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Biomedical subjects

J L Ramos

Publications and source records attributed to J L Ramos.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
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Hyperekplexia, a cause of neonatal apnea: a case report.

We report a case of non-familial hyperekplexia which characteristically developed apnea and feeding difficulties in the neonatal period. The abnormal startle response was evident from the second week of life onwards. The infant showed a marked improvement of the startle response and muscle hypertonia with clonazepam. Clobazam was also tried with no apparent response. A prominent long latency C response was observed on EMG examination, suggesting a possible cortical neuronal hyperexcitability origin for the abnormal startle response observed in hyperekplexia.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
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A strain of Arthrobacter that tolerates high concentrations of nitrate.

A gram-positive strain identified as Arthrobacter globiformis CECT 4500, tolerant to up to 1 M nitrate, was isolated from the grounds of a munitions factory. Under strict aerobic conditions, this bacterium used a wide variety of C-sources to obtain the energy required for growth, which took place when the nitrate concentration in the medium was below 150 mM. Cells of this bacterium growing in the absence of nitrate were seen as individual cells or forming pairs, whereas cells grown in the presence of nitrate formed short filaments. With ethylene glycol as the C-source, optimal conditions for the full nitrate removal by Arthrobacter were established under laboratory conditions with wastewaters from the synthesis of dinitroethylene glycol.

Arthrobacter↗
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Prediction of hyperglycemia in preterm newborn infants.

Many conditions are associated with hyperglycemia in preterm neonates because they are very susceptible to changes in carbohydrate homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of hyperglycemia in preterm infants undergoing glucose infusion during the first week of life, and to enumerate the main variables predictive of hyperglycemia. This prospective study (during 1994) included 40 preterm neonates (gestational age < 37 weeks); 511 determinations of glycemic status were made in these infants (average 12.8/infant), classified by gestational age, birth weight, glucose infusion rate and clinical status at the time of determination (based on clinical and laboratory parameters). The clinical status was classified as stable or unstable, as an indication of the stability or instability of the mechanisms governing glucose homeostasis at the time of determination of blood glucose; 59 episodes of hyperglycemia (11.5%) were identified. A case-control study was used (case = hyperglycemia; control = normoglycemia) to derive a model for predicting glycemia. The risk factors considered were gestational age (< or = 31 vs. > 31 weeks), birth weight (< or = 1500 vs. > 1500 g), glucose infusion rate (< or = 6 vs. > 6 mg/kg/min) and clinical status (stable vs. unstable). Multivariate analysis by logistic regression gave the following mathematical model for predicting the probability of hyperglycemia: 1/exp{-3.1437 + 0.5819(GA) + 0.9234(GIR) + 1.0978 (Clinical status)}The main predictive variables in our study, in increasing order of importance, were gestational age, glucose infusion rate and, the clinical status (stable or unstable) of the preterm newborn infant. The probability of hyperglycemia ranged from 4.1% to 36.9%.

Birth Weight↗
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Relationship between plasma creatinine concentration and glomerular filtration in preterm newborn infants.

Fluid management and dosage regimens of drugs in preterm infants should be based on the glomerular filtration rate. The current methods to determine glomerular filtration rate are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive. In contrast, creatinine clearance can be easy obtained and quickly determined. The purpose of this study was to compare plasma creatinine on the third and seventh day of life in preterm newborn infants, to evaluate the influence of maternal creatinine, and to demonstrate creatinine clearance can be used as a reliable indicator of glomerular filtration rate. We developed a prospective study (1994) including 40 preterm newborns (gestational age < 37 weeks), average = 34 weeks; birth weight (average) = 1840 g, in the first week of life. Inclusion criteria consisted of: absence of renal and urinary tract anomalies; O2 saturation >/= 92%; adequate urine output (>1ml/kg/hr); normal blood pressure; absence of infections and no sympathomimetic amines in use. A blood sample was collected to determine plasma creatinine (enzymatic method) on the third and seventh day of life and creatinine clearance (CrCl) was obtained using the following equation: [formula: see text], k = 0.33 in preterm infant All plasma creatinine determinations showed normal values [third day: 0.78 mg/dl +/- 0.24 (mean +/- SD)and seventh day: 0.67 mg/dl +/- 0.31 - (p>0.05)]. Also all creatinine clearance at third and seventh day of life were normal [third day: 19.5 ml/min +/- 5.2 (mean +/- SD) and seventh day: 23.8 ml/min +/- 7.3 - (p>0,05)]. All preterm infants developed adequate renal function for their respective gestational age. In summary, our results indicate that, for clinical practice, the creatinine clearance, using newborn length, can be used to estimate glomerular filtration rate in preterm newborn infants.

Creatinine↗
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Progress in phototherapy.

The purpose of this article is to present a recent advance in phototherapy employed on newborn babies with jaundice. The efficacy of this treatment depends on the intensity of emitted light; it is believed that a dose between 6-12 nm is necessary. The usefulness of phototherapy in healthy, full-term infants is currently being questioned. Therefore, the adequate use of this therapy should be emphasized until a consensus is reached on its advantages and disadvantages.

Bilirubin↗
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[Hyperglycemia and glucosuria in preterm infants receiving parenteral glucose: influence of birth weight, gestational age and infusion rate]

OBJECTIVE: Morbidity and mortality of premature infants have decreased considerably over the last decades, therefore, adequate nutrition of the premature is a major concern. Enteral feeding is the route of choice, but when it is not possible the parenteral route, which contains glucose as one of its main components, is used. Glucose infusions are not devoid of risk as they facilitate the development of hyperglycemia leading to intracranial hemorrhage, glucosuria and dehydration. The aim of this paper is to relate hyperglycemia and glucosuria to birth weight, gestational age and glucose infusion rate.METHODS: The study was developed at the Nursery of Santa Catarina Hospital (São Paulo). The authors developed a prospective study; 511 concurrent determinations of glycemia and qualitative glucosuria were performed in 40 preterm newborn infants receiving parenteral glucose (mean of 12.8 dosages per newborn).RESULTS: Fifty-nine (11.5%) episodes of hyperglycemia were detected, and their frequency was higher at lower gestational ages (</=34 weeks), lower birth weights (< 1500g) and higher glucose infusion rates (>/= 6 mg/kg/min). Thirty-one (6.1%) episodes of glucosuria were detected, and were more frequent in lower gestational ages (</= 34 weeks), lower birth weights (< 1500g) and higher glucose infusion rates (>/= 6 mg/kg/min).CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of hyperglycemia and glucosuria in preterm newborn infants receiving glucose infusion was higher in lower gestational ages, lower birth weights and higher glucose infusion rates. In preterm newborn infants it is necessary to observe the glucose infusion rate and its respective glycemia, in order to avoid the complications of hyperglycemia.

Journal Article↗
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[Prolonged rupture of the membranes and neonatal infection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a schedule of assessment at birth of newborn from mothers with prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM >or= 24 hours), based on selected clinical and laboratorial parameters of infection. METHODS: Prospective study, including newborns admitted to the Nursery of the Hospital de Clínicas - University of São Paulo from May/1993 to December / 1994, whose mothers had PROM >/or 24 hours. In all newborns white blood cell count (umbilical cord and 24 hours of life) and blood culture of umbilical cord were done. Antibiotics were given to newborns with clinical signs of chorioamnionitis, GA 34 and < 37 weeks, plus at least one risk factor of infection. All newborns were classified into 4 subgroups: I (PROM 48 hours and < 7 days), III (PROM >or= 7 and < 14 days), IV (PROM >or= 14 days). RESULTS: The incidence of infection was 38.1% and was more frequent in newborns with GA < 34 weeks (p< 0.05). No statistical significance was noted among the subgroups analysed. Among the risk factors analysed, GA < 34 weeks was the main one. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in newborns from mothers with PROM which have a GA <or= 34 weeks, aiming to decrease the risk of neonatal infection.

English Abstract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ceftriaxione associated biliary lithiasis in newborns-report of two cases].

The occurrence of biliary calculosis as a complication of the use of ceftriaxone was first described in an 18-year-old patient with chronic granulomatosis. Since then many reports have been published on this type of complication both in children and in adults, but until the present moment, this complication had never been reported in pre-term neonates.The authors describe two cases of biliary calculosis associated with the use of ceftriaxone in preterm-newborns, emphasizing that due to the frequent use of this type of antibiotic in neonatal I.C.U., routine ultrasonographic control exams should be performed to diagnose this possible complication in all neonates receiving ceftriaxone.

English Abstract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Respiratory distress in low birth weight: influence of intrauterine growth retardation].

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR), as well as it's types and severity on the development of respiratory distress among low-birth-weight infants. A total of 673 neonates were studied, the small-for-dates infants (SFD), 40% of total, were divided according to the type of IUGR, in proportionate and disproportionate, and according to the severity, in birth weight below 3rd and between 3rd and 10th percentile. Respiratory distress was more frequent among the appropriate for gestational age (57.3%) compared to the SFD infants (33.7%), (p < 0.0001), and among males (52.6%) compared to females (47.4%) (p = 0.01). There was an inverse relationship between gestational age, as well as birth weight and respiratory distress. It occurred in 90.6% of very-low-birth-weight infants and in 39% of the others, with a predominance among the appropriate for gestational age newborns. Respiratory distress occurred in 80% of neonates below 34 weeks of gestational age and in 26% of the neonates above it (p < 0.0001). Regarding to the small-for-dates infants, respiratory distress occurred more frequently among the disproportionate (42.5%), when compared to proportionate infants (28.1%) (p = 0.03). The severity of IUGR had no influence on these results. The authors concluded that among low birth weight infants, the groups with increased risk for respiratory distress are the appropriate for gestational age and, among small-for-dates and disproportionate infants, those weighing less than 1500 g.

Female↗
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[Immunological behavior (IgG, IgM, IgA) and total complement (CH50) of newborns infants with risk factors for early onset sepsis. Comparative analysis of newborns with and without infection].

Immunological behavior (IgG, IgM, IgA) and total Complement (CH50) of newborns infants with risk factors for early onset sepsis. Comparative analysis between newborns with and without infection. Rev. Hosp. Clín. Fac. Med. S. Paulo, 53(6): 303-310, 1998. The objective of this study was to verify the immunological behavior of the newborn infant in front of an infection. We studied 60 newborn infants that had risk factors for early onset sepsis (premature rupture membranes, clinic amnionitis or tract urinary infection) from de immunological and infection point of view. They were classified into three gestational age groups: < 34 weeks, between 34 and 36 6/7 weeks and > or = 37 weeks. Sepsis diagnosis was done through clinical and laboratorial data and we also included the followings exams: Immunological types (IgG, IgM, IgA) and total complement (CH50) obtained from the newborn at birth and on the fifth day of life. We could verify that 15 newborns (25%) presented early sepsis. There was a statistical association between perinatal asfixia and infection in the group with gestational age < 34 weeks and this same group presented statistical association between infection and death. The serical levels of IgG and CH50 were directly related to the gestational age and there were significant statistical differences between levels of IgG, IgM and total Complement between infected and not infected newborns within the same group os gestional age. We observed that the infection was associated to low levels of IgG and CH50, at birth and on the fifth day, mainly in the group of infected newborns with gestional age < 34 weeks, being this group, therefore, the one that would mostly benefit from an immunological support in front of and infection.

Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay↗