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Biomedical subjects

G C Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to G C Anderson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Rectal or axillary temperature measurement: effect on plasma bilirubin and intestinal transit of meconium.

Physiologic jaundice (5-6 mg/100 ml plasma bilirubin) is common and considered normal in newborn infants during the first week postbirth, but is considered abnormal in older infants. Early meconium passage correlates with lower plasma bilirubin concentrations. Rectal stimulation during rectal temperature measurement may aid passage of meconium containing potentially toxic, absorbable bilirubin. In this study, 100 clinically normal infants were assigned randomly to groups for rectal or axillary temperature measurement. The time of first meconium passage, time of first all-yellow stool, and total plasma bilirubin were compared between groups. Bilirubin was measured during metabolic screening at 48-80 h postbirth (mean 69 h in both groups). By this time 30 infants in the rectal group, but only 17 in the axillary group, had passed yellow stools (p = 0.011). The rectal group had lower mean (+/- 1 SD) bilirubin (5.5 mg/100 ml +/- 2.7 vs. 6.5 +/- 3.0, p = 0.042), and a trend toward earlier first meconium (5.9 h +/- 5.0 vs. 7.3 +/- 5.9, p = 0.096). For clinically normal infants in the first 48-80 h postbirth, these data suggest that rectal stimulation accompanying rectal temperature measurement enhances intestinal bilirubin excretion because of more rapid meconium passage.

Axilla↗
PubMed1982

Development of sucking in term infants from birth to four hours postbirth.

The development of sucking response was investigated in 30 clinically normal infants from 1 or 5 minutes postbirth until their first feeding 4 hours later. Maximum sucking pressures were measured with a research nipple attached to a portable electronic suckometer. Mean suction (negative pressure) began at 5 Torr at birth, peaked at 103 Torr at 90 minutes, and decreased thereafter to 65 Torr at 4 hours. Expression (positive pressure) began at 12 Torr, rose to 29, and decreased to 25. Mean expression pressures correlated with feeding scale scores, r = +.44(24); p less than .025, but suction pressures did not, r = +.26(24); p less than .1. Normative data were gathered on 10 additional stabilized newborns who had been fed twice successfully. Suction pressures were 96 Torr on Day 1, and 103 Torr on Day 2; expression pressures were 25 and 24 Torr, respectively. These pressures approximate those recorded in newborns between 1 and 2 hours postbirth.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1982

Nonnutritive sucking during tube feedings: effects on preterm neonates in an intensive care unit.

Preterm neonates (mean 32 weeks' gestation, 1,300 gm birth weight) were provided a pacifier for nonnutritive sucking during tube feedings in the intensive care nursery. Their clinical course, subsequent bottle feeding behavior, and performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment scale were compared with those of control group infants. The infants provided with pacifiers averaged 27 fewer tube feedings, started bottle feeding three days earlier, averaged a greater weight gain per day, and were discharged eight days earlier for an average hospital cost savings of approximately $3,500. Formula intake was similar for the two groups, although nurses appeared to provide more feeding stimulation for the control infants. On the Brazelton scale, the infants provided with pacifiers showed weak reflexes more frequently. Increased restfulness and diminished activity level in these infants may have contributed to the appearance of weak reflexes. The consistency between these findings and those of previous investigators suggests that the provision of a pacifier for nonnutritive sucking during tube feedings may be a cost-effective form of intervention.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1979

Development of sucking in premature infants from 1 to 7 days post birth.

An ongoing research program to document the development of the sucking response in low- and high-risk newborns is described. Goals are (a) to facilitate early oral feedings, and (b) ultimately to determine whether varying levels of self-regulatory mother-young interaction, uninterrupted by birth, differentially affect life span development. In pilot research, finger sucking opportunities were given twice daily to 2 female and 8 male critically ill premature newborns. A clinical scoring system (range 0--12) measured quality of the sucking response beginning as early as 1 hour of life. The sucking response was present in all 10 newborns. The mean sucking score and standard error of the mean on the first day of life were 6.0 +/- 0.8. Sucking scores did not correlate with birth weight or gestational age, but correlated positively with pH (r = +0.52, p less than .01) and negatively with pCO2 (r = 0.47, p less than .05). Sucking scores generally increased with age and with closely time-related sucking opportunities. Sucking scores were negatively correlated with serum bilirubin levels. Sucking opportunities seemed to facilitate neuromuscular coordination, alert activity, alert inactivity, and deep sleep. A description is given also of a portable electronic suckometer and research nipple developed to quantitatively measure the sucking response of low- and high-risk newborns. The pilot research with this instrument is summarized, as are 3 current studies, 2 of which begin at birth. Sucking is a major component of mother-newborn interaction. Perhaps the isolated transitional newborn is in a nonphysiologic state.

Female↗
PubMed1979

Effects of surrogate mothering on physiologic stabilization in transitional newborns.

This experimental study was conducted to determine whether surrogate mothering during the first hours of life will affect physiologic stabilization in the transitional newborn. Two groups of 8 normal newborns were studied. The treatment was given on cue and consisted of rocking, cuddling, visual and verbal interaction, and non-nutritive sucking to satiety. The control group received routine nursing care. The experimental group's mean axillary temperature correlated with increasing age (r = +.91, p less than .001) and leveled at 2 hours of life at 98.2 degrees F (36.8 degrees C). Control group temperatures fell continuously to 97.4 degrees F (36.3 degrees C) following removal of the newborn from under an infrared heat unit. The experimental group's mean respiratory rate correlated negatively with increasing age (r = -.81, p less than .009). The experimental group's mean heart rate was higher at 3 1/2 hours (p less than .01). The control group's mean heart rate correlated over time (= -.82, p less than .007). Heart murmurs were heard 16 times in 5 controls and 6 times in 3 treated newborns. The frequency difference was significant (p less than .05). Experimental newborns cried an average of 2.1 minutes. This was less (p less than .01) than the controls (38.5 minutes). Electronically measured sucking strength was higher (p less than .001) for the treated newborns (81.5 mm Hg) than for the controls (20.5 mm Hg) prior to the first feeding at 4 hours. The experimental group ingested a mean of 13.75 cc of sterile water at the initial feeding, compared to 5 cc for the controls. Sucking and swallowing difficulty was seen in 6 control and 3 experimental newborns. These data suggest that interaction and soothing by another human facilitates transitional newborn physiologic adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1976

A highly fatal tremorgenic mycotoxicosis of cattle caused by Aspergillus clavatus.

During February 1975, a tremorgenic neurotoxicosis decimated a herd of cattle in the northern Transvaal. This hitherto unidentified disease was characterized by hypersensitivity, incoordination, a peculiar stiff-legged gait of the hind legs, severe generalized tumors of the sketetal muscles, progressive paresis, paralysis and constipation. The most notable gross pathological lesions were degenerative and necrotic changes in certain skeletal muscles, haemorrhages on the serosal surfaces, especially on the dorsal aspect of the rumen, and gastro-intestinal stasis. Microscopical examination of the central nervous system revealed cytopathological changes consisting of degeneration and necrosis of the large motor cells in the ventral horns of the spinal cord and bigger neurones in numerous nuclei of the medulla oblongata, midbrain and thalamus. By feeding the suspect ration and its component parts to cattle and sheep, it was possible to identify mouldy sorghum beer residue as the toxic component in the ration. A. clavatus, the dominant fungus on the toxic residue, was readily isolated in pure culture. The entire syndrome was then reproduced in a yearling Friesland steer dosed with pure cultures of the A. clavatus isolate grown on autoclaved non-toxic sorghum beer residue. The toxic principle is not known, but it does not appear to be patulin, tryptoquivalone, tryptoquivaline, or any other known tremorgen.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1976

The prostaglandins.

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Abortion, Induced↗