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Biomedical subjects

M Amato

Publications and source records attributed to M Amato.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Fetal sex and distribution of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants.

Peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is an important complication of the brain in immature newborn infants. In a real-time ultrasound study with frequent scanning of 78 preterm infants (50 with birth-weight less than 1,500 g and 28 weighing more than 1,500 g), we examined the influence of sex on the occurrence of PIVH. A significant difference between sexes was only found in the group with birth-weight below 1,500 g. PIVH occurred in 72% of male infants and in 28% of females (p less than 0.001). This effect is probably due to a difference in the timing of cerebral vascular maturation in males leading to a difference in the risk of developing PIVH between the sexes before 34 weeks of gestation.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1987

Neurosonographic and biochemical correlates of periventricular leukomalacia in low-birth-weight infants.

The incidence of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) was investigated by ultrasound in a group of 119 consecutively scanned low-birth-weight infants during a period of 3 years. The overall incidence of PVL was 6.7% while the incidence of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage was 44.5%. Ultrasound evidence of posthemorrhagic lesions was seen early and related strongly to follow-up findings. Evidence of cystic degeneration appeared later. The presence of PVL was confirmed by computed tomography at 5 months of age and anticipated by serial measurements of creatine kinase brain isoenzyme performed in the first 60 h of life. A significant correlation was observed between neurosonographic findings of PVL and high cord blood values of enzymatic pattern (p less than 0.02). Both were correlated with poor neurodevelopmental outcome at 12 months corrected age.

Brain↗
PubMed1987

Incidence of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage in premature neonates weighing more than 1500 g.

With the advent of modern methods of neonatal care, intracranial hemorrhage probably has become the most common neurological complication in premature infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth. This paper is a prospective study of 75 preterm infants of 34 weeks gestation or more and birth weight above 1500 g (range 1500 g to 2500 g). All neonates were screened by cranial ultra-sonography for evidence of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH). Perinatal risk factors, incidence of PIVH and neurological outcome were studied. Sonographic abnormalities were detected in 16 (21.3%) of our patients. Intracranial hemorrhage was frequently associated with a low Apgar score, need of resuscitation and/or assisted ventilation immediately after birth (P less than 0.005). This study suggests, that ultrasound screening should be reserved to those large premature infants (greater than 1500 g) with high risk of hypoxic-ischemic injury.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1987

Preliminary experience with ceftazidime monotherapy in perinatal infection.

Ceftazidime, a new cephalosporin antibiotic, was used as monotherapy to treat 75 term neonates with suspected perinatal bacterial infection. Septicemia was documented in ten patients (13%). Ceftazidime was administered as 25 mg/kg doses intravenously every 12 h. Peak serum concentrations at 0.5 h after dose ranged from 57 to 115 micrograms/ml and trough serum concentrations prior to next dose from 2 to 15 micrograms/ml. The overall clinical, bacteriological and laboratory response to ceftazidime was satisfactory and the drug was well tolerated. However, reservations with regard to study design, limited gram-positive drug activity and potential emergence of drug resistance require further well-controlled clinical evaluations of ceftazidime in neonatal intensive care units, before definite recommendations for the use of this antibiotic in perinatal infection can be formulated.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Serum creatine-kinase-BB and brain damage in high-risk newborn infants. Preliminary study with a new method for CK-BB estimation.

CK-BB activity increases after hypoxic conditions associated with central nervous system disease. Fifty-four high-risk newborn babies were studied with serial measurements of CK-BB activities during the first 3 postnatal days. These values were correlated to their early neurologic outcome at 5 months of age. Data were carried out using a new and very sensitive method for estimating CK-BB activity and showed a good correlation between enzymatic values and the presence of persistent neurologic abnormalities (P less than .05). We conclude that early CK-BB determinations can be used as indicator of neonatal brain damage.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗
PubMed1986

Correlation of raised cord-blood CK-BB and the development of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants.

This study concerns the prognostic value of total cord-blood CK-BB activity measured with a new method in preterm infants at risk of PIVH. Twenty-six patients with gestational age less than 36 weeks were studied. The presence of PIVH was proved by either ultrasound scans or autopsy. Total CK-BB values in cord-blood of infants who developed PIVH were significantly higher than those of patients without cerebral bleeding (P less than 0.001).

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1986

Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in low birth weight infants with peri-intraventricular hemorrhage.

Data from 80 high-risk low birth infants were analysed to determine whether there is a clinical association between Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and Peri-Intraventricular Hemorrhages (PIVH) in preterm newborns. Diagnosis of retinopathy was made by retinal examination at approximately four weeks of age. All infants were routinely and repeatedly scanned by real-time ultrasound to diagnose the presence of Peri-Intraventricular Hemorrhages. PIVH was clearly present in 41 (51.2%) of them, whereas 39 (48.7%) infants had no evidence of intracerebral bleeding. We found no statistically significant association between cicatricial retinopathy and PIVH (P = 0.1). We suppose therefore, that the sensitivity of retinal vasculature and cerebral vasculature to the various factors considered to be important in the development of PIVH is different.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1986

Neurological prognosis of high-risk preterm infants with peri-intraventricular hemorrhage and ventricular dilatation.

Fifty-eight preterm neonates evaluated by real-time sonographic scanning of the head were prospectively studied. They were divided into three groups: 13 with peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) alone, 19 with subsequent ventricular dilatation and 26 control infants without ultrasound evidence of PIVH. At 12 months of age detailed neurological follow-up assessment was carried out. Five (8.6%) patients had major handicaps, 34 minor neurological abnormalities. The severity of the PIVH correlated with the neurologic outcome (p less than 0.02). The incidence of major handicaps was significantly greater in the group with ventricular dilatation (p less than 0.03). Among the infants with PIVH, major handicaps were only present if associated with grade III and IV. Severe posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation increased the risk for major handicaps. Adverse neurological sequelae at follow-up appeared to be attributable to the extent of PIVH and aggravated by severe ventricular enlargement.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1986

Accuracy of Apgar score and arterial cord-blood pH in diagnosis of perinatal brain-damage assessed by CK-BB isoenzyme measurement.

This study was carried out on 45 newborns to evaluate the accuracy of 1 minute Apgar score and umbilical arterial pH for prediction of the risk of perinatal brain damage. Using a new and very sensitive method for CK-BB determination, which is considered a good indicator of brain damage, CK-BB was used as reference. Patients with low Apgar score at one minute of life had significantly higher cord blood CK-BB values than the control group (p less than 0.01). No difference was found between the control group and the group with umbilical cord blood acidosis (p less than 0.2).

Apgar Score↗
PubMed1986

Persistent pulmonary hypertension in preterm-infants.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a cyanotic syndrome that occurs primarily in full-term and postmature infants and causes right-to-left shunts at the atrial or ductal levels or both. Term babies with PPHN show structural changes in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle as a result of chronic prenatal distress. It is our opinion that in preterm babies the PPHN syndrome also exists. In this group of patients the potential pathways to the persistence of high pulmonary vascular resistence are only functional vascular changes precipitated by acute perinatal stress. The cyanosis of PPHN is rapidly regredient in preterm infants and clinical resolution occurs promptly if the diagnosis is correct and the treatment is started as early as possible in centers capable of extensive monitoring and neonatal supportive care to minimize the risks of Tolazoline therapy.

Carbon Dioxide↗
PubMed1986

[Profitability of the radiological examination of the thorax. Development of thoracic radiology, administered dose, quality control and role of the clinic].

The considerable spreading of chest X-ray (about 50% of all radiological examinations--WHO official report No. 698), and its biological and economic high cost, make interesting the cost/benefit evaluation of this simple and world-wide X-ray examination. The evaluation, highly important although very complex, is concerned with many different problems. The different problems, such as the development of radiological diagnosis in pulmonary diseases, dose of exposure, quality assurance and clinical role are analyzed.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗