Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

O D Saugstad

Publications and source records attributed to O D Saugstad.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Update on oxygen radical disease in neonatology.

An increasing number of articles related to free radicals in the newborn period is published. The hypothesis that there exists a socalled 'Oxygen radical disease of neonatology' has not been proven but an increasing body of evidence seems to indicate that free radicals are involved in several disease processes leading to conditions such as chronic lung disease, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis and periventricular leukomalacia. There are also accumulating data implying the involvement of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in signal transduction and they therefore perhaps affect growth and development. In the last year there have been no new breakthroughs in antioxidant therapy.

Animals↗

Cerebral hypoxemia-ischemia and reoxygenation with 21% or 100% oxygen in newborn piglets: effects on extracellular levels of excitatory amino acids and microcirculation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether reoxygenation with 21% oxygen is preferable to 100% oxygen in normalizing extracellular levels of excitatory amino acids in the brains of hypoxic-ischemic newborn piglets and to compare this model of combined hypoxemia-ischemia to a previously used model of global hypoxemia. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized animal study. SETTING: Surgical research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four anesthetized piglets, 1-3 days old. INTERVENTIONS: Hypoxemia-ischemia was achieved by normoventilation with 8% oxygen and temporary occlusion of the common carotid arteries. After 20 mins, reoxygenation-reperfusion was started with 21% oxygen (HI 21% group, n = 12) or 100% oxygen (HI 100% group, n = 12) for 30 mins followed by 21% oxygen. All piglets were observed for 2 hrs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured extracellular concentrations of amino acids in striatum and hypoxanthine in cerebral cortex (microdialysis), microcirculation in cerebral cortex (laser Doppler), plasma hypoxanthine, and mean arterial pressure. During the 2-hr reoxygenation-reperfusion period, levels of amino acids were significantly higher in the HI 21% group compared with the HI 100% group (glutamate, p = 0.02; aspartate, p = 0.03). Mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in the HI 21% group (p = 0.04). Microcirculation decreased to <10% of baseline during hypoxemia-ischemia and normalized during reoxygenation-reperfusion in the HI 100% group, but it remained at a significantly lower level in the HI 21% group (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly higher levels of excitatory amino acids in striatum, significantly lower mean arterial pressure, and a significantly greater degree of hypoperfusion in cerebral cortex were found after reoxygenation with 21% oxygen compared with 100% oxygen in normocapnic, hypoxemic-ischemic newborn piglets. This suggests a less favorable outcome in the group receiving room air.

Journal Article↗

Resuscitation of the asphyxic newborn infant: new insight leads to new therapeutic possibilities.

The basic mechanisms leading to cell death in birth asphyxia are becoming better known. Some of these are excitotoxicity, inflammation and oxidative stress. In the so-called therapeutic window - between the primary and secondary energy failure - modulation of these processes may be beneficial, reducing apoptosis and perhaps necrosis. In order to reduce oxidative stress, reoxygenation with low oxygen concentrations, even as low as room air, might be beneficial. Increased oxidative stress might have long-term effects on brain growth and development and there is evidence indicating that exposure to 100% oxygen after birth for only a few minutes might have long-term effects. New guidelines for newborn resuscitation have recently been published but more research is needed in this field, especially regarding resuscitation of preterm infants, where few data exist.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Hydrogen peroxide production in leukocytes during cerebral hypoxia and reoxygenation with 100% or 21% oxygen in newborn piglets.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether reoxygenation with 21% O2 rather than 100% O2 results in reduced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations in neutrophils (PMN). Piglets (2-4 d old) exposed to severe hypoxia (inspired fraction of oxygen, 0.08) were randomized to resuscitation with 21 (n = 13) or 100% O2 (n = 12). Five animals served as controls. H2O2 concentrations in PMN in terms of rhodamine 123 (Rho 123) fluorescence intensity from arterial and superior sagittal sinus blood were quantified by flow cytometry. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to assess cortical blood perfusion. During hypoxia, Rho 123 increased in arterial PMN in both study groups by 15 and 32%, respectively (p < 0.05). In cerebral venous PMN, the increase was less dominant (p = 0.06). Reoxygenation with 100 or 21% O2 had no different effect on Rho 123 in arterial PMN. In cerebral venous PMN, Rho 123 was approximately 40% higher after 60 min and 30% higher after 120 min compared with corresponding data in the 21% O2 group (p < 0.05), which were close to baseline levels. Further, O2 treatment in both groups induced PMN accumulation in arterial blood (p < 0.05). Laser Doppler flowmetry signals increased during transient hypoxia (p < 0.0001 compared with baseline) and were normalized after reoxygenation in both study groups. In conclusion, arterial and cerebral venous H2O2 concentration in PMN tended to increase during hypoxia. During reoxygenation, H2O2 concentration in PMN in the cerebral circulation was low with 21% O2 but remained high with 100% O2 ventilation. We speculate that oxygen should be reintroduced with more caution during neonatal resuscitation.

Animals↗

Newborn piglets with meconium aspiration resuscitated with room air or 100% oxygen.

We investigated whether newborn piglets exposed to hypoxemia and severe meconium aspiration could be reoxygenated with room air as efficiently as with 100% O(2). Twenty-one 2- to 5-d-old piglets were randomly divided into three groups: 1) the room air group: hypoxemia, meconium aspiration, and reoxygenation with room air (n = 8); 2) the O(2) group: hypoxemia, meconium aspiration, and reoxygenation with 100% O(2) (n = 8); and 3) the control group: meconium aspiration, and reoxygenation with room air (n = 5). Hypoxemia was induced by ventilation with 8% O(2) until the mean blood pressure reached <20 mm Hg or the base excess reached <-20 mM. At this point, reoxygenation was started with either room air or 100% O(2). Three milliliters per kilogram of meconium 110 mg/mL was instilled into the trachea immediately before the start of reoxygenation. The O(2) tension in arterial blood was significantly lower in the room air group; at 5 min of reoxygenation it was 9.1 +/- 0.5 kPa versus 43.5 +/- 6 kPa in the O(2) group (p < 0.05). At 5 min of reoxygenation the tidal volume per kilogram was 12.1 +/- 0.7 mL/kg in the room air group and 13.1 +/- 0.9 mL/kg in the O(2) group (NS). There were no significant differences between the room air and the O(2) groups during 120 min of reoxygenation in mean arterial blood pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac index, base excess, or plasma hypoxanthine. In conclusion, hypoxic newborn piglets with meconium aspiration were found to be reoxygenated as efficiently with room air as with 100% O(2).

Animals↗

Effects of selective inhibition of the endothelin A and B receptors on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in newborn piglets.

UNLABELLED: The effects on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and plasma Endothelin-1 (ET-1) were studied in piglets during severe hypoxemia and reoxygenation for 2 h with selective inhibition of the endothelin receptors. Two groups were subjected to selective ETA (ETA group) or ETB (ETB group) receptor inhibition. During hypoxemia there was an initial increase in PAP to 36.3 and 34.3 mm Hg in the ETA and ETB groups respectively, with a decrease to the end of hypoxemia. During reoxygenation PAP reached a maximum at 5 min with a mean of 29.6 and 38.4 mm Hg in the ETA and ETB groups respectively, and then PAP gradually declined towards baseline. During the 2 h reoxygenation period PAP was higher in the ETB group than in the ETA group (p = 0.02). Plasma ET-1 increased from 1.50 and 1.17 ng/L at baseline to 2.07 and 3.18 ng/L at the end of hypoxemia in the ETA and ETB groups respectively. CONCLUSION: ETB receptor inhibition leads to increased pulmonary vasoconstriction during reoxygenation following hypoxemia compared to ETA receptor inhibition. Not only the ETB receptor, but also the ETA receptor plays a role in maintaining plasma ET-1 levels.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Similar effects on infants of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids supplementation to pregnant and lactating women.

OBJECTIVE: There have been indications that high intake of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy may increase birth weight and gestational length. In addition, n-3 long-chain PUFAs may be important for the neurobiological development of the infants. High levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) are found in the gray matter of the cerebral cortex and in the retina, and it seems as if the availability of long-chain PUFAs may be limiting cerebral development. The fetus and the newborn are dependent on a high supply from their mothers, either via the placenta or via breast milk. We supplemented pregnant and lactating women with n-3 or n-6 long-chain PUFAs to evaluate the effect on birth weight, gestational length, and infant development. DESIGN: We performed a double-blind, randomized study recruiting 590 pregnant, healthy, nulli- or primiparous women (19-35 years old) in weeks 17 to 19 of pregnancy. The women were provided 10 mL of either cod liver oil or corn oil daily until 3 months after delivery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were gestational length and birth weight. Electroencephalography (EEG) was done on the second day of life and at 3 months of age. Novelty preference (Fagan test) was used as an indicator of cognitive function at 6 and 9 months of age. The fatty acid pattern in umbilical plasma phospholipids and in breast milk was measured, and dietary assessments were performed, both on the mothers during pregnancy and on the infants at 3 months of age. The growth of the infants was followed up to 1 year of age. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-one mothers took part in the study until delivery. There were no significant differences in maternal body mass index before pregnancy and at birth, or parity between the 2 groups. Smoking habits and parental education were also similar in the 2 groups. The mean age of the mothers receiving cod liver oil was, by chance, 1 year higher than the age of the mothers receiving corn oil (28.6 [3.4] vs 27.6 [3.2] years). The maternal dietary intake in the 2 groups receiving cod liver oil or corn oil was similar, except for the supplementation. There were no differences in gestational length or birth weight between the cod liver oil group and the corn oil group (279.6 [9.2] vs 279.2 [9.3] days; 3609 [493] vs 3618 [527] g, respectively). Birth length, head circumference, and placental weight were also similar in the 2 groups. The concentrations of the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5 n-3), and DHA in umbilical plasma phospholipids were higher in the cod liver oil group compared with the corn oil group (10.8 [7.6] vs 2.5 [1.8] microg/mL, 5.0 [2.6] vs 2.9 [1.3] microg/mL, 55.8 [20.6] vs 45.3 [12.8] microg/mL, respectively). Neonates with high concentration of DHA in umbilical plasma phospholipids (upper quartile) had longer gestational length than neonates with low concentration (lower quartile; 282.5 [8.5] vs 275.4 [9.3] days). No differences in EEG scores or Fagan scores were found, but neonates with mature EEG (N = 70) had a higher concentration of DHA in umbilical plasma phospholipids than neonates with immature EEG (N = 51) on the second day of life. Dietary information from 251 infants at 3 months of age was collected and 85% of these infants were exclusively breastfed, in addition to 12% who were partly breastfed. The breast milk of mothers supplemented with cod liver oil contained more n-3 long-chain PUFAs and less n-6 long-chain PUFAs than breast milk of mothers supplemented with corn oil. There were no significant differences in infant growth during the first year of life between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows neither harmful nor beneficial effects of maternal supplementation of long-chain n-3 PUFAs regarding pregnancy outcome, cognitive development, or growth, as compared with supplementation with n-6 fatty acids. However, it confirms that DHA concentration may be related to gestational length and cerebral maturation of the newborn.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Smoking related to plasma leptin concentration in pregnant women and their newborn infants.

UNLABELLED: Leptin, a hormone produced in adipose tissue and placenta, is potentially important in relation to energy metabolism and growth. We investigated the effect of cigarette smoking on maternal plasma leptin concentration during pregnancy, and on plasma leptin concentration and weight among infants up to 13 wk of age. Plasma leptin concentration was measured in women in week 18 (n = 203) and week 35 (n = 164) of pregnancy, while cotinine (nicotine metabolite) was measured in plasma sampled from mothers in week 35 of pregnancy (n = 159). Leptin concentration was also measured in plasma from the umbilical cord (n = 133) and from 4-wk-old (n = 129) and 13-wk-old (n = 130) infants. There was no difference in plasma leptin concentration between smoking and non-smoking mothers at 18 wk and at 35 wk of pregnancy. Plasma cotinine concentration was higher in smoking than in non-smoking mothers, and a negative correlation between plasma cotinine and leptin concentrations was found. The leptin concentrations in umbilical cord plasma were similar, although the birthweights of newborns from smoking mothers were significantly lower than those from non-smoking mothers. The plasma leptin concentrations were similar between the two groups also at 4 wk of age. At 13 wk of age, infants of smoking mothers had significantly higher plasma leptin concentrations than infants of non-smoking mothers. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a lower birthweight of neonates among smoking mothers is not due to altered plasma leptin concentration.

Adult↗

[Resuscitation of newborn infants with room air or oxygen].

In this article we present results from the Resair 2 study in which we tested whether room air is more efficient than 100% oxygen in newborn resuscitation. Eleven participating centres in Egypt, Estonia, India, Norway, Philippines, and Spain recruited 609 infants who needed resuscitation at birth; of these, 288 were resuscitated with room air and 321 with 100% oxygen. There were no differences between the two groups with regard to outcome. One minute Apgar scores were significantly lower in the oxygen group than in the room air group. Median time to first breath was significantly delayed with 24 seconds in the oxygen group compared with the room air group. It seems that 100% oxygen depresses ventilation in newborn infants. Room air is as safe and efficient as 100% oxygen at least in most cases of newborn resuscitation. Further studies confirming these results are needed before new resuscitation routines are implemented.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Goal directed reaching and postural control in supine position in healthy infants.

The present study focussed on the development and interaction of reaching and posture in supine position in young infants. The kinematics of goal directed reaches and the concurrent ground reaction forces of the total body centre of pressure (COP) in cranial-caudal and medial-lateral direction were recorded in twelve healthy fullterm infants at 4 and 6 months of age. From eight infants, data were available at both ages. The results indicated that between 4 and 6 months, postural stability during reaching in supine position increased, as the oscillatory COP displacement in the medial-lateral direction decreased significantly with increasing age. Concurrently, reaching performance improved, which was reflected by a decrease in the number of movement units (MU), the length of the displacement-path of the hand and an increase of the length and duration of the first MU. The kinematic data of the reaching movements and the COP data were correlated at both ages, but the nature of the relation changed. At 4 months of age, the number of MU was related to the number of COP oscillations in the cranial-caudal direction, whereas at 6 months the maximum velocity of the hand movement was related to the maximum velocity of COP displacement in cranial-caudal and medial-lateral direction. This change might point to the development of a more subtle control of postural adjustments during reaching movements in supine position.

Aging↗

Screening for the IDDM high-risk genotype. A rapid microtitre plate method using serum as source of DNA.

Norwegian babies born with the HLA-DRB1*0401-DQA1*03-DQB1*0302/DRB1*03-DQA1+ ++*05-DQB1*0201 genotype have an estimated 17% lifetime risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Identifying these children is important for future prevention, and for studies of the non-genetic factors involved in IDDM. The aim of the study was to develop a rapid screening method for this high-risk genotype. DNA was extracted from serum collected during routine newborn screening for phenylketonuria and hypothyreosis. The second exons of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 were co-amplified using biotinylated primers, amplicons were hybridized to a set of seven probes immobilized on a microtitre plate using a single hybridisation temperature, and detected colorimetrically by streptavidin-HRP conjugate and tetramethylbenzidine substrate. The DRB1*04 subtyping was performed using six different probes at identical conditions. The prevalence of the DRB1*0401-DQA1*03-DQB1*0302/DRB1*03-DQA1*0 5-DQB1*0201 genotype among 1,026 Norwegian babies was 2.7% (CI 95%: 1.7-3.7%). The new high-throughput genetic screening method for IDDM risk can easily be automated and included in newborn screening programs.

Alleles↗

Does nitric oxide prevent oxidative mediated lung injury?

UNLABELLED: The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved nitric oxide (NO) inhalation therapy for newborn infants >34 wk of gestation with hypoxic respiratory failure associated with pulmonary hypertension. In clinical trials, this therapy has reduced the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. It has not reduced mortality, however. A body of accumulating data indicates that NO may act as an antioxidant as well as a prooxidant, depending on a number of known and unknown factors, e.g. the concentration of NO itself and the concentration of other oxidants. In low doses, NO is an antioxidant and in high doses its prooxidant effects are more pronounced. In this issue of Acta Paediatrica, new information regarding this question has come to light. Turanlanthi et al. have found that NO in relatively high doses induces free radical mediated injury in the lungs of 10-wk-old Wistar rats, while in combination with hyperoxia it attenuates the oxidative stress of hyperoxia alone. Recently, it has also become clear that NO acts as a second messenger activating a number of cytokines and inducing apoptosis. There therefore seems to be a close relation between NO, oxidative stress, regulation of growth and inflammation. For these reasons, long-term follow-up studies of newborn infants treated with NO inhalation are needed. So far, NO therapy has not been successful in premature infants. CONCLUSIONS: NO inhalation has a number of both short-term and long-term potential adverse effects, and is still at the experimental stage in premature infants. Consequently, there is a need for further clinical studies monitoring also the long-term consequences of this therapy.

Free Radical Scavengers↗

Effect of barbiturates on hydroxyl radicals, lipid peroxidation, and hypoxic cell death in human NT2-N neurons.

BACKGROUND: Barbiturates have been shown to be neuroprotective in several animal models, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this study, the authors investigated the effect of barbiturates on free radical scavenging and attempted to correlate this with their neuroprotective effects in a model of hypoxic cell death in human NT2-N neurons. METHODS: Hydroxyl radicals were generated by ascorbic acid and iron and were measured by conversion of salicylate to 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The effect of barbiturates on lipid peroxidation measured as malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynon-2-enal was also investigated. Hypoxia studies were then performed on human NT2-N neurons. The cells were exposed to 10 h of hypoxia or combined oxygen and glucose deprivation for 3 or 5 h in the presence of thiopental (50-600 microM), methohexital (50-400 microM), phenobarbital (10-400 microM), or pentobarbital (10-400 microM), and cell death was evaluated after 24 h by lactate dehydrogenase release. RESULTS: Pentobarbital, phenobarbital, methohexital, and thiopental dose-dependently inhibited formation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and iron-stimulated lipid peroxidation. There were significant but moderate differences in antioxidant action between the barbiturates. While phenobarbital (10-400 microM) and pentobarbital (10-50 microM) increased lactate dehydrogenase release after combined oxygen and glucose deprivation, thiopental and methohexital protected the neurons at all tested concentrations. At a higher concentration (400 microM), pentobarbital also significantly protected the neurons. At both 50 and 400 microM, thiopental and methohexital protected the NT2-N neurons significantly better than phenobarbital and pentobarbital. CONCLUSIONS: Barbiturates differ markedly in their neuroprotective effects against combined oxygen and glucose deprivation in human NT2-N neurons. The variation in neuroprotective effects could only partly be explained by differences in antioxidant action.

Barbiturates↗

Reversal of meconium inhibition of pulmonary surfactant by ferric chloride, copper chloride, and acetic acid.

Meconium inhibits pulmonary surfactant function. We investigated the in vitro effect of meconium on three different commercial surfactants. The dynamic surface properties of these surfactants were evaluated at the concentration of 5 mg/ml with a pulsating bubble system. The inhibitory effect of 2.75 mg/ml meconium was significantly less on Alveofact than on Curosurf and Survanta. Ferric chloride and copper chloride completely reversed the inhibitory effect of meconium. Meconium also prevented effective spreading of surfactant in a Wilhelmy balance system, and this inhibitory effect was counteracted by addition of ferric chloride. Image analysis of Curosurf demonstrated that meconium reduced the total number of microbubbles in 15 light-microscopic fields (4.35 mm(2)) from 1,748 +/- 481 to 180 +/- 166. Ferric chloride restored the number of microbubbles. Addition of ferric chloride or copper chloride to surfactant/meconium lowers pH, and pH adjustment by acetic acid also reversed the inhibitory effect of meconium. Together with the fact that the iron-chelator deferoxamine did not attenuate the effect of ferric chloride this suggests that the observed contrainhibition is caused by lowering of pH, and that meconium inhibition of surfactant is pH-dependent. Lowering pH from 6.2 to 5-5.5 abolished the inhibitory effects of meconium on surfactant. Inhibition of 2.5 mg/ml of Curosurf with plasma could also be reversed by increasing amounts of ferric chloride. We conclude that the inhibitory effect of meconium on surfactant in vitro can be abolished by addition of ferric chloride, copper chloride, or acetic acid.

Acetic Acid↗

Adverse effects of nicotine and interleukin-1beta on autoresuscitation after apnea in piglets: implications for sudden infant death syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Maternal cigarette smoking is established as a major dose-dependent risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Both prenatal and postnatal exposures to constituents of tobacco smoke are associated with SIDS, but no mechanism of death attributable to nicotine has been found. Breastfeeding gives a substantial increase in absorbed nicotine compared with only environmental tobacco smoke when the mother smokes, because the milk:plasma concentration ratio of nicotine is 2.9 in smoking mothers. Furthermore, many SIDS victims have a slight infection and a triggered immune system before their death, thus experiencing a release of cytokines like interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) that may depress respiration. Because apneas in infancy are associated with SIDS, we have tested the hypothesis that postnatal exposure to tobacco constituents and infections might adversely affect an infant's ability to cope with an apneic episode. This is performed by investigating the acute effects of nicotine and IL-1beta on apnea by laryngeal reflex stimulation and on the subsequent autoresuscitation. DESIGN: Thirty 1-week-old piglets (+/-1 day) were sedated with azaperone. A tracheal and an arterial catheter were inserted during a short halothane anesthesia. The piglets were allowed a 30-minute stabilization period before baseline values were recorded and they were randomized to 4 pretreatment groups (avoiding siblings in the same group): 1) immediate infusion of 10 pmol IL-1beta intravenously/kg (IL-1beta group; n = 8); 2) slow infusion of 5 microg nicotine intravenously/kg 5 minutes later (NIC group; n = 8); 3) both IL-1beta and NIC combined (NIC + IL-1beta group; n = 6); or 4) placebo by infusion of 1 ml .9% NaCl (CTR group; n = 8). Fifteen minutes later, apnea was induced by insufflation of .1 ml of acidified saline (pH = 2) in the subglottic space 5 times with 5-minute intervals, and variables of respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood gases were recorded. RESULTS: Stimulation of the laryngeal chemoreflex by insufflation of acidified saline in the subglottic space produced apneas, primarily of central origin. This was followed by a decrease in heart rate, a fall in blood pressure, swallowing, occasional coughs, and finally autoresuscitation with gasping followed by rapid increase in heart rate, rise in blood pressure, and (in the CTR group) an increase of respiratory rate. Piglets pretreated with nicotine had more spontaneous apneas, and repeated spontaneous apneas caused an inability to perform a compensatory increase of the respiratory rate after induced apnea. This resulted in a lower SaO(2) than did CTR at 2 minutes after apnea (data shown as median [interquartile range]: 91% [91-94] vs 97% [94-98]). The pretreatment with IL-1beta caused prolonged apneas in piglets and an inability to hyperventilate causing a postapneic respiratory rate similar to the NIC. When nicotine and IL-1beta were combined, additive adverse effects on respiratory control and autoresuscitation compared with CTR were observed: NIC + IL-1beta had significantly more spontaneous apneas the last 5 minutes before induction of apnea (2 [.3-3] vs 0 [0-0]). Apneas were prolonged (46 seconds [39-51] vs 26 seconds [22-31]) and followed by far more spontaneous apneas the following 5 minutes (6.6 [4.0-7.9] vs.5 [.2- .9]). Instead of normal hyperventilation after apnea, a dramatic decrease in respiratory rate was seen (at 20 seconds: -45% [-28 to -53] vs +29% [+24-+50], and at 60 seconds: -27% [-23 to -32] vs +3% [-2-+6), leading to SaO(2) below 90% 3 minutes after end of apnea: 89% (87-93) versus 97% (95-98). These prolonged adverse effects on ventilation were reflected in lowered PaO(2), elevated PaCO(2) and lowered pH 2 minutes, and even 5 minutes, after induction of apnea. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine interferes with normal autoresuscitation after apnea when given in doses within the range of what the child of a smoking mother could receive through environmental t

Animals↗

International Guidelines for Neonatal Resuscitation: An excerpt from the Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care: International Consensus on Science. Contributors and Reviewers for the Neonatal Resuscitation Guidelines.

The International Guidelines 2000 Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) formulated new evidenced-based recommendations for neonatal resuscitation. These guidelines comprehensively update the last recommendations, published in 1992 after the Fifth National Conference on CPR and ECC. As a result of the evidence evaluation process, significant changes occurred in the recommended management routines for: * Meconium-stained amniotic fluid: If the newly born infant has absent or depressed respirations, heart rate <100 beats per minute (bpm), or poor muscle tone, direct tracheal suctioning should be performed to remove meconium from the airway. * Preventing heat loss: Hyperthermia should be avoided. * Oxygenation and ventilation: 100% oxygen is recommended for assisted ventilation; however, if supplemental oxygen is unavailable, positive-pressure ventilation should be initiated with room air. The laryngeal mask airway may serve as an effective alternative for establishing an airway if bag-mask ventilation is ineffective or attempts at intubation have failed. Exhaled CO(2) detection can be useful in the secondary confirmation of endotracheal intubation. * Chest compressions: Compressions should be administered if the heart rate is absent or remains <60 bpm despite adequate assisted ventilation for 30 seconds. The 2-thumb, encircling-hands method of chest compression is preferred, with a depth of compression one third the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest and sufficient to generate a palpable pulse. * Medications, volume expansion, and vascular access: Epinephrine in a dose of 0.01-0.03 mg/kg (0.1-0.3 mL/kg of 1:10,000 solution) should be administered if the heart rate remains <60 bpm after a minimum of 30 seconds of adequate ventilation and chest compressions. Emergency volume expansion may be accomplished with an isotonic crystalloid solution or O-negative red blood cells; albumin-containing solutions are no longer the fluid of choice for initial volume expansion. Intraosseous access can serve as an alternative route for medications/volume expansion if umbilical or other direct venous access is not readily available. * Noninitiation and discontinuation of resuscitation: There are circumstances (relating to gestational age, birth weight, known underlying condition, lack of response to interventions) in which noninitiation or discontinuation of resuscitation in the delivery room may be appropriate.

Blood Volume↗