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M Valdes-Dapena

Publications and source records attributed to M Valdes-Dapena.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Decreased muscarinic receptor binding in the arcuate nucleus in sudden infant death syndrome.

Muscarinic cholinergic activity in the human arcuate nucleus at the ventral medullary surface is postulated to be involved in cardiopulmonary control. A significant decrease in [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to muscarinic receptors in the arcuate nucleus is now shown to occur in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) infants, compared to infants dying acutely of known causes. In infants with chronic oxygenation abnormalities, binding is low in other nuclei, as well as in the arcuate nucleus. The binding deficit in the arcuate nucleus of SIDS infants might contribute to a failure of responses to cardiopulmonary challenges during sleep.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

The sudden infant death syndrome: pathologic findings.

The last decade has witnessed a remarkable evolution in fundamental concepts regarding SIDS. It begins to appear now that the phenomenon is more likely the remote consequence of a subtle, physiologic birth defect than a single catastrophic incident. One can only hope that the next 10 years will continue to shed more light on this gradually resolving mystery.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1990

Glomerulosclerosis in the sudden infant death syndrome.

In the past two decades, two groups of investigators have alleged that infants who die of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have excess numbers of sclerotic glomeruli in their kidneys. This double blind, case-control study was undertaken to test that assertion. Using microscopic sections of the kidney from 153 autopsies (99 SIDS infants and 54 control infants) in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Cooperative Epidemiologic Study of Risk Factors for SIDS, we counted relative numbers of sclerotic glomeruli in four fields of renal cortical tissue in two sections from each infant. Our results indicate that there is no difference between the two groups in regard to the proportion of sclerotic glomeruli.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Iatrogenic disease in the perinatal period.

The ever-changing complexion of iatrogenic perinatal disease dictates the following: 1. Neonatologists and pediatric pathologists must be aware of the current spectrum of these lesions and ever alert to the appearance of new ones. 2. The neonatologist and pediatric pathologist within any given institution should be in regular, systematic communication with each other concerning lesions of this type. 3. There must be a national network for rapid dissemination or exchange of information among institutions regarding these lesions. The Study Group for the Complications of Perinatal Care (SGCPC), established in 1984 as an international, multicenter, multidisciplinary study group, is committed to the prevention of complications of perinatal care by individual and collective effort. Its individual members include perinatologists, neonatologists, pediatric pathologists, and obstetricians. There are institutional members as well. Activities to date include the development of a standardized perinatal autopsy protocol and the initiation of a uniform system for the categorization of perinatal deaths. If the reader is interested in obtaining further information about the organization, contact Trevor Macpherson, MD, in the Department of Pathology at the Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1989

Pediatric pathology and the autopsy.

The damaging effects of low and declining autopsy rates on the discipline of pediatric pathology are discussed. A survey of autopsy rates in 25 children's hospitals indicates that current rates are about 51%. Strategies for improving autopsy rates are presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The Goldston syndrome: report of a case.

We present a case of the Goldston syndrome--that is, cystic renal dysplasia and the Dandy-Walker malformation. The condition was diagnosed by ultrasound in a 635 g fetus in the seventeenth week of gestation. Ultrasound studies showed the fetal head to be somewhat enlarged with slight dilatation of the lateral ventricles and marked dilatation of the fourth ventricle. The kidneys were symmetrically enlarged and multicystic. Autopsy revealed evidence of the oligohydramnios syndrome. The kidneys were typical of the Goldston syndrome as were the microscopic lesions in the liver. To our knowledge this is the first reported case in which this diagnosis was made during intrauterine life.

Brain↗
PubMed1989

A senior elective program in anatomic pathology.

The faculty of the Department of Pathology at the University of Miami School of Medicine has developed a senior elective program in anatomic pathology for fourth-year students. The program is designed in such a way that the fundamental concepts involved will be easily remembered and clinically useful. The teaching methods, which maximize active learning, include the students' group resolution of challenging unknown autopsy cases, participation in the performance of necropsies, individual presentation of one of their own autopsy cases to the group, and work with several interactive videodisc programs. The program has proved to be both effective and popular. It could be reproduced with relative ease in any academic department of pathology.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1988

Sudden infant death syndrome: overview of recent research developments from a pediatric pathologist's perspective.

Interesting new information concerning SIDS infants has appeared in the medical literature in recent years. It seems that the unique curve for their ages at death is independent of all other risk factors suggesting that, in most cases, there is probably an important mechanism involving growth and development. Furthermore, some SIDS deaths occur among newborns and comprise as much as 10% of all neonatal mortality, an issue heretofore systematically excluded from consideration. Until now, racial differences in SIDS rates were usually attributed to differences in socioeconomic status. Recent data concerning impoverished Hispanics in this country appear to indicate that cultural factors must play some role as well. Pediatric pathologists have demonstrated a higher incidence of dysmorphic, dysplastic, and minor anomalous lesions as well as cytomegaloviral infection among SIDS babies than among autopsied control infants. These observations suggest that the former have experienced adverse influences prenatally which may make them peculiarly vulnerable to postnatal challenges. One study indicates that virtually all SIDS victims have higher than normal levels of fetal hemoglobin which fact, if confirmed, may permit identification of the potential victim before the fact. Finally, the multicenter NICHD study has shown that only 39.8% of 757 crib death babies had received DTP inoculation as compared to 53.2 and 55% of two control groups of living infants. In fact, one conclusion of the study might be that DTP immunization is likely to protect an infant against crib death.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1984

A forensic science approach to a starved child.

A 19-month-old, 3.6-kg (8-lb) female child dies after a protracted course. The child was premature and suffered a stormy perinatal and postnatal period. When there is underlying disease or a condition potentially sufficient in and of itself to result in a "starved child," isolation of the results of potential neglect presents particular difficulties. The approach to the resolution of this question will be addressed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Maximizing the effectiveness of the autopsy in cases of sudden death.

Autopsies are essential in the investigation of sudden unexpected deaths. To maximize the effectiveness of the autopsy in these cases, the pathologist must assess the circumstances leading to the person's death, should be knowledgeable of the diseases most often responsible for sudden death, and should use dissection techniques most appropriate for their disclosure. In adults, the great majority of sudden deaths are cardiogenic and related to diseases of the coronary arteries, cardiac valves, or myocardium. In infants and young children, however, extracardiac diseases are prevalent in the causation of sudden deaths. Approximately one third of these are inexplicable (sudden infant death syndrome).

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The postautopsy conference with families.

During the past 15 years, increasing numbers of pathologists have adopted the practice of holding postautopsy conferences for families. This type of small meeting is held to inform the relatives of the deceased of the cause of death and its meaning. These postautopsy conferences are easy to organize and conduct, and they are not time consuming. However, they are deeply appreciated by families and sometimes make a significant difference in their lives.

Autopsy↗