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Biomedical subjects

F F Rubaltelli

Publications and source records attributed to F F Rubaltelli.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Postnatal development of adipose tissue in normal children on strictly controlled calorie intake.

The relations between adipose tissue development at birth, later expansion of fat mass and the behavior of fat mass and fat cell growth from birth to 12 mo of age have been studied in normal children born to normal, obese or diabetic mothers and maintained on strictly controlled calorie intake. A simple method for fat cell size determination on microsamples of fat tissue, specifically designed for small children, is reported. In the first 3 mo of life, a marked increase of fatty tissue from 13.4 +/- 0.4 to 20.3 +/- 0.8 percent of total body mass was observed. Subsequently, a sharp decrease in the relative amount of fat mass occurs, probably related to an increased energy expenditure or to a slightly higher protein content in the diet. No sex related differences in body weight, body fat mass, sum of skinfold thickness or fat cell weight were found throughout the study. No significant differences in body fat mass, sum of skinfold thickness and body fat mass as percent of body weight was observed at birth and at 3 or 6 mo of age in children of obese or gestational diabetic mothers, in comparison with children of normal mothers, and no significant correlation was found between maternal adiposity (sum of skinfold thickness or pre-gravidic overweight) or glucose tolerance (blood glucose area after OGTT) and adipose tissue development in the first 6 mo of life. Thus, in children on strictly controlled intake, obesity or diabetes in the mother do not relate to the rate of fat accumulation. Moreover, no relations were found between adipose tissue development at birth and subsequent rate of fat enlargement in the first year of life. Thus, when the interference of a different calorie intake is excluded, adiposity at birth has no predictive value for possible fatness later in infancy.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1982

Simple estimate of creatinine clearance from plasma creatinine in neonates.

Thirteen newborn infants, 8 preterm and 5 term, with either mild or serious neonatal asphyxia were studied. From the first 24 hours of life to day 13, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated by creatinine clearance was compared with the values obtained using Schwartz's formula: GFR (ml/min per 1.73 m2) = 0.55 x length (cm)/plasma creatinine (mg/100 ml). Both in term and preterm infants, values of formula-calculated creatinine clearance were slightly higher than values obtained by the classical method; nevertheless the data show significant correlations, respectively r = 0.867 and r = 0.795 (P less than 0.001). This formula provides an adequate estimation of neonatal creatinine clearance (a marker for GFR) directly from plasma creatinine provided that body length is taken into consideration. The necessity for urine collection and the associated problems are thus obviated. The simplicity of Schwartz's formula permits easy monitoring of renal function, especially in neonatal asphyxia in which the risk of developing renal failure is great.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗
PubMed1982

Inhibitory effects of bilirubin and photobilirubin on neonatal and adult T lymphocytes and granulocytes.

The lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin of lymphocytes and spontaneous motility, chemotaxis and phagocytic activity of granulocytes were studied in the newborn and adult blood in the presence of bilirubin and photobilirubin. All of these activities were inhibited to the same extent by these substances. In addition, a significant difference between newborn and adult values was found. In conclusion, the authors suggest that phototherapy does not decrease bilirubin cellular toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

B lymphocytes in newborns.

B lymphocyte markers in 24 full term newborn infants were evaluated within four days after birth. It was demonstrated that the percentage of cells with surface immunoglobulins (SmIg) in the blood of these subjects was normal when the lymphocytes were stained with polyvalent as well as monospecific antisera. The percentage of cells bearing Fc receptors were found to be slightly, but not significantly, reduced. The ability of newborn lymphocytes to form rosettes with mouse erythrocytes was significantly reduced. The hypothesis that the B dependent system reaches complete maturity already at the first days after birth is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

T cell immune function in newborn infants.

T cell immune function in 20 newborn infants was investigated. Previous studies showing increased spontaneous transformation and higher 3H-thymidine incorporation at lower PHA concentration in newborn infants were confirmed. A net increase in the number of active E rosette-forming lymphocytes and a slight decrease in the percentage of total E rosette-forming cells was also found. Our results suggest the presence of a subpopulation of activated T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of newborns during the first days of life. Possible mechanisms of this activation are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Phototherapy-induced covalent binding of bilirubin to serum albumin.

Bilirubin displays a detectable fluorescence emission only when it is complexed with serum albumin, whereas free bilirubin has a very low fluorescence yield. Actually, nearly complete disappearance of bilirubin emission was obtained when the unirradiated human serum albumin-bilirubin complex was precipitated with acetone to extract the pigment; complete removal of protein-bound bilirubin (as monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy) was achieved by repeating the acetone extraction after incubation of the complex in the phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, containing 7 M guanidinium chloride; the latter compound causes on extensive unfolding of protein molecules. On the other hand, in the case of irradiated solutions, even after denaturation of the protein with 7 M guanidinium chloride, a detectable amount of bilirubin-type fluorescent material was found to be associated with albumin. This finding clearly shows that bilirubin and/or some photoproduct underwent in part a photoinduced covalent binding with human serum albumin. Fragmentation of the bovine albumin polypeptide chain according to the procedure detailed in the experimental section yielded only one peptide-containing material fluorescent in the 530 nm region. This fact underlines the selective nature of the photobinding reaction. The amino acid composition of the isolated peptide is shown in Table 2; the composition is closely similar with that found for peptide 187-397 of native bovine serum albumin. In the case of the jaundiced babies who were subjected to phototherapy, we were able to demonstrate that only after 7 to 9 hr of exposure to light a detectable amount of bilirubin-type fluorescent material was present even at the end of the serum treatment with acetone and guanidinium chloride (see Fig. 1; Table 1). Fractional precipitation of the serum proteins by addition of controlled amounts of ammonium sulphate showed that the fluorescent material was present only in the albumin fraction. The photoadduct disappeared about 15 to 20 days after the phototherapy had been discontinued. This period of time represents the natural turnover period of human serum albumin.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1980

Plasma and urine carnitine levels during development.

Plasma and urine free carnitine concentration during human development was evaluated. A positive correlation was found between plasma level and body weight in premature neonates weighting between 1.15 and 1.80 kg. In full terms newborns, the free carnitine concentration (mean +/- S.E., 31.2 +/- 2.5 nmoles/ml) is similar to that of premature babies with 33 to 36 wk of gestational age (37.5 +/- 3.1 nmoles/ml) but significantly lower than that of premature babies aged 30 to 33 wk of gestation (43.0 +/- 5.6 nmoles/ml). In the first 2 wk of life, free carnitine level showed a good correlation with age in the full-term newborns. Adult levels are reached by the end of the first 6 months. no sex related difference was observed in any of the different groups during growth. Urinary excretion of free carnitine per day is significantly lower in infants 0 to 3 years old (mean +/- S.E., 15.5 +/- 1.8 mumoles/24 hr) and in children 3 to 10 years old (115.3 +/- 11.4 mumoles/24 hr) than in subjects ranging in age from 22 to 70 years (216 +/- 20.6 mumoles/24 hr). We found no difference between day- and nighttime urinary excretion in newborns and infants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Effect of infused hypothalamic phospholipids on the maturation of foetal rabbit lungs.

The effect of hypothalamic phospholipids on the maturation of foetal lung was investigated in a series of experiments in rabbits. Sixteen pregnant does were injected with hypothalamic phospholipids (2 mg day-1 kg-1) from day 21 of gestation. A second group of 16 does was injected with saline, and served as controls. The foetuses were delivered at gestational ages between 27 and 28 days by means of caesarean section under intravenous pentothal anaesthesia. Foetuses born from treated mothers were more active, breathed better, and their lungs expanded to a greater extent compared with the foetuses born to control mothers. In the animals of treated mothers there was, on electron microscopy, evidence of accelerated maturation of alveolar epithelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Clinical and aortographic assessment of the complications of arterial catheterization.

Catheterization of the umbilical artery for the treatment of critically ill neonates provides a convenient method for monitoring blood gas tension and chemistry. The most important complications are thrombotic. Thirty eight aortographs were carried out in infants who underwent umbilical artery catheterization. 17/38 of the aortographs were pathological. Bacterial cultures were positive in 11/17, but only 4 coincided with pathological aortographs. Clinical signs indicating complications due to the presence of the catheter wwere observed in 10 cases. Post-mortem examination of eight subjects--three of whom had pathological aortographs--during the course of the investigation revealed only one case of thrombosis. This baby was considered to have died as a direct result of a thrombotic complication. In our experience the clinical signs of vascular complications and evaluation of the peripheral circulation in the ipsilateral leg remain the most important ways of assessing the indication for catheter-withdrawal.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1978

Postnatal changes in blood S-adenosylmethionine concentration. Some observations in hyaline membrane disease.

The blood concentration of S-adenosylmethionine in 18 premature neonates affected by hyaline membrane disease did not differ from that found in a control group of healthy premature newborns. However, these values are higher than those found in full-term infants: this fact suggests that the methionine cycle is active in both the fetus and premature neonate with consequent conservation of homocysteine sulfur. These data provide ancillary evidence in support of the hypothesis that in premature babies cyst(e)ine is an essential amino acid. The concentration of S-adenosylmethionine reaches its lowest level 30 days after birth and then stabilizes at the age of 2--5 months with blood levels similar to those of the normal adult.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Effect of lipid loading on fetal uptake of free fatty acids, glycerol, and beta-hydroxybutyrate.

The possibility of influencing the fetal uptake of free fatty acids (FFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OH), and glycerol was demonstrated by enhancing the maternal blood level of these substances by means of 10% intralipid infusions to the mothers during delivery. The FFA uptake, which was not significant in fetuses of control mothers, became positive in fetuses born after maternal infusion with intralipid. The uptake of beta-OH and glycerol, which were positive in normal conditions, increased in fetuses from intralipid-infused mothers. These studies demonstrate that, after intralipid infusions to the mothers, the fetal FFA uptake could be correlated with the FFA concentration difference between maternal arterial, and fetal umbilical arterial blood. Since the fetal uptake of FFA subsequent to intralipid infusions is not negligible, we consider the possibility that lipid infusions to the mothers could be an approach to the treatment of the fetus with poor intrauterine growth.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1978

Umbilical vessel catheterization; the immediate risks with the venous route.

Seven cases of heart arrest or pronounced bradycardia during 308 correct catheterizations of the umbilical vein in the first hours of life are reported. The indications for the catheterization were: 1. unsuccessful catheterization of the umbilical arteries in newborns with respiratory distress or post-asphyxia syndrome; 2. exchange transfusions for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or sepsis; 3. monitoring the central vein pressure in severely compromised shocky newborns. Cardiac massage was always effective, at least temporarily, in restoring the heart activity. However, only three infants survived. Two of them had normal follow-up reported at 6 and 12 months respectively. The immediate risks and the necessary precautions for carrying out umbilical vein catheterization in severely ill newborns in the first hours of life are stressed.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗