A pilot study on the biochemical effects of repeated administration of 24% oral sucrose vs. 30% oral dextrose on urinary markers of adenosine triphosphate degradation

OBJECTIVES

Premature neonates often receive oral sucrose or dextrose before tissue-damaging procedures (TDPs). Previous work showed that a single dose of sucrose, but not dextrose, increased cellular energy utilization and ATP degradation. This pilot study probes the effects of repeated administration of sucrose or dextrose on energy metabolism.

METHODS

Urinary markers of ATP metabolism (hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid) are measured in premature neonates randomized to receive: (a) standard of care, (b) 0.2 ml 24% oral sucrose, or (c) 0.2 ml 30% oral dextrose, before every painful procedure on days-of-life 3-7.

RESULTS

Standard of care is associated with highest xanthine/creatinine and uric acid/creatinine, likely because of fewer pain treatments. Benefits of repeated oral sucrose are unclear. Neonates receiving oral dextrose had lower xanthine/creatinine and uric acid/creatinine.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated treatments of neonatal procedural pain with 30% oral dextrose are less energetically demanding. Larger clinical studies are needed for comparison with sucrose treatments.

Etiologies of apnea of infancy

BACKGROUND

To date there are limited data in the literature to guide the initial evaluation for etiologies of apnea in full-term infants born at greater than or equal to 37 weeks conceptional age (apnea of infancy [AOI]). Pediatricians and pediatric pulmonologists are left to pursue a broad, rather than targeted and a stepwise approach to begin diagnostic evaluation.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of 101 symptomatic full-term infants (age under 12 months) diagnosed with apnea with an inpatient multichannel pneumogram (six channels) or a fully attended overnight pediatric polysomnogram in our outpatient sleep center accredited by American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), scored using the standards set forth by the AASM. The infant was diagnosed as having AOI if the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was greater than 1 (AHI is defined as the number of apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep). The final diagnosis/etiology was determined based on physician clinical assessment and work up. We then determined the frequency for each diagnosis.

RESULTS

We found that the three most common etiologies were gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (48/101), upper airway abnormalities/obstruction (37/101), and neurological diseases (19/101). There were significant numbers of infants with multiple etiologies for AOI.

CONCLUSION

Based on the frequencies obtained, pediatric practitioners caring for full-term infants with apnea of unknown etiology are advised to begin with evaluation of more likely causes such as GERD and upper airway abnormalities/obstruction before evaluating for less common causes.

High Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension Complicates the Care of Infants with Omphalocele

BACKGROUND

Omphalocele is one of the most common abdominal wall defects. Many newborn infants born with omphalocele present with significant respiratory distress at birth, requiring mechanical ventilatory support, and have clinical evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Little information exists on the prevalence of and risk factors associated with pulmonary hypertension in this cohort of infants.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence of and risk factors associated with pulmonary hypertension among infants with omphalocele.

METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective chart review of demographic data and clinical characteristics of infants with omphalocele admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Children's Mercy Hospital between 1994 and 2011. Echocardiogram images were reviewed for pulmonary hypertension, and statistical analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

RESULTS

Pulmonary hypertension was diagnosed in 32/56 (57%) infants with omphalocele. Compared to infants without pulmonary hypertension, infants with pulmonary hypertension were more likely to have a liver-containing defect (16/32 [50%] vs. 5/24 [21%], p = 0.03), require intubation at birth (18/32 [56%] vs. 6/24 [17%], p = 0.03), and die during initial hospitalization (12/32 [38%] vs. 2/24 [8%], p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The majority of infants with omphalocele have evidence of pulmonary hypertension which is associated with increased mortality. Echocardiograms to screen for pulmonary hypertension should be obtained at ≥2 days of life in infants with omphalocele, especially in those with liver within the omphalocele sac and/or in those infants who require intubation at birth to screen for pulmonary hypertension.

Oral sucrose for heel lance increases adenosine triphosphate use and oxidative stress in preterm neonates

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of sucrose on pain and biochemical markers of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) degradation and oxidative stress in preterm neonates experiencing a clinically required heel lance.

STUDY DESIGN

Preterm neonates that met study criteria (n = 131) were randomized into 3 groups: (1) control; (2) heel lance treated with placebo and non-nutritive sucking; and (3) heel lance treated with sucrose and non-nutritive sucking. Plasma markers of ATP degradation (hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid) and oxidative stress (allantoin) were measured before and after the heel lance. Pain was measured with the Premature Infant Pain Profile. Data were analyzed by the use of repeated-measures ANOVA and Spearman rho.

RESULTS

We found significant increases in plasma hypoxanthine and uric acid over time in neonates who received sucrose. We also found a significant negative correlation between pain scores and plasma allantoin concentration in a subgroup of neonates who received sucrose.

CONCLUSION

A single dose of oral sucrose, given before heel lance, significantly increased ATP use and oxidative stress in premature neonates. Because neonates are given multiple doses of sucrose per day, randomized trials are needed to examine the effects of repeated sucrose administration on ATP degradation, oxidative stress, and cell injury.

Procedural pain and oxidative stress in premature neonates

Preterm neonates exposed to painful procedures in the neonatal intensive care unit exhibit increased pain scores and alterations in oxygenation and heart rate. It is unclear whether these physiological responses increase the risk of oxidative stress. Using a prospective study design, we examined the relationship between a tissue-damaging procedure (TDP; tape removal during discontinuation of an indwelling central arterial or venous catheter) and oxidative stress in 80 preterm neonates. Oxidative stress was quantified by measuring uric acid (UA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in plasma before and after neonates (n = 38) experienced a TDP compared to those not experiencing any TDP (control group, n = 42). Pain was measured before and during the TDP using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP). We found that pain scores were higher in the TDP group compared to the control group (median scores, 11 and 5, respectively; P < .001). UA significantly decreased over time in control neonates but remained stable in TDP neonates (132.76 to 123.23 μM versus 140.50 to 138.9 μM; P = .002). MDA levels decreased over time in control neonates but increased in TDP neonates (2.07 to 1.81 μM versus 2.07 to 2.21 μM, P = .01). We found significant positive correlations between PIPP scores and MDA. Our data suggest a significant relationship between procedural pain and oxidative stress in preterm neonates.

PERSPECTIVE

This article presents data describing a significant relationship between physiological markers of neonatal pain and oxidative stress. The method described in this paper can potentially be used to assess the direct cellular effects of procedural pain as well the effectiveness of interventions performed to decrease pain.

Use of propranolol for treatment of hemangiomas in PHACE syndrome

We report the case of a 29-week preterm infant with PHACE (posterior fossa malformations, hemangionas, arterial anomalies, cardiac anomalies, eye anomalies) syndrome. PHACE syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder with large facial segmental hemangionas associated with anomalies of the brain, eye, heart and aorta. The hemangiomas in our patient were problematic, distorting the airway and interfering with respirations to the point of requiring mechanical ventilation. Consultation with several different centers with medical expertize in treatment of congenital hemangiomas revealed different views on the best management strategy. In this infant, the hemangiomas progressed with failure to involute despite currently recommended therapy including corticosteroids and vincristine. Therefore, the infant was treated with propranolol and had significant regression of the hemangiomas. The use of propranolol for the treatment of infantile hemangiomas is reviewed.

Calcineurin inhibitor minimization using sirolimus leads to improved renal function in pediatric heart transplant recipients

The introduction of cyclosporine revolutionized the practice of immunosuppression for solid organ transplant recipients, and has resulted in a significant increase in survival. While CNI use has been the mainstay of immunosuppressive therapy in pediatric heart transplantation, CNIs have been associated with an increased risk of nephropathy leading to significant morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the effect on renal function of a CNI minimization protocol using SRL in pediatric heart transplant patients with CNI induced renal insufficiency. An IRB approved retrospective chart review and case control study was performed. There were 20 patients identified with renal insufficiency who had been converted to SRL (target 5-8 ng/mL) and cyclosporine (target 50-75 vs. 125-150 ng/mL). Renal insufficiency was defined as isotopic (Indium 111 DTPA) GFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2) or sCr >1 mg/dL. Outcome variables evaluated were GFR and sCr at time of conversion and at two yr post conversion. Comparison was made with case control subjects matched for age at Tx, time from Tx to conversion, and initial GFR. The median age at Tx = 81 days (S.D. ±26), median time of conversion after Tx = 10 yrs (s.d. ±0.65). Self-limited/treatable side effects included hypercholesterolemia (10), neutropenia (6), aphthous ulcer (3), edema (2), anemia (2), and tremor (1). One patient rejected in the two yr prior to conversion, and one patient had two rejection episodes following conversion. GFR at conversion for study group was 51 ± 14 vs. 60 ± 2 at two yr, p = 0.018. GFR at inclusion for control group was 56 ± 20 vs. 53 ± 21, p = 0.253. This report demonstrates that minimizing CNI exposure by addition of SRL to the immunosuppressant regimen in pediatric heart transplant recipients result in improved renal function in comparison to historically managed patients. Furthermore, immunotherapy with SRL and lower-dose CNI can effectively prevent rejection with an acceptable side-effect profile.

Is there any chlorine monoxide in the stratosphere?

A ground-based search for stratospheric chlorine monoxide was carried out during May and October 1981 with an infrared heterodyne spectrometer in the solar absorption mode. Lines due to stratospheric nitric acid and tropospheric carbonyl sulfide were detected at about 0.2 percent absorptance levels, but the expected 0.1 percent lines of chlorine monoxide in this same region were not seen. Stratospheric chlorine monoxide is less abundant by at least a factor of 7 than is indicated by in situ measurements, and the upper limit for the integrated vertical column density of chlorine monoxide is 2.3 x 10(13) molecules per square centimeter at the 95 percent confidence level. These results imply that the release of chlorofluorocarbons may be significantly less important for the destruction of stratospheric ozone than is currently thought.

Patterns of brain injury in term neonatal encephalopathy

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the pattern of brain injury in term neonatal encephalopathy is associated with distinct prenatal and perinatal factors and to determine whether the pattern of injury is associated with 30-month neurodevelopmental outcome.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 173 term newborns with neonatal encephalopathy from 2 centers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a median of 6 days of age (range, 1-24 days). Patterns of injury on MRI were defined on the basis of the predominant site of injury: watershed predominant, basal ganglia/thalamus predominant, and normal.

RESULTS

The watershed pattern of injury was seen in 78 newborns (45%), the basal ganglia/thalamus pattern was seen in 44 newborns (25%), and normal MRI studies were seen in 51 newborns (30%). Antenatal conditions such as maternal substance use, gestational diabetes, premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia, and intra-uterine growth restriction did not differ across patterns. The basal ganglia/thalamus pattern was associated with more severe neonatal signs, including more intensive resuscitation at birth ( P = .001), more severe encephalopathy ( P = .0001), and more severe seizures ( P = .0001). The basal ganglia/thalamus pattern was associated with the most impaired motor and cognitive outcome at 30 months.

CONCLUSION

The patterns of brain injury in term neonatal encephalopathy are associated with different clinical presentations and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Measured prenatal risk factors did not predict the pattern of brain injury.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy improves outcome prediction in perinatal CNS insults

OBJECTIVE

Prediction of neurologic outcome is difficult in neonates with acute nervous system injury. Previous studies using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) have been used to predict short-term neurologic outcome in neonates with a variety of neurologic insults. We were interested in determining the effectiveness of combining clinical evaluation and spectroscopy obtained at the time of injury in predicting neurologic outcome at 24 months.

STUDY DESIGN

We studied 33 neonates with acute central nervous system injury, 5.8+/-3.7 days of injury, owing to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Neonates were assessed using clinical variables (initial arterial pH, initial blood glucose, Sarnat score, electroencephalography) and spectroscopy (NAA/Cho, NAA/Cre, Cho/Cre, and lactate). Neonates were divided into two outcome groups: good/moderate and poor. Differences between the groups were assessed using chi(2) and t-test analyses. We analyzed the best predictors of outcome using discriminant analysis and calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for each variable independently and in combination.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the good/moderate and poor outcome for the Sarnat score, EEG, lactate, and NAA/Cho. Spectroscopy combined with clinical variables improved sensitivity, but not specificity for predicting outcome. The presence of lactate had the best individual predictive value. Combination of the clinical with the MRS variables had the highest predictive value.

CONCLUSION

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy done early after injury improves the ability to predict neurologic outcome at 24 months of age.

Earth-Based Observations of the Galileo Probe Entry Site

Earth-based observations of Jupiter indicate that the Galileo probe probably entered Jupiter's atmosphere just inside a region that has less cloud cover and drier conditions than more than 99 percent of the rest of the planet. The visual appearance of the clouds at the site was generally dark at longer wavelengths. The tropospheric and stratospheric temperature fields have a strong longitudinal wave structure that is expected to manifest itself in the vertical temperature profile.

Collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter observed by the NASA infrared telescope facility

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Infrared Telescope Facility was used to investigate the collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter from 12 July to 7 August 1994. Strong thermal infrared emission lasting several minutes was observed after the impacts of fragments C, G, and R. All impacts warmed the stratosphere and some the troposphere up to several degrees. The abundance of stratospheric ammonia increased by more than 50 times. Impact-related particles extended up to a level where the atmospheric pressure measured several millibars. The north polar near-infrared aurora brightened by nearly a factor of 5 a week after the impacts.

Discovery of Natural Gain Amplification in the 10-Micrometer Carbon Dioxide Laser Bands on Mars: A Natural Laser

Fully resolved intensity profiles of various lines in the carbon dioxide band at 10.4 micrometers have been measured on Mars with an infrared heterodyne spectrometer. Analysis of the line shapes shows that the Mars atmosphere exhibits positive gain in these lines. The detection of natural optical gain amplification enables identification of these lines as a definite natural laser.