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Biomedical subjects

S W De Souza

Publications and source records attributed to S W De Souza.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Neurological sequelae in newborn babies after perinatal asphyxia.

A total of 53 babies, 37 to 44 weeks' gestational age with a history of fetal distress in labour, and severe neurological abnormalities in the early newborn period, were followed up for between 2 and 5 years. Their progress was compared with an equal number of normal babies matched for gestational age, birthweight, sex, and social class, but without a history of fetal distress or delay in establishing spontaneous respiration at birth. In the set of babies with a history of fetal distress no perinatal condition was identified that could predict with certainty the type of neurological status in the newborn period, or the occurrence of neurological abnormality in later childhood. Follow-up disclosed a considerable improvement in function in most of the apparently brain-injured babies. It is suggested that such babies exhibiting apathy initially but subsequently hyperexcitability and extensor hypertonia carry the worst prognosis.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗
PubMed1976

Studies on the effect of maternal pre-eclamptic toxaemia on placental weight and on head size and birth weight of the newborn.

The influence of pre-eclamptic toxaemia (PET) on head size and birth weight of newborn infants and placental weight was studied in single live births after 35 to 42 weeks gestation from mothers with or without toxaemia. There were no significant differences in the distribution of mean birth weight, head size, placental weight, head size/birth weight ratio or placental weight/birth weight ratio between the toxaemic and non-toxaemic groups. There were significant differences between toxaemic and non-toxaemic mothers as regards parity, height and smoking habits. Since such maternal characteristics influence birth weights a correction was applied for them. The influence of maternal mid-term weight and sex of the infants was also taken into account. No significant differences in corrected birth weights, between toxaemic and non-toxaemic groups were detected on further analysis. It is suggested that the present obstetric management has prevented the retarding effect of pre-eclamptic toxaemia on fetal and placental growth by reducing the severity and duration of the illness.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Fetal distress and birth scores in newborn infants.

The relation between fetal distress and the subsequent condition at birth was studied in 2791 pregnancies. Fetal distress was defined as a heart rate greater than 160 or less than 120/min between uterine contractions, with or without meconium-stained liquor. Infants of 28 to 42 weeks' gestational age were examined at 1 and 5 minutes after birth when the heart rate, respiration, and skin colour was recorded. Birth scores of 0, 1, or 2 were given respectively if respirations were absent, gasping, or regular; if the heart rate was undetectable, less than 100/min, or greater than 100/min; and if the colour was white, blue, or pink. Fetal distress was associated with low birth scores in infants at 1 and 5 minutes of age. Among those who had not suffered fetal distress a significantly greater proportion of preterm infants had low birth scores compared with term or post-term infants at 5 minutes of age. Infants did not score equally for colour, heart rate, and respiration at 1 and 5 minutes of age. Colour usually gave a birth score of 5 and heart rate was recordable when infants scored 0 for colour and respiration. The reduction in birth scores was greater in the presence of meconium-stained liquor and abnormal fetal heart rate than meconium-stained liquor alone; the latter being an early sign of fetal distress. Since fetal distress was not diagnosed by conventional methods in 93 term infants who probably suffered prenatal asphyxia, more sophisticated techniques are necessary for an accurate assessment of fetal condition during labour.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1972

The effect of anoxia on cerebral acid hydrolases in the five-day-old rat.

1. Five-day-old anaesthetized rats subjected to slow, prolonged asphyxia (50-55 min) were either allowed to die or resuscitated when at the point of death. Activities of various cerebral acid hydrolases known to be associated with lysosomes were determined in these animals and in littermate controls. 2. Asphyxia to death resulted in a significant increase in the activities of acid phosphatase, cathepsin (pH5.0) and beta-glucuronidase in whole-brain homogenates. 3. The effect of asphyxia on beta-glucuronidase activity was not apparent when the assay was performed in the presence of Triton X-100 (0.1%, v/v). 4. In resuscitated animals whole-brain-homogenate beta-glucuronidase activity showed the greatest increase (31%) 15 min after recovery. After a 60 min recovery period differences between control and asphyxiated animals were no longer apparent. 5. In animals anoxiated to death activities of acid phosphatase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in brain high-speed supernatants were significantly higher than in controls. Acid phosphatase activity was similarly increased in asphyxiated animals resuscitated for 5 or 60 min. 6. It is suggested that the response of the immature rat brain to asphyxia involves a disruption or increased fragility of lysosomal particles.

Acid Phosphatase↗