Neonatology
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Low-birth-weight (LBW) infants have a significantly greater mortality than other babies, not only within the neonatal period but also in infancy and early childhood. Babies are LBW either because they are preterm or they have experienced intrauterine growth retardation. Reducing the prevalence of LBW babies is important in reducing child and infant mortality. ⋯ Key features of the Cuban healthcare system are that it is both free and universal, and additionally there is a strong emphasis on primary healthcare. It is likely that a similar approach in both developing countries and disadvantaged communities in developed countries would reduce the prevalence of LBW babies. This would have a major impact in relation to reducing infant mortality rates.
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Little is known about the effects of hypothermia therapy and subsequent rewarming on the PQRST intervals and heart rate variability (HRV) in term newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). ⋯ Hypothermia-induced changes in the electrocardiogram should be monitored carefully in future studies.
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Early hypotension is a common problem among preterm infants. Studies have shown conflicting data regarding the definition of hypotension, the way to treat it and the correlation to outcome. ⋯ This study supports the hypothesis that early provision of antihypotensive therapy is related to intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia and major neurodevelopment impairment.
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Late-onset sepsis in the premature infant is frequently revealed by severe, unusual and recurrent bradycardias. In view of the high morbidity and mortality associated with infection, reliable markers are needed. ⋯ Late-onset sepsis is associated with uncorrelated randomness of the HR. This abnormal HR behavior may help to monitor premature infants presenting with frequent and severe bradycardias.
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In infants with pulmonary hypertension (PHT), right ventricular (RV) function may be altered and contribute to disease severity. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a new echocardiographic modality which directly measures myocardial velocities and may allow quantitative assessment of systolic and diastolic ventricular function in infants. ⋯ TDI permits non-invasive assessment of RV myocardial velocities in infants. Reduced systolic and diastolic velocities in PHT may represent impaired systolic contraction and early diastolic relaxation. Therapies which target inotropic and lusitropic function may be appropriate in infants with PHT and RV dysfunction. The load-dependency of TDI measures in infants and the effects of specific therapies on RV function in PHT require further investigation.