Aim-To assess the change in stress response in preterm babies changed from patient triggered ventilation (PTV) to conventional mandatory ventilation (CMV) and vice versa; to determine outcome in relation to stress hormone concentrations. Methods-A randomised controlled study was conducted in two district general hospital neonatal intensive care units. Thirty babies, treated initially with CMV, were randomly assigned to remain on CMV or to change to PTV. A second group of 29 babies, treated initially with PTV, were randomly assigned to remain on PTV or to change to CMV. The babies were less than 32 weeks of gestation, ventilated within 72 hours of birth, with clinical and radiological features compatible with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Stress hormone concentrations and clinical distress score were measured before and 20 minutes after allocation of mode of ventilation. Results-Babies changed from CMV to PTV had significantly reduced adrenaline concentrations (median change −0.4 nmol/l) compared with those who remained on CMV. There was no increase in adrenaline in babies changed from PTV to CMV. There were no significant changes in noradrenaline concentrations or clinical distress score. Babies who died had significantly higher adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations than those who survived. Conclusion-A change in mode of ventilation significantly reduces adrenaline concentrations. Raised catecholamine values are associated with a poor outcome. (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1998;78:F195-F198)

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Background: The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is considered the current standard for diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). International association of diabetes and pregnancy study groups (IADPSG) recommends OGTT, with fasting, one-hour and two-hour venous blood samples drawn after intake of 75g oral glucose. In the Indian context, diabetes in pregnancy study group in India (DIPSI) recommends glucose challenge test (GCT), where 75 g glucose is given irrespective of the fasting state, and a single venous sample is drawn after two-hour. Diagnosis of GDM is made, if any cut-off value is met or exceeded. This prospective study was conducted to compare the DIPSI and IADPSG criteria for diagnosis of GDM.Methods: Pregnant women between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation were subjected to non-fasting GCT. Capillary sample were also drawn simultaneously using Accu check active glucometer. These women were counselled to undergo a standard 75gram OGTT, within a week of recruitment.Results: According to IADPSG criteria, 17.6% (18/102) of our participants had GDM, as compared to 19.6% (20/102) by DIPSI criteria using venous samples, and 25.3% (25/99) by capillary sample method. Sensitivity and specificity of GCT using venous sample was 72.22% and 91.67%, and using capillary sample was 70.59% and 84.15% respectively. DIPSI criteria using venous samples wrongly labelled 8.3% women as GDM, and capillary samples wrongly labelled 15.9% women as GDM. More importantly DIPSI criteria using venous samples labelled 27.8% women as false-negative and capillary samples labelled 29.4% women as false-negative for GDM. Almost one quarter of women with GDM will be missed if DIPSI criteria is used as a universal screening modality.Conclusions: We suggest that the IADPSG criteria be used for diagnosis of GDM in antenatal women in India.