Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Cantarutti

Publications and source records attributed to F Cantarutti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Cardiac troponin T in newborn infants with transient myocardial ischemia.

Cardiac troponin T (TnT) is a regulatory contractile protein whose detection in the circulation has been shown to be a specific and sensitive marker for ischemic myocardial cell injury both in adult and pediatric populations. We measured serum cardiac TnT in 15 consecutive full-term neonates presenting with bradycardia and electrocardiographic features of transient myocardial ischemia. Their median TnT concentrations (0.5 microg/l, range 0.01-0.37) were statistically comparable to our laboratory reference values for healthy term newborns (median 0.17 microg/l, range 0.01-0.42) (p = NS), but significantly higher with respect to our reference limits for healthy adults (median 0.01 micog/l, range 0.01-0.1) (p < 0.05). Our data demonstrate high TnT levels in neonates during the first days of life with respect to adults and similar TnT concentrations in term infants with and without TMI.

Bradycardia↗
PubMed1995

Oxygen saturation in premature neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a hammock.

Premature neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) frequently present borderline hypoxemia and the risk for oxygen desaturation may increase in relation to the posture. Our aim was to see if infants with BPD experience severe hypoxemia (SaO2 < 85%) in a hammock, a 'containing' posture considered advantageous to neuromotor and relational development of the preterm. Fifteen pulse oximetry recordings (Ohmeda B105 3760 Pulse Oximeter) were obtained in 15 subjects (range of gestational age and postnatal age 27-30 and 33-48 weeks, respectively; range of birth weight and body weight at entrance to the study 0.64-1.35 and 0.97-2.24 kg, respectively) before, during and after placement in a hammock; each testing period lasted 15 min, and each baby served as his or her own control. BPD preterm infants were receiving oxygen therapy by continuous flow standard nasal cannulas (FiO2 > 25%, < 40%). The analysis of the data, that have a rough gaussian distribution, indicates a worsening of SaO2 in the hammock position. In fact, mean +/- SEM, median and range of the SaO2 values in pre- and posthammock position are comparable, but are significantly different at 99.9% confidence level (CL) in prehammock vs. hammock posture and at 98% CL in posthammock vs. hammock posture. Moreover, the percent of time with SaO2 < 85% during the periods recorded increased about 10 +/- 5% in a hammock (24 +/- 4%), in comparison to pre- (14 +/- 3%) and posthammock position (15 +/- 3%). These results suggest that oxygen-dependent BPD preterm infants in the hammock posture may experience severe hypoxemia that in part limits the possible advantages of the 'containment'.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMed1995

Methylxanthines increase renal calcium excretion in preterm infants.

To determine the effect of a short course of methylxanthines on renal function and on urinary calcium excretion, 20 premature neonates affected by apnea or moderate respiratory distress syndrome were randomly assigned to either a theophylline treatment or to a caffeine treatment group. The protocol included a 24-hour pretreatment study period (I) and a subsequent 24-hour period (II) following 5 days of theophylline (loading dose 5 mg/kg i.v., maintenance dose 2.5 mg/kg/12 h) or caffeine (loading dose 10 mg/kg i.v., maintenance dose 2.5 mg/kg/12 h) administration. Pre- and postxanthine treatment serum sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus remained stable, while serum creatinine decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Furthermore, from period I to period II, sodium urine excretion, fractional Na excretion and creatinine clearance remained statistically comparable in both study groups, along with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in calciuria, urinary Ca/creatinine and urinary Ca/Na. Predose caffeine and theophylline serum levels, assessed on the 5th day of treatment, were 12.8 +/- 1.8 and 7.9 +/- 1.7 micrograms/ml, respectively. Compared to control healthy untreated prematures, the studied premature infants showed a statistically significant increase in urine calcium excretion (10- to 15-fold), which was more evident in the theophylline group. Our data suggest further investigation to determine the long-term renal effects of methylxanthines in premature neonates, to improve assessment of the risk of nephrocalcinosis and osteopenia, in particular in association with various diuretic therapies.

Caffeine↗
PubMed1995

"Silent" patent ductus arteriosus and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in low birth weight infants.

We conducted a clinical study on the antecedents of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in 290 premature RDS infants with < or = 1.75 kg birth weight (BW). They were enrolled in a prospective trial of indomethacin treatment for "silent" patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), screened by 2-D echocardiographic and pulsed Doppler evaluation on the third day of life. The trial took place at the NICU of the Pediatric Department of Padua University between January 1987 and December 1991. Out of 290 infants screened, 96 had evidence of "silent" PDA (33%) and 77 responded to indomethacin treatment (80%). Comprehensively 79 (27%) developed BPD, and from these the incidence of BPD was statistically increased in infants with "silent" PDA, 47 out of 96 (49 +/- 9%), with respect to 32 out of 194 (16 +/- 3%) preterm infants without PDA. Statistical analysis showed that in preterm infants with "silent" PDA the development of BPD was correlated at 99% C.L. to their low BWs (mean BW = 1.13 kg): in fact the mean and the mode of BW distributions were statistically lower in the presence of BPD, 1.03 kg versus 1.24 kg, and 0.88 kg versus 1.65 kg respectively. Moreover, the preterm infants with "silent" PDA unresponsive to the first course of indomethacin and/or submitted later to surgical closure, presented a statistically lower BW with respect to the early responders, 1.06 kg versus 1.18 kg, and at the same time a statistically higher incidence of BPD (63 +/- 20% versus 43 +/- 9%). From these data we conclude that, although "silent", PDA increase per se the incidence of BPD, even if benefits from an early induced closure. Furthermore, a lower BW of infants affected by "silent" PDA represents a contributing factor to the development of BPD.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMed1994

Continuous peritoneal dialysis in newborns.

OBJECTIVES: To report the complications and outcome of 10 newborns affected by acute renal failure (ARF), treated by continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD). DESIGN: All newborns admitted for tertiary treatment to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the University of Padova, who underwent CPD between February 1986 and December 1990, were analyzed retrospectively. PATIENTS: Ten newborns (mean weight 2077 g, range 540-4930 g) received CPD, 6 of whom were preterm. All the survivors completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: A number 9, 5 French Tenckhoff catheter was used, and a closed circuit was created by means of a modified continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) technique. The mean duration of dialytic therapy was 7 days. RESULTS: At the end of the dialytic period, 7 of the 10 patients had normal serum potassium and sodium values. CPD produced two different types of complications: leakage of the dialytic fluid in very low weight newborns and one episode of peritonitis during a chronic dialysis treatment. Six died of severe respiratory failure (in no case, however, was this attributable to ARF or CPD procedure). All but one of the survivors regained normal renal function. The only exception necessitated a kidney transplant. CONCLUSION: We believe that this technique, although invasive, improves the outcome of both preterm and low birth weight newborns affected by ARF.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1993

"Silent" patent ductus arteriosus and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in low-birthweight twins.

During a screening protocol of early echocardiographic diagnosis (ATL MK 600) and treatment of "silent" PDA in RDS preterms with BW < or = 1.750 kg, clinical data on premature twins were collected, including diagnosis of both PDA and BPD, to investigate whether twin birth influences PDA incidence and BPD development. Out of the 290 RDS preterms evaluated, 96 (33%) showed evidence of PDA, and a total of 79 (27%) developed BPD, 47 (16%) with associated PDA and 32 (11%) without PDA. Out of 238 singletons, 74 (31%) presented "silent" PDA and a total of 75 (31%) developed BPD, 44 (18%) with associated PDA, and 31 (13%) without PDA. In 52 other twins (18% of the total number of babies studied), 22 (42% of this subgroup) presented evidence of "silent" PDA, and 4 (8% of the subgroup), developed BPD, 3 with associated PDA (6% of the subgroup), and 1 without PDA (2% of the subgroup). From these data, it is inferred that that low-birthweight twins are at high risk for PDA hemodynamic complications during RDS, and may benefit from early induced ductal closure. Instead, in RDS twins, BPD was statistically less frequent (at the 99% C.L.) probably because twinning enhances fetal lung maturity, influencing enzymatic and nonenzymatic protective systems of lung defence.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMed1992

Effect of high doses of human recombinant erythropoietin on the need for blood transfusions in preterm infants.

To determine whether prophylactic treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and iron would reduce the need for blood transfusions, we randomly assigned 22 premature infants with gestational ages less than or equal to 32 weeks and birth weights less than or equal to 1.75 kg to receive rHuEPO, 400 IU/kg three times a week, plus iron, 20 mg/wk intravenously, from the second day of life (11 infants), or no rHuEPO and no iron (11 infants). The two groups had similar birth weights and clinical variables. The treated infants required fewer blood transfusions (0.8 +/- 1.5 vs 3.1 +/- 2.1; p = 0.01) and less volume of packed erythrocytes (14.2 +/- 25.9 vs 48.4 +/- 34.0 ml/kg; p = 0.02). The amounts of blood sampled were not different (19.5 +/- 21.1 vs 27.8 +/- 19.1 ml/kg; p = 0.35). Reticulocyte and hematocrit values were higher in the treated group (4.46% +/- 0.8% vs 1.49% +/- 1.1% (p = 0.0001) and 48.1% +/- 7.3% vs 43.8% +/- 4.7% (p = 0.004), respectively). No side effects of either rHuEPO or intravenously administered iron were noted. These data indicate that rHuEPO, in combination with iron supplementation, is effective in reducing the need for blood transfusions in the premature infant. More information is needed on dosage, timing, and iron and vitamin supplementation.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1991

The prognostic significance of acute neonatal renal failure.

We evaluated 38 newborns with acute renal failure (plasma creatinine (Pcr) concentration greater than = 1.5 mg/dl), measured between the 2nd and 5th days. We used renal ultrasound to exclude the possibility of congenital renal anomalies, obstructive pathology or vascular disorders. We calculated the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using Schwartz' formula and the maximal concentrating capacity using intranasal administration of desamino-cis-1-D-arginine-8-vasopressin (DDAVP test). Two newborns were treated with peritoneal dialysis and died during the first month of life. Thirty-six had a follow-up blood sample drawn: 24 preterm babies between 1 and 12 months, and 12 full-term babies between 1 and 36 months of life. From this sampling 4 babies (11.1%) showed defective maximal concentrating ability. Our data reveal the persistence of altered concentrating ability in newborns affected by renal failure and shows that this problem needs a longitudinal study and further diagnostic investigations.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1991

Early screening and treatment of "silent" patent ductus arteriosus in prematures with RDS.

From January 1987 to December 1989, prematures with RDS weighing 1750 g or less admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unite (NICU) were submitted from the third postnatal day to serial two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler (ATL MK 600) echocardiographic evaluation for "silent" patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). PDA was diagnosed in 36/175 prematures with RDS (20.5%). Thirty patients had indomethacin treatment and the PDA closed completely in 27 (90%); five needed a second course of indomethacin, that was effective in two (40%). Four RDS patients (4/36-11%) already weaned from the respirator, needed supplemental oxygen. The three non-responders and six other prematures with counterindications to the drug underwent surgical ligation (25%). As historical control, we retrospectively evaluated the population of preterm infants with RDS weighing less than or equal to 1750 g treated for hemodynamically significant PDA during three previous years before the screening protocol; in this group the echocardiographic and Doppler evaluations were done when congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema were clinically evident. In comparison, we found a reduced incidence of prematures with RDS treated for PDA, 7/120 (5.8%) a higher age at medical treatment (9 +/- 1.4 vs 4.4 - 2.3 days) and a larger prevalence of patients underwent ductal ligation (71.4%). These data show that early screening and treatment of "silent" PDA may result advantageous to improve the efficacy (90%) of indomethacin, in a critical time for the recovery of RDS, and furthermore decreasing the need of surgical ligation.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1988

Spontaneous intraventricular haemorrhage in utero.

The authors report three cases of unexplained prenatal intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in three term infants. In the first two cases the suspected diagnosis of prenatal IVH was made a few hours after delivery, in accordance with the ultrasonographic feature of clots in the ventricles, whereas in the third case prenatal ultrasonography was suggestive of hydrocephalus with intraventricular clots.

Brain↗
PubMed1981

Esophageal perforation in the newborn.

Two cases of esophageal perforation in the newborn are reported. The first case underwent surgery after suspected diagnosis of a traumatic perforation of a superior atresic esophageal stump. The second case was treated with supportive therapy. Both cases were cured and discharged in good health. The possible mechanisms of spontaneous and iatrogenic perforation are discussed.

Esophageal Atresia↗
PubMed1979

Effect of infused hypothalamic phospholipids on the maturation of foetal rabbit lungs.

The effect of hypothalamic phospholipids on the maturation of foetal lung was investigated in a series of experiments in rabbits. Sixteen pregnant does were injected with hypothalamic phospholipids (2 mg day-1 kg-1) from day 21 of gestation. A second group of 16 does was injected with saline, and served as controls. The foetuses were delivered at gestational ages between 27 and 28 days by means of caesarean section under intravenous pentothal anaesthesia. Foetuses born from treated mothers were more active, breathed better, and their lungs expanded to a greater extent compared with the foetuses born to control mothers. In the animals of treated mothers there was, on electron microscopy, evidence of accelerated maturation of alveolar epithelial cells.

Animals↗