[Postnatal growth in very low birth weight infants: assessment with a new somatometric index]. / Crecimiento postnatal de los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso: valoración mediante un nuevo índice somatométrico.

OBJECTIVE: We have studied the postnatal growth of very low birth weight infants by using a differential index in reference to intrauterine growth evaluated by means of Lubchenko and Usher graphs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the postnatal growth between birth and hospital discharge of 194 infants with birth weights less than 1500 g. No selection was made according to pathology and those newborns who died are treated as missing values. The differential index was calculated as the percentage deviation of the studied parameter and its 10th percentile and the range between the 10th and 90th percentiles. RESULTS: The weight differential index decreased between birth and hospital discharge (20.8 +/- 33.3 versus -10.03 +/- 30.6, t = 16.97, p < 0.001), as well as that of the height differential index (30.9 +/- 39.1 versus -10.05 +/- 44.35, t = 5.65, p < 0.001), with that of cephalic growth being unchanged (23.2 +/- 43.2 versus 40.4 +/- 35.4, t = -2.29, p = NS). Newborns included in the early discharge program had a worse differential index at the final discharge than at early discharge (-19.1 +/- 27.9 versus -9.8 +/- 22.2, t = -6.1, p < 0.001). Height and cephalic growth was better at the final hospital discharge (-6.6 +/- 46.1 versus 22.7 +/- 26.1, t = -2.8, p < 0.05; 28.8 +/- 37.7 versus 50.1 +/- 27.5, t = -3.48, p < 0.01).

[Hypercapnia induced reversible opening of the blood-brain barrier in experimental hyperbilirubinemia]. / Apertura reversible de la barrera hematoencefálica inducida por hipercapnia en hiperbilirrubinemia experimental.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of bilirubin encephalopathy in extremely ill neonates with low serum bilirubin is stimulating interest in factors that can modify the blood-brain barrier permeability and allow the passage of bilirubin-albumin macrocomplexes, which may be produced by hypercapnia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Without modifying the normal bilirubin-albumin affinity, we increased cerebral flow by two levels of hypercapnia (PCO2 67.1 and 101.9 mmHg), acquired by inhalation of CO2 enriched air (5 and 15%) and a decrease in pH (7.00 and 6.93). RESULTS: We demonstrate an increment in cerebral bilirubin deposition (control 2.43 +/- 0.54 mg/g versus 3.29 +/- 0.43 and 3.28 +/- 1.07, F = 4.80, p < 0.05) and I125 albumin (control 26.1 +/- 95.8 micrograms/g versus 364.4 +/- 156.1 and 430.8 +/- 122.4, F03.34, p < 0.05).

[Fatal nanism: 3 different entities]. / Enanismos letales: tres entidades diferentes.

Three cases of congenital dwarfism are presented. All of them are lethal and represent the three better known nonviable nosologic entities: Achondrogenesis I, Achondrogesis II and Thanatophoric dwarfism. According to clinical features and radiologic data it is possible to approach the diagnosis accurately. We comment genetic, clinic, radiologic and histologic aspects of these processes. It is important to establish a differential diagnosis as these entities have different genetic basis, what influences genetic counsel.

[Arterial pressure in the school-age child; distribution and correlation with chronological and anthropometric variables]. / Estudios de la tensión arterial en la edad escolar; distribución y correlación con variables cronológicas y antropométricas.

The aim of the present study is to establish the normal patterns of blood pressure and the correlations with chronologic and anthropometric variables (age, body, weight, body height and body surface) in childhood. Blood pressures were taken in 1,310 children (727 male, 583 female) ages 4-14 years employing mercury sphygmomanometer, and taking for assessment of diastolic pressure Korotkoff's fifth phase. Study of single correlations showed significant increase of systolic blood pressure with every variable (p less than 0.001); the more predictable was body weight, and the less one, age. There were not significant relationships between diastolic pressure and any other variable; in the same way, there were not significant differences of blood pressures between both sexes. Multiple correlations established the following predictive order: Body weight, age and height. Authors show empirical and theoretical percentiles of blood pressure in relationship with variables: Age, body height and body weight.