Enhanced coagulation activation with reduced antithrombin III (ATIII) activity was seen in healthy neonates. Although systemic tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-like plasminogen activator (u-PA) levels showed no significant differences from normal adults, enhanced fibrinolysis was indicated by elevated D-dimer and low plasminogen levels in the neonates in this study. ...

PROBLEM: To assess the usefulness of amniotic fluid (AF) granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels (G-CSF) in chorioamnionitis (CAM) to predict neonatal sepsis. METHOD OF STUDY: AF samples were obtained from term and preterm patients with (Group I) and without (Group II) CAM and were assayed for G-CSF levels. Patients with other ...

The onset of psychosis during pregnancy presents several difficult management decisions and a careful risk-benefit analysis is required. Withholding antipsychotic treatment may produce more risks than benefits. Studies on neuroleptic teratogenicity are contradictory. Most of the commonly used neuroleptics exhibit a pregnancy risk of category C. Neuroleptic use during pregnancy ...

To evaluate the hypothesis that the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha might be the link between prenatal intrauterine infection (IUI) and neonatal brain damage, the authors review the relevant epidemiologic and cytokine literature. Maternal IUI appears to increase the risk of preterm delivery, which in turn is ...

OBJECTIVE: The antenatal and intrapartum management of women with autoimmune thrombocytopenia is controversial. The current approach emphasizes an effort to identify maternal characteristics predictive of severe neonatal thrombocytopenia or to measure fetal platelet counts and perform cesarean section in patients considered to be at risk for neonatal intracranial hemorrhage. In ...

Thrombocytopenia is a common condition in distressed newborns, but little is known about thrombocytopenia in an unselected cohort of neonates. In an attempt to address this issue, a multicenter prospective study was conducted in three obstetrical wards of AP-HP in Paris. We found the frequency of neonatal thrombocytopenia (<150 x ...

AIM: To estimate how many neonates in New Zealand would qualify for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), using both standard published criteria and locally derived criteria. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all babies with a birth weight over 2000 g admitted to neonatal intensive care in Auckland from June 1990 to ...

myotonic dystrophy, also called the Curschmann-Steinert syndrome, is an autosomal dominant inherited neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscular dystrophy, muscle weakness and myotonia, which can affect both mother and child. Complications may arise during pregnancy, delivery, including anaesthetic problems, and in the neonatal period. During pregnancy hydramnion can be a ...

Fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is the platelet counterpart of the red cell disorder, haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Unlike Rhesus pregnancies, first pregnancy is commonly affected. It is a progressive disease and can cause severe fetal damage, late fetal and neonatal loss and severe handicap. No screening programme is ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the steady decline in the maternal essential fatty acids (EFA) status during pregnancy observed in Dutch pregnant women is a local or general phenomenon. DESIGN: The EFA status was measured during uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy of healthy women from the Netherlands, Hungary, Finland, England and Ecuador. In ...

We report an electroclinical pattern considered characteristic of benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) in two neonates without BFNC. Both neonates were products of uncomplicated pregnancies, labor, and deliveries. The cause of the seizures was not established. There was no family history of seizures or epilepsy. Seizures started on the second ...

PROBLEM: Interleukin 10 is considered to be important in the survival of the fetus in murine pregnancies that are known to be at risk for fetal wastage. The function of IL-10 in a normal pregnancy is not known. METHODS: In this report, we attempted to neutralize Interleukin 10 by administering ...

In utero, there is increased pulmonary vascular resistance favoring minimal pulmonary blood flow and right-to-left shunting of blood through the ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale. Delivery initiates a series of complex biochemical and structural changes whereby the neonate assumes those processes critical to survival. This article reviews fetal circulation, the ...

To evaluate the hypothesis that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient erythrocytes are more prone to photooxidant injury with bilirubin as the sensitizer, we compared the malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) levels and haematocrit values in 11 G6PD-deficient samples with a bilirubin: albumin molar ratio of 1:2 (10 mg% bilirubin, 2.5 g % albumin) photoexposed ...

The program of epidermal morphogenesis and differentiation changes dramatically during development of human fetal skin. Keratinocytes derived from fetal basal cells at early stages undergo only an incomplete keratinization and are eventually replaced by newly formed fetal keratinocytes that complete the terminal differentiation program and form the first stratum granulosum ...

We report the rare occurrence of a progressive fetal axillary cystic lymphangioma coexistent with an overlying naevus flammeus. The fetus at 22 weeks' gestation was found to have a 37 x 35 mm left axillary multiloculated mass without colour-flow imaging. Amniocentesis showed a normal 46,XX karyotype. Multiple fine-needle aspirations of ...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if a dilute solution of chlorhexidine used as a one-time vaginal wash intrapartum can reduce the use of postnatal antibiotics and neonatal infection.Methods: Term pregnant women in labor were prospectively randomized to receive either 20 cc of 0.4% chlorhexidine (n = ...

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in pregnancy is a rare cause of hemolytic disease of the newborn. This report describes a neonate with a mild hemolytic process and a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) presenting as the first manifestations of a maternal warm-reactive autoantibody. A full-term male neonate, blood group O, had ...

The neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a potentially life threatening illness associated with significant morbidity especially in the neonatal period. A case of NAS due to codeine prescribed for pain relief during pregnancy is reported. Clinicians should be aware that narcotic derivatives prescribed in late pregnancy can give rise to ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether perinatal complications induce the production of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), we have compared M-CSF levels in the cord blood between normal neonates and neonates with complications. METHODS: The M-CSF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: In 54 normal neonates, the M-CSF level was ...

Routine neonatal circumcision is still a controversial procedure. This article attempts to clarify some of the advantages and disadvantages of neonatal circumcision. The increased rate of penile cancer among uncircumcised men appears to justify the procedure, but that alone is not sufficient justification. The final decision on neonatal circumcision should ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of Fluconazole in the management of neonatal systemic candidiasis. DESIGN: Descriptive, retrospective analysis. SUBJECTS: 23 neonates diagnosed as systemic candidiasis based on clinical suspicion with blood and/or urine culture positive for candida were treated with Fluconazole (5 mg/kg/day) for > 7 days. RESULTS: Babies had ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if amnioinfusion with normal saline vs. lactated Ringer's solution crystalloids causes electrolyte imbalance in the human neonate. STUDY DESIGN: Over two months, all parturients undergoing amnioinfusion in the active phase of labor were prospectively randomized to receive either normal saline (n = 37) or lactated Ringer's solution ...

The presence of genital prolapse in neonates and young women poses a challenging management problem to the gynecologist. Neonatal uterine prolapse is associated with congenital spinal defects, and successful correction has been achieved mainly with simple digital reduction or the use of a small pessary. Uterine prolapse can also occur ...

In cases complicated by massive pleural effusions and/or fetal ascites, marked neonatal respiratory embarrassment may occur. Fetal centesis done just before delivery is useful in improving resuscitative efforts. Four cases in which the fetus had massive pleural effusions and/or ascites were managed by fetal centesis before delivery. All babies were ...

In order to clarify the maturational changes of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in normal premature neonates, longitudinal recordings were obtained for 11 normal premature neonates at low risk, at intervals of mainly 1 week and occasionally 2 weeks. Positive waves around 200 ms, P200, negative waves around 300 ms, N300, ...

Low birthweight does not always imply intrauterine growth retardation and other methods, including the ponderal index (PI), have been employed in its identification. Previous research has demonstrated that a low PI is associated with adverse neonatal outcome. The purpose of this study was to establish normal neonatal biometry for an ...

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune bullous dermatosis, is rarely encountered in pregnancy. Two women with PV and their three pregnancies are described. Pregnancy outcome was generally good, although one of the neonates had characteristic PV skin lesions that resolved spontaneously. The pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and special issues of PV pertaining ...

Maternal thrombocytopenia is common in normal pregnancies, but is a poor predictor of fetal thrombocytopenia even when the maternal thrombocytopenia is of pathologic etiology. The real risk to the fetus and the neonate is alloimmune thrombocytopenia, although identification of index cases is problematic and management of future pregnancies has not ...

OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility and reliability in neonates of an in-house reflectance pulse oximetry (RPOX) system as an alternative method of non-invasive oxygen saturation monitoring when transmission pulse oximetry (TPOX) cannot be used, as in fetal scalp oxygen saturation monitoring during delivery. STUDY DESIGN: The study population consisted of ...

BACKGROUND: Fc gamma RIIIb deficiency is a rare defect in which neutrophils do not express Fc gamma RIIIb and therefore the individuals with this defect have an NA null phenotype. Soluble Fc gamma RIII in plasma is severely decreased and almost undetectable. During pregnancy, Fc gamma RIIIb deficiency may cause ...

METHODOLOGY: The clinical course of a child with neonatal haemochromatosis associated with Down syndrome is described, using case notes and post-mortem examination. RESULTS: The patient died of liver failure on day 36. Post-mortem examination showed siderosis of liver, pancreas, heart, kidney and thyroid. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal haemochromatosis is a rare paediatric ...

The early progress of myelination was studied, by means of myelin basic protein (MBP) immunohistochemistry and luxol-fast-blue (LFB) staining, in the spinal cord, spinal nerve roots and brainstem of 66 fetuses and neonates. The degree of myelination was classified from 1 (slight) to 4 (mature). MBP immunoreactivity exhibited slight LFB ...

Fetal responses in 7 cases of mid-trimester amniocentesis, complicated by inadvertent contact between the amniocentesis needle and fetal parts, were analyzed by retrospective videotape review. The incidence of inadvertent needle contact with the fetus was 0.4% (7 of 1,458). Responses included brisk withdrawal of the 'involved' small part in all ...

PURPOSE: To establish the normal range of the position of the conus medullaris in neonates and determine whether it differs from that in adults. METHODS: One hundred five healthy neonates born over an 18-day period in a single obstetric unit had ultrasound examinations of their lower spines to relate the ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of lumbar puncture done routinely as part of complete workup in neonatal sepsis. METHODOLOGY: Two hundred and nine consecutive lumbar punctures performed in 169 neonates were prospectively evaluated for the diagnosis of meningitis over a 6 month period in a tertiary care referral neonatal unit. ...

Of the 587 neonates born in ABUTH, Zaria, Nigeria and successfully followed up, 99 were clinically jaundiced (16.9%). Of these, only 38 (38%) had significant hyperbilirubinaemia (serum bilirubin above 170 umol/L). During the same period, 279 neonates were admitted through Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of whom 70 (25%) were jaundiced ...

Mid-arm circumference, mid-arm circumference/head circumference ratio, ponderal index and skinfold thickness at five sites (biceps, triceps, quadriceps, subscapular and flank) were measured in 91 small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and 101 large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates to investigate their accuracy in identifying neonates at high risk of complications resulting from disturbed intrauterine growth. Thirty-one of ...

A neonate was born to a mother who had consumed an organophosphorus(OPC) compound with suicidal intent. The mother was administered atropine and this caused mydriasis in the neonate without any other pharmacological effects. There was no evidence of placental dysfunction. There are no case reports of OPC consumed in pregnancy ...

We evaluated the rates of short-term neonatal complications, neonatal brain damage or mortality in a group of 96 singleton pregnancies complicated by hypertension and electively delivered before 36 weeks gestation. The neonatal outcome of these pregnancies was compared with that of a matched control group of 192 uneventful pregnancies delivered ...

We report a sibship in which the syndrome of congenital arthrogryposis occurred in two male and two female neonates, three of whom died. The mother was asymptomatic at the time of the first pregnancy and the subsequent development of muscle weakness was later confirmed to be due to myasthenia gravis. ...

A woman who suffered an intracerebral haemorrhage secondary to Moyamoya disease in her 33rd week of pregnancy was sedated for ventilation with propofol for 48 h until she underwent emergency Caesarean section. There appeared to be no adverse metabolic effects on the neonate from the use of propofol in the ...

Mice lacking functional B cells because of a genetic deletion of the mu chain (IgM) gene were used to investigate the role of perinatal and postnatal transfer of maternal IgG in neonatal growth. Our results confirmed that immunoglobulin (Ig)-deficient mice successfully complete pregnancy and deliver healthy offspring. However, neonates nursed ...

We identified 22 women with thrombocytopenia of < 100,000/microliters found incidentally during pregnancy and prospectively monitored their platelet count and clinical outcome for a minimum of 6 months postpartum. During the study period, four women became pregnant twice, accounting for a total of 26 pregnancies. The lowest platelet count during ...

The effect of a commonly used anaesthetic agent, halothane, on neonatal cilial function was determined. A nasal cilial sample was taken from 13 healthy, term, newborn infants. For 1 h, half of each sample was exposed to halothane and half to air. Cilial function was assessed by measuring beat frequency ...

Fifty newborns, 25 full term SFDs (small for date) and 25 full term AGAs (appropriate for gestational age) were taken up for comparative study of their behavior using BNBAS (Brazelton's neonatal behavior assessment scale). The study revealed that full term SFDs performed significantly poorly on all items under cluster interactive ...

It is uncertain whether idiopathic midtrimester polyhydramnios is associated with adverse perinatal outcome. Fifty patients with midtrimester polyhydramnios without apparent etiology were compared to 85 control patients. Demographic, obstetric, and neonatal data were recorded and compared using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Student t tests. Comparisons were also made within the ...

OBJECTIVE: For clinical management and counseling purposes, we determined the neonatal salvage by weeks' gestation and birth weight of pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets). METHODS: All patients who delivered with a diagnosis of HELLP syndrome between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1991 ...

Clinical and paraclinical data of 91 neonates of the Saxon regions of Leipzig and of Torgau/Elbe were reviewed and correlated to the environmental conditions of the places of residence of their mothers during pregnancy. One of the parameters investigated was the hepatic detoxification capacity of the neonates measured by 15N ...

Propofol has been used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia during pregnancy although this is not an indication approved by Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. Compared with thiopentone, propofol reduces the cardiovascular response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Maternal recovery from anesthesia may be marginally quicker. Neonatal outcome is satisfactory although ...