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Biomedical subjects

J B Philips

Publications and source records attributed to J B Philips.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Delayed thromboxane or tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but not leukotriene inhibition, attenuates prolonged pulmonary hypertension in endotoxemia.

The early phase of endotoxin-induced acute hemodynamic disturbances and hypoxemia is mediated by various factors, including eicosanoids and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). Thromboxane A2 is the major mediator of the early pulmonary hypertension associated with endotoxemia, but the mechanisms underlying the prolonged hemodynamic disturbances observed in ongoing endotoxemia are not well understood. The authors used a chronically instrumental young piglet model to determine the roles of several eicosanoids and of TNF alpha in the prolonged endotoxin-induced pulmonary hypertension and other cardiovascular derangements. Animals were given 40 micrograms/kg endotoxin intravenously per hour for 30 minutes, followed by 20 micrograms/kg per hour. In all animals, persistent pulmonary hypertension, lowered cardiac output, any hypoxemia developed during endotoxin infusion. After 3 hours of endotoxin infusion, randomly ordered infusions of 1 mg/kg dazmegrel (a thromboxane A2 synthesis inhibitor), 5mg/kg nordihydroguaiaretic acid (a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor), and 20 mg/kg pentoxifylline (A TNF alpha inhibitor) were given intravenously at 30-to-60-minute intervals. Dazmegrel and pentoxifylline lowered pulmonary arterial pressure and resistance and raised arterial oxygen tension. Cardiac output increased significantly after pentoxifylline. These hemodynamic effects persisted for 30-60 minutes, despite continued endotoxin infusion. The elevated plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 and TNF alpha returned toward preendotoxin baseline values after dazmegrel and pentoxifylline treatment, respectively. No beneficial effects were noted after administration of nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Based on these results, both thromboxane A2 and TNF alpha, but not 5-lipoxygenase products, play active roles in prolonged endotoxin-induced pulmonary hypertension and hypoxemia in young piglets. Combined thromboxane A2 and TNF alpha blockade may be clinically useful in treatment of advanced sepsis in neonates.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha

A controlled trial of intravenous immune globulin to reduce nosocomial infections in very-low-birth-weight infants. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. As a rule, their low serum gamma globulin levels at birth subsequently decline to hypogammaglobulinemic values; hence, prophylactic administration of intravenous immune globulin may reduce the rate of hospital-acquired infections. METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, two-phase controlled trial, 2416 infants were stratified according to birth weight (501 to 1000 g and 1001 to 1500 g) and randomly assigned to an intravenous immune globulin group (n = 1204) or a control group (n = 1212). Control infants were given placebo infusions during phase 1 of the study (n = 623) but were not given any infusions during phase 2 (n = 589). Infants weighing 501 to 1000 g at birth were given 900 mg of immune globulin per kilogram of body weight, and infants weighing 1001 to 1500 g at birth were given a dose of 700 mg per kilogram. The immune globulin infusions were repeated every 14 days until the infants weighed 1800 g, were transferred to another center, died, or were sent home from the hospital. RESULTS: Nosocomial infections of the blood, meninges, or urinary tract occurred in 439 of the 2416 infants (18.2 percent): 208 (17.3 percent) in the immune globulin group and 231 (19.1 percent) in the control group (relative risk, 0.91; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.77 to 1.08). Septicemia occurred in 15.5 percent of the immune globulin recipients and 17.2 percent of the controls. During phase 1 the rate of nosocomial infections was 13.4 percent in the immune globulin group and 17.8 percent in the control group; the respective rates during phase 2 were 21.0 percent and 20.4 percent. The predominant organisms included gram-positive cocci (53.0 percent), gram-negative bacilli (22.4 percent), and candida species (16.0 percent). Adverse reactions were rarely observed during the infusions. Immune globulin therapy had no effect on respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intracranial hemorrhage, the duration of hospitalization, or mortality. The incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis was 12.0 percent in the immune globulin group and 9.5 percent in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic use of intravenous immune globulin failed to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections in very-low-birth-weight infants.

Adult

Comparison of the effect of three doses of a synthetic surfactant on the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in infants weighing > or = 1250 grams with respiratory distress syndrome. American Exosurf Neonatal Study Group II.

The effect of a 50% increment or decrement in the recommended 5 ml/kg dose of a commercially available surfactant (Exosurf Neonatal) on the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient was investigated in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled rescue trial conducted at 15 hospitals in the United States. Two doses of three different volumes (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 ml/kg) were compared with two 5.0 ml/kg doses of air in 281 infants weighing > or = 1250 gm who had respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation and an arterial/alveolar oxygen ratio < 0.22. The first dose was given between 2 and 24 hours of age, and the second dose was given 12 hours later to all infants who still required mechanical ventilation. Infants were stratified at entry by gender and the magnitude of the arterial/alveolar oxygen ratio. The air placebo arm of the study was terminated early when reductions in mortality rates were proved in another rescue trial of this surfactant in infants with the same birth weights. For the first 48 hours, administration of a 2.5 ml/kg dose of surfactant provided less improvement in the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient than doses of 5.0 and 7.5 ml/kg, which were equivalent. Similar results were observed in mean airway pressure (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the three dosage groups in mortality rate, air leak, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and other complications of prematurity. There were no pulmonary hemorrhages in any group. Reflux of surfactant occurred more frequently in the 5.0 and 7.5 ml/kg groups. These results indicate that more sustained improvements in oxygenation are provided, with equal safety, by the standard two 5.0 ml/kg rescue doses of this surfactant than by the 2.5 ml/kg dose. No further benefit is gained from two larger doses given 12 hours apart.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine

Thromboxane and pulmonary morphometry in the development of the pulmonary hypertensive response to group B streptococcus.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the mechanism of the development of a severe pulmonary hypertensive response to group B streptococcus. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Twelve chronically instrumented and six age-matched uninstrumented newborn piglets. INTERVENTIONS: Six animals received eight injections of group B streptococcus over an 11-day period (control group). Six additional animals (pretreatment group) were given 3 mg/kg of dazmegrel, a thromboxane synthase blocking agent, before each dose of group B streptococcus to prevent the pulmonary hypertensive response and to control for any secondary arterial remodeling. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hemodynamic measurements, pulmonary arterial morphometry, and thromboxane concentrations were examined in the instrumented animals. Lungs from the uninstrumented piglets were examined to determine morphometric norms for this population. The animals given only group B streptococcus developed a significant pulmonary hypertensive response after five daily doses (+6.8 +/- 2.0 [SEM] mm Hg, p < .05) which became pronounced after eight doses (+13.2 +/- 1.0 mm Hg). Pulmonary hypertension was not observed in the pretreatment group when dazmegrel was given; however, on the final day in this group, dazmegrel was withheld before group B streptococcus dosing and a significant pulmonary hypertensive response was observed (+20 +/- 1.6 mm Hg). The medial thickness of pulmonary arteries was not different between the two groups nor when compared with that of six normal, uninstrumented animals. Plasma thromboxane B2 concentrations were determined from blood samples taken before and after group B streptococcus infusion at the first, seventh and eighth (final) dosing. Thromboxane concentrations increased significantly on days 7 and 8 in the control group (578 +/- 312 to 752 +/- 372 pg/mL, 638 +/- 201 to 1462 +/- 295 pg/mL, respectively) and on day 8 in the pretreatment group (545 +/- 160 to 705 +/- 187 pg/mL). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the development of potentiated pulmonary hypertension is not due to pulmonary arterial remodeling, but is associated with increased thromboxane production.

Analysis of Variance

Effects of cholinergic blockade on hemodynamic disturbances and intestinal lesions in endotoxic shock in newborn piglets.

The parasympathetic nervous system actively participates in the regulation of pathophysiologic responses in circulatory shock. To determine the effects of cholinergic blockade in endotoxic shock in newborn piglets, 16 chronically instrumented newborn piglets were infused with 10 mg/kg of endotoxin over 10 min. Eight animals were injected intravenously with 10 mg/kg of anisodamine, an anticholinergic drug, 10 min before endotoxin and then with escalating doses of 2, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg every 10 min, beginning 60 min after endotoxin. The other eight animals were given saline as a control. Endotoxin infusion caused elevations in mean pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance index and an initial increase in systemic artery pressure followed by hypotension. Heart rate was stable for 45 min and then increased. Cardiac index fell from a baseline of 173 +/- 20 (mean +/- S.E.) to 136 +/- 23 mL.min-1.kg-1 60 min after endotoxin. Pretreatment with anisodamine increased heart rate from 163 +/- 15 to 289 +/- 10 beats.min-1 and cardiac index from 195 +/- 15 to 238 +/- 14 mL.min-1.kg-1 before endotoxin infusion. These variables remained at higher levels than in the control group until 60 min after endotoxin infusion; thereafter, the two groups were similar. The changes in pulmonary and systemic artery pressures were not significantly altered by anisodamine. After 60 min, additional doses of anisodamine caused no significant hemodynamic responses, and the differences between the two groups were not significant. Arterial plasma thromboxane B2 levels rose immediately and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels increased 60 min after endotoxin infusion; no significant differences were noted between groups at any time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance

Low-dose aspirin therapy to prevent preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to test the hypothesis that acetylsalicylate (aspirin) treatment reduces the incidence or severity of pregnancy-associated hypertension. STUDY DESIGN: Patients were nulliparous, healthy, and with a singleton gestation at between 20 and 22 weeks' gestation. A sample size of 600 patients was calculated on the basis of p < or = 0.05 and 90% power of observation. A 2-week placebo-controlled "run-in" was used to select compliant patients. Randomization occurred at 24 weeks, with 60 mg of aspirin or placebo treatment from randomization to delivery. RESULTS: Follow-up was maintained on 99% of the patients. The randomized patients had a 94% pill compliance index. At randomization, serum thromboxane medians were similar in both groups. Thromboxane B2 levels in the aspirin group decreased significantly from baseline at 29 to 31 weeks, 34 to 36 weeks, and at delivery as compared with an overall increase in the placebo group. Preeclampsia developed in five of 302 women (1.7%) who received aspirin versus 17 of 302 (5.6%) who received the placebo (p = 0.009). Preeclampsia was severe in one aspirin and in six placebo recipients (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Daily ingestion of 60 mg of aspirin beginning at 24 weeks' gestation significantly reduced the occurrence of preeclampsia.

Adult

Diabetes insipidus associated with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

We report five infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infection in whom diabetes insipidus developed before initiation of treatment with ganciclovir. Four of five infants required treatment with desmopressin. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed no destruction of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland in any infant. Cortisol levels and results of thyroid function studies were normal in all infants.

Cytomegalovirus Infections

Capsular type-specific polysaccharide partially inhibits group B Streptococcus-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Capsular type-specific polysaccharide is thought to be an important pathogenetic factor in Group B streptococcus (GBS) sepsis. To determine the effects of capsular type-specific polysaccharide on GBS-induced hemodynamic responses, anesthetized infant piglets were infused for 3 h with three related GBS Type lb strains that express different amounts of capsular type-specific polysaccharide. A larger capsule strain and a smaller capsule strain were isolated from an infected infant and its mother, respectively. A capsule-deficient mutant was then made from the larger capsule strain by transposon insertion mutagenesis. The smaller capsule strain and capsule-deficient mutant caused similar elevations in mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance index and reductions in cardiac index. The larger capsule strain caused moderate pulmonary hypertension, but this response was smaller than for the other two GBS strains. Further comparisons in responses between the large capsule strain and its capsule-deficient mutant were then performed using unanesthetized piglets. The mutant caused significantly greater pulmonary hypertension and arterial plasma thromboxane B2 levels than the large capsule strain. The pulmonary hypertension induced by both strains was reversed by dazmegrel, a thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor. These results suggest that (1) capsular type-specific polysaccharide is not an essential component in the generation of acute hemodynamic responses; (2) expression of large amounts of capsular type-specific polysaccharide on the organism surface partially inhibits GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension; and (3) the inhibition of the pulmonary responses is due to reduced thromboxane A2 release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha

Age-related differences in responses to endotoxin infusion in unanesthetized piglets.

Newborn endotoxic shock syndrome is associated with high morbidity and mortality, yet presents with different clinical manifestations than in older patients. To determine the influence of age on hemodynamic and metabolic responses to endotoxin, we developed a chronically instrumented endotoxic shock model using eight 1-3-day-old and seven 2-3-week-old piglets. Three days after surgery, 10 mg/kg of endotoxin was infused intravenously over 10 min in the younger group, and 5-10 mg/kg was given to the older animals. Two older piglets died immediately after infusion of 5 mg/kg of endotoxin, and five of the seven died within 4 hr, while all eight younger animals lived longer than 4 hr. Pulmonary artery pressure increased significantly after endotoxin in both groups, and there were no differences between groups. Systemic artery pressure and cardiac index fell by 44 +/- 10% and 70 +/- 15%, respectively, 5 min after endotoxin infusion in the older group, while these values did not change significantly in the younger group. Endotoxin infusion also caused greater elevation in pulmonary vascular resistance index in the older animals. In the later phase, which began 30 min after endotoxin, both groups displayed systemic hypotension and pulmonary hypertension, and the groups did not differ from one another in this regard. With progression of endotoxic shock, more severe metabolic acidosis developed in the older animals than in the younger animals. Plasma thromboxane B2 levels in the older group were about double those in younger piglets. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TNF alpha levels in both groups were similar and were significantly increased in the later phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha

Delayed thromboxane synthesis inhibition, but not cholinergic blockade, reverses group B streptococcus-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Anisodamine, an anticholinergic drug, is widely used in China for treatment of infants with septic shock and has been reported to inhibit thromboxane synthesis in cultured cells. Thromboxane A2 plays an important role in the early pulmonary hypertension in sepsis; however, the role of thromboxane A2 later in sepsis is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that thromboxane A2 synthesis inhibition with dazmegrel, and cholinergic blockade with anisodamine, would attenuate the later phase of pulmonary hypertension induced by 4 h of group B streptococcus (GBS) infusion. 1 mg/kg of dazmegrel reversed the pulmonary hypertension and slightly increased cardiac output; these hemodynamic improvements persisted for 30-60 min. Plasma thromboxane B2 levels returned toward pre-GBS baseline values after dazmegrel treatment. Thus, thromboxane A2 is still a major mediator of pulmonary hypertension in piglets after 4 h of continuous GBS infusion. 0.5 mg/kg of anisodamine had no significant hemodynamic effect. 2 and 4 mg/kg of anisodamine each caused transient, dose-related decreases in systemic artery pressure; cardiac output also fell after the highest anisodamine dose. Pulmonary hypertension was not alleviated by anisodamine. All hemodynamic changes induced by anisodamine were short-lived and returned to preanisodamine values within 10 min. Anisodamine did not ameliorate thromboxane-mediated pulmonary hypertension in this animal model, and therefore may not inhibit thromboxane synthesis in vivo. The results of this study do not support the use of anticholinergic therapy to improve hemodynamics in GBS sepsis, but do suggest that thromboxane synthesis inhibition may be a clinically useful therapy in advanced GBS sepsis.

Animals

Role of capsule in pulmonary hypertension induced by group B streptococcus.

The type-specific polysaccharide capsule of group B streptococcus (GBS) is thought to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of disease. We used an acutely instrumented piglet model to assess the hemodynamic effects of rapid infusions of two heat-killed GBS type Ib strains isolated from the spinal fluid of an infant with late-onset meningitis and from the vaginal culture of his mother. These strains expressed different amounts of capsule, as determined by buoyant density centrifugation and electron micrographs, and they produced different hemodynamic effects in the piglets. The mother's strain, which had a smaller capsule, caused significantly higher increases in pulmonary artery pressure and vascular resistance than did the infant's strain, which had a larger capsule. Transposon mutants were then made from the infant's isolate to further study the role of capsule in pulmonary hypertension. Two mutants lacking detectable capsular type-specific polysaccharide were compared with the original isolate and with an isogenic mutant containing transposons but having a large capsule. The nonencapsulated mutants caused significantly higher changes in pulmonary artery pressure and resistance than did the encapsulated strains. Pulmonary hypertension may play a role in the pathophysiology of GBS sepsis, but the presence of a large capsule may partially cloak the hemodynamically active component(s) of the bacteria. The lower initial host response to heavily encapsulated GBS may play a role in pathogenesis by helping the organisms avoid host defense mechanisms.

Animals

Fused eyelids, airway anomalies, ovarian cysts, and digital abnormalities in siblings: a new autosomal recessive syndrome or a variant of Fraser syndrome?

We describe two siblings of unlike gender born to non-consanguineous parents, with similar and unique congenital malformations. These include fused eyelids, craniofacial anomalies, ovarian cyst, subglottic stenosis, specific digital abnormalities, and no detected chromosomal abnormality. The specific digital abnormalities in both patients are characterized by extension of metacarpophalangeal joints with flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint of both index fingers with resulting overlap of the second digit over the third. Similar changes were noted in both second toes. The brain weight of both infants was less than that expected for their birth weights. We reviewed the differential diagnosis of fused eyelids, airway anomalies, and ovarian cysts, and the manifestations resemble those seen in Fraser syndrome. We conclude that the dissimilarities warrant considering that our patients have a distinct autosomal recessive syndrome.

Congenital Abnormalities

Perspectives on perinatal asphyxia: pathophysiology, presentation, and prognosis.

Perinatal asphyxia is a common and potentially serious problem in the management of labor and delivery. Severe perinatal asphyxia can cause significant short- and long-term sequelae. While the pathophysiology and sequelae of perinatal asphyxia in animals is understood fairly well, asphyxiation cannot be reliably prevented or effectively treated once it occurs in the newborn human. However, with a better understanding of what perinatal asphyxia is and its expected clinical symptoms and outcomes, perinatal nurses can better care for asphyxiated infants.

Apgar Score

Effects of position changes on transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension in neonates with respiratory distress.

Routine neonatal care includes frequent position changes. Recent research has concluded that positions other than supine may result in beneficial physiologic responses. Specifically, several studies suggest that neonates may ventilate more effectively in a prone rather than in a supine position. This study tested the hypothesis that transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (TcPCO2) would be lower in the prone than in the supine position in neonates with respiratory distress. Fourteen ventilated infants were studied. TcPCO2 was measured and recorded in prone, supine, and right-side-lying positions for each subject. There were no statistically significant differences in mean TcPCO2 values between the three positions (F = .45; df 2,39; P = .64). The relationship between TcPCO2 and PaCO2 values was stable (r = .88) during the studies. The results indicate that changing a neonate's position does not significantly alter transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension.

Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous

Intraventricular haemorrhage and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in very low birthweight infants.

Blood volume, plasma renin activity (PRA) and urine aldosterone excretion (UAE) were measured in ten very low birthweight infants who had a Grade 3 or 4 intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) during the first 2 days after birth. Mean (range) birthweight was 950 (630-1500) g and gestational age was 27 (23-31) weeks. Nine infants were receiving assisted ventilation and one was breathing spontaneously. Eight IVH occurred on the first postnatal day and two on the second; seven were symptomatic and three asymptomatic. PRA was significantly higher than control values on Day 1 only; median 244 (range 91-654) ng/ml per h vs. 64 (4-259) ng/ml per h (P less than 0.01). Infants with symptomatic IVH in the preceding 8 h (n = 6) all had PRA greater than 300 ng/ml per h; none of these infants had received transfusions or volume expansion between IVH and PRA measurement. PRA was less than 100 ng/ml per h in the three infants with asymptomatic IVH and one infant with greater than 24 h interval between IVH and PRA measurement; three of these four had received transfusions prior to PRA measurement. UAE was not significantly different from control values on either Day 1 or Day 2. Blood volume at 22 +/- 3 h postnatal age ranged from 75 to 107 ml/kg. There was an inverse logarithmic correlation between PRA and blood volume (r = 0.883; P less than 0.005), with PRA values exceeding 300 ng/ml per h when blood volume was less than 90 ml/kg. UAE did not correlate with either PRA or blood volume.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldosterone

Ureaplasmal pneumonia and sepsis associated with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

Ureaplasma urealyticum was isolated from the lower respiratory tract of three infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. In one, cultures positive for U urealyticum were obtained on multiple occasions from trachea, blood, and pleural fluid prior to the infant's death on postnatal day 6. Autopsy findings confirmed the presence of severe pneumonia and the organism was again recovered from multiple sites. A second infant had no apparent predisposing factors for development of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn but U urealyticum and Staphylococcus epidermidis were recovered from the trachea antemortem and from lung tissue obtained during autopsy on the 12th postnatal day. The third infant had persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and a pulmonary infiltrate within hours after birth with tracheal cultures positive for both U urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. Erythromycin was given for ten days, and the infant gradually improved. Prolonged ventilation with supplemental oxygen was necessary, and chronic lung disease developed. This is the first report of neonatal ureaplasmal pneumonia with sepsis and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn as well as the first time a microorganism other than streptococci has been specifically implicated in the pathogenesis of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Respiratory infections with U urealyticum or other bacteria should be considered as possible causative or contributory factors in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

Female