Because epidermal growth factor (EGF) is present in the milk of various mammalian species, the hypothesis was tested that EGF in rodent milk mediates, in part, the breast milk-enhanced intestinal growth in neonatal rat. Fifty-eight rat pups fed artificial formula that contained 1.2, 3.0, and 6.0 micrograms/ml EGF for 39 h had greater incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA and DNA content of intestine than 29 pups fed unsupplemented formula. Pups fed EGF for 5 days had significantly greater body weight, intestinal weight, length, and DNA content than control pups. Conversely, pups fed pooled rat milk containing rabbit-derived antibody to EGF for 39 h had intestines of lower weight that contained less DNA than animals fed rat milk containing normal rabbit serum. EGF appears to mediate in part, breast milk-enhanced neonatal intestinal growth.

Animals↗

Breast-milk-enhanced intestinal and somatic growth in neonatal rats.

Ten rat pups fed pooled rat milk and 9 pups fed artificial formula had significantly heavier stomachs and intestines that contained more DNA and RNA by 40 h of age than 12 pups sacrificed at birth. Breast-milk-fed animals had significantly heavier intestines, livers and kidneys than animals fed artificial formula. The intestines of pups fed breast milk contained more DNA and RNA with a lower RNA:DNA ratio than the intestines of pups fed artificial formula. Hence, when caloric intake and mode of feeding are controlled, natural milk enhances neonatal intestinal growth more than artificial formula.

Animals↗

Longitudinal development in pediatric residents of attitudes toward neonatal resuscitation.

We used Guttman scaling procedures to devise a quantitative, reproducible measure among pediatric residents of attitude change concerning neonatal resuscitation. Preliminary cross-sectional testing of an incoming group of pediatric level 1 residents and graduating pediatric level 3 residents indicated that pediatric level 3 residents were more reluctant to resuscitate high-risk infants. This reluctance was not due to age differences. The pediatric level 1 residents were retested at the completion of each year of training. Residents showed significantly increased reluctance to resuscitate infants at the end of the first year of training and again at the end of the third year of training. These attitude changes were unrelated to gender, marital status, religious preference, or ethnic background. Data acquired both cross-sectionally and longitudinally indicated that attitudes toward neonatal resuscitation changed during residency training.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Duplication of part of chromosome 1q: clinical report and review of literature.

We report a male infant with a 47,XY, + der(22),t(1;22)(q32;q11)pat karyotype. Thus, he has duplication of chromosomes 1(q32----qter) and 22(pter----q11). Six patients with dup 1(q32----qter) and eight with dup 1(q42----qter) have been described. These two groups of patients share several manifestations, including postnatal growth retardation; relative macrocephaly with widely separated sutures or large fontanelles; prominent forehead; highly arched palate; micrognathia; downward slant of the palpebral fissures; broad, flat nasal bridge; and apparently low-set, malformed ears. Although many of these abnormalities are nonspecific, partial duplication of 1q should be considered in infants with relative macrocephaly, large fontanelles, and downward slant of the palpebral fissures. Our patient had duplication of the part of chromosome 22 that may be associated with the clinically variable cat-eye syndrome. Patients with dup 22(pter----q11) may also have downward slant of the palpebral fissures, micrognathia, and apparently low-set, malformed ears. The structural gene locus for beta-glucosidase has been mapped to chromosome 1. beta-Glucosidase activity in fibroblasts from our patient was normal, and his parents' activities were not significantly different from those of control individuals. Therefore, either the locus for this enzyme is not present on 1(q32----qter) or the enzyme does not consistently show a substantial gene-dose effect.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗