Evaluation of seizures in the term newborn

Seizures occurring in the neonate are not uncommon and usually indicate an underlying neurological disorder. In many cases the occurrence of seizures is followed later by other neurological sequelae and sometimes handicapping. To study the use of MRI in the newborn for the diagnosis of the etiology of seizures in comparison to Cranial US and CT scans and its possible prognostic value regarding neurodevelopmental outcome. In this study 20 term neonates 8 girls and 12 boys presenting with seizures with or without evidence of HIE were prospectively studied to identify cause of the seizures comparatively using US, CT and MRI as well as EEG and laboratory testing. Follow up neurological and developmental examination of these infants was done at 6months, 1 and 2 years. Based on MRI findings the causes of seizures in these patients were hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy [HIE] [70%], intracranial hemorrhage [ICH] [15%], cerebral dysgenesis [10%] and acute fulminating inflammatory process [5%]. The cause was unknown in 20% of the cases until magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] was performed. Cranial ultrasonography failed to show any basal ganglia lesions seen by MRI. Regarding follow up, infants with diffuse MRI lesions had higher mortality and morbidity compared to infants with focal MRI and normal MRI findings. The combined use of various imaging techniques to detect the etiology of neonatal seizures with precise anatomical definition is of great importance for the management of neonatal seizures as well for the alleviation of parental distress

relation between decreased iron stores, serum iron and neonatal hypoglycemia in large for date neonates

In this work, the relationship between neonatal iron status and hypoglycemia was studied in large - for- date [LGA] neonates whether born to diabetic or non - diabetic mothers. Eighty neonates were included in this study and they were classified into 3 groups: Group A [n = 30] = eugIycemic LGA neonates; Group B [n=30] = hypoglycemic LGA neonates and Group C [n = 20] normal, healthy appropriate for gestational age [AGA] neonates. All cases were candidate for full history taking including: [maternal, pregnancy and delivery history]; thorough clinical examination: Apgar scoring at 1 and 5 minutes, Assessment of gestational age, anthropometric measurements [head circumference [HC], mid-arm circumference [MAC] and MAC/ HC ratio], in addition to local system examination. The following laboratory investigations were carried out: hemoglobin [Hb] and hemotocrit [Ht]: Blood glucose levels at 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of age: serum iron; total iron binding capacity [TIBC], serum ferritin and serum transferrin levels. Statistical analysis was done to calculate the erythrocyte [EI] and storage iron [SI] and the combined iron pool [CIP] and- to check the correlation between all studied parameters in the 3 groups. Results showed that the hypoglycemic macrosomic neonates had significantly lower mean serum iron and ferritin and storage iron concentrations and significantly higher MAC, MAC/ HC ratio, Hb, TIBC, transferrin and erythrocyte iron, when compared to both euglycemic macrosomic and control neonates. This reflects the shift of serum and storage iron into the expanded red cell mass in the hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic neonates who were probably exposed to chronic intra-uterine hypoxia. All this supports the theory of low maternofetal iron transfer in those babies which makes them exposed to early iron deficiency anemia and raises the question of early iron supplementation

Mycoflora and mycotoxins of sunflower [Helianthus annus L] seeds in Egypt II Sterigmatocystin production by thermophilic [or thermotolerant] fungi

Fourteen species and 4 varieties which belong to 10 genera were collected from 36 sunflower seed samples using dilution-plate method on 1% glucose-Czapek's agar at 45°C. Aspergillus [7 species] and Mucor [1 species] were the most prevalent genera. From the preceding genera A. fumigatus, A. nidulans and M. puscillus were extremely dominant. Fifteen isolates which belong to the previous species [A. nidulans and nidulans var. lates] were screened for the production of sterigmatocystin at 28 and 45°C. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis [TLC] revealed that 4 isolates belonging to A. nidulans were positive for the toxin production at 28°C, but none of these isolates tested produced any detectable amount of sterigmatocystin when grown at 45°C. A suitable liquid medium for sterigmatocystin-producing fungi was formulated. Maximum production of sterigmatocystin was obtained at pH 5 and after incubation for 7 days at 28°C using surface cultivation

Spectrophotometric and polarographic study of Uranium in acetate medium in the presence of resorcinol

The redution of uranyl ion is studied in acetate buffer containing resorcinol. Two waves were obtained for all pH. Resorcinol can be used as a maximum suppressor. Complexation of uranium with resorcinol is accompanied by a decrease in diffusion current and shift of half-wave potential to more negative values. Mixed complexes of acetate and resorcinol are formed with uranium. Resorcinol is found to stabilize the pentavalent uranium by complexation