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Background: The aim was to describe pre- and perinatal data and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome (15-19 years) in children born at term with Apgar score <7 at 5 min and moderate neonatal encephalopathy., Methods: The study is based on a population-based birth-cohort of children born in Sweden in 1985. Maternal, delivery, neonatal, and neuropaediatric data were compiled. Neurodevelopmental status was classified according to the presence of 1. cerebral palsy or other major impairments, 2. exclusively cognitive impairments, and 3. no impairments., Results: The majority of the children (81%) had cognitive dysfunctions, with or without other impairments, such as cerebral palsy. The rates of post-term birth (19% versus 8%) and breech presentation (12% versus 3%) were significantly higher than in the general Swedish population. Pre- and perinatal data did not differ notably between the three outcome groups. Questionable or suboptimal obstetric care was common (55%)., Conclusions: The study shows that children born at term with moderate neonatal encephalopathy have a high rate of cognitive dysfunctions with or without cerebral palsy at long-term follow-up. Our pre- and perinatal data did not correlate with outcome.

A study was performed to establish the dynamic behavior in situ of the descending aorta in the human fetus. The pulsatile movements of the vessel walls were recorded in 36 clinically normal fetuses using a real-time phase-locked ultrasonic system measuring echo movements with high spatial and temporal resolution. The mean amplitude of the diameter pulsations was similar in the 28th - 35th week to that in the 36th - 40th week but, as the apparent diastolic diameter increased, the pulse-elicited increment of the cross-sectional area was 29% larger in the older group. The diastolic diameter decreased (p less than 0.001) and the amplitude of the diameter pulsation increased (p less than 0.001) with prolongation of the previous beat interval. The diameter pulse velocity was positively correlated to gestational age (p less than 0.001), ranging between 1.35 and 2.89 m/sec. The incremental phase of the pulse curve diminished in duration with increasing distance from the heart (p less than 0.001) and with decreasing duration of the previous beat interval (p less than 0.001). The maximum slope of the incremental phase was higher in the more distal part of the aorta (p less than 0.001). The study demonstrates that the diameter pulses contain useful information on the cardiovascular dynamics and provides evidence that the Frank-Starling mechanism is effective also in the human fetus.

N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) has been reported to interact with the GTP-binding Ni-protein; we have examined its effect on adenosine receptor binding in feline cortical membranes and on adenosine-receptor mediated effects on cyclic AMP accumulation in rat hippocampal slices. Treatment of cortical membranes with NEM (100 microM for 5 min) altered the binding of [3H]-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) from being almost exclusively to a single class of high affinity sites (KD = 1.65 nM) to binding at two classes of sites (KDH = 2.1 nM, KDL = 102 nM). The total number of binding sites was similar (825-845 fmol mg-1 in control membranes, 944-1428 fmol mg-1 in NEM-treated membranes). In rat hippocampal slices treated with forskolin (0.3 microM) L-PIA produced a biphasic effect on cyclic AMP accumulation: an inhibition at 0.03 to 1 microM and at higher concentrations, a stimulation. Treatment with 50 microM NEM selectively inhibited the inhibitory phase, causing stimulation at lower concentrations of L-PIA. At 50 microM, NEM did not alter basal or forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation but at higher concentrations inhibition was observed. It is concluded that NEM can, in certain doses, selectively block adenosine A1-receptor-mediated effects without affecting A2-receptor-mediated actions in the same tissue. It is suggested that this is due to NEM affecting the Ni guanine nucleotide binding protein.

This short survey presents some methodological aspects on intraluminal pressure recordings in vivo from the female urogenital tract. The importance of adequate calibration is stressed and a calibration unit for different types of recording equipments is described. Calculations of measuring errors are outlined. The selection of recording catheters is disucssed from both the theoretical and the practical point of view. Finally some practical aspects are considered on pressure recordings in vivo from the ureter, the bladder, the urethra and the uterus. This discussion is illustrated by pressure diagrams obtained with different recording techniques from the actual organs.