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Biomedical subjects

Charles R Rosenfeld

Publications and source records attributed to Charles R Rosenfeld.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Prevalence of spontaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus in neonates at a birth weight of 1000 grams or less.

OBJECTIVE: Ductus arteriosus (DA) closure occurs within 96 hours in >95% of neonates >1500 g in birth weight (BW). The prevalence and postnatal age of spontaneous ductal closure in neonates < or =1000 g in BW (extremely low birth weight [ELBW] neonates) remain unclear, as does the incidence of failure to close with indomethacin. Therefore, we prospectively examined the prevalence, postnatal age, and clinical variables associated with spontaneous DA closure, occurrence of persistent patent DA, and indomethacin failure in ELBW neonates. METHODS: Neonates delivered at Parkland Memorial Hospital from February 2001 through December 2003 were studied. Those with congenital heart defects or death <10 days postnatally were excluded. Echocardiograms were performed 48 to 72 hours postnatal and every 48 hours until 10 days postnatally. RESULTS: We studied 122 neonates with BW of 794 +/- 118 (SD) g and estimated gestational age (EGA) of 26 +/- 2 weeks. Spontaneous permanent DA closure occurred in 42 (34%) neonates at 4.3 +/- 2 days postnatally, with 100% closure by 8 days. These neonates were more mature, less likely to have received antenatal steroids or have hyaline membrane disease (HMD; 52% vs 79%), and more likely to be growth restricted (31% vs 5%) and delivered of hypertensive women. Using regression analysis, EGA and absence of antenatal steroids and HMD predicted ductal closure. Ten (8%) neonates with early DA closure reopened and required medical/surgical closure. Eighty neonates had persistent patent DA; 7 were surgically ligated, and 5 remained asymptomatic, with 4 of 5 closing after 10 days postnatally. Sixty-eight (85%) received indomethacin at 6.2 +/- 4 days postnatally; 41% failed therapy and had no distinguishing characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous permanent DA closure occurs in >34% of ELBW neonates and is predicted by variables related to maturation, for example, EGA and an absence of HMD, whereas indomethacin failure could not be predicated.

Ductus Arteriosus↗

Estrogen regulates {beta}1-subunit expression in Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in arteries from reproductive tissues.

Daily estradiol-17beta (E(2)beta) increases basal uterine blood flow (UBF) and enhances acute E(2)beta-mediated increases in UBF in ovariectomized nonpregnant ewes. The acute E(2)beta-mediated rise in UBF involves vascular smooth muscle (VSM) large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK(Ca)). BK(Ca) consist of pore-forming alpha-subunits and regulatory beta(1)-subunits that modulate channel function and E(2)beta responsiveness. It is unclear whether E(2)beta also alters subunit expression and thus channel density and/or function, thereby contributing to the rise in basal UBF and enhanced UBF responses that follow daily E(2)beta. Therefore, we examined BK(Ca) subunit expression by using reverse transcription-PCR and immunoblot analysis of arterial VSM from reproductive and nonreproductive tissues and myometrium from ovariectomized nonpregnant ewes after daily E(2)beta (1 microg/kg iv) or vehicle without or with acute E(2)beta (1 microg/kg). Tissue distribution was determined by immunohistochemistry. Acute E(2)beta did not alter alpha- or beta(1)-subunit expression in any tissue (P > 0.1). Daily E(2)beta also did not affect alpha-subunit mRNA or protein in any tissue (P > 0.1) or mesenteric arterial VSM beta(1)-subunit. However, daily E(2)beta increased uterine and mammary arterial VSM beta(1)-subunit mRNA by 32% and 83% (P < 0.05), uterine VSM protein by 30%, and myometrial beta(1)-subunit mRNA and protein by 74% (P < or = 0.005). Immunostaining of uterine arteries, myometrium, and intramyometrial arteries paralleled immunoblot analyses for both subunits. Although BK(Ca) density is unaffected by daily and acute E(2)beta, daily E(2)beta increases beta(1)-subunit in proximal and distal uterine arterial VSM. Thus prolonged E(2)beta exposure may alter BK(Ca) function, estrogen responsiveness, and basal vascular tone and reactivity in reproductive arteries by modifying alpha:beta(1) stoichiometry.

Animals↗

Effects of systemic and local phenylephrine and arginine vasopressin infusions in conscious postnatal sheep.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increases after birth, however, the mechanisms remain unclear. Systemic angiotensin II (ANG II) infusions increase MAP in newborn sheep, but the direct effects of ANG II on peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) are minimal. Thus, its systemic pressor effects may reflect release of other pressor agents, e.g. alpha-agonists and/or AVP, suggesting they contribute to postnatal regulation of MAP and PVR. To address this, we performed studies in conscious sheep at 7-14, 15-21, and 22-35 d postnatal, infusing phenylephrine (PE) or AVP systemically or intra-arterially into the hindlimb while measuring MAP, heart rate (HR), and femoral blood flow (FmBF). Basal MAP and FmBF rose, whereas HR and femoral vascular resistance (FmVR) fell (p < or = 0.03) during the first month postnatal. Although systemic PE and AVP dose dependently increased MAP and FmVR and decreased FmBF and HR (p < 0.001, ANOVA) at all ages, responses were not age dependent. Notably, increases in FmVR exceeded increases in MAP, and responses to PE appeared to exceed AVP (p < 0.05). Hindlimb infusions of both agents decreased FmBF and increased FmVR dose dependently (p < 0.001, ANOVA) at all ages without altering MAP or HR. These responses also were not age dependent. Unlike ANG II, PE and AVP directly increase PVR in newborn sheep. Moreover, FmVR increases more than MAP at all doses, suggesting these agonists may contribute to postnatal MAP regulation and could mediate the effects of systemic ANG II on postnatal MAP.

Angiotensin II↗

Large-conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channels regulate basal uteroplacental blood flow in ovine pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: The mechanisms regulating basal uteroplacental blood flow (UBF) and the greater than 30-fold increase observed in normal pregnancy remain unclear. Although vascular growth contributes in early gestation, vasodilation accounts for the exponential rise seen in the last third of pregnancy. Large conductance potassium channels (BK(Ca)) are expressed in uterine vascular smooth muscle (VSM), but the extent of their role in regulating UBF in pregnancy is unclear. Therefore, we determined if BK(Ca) regulate basal UBF during ovine pregnancy. METHODS: Studies were performed at 113 to 127 days and 135 to 150 days of gestation in eight pregnant ewes instrumented with uterine artery flow probes and uterine arterial and venous catheters. Tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA), a BK(Ca)-specific inhibitor at less than 1.0 mM, was infused intra-arterially into the pregnant uterine horn over 60 minutes to achieve levels of 0.001-0.35 mM while continuously monitoring UBF, arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR). Uterine arterial and venous blood was collected simultaneously to measure uterine cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) synthesis. RESULTS: Intra-arterial TEA dose-dependently decreased basal UBF in the early (R = 0.81, n = 36, P <.001) and late (R = 0.72, n = 31, P <.001) study periods without altering contralateral UBF, MAP, and HR. The IC(50) was 0.2 mM and basal UBF decreased >or=80% at 0.35 mM in both periods. Although UBF fell greater than 40% at estimated plasma TEA levels of 0.3 mM, uterine arterial cGMP was unchanged, uterine venous cGMP rose, and uterine cGMP synthesis was unchanged; therefore, upstream events associated with BK(Ca) activation were unaffected by blockade. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first data demonstrating that BK(Ca) are essential in the maintenance of basal UBF in the last third of ovine pregnancy.

Animals↗

Vessel-specific regulation of angiotensin II receptor subtypes during ovine development.

Umbilical and systemic responses to angiotensin II differ in term fetal sheep, and peripheral vascular responses are attenuated or absent before and after birth. These observations may reflect developmental differences in angiotensin II receptor (AT) subtypes in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). Studies of AT subtype ontogeny and regulation are generally limited to the aorta, which may not be extrapolated to other arteries, and neither is completely described during ovine development. We therefore characterized VSM AT subtype expression and regulation throughout an extended period of development in umbilical and carotid artery and aorta from fetal (85-146 d gestation), postnatal (5-23 d), and adult sheep, measuring AT(1) and AT(2) mRNA and protein and performing immunohistochemistry. Parallel increases in umbilical AT(1) mRNA and protein began early in gestation and continued to term, and although AT(2) mRNA was unchanged, protein levels decreased >90% at term. Fetal carotid AT(1) mRNA was <40% of adult values and unchanged before birth; however, AT(1) protein rose >2-fold at term. After birth, AT(1) mRNA increased to 85% of adult values and was associated with another 2-fold rise in protein. In contrast, carotid AT(2) mRNA and protein fell in parallel throughout development and were barely detectable in the newborn and the adult. Immunostaining was consistent with observations in both arteries. A third pattern occurred in aortic VSM. The ontogeny of AT subtype expression and regulation is vessel specific, with changes in umbilical VSM beginning very early in development. Although the mechanisms that regulate mRNA and protein expression are unclear, these changes parallel differences in VSM maturation and function and local blood flow.

Animals↗

Angiotensin II mediates uterine vasoconstriction through alpha-stimulation.

Intravenous angiotensin II (ANG II) increases uterine vascular resistance (UVR), whereas uterine intra-arterial infusions do not. Type 2 ANG II (AT(2)) receptors predominate in uterine vascular smooth muscle; this may reflect involvement of systemic type 1 ANG II (AT(1)) receptor-mediated alpha-adrenergic activation. To examine this, we compared systemic pressor and UVR responses to intravenous phenylephrine and ANG II without and with systemic or uterine alpha-receptor blockade and in the absence or presence of AT(1) receptor blockade in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes. Systemic alpha-receptor blockade inhibited phenylephrine-mediated increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and UVR, whereas uterine alpha-receptor blockade alone did not alter pressor responses and resulted in proportionate increases in UVR and MAP. Although neither systemic nor uterine alpha-receptor blockade affected ANG II-mediated pressor responses, UVR responses decreased >65% and also were proportionate to increases in MAP. Systemic AT(1) receptor blockade inhibited all responses to intravenous ANG II. In contrast, uterine AT(1) receptor blockade + systemic alpha-receptor blockade resulted in persistent proportionate increases in MAP and UVR. Uterine AT(2) receptor blockade had no effects. We have shown that ANG II-mediated pressor responses reflect activation of systemic vascular AT(1) receptors, whereas increases in UVR reflect AT(1) receptor-mediated release of an alpha-agonist and uterine autoregulatory responses.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Hospital survival of very-low-birth-weight neonates from 1977 to 2000.

OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns of survival for very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight 501 to 1500 g) neonates over 23 years. STUDY DESIGN: Data for 4873 VLBW neonates born from 1977 to 2000 were divided into five epochs. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Birth weight-specific survival rates were estimated by race and gender for each epoch. Presence of comorbidities and congenital anomalies, delivery mode, and provision of artificial ventilation were investigated to determine whether they could explain observed survival patterns. RESULTS: From 1977 to 1995, survival increased from 50.2% to 81.0% as the proportion of VLBW neonates receiving artificial ventilation rose from 59.0% to 80.9%. Survival was unchanged between 1990 to 1995 and 1996 to 2000. Black females maintained a survival advantage over the entire study period. Survival improved for neonates with congenital anomalies over time, but had little impact on race/gender survival patterns. Survival patterns also could not be explained by comorbidity status, delivery mode, or access to artificial ventilation. CONCLUSION: The survival advantage of VLBW black females persists and remains unexplained.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

Are complete blood cell counts useful in the evaluation of asymptomatic neonates exposed to suspected chorioamnionitis?

OBJECTIVE: Chorioamnionitis complicates 1% to 10% of pregnancies and increases the risk of neonatal infection. Women with chorioamnionitis receive intrapartum antibiotics, often resulting in inconclusive neonatal blood cultures. Peripheral neutrophil values are used frequently to assist in the diagnosis of neonatal infection and to determine duration of antibiotics; we sought to determine the utility of this approach. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed in 856 near-term/term neonates who were exposed to suspected chorioamnionitis. Each received antibiotics for 48 hours unless clinical infection or positive blood cultures occurred. Peripheral neutrophils were measured serially and analyzed using the reference ranges of Manroe et al; an additional analysis of only the initial neutrophil values used the normal ranges of Schelonka et al. Results of neutrophil analyses were not used to determine duration of therapy. Fifty percent of asymptomatic neonates were seen postdischarge to ascertain recurrent infection. Local patient charges were examined. RESULTS: Ninety-six percent of neonates were asymptomatic and had negative cultures, and antibiotics were discontinued at 48 hours. A total of 2427 neutrophil counts were analyzed. Although abnormal neutrophil values were more frequent in infected or symptomatic neonates, 99% of asymptomatic neonates had > or = 1 abnormal value. The specificity and negative predictive values for abnormal neutrophil values ranged between 0.12 and 0.95 and 0.91 and 0.97, respectively; sensitivity was 0.27 to 0.76. Significant differences in interpretation of the initial neutrophil values were noted, depending on the normal values used. Follow-up was performed for 373 asymptomatic neonates until 3 weeks' postnatal age. Eight required rehospitalization; none had evidence of bacterial infection. If neutrophil values had been used to determine duration of antibiotics, then local costs would have increased by 76,000 dollars to 425,000 dollars per year. CONCLUSIONS: Single or serial neutrophil values do not assist in the diagnosis of early-onset infection or determination of duration of antibiotic therapy in asymptomatic, culture-negative neonates who are > or = 35 weeks' gestation and are delivered of women with suspected chorioamnionitis.

Adolescent↗

Estrogen selectively up-regulates eNOS and nNOS in reproductive arteries by transcriptional mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mechanism(s) whereby daily and acute estradiol-17beta (E(2)beta) exposure modifies endothelium-derived nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular smooth muscle (VSM) neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in reproductive and nonreproductive arteries and to localize NOS isoform expression within the vessel wall. METHODS: Oophorectomized nonpregnant ewes received E(2)beta (1 microg/kg per day) or no E(2)beta for 5-6 days or acute E(2)beta (1 microg/kg) on day 6-7 with or without daily E(2)beta. Uterine, mammary, mesenteric, and femoral arteries were collected at completion of each study, adventitia were removed, and samples were frozen and stored at -80C. After separating endothelium and VSM, NOS isoform mRNA was measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. VSM nNOS protein was determined by Western analysis. RESULTS: Basal eNOS and nNOS mRNA was greatest (P <.02) in reproductive artery endothelium and VSM, respectively. Daily E(2)beta was required for maximum uterine vascular responses to acute E(2)beta and was associated with increased reproductive artery endothelial eNOS mRNA (>1.5-fold, P <.02) and uterine VSM nNOS mRNA (>2.5-fold, P <.003) and protein (21%, P <.05). Acute E(2)beta in the presence and absence of daily E(2)beta also increased uterine eNOS 68% and 28% (P =.01), respectively, within 90 minutes but did not affect VSM nNOS. Mammary eNOS increased 71% only after E(2)beta withdrawal; VSM nNOS was unchanged. Neither NOS isoform was altered in nonreproductive arteries by daily or acute E(2)beta. CONCLUSIONS: Basal eNOS and nNOS isoform expression is greatest in arteries from reproductive tissues, and isoform responses to E(2)beta are cell specific and transcriptionally regulated. Furthermore, optimal uterine vascular responses to acute E(2)beta exposure require daily E(2)beta exposure that enhances basal NOS expression and abundance.

Animals↗

Mechanisms modulating estrogen-induced uterine vasodilation.

Estrogen, a potent vasodilator, has its greatest effects in reproductive tissues, e.g., increasing uterine blood flow (UBF) 5- to 10-fold within 90 min after a bolus dose. High-conductance potassium channels and nitric oxide (NO) contribute to the uterine responses, but other factors may be involved. We examined the role of ATP-dependent (ATP-sensitive) and voltage-gated (Kv) potassium channels and new protein synthesis in ovariectomized ewes with uterine artery flow probes, infusing intraarterial inhibitors glibenclamide (GLB; KATP), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; Kv) or cycloheximide, respectively, into one uterine horn before and/or after systemic estradiol-17 beta (E2 beta, 1 microgram/kg i.v.). E2 beta alone increased UBF > 5-fold and heart rate by 10-25% (P < .01) within 90 min; mean arterial pressure (MAP) was unaffected. GLB did not alter basal hemodynamic parameters or responses to E2 beta. Basal UBF and heart rate were unaffected by 4-AP, but MAP increased by 10% and 25% at 30 and 120 min of infusion (P < .01), respectively. Although E2 beta-induced rises in UBF were unaffected in the control uterine horn, 4-AP dose-dependently inhibited UBF responses in the infused horn (R = .83, P = .003, n = 10). Cycloheximide not only dose-dependently inhibited UBF responses (R = .57, P = .01, n = 18) and increases in uterine cGMP secretion, 23.4 +/- 10.7 versus 340 +/- 60 pmol/min (P < .001), but also decreased UBF by 50% and cGMP by approximately 90% at the time of maximum UBF. Mechanisms modulating estrogen-induced uterine vasodilation involve signaling pathways that include NO, smooth muscle cGMP, smooth muscle potassium channels and new protein synthesis.

Animals↗

Differential responses to systemic and local angiotensin II infusions in conscious postnatal sheep.

Angiotensin II (ANG II) increases blood pressure (MAP) via specific ANG II receptors (AT) and is considered important in regulating MAP after birth. In adult animals, AT(1) receptors predominate in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) and mediate vasoconstriction. In newborn sheep, AT(2) receptors, which do not mediate vasoconstriction, predominate in vascular smooth muscle until 2 wk postnatal when they are replaced by AT(1). Thus, the mechanisms whereby ANG II increases MAP after birth are unclear. We examined the effects of ANG II on femoral vascular resistance (FmVR) and blood flow (FmBF) in serial studies of newborn sheep (n = 7) at 7-14 d, 15-21 d, and 22-35 d. Animals had femoral catheters implanted for systemic ANG II infusions and cardiovascular monitoring, and a flow probe was implanted on the contralateral artery proximal to the superficial saphenous artery, which contained a catheter for intra-arterial ANG II infusions. Studies were performed using a range of systemic and intra-arterial ANG II doses. Systemic ANG II increased MAP dose-dependently at all ages (p < 0.001); however, responses were not age dependent. FmBF rose dose dependently at 7-14 d (p < 0.001) and was unchanged at older ages. FmVR was unaffected at 7-14 d, but values increased dose dependently at 15-21 d and 22-3 5d (p < 0.001), although never exceeded relative increases in MAP. Local ANG II did not alter MAP, FmBF, or FmVR at any age. Although systemic ANG II increases MAP and FmVR dose dependently after birth, ANG II-induced vasoconstriction is attenuated. Furthermore, intra-arterial ANG II does not alter FmVR in the absence of systemic responses, suggesting incomplete vascular smooth muscle AT(1) expression, stimulation of local ANG II antagonists, or ANG II-mediated release of another vasoconstrictor.

Angiotensin II↗