Temperature Regulation and Energy Metabolism in the Newborn

Abstract

The goal of this book, as stated in the preface by Dr Sinclair, is to review our present understanding of the ways in which the human newborn transforms energy and regulates his body temperature in the extrauterine environment. Not only has this goal been achieved, but it has resulted in the best review of this topic available today. The book is arranged in nine chapters. It starts with a review of energy metabolism of the cell, which primarily emphasizes substrate use. The second chapter carries this theme to the newborn and reviews the present knowledge of energy requirements and patterns of substrate use in both the premature and the term infant. The middle portion of the book concerns itself with thermal physiology and includes chapters on heat loss and heat production of the newborn as well as a chapter on thermoregulation. These chapters constitute a comprehensive review of thermodynamic principles