Published in Biology of the neonate
Nitric oxide (NO) is a very potent vasodilator synthesized from L-arginine by endothelial cells. By activating guanylate cyclase, it promotes vasodilatation of adjacent smooth muscle cells. NO is thus involved in the control of vascular tone in various organs. There is increasing evidence that NO is tonically synthesized within the kidney and plays...
Published in Biology of the neonate
To examine the influence of sleep state, respiratory pattern, and ventilation on cyclical fluctuations (CF) in cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity (CBFV), we studied 21 'healthy' preterm infants: birth weight 1,790 +/- 162 g (SEM), study weight 1,960 +/- 165 g, gestational age 32 +/- 1 weeks, postnatal age 20 +/- 4 (range 8-57) days. The CBFV was me...
Published in Biology of the neonate
The fibrinolytic system is involved in a wide variety of biological phenomena and differs physiologically in newborns compared to older children or adults. Newborn's plasminogen differs from adult plasminogen in carbohydrate composition, cell binding and activation kinetics. The fetal plasminogen has an increased concentration of sialic acid simila...
Published in Biology of the neonate
The effect of human colostrum on the production of IL-1, IL-3 and IL-6 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been investigated. The aqueous phase of human colostrum significantly stimulated the production of these three cytokines. These findings show the importance of breast feeding not only as a well-balanced nutrient supply but also a...
Published in Biology of the neonate
Platelet function was investigated in full-term infants on the first, the fourth and tenth days of life and compared to normal adult controls. Platelet function was analyzed through a new cytofluorimetric technique with two murine monoclonal antibodies, PAC-1 and anti-GMP-140, directed against two membrane proteins expressed on the activated platel...
Published in Biology of the neonate
A statistically significant (p = 0.049) increase in methemoglobin (MetHb), which did not exceed normal values, was noted 8 h after application of 1 g of EMLA (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics) to the foreskin of 10 normal newborns to reduce pain associated with circumcision. The highest MetHb concentration observed was 3 g/l (toxic > 50 g/l). ...
Published in Biology of the neonate
Our aim was to study the initial microbial colonization of the newborns by comparing it with their mothers' vaginal microflora. Nineteen mother-newborn pairs were examined at delivery. We found a close association, both qualitative and quantitative, between the individually different microflora of a mother's vagina and that of her newborn. The degr...
Published in Biology of the neonate
A rapid test determining surfactant deficiency or dysfunction might help in controlling therapy of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Forty tracheal aspirate samples (TA) from 40 newborns with RDS (group 1) and 46 pharyngeal from 46 newborns without RDS (reference group) were analyzed by surface tension measurement with the pulsating bubble surfa...
Published in Biology of the neonate
Our knowledge about regulatory gut peptides in preterm infants is scanty. We therefore began a study of plasma somatostatin (SS) and cholecystokinin (CCK) in preterm infants at birth and during the neonatal period. Plasma SS and CCK levels were assessed in 77 mothers and in 91 preterm infants immediately after birth (umbilical cord) and during the ...
Published in Biology of the neonate
With increasing postnatal age, mammals display diminished tolerances for prolonged exposures to severe oxygen deprivation. Similarly, duration and efficiency of gasping, a unique mechanism for enhancing survival after anoxia-induced apnea, are also affected by postnatal age. We hypothesized that maturational patterns of anoxia-induced gasping may e...
