An investigation was carried out to examine why a glucose oxidase-peroxidase-orthodianisidine method for plasma glucose, without protein precipitation, gave low results for neonatal blood. The magnitude of the difference between the results with and without protein precipitation was examined in a clinical neonatal series, and in sera to which bilirubin, hemolysate, pure hemoglobin, and uric acid had been added. Systematic linear inhibition was demonstrated with bilirubin, and the results suggested that high concentrations of hemolysate and uric acid could also interfere. Use of alkaline protein precipitants eliminated the inhibition. Dextrostix test results for neonatal blood are compared with results of conventional glucose analyses and possible sources of discrepancy examined.

Bilirubin↗

PubMed1976

The organization of the primary somatosensory and motor areas for the forepaw in the anaesthetized rat [proceedings].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

PubMed1974

Proceedings: Possible evidence for lateral inhibition in the somesthetic cortex of the rat.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Developmentally induced changes in rat lung malic enzyme activities.

To determine lung malic enzyme activity at varying stages of development, both cytosolic and mitochondrial enzyme activities were assayed in rat lungs at various stages from day 16 of fetal life to 2 months of postnatal life by measuring the production of 14CO2 from 14C-malate. Malic enzyme activities were significantly higher in the mitochondrial than in the cytosolic fractions at all ages studied. The mitochondrial malic enzyme activity was significantly higher in canalicular stage (days 19-20) stage of lung development when compared to the glandular stage (days 16-18). The mitochondrial fraction at day 19 exhibited biphasic kinetics: high affinity, Km = 0.45 mmol, Vmax = 10.04 nmol/mg protein/min; and low affinity, Km = 5.48 mmol, Vmax = 56.83 nmol/mg protein/min. The cytosolic malic enzyme activity of all fetal stages (saccular stage [days 16-18], canalicular stage [days 19-20], and glandular stage [days 21-22] were significantly higher when compared to postnatal levels (postnatal days 1-10, adult). In contrast to the mitochondrial fraction, at day 19, the cytosolic fraction showed a single Km of 0.23 mmol, Vmax = 12.32 nmol/mg protein/min. The increased mitochondrial malic enzyme activity during late gestation would suggest that, as we have previously demonstrated, anaplerotic substrates other than glucose, may provide a significant energy source in fetal lung. The increased cytosolic activity in the prenatal phases would suggest that the NADPH provided from malic enzyme is an important contributor to de novo fatty acid synthesis, leading to surfactant synthesis, critical to normal lung development in late gestation.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of position on pulmonary mechanics in healthy preterm newborn infants.

Preterm infants are often placed in the supine position to facilitate care and observation. Prone positioning may positively affect later neurodevelopmental outcome, but it may also affect pulmonary function. Using a computerized system, we examined the effect of positioning on pulmonary mechanics in spontaneously breathing healthy preterm infants. Eleven infants with a mean birth weight (+/- SD) of 1523 +/- 171 gm and a mean gestational age (+/- SD) of 31.7 +/- 1.5 weeks were studied during the first 2 weeks of life. Pulmonary mechanic measurements were obtained in both supine and prone positions by mask pneumotachography and esophageal balloon technique. Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were unaffected by positioning. There was a statistically, but not clinically, significant increase in heart rate in the prone position. However, there were no significant differences in tidal volume, minute ventilation, pulmonary resistance, or dynamic compliance between positions. The contribution of intrasubject variability of serial measurements was assessed in a separate group of four infants studied three times in the same position. There was no significant difference in respiratory rate, tidal volume, dynamic compliance per kilogram, or total pulmonary resistance in the same infant when studied in the same position over time (p > or = 0.24). The maximum variability (95% confidence limit) was 25.5% for tidal volume, 21% for dynamic compliance, and 44.3% for resistance. Because prone positioning did not adversely affect pulmonary mechanics or oxygen saturation in these healthy preterm infants, we suggest that prone position be used to facilitate the developmental needs of these infants.

Birth Weight↗