Resultados en el neurodesarrollo en la edad preescolar y escolar de los recién nacidos pretérminos asistidos en el CTI neonatal de la Asociación Médica de San José / Neurodevelopmental preschool and school results of preterm newborns assisted at the neonatal ICU of the San José department medical provider in Uruguay / Resultados neuro desenvolvimento em idade pré-escolar e escolar de recém-nascidos pré-termos atendidos na UTI neonatal da assistência médica do departamento do São José no Uruguai

Uruguay acompaña la tendencia mundial al descenso de la natalidad con un descenso de la mortalidad concomitante, siendo la primera causa de mortalidad infantil la prematurez. Enfocados en la prematurez, es de nuestro interés conocer qué ocurre con estos niños luego del alta de la unidad neonatal. Se realizó el estudio de una cohorte de niños entre 4 y 8 años, nacidos con 32 semanas o menos de edad gestacional y/o con pesos al nacer de 1.500 g o menos, asistidos en su período neonatal en la Asociación Médica de San José, a quienes se les realizó el test de Battelle. Se logró identificar las áreas con mayor dificultad en el desarrollo para cada grupo de edad, concluyendo que se pueden realizar planes específicos de acción para promover el desarrollo de estos niños en la edad preescolar y escolar.

Uruguay follows the global declining trend in birth rates along with decreasing mortality, being prematurity the main cause of infant mortality. We studied premature children who had undergone the Battelle Test and had been discharged from the neonatal unit, a cohort of children between 4 and 8 years of age, born at 32 weeks or less of gestational age and/or having a birth weight of 1500g or less, assisted in their neonatal period at the San José Department Medical Center. We could identify the main areas affecting development for each age group, and concluded that specific action plans can be carried out to promote the development of these children at preschool and school age.

O Uruguai acompanha a tendência mundial de declínio das taxas de natalidade com uma concomitante diminuição da mortalidade, sendo a prematuridade a principal causa de mortalidade infantil. Nos focamos na prematuridade e no estudo do que acontece com essas crianças após a alta da unidade neonatal. Realizamos um estudo de uma coorte de crianças entre 4 e 8 anos que tinham sido submetidas ao Teste de Battelle, nascidas com 32 semanas ou menos de idade gestacional e/ou com peso de nascimento igual ou inferior a 1500g, atendidas no período neonatal na Assistência Médica do Departamento de São José no Uruguai. Foi possível identificar as áreas de maior dificuldade de desenvolvimento para cada faixa etária, e concluir que podem se realizar planos de ação específicos para promover o desenvolvimento dessas crianças em idade pré-escolar e escolar.

Lipoic acid prevents oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo by an acute hyperphenylalaninemia chemically-induced in rat brain.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a recessive autosomal disorder caused by a severe deficiency of phenylalanine-4-hydroxilase activity which leads to the accumulation of L-phenylalanine (Phe) in the tissues and plasma of patients. The main clinical features are retarded development and intellectual impairment. Recent studies have shown that oxidative stress may be involved in neuropathology of hyperphenylalaninemia. Lipoic acid (LA) is considered a potent antioxidant which is well absorbed from diet and can easily cross the blood-brain barrier. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of lipoic acid against oxidative stress caused by Phe in vivo and in vitro. Lipoic acid prevented the inhibition provoked by Phe on the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. It also prevented Phe alterations on total radical-trapping antioxidant potential, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, glutathione concentration and on production of reactive species. It is concluded that lipoic acid may be an efficient antioxidant in the CNS against oxidative stress induced by hyperphenylalaninemia. If the present results are confirmed in PKU patients, it is possible that supplementation of lipoic acid may contribute to the treatment of PKU as an adjuvant therapeutic approach to Phe-restricted dietary treatment and amino acid mixture.