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Biomedical subjects

A Moosa

Publications and source records attributed to A Moosa.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Hand and ECG tremor in spinal muscular atrophy.

The presence of hand and electrocardiogram (ECG) tremor was studied in 31 children with severe, intermediate, or mild form of spinal muscular atrophy. Clinical tremor of the hands was seen in 16 (59%) of 27 patients, all with benign forms of the disease. Nineteen patients had ECG tremors, of whom 17 had the mild or intermediate form. With the exception of one, all patients in the mild or intermediate group had hand or ECG tremor. Hand and ECG tremor are valuable in the diagnosis of the benign forms of spinal muscular atrophy; they are of no value in diagnosis of the severe infantile type.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Maternal medication does temporarily affect neonatal neurobehaviour.

A modified neurodevelopmental assessment technique, the KEH scale, was applied to 60 healthy newborn infants at 2 - 4 hours of age, and again at 24 hours in order to detect any effect of maternal medication on behaviour. Results show that neonates whose mothers received medication during labour were significantly more depressed at 2 - 4 hours as regarded tone, rooting, reflexes and the total neurobehavioural score than those whose mothers did not receive medication. No difference was found at 24 hours. The Apgar scores were similar at 2 - 4 hours and at 24 hours. The KEH scale detects the subtle effects of maternal medication on the behaviour of newborn infants. It may therefore be of value in assessing the effect of drugs and anaesthetic agents administered to the mother on the neonate. Furthermore, it may prove to be of value in detecting similar effects resulting from prematurity, hypoxia in utero or trauma during delivery.

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1982

Duchenne's muscular dystrophy in six siblings. The case for early diagnosis and neonatal screening.

Six brothers aged from 15 months to 13 years with confirmed Duchenne's muscular dystrophy are described. The serum creatine kinase levels ranged from 2420 IU/I in the youngest boy to 769 IU/I in the eldest. The diagnosis of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy was only made when the eldest boy was 13 years old, despite the fact that his parents had sought medical advice when he was 5. The importance of early diagnosis, detection of carriers and neonatal screening is discussed in relation to the prevention of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

HLA antigens in black South African children with rheumatic heart disease.

The high incidence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in black South African children has been attributed mainly to poor socio-economic status and over-crowding. In order to elucidate whether other factors, in particular genetic, were responsible, the HLA-status of 61 black children with rheumatic heart disease was compared with that of 1165 normal controls. Overall, no differences were found, except a higher incidence of HLA-B25 and BW51 in the group with rheumatic heart disease, when the difference was not of statistical significance. Moreover, when the patients were considered in two groups, viz. (a) a "surgical" group which required cardiac surgery and (b) a "non-surgical" group in which cardiac failure was absent or could be easily controlled by medical therapy, the difference between the two groups was also not of statistical significance, though there was a higher incidence of HLA-A10 (which includes HLA-A25 and A26) in the "non-surgical" group. These data appear to agree with the results of other studies which found no significant association between HLA-status and RHD.

Black People↗
PubMed1981

Iatrogenic hyperosmolality in a neonate. A case report.

An infant presented in the first week postpartum with markedly elevated serum osmolality of unknown origin. The cryptic osmols were identified as glycerol and alcohol and were traced to the contents of local phenobarbitone elixir administered to control neonatal convulsions. This report highlights the importance of recognizing the potential dangers inherent in the nominally inert components of medication and stresses the extreme care required when modifying well-established formulations.

Drug Combinations↗
PubMed1981

Benzine-sniffing neuropathy.

Eight children and adolescents with a predominantly motor neuropathy of which the most likely cause was n-hexane are described. n-Hexane is one of the impurities in highest concentration in benzine, a petroleum product freely available at most corner stores in South Africa. It is bought freely by a large number of Black children in Natal and sniffed to produce a state of euphoria. Benzine sniffing by children constitutes a major health hazard in Natal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Phrenic nerve conduction in children.

A study was undertaken in order to establish the normal range of phrenic nerve latencies in children, to determine whether phrenic nerve stimulation can distinguish diaphragmatic palsy from eventration of the diaphragm, and to determine the effect of neuromuscular disorders on phrenic nerve latencies in children. Ninety-four children were examined, of whom 31 had neuromuscular disorder and 63 were controls. Among the controls, phrenic nerve latencies decreased from 32 weeks gestational age to six months postnatal age, despite an increase in stimulus-response distance. However, the latencies were prolonged in two of four children with isolated phrenic nerve palsies, and in five of six children with Guillain-Barré syndrome, although they were normal in children with congenital eventration of the diaphragm, spinal muscular atrophy, poliomyelitis (with one exception), and in a miscellaneous group of children with other neuromuscular disorders. Measurement of phrenic nerve latency may detect diaphragmatic weakness early in the course of demyelinating neuropathies, and can be useful in distinguishing between eventration and phrenic palsies as causes of elevated diaphragm. In patients with generalised peripheral neuropathies, the procedure may sometimes detect diaphragmatic involvement even before other evidence of ventilatory insufficiency.

Child↗
PubMed1978

The effects of hepatitis A and B in pregnancy on mother and fetus.

A woman who developed hepatitis B during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy gave birth to a preterm, small-for-gestational-age infant whose blood also contained hepatitis B antigen. The effects of viral hepatitis on the fetus are reviewed and an approach to the management of such pregnancies is formulated.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Depressed skull fracture in the newborn. A report of 3 cases.

Three cases of depressed skull fractures in neonates are reported. Two of the fractures were related to birth trauma, but the third probably occurred antenatally. Treatment differed in all 3 cases. One baby underwent surgical elevation of the fracture, and another vacuum elevation, while the third received no treatment. We stress the fact that non-surgical elevation of depressed skull fracture may be successful and preferable to more drastic surgical procedures.

Female↗
PubMed1978

The fetal alcohol syndrome.

Four cases of the fetal alcohol syndrome are described, and the clinical features are reviewed. The most consistently found features are pre- and postnatal growth retardation, small palpebral fissures and mental deficiency. In view of this, chronic alcoholic women shold avoid pregnancy until they have weaned off alcohol, but should it occur then the question of termination must be considered.

Body Height↗
PubMed1978

Gastric perforation in the newborn.

Three newborn infants who developed gastric perforation are reported. One infant survived and 2 died. The aetiology of neonatal gastric rupture is discussed, as well as some diagnostic features. The importance of early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is stressed.

Female↗
PubMed1978

Motor nerve conduction velocities in Leigh's encephalomyelopathy.

Slowed motor nerve conduction velocities were found in 3 of 4 cases of Leigh's subacute necrotising encephalopathy. 2 of the patients are sibs, one of whom is clinically normal apart from lactic acidosis and slowed motor nerver conduction velocities.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1978

Effect of phototherapy on nitrogen and electrolyte levels and water balance in jaundiced preterm infants.

Twenty-four-hour metabolic balance studies were performed in ten jaundiced preterm infants, five light-treated (phototherapy) and five controls. Each of the light-treated infants was studied twice, once during phototherapy (period I) and once 48 hours after phototherapy (period II). Control infants were similarly studied during the corresponding days. Compared to period II and control infants, during period I the light-treated infants had less weight gain. Intestinal transit time was decreased by 50%. Fecal excretion of nitrogen, sodium, and potassium was increased. Stool water loss was increased twofold to threefold with a decrease in water balance. Unmeasured water loss was increased. These studies underscore the need for careful attention to fluid and caloric supplementation during phototherapy.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1977

Subaponeurotic haemorrhage of the newborn.

Five newborn infants who developed subaponeurotic haemorrhage are described. Three infants were delivered by vacuum extraction, and 3 infants died. The importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment is emphasized.

Blood Transfusion↗