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Biomedical subjects

O J Hensey

Publications and source records attributed to O J Hensey.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

Serious infection in a neonatal intensive care unit: a two-year survey.

Over a two-year period 160 episodes of serious infection occurred in 139 infants admitted to a regional neonatal intensive-care unit. Eighty-seven (26%) of very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates and 52 (8%) of infants of birth weight greater than 1500 g were infected. The majority (84%) had bacteraemia alone. Though the clinical features of infection were not distinctive, in 94% of episodes the peripheral white blood cell or band counts were abnormal. Thirty-three (21%) of the infections occurred in infants under 48 h old and 15 of these followed prolonged rupture of membranes (greater than 48 h). All of the infections due to group B streptococci (5), Streptococcus viridans (2) and Haemophilus influenzae (3) occurred in this group. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) accounted for 49% of the infections and there was a marked increase in incidence of such infections during the survey. Infections with CONS were not necessarily associated with parenteral nutrition, the presence of intra-arterial catheters or mechanical ventilation but the rise in incidence was coincident with change in skin disinfectant usage and the general use of a third-generation cephalosporin to which the CONS were resistant. Although VLBW infants with meningitis were more likely to die than those of higher birthweight, the risk for those with bacteriaemia was the same in both groups. Infants with CONS sepsis were less likely to die than those with infections due to Gram-negative bacteria and the time from onset of infection to death was significantly longer for the former.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1984

Candida albicans skin abscesses.

Two neonates who developed Candida albicans skin abscesses are described. One developed disseminated infection. In the newborn abscesses cannot be assumed to be of bacterial origin.

Abscess↗
PubMed1984

Tranexamic acid in the prevention of periventricular haemorrhage.

Increased fibrinolytic activity in the ganglionic eminence of the preterm human brain has been proposed as a factor in the aetiology of periventricular haemorrhage. The effect of tranexamic acid in preventing periventricular haemorrhage was evaluated in 100 infants in a double blind, randomised controlled trial. Haemorrhages developed in 22 infants who received tranexamic acid and in 20 of those who received placebo. A significant reduction in fibrin degradation products in treated infants was seen. Our study suggests that excessive fibrinolytic activity is not an important factor in the aetiology of periventricular haemorrhage and that treatment with tranexamic acid will not prevent its occurrence.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1983

Intervention in child abuse: experience in Liverpool.

The subsequent life events and development of 50 abused Liverpool children who had been removed from their parents and taken into the care of the Local Authority have been determined. Information was obtained by interviewing the district social worker responsible for each child's supervision. Medical progress and school performance was assessed in each case. Following their period in care, 26 children have had an unsatisfactory outcome indicated by the presence, either alone or in combination, of abnormal physical development, emotional disturbance, poor educational progress and occurrence of further abuse. Rehabilitation at home after varying periods of time was attempted for 25 children, five of whom suffered further abuse. The prognosis was worse the older the child on reception into care and the more placements while in care. The children who best survived their experiences after being taken into care were those for whom an early decision was made to sever parental contact and to place the child permanently with a substitute family.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Convexity cerebral haemorrhage in the neonate: in vivo ultrasound diagnosis.

In vivo diagnosis of subdural or subarachnoid haematoma was made in five neonates by realtime ultrasound scanning. A combination of asphyxia and sequelae of exchange transfusion were probable precipitating factors. Persistent ultrasound abnormalities relate to quality of outcome in survivors.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1983

Juvenile discitis.

Over a period of three years four girls and two boys presented with discitis. All were less than 5 years old at presentation, and each had a short history of symptoms. Three were initially thought to have pathological defects of the abdomen. All children showed abnormal posturing with exaggerated lumbar lordosis. Diagnosis was essentially clinical. All cultures were sterile. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was increased in all the children and all had mild pyrexia. Symptoms lasted from two to 8 weeks. Discitis should be considered in any child with fever, abnormal posturing, and refusal to walk. Early recognition may avoid unnecessary diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1978

A bilateral antidiuresis to renal artery infusion of prostaglandin E1 in dogs treated with phenylbutazone.

1. In acute experiments, high levels of endogenous prostaglandins, provoked by operative stress, could obscure or alter the actions of infused prostaglandins on the kidney. For this reason we decided to compare the effects of infusing prostaglandin E(1) into the renal artery of the dog before and after the administration of phenylbutazone, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor.2. Infusion of prostaglandin E(1) into the left renal artery of the pre-phenylbutazone treated dog undergoing a mannitol diuresis increased renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate and the excretion of salt and water. The findings are in general agreement with those reported by others.3. Following phenylbutazone administration the vascular and saluretic actions of prostaglandin E(1) were unchanged but a reduced diuretic effect was observed. The response to a low dose of prostaglandin E(1) (0.05 mug/min) was reduced from 1.46 +/- 0.15 to 0.96 +/- 0.16 ml./min (P < 0.001) and the response to a high dose (0.5 mug/min) from 1.82 +/- 0.19 to 0.99 +/- 0.31 ml./min (P < 0.002).4. A significantly less dilute urine was excreted during prostaglandin infusion in the dog after phenylbutazone treatment than before. The reduction in the diuretic response was of the same order as the decrease in the free water clearance response, while the increase in osmolar clearance was unchanged.5. In water-loaded dogs treated with phenylbutazone, infusion of prostaglandin E(1) into the left renal artery had a biphasic effect on urine output from the left kidney. An initial diuretic response to a low dose of prostaglandin E(1) disappeared with the infusion of higher doses, and antidiuresis developed in the immediate post-infusion period.6. As prostaglandin was infused into the left kidney progressive antidiuresis was seen in the non-infused right kidney.7. It is concluded that endogenous prostaglandins do not obscure or alter the vascular and saluretic actions of intrarenal prostaglandin E(1). The findings question the proposed link between the vascular and saluretic actions of this compound.8. It is suggested that the reduced diuretic effect of prostaglandin E(1) in series no. 1, and the antidiuresis in the water-loaded dogs, are caused by the release of endogenous ADH. It is further suggested that phenylbutazone unmasks this release by removing the endogenous prostaglandins. If these deductions are correct, the findings support the anti-ADH role assigned to endogenous prostaglandins by Anderson, Berl, McDonald & Schrier (1975).

Animals↗