Nursing Care During Neonatal Electroencephalographs.

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) enables the precise evaluation of a neonate's condition. Three factors that determine the quality of care during this procedure are knowledge, experience, and attitude. The role of the nurse during EEG recordings was evaluated in this study, and the requirements for successfully performing neonatal EEGs, along with practical suggestions, are presented.

EEG, brain maturation, and the development of retinopathy of prematurity.

Objectives: The factors that influence the central nervous system (CNS) development can affect either the retina or the brain cortex. Immaturity of the brain cortex reflects immaturity of the retina and vice versa. The immature retina is more vulnerable than the mature retina, and is therefore more likely to develop retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Recording of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and cerebral blood flow during massage of premature infants.

Objective: Stimulation of the nervous system plays an important role in brain function and psychomotor development of children. Massage can benefit premature infants, but has limitations.

Study Design: The authors conducted a study to verify the direct effects of massage on amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG), oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), and pulse analyzed by color cerebral function monitor (CCFM) and cerebral blood flow assessed by the Doppler technique.

The role of hemoglobin variant replacement in retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: To conduct tests of relationships between different factors that could influence the course of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and ROP, particularly the role of hemoglobin variant replacement in adult blood transfusions.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study of 83 infants born between 23 and 34 wks gestation was conducted.

Results: The infants without ROP, with 1 and 2 stage of ROP and with ≥ 3 stage of ROP received Q 28 (12-134); 51 (14-149); 156 (38-244) ml/kg of transfused blood, respectively, and the factor Qt was 1,545 (560-10,045); 3,093 (614-13,419); 11,907 (1,288-20,638) (ml/kg)·day, respectively.

[Role of gene polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), monoamine oxidase B (MAOB), cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) in pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease].

Factors underlying pathogenesis of diseases are currently being searched. In recent years increasing number of reports on genetic background of central nervous system diseases have appeared. In the search of factors that can precipitate degeneration of dopaminergic neurons the role of enzymes catabolising xenobiotics (CYP2D6, NAT2) and enzymes metabolising catecholamines (COMT, MAO B) has been postulated.