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Biomedical subjects

F Mannino

Publications and source records attributed to F Mannino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

An interesting case presentation: ultrasound diagnosis of primary atrial thrombosis associated with brain infarctions.

A premature infant with nonbacterial endocardial thrombosis and embolization of the cerebral circulation is presented. The patient was born at 32 weeks with a birthweight of 1480 g. Pregnancy was complicated by toxemia and placental infarctions. Echocardiographic examination by 12 hours after birth revealed a large mass in the right atrium compatible with endocardial thrombus. Follow-up echocardiograms showed a small mass in the left atrium and a decrease of the right atrial mass by day 7. Echoencephologram studies were normal on day 1. An echodense area in the subcortical white matter was seen by day 2. Other echodensities were detected by day 10. Computerized tomography studies showed areas of decreased attenuation in both hemispheres. Lung perfusion scan and renal-liver ultrasound studies were normal. All these cerebral and cardiac lesions were asymptomatic. Real-time ultrasonography is useful to diagnose asymptomatic endocardial thrombosis and its cerebral complications in premature infants.

Cerebral Infarction

Neonatal complications of postterm gestation.

Postterm gestation infants represent about 10% of the newborn population and, as compared to term gestation infants, have an increased incidence of perinatal and neonatal problems. Most postterm infants are normal appearing, although changes in the skin and a loss of subcutaneous fat occur in some. A smaller number experience the onset of fetal wasting late in gestation and appear dysmature (postmature) at birth. The incidence of infants with dysmaturity increases as postterm gestation continues; however, the prevalence of dysmaturity is greater in term infants. The most significant neonatal problems in the postterm gestation infant are the result of fetal distress and perinatal asphyxia. Those infants affected most severely may have hypoxic encephalopathy, seizures and meconium aspiration syndrome. Other problems are birth trauma (due to the large size of some postterm infants) and polycythemia. Anencephaly is associated with postterm gestation. The later intellectual development of postterm gestation infants appears normal except for those with perinatal asphyxia or severe neonatal problems. The long-term somatic growth is normal, even in dysmature-appearing infants. Postterm infants are at increased risk for perinatal asphyxia; however, with careful obstetric management, most neonatal problems can be prevented.

Child Behavior

Insidious hydrocephalus in the preterm newborn following discharge from the nursery.

Posthemorrhagic ventriculomegaly may be due to perinatal brain damage and consequent cerebral atrophy, or represent progressive hydrocephalus due to impairment of CSF flow and reabsorption. 'Arrested' hydrocephalus occurs when the CSF pathways are adequate and, hence, intracranial hypertension no longer exists. The differential diagnosis is often difficult and insidious progressive hydrocephalus should always be a concern in the high-risk preterm newborn. We report 10 preterm infants who were discharged with the diagnosis of arrested hydrocephalus (7) or cerebral atrophy (3), and who later developed progressive severe hydrocephalus 1.5-15 months after the discharge. Five had been treated with intermittent lumbar punctures, while 4 had not received any treatment prior to nursery discharge. One infant died prior to the shunt procedure. Progressive insidious hydrocephalus should be suspected in preterm infants with intracranial hemorrhage following discharge from the nursery.

Cerebral Ventricles

Intrauterine latent herpes simplex virus infection: II. Latent neonatal infection.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV, probably type 2) antigen has been detected in endometria and abortion tissue (companion paper) and in placentae, umbilical cords, and fetal and neonatal organs by avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemical studies. HSV cytologic abnormalities were not detected in any of the 12 normal and 64 abnormal cases analyzed, nor was HSV detected by culture or electron microscopy in selected cases. Antigen was present in single epithelial and, rarely, mesenchymal cells of various organs. Clinically unexplained fetal or neonatal problems associated with HSV antigen positivity included intrauterine death, fetal growth retardation, cystic brain degeneration, hydrops, interstitial pneumonitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, hepatitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, and renal failure. Maternal floor infarct of placenta and calcifying funisitis are the manifestations of intrauterine HSV infection in most cases. Maternal history of HSV infection was uncommon. It is concluded that intrauterine HSV infection may persist in the fetus and neonate in a latent fashion without cytologic abnormalities or detectable virus. This latent infection may be associated with intrauterine and neonatal death, organ damage, and neonatal disease.

Antigens, Viral

Exogenous human surfactant for treatment of severe respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized prospective clinical trial.

We performed a randomized, prospective clinical trial comparing intratracheal administration of human surfactant with conventional treatment with intermittent mandatory mechanical ventilation alone for treatment of severe respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants of less than 30 weeks gestation. Twenty-two infants (mean gestational age 27.0 weeks, mean birth weight 987 gm) were given surfactant, and 23 infants (mean gestational age 27.2 week, mean birth weight 1055 gm) received intermittent mandatory ventilation. Infants given surfactant required less FiO2 during the first week, had lower mean airway pressure during the first 48 hours, and had improved ventilatory index and a/A PO2 ratio. Death or the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly less among infants given surfactant (P = 0.019). Pneumothorax, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, and need for FiO2 greater than or equal to 0.3 for greater than 30 days was significantly less in the surfactant group. This trial confirms the efficacy of treatment with human surfactant in preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome.

Amniotic Fluid

Respiratory distress syndrome treated with human surfactant: radiographic findings.

Chest radiographs of 18 newborns treated with endotracheal instillation of human surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were compared with those of 18 similar but untreated infants. In the treated infants, severity of RDS significantly improved after surfactant administration. Most treated infants (16/18) exhibited a left-to-right shunt, presumably through a patent ductus arteriosus; similar findings were noted in untreated infants (17/18). Complications of respiratory assistance in the treated infants included transient pulmonary interstitial emphysema (n = 1), pneumothorax (n = 1), and mild (n = 4) to moderate (n = 2) bronchopulmonary dysplasia; the incidences of these complications did not exceed those in untreated infants. In three treated infants, a transient interstitial lung disease developed 3-4 days after surfactant administration.

Ductus Arteriosus, Patent

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts in high risk newborns weighing under 2000 grams: a clinical report.

Fifty-three low birth weight high risk newborns who developed progressive hydrocephalus despite a trial period of intermittent lumbar punctures underwent cribside ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. They all weighed less than 2000 g at the time of shunting (mean, 1308.6 g +/- 398.2 SD). The operative procedures were performed at a mean age of 31.5 days +/- 16.1 (SD). There were no deaths in this series. During the nursery stay, 14 patients required operative revisions for obstruction. The most common problem was infection, which occurred in 13 (24.5%) after the primary intervention and in another 5 of the 14 (35.7%) patients who required revision. The overall infection rate/patient was 26.9%. Shunt removal and intensive antibiotic therapy cured the infection in all but 1 patient. Premature, low birth weight newborns may undergo ventriculoperitoneal shunting, but close follow-up for complications such as infection and shunt obstruction is always required.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Labeling of phosphatidylcholine in the alveolar wash of rabbits in utero.

Radioactive palmitic acid, choline, and phosphate were given to rabbits 28 and 30 days pregnant and the labeling;of phosphatidylcholine in the fetal lung and alveolar wash was studied. Labeled phosphatidylcholine was detected initially in the alveolar wash three hours after isotope administration. The three-hour delay was independent of precursor studied or gestational age, and the radioactive phosphatidylcholine continued to accumulate in the wash fluid for at least 18 hours. Each labeled precursor of phosphatidylcholine sequentially labeled the phosphatidylcholine from microsomal, lamellar body and alveolar wash lung fractions of the 30 day fetal animals.

Animals