Self-reported quantity and quality of sleep in children and adolescents with a chronic condition compared to healthy controls.

To assess self-reported quantity and quality of sleep in Dutch children with a chronic condition compared to healthy controls and to the recommended hours of sleep for youth. Sleep quantity and quality were analyzed in children with a chronic condition (cystic fibrosis, chronic kidney disease, congenital heart disease, (auto-)immune disease, and medically unexplained symptoms (MUS); n = 291; 15 ± 3.1 years, 63% female.

[Growth failure as a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease].

Background: Growth failure can be a unique manifestation of untreated intestinal inflammation in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It can, however, be difficult to diagnose IBD in the absence of symptoms or in the presence of aspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. A delay in diagnosis is a risk factor for lower adult height.

Iron Deficiency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Use of Zincprotoporphyrin and Red Blood Cell Distribution Width.

Objectives: Iron deficiency (ID) in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is either an absolute (depleted iron stores) or a functional deficiency (caused by chronic inflammation). Differentiating between these 2 types of ID is important because they require a different therapeutic approach. Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) are parameters of functional ID.

Glutamine effects on brain growth in very preterm children in the first year of life.

Background & Aims: Glutamine supplementation in the neonatal period has been associated with increased brain structure volumes at school-age in very preterm children. The aim of this study was to clarify the emergence and specificity of differences in brain structure volumes, using growth trajectories of head circumference, weight, and length.

Methods: Sixty-five very preterm (<32 weeks gestation) children, who originally took part in a randomized controlled trial on glutamine supplementation, participated.

The effect of enteral supplementation of a prebiotic mixture of non-human milk galacto-, fructo- and acidic oligosaccharides on intestinal permeability in preterm infants.

Preterm infants have an impaired gut barrier function. We aimed to determine the effects of enteral supplementation of a prebiotic mixture consisting of neutral oligosaccharides (short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (SCGOS)/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (LCFOS)) and acidic oligosaccharides (AOS) on intestinal permeability of preterm infants as measured by the sugar absorption test in the first week of life. Furthermore, we determined host- and treatment-related factors associated with intestinal permeability.

[Less neonatal morbidity with elective caesarean sections at term: local guideline for elective caesarean section is effective].

Objective: To assess the effect of a local guideline advising elective caesarean section without maternal comorbidity at a gestational age of >or= 39+0 weeks.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Children born by elective caesarean section in the period 2003-2007 at the VUmc with a gestational age >or= 37+0 weeks and without maternal comorbidity were included.

Cytokine profiles in 1-yr-old very low-birth-weight infants after enteral glutamine supplementation in the neonatal period.

In a previous study, we found that glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in 102 very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants decreased both the incidence of serious neonatal infections and atopic dermatitis during the first year of life. The aims of this follow-up study were to determine whether these beneficial effects are attended by changes in Th(1) and Th(2) cytokine profiles at age 1 yr. Furthermore, we studied changes in cytokine profiles during the first year of life in these VLBW infants.

Cytokine responses in very low birth weight infants receiving glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition.

Objective: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants receiving glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition may present with a lower infection rate, which may result from enhanced antimicrobial innate or Th1 cytokine responses. We investigated whether glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in VLBW infants increased these cytokine responses following in vitro stimulation of whole blood cells.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial, VLBW infants (gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1500 g) received enteral glutamine supplementation (0.

Plasma ADMA concentrations at birth and mechanical ventilation in preterm infants: a prospective pilot study.

Rationale: Nitric oxide (NO) produced in the lung is an important mediator of normal lung development, vascular smooth muscle relaxation, and ventilation perfusion matching. NO is synthesized from arginine by the action of NO-synthase (NOS). Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous derivate of arginine, inhibits NOS and is thereby a determinant of NO synthesis.

Design of a randomised controlled trial on immune effects of acidic and neutral oligosaccharides in the nutrition of preterm infants: carrot study.

Background: Prevention of serious infections in preterm infants is a challenge, since prematurity and low birth weight often requires many interventions and high utility of devices. Furthermore, the possibility to administer enteral nutrition is limited due to immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract in the presence of a developing immune system. In combination with delayed intestinal bacterial colonisation compared with term infants, this may increase the risk for serious infections.

Nutritional factors influencing infections in preterm infants.

In contrast with clinical studies in term infants or older children, it is very difficult to investigate possible immunoregulatory effects of a novel infant formula composition in preterm infants. This is mainly because of the multicausal origin of infections in this high-risk population that is usually admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Possible effects of nutrition composition on onset and incidence of nosocomial infections in these very small infants have to be compared with infections that may have originated in utero.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low-birth-weight infants after enteral glutamine supplementation in the neonatal period.

Aim: To determine the effect of neonatal glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants on neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age.

Methods: Eighty-eight out of one hundred two infants participating in the initial study were eligible for the follow-up study (13 died, one exclusion due to a chromosomal abnormality). Neurodevelopmental outcome (neurologic status, vision, hearing and Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II) was evaluated at the corrected age of 2 years.

Glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very low-birth-weight infants: effect on the incidence of allergic and infectious diseases in the first year of life.

Objective: To determine the effect of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very low-birth-weight infants on the incidence of allergic and infectious diseases during the first year of life.

Design: Follow-up study.

Setting: Tertiary care hospital.

The effect of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition on intestinal microflora in very low birth weight infants: a randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: In a previous study, we have found that glutamine supplementation decreased the infection rate in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. In this study, we investigated whether this beneficial effect originated from increased number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the intestinal microflora of these infants.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, VLBW infants (gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1500g) received enteral glutamine supplementation (0.

The effect of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition on intestinal permeability in very-low-birth-weight infants: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants are susceptible to glutamine depletion. Glutamine depletion has negative effects on intestinal integrity. The lower infection rate in VLBW infants receiving glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition may originate from improved intestinal integrity, as reflected by decreased intestinal permeability.

The intestinal bacterial colonisation in preterm infants: a review of the literature.

The aim of this study is to review the normal development of the intestinal microflora of preterm infants and the factors influencing its development. Preterm infants have an increased intestinal permeability, which may lead to bacterial translocation to systemic organs and tissues. In combination with immaturity of the immune system the risk to systemic infections might be increased.

A randomized controlled trial of enteral glutamine supplementation in very low birth weight infants: plasma amino acid concentrations.

Objective: Glutamine depletion has negative effects on the functional integrity of the gut and leads to immunosuppression. Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are susceptible to glutamine depletion, as enteral nutrition is limited in the first weeks of life. Enteral glutamine supplementation may have a positive effect on feeding tolerance, infectious morbidity and short-term outcome.

Glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very-low-birth-weight infants and effects on feeding tolerance and infectious morbidity: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Glutamine depletion has negative effects on the functional integrity of the gut and leads to immunosuppression. Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants are susceptible to glutamine depletion because nutrition is limited in the first weeks of life.

Objective: The objective was to determine the effect of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition on feeding tolerance, infectious morbidity, and short-term outcome in VLBW infants.

Glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very low birth weight infants. Design of a double-blind randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN73254583].

Background: Enteral feeding of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is a challenge, since metabolic demands are high and administration of enteral nutrition is limited by immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract. The amino acid glutamine plays an important role in maintaining functional integrity of the gut. In addition, glutamine is utilised at a high rate by cells of the immune system.