Effect of Prophylactic Caffeine on Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Preterm Neonates Weighing 1250-2000 g: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Caffeine is commonly used to prevent or treat apnea in preterm neonates. The present trial was designed to determine the effect of caffeine on reducing the time required for nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, a total of 90 neonates (birth weight between 1250 and 2000 g) who were clinically diagnosed with RDS were subjected to random assignment to one of the two groups of caffeine (n=45) or control (n=45).

The effects of swallowing exercise and non-nutritive sucking exercise on oral feeding readiness in preterm infants: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Preterm infants demonstrate problems with pharyngeal swallowing in addition to sucking problems. Oral motor intervention and nonnutritive sucking (NNS) were introduced for promoting oral feeding skills in preterm infants. NNS cannot cover all the components of oral feeding.

Positive Culture Samples of Infants with Neonatal Infections in a Tertiary Neonatal Center in Isfahan, Iran.

Background: The prevalence of microorganisms in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and neonatal internal wards is constantly changing, thus rendering the practice of empiric antibiotic therapy ineffective due to the resistance of these microorganisms. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relative frequency of positive cultures of Bactec, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine in infants admitted to the NICU and neonatal internal ward in Al-Zahra hospital in 2011-2017.

Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, we evaluated 466 positive culture samples from 2853 different cultures (blood, urine, CSF, etc) from infants admitted to the NICU and neonatal internal ward with clinical signs of neonatal infection in Al-Zahra hospital.

Heated Humidified High Flow Nasal Cannula (HHHFNC) is not an effective method for initial treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) versus nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation (NIMV) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP).

Background: Noninvasive respiratory support techniques are widely used to treat respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants, and the effectiveness of these methods should be compared. In the current study, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP), nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation (NIMV), and heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) were compared.

Materials And Methods: In the current bicenter clinical trial, 109 preterm infants with RDS not treated with surfactant were randomly assigned to three groups: NCPAP, NIMV, and HHHFNC.

Prebiotics for the prevention of hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates.

Background: Hyperbilirubinaemia occurs in approximately two-thirds of all newborns during the first days of life and is frequently treated with phototherapy. Although generally seen as safe, there is rising concern regarding phototherapy and its potentially damaging effects on DNA and increased side effects particularly for preterm infants. Other methods, such as enteral feeding supplementation with prebiotics, may have an effective use in the management of hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates.

Nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) versus nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) as an initial therapy for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm and near-term infants.

Background: Currently, various forms of non-invasive respiratory support have been used in the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm neonates. However, nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) has not yet been applied commonly as an initial treatment.

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of nHFOV compared with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm and near-term infants with RDS.

The Prevalence of Complications of Prematurity among 1000 Newborns in Isfahan, Iran.

Background: Different morbidity conditions are globally reported from different nations for premature infants. The aim of this study was to identify the relative frequency of some of the most important complications of prematurity in a population of about 1000 of very low birth weight (VLBW; i.e.

Low-dose intravenous acetaminophen versus oral ibuprofen for the closure of patent ductus arteriosus in premature neonates.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common disease in premature neonates, which could occur in up to 50% of the neonates weighting <1000 g. PDA might induce hemodynamic and respiratory disorders and increase mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of oral ibuprofen and a low dose of intravenous acetaminophen in the management of PDA.

Effect of Vitamin E in Prevention of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Neonates.

Background: Germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is the most common brain hemorrhage in preterm neonates. The importance of this hemorrhage lies in its severe complications. There is no definite treatment for IVH in neonates; therefore, the prevention of IVH should be considered.

Caffeine Administration to Prevent Apnea in Very Premature Infants.

Background: Apnea intervals frequently occur in premature infants. Periods of apnea occur more often with decreases in gestational age. Periods of apnea can cause damage to the infant's developing brain and other organs.

Prebiotics for the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm neonates.

Objective: We evaluated if prebiotics have benefits for the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm neonates.

Methods: Preterm neonates were entered into the study when enteral feeding volume met 30 mL/kg/day. They randomly received a mixture of short-chain galacto-oligosacarids/long-chain fructo-oligosacarids or distilled water (placebo) for 1 week.

Initial Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome with Nasal Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation versus Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants who survived and its complications are a common problem. Due to high morbidity and mechanical ventilation (MV) nowadays researchers in interested minimizing MV. To determine, in very low birth weight (BW) preterm neonates with RDS, if initial treatment with nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation (early NIMV) compared with early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (early NCPAP) obtains more favorable outcomes in terms of the duration of treatment, and the need for endotracheal tube ventilation.

The Effect of Neutral Oligosaccharides on Reducing the Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most destructive diseases associated with conditions of neonatal prematurity. Supplementation with enteral prebiotics may reduce the incidence of NEC, especially in infants who fed exclusively with breast-milk. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and safety of enteral supplementation of a prebiotic mixture (short chain galacto-oligosaccharides/long chain fructo-oligosaccharides [SCGOS/LCFOS]) versus no intervention on incidence of NEC in preterm infants.

Prophylactic aminophylline for prevention of apnea at higher-risk preterm neonates.

Background: A few studies have been carried on preventive drugs for apnea of preterm neonates.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the safety and prophylactic effects of aminophylline on the incidence of apnea in premature neonates.

Patients And Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial (RCT) research.

A comparison between the effect of fluorescent lamps and quartz halogen incandescent filament lamps on the treatment of hyperbilirobinemia in newborns with the gestational age of 35 weeks or more.

Background: Icter is the most prevalent disease in newborns. Although most of the newborns affiliated with this seem healthy in other aspects, there is always a fear for toxic complication of indirect hyperbilirobinemia in the central nervous system. Nowadays phototherapy is the method of decreasing (or avoidance of increase) of total serum bilirobin (TSB) and it is also used widely in neonatal health care centers according to the availably of equipment, but without any defined standard.

Reducing the incidence of chronic lung disease in very premature infants with aminophylline.

Background: The objective of this study is to assess the safety and preventative effects of aminophylline on the incidence of chronic lung disease (CLD) in very premature infants.

Methods: This was a long follow-up randomized clinical trial. The prophylactic effect of aminophylline on the incidence of CLD was investigated in very premature infants.

Prevalence of genitalia malformation in Iranian children: findings of a nationwide screening survey at school entry.

Background: Ambiguous genitalia is a hereditary disorder that usually requires early attention and detection. The discovery of ambiguous genitalia in a neonate is situation that could be difficult to manage, not only because of complications such as salt-losing, but also due to the importance of sex determination before psychological gender could be established. Awareness of the prevalence of ambiguous genitalia can affect the attitude and consideration of physicians and related medical personnel about disease in different communities.

Influence of perinatal factors on thyroid stimulating hormone level in cord blood.

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of various perinatal factors on cord blood TSH among newborns in Isfahan, Iran.

Materials And Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic cross sectional study which performed in Isfahan Iran. During a period of four months, since February to May 2012 a total number of 440 newborns delivered in Alzahra and Shahid beheshti hospitals were enrolled in the study.

Resuscitation of preterm newborns with low concentration oxygen versus high concentration oxygen.

Objective: It is well known that a brief exposure to 100% oxygen for only a few minutes could be toxic for a preterm infant. The effectiveness of neonatal resuscitation was compared with low concentration oxygen (30%) and high concentration oxygen (HOG) (100%).

Methods: Thirty-two preterm neonates were born in Isfahan Shahid Beheshti hospital with gestational age of 29-34 weeks who required resuscitation were randomized into two groups.