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Biomedical subjects

L Cataldi

Publications and source records attributed to L Cataldi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Agar in the management of hyperbilirubinaemia in the premature baby.

Eighty low birthweight infants (1500 to 2500 g) were randomly assigned to a group given oral agar and a control group. The study was first performed in 24 agar-fed babies and 24 control babies. The treated infants received a daily total amount of 600 mg/kg of agar beginning at 12 hours of age, for 7 days. In the later stage of the trial, 16 agar-fed babies and 16 control babies were investigated. The total daily amount of agar was raised to 700 mg/kg, beginning at 6 hours of age for 7 days. No complications were observed with the administration of agar. Serum bilirubin levels were not significantly lower in the agar-fed infants. We conclude that agar supplemented feeding is not indicated in the management of hyperbilirubinaemia in low birthweight newborn infants.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vesicoureteric reflux in children: an update.

A review of significant studies published on vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children over the past two years is presented. Improvement in knowledge of genetic implications and pathogenetic mechanisms has been observed. Population at high risk of VUR is discussed in detail. VUR is unlikely to be a single nosological entity and it is possible to distinguish between two main clinical pictures. New instrumental and laboratory investigations are now available. Finally natural history of VUR and surgical treatment of VUR are briefly discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autosomal dominant transmission of bilateral "opposable" triphalangeal thumb.

Triphalangeal thumb occurs in two functional types: opposable and non-opposable. The opposable type presents a rudimentary middle phalanx and the thumb is frequently angulated. The non-opposable type presents a finger-like thumb (five-fingered hand). Triphalangeal thumb often occurs in syndromes where other anomalies are present, so its pattern of inheritance has often been described jointly with the syndrome itself, then conflicting patterns of inheritance have been reported in literature. The present study reports upon the character of "bilateral opposable triphalangeal thumb" occurring isolated, without association of other anomalies. Authors studied the phenotype distribution in a family over five generations. They found that this character is transmitted with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, and affected individuals are heterozygotes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nosocomial infections in pediatric and neonatal intensive care: an epidemiological update].

Hospital-acquired infection (nosocomial infection) is a world-wide problem. The peculiar susceptibility of newborns and children, the widespread use of antibiotics, advances in hospital practice, have resulted in an increased incidence and recognition of neonatal and pediatric bacterial nosocomial infections. The aim of this review is to present an update on epidemiology of hospital-acquired infections, quoting recent and relevant papers on this topic. Main risk factors for the neonatal and the pediatric intensive care infections are presented, respectively. Emerging antibiotic-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in intensive care units are also considered. Infection control programmes are necessary to monitor and to prevent nosocomial infections.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Drug misadventuring in neonatal nephrology.

Drug-related problems are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Numerous factors contribute to the development of drug-related problems. These factors may be patient-dependent, such as the patient's degree of organ function and/or dysfunction, and underlying disease states. On the contrary the factors may depend on the specific drug and its pharmacokinetic parameters. Recently it has been also demonstrated the importance of genetic factors. Drug-related problems include a wide range of situations including the so-called drug misadventuring: adverse drug reaction (ADR), adverse drug event (ADE), drug-induced disorder (DID), adverse drug experience (ADEexp). Certain drug classes are commonly associated with drug-induced disorders. Antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents are responsible for approximately 30 percent of all adverse reactions. By an epidemiologic point of view between 3% and 11% of hospital admissions could be attributed to drug-related problems. Drug-induced disorders have historically been classified as predictable (Type A) or unpredictable (Type B) toxicity. Thus, a substantial portion of drug-induced disorders are predictable and potentially avoidable The kidney is vulnerable to drugs because of its high blood flow and large capillary surface area, its role as the excretory route for many drugs and its detoxifying action. Drug-induced acute renal failure accounts for 20% of total cases of acute renal failure in adult patients. Little is known about epidemiology of drug-induced disorders, especially in the pediatric kidney. Systematic epidemiological data on the incidence of drug-induced acute renal failure in newborn are not available. However, an increase in the last 10 years, in the involvement of drugs in acute renal failure has been observed in newborns. In the past it was suggested that drug-induced kidney damage (especially tht caused by aminoglycosides or glycopeptides) is less frequent and severe in newborns than in adults. However, this subject is controversial. Furthermore, it has recently been confirmed that low birth weights contribute to early onset of end stage renal disease. In view of the extremely widespread use of drugs in neonatology and the multiplicity of potential nephrotoxic factors, it is important to prevent iatrogenic effects. Ten rules for prevention of drug-induced nephrotoxicity are presented.

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Solitary kidney].

A functionally solitary kidney may be the consequence of renal agenesis, dysplasia, or surgical procedures. Compensatory hypertrophy and physiologic mechanisms intervene to preserve renal function. The authors discuss the physiopathology of solitary kidney in several clinical conditions.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Fluoride levels in mother's milk].

Using an electrode selective for the ion fluorine, it has been determined the amount of fluorine in samples of human milk. In a sample of 35 nursing mothers, only 10 have shown the required parameters. The amount of fluorine in the water all 35 mothers imbibed in their daily diet has been measured. The results showed a small amount of fluorine in human milk and a possible connection between the amount of fluorine in the mothers' daily diet and the amount of fluorine in human milk. From the results of the research it has been determined the necessity to give supplements of fluoride to nursing babies.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neonatal sepsis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci].

All cases of neonatal bacteremia occurring at Neonatal Department of Pediatric Clinic, Catholic University of Rome, from January 1976 to December 1983 were examined retrospectively. Twenty-seven (30%) newborn infants with positive blood cultures for coagulase-negative staphylococcus were identified. Seven (25.9%) of the 27 infants were born at term, 4 AGA and 3 SGA; mean birth weight was 2,804 gm (range 2,280-3,670). All of these neonates had clinical evidence and laboratory signs of sepsis, and one had the cerebrospinal-fluid culture positive for coagulase-negative staphylococcus. In the remaining 20 infants (74.1%) the mean birth weight was 1,445 gm (range 810 - 2,400) and mean gestational age was 32 weeks (range 27 - 36). In 15 of the 20 preterm infants clinical signs of septicemia were associated with positive blood culture, and sixty percent of these had received an umbilical artery catheter. An half of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from our neonatal sepsis were DNAse-positive and/or phosphatase-positive and/or mannitol-positive. Two full-term infants, one with Down syndrome and one with cardiac malformation, died at 9 days and at 2 weeks of age, respectively. Three of 15 preterm infants with coagulas-negative staphylococcal septicemia died; deaths were among infants of very low birth weights and immature gestations who had severe respiratory syndrome. These data show that coagulase-negative staphylococcus can be important cause of septicemia in patients with compromised host defenses as newborn infants, and especially in the premature babies receiving invasive procedures.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Efficacy of phototherapy in the low weight newborn infant: relation to gestational age, birth weight and intra-uterine growth].

Phototherapy is largely used in the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, but its safety is very far from being proved. The Authors studied the effectiveness of daylight in low-birth-weight newborns. The results obtained show that the reduction of bilirubin induced by phototherapy is related with gestational age and intra-uterine growth. The very low-birth-weight infants, at higher risk of kernicterus, as they are more responsives to phototherapy, as well they are, probably, more susceptibles to side-effects. The Authors think that phototherapy should be planned on the basis of such observations.

Birth Weight↗