Bradykinin is largely inactivated in one passage through the pulmonary vascular bed of adult animals. We studied pulmonary inactivation of bradykinin in newborn lambs, fetal lambs at term, fetal lambs preterm, and adult ewes by comparing the systemic pressure response to infusions proximal to the pulmonary vascular bed with the response to infusions distal to the pulmonary vascular bed. A high ...

Purpura fulminans (PF) is an ominous cutaneous condition usually associated with meningococcemia. PF in the newborn is rarely reported. We report the case of a female preterm infant with extensive PF due to group B streptococcus (GBS) septicemia. She developed multi-organ system failure despite neonatal intensive care support and succumbed 9 days later. GBS, sensitive to penicillin, was isolate...

OBJECTIVE To verify if the connection of electrodes for heart and transcutaneous oxygen monitoring interfere with the measurement of electrical bioimpedance in preterm newborns. METHODS This was a prospective, blinded, controlled, cross-sectional, crossover study that assessed and compared paired measures of resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) by BIA, obtained with and without monitoring wires ...

Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Bacterial infection and the subsequent inflammatory response are recognised as an important cause of preterm birth. It is hypothesised that these organisms ascend the cervical canal, colonise placental tissues, cause chorioamnionitis and in severe cases infect amniotic fluid and the foetus. However, the presence of ba...

Neurological disorders are among the main clinical problems affecting preterm children and often result in the development of communication and learning disabilities later in life. Several factors are of importance for brain development, however the role of immunoglobulins (passive immunity transfer) has not yet been investigated. Piglets are born agammaglobulinemic, as a result of the lack of ...

Neonatal renal vein thrombosis is the most common vascular condition in the newborn kidney, which could lead to serious complication in infants undergoing intensive care. In this study, we report the case of a preterm infant with left renal vein and inferior vena cava thrombosis, presented with gross hematuria, thrombocytopenia, transient hypertension, and adrenal hemorrhage. Supportive care wa...

Introduction Full attainment of brain function is dependent on cortical integrity and fully myelinated white matter. Myelination is an important process of brain development. This process takes place in the foetal period and is mostly completed by the age of 2. Preterm birth can lead to delay and deficits in brain myelination with consequences for neuromotor and neurocognitive capacities in ear...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To describe spontaneous hearing improvement in the first years of life of a number of preterm neonates relative to cochlear implant candidacy. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case study. METHODS Hearing levels of 14 preterm neonates (mean gestational age at birth = 29 weeks) referred after newborn hearing screening were evaluated. Initial hearing thresholds ranged from 40 t...

Glucocorticoids are administered for preterm labor to improve postnatal adaptation. We assessed the effect of antenatal betamethasone (Beta) treatment on preterm newborn lamb neuroendocrine [catecholamine, arginine vasopressin (AVP)] and endocrine [triiodothyronine (T(3)), ANG II, and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)] adaptive responses following delivery and a hypoxic challenge. Beta treatment ...

Correspondence to: Dr Steven Ryan. Metabolic bone disease (MBD) in the newborn predominantly affects preterm neonates, although there are a few reports of babies with congenital rickets after maternal vitamin D deficiency. Features of MBD in preterm neonates include radiological abnormalities such as fractures, rickets, and osteoporosis; biochemical features such as raised blood alkaline phosph...