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Biomedical subjects

B Medoff-Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to B Medoff-Cooper.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Serial neurobehavioral assessments in preterm infants.

The purpose of this study was to compare serial neurobehavioral assessments in a sample of preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) to those of a group of unaffected preterm infants. Of the 30 infants included in the study, 5 infants had a grade III or IV/VI intraventricular hemorrhage. Infants with IVH demonstrated more abnormalities in mental status and a cluster of abnormal neurologic findings (persistent ankle clonus, tremulousness, and brisk deep tendon reflexes). Of the 30 infants, 20 infants were included in a brain metabolism study. Infants who had experienced an IVH had significantly different brain metabolism findings, as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). There was a significant correlation between one measure of brain metabolism (PCr/PI) and the neurobehavioral assessment rating for infants with IVH.

Brain↗

Neonatal sucking as a clinical assessment tool: preliminary findings.

The sucking patterns of 42 healthy full-term and 44 preterm infants whose gestational age at birth was 30.9 +/- 2.1 weeks were compared using the Kron Nutritive Sucking Apparatus for a 5-minute period. The measured pressures were used to calculate six characteristics of the sucking response: maximum pressure generated, amount of nutrient consumed per suck, number of sucks per episode, the duration or width of each suck, the length of time between sucks, and the length of time between sucking episodes. The maximum pressure of the term infant (100.3 +/- 35) was higher, p less than .05, than the maximum pressure of the preterm infant (84 +/- 33). Term infants also consumed more formula per suck (45.3 +/- 20.3 vs. 37.6 +/- 15.9, p less than .05). In addition, they had more sucks/episode (13.6 +/- 8.7 vs. 7.7 +/- 4.1, p less than .001) and maintained the pressure longer for a wider suck width (0.49 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.08, p less than .05). Sucking profiles of the preterm infant are significantly different from the full-term infant. These sucking profiles can be developed as a clinically useful tool for nursing practice.

Humans↗

Comparisons of rectal, femoral, axillary, and skin-to-mattress temperatures in stable neonates.

The purpose of this study was to compare four sites for temperature recording in the neonate: rectum, femoral, axilla, and skin-to-mattress. Simultaneous measurements were made at the four sites in 99 stable, term neonates. Temperatures were recorded each minute for 15 minutes. The optimal temperatures (highest temperature recorded minus 0.2 degrees F) did not vary across the four sites, but there were significant differences in the mean times required to achieve optimal temperature and in the optimal placement times (time required for 90% of the subjects to reach optimal temperature). The rectal site required significantly less time than the other sites (M = 2.66 minutes, optimal placement time = 5 minutes). The femoral and axillary sites required significantly more time than rectal and significantly less time than skin-to-mattress (M = 6 minutes, optimal placement time = 11 minutes). The skin-to-mattress site required significantly more time than the other sites (M = 8.5 minutes, optimal placement time = 13 minutes).

Axilla↗

Temperament in very low birth weight infants.

This project compared the temperament of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants to that of full-term infants at 6 and 12 months of age, assessed patterns of change in temperament from 6 to 12 months, and investigated effects of the neonatal experience on manifestations of temperament in VLBW babies. The subjects were 41 VLBW infants who were free of congenital anomalies and appropriate for gestational age. Instruments included the Infant Temperament Questionnaire (ITQ), Toddler Temperament Questionnaire (TTQ), and the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory. At 6 months, the VLBW infants were significantly less adaptable and more intense than full-term infants. There were significantly more "difficult" and fewer "easy" infants in the study group. At 12 months, the infants were less persistent than a full-term toddler. Behavioral style clusters of the toddlers did not differ significantly from published data. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the social environment of the VLBW infant plays an important role in the manifestation of childhood temperament as early as 6 months of age. Results suggest that VLBW infants do manifest behavioral styles that are different from full-term infants but are modified during the first year of life. In addition, the nine temperament dimensions were differentially affected by adverse perinatal events and environmental factors.

Age Factors↗

Developmental trends and behavioral styles in very low birth weight infants.

The purpose of this study was to gather information about the characteristics of the very low birth weight baby. Twenty-six infants were involved in the study. Their mean gestational age was 29 weeks; mean gestational age was 29 weeks; mean birthweight was 1,170 grams. At the time of the study, the chronological age when corrected for prematurity was 7.9 months. During a home visit, the Denver Developmental Screening Test, the Infant Temperament Questionnaire, and the Home Observation Measurement Evaluation Inventory were completed. Pearson product moment correlation, chi square, and t-tests were used to analyze the data. Of the infants, 42 percent were at risk for developmental delays when assessed at the corrected gestational age. The infants were significantly more difficult as measured by the Infant Temperament Questionnaire. There was a moderate relationship between difficultness and childrearing environments. The findings of this study suggested that very low birth weight infants have an increased risk for developmental delays and are apt to have difficult behavioral styles. There was a negative relationship between infants with difficult behavioral styles and maternal involvement and responsivity.

Behavior↗

The development of sucking patterns and physiologic correlates in very-low-birth-weight infants.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the development of nutritive sucking patterns and physiologic correlates in very-low-birth-weight infants. Fifty infants with a mean gestational age of 29.5 weeks (SD = 1.8 weeks) and mean birth weight of 1466 g (SD = 322 g) generated 106 sucking records. The mean number of sucks and maximum pressure increased with increasing postconceptual age. The time required per burst decreased between 32 weeks and 36 weeks. The mean time between sucks also decreased. The mean heart rates for the three 5-minute periods ranged from 158.56 to 177.97 bpm. Mean oxygen saturation ranged from 94.36% to 97.15%. Mean systolic pressure ranged from 69.82 mm Hg to 76.85 mm Hg mean diastolic pressure from 43.63 mm Hg to 45.33 mmHg. Sucking parameter measurements can be used to distinguish an infant who is maturing and organizing appropriately for postconceptual age.

Blood Pressure↗