Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0029713 (immaturity)
 4,335 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Animal experimental studies conducted at the turn of the century resulted in the use of magnesium sulphate as an anticonvulsant in humans. In U.S. clinics, parenteral administration of magnesium sulphate became a routine procedure in the treatment of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. This treatment has proved very effective in treating convulsions in pregnancy provided an adequate dosage was given amounting to up to 60 g daily. Mother and infant mortality were largely eliminated. Numerous clinical studies showed a negligible side effect rate. Side effects in the foetus: These are due to penetration of magnesium into the foetal blood circulation. Reports on an inhibition of cardiac rate fluctuation and changes in calcium levels have been contradictory, and hence not generally accepted. It is claimed that the parathormone level may drop slightly. Isolated reports on foetal magnesium intoxications associated with depression of breathing, slackness and hyporeflexia often prompt the conclusion that this disease pattern had been due to immaturity and asphyxia. Generally, foetal magnesium blood levels do not correlate well with signs of magnesium intoxication. Urine excretion is greatly slowed down in foetal immaturity. Side effects in the mother: Short-term relaxing action on the uterus has been described frequently. High dosages have been successfully used in arresting labour if there is a tendency to premature birth. Increase in uterine blood flow was seen after administration of magnesium sulphate in animal experiments. Magnesium is said to reduce blood coagulation by influencing fibrinolysis and thrombocyte resistance. However, a somewhat enhanced loss of blood during birth is said to be more likely due to relaxation of the uterus than to a disturbance of blood coagulation. Rapid intravenous injection causes short-term flushing, nausea and vomiting. Short-acting drops in blood pressure are possible. The cardiac output is said to increase at the conventional dosage level whereas the peripheral resistance drops due to vasodilation. Increases and decreases in heart rate have been reported, but in most cases no changes were seen. Changes in ventricular action time occur with toxic doses only, which can lead to cardiac arrest in the diastole. Other toxic signs are hyporeflexia, depressed breathing and CNS depressions which may result in coma. Hyporeflexia always occurs before the other toxic signs appear, so that it can be used as a clinical control criterion. Calcium gluconate, given via the IV route, is a good and rapid-acting antidote.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:[Use of magnesium sulfate as an anticonvulsant in severe pregnancy toxemia and eclampsia]. 655 75

Opioids have been used for analgesia in nearly all civilizations. In paediatrics their use has become widely accepted for combating severe pain, especially postoperative pain and tumour pain. Receptors in the central nervous system are the best known sites of action of opioids, but the existence of peripheral receptors is also probable. The action depends on whether the opioid is more agonist or antagonist and on the peculiarities of physiology in childhood: in the small child a hyperdynamic blood circulation makes resorption faster, and in newborn and premature infants distribution and excretion are influenced by the different composition of the body and the immaturity of liver and kidney. The best known opioid is morphine, and it is the reference substance with which all other opioids are compared. Fentanyl has been used even for the smallest ventilated prematures in recent times, as it is easy to manage and has an early onset of action. Its depressant action on the respiratory centre is an advantage when attempts of spontaneous breathing make mechanical ventilation difficult. Obstinate constipation is the disadvantage of both morphine and fentanyl, and an exacerbation of hyperbilirubinaemia has been seen with fentanyl. Nalbuphine causes a lower degree of respiratory depression. The newer opioids alfentanil and sufentanil have already been used for the relief of paediatric postoperative pain and during mechanical ventilation, but no special advantages of their use are reported. Meperidine has been favoured especially for postoperative pain, although it appears to have no advantages over morphine. Its active metabolite normeperidine may accumulate and cause seizures; meperidine should not be used in prematures or in children with renal dysfunction. There are few publications on the use of piritramide in paediatric pain. Tramadol is widely used for emergencies, as it has the least sedative action; but it has disadvantages in causing nausea and vomiting. Codeine is widely used for its antitussive action. While the necessity of good analgesia for even the smallest infant cannot be overstated, the opioid used must be carefully selected with reference to the age of the child and the pain to be controlled.
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PMID:[Analgesia with opioids in the paediatric patient.]. 1841 33