Neonatal Encephalopathy due to Glutaminase Deficiency in a Neonate.

Identifying neurometabolic disorders that lead to neonatal encephalopathy is difficult, and access to exome sequencing is a significant advantage in developing countries. We present a case of neonatal encephalopathy characterized by refractory seizures and significant apnea resulting from glutaminase deficiency, along with elevated levels of glutamine and glycine in the cerebrospinal fluid. Although the condition was fatal, it was possible to offer genetic counseling and recommendations for future pregnancies following exome sequencing.

COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: impact on parents' stress level and infant care in a tertiary neonatal unit.

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission increases parents' stress levels and it might be even higher in the crisis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and lockdown. This study was done to identify the stress levels of parents of admitted neonates and the difficulties encountered in neonatal care and follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. The Parental Stressor Scale (PSS:NICU) and Perceived Stress Scale (PeSS) were used to identify the stress levels of parents of admitted neonates.

Determination of Predictors of Brain Injury in Very Preterm Infants - A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Despite decades of research, there is inadequate evidence on the etiological factors of brain injury in preterm infants.

Objective: To study the perinatal risk factors for preterm brain injury and to assess their strength of association.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included infants born at <32 weeks' gestation and had either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cranial ultrasound (CUS) performed at term equivalent age.

Early calcium and phosphorus supplementation in VLBW infants to reduce metabolic bone disease of prematurity: a quality improvement initiative.

Objective: To reduce the incidence of metabolic bone disease (MBD) among very low birthweight (VLBW) infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit from baseline of 35% by 50% over 2 years by implementing a quality improvement (QI) initiative.

Methods: A multidisciplinary QI team used evidence-based interventions and the healthcare improvement model to reduce MBD rate in VLBW infants. The specific interventions included routine enteral supplementation of calcium and phosphorus using Human Milk Fortifier (HMF) to expressed breast milk by day 14 of life (Plan/Do/Study/Act (PDSA) cycle 1), parenteral and early enteral supplementation of calcium and phosphorus (PDSA cycles 2 and 3).

Clinical Profile, Outcomes and Predictors of Mortality in Neonates Operated for Gastrointestinal Anomalies in a Tertiary Neonatal Care Unit- An Observational Study.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) malformations have varied short-term and long-term outcomes reported across various neonatal units in India.

Methods: This descriptive study was done to study the clinical profile, outcomes and predictors of mortality in neonates operated for congenital GI malformations in a tertiary neonatal care unit in South India between years 2011 and 2020. Details were collected by retrospective review of the case sheets.

Diagnosis of a floppy neonate with misleading clues: unraveled as congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy.

Contactin-associated protein 1 ()-related congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy (CHN) is a rare type of peripheral neuropathy and has a clinically heterogeneous presentation. We report a neonate with an atypical presentation in the form of global hypotonia, facial diparesis and partial response to neostigmine challenge test. There was no clinical improvement on initiation of anticholinesterase drug for suspected congenital myasthenia and hence stopped.

Utility of clinical exome sequencing in the evaluation of neonates with suspected genetic condition - An observational study from tertiary neonatal care unit in South India.

Objectives: To study the utility of clinical exome sequencing (CES) using next generation sequencing (NGS) in evaluating neonates with suspected genetic conditions.

Methods: This is an observational study conducted in a tertiary care neonatal unit. We included neonates with suspected genetic conditions, for whom CES were done either by direct sampling or from stored DNA.

Candida auris, an emerging pathogen - Challenge in the survival of microprimies.

Clinical profile of extreme preterm neonates and more so, of microprimies with birth weight < 800 g is not studied till now. Our article elaborates the profile of 5 microprimies with C.auris sepsis and review of literature.

Disposable low-cost cardboard incubator for thermoregulation of stable preterm infant - a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Background: Incubators and radiant warmers are essential equipment in neonatal care, but the typical 1,500 to 35,000 USD cost per device makes it unaffordable for many units in low and middle-income countries. We aimed to determine whether stable preterm infants could maintain thermoregulation for 48 h in a low-cost incubator (LCI).

Methods: The LCI was constructed using a servo-heater costing 200 USD and cardboard infant-chamber.

Outcome of Inherited Metabolic Disorders Presenting in the Neonatal Period.

Objective: To assess the outcome of infants who were diagnosed to have Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) during neonatal period from a single center in South India.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive neonates diagnosed to have IEM by biochemical testing or those detected using newborn screening (NBS) between November 2014 and July 2018. Disorders were categorized into intoxication and non-intoxication groups.

Autologous umbilical cord blood for red cell concentrate transfusion in preterm infants in the era of delayed cord clamping: An uncontrolled clinical trial.

Objective: To assess the utility of autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) for red cell concentrate (RCC) transfusion in preterm infants.

Methods: We recruited preterm infants born at ≤30 weeks' gestation or have an estimated fetal weight <1,200 g. We intended to perform delayed cord clamping (DCC) and to collect UCB following DCC.

Meconium Peritonitis: A Rare Treatable Cause of Non-Immune Hydrops.

Meconium peritonitis as a cause of non-immune hydrops in neonates is rarely reported. Here we report such a rare occurrence. In our case, a routine antenatal scan at 25 weeks revealed isolated ascites.

Impact of Lactation Support Program on Initiation of Breastfeeding in Term Infants.

: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) significantly decreases neonatal mortality and improves exclusive breastfeeding. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of lactation support program (LSP) on early initiation of breastfeeding (BF) among term well infants. : A "before-and-after" design was used to study the effect of the LSP on EIBF at a tertiary care institute in India over a period of two and half years.

Continuous Temperature Monitoring Using Bluetooth- enabled Thermometer in Neonates.

We aimed to compare continuous temperature-monitoring using Bluetooth-enabled thermometer (BET) and intermittent monitoring by digital thermometer (DT) in neonates. Continuous monitoring using BET identified 377 episodes of hypo/hyperthermias in 90 baby-days; 316 (83.8%) episodes were confirmed by DT and 61 (16.

Relationship of body mass index and other life style factors with hypertension in adolescents.

Background: Over the past two decades, it has been observed that hypertension shows an increasing trend in children and adolescents. Various factors are contributing to this upward trend, and they primarily include changes in lifestyle and dietary habits.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension in school going adolescent children and to study the associated risk factors.