Absence Of Body Movements Research Articles

Variability in the degree of euryhalinity of neotropical estuarine annelids

Estuaries are highly dynamic, spatially complex systems showing large daily fluctuations in salinity. Estuarine organisms, especially small animals with limited locomotory capacities, are thus expected to have variable ecological and morphophysiological strategies. This paper evaluates the responses to salinity challenges in four species of neotropical annelids along a subtropical estuarine gradient by assessing mortality (i.e., tolerance) and changes in body weight (proxy for water fluxes). We selected the nereidids Alitta sp. and Laeonereis acuta, with broad salinity niches, and the nephtyid Nephtys fluviatilis and the melinnid Isolda pulchella, with either narrow salinity niches or a more restricted spatial range. Worms were weighed, exposed to salinities ranging from fresh water to full-strength seawater (0, 5, 15, 25, and 35) for 1, 6, 12, and 24 h, and weighed again after these exposure times. Their mortality (as absence of body movements or vascular circulation) rates were recorded to assess their ranges of tolerance to these treatments or their degree of euryhalinity. Their integument was characterized histologically to show possible morphological links to their tolerances. Both nereidids displayed stable body weights and thick integuments, compatible with the wide range of salinity tolerance and capacity to maintain body hydration. Body weight of Alitta sp. returned to initial values after 1 h at salinities ≥5. Body weight did not change in L. acuta at salinities ≥15; mortalities occurred only at salinity 0 after 12–24 h. Nephtys fluviatilis showed a thin integument and less variation in weight throughout the whole range of tested salinities, but mortality occurred after 24 h at salinity 0, at its reference salinity (3) and at 35. Isolda pulchella showed a lower capacity to maintain body weight/hydration and a thin integument, compatible with its relative stenohalinity and presence restricted to polyhaline marine sectors. Its weight variation was significant at all salinities except 35; mortality occurred at extreme salinities: 0 and 35. Responses of the four species were compatible with their distribution along the estuarine gradient, as an interesting outcome of their autecological traits, morphophysiological adaptations and evolutionary histories.

P242: Assessment of fetal cerebral arterial and venous blood flow before and after birth according to type of delivery

Objective: To determine whether antenatal steroids administration alter the Doppler flow indices of the umbilical, middle cerebral and uterine arteries and to determine the exact time that antenatal steroid administration affects the biophysical profile in fetuses. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 20 fetuses between 26 and 34 weeks’ menstrual age at risk of preterm delivery. Two intramuscular injections of 12 mg of betamethasone were given to the mother 24 hours apart. The Doppler examination included the assessment of the pulsatility index of the umbilical artery (UA PI), the middle cerebral artery (MCA PI) and the pulsatility index of uterine arteries (Ut PI) before treatment, and 24, 48 and 72 hours after the first dose of betamethasone. All fetuses underwent biophysical profile testing prior to and on 24, 48 and 72 hours after steroid administration. We compared the percentage of fetuses with biophysical profile parameters present for each of the five components of the BP using statistical methods where appropriate. Neonatal outcome, including Apgar score, menstrual age at delivery, admission to and length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit and mortality were analysed in all subjects. Results: The mean delivery time was 32.4 (27–36 weeks). There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of the following findings in the precompared to post-steroid measurements: absence of body movements, non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings, and absence of breathing movements. Initially none of the biophysical profile score was < or =8 whereas at 24, 48, and 72 hrs 10, 40 and 50% of them were respectively < or =8. No significant variation was noted in both the fetal and maternal Doppler velocimetry indices. Conclusion: Biophysical profile scores were decreased in more than 40% of fetuses within 48 hours of antenatal steroid administration, but neonatal outcome was not affected. On the contrary, Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical and fetal cerebral circulation appears to be reliable for the assessment of fetuses previously exposed to antenatal steroids. It seems that Doppler studies have the potential to differentiate the steroid induced changes in fetal biophysical profile from those due to fetal compromise.

The effect of steroids on the biophysical profile and Doppler indices of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries in healthy preterm fetuses

Objective: To examine the effect of antenatal steroids on the biophysical profile and the Doppler parameters of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries of healthy fetuses. Study Design: Thiry-five singleton pregnancies between the gestational ages of 28 and 34 weeks, who received two consecutive doses of betamethasone 24 h apart to accelerate pulmonary maturation were prospectively studied. Fetal biophysical profile and Doppler assessment were performed at 0 (pre-steroid), 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after the administration of first dose. We compared the percentage of the fetuses with biophysical parameters present for each of the five components of the biophysical profile and the Doppler indices, using Cochran’s Q-test, Friedman’s test and one way analysis of variance of repeated measures where appropriate. The statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Results: The mean delivery time was 36.9(±1.8) weeks. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of the following findings in the pre- compared to post-steroid measurements: absence of body movements (48 h, P<0.05), non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings (24, 48 and 72 h, P<0.05) and absence of breathing movements (24, 48 and 72 h, p<0.05). Initially none of the biophysical profile score was ≤6, whereas at 24, 48 and 72 h, 13.3, 76.7, 16.7% of them, respectively, were ≤6 ( P<0.05). None of the Doppler indices was found to be affected by the steroid administration. Conclusion: Maternal betamethasone administration can cause a significant but transient, reduction in biophysical profile scores, however the middle cerebral and umbilical artery Doppler indices were found to be unaffected suggesting the reliability of this modality for the evaluation of the fetuses previously exposed to the antenatal steroids.

Body movements during sleep in full-term newborn infants

Body movements during sleep were observed in 14 full-term sick newborn infants such as perinatal asphyxia, purulent meningitis, meconium aspiration syndrome, melena, porencephaly, and hydranencephaly. Five newborn infants who had recovered from transient vomiting were examined as control. Infants with minimally depressed background EEG showed an increase of generalized movement (GM) and localized tonic movement (LTM) in quiet sleep. Hydranencephalic infants revealed an increase of generalized phasic movement (GPM) in active and quiet sleep. On the other hand, a decrease or an absence of body movements was observed in infants with severe EEG abnormalities such as moderate, marked and maximal depression. Hydranencephalic and porencephalic neonates showed a decrease of LTM in active sleep. One infant with purulent meningitis, showing markedly depressed EEG, revealed GPM-like movements of much longer duration. The follow-up study revealed that the absence of body movements or the increase of GPM might indicate a very poor outcome, whereas the presence of LTM, even in a small amount, suggested the preservation of cortical functions. The increase of body movements was also considered to correlate with sleep disturbance and served to indicate a brain dysfunction.

CRISP: sleep state scoring in human infants

In contrast to those interested in adult sleep, researchers interested in infant sleep are concerned with age-related changes in the organization of sleep states as well as with the rhythm of REM-nonREM cycles, During the newborn period, for example, organization is incomplete; the physiological and behavioral activities recorded during sleep are not readily classified into two distinct sleep states (such as REM and nonREM) because of a large amount of sleep which appears poorly organized and has mixed features. An infant sleep scoring manual was published in 1971 which resulted from an international collaborative effort to standardize terms and techniques (Anders, Emde, & Parmelee, 1971), This manual defincd three sleep states: Active REM sleep, quiet sleep, and indeterminatc sleep. Active REM sleep and quiet sleep were clearly distinguishable by multiple criteria and were considered precursors of REM and nonREM sleep in the older child and adult. On the other hand, indeterminate sleep was poorly organized with mixed features and was considered an immature state, most characteristic of prematures and young fullterms. Indeterminate sleep was also cunsidered characteristic of some abnormal infants. CRISP is a computer program which autumatically categorizes infant sleep using the infant sleep manual standards for coding parameters of EOG, EEG. EMG, respiration. and body movement. Multiple critcria for active REM sleep include presence of eye movements. a nat or mixed EEG, a low amplitude EMG. irregular respirations, and the presence of body movement. Multiple criteria for quiet sleep include the absence of eye movements, a high voltage or trace alternant or mixed EEG, a high amplitude EMG. regular respirations, and the absence of body movements. The CRISP system is an adaptation and extension of Anders' RIPVAN program for use on smaller PDP- I 2 laboratory computers (Anders & Zangen, 1972).