Aim:To show the effects of a single course of antenatal betamethasone on card iac measurements and systolic functions in premature newborn infants.Methods:S eventy six newborn infants with a gestational age of 25-33 w...Aim:To show the effects of a single course of antenatal betamethasone on card iac measurements and systolic functions in premature newborn infants.Methods:S eventy six newborn infants with a gestational age of 25-33 weeks were included in the study.They were first classified according to their gestational age:25-29 weeks(n = 28)and 30-33 weeks(n = 48).They were then reclassified as be tamethasone positive(mother received one course of betamethasone)or betamethas one negative(mother did not receive any antenatal glucocorticoid treatment).Cr oss sectional M mode echocardiographic scans were performed during the first thr ee postnatal days and at the end of the first and third weeks.Left interventric ular septum(IVS),left ventricular posterior wall(LVPW),left ventricular end diastolic(LVED),and left ventricular end systolic(LVES)dimensions,aortic root(AO),and left atrial diameters(LAs)were measured.The IVS to LVPW ratio was calculated to identify asymmetrical septal hypertrophy.Results:In neither group was any statistically significant difference noted in IVS,LVED,LVES,LVPW,LA,and AO measurements during the three cardiac ultrasonography scans.Systolic function,as assessed by fractional shortening,was not significantly different in infants who received betamethasone antenatally,in either age group.There was no difference in the IVS/LVPW ratios between those who received antenatal steroid and those who did not for the 25-29 week and 30-33 week groups during these three consecutive scans.Conclusion:One course of antenatal betamethasone did not affect the cardiac wall thicknesses and systolic function in premature infants.展开更多
Background: We have observed mild bradykinesia in essential tremor (ET) patients, which do not satisfy the criteria of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Abstract:Objective: To compare the mean movement time for repetitive mo...Background: We have observed mild bradykinesia in essential tremor (ET) patients, which do not satisfy the criteria of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Abstract:Objective: To compare the mean movement time for repetitive movements around distal and proximal joints in ET patients with normal controls by using a simple test paradigm. Patients and methods: Seventeen patients with ET and 14 control subjects were instructed to tap with the index finger sequentially on push-button microswitches. Movement times around metacarpophalangeal, wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints of the right side were tested. The data collected were stored on a computer and the time elapsed between sequential taps on two keys (ms) and number of taps on the left key for 15 seconds were evaluated offline. Results: Movement times of the patients with ET were not found to be significantly different from those of the controls at all joints tested despite slight prolongation for movements around the shoulder joint. Conclusion: The simple test paradigm we have used showed that there is no difference in the movement time for repetitive movements around fourjoints of the upper extremity between patients with ET and normal control subjects. The slightly prolonged movement time around the shoulder joint noted in patients with ET may be ascribed to tremor, not bradykinesia. Tremor may cause these patients to pay more attention to the performance of goal-directed finger movements and consequently prolong movement time slightly or it may simply delay the time elapsed to reach the goal in the absence of overt intention tremor.展开更多
文摘Aim:To show the effects of a single course of antenatal betamethasone on card iac measurements and systolic functions in premature newborn infants.Methods:S eventy six newborn infants with a gestational age of 25-33 weeks were included in the study.They were first classified according to their gestational age:25-29 weeks(n = 28)and 30-33 weeks(n = 48).They were then reclassified as be tamethasone positive(mother received one course of betamethasone)or betamethas one negative(mother did not receive any antenatal glucocorticoid treatment).Cr oss sectional M mode echocardiographic scans were performed during the first thr ee postnatal days and at the end of the first and third weeks.Left interventric ular septum(IVS),left ventricular posterior wall(LVPW),left ventricular end diastolic(LVED),and left ventricular end systolic(LVES)dimensions,aortic root(AO),and left atrial diameters(LAs)were measured.The IVS to LVPW ratio was calculated to identify asymmetrical septal hypertrophy.Results:In neither group was any statistically significant difference noted in IVS,LVED,LVES,LVPW,LA,and AO measurements during the three cardiac ultrasonography scans.Systolic function,as assessed by fractional shortening,was not significantly different in infants who received betamethasone antenatally,in either age group.There was no difference in the IVS/LVPW ratios between those who received antenatal steroid and those who did not for the 25-29 week and 30-33 week groups during these three consecutive scans.Conclusion:One course of antenatal betamethasone did not affect the cardiac wall thicknesses and systolic function in premature infants.
文摘Background: We have observed mild bradykinesia in essential tremor (ET) patients, which do not satisfy the criteria of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Abstract:Objective: To compare the mean movement time for repetitive movements around distal and proximal joints in ET patients with normal controls by using a simple test paradigm. Patients and methods: Seventeen patients with ET and 14 control subjects were instructed to tap with the index finger sequentially on push-button microswitches. Movement times around metacarpophalangeal, wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints of the right side were tested. The data collected were stored on a computer and the time elapsed between sequential taps on two keys (ms) and number of taps on the left key for 15 seconds were evaluated offline. Results: Movement times of the patients with ET were not found to be significantly different from those of the controls at all joints tested despite slight prolongation for movements around the shoulder joint. Conclusion: The simple test paradigm we have used showed that there is no difference in the movement time for repetitive movements around fourjoints of the upper extremity between patients with ET and normal control subjects. The slightly prolonged movement time around the shoulder joint noted in patients with ET may be ascribed to tremor, not bradykinesia. Tremor may cause these patients to pay more attention to the performance of goal-directed finger movements and consequently prolong movement time slightly or it may simply delay the time elapsed to reach the goal in the absence of overt intention tremor.
