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Biomedical subjects

S Kempley

Publications and source records attributed to S Kempley.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Feeding growth restricted preterm infants with abnormal antenatal Doppler results.

Absence or reversal of end diastolic flow (AREDF) in the umbilical artery is associated with poor outcome, and elective premature delivery is common. Feeding these infants is a challenge. They often have poor tolerance of enteral feeding, and necrotising enterocolitis may develop. This review explores current practice to see if there is evidence on which to base guidelines. The incidence of necrotising enterocolitis is increased in infants with fetal AREDF, especially when complicated by fetal growth restriction. Abnormalities of splanchnic blood flow persist postnatally, with some recovery during the first week of life, providing justification for a delayed and careful introduction of enteral feeding. Such a policy exposes babies to the risks of parenteral nutrition, with no trials to date showing any benefit of delayed enteral nutrition. Trials are required to determine the optimum timing for introduction of enteral feeds in growth restricted infants with fetal AREDF.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Congenital primitive neuroectodermal tumour presenting as obstructed labour.

Brain tumours presenting at delivery are extremely rare. A case of primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) that presented intrapartum with failure to progress due to hydrocephalus is reported. Diagnosis required imaging with magnetic resonance and computed tomography in addition to open biopsy.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Relation of maternal ethnicity to infant birthweight in east London, England.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether black race is a risk factor for very low birthweight in a developed country other than the United States. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed. SETTING: We analyzed a dataset of 1987-1990 birth records from three hospitals in East London, England. PARTICIPANTS: All live born African (N = 3,495), West Indian (N = 3,471), and European white (N = 20,313) singleton infants born to East London residents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For each ethnic group, we calculated the proportion of very low birthweight (< 1500g) and moderately low birthweight (1500-2499g) infants. RESULTS: The very low birthweight rate was 2.9% for infants of West Indian descent and 2.2% for infants of African descent vs. 1.3% for European whites; odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.1(1.7-2.8) and 1.8(1.2-3.1), respectively. West Indian and white mothers were similar in terms of age, social support, and prenatal care. African mothers were older and had less social support. The West Indian:white and African:white differentials in very low birthweight rates persisted among low risk mothers; odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.7(1.7-4.0) and 2.3(1.5-3.6), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that black race is a risk factor for very low birthweight in the United Kingdom.

Adult↗

Early onset systemic Candida infection in extremely preterm neonates.

UNLABELLED: Classically, systemic Candida infections in preterm neonates occur at a mean age of 1 month. Over an 18-month period in a Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit we encountered seven cases of severe Candida infection, all in babies below 26 weeks gestation and weighing less than 0.75 kg. The median age of onset was 7 days (range 0-17), with thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, hypotension, oedema, and skin breakdown being prominent features. CONCLUSION: The thin cutaneous barrier may contribute to early onset of systemic Candida infection in preterm infants. The characteristic skin appearance may assist early diagnosis.

Antifungal Agents↗

Molecular epidemiology and significance of a cluster of cases of CMV infection occurring on a special care baby unit.

Sequencing of the amino-terminal region of the glycoprotein H gene was used to investigate the possibility of a common source for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurring in five premature babies. All but two of the strains were different, indicating that this cluster of infection occurring on the special care baby unit was unlikely to be epidemiologically linked.

Cross Infection↗