2000
Learning in Preterm Infants
Neil Berthier, Ph.D., Psychology, UMass
Rachel Clifton, Ph.D., Psychology, UMass
Bhavesh Shah, M.D., Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Baystate
Learning is an important topic with regard to preterm infants because
it is related to issues of control and predictability. Because of
lack of control over the environment is believed to produce detrimental
effects on development, the obvious lack of control experienced
by these infants is cause for concern. The question of learning
is also important from a basic science perspective because only
limited data are available on learning in such young infants. The
ability of preterm infants to learn an artificial contingency where
the required response is adapted to their capabilities is being
investigated.
Effective Date - September 1, 2000
Presentations:
Butler,S.C., O'Sullivan,L.P., Shah, B.L.,& Berthier, N.E.
Learning and Retention in Preterm Infants. Poster presented at the
Pediatric Academic Societies' Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, 2001.
O'Sullivan, L., Butler, S., Berthier, N., Clifton, R., Shah, B.
Motherese: Implications for its Importance to Preterm Infants.
Presented at the International Conference on Infancy Studies,
Toronto, Canada, 2002.
Effects of Insulin Resistance on Blood Glucose Uptake During
Exercise
Barry Braun, Ph.D., Exercise Science, UMass
Stuart Chipkin, M.D. Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Baystate
The overall goal of this collaboration is to gain a deeper understanding
of how exercise enhances the actions of insulin to lower blood glucose
levels and to apply this information to the prevention and clinical
management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
Effective Date - September 1, 2000
Oxalate, Glycolate and Selenium in Neonatal Nutrition, High Resolution
Analytical Chemical Methods for the Clinical Study of Premature
Infants
Peter Uden, Ph.D., Chemistry, UMass
Gary Rockwell, M.D., Newborn Medicine and Pediatrics, Baystate
Nigel Metcalfe, Graduate Student, Chemistry, UMass
The long-term goal of this clinical research is to improve the prognosis
of premature infants by increasing our understanding of kidney stone
formation, a problem that occurs in up to 64 percent of premature
infants and is associated with persistent defects in kidney function
that can be life-threatening. The disorder is characterized by high
levels of two biochemicals, oxalate and glycolate, in the infant's
urine. The researchers will study the levels of these biochemicals
in infants' urine to determine how well the infants can metabolize
these biochemicals. The information will be valuable in offering
new treatments for pre-term infants.
Effective Date - September 1, 2000
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