Tolerance of initial diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization in preterm infants.

With the use of neurologic examinations, cranial sonograms, electroencephalograms, an cry analyses, we assessed neurologic function before and after an initial diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization in 22 very low birth weight infants. Mean birth weight was 1036 +/- 137 gm; mean gestational age was 28.0 +/- 1.

Decreased respiratory tolerance from intermittent asphyxia in rat sucklings.

To study the respiratory tolerance of rat pups to intermittent asphyxia induced by exposure to closed rebreathing, we randomized newborn rats from four litters into two treatment groups. Respiratory tolerance was defined as the time interval during asphyxia until the first episode of 30 seconds of apnea. Rats in the experimental group were asphyxiated once daily during the first 4 days of life.

Postnatal overestimation of gestational age in preterm infants.

In a study involving 25 preterm infants, obstetric clinical age (standard gestational age) was determined by history, physical examination, and ultrasonographic evaluation. Postnatally, these infants were then evaluated using the Dubowitz Scoring System (DSS) for gestational age assessment. The DSS, as administered by us, significantly overestimated gestational age compared with the standard gestational age (mean +/- 1 SD: 34.