The development of sucking patterns in preterm, small-for-gestational age infants.

Objective: To determine whether the development of sucking patterns in small-for-gestational age (SGA) preterm infants differs from appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) preterm infants.

Study Design: We assessed sucking patterns in 15 SGA and 34 AGA preterms (gestational age View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Development of sucking patterns in pre-term infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: Pre-term infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are at risk of acquiring brain abnormalities. Combined with ongoing breathing difficulties, this may influence the development of their sucking patterns.

Objective: To determine the longitudinal development of sucking patterns from birth until 10 weeks' post-term age in pre-term infants with and without BPD.

Effects of preterm experience on the developing visual system: a longitudinal study of shifts of attention and gaze in early infancy.

Several studies on visual development support the notion that healthy, low-risk preterm infants benefit from their early exposure to the visual world. It has been suggested, however, that mainly early developing sensory and motor processes are enhanced as a result of visual experience and early exercise, whereas later maturing processes might not. This study investigates whether preterm infants' visual and attentional development is accelerated as a consequence of their early visual experience and whether early and later maturing processes are affected differently.

The prognostic value of serial EEG recordings following acute neonatal asphyxia in full-term infants.

Perinatal asphyxia is one of the major causes of non-progressive neurological deficits seen in children. It is reported that currently no set of parameters allowing for accurate prediction of prognosis following severe perinatal asphyxia is available. Even electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, which are known to give a fairly good prediction of long-term outcome, have their flaws.

Spontaneous motility in preterm infants treated with indomethacin.

Objective: To determine in preterm infants with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) the effect of indomethacin treatment on spontaneous motor activity.

Study Design: Motor activity was assessed from repeated videotape recordings in 32 preterm infants ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hypertensive encephalopathy in a patient with neonatal thyrotoxicosis.

Unlabelled: Neonatal hyperthyroidism may give rise to serious cardiovascular complications. A girl with severe thyrotoxicosis in whom hypertensive encephalopathy developed is described.

Conclusion: Neonatal thyrotoxicosis can give rise to hypertension and may lead to hypertensive encephalopathy.

Longitudinal study of bone age in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Bone age was assessed in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) using the Tanner-Whitehouse II method. X-rays of the left hand (wrist) were made at diagnosis and annually until 5 years after diagnosis. A total of 164 X-rays from 40 patients was available.

Bacterial contamination of growth hormone solution and injection equipment during use by growth hormone deficient children.

The frequency of bacterial contamination of growth hormone solution and injection equipment use by 20 growth hormone deficient children was studied. In a cross-over study the children were randomized to begin using, for their growth hormone injections, either the recently developed growth hormone injection pen or the conventional syringe method. A comparison was then made of these two methods of injection over a 6-week period and the vials, pen-cartridges, syringes and needles were cultured.

Very large peroxisomes in distinct peroxisomal disorders (rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata and acyl-CoA oxidase deficiency): novel data.

We report very large hepatic peroxisomes (d-circle greater than 1 micron) in a patient with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata and a patient with acyl-CoA oxidase deficiency. The effects of peroxisomal enlargement on the enzymatic activity are discussed. As increase in peroxisomal size is also reported in at least 12 other patients with peroxisomal disorders, we propose a relationship between the enlargement of the organelles and their functional deficiency.

Familial cortisol resistance: differential diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

A 26-yr-old woman presented with hirsutism, male pattern scalp baldness ("geheimratsecken"), and menstrual irregularities. She had no hypertension or other signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. Plasma cortisol levels were greatly elevated and did not suppress normally in response to dexamethasone.

The sensitivity of growth hormone and prolactin secretion to the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 in patients with prolactinomas and acromegaly.

The somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 has recently been shown to be effective in suppressing GH secretion in most acromegalic patients. In the present study it was investigated whether PRL release in prolactinoma and acromegalic patients might also be sensitive to SMS 201-995 and whether co-secretion of PRL in acromegaly plays a role in determining the sensitivity of GH secretion to SMS 201-995. The s.

A comparison among the growth hormone-lowering effects in acromegaly of the somatostatin analog SMS 201-995, bromocriptine, and the combination of both drugs.

The acute GH inhibitory effects of 50 micrograms SMS 201-995, a somatostatin analog, and 2.5 mg bromocriptine were compared in 17 acromegalic patients. SMS 201-995 suppressed plasma GH levels after 2-6 h to 5 micrograms/liter or less in 10 of these 17 patients, while bromocriptine did the same in only 5 of them.