The Mood Stabilizer Lithium Slows Down Synaptic Vesicle Cycling at Glutamatergic Synapses.

Lithium is a mood stabilizer broadly used to prevent and treat symptoms of mania and depression in people with bipolar disorder (BD). Little is known, however, about its mode of action. Here, we analyzed the impact of lithium on synaptic vesicle (SV) cycling at presynaptic terminals releasing glutamate, a neurotransmitter previously implicated in BD and other neuropsychiatric conditions.

Treatment of deeply located acute intravascular thrombi with therapeutic ultrasound guided by diagnostic ultrasound and intravenous microbubbles.

Objective: We sought to determine the added value of simultaneous imaging of intravenously infused microbubbles that are being used to dissolve an intravascular thrombus with therapeutic ultrasound (TUS).

Methods: In a chronic canine arteriovenous graft occluded by a thrombus, TUS (1 MHz) was applied through a 6-cm-thick tissue-mimicking phantom (measured mean +/- SD peak negative pressure through the phantom, 958 +/- 104 kPa) during an intravenous infusion of either saline (n = 6 occlusions) or lipid-encapsulated microbubbles (ImaRx Therapeutics, Inc, Tucson, AZ). Therapeutic ultrasound was intermittently applied during the microbubble infusion either at set time intervals (n = 6 occlusions) or when simultaneous diagnostic ultrasound (DUS) indicated a sustained presence of microbubbles (n = 12 occlusions).

Intensive care for very low birthweight infants in South Africa: a survey of physician attitudes, parent counseling and resuscitation practices.

Improving outcomes have promoted utilization of intensive care for premature infants in developing countries with available fiscal and technological resources. Physician counseling and decision-making have not been characterized where economic restrictions, governmental guidelines, and physician cultural attitudes may influence decisions about the appropriateness of neonatal intensive care. A cross-sectional survey of all neonatologists and pediatricians providing neonatal care in public and private hospitals in South Africa (n=394) was carried out.

Parental perception of neonatal intensive care in public sector hospitals in South Africa.

Background: Little is known about parental experience and decision making with regard to premature infants requiring intensive care in developing countries. We undertook this study to characterise parents' experience of physician counselling and their role in making life-support decisions for very low-birth-weight (VLBW) (birth weight < 1 501 g) infants born in South Africa's public-sector neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods: Parents of surviving VLBW infants treated in three Johannesburg-area public hospitals and attending follow-up clinics in August 2001 were interviewed regarding their experience of perinatal counselling on outcomes (pain, survival, disability), perception of actual and optimal decision making, and satisfaction with NICU communication.

The intrauterine environment is a strong determinant of glucose tolerance during the neonatal period, even in prematurity.

The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of birth weight and gestational age to glucose tolerance in premature neonates. The study group consisted of 100 premature and/or small-for-gestational age infants. Anthropometric measurements were performed both at birth and at the time of a standardized milk feed carried out at 19.

A comparison of high versus low dose recombinant human erythropoietin versus blood transfusion in the management of anaemia of prematurity in a developing country.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of early treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) in two different treatment regimes (high vs. low dose) in comparison to the conventional treatment of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions in the management of anaemia of prematurity in a country with limited resources. An open controlled trial was conducted on 93 preterm infants (7 days postnatal age, 900-1500 g birthweight).

Hematological reference ranges in black very low birth weight infants.

This study compared hematological reference ranges in black very low birth weight infants to previously published values established predominantly on white subjects. Ninety-four healthy, black, premature babies with a birth weight of 800 to 1500 g at 2-7 days of age were enrolled as part of a study comparing blood transfusions and high- versus low-dose recombinant erythropoietin in anaemia of prematurity. Peripheral venous blood was collected for a full blood count and differential, fetal hemoglobin and erythropoietin levels.

Serial interleukin 6 measurements in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate serial interleukin 6 (IL6) levels in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Subjects included 255 neonates from the Neonatal Unit of Johannesburg Hospital evaluated for suspected sepsis between February and May 1998. All infants had IL6, full blood count (FBC), C reactive protein (CRP) and blood cultures done at presentation.

Use of C-reactive protein to guide duration of empiric antibiotic therapy in suspected early neonatal sepsis.

Background: Serial C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements have been shown to be useful for guiding duration of antibiotic therapy in neonates. This study sought to determine whether this is a safe and practical approach in a developing country.

Methods: The study was conducted at the Johannesburg Hospital between September 15, 1998, and January 15, 1999.