Renal blood flow velocity in preterm and term neonates during the fourth day of life: changes in relation to gestational age and birth weight.

Measurements of renal artery blood flow velocity have been previously reported during prenatal life and during the first month of life in neonates. Since renal flow velocity increases during the first 3 days of postnatal age we determined, during the fourth day of life, the changes of renal blood flow velocity in relation to gestational age and birth weight in 109 healthy preterm and term infants with gestational age between 26 and 42 weeks and birth weight between 750 and 3,730 g. Renal arteries were insonated about 3 mm from the abdominal aorta, by placement of a microconvex 7-MHz transducer below the costal margin in the dorsolateral area of the right or left flank. Mean flow velocity significantly increased with advancing of gestational age and birth weight. This study provides normative data for renal artery blood flow velocity in healthy preterm and term infants during the fourth day of life.

[Influence of the early mother-infant contact in the delivery room on short or long term breast feeding]. / Influenza del contatto precoce madre-figlio in sala parto sull'allattamento al seno a breve e lungo termine.

Two groups of mothers and their children were followed up in order to assess the influence of early mother-child contact on breast-feeding; a first control was carried out at discharge from the nursery and a follow-up 6 months later. All the mothers were in good health and pregnancy was physiological with uncomplicated eutocic delivery; none of the babies presented pathologies during the period of their stay in the nursery and in the subsequent 6 months. Group A comprised 126 mothers who had had contact with their babies in the delivery room for at least one hour; group B comprised 109 mothers whose first contact with their baby was only 3-6 hours after birth. Significant differences between the 2 groups were observed as early as the first control which took place at discharge from the nursery: 69.1% of the babies in group A against 51.3% in group B had taken mother's milk exclusively (p < 0.01). Equally significant differences emerged from the subsequent control at 6 months: 70 babies out of 116 (60.4%) were breast fed exclusively or partially, against 42 out of 101 (42.4%) in group B (p < 0.01). Furthermore, important data emerged from the duration of breast-feeding, whether this was exclusive or otherwise, in the first 6 months of life: group A differed significantly from group B (p < 0.002). Our figures suggest a positive influence of early mother-child contact on breast-feeding and on its duration. Notwithstanding the fact that there is no unanimous confirmation in the literature, it is considered that such behaviour will bring benefits to both mother and child.

[Acute fetofetal transfusion in dichorionic twins: a clinical case report]. / Transfusione feto-fetale acuta in gemelli bicoriali: descrizione di un caso clinico.

Fetofetal transfusion is due to the twin to twin blood shunt caused by vascular anastomoses. It has been suggested that two types of FFT exist: a chronic form existing during pregnancy, and an acute form occurring only during parturition. Cross-circulation may be demonstrated in monochorionic as well as dichorionic placentas. However, such communications were found in 85-100% of monochorionic placentas, compared with one of 68 dichorionic fused placentas. Authors describe one case of acute feto-fetal transfusion in dichorionic twins.

[Neutrophil function in children with acute lyphoblastic leukemia]. / La funzione dei neutrofili nel bambino con leucemia linfoblastica acuta.

Neutrophil function has been studied in 12 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by means of the NBT test and bactericidal assay against E. coli. Tests have been performed before and during treatment. In untreated patients the bactericidal activity of neutrophils was normal, in spite of the decreased number of cells reducing the NBT dye after activation with immuno-complexes. In remission, those patients showed normal reduction. No correlation was observed between the bactericidal power registered after cranial irradiation and the NBT test.