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Biomedical subjects

C Vegni

Publications and source records attributed to C Vegni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The effects of an early developmental mother-child intervention program on neurodevelopment outcome in very low birth weight infants: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies report increased minor neurodevelopment dysfunctions in children born very low birth weight (VLBW). Usefulness of preventive early intervention programs to improve neurodevelopment outcome of VLBW infants is still under investigation. AIMS: To evaluate the effects of an early post-discharge developmental mother-child intervention program on neurodevelopment outcome at 36 months in VLBW infants. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SUBJECTS: 36 VLBW infants ([mean (S.D.)] birthweight=864 g (204 g); gestational age=27.9 weeks (2.4 weeks)), consecutively born January-August 2001, randomized in intervention and control groups. OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurodevelopment assessment at 36 months of chronological age with use of the Griffiths Mental Development Scale and related subscales. RESULTS: At 36 months of chronological age, as compared to controls, children in intervention group exhibited higher scores in personal-social subscales ([mean (S.D.)]=101.4 (9.3) vs. 92.9 (12.1), P=0.02), eye-hand coordination (92.7 (4.5) vs. 87.1 (9.9), P=0.041), practical reasoning (98.6 (8.2) vs. 89.4 (10.1), P=0.01). Development Scale were 97.6 (5.5) and 92.4 (9.9), respectively, in intervention and control groups (P=0.074). CONCLUSIONS: Early post-discharge developmental mother-child intervention program may have a positive effect on later neurodevelopment outcome of VLBW children.

Central Nervous System↗
PubMed2006

Usefulness of an assessment score to predict early stopping of exclusive breast-feeding.

Exclusive breast-feeding is recommended during the first 6 months of life. Use of simple indicators to predict early stopping of exclusive breast-feeding may be desirable in clinical practice. A breast-feeding assessment evaluated at discharge and including maternal age, previous breast-feeding experience, latching difficulty, and breast-feeding interval could be useful.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Usefulness of an early neurofunctional assessment in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birthweight infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether early neurofunctional assessment may be useful in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome in children of very low birth weight (VLBW). DESIGN: Observational longitudinal study. SETTINGS: Northern Italy. PATIENTS: A total of 250 VLBW children (129 boys, 121 girls) born consecutively 1996-1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurodevelopment at 36 months of chronological age, classified in accordance with the classification of Tardieu and the International classification of functioning. RESULTS: Of the infants exhibiting normal neurodevelopment (n = 183) or major dysfunction (n = 17) at 3 months of corrected age, 72% and 94% respectively did not change their score during the study. Minor dysfunctions at 3 months of corrected age were transient in 17 (34%) children. After adjustment for neonatal variables, neurodevelopment at 3 months of corrected age remained predictive of dysfunction at 36 months (odds ratio = 4.33, 95% confidence interval 2.05 to 9.12). If the results for the normal and minor dysfunction groups were pooled, the predictive qualities of the 3 month neurofunctional assessment were: sensitivity 0.5, specificity 0.99, positive predictive value 0.94, negative predictive value 0.93. CONCLUSION: Early neurofunctional evaluation may be useful in predicting later neurodevelopmental outcome in VLBW children.

Aging↗
PubMed2003

Influence of different types of post-discharge feeding on somatic growth, cognitive development and their correlation in very low birthweight preterm infants.

UNLABELLED: The influence of appropriate post-discharge nutrition on somatic growth and cognitive development of very low-birthweight infants in the first year of life is currently a major topic in infant nutrition. Appropriate intakes of proteins, iodine and the addition of LC-PUFAs (arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) in the "right" quantities improve cognitive development and are conducive to a good correlation between somatic growth and neurodevelopment. CONCLUSION: When mother' milk is not available post-discharge, in addition to more proteins and minerals, formula for low-birthweight infants should contain AA and DHA, since the endogenous production of these important compounds from the precursors can be reduced in the first months of life, chiefly in the very low-birthweight infants.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2003

Post-discharge nutrition of the very low-birthweight infant: interim results of the multicentric GAMMA study.

UNLABELLED: This report presents the interim results up to 12 mo corrected age (c.a.) of a multicentric, prospective, controlled study on very low-birthweight infants, randomized at 40 wk post-conception in two different groups of formula feeding: 80 Kcal/dL (group A) vs 70 Kcal/dL (group B) up to 55 wk of postconceptional age. Subsequently, all the babies were fed with a follow-on formula, with the introduction of solid foods at 6 mo c.a. Weight, length, head circumference and neurological conditions with psychomotor development (evaluated by the Griffiths' Developmental Scale) were measured at regular intervals and all of these parameters were satisfactory in both groups. For growth, in group A there was a greater increase in weight in boys at 55 wk and at 6 mo c.a., and small for gestational age (SGA) babies had a greater increase in length at 1 y of age, while head circumference caught up on growth from week 40 to week 55. Measured by the Griffiths' Developmental Scale, the SGA group fed 80 Kcal/dL had a better score at 6 mo; similarly boys fed 80 Kcal/dL had a better score at 6 and at 9 mo. CONCLUSION: Nutrition of very low birthweight infants post-discharge could have an influence on physical growth and on neurodevelopmental outcome. This interim report needs to be confirmed at the end of the study.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Allergic manifestations in very low-birthweight infants: a 6-year follow-up.

The incidence of allergic manifestations was evaluated from birth until 6 y of age in 83 very low-birthweight infants (VLBWIs). In the same period 98 full-term babies were followed from birth to 24 mo of life. All the subjects were examined by paediatricians to establish the presence of atopic dermatitis (AD), gastrointestinal disturbances (GD) and asthma (AS). The incidence of total allergic manifestations (31.3%) in VLBWIs was significantly lower than that (52%) in 24-mo-old infants, born at full term. The incidence of allergies in VLBWIs did not differ at all at the subsequent checks, up to 6 y of age. AD (33.7%) was the most common symptom, statistically higher in full-term infants than in VLBWIs (7.2%). GD had a similar distribution (8.2% in full-term infants vs 7.2% in VLBWIs). AS (16.8%) was significantly higher in VLBWIs than in those born full term (10.2%). In the various VLBWI subgroups analysed, AD was more prevalent in babies weighing >1000 g and in babies >30 wk of age; the incidence of GD was higher in infants weighing <1000 g and in SGA infants, and AS was more prevalent in infants weighing <1000 g, in infants <30 wk of age and in babies appropriate for gestational age. A family history of allergy was related to a major incidence of allergies.

Female↗
PubMed2001

The organization of rapid eye movement activity during rapid eye movement sleep is further impaired in very old human subjects.

Rapid eye movement activity (REMA) during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was studied in seven very old ('old-old') subjects. Beyond global quantitative features (REMA density), we evaluated the organizational aspects of REMA, that is its occurrence in burst mode, which were compared to a group of younger elderly subjects ('young-old'). REMA density in 'old-old' subjects is not significantly different from that of 'young-old' subjects. The same lack of difference in the two groups is found for the number of REMA bursts. By contrast, the duration of REMA bursts is reduced in the 'old-old' subjects, as well as the 'burst state-to-burst-state' probability, i.e. the probability for successive inter-REMA time intervals to be part of the same REMA burst. Our results clearly show that the trend towards an impairment of REMA organizational aspects continues with aging. This is consistent with the hypothesis that sleep disorganization keeps worsening with age. However, it is of interest to observe that the capability of producing REMA bursts is preserved despite aging.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Fingertip calcinosis cutis.

Calcinosis cutis, a rare disorder caused by an abnormal deposit of calcium phosphate into the skin, is observed in a variety of disorders. Peculiar conditions feature skin calcifications in children and may have an iatrogenic origin. The unusual case of a baby showing periodic transepidermal elimination of calcified nodules from her fingertips is reported. In this case, fingertip calcinosis cutis was probably caused by ischemic damage due to the venous obstruction that occurred during intensive care in the neonatal period.

Calcinosis↗
PubMed1999

Anti-CD4 antibodies in exposed seronegative adults and in newborns of HIV type 1-seropositive mothers: a follow-up study.

In this work, an ELISA for the quantitative determination of IgG anti-CD4 autoantibodies was validated and utilized in the follow-up of two cohorts of HIV-1-exposed seronegative subjects. A serum with an arbitrarily assigned concentration of 100,000 units/ml was used as a reference, and the detection limit, inter- and intraassay variability, and analytical recovery were calculated. The study subjects included adults sexually exposed to HIV-1-infected partners and the newborns of HIV-1+ mothers who seroreverted by 18 months of age. Some of these individuals were studied over an 18- to 24-month period. The detection limit of the assay was 2000 AU/ml. Intra- and interassay variability was, respectively, 3.92 and 3.90%. Analytical recovery in an assay in which a fixed amount of anti-CD4 antibodies was added to different samples was 98%. A proportion of adults (16 of 47, 34.0%) and babies (12 of 27, 44.4%) had significantly higher concentrations of anti-CD4 antibodies. Among them, 8 adults maintained the same concentration as that found in the first determination; on the other hand, 12 babies born to seronegative mothers showed a significant increase in the concentration of anti-CD4 antibodies during their first months of life. In conclusion, anti-CD4 antibodies can be measured using a validated ELISA. They represent a serologic trait that is quantitatively conserved in HIV-1-exposed seronegative adult individuals and is actively acquired by newborns to HIV+ mothers.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A severe transfusion-dependent congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia presenting as hydrops fetalis.

We describe a case of congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) presenting at week 20 of pregnancy with hydrops fetalis and very severe anaemia. Fetal blood examination showed marked erythroblastosis with morphologic alterations while the basic haematological and biochemical tests were in the normal range. The fetus received intravascular red blood cells transfusion at 20 and 25 weeks of gestation. After a caesarean section at week 33 the child became transfusion dependent. Haematological investigations demonstrated that the child is affected by a CDA-like picture which, although morphologically similar to CDA II, is Ham test negative and does not show the typical membrane proteins alterations.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Polymerase chain reaction, virus isolation and antigen assay in HIV-1-antibody-positive mothers and their children.

Diagnosis of perinatal HIV-1 infection is complicated by the persistence of maternal antibodies and the conflicting reports on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactivity in children born to HIV-1-seropositive mothers. We have compared PCR with other diagnostic methods for perinatal HIV-1 infection and have attempted also to identify maternal markers which correlate with risk of transmission. PCR was the most sensitive method for early diagnosis of perinatal transmission of HIV-1, but the PCR-positive children (n = 11) developed at least one additional sign of infection. The PCR-negative children (n = 76) were clinically healthy, virus isolation negative, and their serum was HIV-1-antigen-negative. All children who had become seronegative (n = 36) were both PCR- and isolation-negative. Antigenaemia in the mothers correlated significantly with higher risk of perinatal transmission of HIV-1, while no other parameters (clinical stage, lymphocyte subsets, PCR and isolation) showed such a correlation. This indicates that the level of virus expression may be of key importance for the risk of vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection.

CD4 Antigens↗
PubMed1991

Role of umbilical Doppler velocimetry in the biophysical assessment of the growth-retarded fetus. Answers from neonatal morbidity and mortality.

We compared umbilical Doppler velocimetry with biophysical parameters, obstetrical management, and neonatal morbidity. The study of 85 pregnancies was prospective and blind both to the obstetric and pediatric staff. Our results show that under the same biophysical diagnosis, ie, abnormal fetal growth, oligohydramnios, and nonreactive cardiotocographics, the prevalence of neonatal morbidity was significantly higher in fetuses with associated abnormal umbilical pulsatility index (PI) in utero. Newborns with abnormal PI were delivered earlier, mostly for fetal indication, and were smaller and more asymmetrical than newborns with a normal PI in utero. The analysis of morbidity for homogeneous classes of weight showed that in the group of newborns between 1500 and 2500 g, newborns with normal umbilical PI did show only metabolic disturbances and one respiratory distress syndrome. On the contrary, newborns of the same gestational age and of the same weight with abnormal PI had more severe morbid episodes. In the class of weight between 1500 and 1000 g not only the severity but also the prevalence of neonatal morbidity was significantly higher in newborns with an abnormal PI in utero. None of the newborns delivered below 1000 g had a normal umbilical PI. Five died in the early neonatal period. Three suffered from mild neuromotor sequelae. Practical consequences of these findings on fetal management are the scheduled frequency of biophysical examinations, which must be closer and on an inpatient basis whenever abnormal, and the interpretation of other abnormal biophysical parameters, which must be considered as more severe whenever associated with an abnormal umbilical velocimetry.

Biophysical Phenomena↗
PubMed1989

Umbilical flow waveforms versus fetal biophysical profile in hypertensive pregnancies.

The pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical arteries was measured in 40 hypertensive pregnancies. Doppler-velocimetric data were kept unknown to the clinical staff. An abnormal PI was found in 79% of cases in which an abnormal fetal growth in utero had been diagnosed by ultrasonographic measurements. Serial PI findings showed worsening figures in most of the cases with an abnormal fetal growth, irrespective of the last absolute value. Amniotic fluid estimation and PI data were significantly correlated. PI values were markedly abnormal in fetuses with non-reactive heart-rate tracings. A high sensitivity and an optimal specificity were found for umbilical PI versus the diagnosis of fetal growth retardation made by the coexistence of different biophysical criteria. However, false normal results may occur. 62% of the newborns weighed below the 5th percentile. The sensitivity of abnormal PI values to detect these light fetuses resulted to be only 67%. However the prevalence of neonatal morbidity in fetuses with abnormal PI values was 74%, while morbidity occurred only in 14% of cases with normal PI values. In hypertensive pregnancies, this simple velocimetric parameter proved to correlate with abnormal biophysical monitoring and complicated neonatal outcomes.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1983

EEG sleep patterns and endogenous opioids in infants of narcotic-addicted mothers.

The early symptoms of brain dysfunction in infants born to heroin-addicted mothers were studied during the first month of life by a multimethod approach. Neurological examination and polygraphic EEG studies of sleep patterns were performed; concomitantly plasma levels of beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin were measured. Whenever possible, these parameters were correlated with each other and with the severity of the withdrawal syndrome. While the neurological examination of addicted newborns was almost negative, altered sleep cycles with a decrease in active sleep and an increase in quiet sleep were noted together with a marked increase in the plasma concentration of the endogenous opioid peptides. Furthermore, instead of reverting to the adult values (as for normal babies), the peptides remained at high levels up to the 40th day of life.

Brain↗
PubMed1983

Plasma beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and met-enkephalin concentrations during pregnancy in normal and drug-addicted women and their newborn.

Most studies of plasma beta-endorphin concentrations in pregnant women show that these are highly elevated. This might indicate a role for opiate peptides during pregnancy and in the fetus-mother relationship. We measured plasma beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and met-enkephalin concentrations in normal and drug-addicted women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and in their newborn infants. Peptides were measured by RIA after extraction and concentration on silica columns and separation by high pressure liquid chromatography. In both normal and drug-addicted mothers we found an increase in plasma beta-endorphin during pregnancy, without a concomitant increase in plasma beta-lipotropin or metenkephalin. Only beta-lipotropin increased dramatically in both groups at delivery, whereas beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin remained unchanged. Peptide concentrations in umbilical plasma were similar to those in peripheral plasma of the mothers. On day 1 of life plasma beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and met-enkephalin concentrations in the newborn from normal mothers were higher than in nonpregnant adult subjects and gradually decreased toward normal adult values by day 5 of life. Plasma beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and met-enkephalin concentrations of newborn infants of drug-addicted mothers increased dramatically on day 2 and 3 of life, up to 1000-fold the concentrations of normal adults, and remained elevated up to 40 days after birth. In conclusion, beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin, and met-enkephalin concentrations during pregnancy are not affected by drug addiction, whereas in the newborn of drug addicted mothers concentrations of these compounds are markedly increased.

Adult↗