Neonatal health

Despite the fact that most drugs are excreted into breast milk in amounts too small to adversely affect neonatal health, thousands of women taking medications do not breast-feed because of misperception of risk. Unfortunately, physicians contribute heavily to this bias. It is important to remember that formula feeding is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in all socioeconomic groups. 

Tabacova S, Baird DD, Balabaeva L (1998) Exposure to oxidized nitrogen Lipid peroxidation and neonatal health risk. Arch Environ Health, 53 214-221. 

In a comparison, too small to allow firm conclusions, pregnancies in 88 patients with rheumatic diseases in which NSAIDs had or had not been used, there were no differences in pregnancy outcome, duration of labor, complications at delivery, neonatal health, and the health or development of offspring at follow-up (220). 

Increased intestinal absorption capacity for iron (see Intestinal iron absorption ) is an early manifestation of iron deficiency. Absorption of Cd, Pb and Ni are increased in parallel, and this may be a problem in polluted areas (Elsenhans et al. 1991). The risk for low birth weight, preterm delivery and possibly for inferior neonatal health seems to be increased in mothers with marked... 

Recent studies indicate that in utero lead exposure is associated with poorer fetal and neonatal health outcomes. One recent study found that lead levels in the bones of stillborn and nonsurviving neonates were 5-10 times higher than the bone-lead levels of normal infants. While this... 

Florfenicol (2) has been approved in Japan for the treatment of pseudo-tuberculosis caused by Pasteurellapiscicida and streptococcosis m. yeUowtail fish. The recommended dose is 10 mg/kg for up to one week and the drug withdrawal time is five days after cessation of treatment. Florfenicol is active in bovine respiratory disease caused by Pasteurella species and mastitis caused by Staphylococci and Streptococci. It is also effective in neonatal cohbacillosis caused by E. coli. The drug is being developed worldwide by Schering-Plough Animal Health for the treatment of aquatic and bovine diseases. 

Environmental exposures to PCBs are significantly lower than those reported in the workplace and are therefore unlikely to cause adverse human health effects in adults. However, it is apparent from the results of several recent studies on children that there was a correlation between in utero exposure to PCBs, eg, cord blood levels, and developmental deficits (65—68) including reduced bkth weight, neonatal behavior anomaUes, and poorer recognition memories. At four years of age, there was stiU a correlation between prenatal PCB exposure levels and short-term memory function (verbal and quantitative). In these studies the children were all exposed to relatively low environmental levels of PCBs. Although these effects may be related to other contaminants, it is clear that this is an area of concern regarding the potential adverse human health impacts of PCBs. 

When oxytocin is prescribed, the primary health care provider orders the type and amount of IV fluid, the number of units of oxytocin added to the IV solution, and the IV infusion rate An electronic infusion device is used to control the infusion rate. The primary health care provider establishes guidelines for the administration of the oxytocin solution and for increasing or decreasing the flow rate or discontinuing the administration of oxytocin based on standards established by the Association of Women s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). Usually, the flow rate is increased every 20 to 30 minutes, but this may vary according to the patient s response. The strength, frequency, and duration of contractions and the FHR are monitored closely. 

In addition, a recent primate study reported that dietary consumption of soy infant formula reduced the neonatal testosterone surge and increased Leydig cell numbers in the testes of male marmosets. However, the longterm effects on the fertility of the animals has not been determined, and the health implications of these findings for humans are unclear (Sharpe et al,... 

Sullivan MF. 1980a. Absorption of actinide elements from the gastrointestinal tract of neonatal animals. Health Phys 38 173-185. 

Sullivan MF, Gorham LS. 1983. Can information on the gastrointestinal absorption of actinide elements by neonatal rats, guinea pigs, dogs and swine be extrapolated to man Health Phys 44(Suppl. 1) 411-417. 

Sullivan MF, Miller BM, Ruemmler PS, et al. 1985. Further studies on the influence of chemical form and dose on absorptions of Np, Pu, Am and Cm from the gastrointestinal tracts of adult and neonatal rodents. Health Phys 48(1) 61-73. 

This section discusses potential health effects from exposures during the period from conception to maturity at 18 years of age in humans, when all biological systems will have fully developed. Potential effects on offspring resulting from exposures of parental germ cells are considered, as well as any indirect effects on the fetus and neonate due to maternal exposure during gestation and lactation. Relevant animal and in vitro models are also discussed. 

Emhart CB, Wolf AW, Kennard MJ, et al. 1986. Intrauterine exposure to low levels of lead The status of the neonate. Arch Environ Health 41 287-291. 

McCauley PT, Bull RJ, Tonti AP, et al. 1982. The effect of prenatal and postnatal lead exposure on neonatal synaptogenesis in rat cerebral cortex. J Toxicol Environ Health 10 639-651. 

Miller GD, Massaro TF, Granlund RW, et al. 1983. Tissue distribution of lead in the neonatal rat exposed to multiple doses of lead acetate. J Toxicol Environ Health 11 121-128. 

Talamantes, F. and H. Jang. 1977. Effects of chlordane isomers administered to female mice during the neonatal period. Jour. Toxicol. Environ. Health 3 713-720. 

Carlson J, Abraham R. 1985. Nuclear ploidy of neonatal rat livers Effects of two hepatic carcinogens (mirex and dimethylnitrosamine). J Toxicol Environ Health 15(5) 551-559. 

---