Virgínia S. Quintal

Brainstem auditory evoked response in normal term neonates

Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) is a reliable test for neonatal auditory and neurological dysfunction and it permits early diagnosis and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate latencies of BAER in normal term neonates in order to obtain reference values in a university hospital. BAER was performed in the second day of life in 47 normal newborns (25 male, 22 female) which gestational ages were higher than 37 and lower than or equal to 40 weeks that did not present familial history of deafness. The exam was performed with 80 dBHL alternating polarity 10/sec clicks presented monaurally. Two thousand stimulus trials were averaged and duplicated for each ear. Mean wave latencies in msec was: I, 1.79 (SD 0.20); II, 2.88 (SD 0.28); III, 4.54 (SD 0.31); IV, 5.86 (SD 0.36); V, 6.75 (SD 0.38); inter-peak latencies (IPL) I-III, 2.75 (SD 0.36); IPL III-V, 2.22 (SD 0.22); and IPL I-V, 4.97 (SD 0.43).

Bone densitometry by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in preterm newborns compared with full-term peers in the first six months of life

OBJECTIVES To longitudinally assess bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and whole-body lean mass obtained through bone densitometry by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in preterm newborns (PTNs) and compare them with full-term newborns (FTNs) from birth to 6 months of corrected postnatal age. METHODS A total of 28 adequate for gestational age (AGA) newborns were studied: 14 preterm and 14 full-term newborns. DXA was used to determine BMC, BMD, and lean mass in three moments: 40 weeks corrected post-conceptual age, as well as 3 and 6 months of corrected postnatal age. PTNs had gestational age ≤ 32 weeks at birth and were fed their mothers own milk or milk from the human milk bank. RESULTS All infants had an increase in BMC, BMD, and lean body mass values during the study. PTNs had lower BMC, BMD, and lean mass at 40 weeks of corrected post-conceptual age in relation to FTNs (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.047, respectively). However, there was an acceleration in the mineralization process of PTNs, which was sufficient to achieve the normal values of FTNs at 6 months of corrected age. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that bone densitometry by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is a good method for the assessment of body composition parameters at baseline, and at the follow-up of these PTNs.

Red Cell Enzymes and Intermediates in AGA Term Newborns, AGA Preterm Newborns and SGA Term Newborns

ABSTRACT. Red cell enzyme activities and 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate and adenosine‐triphosphate levels in cord blood of three groups of newborn infants were studied. The groups were classified according to birthweight in relation to intrauterine growth and gestational age. Only phos‐phofructokinase, glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and enolase activity values differed significantly among the groups. The activity of phosphofructokinase was lower in small‐for‐date term infants (TSGA) and preterm adequate for gestational age (PTAGA) in comparison to term infants adequate for gestational age (TAGA). Glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase activity was higher in TAGA, in comparison to PTAGA, with no other difference among the groups. Enolase activity was found to be higher in TSGA compared to TAGA and higher in PTAGA compared to TAGA. No differences were found between PTAGA and TSGA.

ARTIGO ORIGINALMilk from Brazilian women presents secretory IgA antibodies and neutralizes rotavirus G9P[5]Leite de mulheres brasileiras apresenta anticorpos IgA secretores (SIgA) que neutra- lizam o rotavírus G9P[5]☆

Objective To verify the presence of anti-rotavirus serotype G9P[5] SIgA and the virus neutralization capacity of milk samples from Brazilian women.