[Meningitis and brain abscess caused by Levinea malonatica in a newborn infant].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J C Gabilan.
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The authors report a peculiar type of maternofetal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in a 34 week-premature neonate. The revealing sign was the occurrence, at age 11 days, of frequent apneas with bradycardia, needing mechanical ventilation associated with adapted antibiotic therapy for 14 days. Diagnosis was confirmed by the isolation of CT in tracheal secretions. Immediate evolution was favorable. Literature data are reviewed and a short epidemiological survey is reported.
Serum C Reactive Protein (CRP) levels were measured in 242 neonates in whom materno foetal infection were suspected. In the 68 neonates in whom infection was proven, CRP levels were greater than or equal to 10 mg/l in 46 cases (68%). In the 154 neonates who were not infected, CRP levels were less than 10 mg/l in 132 cases (86%). In the 20 not infected neonates with positive peripheral samples for the same organism, CRP levels were less than 10 mg/l in 20 cases (100%). From these data, sensibility and specificity of CRP test for neonatal infection were respectively 67.6% and 85.7%.
A double blind therapeutic trial of ethyl clofibrate as a preventive treatment of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm neonates was performed in neonates of gestational ages ranging between 31 and 36 weeks. Forty-six children were given the treatment and 43 a placebo. A single 100 mg/kg dose of ethyl clofibrate was administered orally, between the 24th and the 48th hour of life. Significant results in the treated neonates are as follows: a lesser intensity of jaundice from the 48th hour of treatment; a lesser need for repeated bilirubinemia assay for the control of evolution and a lesser use of phototherapy if the serum concentration of clofibric acid is above or equal to the 140 micrograms therapeutic level before the 24th hour of treatment. The analysis of results also shows that the therapeutic clofibric acid serum level is reduced in 66% of neonates of relatively high gestational ages (34-36 weeks) and in 33% only of neonates of lower gestational ages (31-33 weeks). This study, added to the previous therapeutic trial performed in at term neonates, shows the efficacy of clofibrate in the preventive treatment of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm neonates. Further studies will allow to define the exact dosage according to gestational age.
A case of neonatal porencephalia is reported. It was due to antenatal hemorrhage associated with severe thrombocytopenia. Hematologic investigations showed a feto-maternal platelet incompatibility in the PLA1 system.
Serum C Reactive Protein (CRP) levels were measured in 36 neonates with a suspicion of sepsis. In the 11 children in whom septicemia was proven, CRP levels were abnormal in all cases, while hematologic data were significantly changed in 3 cases only (27%). In the 16 neonates who were not infected, CRP was abnormal in only one case, and hematologic data significantly changed in 2 (12%). In 9 neonates with at least 2 peripheral samples positive for the same organism, CRP and hematologic data were respectively abnormal in 6 (66%) and one (11%) cases.
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Various types of ischemic myocardial dysfunction can be observed after perinatal anoxia. Seven such cases are reported: 2 patients with cardiogenic shock due to left ventricle myocardial infarction; 2 patients with transient tricuspid insufficiency; 3 patients with transient myocardial ischemia in the course of a severe respiratory illness.
Thirty-three neonates presenting with hyaline membrane disease were investigated with simultaneous measurements of PACO2 and PaCO2, in order to establish the percentage (q) of the ventilated alveolar areas with little or no perfusion. Results show that during the acute phase of the disease, mean values for q are 40%. Highest figures are related with the most severe distress. In such cases, major pulmonary hypoperfusion is associated with extrapulmonary right to left shunts, as shown by a PO2 gradient between a pulmonary vein and the aorta. Later on, q values improve progressively. The importance of the reduction of the perfusion of the ventilated alveolar areas and its hemodynamic consequences suggest that in severe cases with hyaline membrane disease a pulmonary vasodilatator treatment could be prescribed, before the stage of refractory hypoxemia.
This paper concerns 37 newborns who suffered clinical seizures from their 24th h till their 10th day of life, excluding post-anoxic seizures or convulsions leading to death. Continuous or repeated EEG recordings were performed for all babies: 25 infants had electro-clinical recorded seizures, 12 children did not have another convulsion after admission. This work allows us again to isolate a group of 18 newborns who presented the clinical and EEG features described as the 5th day seizures syndrome: term babies, appearance of first seizures between the 4th and 5th day, very frequent status epilepticus, almost constant inter-ictal 'sharp alternating theta' tracing, immediate spontaneously favourable evolution. A long-term follow-up was done on this group (18 children) and on the initially described group of 20 children: only 2 children had seizure recurrences, essentially febrile seizures, in spite of lack of long-lasting anticonvulsive therapy.
A double blind controlled study of the therapeutic effect of clofibrate, an inductor of bilirubin glucuronyl transferase, was performed in neonates born at term and presenting with physiologic jaundice. 47 children were treated with a single oral dose of clofibrate. 46 control children were given corn oil alone. Results show that mean plasma bilirubin levels are significantly lower in the treated group as compared with the control group, from the 16th hour of treatment, if there is no ABO incompatibility. Clofibrate treatment also resulted in a shorter duration of jaundice and a restricted use of phototherapy. No undesirable side-effect was observed.
Five neonates with refractory hypoxemia (aortic PO2 less than or equal to 6.7 KPa despite FiO2 = 1 and efficient artificial ventilation) were investigated in order to determine the principal mechanism of hypoxemia. PO2 values were measured (under FiO2 = 1) in a pulmonary vein, the left auricle and the aorta. They were used to distinguish intra-pulmonary shunts from extra-pulmonary shunts (though foramen ovale and/or ductus arteriosus). Simultaneous measurements of PACO2 and PaCO2 were used to assess the percentage of the ventilation output reaching hypoperfused areas. In cases with extra-pulmonary shunt, when this percentage is over 30%, pulmonary hypertension is likely. The use of both methods is useful for selecting those patients who might benefit from tolazoline.
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Eleven full term neonates with respiratory distress syndrome resembling hyaline membrane disease (HMD) are reported. Gestational ages awere assessed from the history and by clinical and EEG criteria. The diagnosis of HMD was made when clinical and radiological signs, usually present in premature infants, were found together with an abnormal lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in the tracheal aspirate during the first 60 hours. In the majority of newborns all organs should be mature after 37 weeks gestation but, development may be delayed. Thus the lungs in the full term infants may occasionally have an immature surfactant system.
EEGs were performed in 39 newborns with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) who subsequently died and compared with a series of 37 neonates who did not have an IVH. Abnormalities were more common in the IVHgroup. The most significant findings were the presence of electrical storms and that it was not possible to assess the gestational age. Positive rolandic spikes were not significantly more frequent in the IVH group. None of the EEG changes seem to be specific for IVH, but the presence of any of these in a premature infant makes an IVH highly probable.
Pulmonary surfactant deficiency was diagnosed in 36 newborn infants by measuring low L/S ratios in sequential tracheal aspirated samples. A distal femoral epiphysis was seen in knee X-rays in 25 of these 36 infants. It is concluded that fetal pulmonary maturity cannot be judged in utero by the presence of ossific centres at the knee, although there is a statistical correlation between gestational age and maturity of the bones.
Two twins born to a mother who had been treated with Indomethacin at the end of pregnancy presented with variable but transitory hypoxemia. Blood Indomethacin determination suggested that this disorder was iatrogenic in origin. Clinical, experimental and pharmacological data in the literature support the hypothesis that this condition was due to pulmonary arterial hypertension.