Milk Curd Obstruction in Human Milk-Fed Preterm Infants.

Background: Milk curd obstruction as a cause of intestinal obstruction has been known since 1959, but has nearly disappeared. However, in recent years it has experienced a revival in small premature infants.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of milk curd obstruction (lactobezoar) in preterm infants.

Maternal overweight is not an independent risk factor for increased birth weight, leptin and insulin in newborns of gestational diabetic women: observations from the prospective 'EaCH' cohort study.

Background: Both gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) as well as overweight/obesity during pregnancy are risk factors for detrimental anthropometric and hormonal neonatal outcomes, identified to 'program' adverse health predispositions later on. While overweight/obesity are major determinants of GDM, independent effects on critical birth outcomes remain unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate, in women with GDM, the relative/independent impact of overweight/obesity vs.

Starter formula enriched in prebiotics and probiotics ensures normal growth of infants and promotes gut health: a randomized clinical trial.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/pr.2016.

Starter formula enriched in prebiotics and probiotics ensures normal growth of infants and promotes gut health: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Prebiotics and probiotics exert beneficial effects by modulating gut microbiota and immune system. This study evaluates efficacy and safety of an infant formula containing bovine milk-derived oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (B. lactis) (CNCM I-3446) on incidence of diarrhea and febrile infections during the first year of life (primary outcome).

Effect of vitamin A supplementation on the urinary retinol excretion in very low birth weight infants.

Unlabelled: Despite high-dose vitamin A supplementation of very low birth weight infants (VLBW, <1500 g), their vitamin A status does not improve substantially. Unknown is the impact of urinary retinol excretion on the serum retinol concentration in these infants. Therefore, the effect of high-dose vitamin A supplementation on the urinary vitamin A excretion in VLBW infants was investigated.

The relative dose response test based on retinol-binding protein 4 is not suitable to assess vitamin A status in very low birth weight infants.

Background: The relative dose response (RDR) test, which quantifies the increase in serum retinol after vitamin A administration, is a qualitative measure of liver vitamin A stores. Particularly in preterm infants, the feasibility of the RDR test involving blood is critically dependent on small sample volumes.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess whether the RDR calculated with retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) might be a substitute for the classical retinol-based RDR test for assessing vitamin A status in very preterm infants.

Growth of very low birth weight infants after increased amino acid and protein administration.

Aim: To assess the impact of a high enteral protein nutrition strategy in human milk-fed very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) on growth during the first 5 weeks of life.

Design: Weight, length and head circumference of VLBW infants were recorded after introduction of a high protein strategy.

Results: Forty-three infants (median/interquartile range) of gestational age 27+6 weeks (26+0/29+6), birth weight 984 g (675/1130) were included.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) levels in early and mature human milk from mothers of preterm versus term infants.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors regulate angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels). The soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) binds VEGF as a potent antagonist.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare VEGF and sFlt-1 levels in milk from mothers of preterm (n = 50) versus term (n = 49) infants in a longitudinal study.

Leptin determination in colostrum and early human milk from mothers of preterm and term infants.

Background: Leptin is involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure and is therefore important for growth and brain development. Analytical methods used for leptin measurement in human milk differ widely in the literature and yield varying results.

Aims: To compare different preparation methods for the analysis of leptin in human milk and to investigate the leptin levels in colostrum and mature human milk from mothers of preterm or term infants.

Fetal akinesia caused by a novel actin filament aggregate myopathy skeletal muscle actin gene (ACTA1) mutation.

We report a female newborn, diagnosed with fetal akinesia in utero, who died one hour after birth. Post-mortem muscle biopsy demonstrated actin-filament myopathy based on immunolabelling for sarcomeric actin, and large areas of filaments, without rod formation, ultrastructurally. Analysis of DNA extracted from the muscle disclosed a novel de novo heterozygous c.

Trace elements and antioxidant enzymes in extremely low birthweight infants.

Oxygen radicals are believed to contribute to typical diseases of prematurity, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Our aim was to investigate whether these disorders are associated with disturbances in antioxidant enzyme activities and with low trace elements, which are co-factors of antioxidant enzymes. 209 infants with birthweight less than 1000g were enrolled into a European multicentre randomised erythropoietin (rhEPO) trial; 155 developed one or more of the above mentioned diseases.

Urinary vitamin A excretion in very low birth weight infants.

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is associated with an increased risk for disorders related to kidney and lung maturation and function. VA losses through increased urinary retinol (ROH) excretion might contribute to this deficiency risk. The mechanism accounting for ROH loss in the urine has not yet been clarified.

Low Apgar score without acidosis may indicate neuromuscular disorder.

Objective: We hypothesized that in term infants low Apgar score with normal umbilical artery pH (UApH) indicates prenatal damage to the neuromuscular system.

Study Design: Retrospective database search of 42,117 liveborn infants born 1993-2005. Medical record analysis of 3104 term infants with cardiorespiratory maladaptation referred for special neonatal care.

Outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units - they are not like others.

Background: Outbreaks of health care-associated infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are frequent and have received more attention in medical literature than outbreaks from other types of intensive care units (ICUs). The objective of this systematic review was to identify differences between outbreaks of health care-associated infections in NICUs and other ICUs as reported to date in the medical literature.

Methods: Screening the outbreak database (http://www.

Hematologic effects of maternal antiretroviral therapy and transmission prophylaxis in HIV-1-exposed uninfected newborn infants.

Objective: A prospective observational study to investigate hematologic alterations during the first 3 months of life in HIV-exposed uninfected infants subjected to antiretroviral medication before and after birth.

Methods: Two hundred twenty-one consecutive uninfected infants born to HIV-positive mothers on antiretroviral medication during pregnancy were included. Perinatal transmission prophylaxis comprised zidovudine (ZDV) administered intravenously intrapartum and 10 days after birth.

Insulin-like growth factors and binding proteins in early milk from mothers of preterm and term infants.

Breast-fed preterm infants often show a better outcome, partly ascribed to the benefit of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBP). We compared IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 levels, measured by radioimmunoassays in milk samples from 30 mothers of preterm (<31 weeks) and from 19 mothers of term (>37 weeks) infants at days 7 and 21 postpartum. Proteolysis of IGFBP-2 within mother's milk and digestion of (125)I-IGF-II and (125)I-IGFBP-2 by gastric juice from neonates were assessed by electrophoretic techniques.

Nutrition of very low birth weight infants fed human milk with or without supplemental trace elements: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) have high nutritional needs. Deficiencies of minerals, trace elements (especially zinc) may develop as a result of rapid growth, low body stores and low content of these substances in human milk We hypothesized that fortification of human milk might prevent deficiencies.

Methods: Prospective, randomized trial to evaluate mineral, trace element, thyroid status and growth of infants fed human milk fortified with different amounts of calcium, phosphorus and protein, with (BMF) or without (FM 85) trace elements.

Hyperphenylalaninemia in a premature infant with heterozygosity for phenylketonuria.

Hyperphenylalaninemia in preterm neonates with heterozygosity for phenylketonuria has previously not been described. We report on a very low birth weight infant, born at a gestational age of 27+5 weeks with a birth weight of 1080 g. Due to a positive family history prenatal diagnosis for phenylketonuria was performed, revealing heterozygosity for classic phenylketonuria.