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The purpose of this paper is to confirm a hypothesis claiming that in clinically healthy term infants sleep-wake cycle development and maturation of breathing control – as objectivated in polysomnography – proceed in parallel. Irregular breathing movements as equivalent of Active (REM-)Sleep and paradoxical patterns of thoracic and abdominal breathing movements decrease in the first year of life whereas regular breathing movements – the equivalent of Quiet Sleep – and coordinated patterns of thoracic and abdominal breathing movements increase. With growing maturation, periodic breathing and the different kinds of respiratory pauses decrease. Deviations from normal respiratory phenomena were seen as well in sick and in preterm infants as in infants belonging to epidemiologically defined groups at high risk of Sudden Infant Death. Thus, breathing patterns were impaired by prematurity, after intrauterine exposure to nicotine and drugs, and during upper airway infections. At last, in prospective studies of infants,who subsequently died of sudden infant death, peculiar breathing behavior was described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To derive reference curves of polysomnographic parameters for clinically healthy infants and children in the first and second year of life. Study design From January 1989 to December 1999 a total of 13 373 polygraphic sleep recordings were carried out at the sleep laboratory of the Vestische Kinderklinik Datteln, a tertiary referral centre for sleep-related respiratory problems in infants and children. In order to create a data base for reference curves, 681 recordings were retrospectively selected from the total pool, if the following criteria were fulfilled: first polygraphic sleep recording of the proband, clinically healthy term infants without symptoms of upper respiratory infection at the time of sleep study. Premature birth (< 37 weeks of gestation), low birth weight (< 2 500 g), apparent life-threatening events (ALTE), neonatal complications, known cardial, pulmonary, cerebral and metabolic disorders, dysmorphic syndromes, sudden infant death (SIDS) of a sibling, heavy parental smoking (> 10 cigarettes per day), and maternal drug addiction were exclusion criteria for the reference group. Recording and evaluation of polysomnographies were carried out according to published recommendations of the Pediatric Task Force of the German Sleep Society (DGSM). Results: Reference curves covering an age range of 1 to 24 months are presented for the following parameters: quiet and active sleep, coordinated and paradoxical patterns of thoracic and abdominal breathing movements, periodic breathing, frequency of respiratory pauses of ≤ 3 seconds, ≤5 seconds and ≤ 10 seconds duration, respectively, frequency, mean and maximal duration of respiratory pauses following a sigh, central, obstructive and mixed respiratory pauses, respectively, transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide, oxygen... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Increased attention has been paid to the role of lipophilic antioxidants in childhood nutrition and diseases during recent years. The lipophilic antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is known as an effective inhibitor of oxidative damage. In contrast to other lipophilic antioxidants like α-tocopherol the plasma concentrations of CoQ10 in childhood are poorly researched. The aim of this study was to determine plasma level and redox status (oxidized form in total CoQ10 in %) of CoQ10 in clinically healthy infants, preschoolers and school-aged children. Methods: Plasma level and redox status of CoQ10 were measured by HPLC in 199 clinically healthy children, three groups of infants [1st–4th month (n = 35), 5th–8th month (n = 25), 9th–12th month (n = 25) ], preschoolers (n = 60) and school-aged children (n = 54). The CoQ10 plasma levels were related to plasma cholesterol concentrations. The median and the 5th and 95th percentile were calculated. Results: Plasma levels and redox status of CoQ10 in infants were significantly higher than in preschoolers and school-aged children. The CoQ10 redox status in the 1st–4th month was significantly increased when compared to the remaining subgroups of infants. In elder children the CoQ10 redox status stabilized. Conclusion: This is the first study concerning age–related values of plasma level and redox status of CoQ10 in apparently healthy children. Decreased CoQ10 values could be involved in various pathological conditions affecting childhood. Therefore, the application of age-adjusted reference values may provide more specific criteria to define threshold values for CoQ10 deficiency in plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that investigated whether sleep apnea as a physiological parameter of respiratory instability is related to coenzyme Q10 redox status as a biochemical parameter of oxidative stress in infants. Overview of the study population; Methodology; Results and discussion.