37 Limited Ability of Long-Term Cultured Murine Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Cells to Support Hematopoiesis

Abstract

Background: There is an uncertainty and paucity of data regarding normal levels of disaccharidase activities (DA) in infants. Aim: To establish normal values for DA in infants. To determine the relationship between symptoms, intestinal mucosal histology and DA. Methods: Histology and DA of intestinal mucosal specimens from 131 infants (75 males; mean age 180 d; age range, 20-364 d) obtained endoscopically over an 8 year period were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on absence (Group 1; nϭ63) or presence (Group 2; nϭ68) of failure to thrive (FTT) and/or diarrhea. These groups were further subdivided into 3 subgroups based on histological findings: (normal: A, mild abnormalities: B, and moderate/severe changes: C). Results: DA from group 1A represent normal values as these infants were free of FTT/diarrhea, and had normal intestinal mucosal histology (Table). Differences in DA were not dependent on symptoms, in absence of histological abnormalities (groups 1A and 2A), but rather on presence of histological changes even in the absence of symptoms (groups 1A vs 1B). Also, differences were found when patients with FTT and/or diarrhea with abnormal histology were compared to patients with no FTT and/or diarrhea with a normal brush border (groups 2B and 2C vs 1A). Conclusions: We describe normal levels of DA in infants. These may serve as reference values for clinical practice and laboratory analyses. Additionally, DA were related to mucosal histology and not certain symptoms. GROWTH OF INFANTS WITH BRONCHOPULMONARY DSPLASIA AFTER DISCHARGE.J Hesser, C Siegel, M Weiss, C Sajous. Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Maywood, IL.Purpose of Study: The objective of our study is to compare the pre-and post-discharge growth of infants with severe BPD enrolled in the LUMC Neonatal Home Care program to the growth after discharge of other infants with mild BPD seen at the neonatal follow-up clinic.Design and Methods: Adequate growth velocity of premature infants is 26 to 40 grams per day at one month corrected gestational age (GA). In this prospective study, 70 infants admitted to LUMC NICU from 9/1/04 until 10/31/05 with a birth weight Յ 1500 grams were enrolled. Infants with an O2 requirement for Ն 28 days were selected. LUMC Home Care Program follows infants discharged home requiring O2, NG feedings, monitors or special needs. Infants requiring O2 at home were the severe BPD group, and infants without home care and on room air were the mild BPD group. While in the NICU, length, weight and head circumference were recorded weekly in nutrition rounds. After discharge, the severe BPD group had their weight and length recorded at each home visit up to 6 months corrected GA, according to the severity of their disease. The mild BPD group had data collected at the NICU Follow-Up Clinic. Feedings and average daily calories were recorded.Results: 70 patients completed the study. 39 were in the severe BPD group, and 31 were in the mild group. The data was analyzed with the student t-test. Conclusion: While in the ...