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Biomedical subjects

M Amato

Publications and source records attributed to M Amato.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cerebral hemodynamics in low-birth-weight infants treated with phototherapy.

Changes of cerebral blood flow were determined in 20 preterm infants undergoing blue-light phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia. All were healthy very-low-birth-weight infants (less than 1,500 g) with normal brain sonograms and not under pharmacological treatment at the time of the investigation. Blood flow velocity (pulsatility index and area under velocity curve) was measured by Duplex Scan technique during and after phototherapy. No changes of global cerebral blood flow were observed in the anterior cerebral artery (p less than 0.5). Our results suggest no functional disturbance of cerebral autoregulation in low-birth-weight infants treated with phototherapy.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1991

Rapid biometric assessment of gestational age in very low birth weight infants.

Foot length and intermamillary distance were compared to gestational age assessment using obstetrical dates, physical criteria of Ballard score and the evaluation of the anterior vascular capsule of the lens (IPM). Thirty-eight healthy and appropriate for gestational age preterm infants (30 +/- 2.4 weeks) with a birth weight of 1280 +/- 410 g were studied. Internipple distance (IM) and foot length (FL) were measured with a sliding caliper graduated in millimeters. Results were analyzed using the linear regression analysis. Obstetrical dates, physical Ballard score and IMP correlated significantly with both biometric measurements. Mean IM was 58.5 +/- 8.5 mm (range: 45 mm-89 mm) and mean FL was 60.6 +/- 7.9 mm (range: 45 mm-75 mm). The data indicate that the appropriate use of biometric parameters in the early postnatal period can be used to improve assessment of gestational age in VLBW infants.

Biometry↗
PubMed1991

Survival of a 390 grams Swiss infant.

It is vital for the survival of the neonate that birth should not occur until the fetal organ systems are sufficiently mature. Nowadays, infants with birth weight 750 g or less lead to ethical dilemmas concerning the value of treating extremely preterm infants. We report the survival of a 390 g girl born in the 25 and 3/7 week of gestation. In the last years, problems associated with extreme prematurity have become more clearly defined improving the outcome of these babies.

Female↗
PubMed1991

[Early detection of hip dysplasia in the neonatal period].

Several risk factors are associated with an increased incidence of congenital hip dysplasia. Since the introduction of hip sonography the understanding of correlation between risk factors and US have been studied to decrease the prevalence of the deformity. Regression analysis and chi-square test were used to study the incidence of factors associated with congenital hip dysplasia. Positive family history, breech presentation, positive Ortolani manoeuvre, abduction deficit, asymmetric skin folds, feet or neuromuscular abnormities were compared to ultrasound examination. No significant correlation was found with any of the studied risk factors. Mild congenital hip dysplasia can be diagnosed only by ultrasound. It was found that 1.7% of congenital hip dysplasia are clinically asymptomatic and cannot be recognized without ultrasonographic screening.

Hip Dislocation, Congenital↗
PubMed1990

Assessment of neonatal jaundice in low birth weight infants comparing transcutaneous, capillary and arterial bilirubin levels.

Total serum bilirubin level was assessed in a group of jaundiced low birth weight infants using three different methods. Transcutaneous bilirubinometry was compared with conventional capillary and arterial methods to investigate the over-or underestimation of neonatal jaundice. Sampling site did not influence bilirubin levels. Capillary and arterial results showed a linear correlation (r = 0.9) suggesting no influence of environmental light on peripheral bilirubin isomerization. Similar results were obtained comparing both serum levels with transcutaneous values (r = 0.7). We conclude that treatment decisions may be made on the basis of one of the three mentioned methods in healthy low birth weight infants with neonatal jaundice.

Arteries↗
PubMed1990

Fetal ventriculomegaly due to isolated brain malformations.

Management of 32 consecutive cases of fetal hydrocephalus diagnosed prenatally during a five years period is presented. Thirteen cases (40%) being patients with ventriculomegaly due to isolated brain malformation are the topic of this paper. In this group, management was conservative and consisted of termination of pregnancy by elective cesarean section after prenatal fetal assessment. Agenesis of corpus callosum (6 cases) and Dandy-Walker malformation (7 cases) were the most common observed forms. Antenatal sonography improved intrauterine follow-up. Skillful perinatal management and support facilities after birth have been found a reliable approach to conservative management of fetal hydrocephalus by lacking of satisfactory techniques for in utero permanent cerebrospinal fluid shunting.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1990

Neurosonographic assessment of twin pairs in the perinatal period.

Twins have higher rates of perinatal mortality, prematurity and its complications, low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, congenital anomalies and long-term developmental morbidity. In 31 twin pairs we evaluated the incidence and severity of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) and post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. On ultrasonography minor PIVH (grades I and II) was observed in 26% of A twins and 25% of B twins (p less than 0.5). Major PIVH (grades III and IV) was less common, occurring in 3% of A twins and 6% of B twins (p less than 0.5). Ventriculomegaly, mostly regressive was equally distributed between the two groups of babies. From these results it can be concluded that with efficient antenatal care and skillful perinatal management of twin pregnancy, the incidence of major perinatal neurological complications such as PIVH and ventriculomegaly are not higher in the second-born twin.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1990

[Sialographic and computed tomographic studies in pathology of the major salivary glands].

A retrospective study is reported which took place over 3 years (1986-1989) and included 99 patients (57 men and 33 women, age range 8-90 years) with lesions attributable to salivary gland diseases. Patients were examined using CAT and sialographic tests. From an analysis of the results it is clear that sialography retains its importance as a means of diagnosis in inflammatory diseases, calculosis and autoimmune disorders, whereas CAT should be used as the preferential diagnostic test for neoplastic lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

In vitro short-term chemosensitivity test in head and neck tumors.

A new method to test the sensitivity of human tumor cells has been developed. A suspension of mechanically dissociated tumor cells is kept in continuous incubation for 24h, in cultures with antineoplastic agents. Drug induced cell cycle perturbations are monitored by flow cytometric computer analysis and DNA distributions of the cells stained with propidium iodide are expressed in percentage. The test is used in 15 head and neck human solid tumors. The drugs tested were: VCR, EpiDx, CDDP, MTX, 5-FU, CPM, BLM. The results obtained reveal that tumor sensitivity varies independently from the stage and malignity grading. Therapeutic combinations are assigned by selecting the drugs on the basis of the individual in vitro response.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Postnatal triiodothyronine replacement and respiratory distress syndrome of the preterm infant.

Improvements in the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) include pre- and postnatal stimulation of pulmonary maturity, and triiodothyronine (T3) is believed to influence directly surfactant production. Its circulating levels are low in premature infants with RDS probably due to a low thyroxine T4-T3 hepatic conversion mechanism. While a state of hypotriiodothyroninemia exists at birth, we studied the influence of postnatal intravenous T3 administration on the course of RDS in preterm infants of less than 32 weeks' gestation. Fifty preterm infants with RDS were studied (mean gestational age 30.4 +/- 1.2 weeks and birth weight 1,180 +/- 220 g). They were at random assigned to treatment with 50 micrograms L-T3 (Thyrotardin) or to the control group. Mortality rate, peak oxygen concentrations, duration of artificial ventilation and development of major complications of RDS were the criteria to estimate the influence of T3 treatment on RDS. We failed to detect a statistically significant difference between the two groups in all of the mentioned criteria except for FiO2 concentrations required to maintain PaO2 between 50 and 60 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). These observations suggest a relative beneficial effect of T3 replacement on the course of RDS in preterm infants of less than 32 weeks of gestation.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Outcome of fetuses with abnormal biophysical profile.

Sonographic observation of fetal behavior as a possible indicator for the state of fetal health was quantified with a modified biophysical profile (BPP). The observation time was extended to 40 min, as the fetal rest-activity cycle implies that inactivity may last that long. Gestational age ranged 27-43 weeks. Cardiotocography (CTG) was performed subsequent to an abnormal BPP (ultrasound score 0-4). Reactivity, indicating favorable fetal outcome, was more common in near-term fetuses, suggesting that BPP should be interpreted in relation to gestational age. Therefore, fetuses with an abnormal BPP (n = 29) were each matched and compared with 2 fetuses of same gestational age but normal BPP (ultrasound score 6-8; n = 58). The perinatal mortality and morbidity were significantly higher in infants with abnormal score than in infants with normal score (p less than 0.01). BPP by third trimester sonography helps to diagnose acutely endangered fetuses, and an abnormal fetal movement pattern should lead to further evaluation, i.e. CTG. While BPP scoring, as compared to CTG, is less favorable as a primary surveillance technique and not superior for identifying the hypoxic fetus, additional information is obtained with BPP by diagnosing the growth-retarded and/or malformed fetus.

Cardiotocography↗
PubMed1989

Biochemical timing of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage assessed by perinatal CPK-BB isoenzyme measurements.

Precise diagnosis of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) requires brain real-time ultrasound imaging procedure (US). However, maximal diagnostic efficiency of US lies between day 4 and 14 since fresh blood may initially appear sonolucent. Because of this supposed interval required for clot formation to become visible on US, serum CPK-BB estimations were performed in the first 60 hours of life to determine precise biochemical timing of PIVH. A group of 50 preterm infants less than 1500 g birth weight (1120 +/- 320 g) and 34 weeks gestation (30 +/- 3.7 weeks) was studied. Serial CPK-BB measurements were performed in serum immediately after birth (T0), then serially at time T1 (6-10 h), T2 (20-30 h), T3 (40-60 h). The incidence of PIVH diagnosed on the third day of life was 30%. Total CPK-BB values at T0 in infants who developed PIVH were significantly higher than those of patients without cerebral bleeding (70.8 +/- 30.5 vs 20.9 +/- 10.7 U/l) (p less than 0.05). The same statistically significant results were not observed analysing the CPK-BB values at T1, T2 and T3. These results suggest that most pathological conditions responsible for enzyme release occur in the pre- or perinatal period.

Brain↗
PubMed1989

[Periodontitis associated with systemic diseases with qualitative deficiency of phagocyte function. II. Down's syndrome].

Numerous systemic syndromes with different aetiopathogenetic and clinical features are constantly accompanied by functional changes in polymorphonucleated neutrophils and, particularly, in their chemotactic properties. The function they perform, namely impeding invasion of the organism by external aggressive factors, cannot therefore be implemented. These patients are thus abnormally susceptible to infections and present a high frequency of serious periodontal disease.

Down Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

[Periodontitis associated with systemic diseases with qualitative deficiency of phagocyte function. III. Papillon-Lefevre syndrome].

Numerous systemic syndromes with different aetiopathogenetic and clinical features are constantly accompanied by function changes in neutrophil polymorphoanucleates and, particularly, in their chemotactic properties. The function they perform, namely impeding the invasion of the organism on the part of aggressive external factors, cannot therefore be implemented. These patients are thus abnormally susceptible to infections and present severe periodontal disease with high frequency.

Humans↗